Nissan develops ‘smart rearview mirror’

Nissan Motor Company has announced the development of the Smart rearview mirror, the world’s first LCD monitor that provides clear rearward visibility under various conditions. It also enables the driver to switch between the LCD monitor and the traditional rearview mirror. The Smart rearview mirror is housed within the structure of the rearview mirror, with a built-in LCD monitor that can be activated in place of the conventional mirror. A high-resolution camera mounted on the rear of the vehicle provides the driver with a clear unobstructed view of the rear flanks, allowing the ability to check blind spots and other traffic conditions. The camera projects a clear image onto the monitor to provide the driver with a better view for a more comfortable driving experience. An additional feature of the Smart rearview mirror is the versatile switch function. Operated by a control located at the bottom of the mirror, the driver can utilize the traditional rearview mirror system, or with a simple flip of a switch, gain an unobstructed rearward view behind the vehicle embedded on the LCD display. The Smart rearview mirror can provide a crisp clear image in a variety of environmental conditions including rain, snow, dawn and dusk. The high quality camera and image processing system implemented in the LCD monitor consistently results in a clear image with minimal glare, even during sunrise or sunset conditions or when being followed by a vehicle with strong headlights. The Smart rearview mirror is equipped with a newly developed high-performance, narrow-angle 1,300,000 pixel camera and a specially-shaped LCD monitor. Also, conventional monitors possess an aspect ratio of 4:3 or 16:9, but these traditional-sized aspect ratios could not adequately be displayed in a rearview mirror. Therefore, an LCD monitor with a unique aspect ratio of approximately 4:1 was developed. When the LCD monitor and mirror are used in unison, the transparency of the monitor and the reflection in the mirror can create an image overlap—a dual layered effect—making it difficult to get a clean view, but with the Smart rearview mirror, Nissan applied a unique technology to the structural design of the LCD monitor and the mirror, enabling it to function without any image overlaps. “Smart rearview mirror will give our customers the best possible view no matter how tall the passengers in the back seat, or the road conditions.” said Andy Palmer, chief planning officer and executive vice president of Nissan. “It also offers the possibility of new and exciting designs for our upcoming models because Smart rearview mirror is an alternative to a very wide rear window for good visibility. We’ll have the flexibility to create new shapes, and to further improve aerodynamics for better fuel efficiency.” Nissan is planning to introduce the Smart rearview mirror to global markets in 2015. The plan is to offer the product as a dealer option this spring in the Japan market. Nissan will introduce the Smart rearview mirror at the ongoing 2014 Geneva Motor Show. Source: TradeArabia