Vehicle Cluster Speed Limit Display for Reduced Driver Gaze Shift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle navigation systems require drivers to glance away from the road to check if they are exceeding speed limits, and may not accurately reflect newly applied speed limit regulations without updated information.
Innovation Solution
A displaying apparatus and method that uses a camera to recognize speed limit signs and display the speed limit information on the vehicle's instrument cluster, allowing for real-time comparison of current speed with the speed limit, minimizing driver gaze movement and ensuring accurate speed limit determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the navigation device is disposed at a location offset aside from the steering wheel, then the driver can check speed limit information, but the driver needs to move gaze to the side from the forward position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the speed limit display function with the instrument cluster, merging two previously separate information sources (navigation device and speedometer) into a single integrated display location that the driver can view without moving their gaze
Solution Approach 2:
The patent overlays speed limit information in the dimensional space of the existing speedometer display, utilizing the same visual field dimension to present both current speed and speed limit information simultaneously without requiring physical relocation of components
2Loss of information
If the navigation device stores speed limit information, then the driver can receive speed limit guidance, but the information may not be updated with newly applied speed limit regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's existing camera and image processing capabilities to autonomously capture and recognize speed limit signs on the road, eliminating the need for external updates or manual information input while ensuring current and accurate speed limit data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional navigation system's database-based speed limit information with an optical recognition system that uses image processing to extract speed limit data directly from road signs, substituting mechanical information storage with real-time visual detection
3Ease of operation
If the driver relies on voice output from the navigation device to know speed limit status, then the driver does not need to move gaze, but the driver can only recognize speed limit violation through voice rather than visual confirmation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a visual dimension to speed limit information by displaying it as an overlay on the speedometer, transforming the previously auditory-only feedback into a visual display that maintains the driver's forward gaze position while providing concrete visual confirmation of speed limit status
Data Source
AI summary
A displaying apparatus, includes a speed limit recognition unit configured to obtain a speed limit of a road on which the vehicle travels, and a speedometer display unit configured to display a visual bar varying according to a current speed of the vehicle on a background speed scale image and displaying a visual indicator for the speed limit at a corresponding position of the background speed scale image.