Vehicle Rearview Assembly with Integrated Imaging and Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle video systems face challenges in providing high-quality, unobtrusive imaging within the interior of vehicles due to space and aesthetic constraints, and often suffer from exposure issues under varying lighting conditions.
Innovation Solution
A rearview assembly integrated with a display element, imaging device, printed circuit board, microphone, speaker, antenna, and capacitive touch sensor, capable of receiving inputs from external sources like the internet and cellular networks, and featuring a dual-purpose imaging system with visible and infrared light capabilities to capture images effectively under different lighting conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the imaging system is disposed within the rearview assembly housing, then the system is concealed and aesthetically pleasing, but the housing becomes too large and impairs driver visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device is nested within the electro-optic device housing, specifically positioned behind the display element. This allows the imaging components to be concealed within the existing rearview assembly structure without increasing the external dimensions of the housing, thus maintaining aesthetic appearance while avoiding impairment of driver visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging device is positioned in a different spatial dimension within the housing - specifically behind the display element in the depth dimension. This three-dimensional arrangement allows both the imaging system and the display function to coexist within the same housing volume without increasing the housing's external footprint.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are included within the rearview assembly housing, then the system provides more functionality, but the housing becomes too large and impairs driver visibility
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional devices - the imaging device, display element, and electro-optic device - are merged into a single integrated rearview assembly housing. This consolidation provides diverse functionality (imaging, display, and electro-optic control) while maintaining a compact housing size that does not impair driver visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The rearview assembly housing is designed to accommodate multiple functions within a single structure. The housing serves as the container for both the electro-optic device and the imaging device, allowing the same housing to provide both electro-optic control functionality and image capture functionality without requiring separate housings.
3Reliability
If the imaging system captures images under varying lighting conditions, then the system provides reliable imaging, but the images appear over or under-exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the lighting parameters by introducing an infrared illuminator that emits infrared light. This allows the imaging system to operate reliably under varying visible lighting conditions by switching to infrared illumination when visible light is insufficient, thereby maintaining consistent image quality without over or under-exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging device captures infrared light reflections to create images when visible light is insufficient. This infrared copying mechanism allows the system to maintain imaging reliability under varying lighting conditions by creating a duplicate imaging channel in the infrared spectrum that can be used when visible light imaging fails.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a compact, aesthetically pleasing, and functional video system that captures high-quality images and provides communication features, improving driver monitoring and passenger interaction while addressing exposure issues through selective light filtering and emission.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor in optical communication with the lens and configured to selectively capture images using one of visible and infrared or near-infrared light
Implementation Method 2
an electro-optic device disposed so that the display element may be viewed through the electro-optic device
Implementation Method 3
at least one IR emitter configured to selectively emit at least one of infrared and near-infrared light in the direction of the field of view of the lens
Implementation Method 4
at least one capacitive touch sensor in communication with the printed circuit board and disposed on a surface of the display element
Data Source
AI summary
A system for a vehicle may comprise a rearview assembly comprising a display element configured for providing a rearward view of a scene behind the vehicle, at least one imaging device in communication with the display element and configured to capture images from within a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and a printed circuit board in communication with the display element and the at least one imaging device. The display element may be configured to selectively display content received from a source external to the vehicle. The display element may be suitable for receiving inputs from a plurality of sources. At least one of the plurality of sources may be one of the internet and a cellular network.