Vehicle Mirror Substitute Device for Adaptive Blind Spot Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle mirror systems are inflexible and unable to provide an optimal representation of the vehicle's surroundings, particularly in situations involving strong light sources or changing driving conditions, limiting the driver's visibility and safety.
Innovation Solution
A mirror substitute device equipped with cameras, image processing, and display systems that can flexibly cover and display the vehicle's surroundings, including blind spots, with image processing capabilities to adapt to different driving situations and enhance visibility by adjusting brightness, contrast, and highlighting relevant details.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical mirrors are used to observe the surroundings of the vehicle, then the driver can see the lateral and rear regions, but the adjusting options are limited and it is impossible to provide an optimal representation of the surroundings in some driving situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical mirror systems with an electronic imaging system consisting of cameras and display devices. This substitution enables flexible electronic adjustment of viewing angles and image processing capabilities, overcoming the limited mechanical adjustment options of traditional mirrors while providing optimal representation of vehicle surroundings in various driving situations
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the field of view and image parameters based on driving conditions. The electronic imaging system can change viewing angles, zoom levels, and image processing in real-time, providing adaptability that mechanical mirrors cannot achieve
2Object-affected harmful factors
If mirrors are used to present images of the surroundings, then the driver can observe lateral and rear regions, but strong light sources may dazzle the driver via the mirror
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical mirrors with electronic cameras and displays, eliminating the dazzling effect caused by light reflection in mirrors. The electronic imaging system captures and processes images digitally, allowing for post-capture light adjustment and filtering that prevents driver dazzle while maintaining reliable visibility of vehicle surroundings
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of light handling from passive reflection (mirrors) to active digital processing (cameras). The image processing device can adjust brightness, contrast, and apply filters to eliminate the harmful dazzling effect while preserving the useful information about vehicle surroundings
3Area of stationary object
If multiple mirrors are used to cover the visual range in special vehicles, then the driver can observe relevant surroundings, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal electronic imaging system that can cover multiple visual ranges using fewer devices. A single camera system with adjustable fields of view and image processing capabilities can replace multiple specialized mirrors, reducing device complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage of vehicle surroundings
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple mirror functions into a unified electronic imaging platform. By combining camera arrays, image processing, and display technologies, the system achieves comprehensive visual range coverage with reduced component count and simplified architecture compared to traditional multi-mirror systems
Data Source
AI summary
A mirror substitute device for a vehicle has at least one camera designed to cover at least a part of the surroundings of the vehicle and to provide a corresponding image signal, an image processing device coupled to the camera and designed to process the image signal and to output a processed image signal, and at least one display device designed to display the processed image signal.