Virtual Vanity Mirror Using Camera and Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need in the vehicle industry to reduce costs and weight by eliminating the need for traditional vanity mirrors in vehicles, while providing a means for occupants to view themselves without using these mirrors.
Innovation Solution
A system that captures the image of a vehicle occupant using a camera integrated into the vehicle and displays it on a dashboard-mounted display, allowing for image processing such as scaling and mirroring, which can replace the function of vanity mirrors, and can also be used for driver assist systems to monitor attentiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional vanity mirrors are installed in the vehicle, then occupants can view themselves, but vehicle weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture the occupant's image and displays it on a screen, creating a digital copy of the occupant's appearance. This virtual mirror replaces the physical vanity mirror, eliminating the need for glass, illumination components, and mechanical structures while maintaining the self-viewing function. The camera system captures real-time images that are processed and displayed, providing the same functional benefit without the physical mirror's weight and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical vanity mirror system with an electronic imaging system. Instead of using optical reflections from a physical mirror surface, the system uses a camera to capture images and a display screen to present them. This substitution of mechanical/optical components with electronic components achieves the same function while significantly reducing weight and eliminating associated mechanical parts such as mirror housings, illumination bulbs, and adjustment mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If traditional vanity mirrors are installed in the vehicle, then occupants can view themselves, but vehicle cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the vanity mirror function into the existing driver assist camera system and infotainment display. The same camera that monitors driver attentiveness is used to capture images for the virtual vanity mirror, and the same display screen used for navigation and entertainment purposes also displays the virtual mirror image. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate vanity mirror components, reducing overall system cost while providing the self-viewing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual mirror creates a digital representation of the occupant using the camera system, replacing the need for physical mirror components. This digital copying approach eliminates costs associated with manufacturing, installing, and maintaining physical vanity mirrors including glass, metal housings, illumination systems, and adjustment mechanisms, while providing the same functional benefit through software-based image processing and display.
3Ease of manufacture
If a camera is used for both driver assist monitoring and vanity mirror function, then system cost is reduced, but image quality and precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera system designed for driver monitoring, which captures images at a resolution and quality sufficient for both safety monitoring and vanity mirror purposes. While the camera may not be optimized specifically for high-resolution portrait photography, it provides adequate image quality for the vanity function as a secondary use. The system accepts that the image quality is sufficient rather than optimal, achieving cost savings by not requiring a dedicated high-resolution camera specifically for vanity mirror purposes.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle virtual vanity mirror display system includes an a input device that provides a virtual vanity mirror control signal, and a camera that is adapted to capture an image of an occupant sitting on a seat of the vehicle in response to the virtual vanity mirror control signal. An image processing unit receives the image and processes the image to provide a processed image, and a display receives and displays the processed image to the occupant, in the absence of a vehicle mounted vanity mirror.