Vehicle Mirror Image Display with Privacy Shading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle sun visor systems do not allow occupants to see their entire face while doing makeup, and they lack adequate privacy protection from external views.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle system that activates a make-up mode by shading the windshield, side, or rear glass using a light-control film and displays a mirror image of the occupant's face on an organic EL display, allowing for private makeup application with adjustable illumination based on the destination's lighting conditions and seat adjustments for optimal posture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a traditional sun visor with a small make-up mirror is used, then the device complexity is low, but the occupant cannot see their entire face while doing make-up

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemirror viewing areaVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a camera to capture the occupant's face image and displays it on a large display panel, creating a virtual mirror image. This copying approach allows the occupant to see their entire face without requiring a physically large mirror, thereby resolving the contradiction between mirror viewing area and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The display panel serves multiple functions: it acts as a mirror for make-up application, provides entertainment content, and can display vehicle information. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide a large mirror viewing area while maintaining reasonable device complexity by reusing existing vehicle components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the windshield glass is made transparent for visibility, then the illumination intensity for external view is high, but the occupant's privacy is compromised during make-up

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidexternal visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a light-control film that can dynamically change its light transmittance between transparent and opaque states. When the occupant needs privacy for make-up, the film becomes opaque, blocking external views. When visibility is needed, the film returns to transparent state, thus resolving the contradiction between privacy protection and external visibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The light-control film changes its optical properties (from transparent to opaque) based on the occupant's needs. This color/optical state change allows the system to provide both privacy protection and external visibility at different times, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Illumination intensity

If the vehicle interior is kept dark for comfort, then the illumination intensity for occupant comfort is low, but the mirror image cannot be clearly displayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveface illuminationVSAvoidoccupant comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses localized illumination lights positioned near the display panel to illuminate only the occupant's face area. This localized lighting provides sufficient illumination for clear mirror image display without illuminating the entire vehicle interior, thus resolving the contradiction between face illumination and occupant comfort

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The illumination lights act as an intermediary between the display system and the occupant's face. They provide the necessary light for clear image display while being controllable and localized, thus mediating between the requirement for clear mirror imaging and the requirement for comfortable ambient conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables occupants to see their entire face during makeup while maintaining privacy, especially at low speeds, and ensures the makeup is done under suitable lighting conditions, simplifying the vehicle's interior configuration by using existing components like the windshield as a mirror.

Implementation Method 1

a light-control film that is provided along the windshield glass and that is configured to be adjusted such that its transmissivity is lowered as a speed of the vehicle decreases and its transmissivity is raised as the speed of the vehicle increases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight-control film transmissivity adjustment: Electrochromism

Implementation Method 2

the display section is an organic EL display that is disposed at a vehicle cabin inner side of the light-control film and that is provided along a vehicle cabin inner side face of the windshield glass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOrganic EL display light emission: Organic Light-emitting Diode

Implementation Method 3

an illumination section that shines an illuminating light on the occupant in a state in which the make-up mode has been activated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIlluminating light emission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3524456B1vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3524456B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3524456B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3524456B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle is provided including an activation section (50), a shielding section (52), and a display section (54, 104). An occupant uses the activation section to activate a make-up mode to assist the occupant in doing their make-up. The shielding section makes opaque at least one of a windshield glass (44), a side window glass, or a rear glass in a state in which the make-up mode has been activated. The display section is configured to display a mirror image of an entire face of the occupant in front of the occupant in a state in which the make-up mode has been activated, the mirror image being in an upright state relative to the occupant.