Ambient Animation System Using Virtual Spherical Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Digital interfaces in vehicles fail to enhance the driving experience by not considering the external environment and displaying flat, two-dimensional images, making the experience dull and uninteresting for drivers, especially on long trips.

Innovation Solution

An ambient animation system that uses an image sensor to capture the external environment, generates a virtual spherical lighting object, and projects a portion of the image wrapped around this object onto a display interface, creating a three-dimensional and dynamic lighting effect that corresponds with the external ambient conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If digital interfaces display flat two-dimensional images, then the interface structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the driving experience becomes dull and uninteresting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface structureVSAvoiddriving experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the flat two-dimensional display into a three-dimensional immersive experience by mapping the captured environment onto a virtual spherical lighting object. This dimensional transformation allows the interface to project ambient animations that surround the driver, converting a simple 2D display into a multidimensional sensory experience that enhances engagement without complicating the physical interface structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a virtual spherical lighting object as the core element of the ambient animation system. By shaping the captured environmental image to conform to a spherical geometry and projecting it onto the display interface, the system creates a curved, immersive visual field that surrounds the driver, transforming the flat display into a three-dimensional environmental representation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Device complexity

If digital interfaces do not consider the external environment, then the device complexity is low, but the animation fails to enhance the driving experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem configurationVSAvoidenvironmental responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by using an image sensor to continuously capture the external environment and dynamically updating the virtual spherical lighting object based on real-time environmental conditions. This closed-loop system allows the digital interface to adapt to changing external conditions, creating ambient animations that reflect the actual environment outside the vehicle and thereby enhance the driving experience through environmental awareness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes the vehicle's existing image sensor (such as a camera already present in the vehicle) to capture environmental data, eliminating the need for separate specialized sensors. By repurposing existing components for ambient animation generation, the system achieves environmental responsiveness without significantly increasing device complexity or requiring additional dedicated hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the display shows static images, then the interface is simple to operate, but the experience becomes uninteresting for long trips

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface controlVSAvoidengagement duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms static images into dynamic ambient animations by continuously capturing real-time environmental data through the image sensor and updating the virtual spherical lighting object accordingly. This dynamic approach creates ever-changing visual content that reflects the vehicle's movement through different environments, maintaining driver engagement during long trips while preserving simple interface operation through automatic environmental mapping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic action by continuously and repeatedly capturing environmental images at regular intervals and updating the ambient animation display in real-time. This periodic refresh of visual content ensures that the display remains dynamic and engaging throughout long journeys, automatically adapting to changing external conditions without requiring manual intervention from the driver.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10380714B2Systems and methods for ambient animation and projecting ambient animation on an interface

Publication Date: 2019.08.13 DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA INC

AI summary

An ambient animation system, including an image sensor configured to capture an image of an environment outside of a vehicle, a display interface configured to display information to a driver of the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the image sensor and the display interface and configured to generate a virtual spherical lighting object, shape the image to fit around the virtual spherical lighting object, and project a portion of the image fitted around the virtual spherical lighting object onto the display interface.