LAS VEGAS, Jan. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ:GNTX) launched a new three-camera rear vision system that streams rear video – in multiple composite views – to a rearview-mirror-integrated display. The Company believes it’s the industry’s first practical and comprehensive rear vision solution designed to meet automaker, driver, safety and regulatory requirements.
The Gentex rear vision system, also known as a camera monitoring system (CMS), uses three cameras to provide a comprehensive view of the sides and rear of the vehicle. The side-view cameras are discretely housed in downsized, exterior mirrors. Their video feeds are combined with that of a roof-mounted camera and stitched together into multiple composite views, which are streamed to the driver via a unique mirror-integrated display.
“Our technology combination represents the industry’s first practical CMS solution,” said Steve Downing, Gentex senior vice president. “The system realizes the rear and sideward field-of-view benefits afforded by cameras while at the same time delivering the safety and driver preference benefits of standard, automatic-dimming rearview mirrors. In addition, the system’s modular nature lets the automaker customize functionality while offering it as a priceable, optional feature.”
Gentex believes that housing the side-view cameras in downsized exterior mirrors is critical to the system’s success. For starters, it enhances safety by allowing the system to fail safe. Should weather conditions or system failure disrupt the digital view, drivers can still use the interior and exterior mirrors. It also supports user preference by permitting drivers to use standard mirror views, camera views, or both. The downsized mirrors also provide the automaker with significant weight savings and fuel efficiency improvements. Finally, by using different types of flat and curved glass, combined with simple alterations to the video viewing modes, the system can be tuned to meet the various regulatory field-of-view requirements around the world.
The Gentex rear vision system, also known as a camera monitoring system (CMS), uses three cameras to provide a comprehensive view of the sides and rear of the vehicle. The side-view cameras are discretely housed in downsized, exterior mirrors. Their video feeds are combined with that of a roof-mounted camera and stitched together into multiple composite views, which are streamed to the driver via a unique mirror-integrated display.
Credit: Gentex Corporation
The video from the system’s three cameras is streamed to Gentex’s Full Display Mirror, which can function as either a standard, auto-dimming rearview mirror or a display. When used as a display, the driver can choose between various viewing modes that present the three camera feeds independently or stitched together to form a single, wide-angle view.
To ensure video quality, Gentex has partnered with Ambarella, a leading developer of video processing semiconductors, to develop powerful DSP-based video processing. Gentex was a key partner in the development of Ambarella’s new 4K Ultra HD single-chip solution, which is designed precisely for multi-camera automotive vision systems.
The Gentex CMS solution can also work in conjunction with a vehicle’s side blind zone warning system. When a trailing vehicle enters a side blind zone, a warning indicator illuminates in both the interior and exterior mirrors while the corresponding side-view video feed appears in the display until the vehicle passes.
Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ:GNTX) is a supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and electronics to the automotive industry, dimmable aircraft windows for aviation markets, and fire protection products to the fire protection market. Visit the company website at www.gentex.com.
