Nissan is showing off its smart rear view mirror in the US on the 2014 Rogue to be displayed at the New York show.
Claimed to be the world’s first LCD monitor that helps provide clear rearward visibility unimpeded by traditional obstacles such as cargo, tall passengers, inclement weather or the design of a vehicle, the mirror allows the driver to switch between the LCD monitor and the traditional mirror depending on preference.
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A high-resolution camera mounted on the rear of the vehicle provides the driver with a clear, unobstructed view of the rear flanks, circumventing traditional rear-view obstructions such as the vehicle’s C-pillars and allowing the driver to feel more confident when maneuvering in a variety of traffic conditions. The camera projects a clear image- a wider and clearer view than a standard mirror – onto the monitor for a better view, as well as a more comfortable driving experience.
A switch on the bottom of the mirror, allows the driver to access either the traditional mirror or the smart mirror.
The camera can provide a 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 the vehicle is being followed by a vehicle with strong headlights.
The smart mirror is equipped with a newly developed, high-performance, narrow-angle camera and a specially shaped LCD monitor, with a unique aspect ratio of approximately 4:1, versus conventional monitors’ 4:3 or 16:9. Matching a standard wide-angle camera lens to this monitor could not be done since the images from the camera, when adjusted to the special monitor size, produced a low-resolution image with insufficient picture quality.
To overcome this challenge, a 1,300,000 pixel narrow-angle camera was developed so that picture quality would not be sacrificed when formatted for the specially designed monitor.
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 clear view but Nissan applied a technology to the structural design of the LCD monitor and the mirror, enabling it to function without any image overlaps.
The automaker plans to introduce the smart mirror worldwide over the next few years after an initial launch to Japanese customers this spring.
