Virtual Visor Pixel Grid Snapping for Sun Glare Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sun visors in vehicles fail to consistently block sunlight from disrupting the driver's view due to the need for frequent adjustments, and their larger size to accommodate various head positions and sunlight directions often obstructs the view of road signs and lights.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted virtual visor system with a camera and a visor comprising contiguously arranged pixels, where a controller adjusts the opacity of each pixel based on images of the driver's face to block sunlight effectively while minimizing visual disturbances by snapping the affected areas to a grid on the visor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sun visor is made larger to block sunlight with various head positions and sunlight directions, then the effectiveness of blocking sunlight is improved, but the obstruction of the driver's view of road signs and lights worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The visor is divided into multiple independently controllable regions or pixels, allowing selective activation of only the portions needed to block sunlight at any given moment. This segmentation enables the visor to adapt its effective blocking area dynamically rather than requiring a large fixed structure
Solution Approach 2:
The visor transitions from a static, fixed-position structure to a dynamic system that can change its optical properties in real-time. By adjusting the opacity or activation state of different visor regions based on detected sunlight direction and driver head position, the system maintains effective sun blocking while minimizing view obstruction
2Reliability
If the sun visor is positioned to block sunlight, then the blocking effectiveness is improved, but the frequency of required adjustments increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors to detect sunlight direction and driver head position, providing real-time feedback that enables automatic adjustment of the visor's active regions. This closed-loop control eliminates the need for manual adjustments by continuously adapting the visor configuration to current conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The visor system performs self-adjustment through automated control based on sensor input, eliminating the need for driver intervention. The system monitors environmental conditions and autonomously reconfigures the active visor regions to maintain optimal sun blocking without requiring manual repositioning
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides continuous and effective blocking of sunlight without obstructing the driver's view, reducing the need for frequent adjustments and minimizing visual disturbances, thereby enhancing safety by maintaining an unobstructed view of the road.
Implementation Method 1
determine, based on the respective image, at least one position on the visor at which a light source shines through the visor into an eye of the person
Implementation Method 2
Each pixel optical state in the plurality of pixel optical states has a different opacity such that the respective pixel blocks a different amount of light from passing through a corresponding area of the visor
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual visor system includes a visor having a plurality of independently operable pixels that are selectively operated with a variable opacity. A camera captures images of the face of a driver or other passenger and, based on the captured images, a controller operates the visor to automatically and selectively darken a limited portion thereof to block the sun or other illumination source from striking the eyes of the driver, while leaving the remainder of the visor transparent. The virtual visor system advantageously snaps projected eye positions on the visor to a grid, which helps to minimize rapid and distracting changes in the optical state of the visor.