Variation of occupant position in combination with varying displays for an interactive eyebox transition in a vehicle

The method dynamically adjusts display content based on occupant movement, using sensors and feedback to maintain visibility and guide transitions between display modes, addressing the challenge of varying seating positions and non-intuitive display interactions in vehicles.

WO2026092801A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2026-05-07BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
Filing Date
2025-10-13
Publication Date
2026-05-07

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Modern vehicles often feature multiple display systems that do not interact intuitively, and future vehicles with varying seating positions can restrict visibility of individual display components, leading to challenges in maintaining optimal display visibility for occupants.

Method used

A method that dynamically adjusts and synchronizes display content with the occupant's eye movement, using sensors to detect seat and eye positions, and employs visual and sensory cues to guide occupants through transitions between display modes and positions, ensuring continuous visibility and intuitive understanding of display changes.

Benefits of technology

Ensures seamless and intuitive display transitions as occupants change positions, maintaining visibility and enhancing user experience by providing clear guidance through visual and sensory feedback.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a method for displaying visual display contents to a vehicle occupant by means of at least one vehicle-mounted display device for which an associated maximum eyebox window is specified from which the entire display region of the display is visible to said occupant; the method comprising the steps of: - dynamically capturing a current seat and / or eye position of the occupant; - based on this, dynamically detecting whether and how their eyes move in a predetermined eyebox transition region which lies within the eyebox window of a display device currently used by them or adjoins same in such a way that a part of its specified display region is still visible to them; and - changing the display of the display device, in a manner synchronised with the dynamically detected eye movement of the occupant in the eyebox transition region of the respective display device, such that the occupant's leaving the eyebox window, and the movement direction that led to this, is intuitively indicated and / or explicitly displayed to the occupant.
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Description

[0001] 24-0656, 24-0657

[0002] 1

[0003] Description

[0004] Variation of occupant position in combination with varying display indicators for a coordinated eyebox transition in a vehicle

[0005] The invention relates to a method for displaying visual content to an occupant of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle or other land, air, or watercraft. The occupant may be a driver, a passenger, or another passenger of the vehicle, and one or more vehicle-mounted display devices may be provided to this occupant for the visual display of the content. The invention also relates to a control unit configured for carrying out the method and to a correspondingly equipped vehicle.

[0006] Modern vehicles typically feature a variety of display devices in their interiors, providing the driver and other occupants with important information about the vehicle's status, individual onboard systems and instruments, visual displays from navigation and driver assistance systems, and entertainment content. In addition to direct-view displays, such as the instrument cluster or a central information display (CID) integrated into the center console, head-up displays (HUDs) are increasingly being installed, projecting real or virtual images directly into the user's field of vision. 24-0656, 24-0657

[0007] 2

[0008] In field-of-view display devices such as head-up displays (HUDs), an image generated by a display or projector is projected into the user's field of vision via reflection off a reflective surface, usually at least partially transparent, positioned within their field of view. This reflective surface is typically a windshield, rear window, or side window of the vehicle, or a dedicated combiner lens located within the user's field of vision. For example, in a classic driver-side HUD, a section of the windshield opposite the driver's seat or a combiner lens positioned in front of it serves as the reflective surface, allowing the driver to view the HUD display without taking their eyes off the road. In this way, virtual images can be superimposed on and enhanced (augmented reality, AR) the real-world environment observed by the driver through the partially transparent reflective surface.

[0009] Modern vehicles typically feature several different display systems that show the same or different content to the occupant in various fields of vision, but these systems rarely interact or interact intuitively. Furthermore, future vehicles will offer more seating and reclining positions, which will further restrict the visibility of individual display components.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative and / or improved method for displaying visual display content to a driver or other occupant of a vehicle with regard to comfort, display possibilities, image quality and / or other aspects.

[0011] This problem is solved by a method for displaying visual display content to an occupant of a vehicle according to claim 1, and by a correspondingly designed and configured control unit and a correspondingly designed and configured vehicle according to the dependent claims. Further embodiments are described in 24-0656 and 24-0657.

[0012] The three dependent claims are specified. All further features and effects mentioned in the claims and the following description of the method also apply to the control unit and the vehicle, and vice versa.

[0013] According to a first aspect, a method for displaying visual content to a vehicle occupant by means of at least one vehicle-mounted display device (hereinafter also referred to more generally as a "display") is provided. The vehicle can be a motor vehicle, but also any other land, air, or water vehicle. The occupant can be, in particular, a driver, but alternatively, any other occupant of the vehicle.

[0014] The vehicle-integrated display device can, in particular, be a field-of-view display device such as a head-up display (HUD), meaning it is designed to project real and / or virtual images into the user's field of vision via reflection off a semi-transparent reflective screen positioned within their field of view. Field-of-view display devices in vehicles typically generate a virtual image projected directly into an occupant's field of vision via reflection off a front, rear, or side window of the vehicle, or off a specially designed combiner screen positioned within the occupant's field of vision. A conventionally designed HUD comprises a projection unit located below the top of the instrument panel.This includes an imaging unit such as a display or a DLP projector to generate a beam of light rays with the desired display content, and a projection optic, in particular one or more mirrors, to throw the beam of light rays in a suitable shape and direction onto the aforementioned reflective disk.

[0015] However, it could also be a simplified or mirrorless HUD, used to virtually overlay a display that extends directly into the top of the instrument panel via reflection off 24-0656, 24-0657

[0016] 4. A lower section of the windshield extends along the display. This allows for the creation of a particularly large or even panoramic HUD display.

[0017] The vehicle-mounted display device can also be designed as a combination instrument located opposite a driver's seat of the vehicle, in particular as a freely programmable combination instrument; as a central information display located in the area of ​​a center console of the vehicle; as a projection display device with a projector that generates display content and projects it onto a light-diffusing vehicle window or a light-diffusing projection screen or surface section of an interior lining of the vehicle; or as any other display located in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0018] For each display device, a corresponding maximum eyebox window is specified, from which its entire display area intended for this occupant is visible in a predetermined display quality (in particular uniformly and / or optimally in other ways).

[0019] As is customary, the term "eyebox" here refers to a spatial area from which the display can be viewed in the intended quality. In a display device with eyebox positions that can be adjusted to different user positions, this results in a maximum eyebox window that can be covered overall (see Figs. 1a-1f). If the eyebox position of a display device is not adjustable, then the eyebox and the eyebox window referred to herein simply mean the same thing. For a display device that offers different display modes with different associated eyebox windows simultaneously or alternately (such as a field-of-view display device that can switch between a real and a virtual display with different viewing directions, angles, and distances depending on the occupant's sitting or lying position, or that can offer both at the same time), these two terms are referred to here as 24-0656 and 24-0657.

[0020] 5

[0021] Display modes are treated as two different display devices due to the independent eyebox windows (see Fig. 2a-2b).

[0022] The process includes the following steps:

[0023] The system dynamically, i.e., in real time, detects the occupant's current seat and / or eye position. This detection can be implemented using suitable sensors and / or vehicle data, which may already be present in the vehicle for interior monitoring. Examples include, but are not limited to, optical and seat occupancy sensors, as well as vehicle data on current seat settings and much more.

[0024] From this, it is dynamically, i.e. in real time, recognized whether and how the eyes of the occupant in question move within a predetermined eyebox transition area (hereinafter also called eyebox transition zone), which lies within the eyebox window of a display device currently being used by him or borders its eyebox window in such a way that part of its aforementioned display area is still visible to him.

[0025] Synchronized with a dynamically detected eye movement of the occupant within the specified eyebox transition area of ​​the respective display device, the display undergoes a predefined change in such a way that the occupant is intuitively indicated and / or explicitly shown the direction of movement leading to the exit from the eyebox window. This allows the occupant to understand, on the one hand, the reason for the gradual disappearance of the display image when leaving the eyebox window, and on the other hand, to be shown a way to return to this eyebox window if they wish to see the display as clearly as before.

[0026] One idea behind the method is therefore a display content that varies in a specific way, which can also be across multiple displays, in the case of a variation of 24-0656, 24-0657.

[0027] 6

[0028] The seating position of the occupant in question, which makes reaching or exceeding the respective eyebox window visually recognizable to them. This can be achieved using static displays, virtual displays (HUDs), or even real images via optical systems.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the aforementioned change in the display comprises a shift and / or rescaling of all its display content, synchronized with the dynamically detected eye movement of the occupant in the eyebox transition area of ​​the display device, so that it is fully displayed within a portion of its display area still visible to that occupant. This shift and / or reduction of the display content in the direction of the body movement leading to leaving the eyebox window intuitively and immediately indicates to the occupant the exit from the eyebox window and the associated direction of movement.

[0030] This remaining visible portion of the display area can be utilized so fully that the content of the display device shifts and / or shrinks in real time as the user's eyes move further away from the eyebox window. Alternatively, for example to reduce computational effort, the shifting and / or rescaling of the display content can also be adjusted in predefined, discrete steps to match the user's increasing distance from the eyebox window.

[0031] The above embodiment can be implemented, for example, by subjecting a complete image intended for display across the entire display area to a uniform reduction in size corresponding to the portion of the entire display area still visible at that time. Alternatively or additionally, selected individual display elements, with or without reduction, can be moved closer together and / or between each other in a predetermined manner. 24-0656, 24-0657

[0032] 7

[0033] For example, all image elements of the overall image can be reduced in size uniformly, while text elements can be moved closer together and to or between the image elements without being reduced in size.

[0034] According to a further embodiment, the aforementioned modification of the display comprises the synchronization of an arrow graphic with the dynamically detected eye movement of the occupant in the eyebox transition area of ​​the display device in question. This arrow graphic explicitly indicates to the occupant the exit of their eyebox window and the corresponding direction of movement. In the simplest case, it can be a static arrow graphic. However, to increase attention, the arrow graphic can be enhanced with additional dynamic elements, such as flashing and / or a moving speed in the direction being indicated.The speed of the movement depicted in the arrow graphic can, for example, directly correspond to the speed of the detected eye movement, or alternatively, exceed it many times over, in order to illustrate to the occupant the leaving of the eyebox window and its associated direction of movement more clearly and to reliably draw their attention to it even during slower movements of their body.

[0035] According to a further embodiment, the modification includes supplementing the display with a text message, synchronized with the dynamically detected eye movement of the occupant in the eyebox transition area of ​​the respective display device. This message explicitly indicates the exit from the eyebox window and the associated direction, and / or comments on a simultaneously detected change in the occupant's position (for example, a transition from a sitting to a lying position) in a predetermined manner, intuitively indicating the resulting exit from the eyebox window and the associated direction of movement. This commentary can, in particular, be an intuitively understandable farewell scenario from the previous, for example, upright, sitting position, such as "On 24-0656, 24-0657".

[0036] 8

[0037] "See you again!", "See you soon!", "Have a good rest!", "Sleep well!", "Enjoy the relaxation, and see you back soon!" etc.

[0038] According to a further embodiment, the change in the display, synchronized with the dynamically detected eye movement of the occupant in the eyebox transition area of ​​the respective display device, comprises the insertion of a dynamic visual representation of a wave that travels in a direction corresponding to the occupant's eye movement, thereby intuitively indicating to the occupant the exit of the eyebox window and their associated direction of movement. Additionally, the system can implement the generation of at least one directional gust of wind and / or fragrance emission directed towards the occupant by the vehicle's air conditioning system and / or at least one wave and / or wind noise by the vehicle's sound system, synchronized with this wave representation. In the simplest case, the generation of a directional wind and / or fragrance emission and / or a wave and / or wind noise can occur only once, for example, at the beginning of the detected eye movement.Alternatively, this generation can also be continuous or periodic, with constant, increasing, or decreasing intensity, as long as the occupant's eyes remain within the eyebox transition area. The scent can be thematically tailored to the specific display and position change—for example, a saltwater scent when transitioning to a more relaxed reclining position, visually represented by waves or a relaxation scenario mentioned above.

[0039] According to a further embodiment, the eyebox transition areas of at least two of the display devices mentioned above merge seamlessly (with or without overlap) into one another for the occupant mentioned above. In this embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned change in the display of a first display device, whose eyebox window the occupant is currently leaving or has left, the dynamic detection of the occupant's current seating and / or eye position also dynamically detects whether and how their eyes are positioned in the eyebox transition area 24-0656, 24-0657.

[0040] 9 move a display device that he is not currently using, and whether and how he approaches or enters his eyebox window.

[0041] If this is the case, a display from the second display device is initiated synchronously with the detected movement of the user's eyes within the eyebox transition area of ​​the second display device, which the user has not yet used. This display partially or completely replaces the display from the first display device without duplication and is dynamically subjected to a change with precisely the opposite direction and meaning to the change in the first display device described above. In other words, this reverse change is designed to intuitively indicate and / or explicitly show the user their entry into the eyebox window of the second display device and the direction of movement leading to it.This allows the occupant to understand, on the one hand, the change from the first to the second display device caused by his body movement, and on the other hand, also to see a way to return to the abandoned eyebox window of the first display device if he wants to see its display as before.

[0042] According to another aspect, a control unit is provided that is designed and configured for the automatic execution of the procedure presented herein. For this purpose, a corresponding computer program may, for example, be installed in the control unit and run during operation of the eye-tracking display device. To carry out the procedure, the control unit is designed and configured for wireless and / or wired communication with the vehicle control system and / or sensors located in the vehicle for detecting the current seat and / or eye position of an occupant, on the one hand, and with at least one vehicle-mounted display device for this occupant, on the other. It may be a single, integrated, central control unit. However, the same functionality can also be distributed across two or more separate sub-control units that communicate with each other to carry out the procedure. 24-0656, 24-0657

[0043] 10

[0044] According to another aspect, the vehicle described above is intended. The vehicle includes the aforementioned at least one vehicle-mounted display device and is designed and equipped to carry out the method presented herein, for example by integrating the control unit described above at least partially into the vehicle.

[0045] The above aspects of the invention and its specific embodiments and configurations are further explained below with reference to examples shown in the accompanying schematic drawings. The drawings are not to scale. They show:

[0046] Figures 1a-1f show a successive exit from the eyebox window of a field-of-view display device and an associated change in its display in a method according to an embodiment of the invention, each based on a longitudinal section of a vehicle and an associated top view of the entire display area;

[0047] Figures 2a-2b show a successive change between two overlapping eyebox windows and the associated display areas of two independent display modes of a field-of-view display device in a method according to an embodiment of the invention, each based on a longitudinal section of a vehicle and a top view of all associated display areas; and

[0048] Figure 3 illustrates a change between the eyebox windows and the associated display areas of two independent display devices, visualized by waves and perceptible gusts of wind, in a method according to further patents 24-0656 and 24-0657.

[0049] 11

[0050] Exemplary embodiment of the invention based on a longitudinal section of a vehicle.

[0051] All the various embodiments, variants, and specific features of the method, control unit, and vehicle mentioned above in the description and in the subsequent claims, according to the aspects of the invention described above, can be implemented in the examples shown in Figures 1a to 3. Therefore, they are not all repeated below. The same applies accordingly to the definitions and effects of individual features shown in Figures 1a-3, which have already been given above.

[0052] Figures 1a, 1c, and 1e show, in a highly simplified longitudinal section, a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. This is purely an example of a motor vehicle, indicated only schematically by its windshield 2 and not to scale. All subsequent spatial orientation terms used, such as "horizontal," "vertical," "above," "below," "upwards," "downwards," "laterally," etc., refer to the usual vehicle-fixed Cartesian coordinate system (not shown) with mutually perpendicular longitudinal, transverse, and vertical directions of the vehicle 1.

[0053] In this example, vehicle 1 is equipped with a vehicle-integrated field-of-view display device in the form of a head-up display (HUD, not shown) for one occupant, who in this example is the driver 3 of vehicle 1 and is represented solely by their eyes. The HUD is designed to virtually project display content via reflection from the windshield 2. This results in a two-dimensional virtual HUD display area V1, V2, or V3 for each current eye position (only three exemplary positions are shown in Fig. 1) within a maximum eyebox window 4, as shown in Fig. 1b (related to Fig. 1a), 1d (related to Fig. 1c), and 1f (related to Fig. 1e). 24-0656, 24-0657

[0054] 12

[0055] As indicated in Figures 1a, 1c, and 1e by the different orientations of a central line of sight M of the HLID, the eyebox position of the HLID in this example can be adjusted within certain limits to the respective user's size and position by adjusting the eyebox within the maximum eyebox window 4, the size of which is predetermined by the adjustable HUD structure. As is common practice, an eye-tracking system can be provided in the vehicle 1 to detect the driver's current eye position and adjust the eyebox position accordingly. This is illustrated in Figures 1a-1b and 1c-1d, where the driver 3 can see the entire corresponding display area V1 or V2 of the HLID, respectively.

[0056] However, if the driver 3's eyes move out of the eyebox window 4, as shown in Fig. 1e and indicated by a vertical arrow P, the HUD system reaches its visibility limits, which initially results in a cropping of the display area V3 in Fig. 1f: its hatched lower part is no longer visible to the driver 3. The driver only sees the upper part 5 of the entire display area V3. Leaving the eyebox window 4 can happen, for example, accidentally, through a normal body movement of the driver 3, or, for instance, when transitioning to a more relaxed, lowered sitting or reclining position.

[0057] To avoid undesirable image cropping of this kind, the vehicle 1 is designed to carry out a method according to an embodiment of the invention. In this example, all display content (here, purely by way of example, a curved arrow symbol, a warning symbol for a slippery road surface, a current speed indication, and a steering wheel symbol) remains fully visible to the driver within a predetermined eyebox transition area adjacent to the eyebox window 4. This is achieved by dynamically shifting the content, synchronized with the driver's eye movement in this transition area, into the upper part 5 of the display area V3 shown in Figures 1e and 1f, which the driver 3 can still see completely. Optionally, this change is supplemented by an additional text message T, which informs the driver 3 about a movement in Figures 24-0656 and 24-0657.

[0058] Figure 13 indicates a more relaxed position (“moving to relax position”). These changes to the display in Figure 1f ensure that all display content remains visible to the driver within the eyebox transition area. Furthermore, the driver is informed by the dynamic display and the text message T that they are moving downwards out of the HLID's display area.

[0059] Figures 2a-2b show an example of two display devices (not shown) in a vehicle 1, whose distinct display areas A and B (which can each be virtual or real, projected or displayed directly) are visible from different eyebox windows 6 and 7, which partially overlap. In this specific example, it is purely illustrative and is a dual head-up display (HUD) designed for two independent display modes. This allows for the simultaneous or alternating display of a virtual display area A at some distance in front of the vehicle 1 with the associated eyebox window 6 for a normal / upright seating position of the driver 3, and a real display area B inside the vehicle 1 with the associated eyebox window 5 for a relaxed / reclined seating or reclining position of the driver 3. For further details, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above description of the vehicle 1 and the HUD with reference to Figure 2a-2b.1 a-1f referred.

[0060] In contrast to the virtual image in display area A, the real image floating in the air is actually located in display area B and can therefore be captured by light-sensitive material (for example, a photographic film) and made visible to everyone by means of a diffusely light-scattering surface (for example, a sheet of paper) when such a material or surface is brought to its image position.

[0061] Figure 2a shows, purely by way of example, four different eye or eyebox positions E1-E4, which the driver 3 passes through during his downward (eye) movement P by changing his seat position in this direction. The vehicle 1 is used for the automatic execution of a method according to an embodiment of patents 24-0656 and 24-0657.

[0062] 14

[0063] The invention is set up. This is described below in addition to Fig. 2a, also with reference to Fig. 2b, which schematically shows a resulting top view from the driver's perspective 3 for each of these selected eye positions E1-E4 of the entire display areas A and B of the two display devices / display modes:

[0064] In position E1, which lies within the eyebox window 6 of the virtual display device and outside the eyebox window 7 of the real display device, the driver 3 can see the entire virtual display area A, while the real display area B is not visible at all. Invisible (partial) display areas are symbolically indicated for each position of the driver's eyes (similar to Fig. 1f) by their hatching, whereby the driver 3 cannot see any display in the hatched area.

[0065] From eye position E2, defined by the beginning of the eyebox window 7 of the real display device, the entire virtual display area A is still visible, while at the same time the visibility of the real display area B also begins (from below, indicated in Fig. 2b as an unhatched strip of vision). This is the beginning (or in Fig. 2a the upper edge) of an eyebox transition area 8, from which both display areas A and B are only partially visible and which, in the present method, is used to illustrate a transition between the two display devices / display modes and the resulting direction of movement of the driver's eyes, as described herein. Similarly, for eye position E3, which is closer to the other end (or in Fig. 2a the lower edge) of the eyebox transition area 8, a portion of display area A is visible, while the entire display area B is already visible.For eye positions E4 located further down, and thus outside the eyebox transition area 8, only the entire real display area B is visible, while the virtual display area A is no longer visible. 24-0656, 24-0657.

[0066] 15

[0067] According to an embodiment of the present method described in more detail above, in this embodiment, for eye positions E2 to E3 in the eyebox transition area 8, a special content, i.e., a change in the display, of the type presented herein (not shown, but for example, a shift and / or reduction of the display content synchronized with the eye movement P and / or explanatory text and / or unambiguous movement symbols such as arrows or waves, etc.) is generated in one or both visible parts of the display areas A and B.This change in the display serves to illustrate and support the physical transition of the occupant (here, for example, driver 3) from their position E1 (for example, a typical upright driving position) to their position E4 (for example, a more relaxed sitting or reclining position), and thus from a first (here virtual) to a second (here real) display device / mode, making this transition consistently comprehensible and controllable for them during movement P. In other words, this content makes it clear to the user that a transition between two display devices is taking place and that it is directly related to the change in their seating position.In particular, other assistance, comfort and operating functions and features of the vehicle 1 and its display devices not mentioned herein may become accessible or, conversely, no longer accessible through this change of position (especially when switching between manually controlled and autonomous driving).

[0068] The examples of the method shown in Fig. 1 a-1 f and 2a-2b are not limited to a projection display such as a head-up display, but can also be used in the same way for other display displays.

[0069] Fig. 3 shows in a schematic longitudinal section a vehicle 1 and a change (a change in seating and eye position of an occupant indicated by an arrow P) between the eyebox windows 11 and 12 and the associated display areas 14 and 15 of two independent 24-0656, 24-0657, illustrated by visual waves 9 and perceptible gusts of wind 10.

[0070] 16

[0071] Display devices (not shown) in a method according to a further embodiment of the invention. To avoid repetition, reference is made here again to the above description of the vehicle 1 and its vehicle-mounted display devices, purely by way of example as HllDs with real or virtual display, with reference to Figs. 1a-1f and 2a-2b.

[0072] This example procedure, used to illustrate a position-dependent transition from one display device to another with adjacent display areas 14 and 15, employs a combination of dynamic displays in the vehicle 1 with additional sensory inputs such as wind via the air conditioning system or the release of fragrances. As soon as it is detected that the occupant's eyes, for example, the driver's, are moving within a predetermined eyebox transition area 8, a moving wave 9 is visually displayed synchronously in a corresponding display transition area 18 of the adjacent display areas 14 and 15. The direction and speed of this wave are directly related to the eye movement, intuitively indicating the change in display and position to the occupant.The display dynamics, shown purely symbolically and in a simplified manner by the direction of travel W of wave 9, can be displayed in any suitable way, for example, by magnification (when a wave moves towards the occupant) and / or a change in the display depth, if the respective display device allows this. In this example, a wave 9 approaches and is displayed in the relevant display area 14, 18, or 15. As the wave 15 approaches the occupant / driver, the sensation of proximity can optionally be enhanced by, for example, a breeze or gust of wind 10 from the air conditioning system, or even an intensifying smell (e.g., salt water). In a dynamic change of the display as shown in Fig. 3, which is explained to the driver by inserting the moving waves 9 synchronously with the eye movement in the eyebox transition area 8, this experience can thus be augmented by further perceptions of the driver in the vehicle 1, such as...Gusts of wind, smells, 24-0656, 24-0657.

[0073] 17 but also noises, which can be further amplified by means of other onboard equipment and systems via a suitably equipped control unit.

[0074] 24-0656, 24-0657

[0075] 18

[0076] Reference symbol

[0077] 1 vehicle

[0078] 2 Windscreen

[0079] 3 drivers or his eyes

[0080] 4, 6, 7, 11, 12 Eyebox windows

[0081] 5 visible part of the total display area

[0082] 8 Eyebox transition area

[0083] 9 visual wave

[0084] 10 noticeable gusts of wind

[0085] 18 Display transition area

[0086] V1-V3; A, B; 14,15 each entire display area of ​​a display device

[0087] M medium line of sight

[0088] P Arrow indicating eye movement or its direction; movement

[0089] E1-E4 Eye or eyebox positions

[0090] T Text message

[0091] W Direction of rotation of the visually represented wave

Claims

24-0656, 24-0657 19 Claims 1. A method for displaying visual display content to an occupant of a vehicle (1) by means of at least one vehicle-mounted display device, wherein for the respective display device an associated maximum eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12) is specified, from which its entire display area (V1-V3; A, B; 14, 15) intended for that occupant is visible; comprising the steps: dynamically detecting a current seat and / or eye position (E1-E4) of the occupant; based thereon, dynamically detecting whether and how his eyes move in a predetermined eyebox transition area (8) which lies within the eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12) of a display device currently used by him or borders on it in such a way that a part (5) of its said display area is still visible to him;and a change in the display synchronized with the dynamically detected eye movement of the occupant in the eyebox transition area (8) of the respective display device in such a predetermined manner that the occupant is intuitively indicated and / or explicitly shown the leaving of their eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12) and the direction of movement leading to it.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said modification of the display comprises: a displacement and / or rescaling of all display contents synchronized with the dynamically detected eye movement of the occupant in the eyebox transition area (8) of the display device in question, such that it 24-0656, 24-0657 20 are fully displayed in a part (5) of their display area (V1-V3; A, B; 14, 15) that is still visible to this occupant.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the still visible partial display area (5) is utilized so completely that the display contents of this display device shift and / or shrink in real time in accordance with the movement of the user's eyes from their eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12) as the user's eyes move further away from their eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12).

4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a total image intended for display in the entire display area (V1-V3; A, B; 14, 15) is subjected to a uniform reduction in size, which corresponds to the part (5) of the entire display area (V1-V3; A, B; 14, 15) still visible at the relevant time; and / or individual display contents selected in a predetermined manner, each with or without reduction, are moved closer together and / or between each other.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said modification of the display comprises: displaying an arrow graphic synchronized with the dynamically detected eye movement of the occupant in the eyebox transition area (8) of the display device in question, which explicitly indicates to the occupant the leaving of their eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12) and the associated direction of movement.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dynamically detected eye movement of the occupant in the eyebox- 24-0656, 24-0657 21 The transition area (8) of the respective display device includes a synchronized change in its display, supplementing the display with a text message (T) that explicitly indicates the exit from the eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12) and the associated direction, and / or comments on a change in the occupant's position detected at the same time in a correspondingly predetermined manner, which intuitively suggests to him a resulting exit from the eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12) and the associated direction of movement.

7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the change in the display synchronized with the dynamically detected eye movement of the occupant in the eyebox transition area (8) of the respective display device comprises the following: the insertion of a dynamic visual representation of a wave (9) which runs in a direction (W) corresponding to the eye movement of the occupant and thereby intuitively indicates to him the exit of the eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12) and his associated direction of movement; preferably supplemented by the generation, synchronized with this wave representation, of at least one directional gust of wind (10) and / or fragrance emission in the direction of the occupant by an air conditioning system of the vehicle (1) and / or at least one wave and / or wind noise by a sound system of the vehicle (1).

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the eyebox transition areas (8) of at least two of said display devices for said occupant seamlessly merge into one another; based on the dynamic detection of the current seating and / or eye position (E1-E4) of the occupant, in addition 24-0656, 24-0657 22. In addition to the aforementioned change in the display of a first display device, whose eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12) the occupant is currently leaving or has left, it is also dynamically detected whether and how his eyes in the eyebox transition area (8) of a second display device not currently being used by him approach or enter its eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12); and synchronously with the movement of his eyes in the eyebox transition area (8) of the second display device detected thereby, a display of the second display device is started, which in each case partially or completely replaces the display of the first display device without duplicate representation and is thereby dynamically subjected to a change with exactly the opposite direction and meaning than in the aforementioned change of the first display device, in order to indicate to the occupant the entry into the eyebox window (4, 6, 7, 11, 12) of the second display device. To intuitively indicate and / or explicitly display the display device and its resulting direction of movement.

9. Control unit for a vehicle (1) which is designed and equipped for the automatic execution of the method according to one of the preceding claims and for the wireless and / or wired communication required for this purpose with the vehicle control and / or a sensor located in the vehicle (1) for detecting a current seat and / or eye position (E1-E4) of an occupant on the one hand and with the at least one vehicle-bound display device for this occupant on the other hand.

10. Vehicle (1), in particular a motor vehicle, comprising at least one vehicle-mounted display device for displaying visual -0656, 24-0657 23 Display content is designed for an occupant of the vehicle (1); wherein the vehicle (1) is designed and equipped to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 8 and for this purpose in particular has a control unit according to claim 9.

Citation Information

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