Conventional roadside curve mirrors allow
drivers and pedestrians to obtain a view of what is happening
beyond the next bend in the road, but all too frequently
potential accidents are overlooked because people's attention
is distracted due to fatigue, etc.
In an advance aimed at preventing such accidents,
Kitamura Industry has developed and commercialized a curve
mirror equipped with an LED display that captures the
attention of drivers.
By using a special "magic" mirror, mounting
the LEDs inside the mirror itself and connecting them
to motion sensors, we have developed a mirror system that
detects the approach of objects, triggering the LEDs to
light and display a message. This mirror system is expected
to be particularly effective in situations where visibility
is poor or restricted, such as in parking towers, construction
sites, etc.
The LEDs are powered by solar cells with
a backup battery, which means they can be employed in
virtually any exterior location without having to be connected
to a mains electricity supply.
In addition, with the current compact mirror
type, we have come up with the idea of installing an observation
camera together with the built-in LED alphanumeric display,
and we are now developing this product as a crime prevention
device for discouraging shoplifting, illegal dumping,
etc.