Instrument Cluster Obscuration Mapping for Driver-Specific Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Instrument cluster displays in vehicles often have obscured zones due to the steering wheel or other implements blocking the view, leading to variable and unpredictable information presentation to occupants with different anthropometric characteristics and viewing positions.
Innovation Solution
A display obscuration tool that includes a spatial detection module, a gaze detection module, and an obscuration module to determine the relative positioning of the instrument cluster display, steering wheel, and driver, and identify obscured zones by analyzing the field of view and geometry of the steering wheel, using processes like umbra and point cloud obscuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the instrument cluster display size is increased to provide more information, then the information presentation capability is improved, but the obscured zones by steering wheel increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically identifies and adapts to obscured zones based on real-time driver position, steering wheel position, and field of view calculations. The obscuration module continuously updates which display areas are visible versus obscured, allowing the display system to dynamically adjust information placement to ensure critical information remains in visible zones for each driver configuration.
2Ease of operation
If the display is positioned to be visible to most occupants, then the general visibility is improved, but the obscured zones for specific occupants increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by identifying specific obscured zones for each occupant and adjusting information placement locally within those zones rather than uniformly across the entire display. The obscuration module determines occupant-specific visible and obscured areas, allowing critical information to be placed in locally optimal positions for each driver's anatomy and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by calculating and adapting to variations in driver anthropometry, seating position, and steering wheel position. The spatial detection and gaze detection modules measure these parameters and use them to dynamically adjust which display areas are considered visible versus obscured for each specific occupant configuration.
3Ease of operation
If the steering wheel position is adjusted to accommodate driver preferences, then the driver comfort is improved, but the obscured zones on the display change
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring steering wheel position, driver position, and calculated field of view to determine current obscured zones. This feedback loop allows the display system to adapt information placement in real-time based on the actual viewing conditions created by the steering wheel position, ensuring information remains visible despite position adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
A display obscuration tool for identifying one or more obscured zones within a display, such as surface areas of the display blocked from view. The tool may include a spatial detection module configured for determining a relative positioning between a display onboard a vehicle, a steering wheel or other implement onboard the vehicle, and a driver, and a gaze detection module configured for determining a field of view for the driver. The tool may further include an obscuration module configured for identifying one or more obscured zones based at least in part on the relative positioning and the field of view.