Vehicle Cluster Visibility via Eye Tracking and Dynamic Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
The visibility of cluster design elements in a vehicle is obstructed by the steering wheel, leading to hidden information, and existing solutions that adjust the seat or steering wheel position cause driver fatigue.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that detect the driver's eye position, determine visible and invisible areas on the cluster screen, and convert or move display information using an eye position detection unit, visible area determination unit, and display information design conversion unit to make obscured information visible, potentially by lowering resolution or enlarging size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the steering wheel is positioned between the cluster screen and the driver, then the steering wheel provides necessary control functionality, but part of the cluster screen becomes hidden behind the steering wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cluster display area into visible and invisible regions based on the steering wheel's position. Display elements are then selectively arranged - critical information is placed in the visible area while less critical information occupies the invisible area, which can be accessed through interaction. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by ensuring control functionality while optimizing information visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces interaction dimensions (touch, gesture, voice) to access information in the invisible area. By adding these temporal and interactive dimensions, the system allows drivers to access hidden cluster information without physically moving the steering wheel or cluster, thus maintaining control functionality while improving information accessibility.
2Loss of information
If the seat or steering wheel position is adjusted to make cluster information visible, then visibility of cluster information is improved, but driver posture changes causing fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy or representation of the cluster information layout that accounts for the steering wheel's obstruction. Instead of physically adjusting components, the system digitally maps which areas are visible and which are hidden, then intelligently assigns display elements to appropriate regions. This virtual modeling approach improves information visibility without any physical adjustment that could cause driver fatigue.
3Quantity of substance
If display information is placed in the invisible area of the cluster screen, then more information can be displayed on the cluster, but the information becomes hidden behind the steering wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic display management where the visibility and accessibility of information in the invisible area can change based on driving conditions, driver interaction, and priority levels. High-priority information remains in visible areas, while lower-priority information can be placed in invisible areas and brought to visibility through interaction. This dynamic approach allows maximum information capacity while ensuring critical information remains accessible.
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
Improves driver visibility by making hidden cluster information visible without altering the driver's posture, enhancing the visibility of display information by repositioning or resizing it for better viewing, specifically addressing the issue of information obscured by the steering wheel.
Implementation Method 1
an eye position detection unit to detect an eye position of the driver from a face image captured through a camera in a vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate to an apparatus for improving visibility of cluster design elements based on a driver's view, including an eye position detection unit to detect an eye position of the driver from a face image captured through a camera in a vehicle, a visible area determination unit to determine a visible area and an invisible area in a cluster based on the detected eye position, a position of the cluster in the vehicle and a position of a steering wheel, a display information detection unit to detect a position and shape of display information displayed on the cluster, and a display information design conversion unit to convert a position or shape of display information overlapping in the invisible area among the display information.