Modern cars may have more cameras and sensors than before, but visibility is often poorer due to the higher ring road and thicker pillars.
Synthetic engine seems to be trying to minimize that, with Motorcycle Trends discovered an American automaker’s patent application for transparent A-pillars.
The profile describes “a novel fiber-reinforced composite A-pillar consisting of one or more engineered openings impregnated with transparent resin or composite”.
The transparent material inside the pillars filters both ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths, reducing the possibility of sun damage to occupants and cabin materials.
To help maintain rigidity, the pole has an internal fiber structure of some sort, like carbon fiber.
Like the windshield or rear window, there’s also wiring to aid in impact resistance. This can also allow for electronic dimming or darkening of windows.
The patent application also mentions methods to reduce assembly costs, including embedding electrical wiring into the material during the molding process.
No specific GM brand or vehicle is mentioned in the patent application, although the opportunities are endless as all vehicles have A-pillars.
GM isn’t the first automaker to patent this type of setup.
A Toyota patent application published in 2017 describes a type of “concealment device,” with an intricate arrangement of polarized mirrors and half-mirrors that allows the driver to see through. column A.
Prior to that, Jaguar Land Rover introduced the 360-degree Virtual Urban Windshield system in 2014. This used a combination of cameras and displays embedded in the A, B and C pillars to making them almost invisible.
The A-pillars have gotten significantly thicker over the years, largely due to stricter safety standards. Gone are the days of wraparound windshields and thin pillars for near-panoramic visibility, although some automakers have placed small windows inside the A-pillars.
Companies are increasingly turning to cameras as a means of improving vehicle visibility.
For example, surround-view cameras are widely available today, while companies such as Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia offer systems that project camera footage of a vehicle’s blind spot in an indoor monitor. dashboard.
