Vehicle Virtual Mirror Curved Display Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual rear-view mirrors in vehicles are aesthetically challenging to integrate into the passenger compartment, as their flat, rectangular screens can distract drivers by displaying irrelevant portions of the scene, differing from the curved contours of traditional mirrors.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that generate a video stream, process it with an image processing unit to insert a partial overlay simulating a predetermined surface, reducing distractions by removing irrelevant parts and matching the screen's appearance to its surroundings, and adjusting for driving conditions and recognized objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat rectangular screen is used for the display unit, then the device complexity is reduced and manufacturing is easier, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates and driver distraction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by projecting the reflected image onto the curved contour of the conventional rear-view mirror housing instead of using a flat rectangular screen. This copies the aesthetic form of traditional mirrors while maintaining the technological advantages of electronic display systems, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements curvature by displaying the video stream on the curved contour of the mirror housing rather than on a flat surface. This curvature principle directly addresses the aesthetic appearance concern by matching the traditional curved mirror shape, while the underlying electronic system remains simple and manufacturable.
2Loss of information
If the entire video stream is displayed on the screen, then the information completeness is improved, but the driver distraction increases due to irrelevant portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively masking irrelevant portions of the video stream while maintaining visibility of relevant areas. Different regions of the display have different qualities - some areas show the full video stream while others are masked out. This allows information completeness to be maintained for important areas while eliminating distracting elements in less important regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes irrelevant portions of the video stream from the display by applying masks. The image processing unit identifies and extracts only the necessary portions of the scene to be displayed, taking out the distracting elements while preserving the essential information needed by the driver.
3Shape
If a curved contour display is implemented to match conventional mirrors, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying to project the image onto the existing curved mirror housing surface rather than creating a new curved display device. This approach achieves the aesthetic curved contour appearance while avoiding the complexity of manufacturing and integrating a genuinely curved display panel, as the curvature is achieved through projection geometry rather than physical display shape.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing one or more of a rear or a side view of a vehicle includes generating a video stream of images subsequently captured by at least one camera of the vehicle or of a virtual mirror device of the vehicle, processing the generated video stream, and displaying the generated video stream on at least one screen of a display unit of the vehicle or of the virtual mirror device.