Camera hardware design for dynamic rearview mirror

Apparatus for capturing glare-reduced images, comprising:

• an aspheric lens element having a surface profile selected to enhance a center region within captured images;
• coaxial with the aspheric lens element, at least one glare-reducing element comprising:
• a polarized lens element configured to transmit only vertically-polarized light to reduce partially-polarized light in a horizontal plane by reflection off a ground surface, said partially-polarized light in the horizontal plane passing through the aspheric lens element before being received at the polarized lens element;
• and
• a photochromic element configured to transition from a clear state to a darkened state when exposed to light subsequent to the light passing through the aspheric lens element;
• and
• an imaging chip receiving the light subsequent to the light passing through the at least one glare-reducing element.