Car rearview mirrors enter the intelligent track, opening up new ways to play

Under the wave of "New Four Modernizations", driverless cars are developing rapidly. Will rearview mirrors be phased out in the future? No one can give a 100% sure answer to this question. What companies can do is to follow the trend since it is irreversible. Riding on the express train of intelligent and networked development, rearview mirrors are also entering the race and integrating into the field of smart cockpits, bringing new features.

As a global supplier of optoelectronic products for the automotive, aviation and firefighting industries, Gentex has always been the only company in the field of automotive automatic anti-glare rearview mirrors, with a market share of 95%. Of course, as a traditional parts company, Gentex is also facing technological changes in the global automotive industry, so Gentex is also actively seeking new growth points. Recently, Gentex invited the media to visit its new factory in Minhang District, Shanghai. During the visit, Pan Bo, General Manager of Gentex China, introduced the appearance of the new factory, its assembly, and the new products and technologies currently under development.

Interior rearview mirror has great potential, integrating the advantages of digital vision

Gentex's expertise in digital vision is best demonstrated in the industry-leading Full Display Mirror Ò (FDMÒ). The Full Display Mirror (FDMÒ) is an intelligent rearview system that uses a custom camera and built-in video display to optimize the rear view of the vehicle. The system captures video from the rear-facing camera and streams it to an LCD display integrated into the interior rearview mirror, providing the driver with an unobstructed panoramic view behind the vehicle.

Gentex FDM

Although the current national regulations do not allow the removal of car exterior mirrors, with the development of autonomous driving, the future growth space of interior mirror technology is still very promising. As Steve Downing, President and CEO of Gentex, said, "Gentex has transformed the automatic anti-glare rearview mirror into a platform for advanced functions. Now with FDM, the smart mirror has become a display, opening the door for other product integration."

One of the integrated features is the built-in DVR, which can capture road scenes, accidents, vandalism and other traffic events. The system is highly scalable and can be filmed with front, rear and interior cameras, and can connect to Bluetooth, WiFi networks, collision sensors and recording additional functions. Files can be downloaded via an integrated SD card or an application on a mobile device.

Gentex DVR

Gentex has also developed a unique, scalable trailer imaging system that plays video from multiple cameras via a wired or wireless connection to the Full View Display Mirror (FDM). In the wireless solution, a built-in wireless hub in the trailer forwards the video signal from each camera to the Full View Display Mirror (FDM), providing a clear view not only behind the vehicle, but also inside, outside and around the vehicle.

Innovative Internet of Vehicles technologies to meet the needs of the Chinese market

In recent years, Gentex has continued to expand its vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) technology lineup, most notably in the field of transactional vehicles. Progress has been made in the highway toll module (ITM), a national highway toll technology that is equipped on all new vehicles. In addition, Gentex, based in the Chinese market, has also been continuously developing innovative technologies and products that meet the needs of Chinese automotive users, one of which is the ETC rearview mirror developed for the Chinese market.

Starting around 2019, stimulated by policies such as the abolition of provincial highway toll stations and the optional ETC for new cars, the installation method of ETC has gradually shifted from post-installation to pre-installation, and more and more vehicle manufacturers and related suppliers have accelerated the pace of ETC pre-installation. In 2020, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a notice on the adjustment of the "Road Motor Vehicle Product Access Review Requirements", which clearly stated that from July 1, 2020, new models applying for product access should add ETC on-board devices to the optional configuration for users to choose. In other words, many new cars such as passenger cars, trucks, buses and special-purpose vehicles sold in China may have ETC pre-installed. Specifically, all new cars listed in the future will have the optional pre-installed OBU product function, and ETC pre-installation will be the general trend in the future.

Driven by such policies, coupled with its mature transactional vehicle technology in the United States, Gentex has a very good market prospect. As Pan Bo introduced, users no longer need to install ETC aftermarket, and Gentex can integrate the ETC module and electronic toll collection standards into the rearview mirror before installation.

Recently, Gentex also announced a partnership with Simplenight to provide drivers and passengers with enhanced mobile options for booking personalized entertainment and lifestyle experiences beyond everyday purchases. Simplenight is a powerful, customizable platform that provides real-time bookings across categories such as dining, lodging, attractions, events, gas, parking, shopping, etc. for global brands. The platform is unique in that it can be seamlessly integrated into the car's infotainment and navigation systems as well as mobile applications and voice assistants.

SimpleNight

Gentex plans to integrate Simplenight into existing and future connected vehicle technologies, including HomeLink, the automotive industry's leading car-to-home automation system. The system uses buttons on the rearview mirror to remotely control smart home devices after learning codes. Gentex is currently integrating Simplenight into the HomeLink Connect app, which helps users program their HomeLink buttons and control cloud devices from the car.

Cockpit monitoring to improve driving safety

Safety is a key factor affecting the implementation and development of autonomous driving to a higher level. How to help autonomous driving safety and let drivers and passengers feel at ease to hand over the steering wheel to the vehicle has been explored by many parties. Aiming at driving safety, Gentex has designed and produced automotive-grade cameras with precise applications. To support the growth of in-vehicle sensing, it has developed a camera sensor that can monitor the driver and passenger compartment. The system consists of a high-resolution imager and an infrared transmitter cleverly hidden behind the rearview mirror glass inside the car, allowing the system to have a clear view of the situation inside the car and constantly monitor it.

Gentex Cabin Monitoring

The system monitors the driver's head posture, line of sight and other visual indicators to determine whether they are inattentive, fatigued driving and whether it is suitable to switch back to manual operation. It can also track passengers and their behavior, as well as objects and other environmental factors. It can even transform the vehicle into a mobile communication center for making calls, holding meetings or capturing wonderful moments.

It is also worth mentioning that Gentex has also developed in-cabin sensing devices that can detect smoke, e-cigarettes, volatile organic pollutants and other atmospheric pollutants in the vehicle. These devices are becoming increasingly important for unmanned vehicle operators in order to protect passenger safety and keep the vehicle clean. Gentex is currently working with an unmanned vehicle manufacturer to develop the first smoke detector to detect smoke and e-cigarettes in the vehicle. The system has a sensor device installed in the vehicle's air conditioning ventilation duct system to continuously sample air quality. Once smoke or e-cigarettes are detected, the vehicle operator is notified, the vehicle is marked for cleaning, and the offending passengers may be fined after assessment.

Gentex Cabin Sensing Alert

Conclusion:

As mentioned at the beginning, the development of autonomous driving may eventually eliminate the need for rearview mirrors, which is a big challenge for companies. But at the same time, the development of smart cockpits has brought new opportunities to companies. As long as companies seize the opportunity, they can find new growth points and rejuvenate in the technological revolution of the automotive industry.