A-Pillar Display Control for Driver View Blockage Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drivers may experience discomfort or annoyance due to differences between their direct visual and displayed images of blocked areas, especially when the blocked area ratio is low, leading to unnecessary display of images that can distract or cause visual mismatch.

Innovation Solution

A display control device that identifies obstacles, calculates blocked area ratios, and controls the display of images on vehicle body structures, only showing the blocked area when the ratio exceeds a predetermined threshold, thereby reducing discomfort and annoyance by minimizing unnecessary image display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the driver's point of view image is always displayed on the displaying part, then the driver can always see the blocked area, but the driver may feel discomfort due to differences between direct visual and displayed images, and may be annoyed by frequent display

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of blocked areaVSAvoiddriver discomfort and annoyance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The display control device dynamically adjusts the display state based on real-time calculation of the blocked area ratio. When the ratio exceeds the threshold, the driver's point of view image is displayed; when it falls below, the display is suppressed. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the display behavior responsive to actual driving conditions rather than static.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the display parameter (displayed or not displayed) based on the blocked area ratio parameter. By monitoring this parameter and comparing it against a predetermined threshold, the system intelligently determines when display is necessary, thereby eliminating unnecessary displays that cause driver annoyance while maintaining visibility when truly needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the image is displayed when the blocked area ratio is low, then the driver can see the blocked area, but the display becomes unnecessary and causes driver annoyance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of blocked areaVSAvoiddriver operation comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the blocked area ratio as a control parameter to determine display state. When the ratio is below the threshold, indicating sufficient natural visibility, the display is turned off to avoid interfering with the driver's natural view and causing annoyance. This parameter-based control optimizes the balance between visibility and driver comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the displaying part is always on, then the blocked area is always visible, but energy is wasted and display lifespan is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of blocked areaVSAvoidenergy consumption of displaying part
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous display operation, the system employs periodic assessment of the blocked area ratio and activates the display only during periods when the ratio exceeds the threshold. This intermittent operation pattern significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining visibility during critical periods when the blocked area actually needs to be monitored.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The display state parameter changes from always-on to conditionally-on based on the blocked area ratio. This parameter-driven control ensures the displaying part operates only when necessary, optimizing the trade-off between visibility reliability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4299378B1Display control device
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 FAURECIA CLARION ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4299378B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4299378B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4299378B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A display control device (100) includes an obstacle identifying part (10) that identifies an obstacle area (R') containing an obstacle (S); a driver information acquiring part (30) that acquires driver information regarding the field of view of the driver; a blocked area identifying part (40) that identifies a blocked area (N') due to the right side A-pillar (152) that blocks the field of view of the driver; a blocked area ratio calculating part (50) that of the obstacle area (R'), calculates the area ratio (M1/M0) blocked by the blocked area (N'); and a display controlling part (60) that controls the image displayed on the display (R142) provided on the right side A-pillar (152). The display controlling part (60) does not display the transparent view (P2) that is the image within the blocked area (N') from the driver's point of view image (P1) on the display (R142) when the blocked area ratio (M1/M0) is less than the predetermined value.