Integrated Rearview Mirror Communication System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle communication systems, such as those for home automation and electronic toll collection, face issues like physical obstructions, inconvenience in device relocation, and power source limitations, particularly with standalone transponders used in electronic toll collection systems.
Innovation Solution
An integrated vehicle communication system that incorporates a control unit with antennas into a rearview mirror assembly, capable of communicating with both home-based devices and electronic toll collection systems, using compatible communication protocols and a stable power source, eliminating the need for separate transponders and enabling seamless interaction with multiple systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standalone transponder device is placed on the windshield for electronic toll collection, then communication with the toll system is enabled, but it creates physical obstructions and blocks vehicle sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the toll communication transceiver with the home automation control unit into a single integrated device housed in the rearview mirror. This merging eliminates the need for separate standalone transponders on the windshield, removing physical obstructions while maintaining communication functionality for both toll collection and home device control
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated control unit serves multiple functions: it acts as both a toll communication transceiver and a home automation controller. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace multiple separate systems, eliminating the need for separate transponders and reducing overall device count and physical obstructions
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate standalone transponders and home automation systems are used, then each system can function independently, but device relocation and system integration become inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the toll transceiver and home automation controller into one integrated unit, the patent eliminates the need to relocate separate devices when switching vehicles. The unified system maintains independence of functions while improving operational convenience through single-device portability
Solution Approach 2:
The universal control unit that performs both toll communication and home automation functions allows a single device to be transferred between vehicles, maintaining system independence while greatly improving relocation convenience compared to managing multiple separate transponders and controllers
3Device complexity
If a standalone transponder uses a single battery power source, then the device is self-contained, but the battery can become depleted with little or no indication beforehand
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated control unit that serves both toll and home automation functions shares a common power supply, eliminating the need for separate batteries in each device. This shared power architecture improves reliability by providing more stable power while reducing the complexity of managing multiple independent power sources
Solution Approach 2:
By combining the power supply systems of the toll transceiver and home automation controller into a single shared power source, the patent eliminates the reliability issues of depleted standalone batteries while maintaining system functionality through unified power management
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle rearview mirror system for a vehicle having communication capabilities for communicating with at least one of a building-automation device and an electronic toll collection system. The vehicle rearview mirror system may include a wireless communication system configured to communicate with a building-based communication system or a transceiver system of the electronic toll collection system, or both.