Active Vehicle Window Display for Augmented Reality Overlay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle window glass is passive and underutilized for presenting information, lacking the capability to display video, images, or text while maintaining transparency or opacity as needed.

Innovation Solution

Implementing active vehicle window glass that can present video, images, or text by using transparent or flexible OLED displays, and integrating cameras and processors to superimpose images onto the natural view, allowing for augmented reality experiences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If passive vehicle window glass is used, then the window maintains transparency and structural simplicity, but the window cannot present information such as video, images, or text

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation presentation capabilityVSAvoidwindow structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the window glass structure with an active display system by integrating transparent OLED pixels, control circuits, and power management components directly into the window assembly. This combination enables the window to function both as a transparent barrier and as an information display device, resolving the contradiction between maintaining transparency and enabling information presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The window is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a transparent protective barrier, an information display interface, and a controllable opaque screen when needed. The ability to switch between transparent and opaque states while presenting various types of information (video, images, text) makes the window a multi-functional component that addresses the information presentation need without sacrificing other window functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If active display components are integrated into the window, then the window can present video, images, and text, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation display functionalityVSAvoidwindow manufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The display surface is divided into individual controllable pixels or pixel regions, each capable of independent control. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing approaches where display modules can be produced separately and then integrated into the window structure, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining high adaptability for different information display requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The window's optical properties (transparency, opacity, brightness) are made dynamically changeable through electronic control of the OLED pixels. This parameter change capability allows the window to adapt its display characteristics based on viewing conditions, ambient light, and information type, providing versatility without requiring multiple physical window components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If the window switches between transparent and opaque states, then information can be displayed, but control and power management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay visibilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The window incorporates integrated power management circuits and control systems that automatically regulate power distribution to different pixel regions based on display requirements. The system can autonomously adjust transparency and opacity states without requiring complex external control mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective illumination control for optimal display visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the vehicle window to serve as an interactive display for presenting information, enhancing navigation and entertainment by superimposing images onto the natural view, suitable for driverless vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

using transparent or flexible OLED displays

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOrganic Light-emitting Diode: Organic Light-emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3208650B1Active vehicle window for presenting information and virtual reality
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3208650B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3208650B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3208650B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A camera on a vehicle captures an image of the surroundings, and the image is presented in a window of the vehicle that is established by a transparent display such as an OLED display or transparent LCD display. The image from the camera is presented on the display according to the angle of the camera with respect to the vehicle, such that an occupant of the vehicle sees the image on the window substantially in the same relative location with respect to the surroundings as the occupant would see looking at the objects in the image through the window. In other embodiments images from a database are presented on the window superimposed onto background objects seen through the window.