Self-Adjusting Vehicle Mirror With Integrated Face Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle mirror systems require multiple components distributed across the vehicle and rely on external systems for adjustments, making them complex, costly, and burdensome on vehicle processors.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained, automatically-adjusting mirror system with a camera, actuator, and computing device integrated within a single mirror housing, using computer vision-based face detection to adjust the mirror's orientation and provide a desired field of view to the driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are distributed across the vehicle for mirror adjustment, then the mirror adjustment capability is achieved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the camera, actuator, and computing device into a single integrated mirror housing assembly. This merging of components eliminates the need for distributed systems across the vehicle, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full mirror adjustment functionality through the integrated unit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple distributed components are used for mirror adjustment, then the mirror can be adjusted, but the cost of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the camera, actuator, and computing device into one housing, the patent reduces the number of separate parts that need to be manufactured and assembled. This consolidation lowers manufacturing costs while preserving the complete mirror adjustment functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If external systems are used for mirror adjustments, then the mirror adjustment function is provided, but the vehicle processor is burdened with computational overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated computing device within the mirror housing performs face detection and mirror orientation calculations independently, allowing the mirror adjustment function to serve itself without burdening the vehicle's main processor. This self-contained approach eliminates the computational overhead from the vehicle system.
4Device complexity
If a self-contained mirror system is used, then the system is simpler and cheaper, but all components must be integrated within a single housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the integration challenge by designing a housing that accommodates the camera, actuator, and computing device as a unified assembly. This merging approach, while requiring careful integration design, ultimately produces a simpler overall system with fewer external connections and interactions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a self-adjusting vehicle mirror. The mirror automatically locates the face of the driver or another passenger, and orients the mirror to provide the driver/passenger face with a desired view from the mirror. The mirror may continue to reorient itself as the driver or passenger shifts position, to continuously provide a desired field of view even as he or she changes position over time. In certain embodiments, the mirror system of the disclosure can be a self-contained system, with the mirror, mirror actuator, camera, and computing device all contained within the mirror housing as a single integrated unit.