Vehicle Viewing Device Rear Window Width Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle viewing systems, such as those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2014-60646, result in a narrow apparent width of the rear side window glass, limiting the visibility of the rearward field of view due to the combination of images from multiple cameras, making the rear side window appear narrower than its actual width.
Innovation Solution
A viewing device that captures images of the vehicle's rear from exterior cameras and combines them with interior cabin images to display a wider apparent width of the rear side window glass, using image processing to project these images from virtual viewpoints onto a virtual screen, potentially curved convexly, to enhance visibility through the rear side window.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If images are combined using multiple cameras to show the peripheral region of the vehicle, then the field of view is expanded, but the apparent width of the rear side window glass becomes narrower than its actual width
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual viewpoint positioned at the rear of the vehicle, creating a three-dimensional spatial relationship between the camera positions, the virtual viewpoint, and the display screen. This dimensional transformation allows the rear side window glass to be displayed with its true apparent width by projecting images onto a virtual screen that accounts for the actual geometric relationships in the vehicle's coordinate system, rather than simply combining two-dimensional images from multiple cameras.
2Illumination intensity
If the transmittance of specific regions is increased to highlight vehicle portions, then the visibility of vehicle features is improved, but the natural appearance of the combined image is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different transmittance values to different regions of the vehicle image based on their spatial relationship to the virtual viewpoint. Specifically, regions corresponding to the front, rear, and side portions of the vehicle have different transmittance characteristics, allowing each region to be optimally visible while maintaining the overall natural appearance of the combined image. This localized adjustment preserves the authentic visual representation of the vehicle's exterior.
3Manufacturing precision
If a curved virtual screen is used to project images, then the apparent width of the rear side window glass is improved, but the image processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a curved virtual screen that is convex toward the front of the vehicle, rather than a flat screen. This curvature naturally accommodates the geometric projection of images from the virtual viewpoint positioned at the rear, allowing the rear side window glass to be displayed with its correct apparent width. The curved screen geometry simplifies the projection mathematics compared to attempting to display the same view on a flat screen, as the curvature naturally follows the radial projection lines from the virtual viewpoint.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a viewing device for a vehicle, including: an imaging portion that captures an image of a rear of a vehicle from a vehicle exterior; and a display portion that carries out image processing that combines a first captured image that has been captured by the imaging portion and a second captured image that shows a vehicle cabin interior in which a vehicle rear including the vehicle cabin interior is captured from the vehicle cabin interior, such that a region of a rear side window glass becomes longer than an apparent width of the rear side window glass that is actually seen from a position of capturing the second captured image, and displays the images.