Rear View Display System Eliminating Windshield Obstructions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rear view mirrors in vehicles are often obstructed by interior objects and structures, limiting their effectiveness, and existing solutions like cameras and sensors are not always actively engaged, requiring user activation and not providing continuous rear view functionality across different vehicle gears.
Innovation Solution
A rear view display system with a camera and electronic control unit (ECU) mounted to the vehicle, providing a display screen at the traditional mirror position, which is electronically connected to cameras that capture a wider area, including blind spots, and can be adjusted for optimal viewing, with additional devices like sensors packaged together to minimize obstructions and enhance driver assistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional rear view mirror is mounted on the windshield, then the driver can view the rear of the vehicle, but the mirror is partially or fully obstructed by window pillars, passengers, luggage, headrests, and other objects in the passenger compartment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rear viewing function from the traditional mirror and relocates it to a camera system mounted on the exterior rear of the vehicle. The camera captures rear images that are then displayed on a screen positioned at the traditional mirror location, thereby eliminating obstruction by interior objects while maintaining rear view functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a display screen as an intermediary between the camera and the driver. The screen is positioned at the traditional mirror location and displays images captured by the rear-mounted camera, serving as a mediator that delivers rear view information to the driver without requiring a physical mirror in the obstructed location.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cameras and sensors are mounted in the same area as the rear view mirror to minimize obstructions, then fewer obstructions through the windshield, but the devices may not be actively engaged and require user activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by making the camera system automatically operational without requiring user activation. The camera is mounted on the exterior rear and continuously captures images, with the display screen showing rear view images automatically, thereby eliminating the need for user intervention while minimizing windshield obstructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous operation of the camera system to provide uninterrupted rear view functionality. The camera continuously captures images and the display screen continuously shows the rear view, eliminating gaps in functionality that would occur with on-demand activation systems.
3Ease of operation
If the rear view mirror position is used to mount exterior viewing cameras and sensors, then the position advantage of minimizing obstructions is achieved, but the camera must be activated by the user when not always active
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to automatically operate without user activation, with the camera continuously capturing images and the display screen automatically showing rear view images. This eliminates the reliability issue of user activation while maintaining the convenient mounting position at the traditional mirror location.
Solution Approach 2:
The display screen at the traditional mirror location serves multiple functions: it displays rear view images from the camera, can show other vehicle information, and maintains the conventional mirror position for driver familiarity. This multi-functionality ensures continuous availability while leveraging the advantageous mounting position.
Data Source
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AI summary
A integrated rear camera display system (12) for a vehicle (10) comprises a display screen (14) mounted to a housing (24) and at least one device (20A-E)used by another system for the vehicle. The housing at least partially contains the at least one device. The housing is configured for mounting to a windshield (32) for the vehicle such that the display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The display screen shows an image from a rear- facing camera (16) to provide the driver of the vehicle with an unobstructed rear view of the vehicle.