Vehicle Display Backlight Control for Directional Ambient Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display apparatuses in vehicles struggle with inconsistent screen illumination due to variable ambient lighting conditions, leading to uneven visibility of information across the screen.
Innovation Solution
A display apparatus with directional detecting means that uses a plurality of electromagnetic radiation-sensing means to detect the direction of incident light, allowing the control means to adjust the screen illumination independently for different viewing directions, ensuring optimal visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a generic optical detector is used to measure ambient light level, then the control system can automatically adjust screen illumination brightness, but the screen illumination becomes inconsistent across different regions due to shadows and varying light levels in different vehicle interior regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single generic optical detector into multiple directional detecting means distributed around the display apparatus. Each detector measures light levels in its specific direction, allowing the system to account for spatial variations in ambient lighting and produce uniform screen illumination across all viewing angles and screen regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different detection functions to different spatial locations. Each directional detecting means is positioned to sense light characteristics specific to its location and viewing angle, enabling region-specific illumination control that compensates for local lighting variations and shadows.
2Ease of operation
If the screen illumination brightness is controlled as a function of generalised ambient light level, then automatic control is achieved, but the visibility of information becomes uneven across different regions of the screen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ambient light measurement function across multiple directional detectors positioned around the display. This segmentation allows the system to capture spatially-resolved lighting information, enabling automatic control that maintains consistent information visibility across all screen regions by compensating for directional lighting variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-dimension generic light level measurement to multi-dimensional directional light detection. By adding angular and spatial dimensions to the detection capability, the system can control screen illumination in a way that ensures uniform information visibility across different viewing angles and screen regions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bidirectionally or multidirectionally viewable screens are used to display different images for different viewing directions, then viewing flexibility is improved, but the complexity of controlling illumination independently for different directions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the illumination control into multiple independent directional control channels, each corresponding to a directional detecting means. This segmentation allows independent control of screen illumination for different viewing directions, enabling the bidirectional or multidirectional screen to display optimized content for each direction without requiring a single complex monolithic control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by designing the control system to handle both unidirectional and bidirectional/multidirectional display modes through the same segmented detection and control architecture. The system universally supports different viewing configurations by processing directional light data and applying appropriate illumination control for each viewing direction.
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
The solution provides enhanced utility and efficiency by ensuring consistent and optimized screen viewability under various external lighting conditions, eliminating the issue of uneven illumination and improving user experience.
Implementation Method 1
directional detecting means comprising a plurality of electromagnetic radiation-sensing means
Data Source
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AI summary
A display apparatus (100), e.g. for a vehicle dashboard or console, includes illumination means such as backlight (112) for illuminating a display screen (110) via which information, e.g. satellite navigation information or vehicle operational data or video content, is visibly displayable to a viewer under variable conditions of incoming incident light, wherein the apparatus (100) comprises: detecting means (115, 121) for detecting light or other electromagnetic radiation incident on the apparatus (100); and control means (190) for controlling the illumination means (112) in dependence on the incident light detected by the detecting means (121); wherein the detecting means (115, 121) comprises directional detecting means (115, 121), e.g. including a plurality of light-sensitive devices (121) and a waveguide (115) or collimator device, for detecting a direction from which the light is incident thereon, and the control means (190) is operable to control the illumination means (112) in dependence on the detected direction of incidence of the incident light.