Automotive Virtual Mirrors Gaze Detection Power Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Virtual mirrors in automobiles consume significant power due to high resolution and frame rate requirements, leading to inefficient energy usage, especially when not directly viewed by the driver.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a gaze detection system that reduces the resolution and frame rate of virtual mirrors not being directly viewed by the driver, switching them to a low power mode to conserve energy, while maintaining full functionality when in use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If virtual mirrors operate at high resolution and frame rate, then driver visibility and image quality are improved, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual mirror system dynamically adjusts its operational parameters (resolution and frame rate) based on real-time detection of driver gaze direction. When the driver is looking at the mirror, the system operates at full resolution and frame rate; when the driver looks away, the system reduces to low power mode with lower resolution and frame rate, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining high image quality and reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (resolution and frame rate) based on usage conditions. By detecting whether the driver is viewing the virtual mirror and adjusting parameters accordingly, the system achieves high image quality when needed while minimizing power consumption during non-usage periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If virtual mirrors maintain full operational mode continuously, then driver visibility is ensured, but energy efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver visibilityVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic detection of driver gaze and alternating between full operational mode and low power mode. The gaze detection system continuously monitors driver attention, switching the virtual mirror between high-performance and energy-saving states, ensuring visibility is maintained when needed while improving overall energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the gaze detection system to control the operational state of the virtual mirror. The detection of driver gaze provides feedback that triggers the appropriate operational mode, ensuring that visibility requirements are met while minimizing energy waste during non-usage periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Use of energy by moving object

If resolution and frame rate are reduced for non-viewed mirrors, then power consumption decreases, but image quality may be compromised when needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary gaze detection to determine whether the driver needs to view the virtual mirror before maintaining high resolution and frame rate. By detecting driver attention in advance, the system can switch to low power mode when not needed and rapidly restore full quality when the driver looks at the mirror, minimizing the trade-off between power consumption and image quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3663136B1Optimal usage of automotive virtual mirrors
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 INTEL CORP
  • EP3663136B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3663136B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3663136B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A system, method, and computer readable medium may include technology to enable optimal usage of automotive virtual mirrors. A gaze detector monitors a driver's eyes to determine if the driver is looking in the direction of a virtual mirror. If the driver is not looking in the direction of virtual mirror, all virtual mirrors are placed in a low operational mode. If the driver is looking in the direction of a virtual mirror, the virtual mirror being viewed is placed in a high operational mode and all other virtual mirrors are placed in the low operational mode.