Nissan Rearview Mirror Doubles as Rearview LCD Monitor

March 3, 2014

Patrick Ponticel

Nissan plans to introduce the dual-functioning rearview mirror (shown here in camera mode) to global markets in 2015.

At the Geneva International Motor Show this week, Nissan is introducing a rearview mirror that incorporates an LCD monitor. When put into the market, the unit will enable drivers to turn the conventional mirror into an LCD monitor. A 1.3-million-pixel narrow-angle camera was developed so that picture quality would not be sacrificed when formatted for the specially designed monitor. Also specially designed was a monitor with a unique aspect ratio of approximately 4:1; conventional monitors have an aspect ratio of 4:3 or 16:9. Without providing details, Nissan said it engineered a way out of another challenge: the tendency of such units to display overlapping images from the two functions. The automaker plans to introduce the product to global markets in 2015. It will be offered as a dealer option this spring in the Japanese market.