Display Controller Segmentation for Safety Information Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle information and entertainment systems can generate incorrect images due to hardware or software faults, potentially leading to dangerous situations by obscuring safety-relevant information.

Innovation Solution

A display controller system that separates safety-relevant and non-safety-relevant image data, using a merging unit to ensure safety information is always displayed prominently and securely, with an image monitor verifying the integrity of safety-relevant parts through comparison with reference data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If safety-relevant and non-safety-relevant information are displayed together on the same display, then the display can provide comprehensive information (video, navigation, safety data), but safety-relevant information may be obscured or replaced by non-safety-relevant content due to hardware or software faults

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay information completenessVSAvoidsafety information visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into multiple independent display areas, each dedicated to specific types of information. Safety-relevant information is assigned to dedicated display areas that are independent from areas showing non-safety-relevant information like video or navigation. This segmentation ensures that faults in one area cannot obscure safety information in another area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A merging unit acts as an intermediary component that receives image data from multiple sources and combines them into the final display output. This merging unit ensures proper composition of safety-relevant and non-safety-relevant information, preventing obscuration by coordinating the display of different information types in their designated areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the display controller generates all image data in a single integrated system, then the system is simpler to implement, but hardware or software faults can generate wrong images that may contain incorrect safety-relevant information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay controller structureVSAvoidimage data accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The image data generation process is segmented into separate functional units: a first image data generator for non-safety-relevant information and a second image data generator for safety-relevant information. This segmentation allows independent verification of safety-critical data generation while maintaining overall system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An image monitor is introduced to provide feedback by comparing the generated image data with reference data. This feedback mechanism detects discrepancies in safety-relevant information and can trigger appropriate responses, ensuring accuracy without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the display shows multiple types of information simultaneously, then the system provides comprehensive vehicle information and entertainment, but the risk of dangerous actions increases if safety information is incorrectly displayed or obscured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation display capacityVSAvoiddangerous driver actions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the display into dedicated areas for safety-relevant information, the system ensures that safety-critical data remains visible and cannot be obscured by entertainment or navigation content, thereby preventing dangerous driver actions while maintaining comprehensive information display capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The merging unit serves as an intermediary that coordinates the display of multiple information types, ensuring that safety-relevant information is properly integrated into the overall display without being obscured, thus enabling comprehensive information presentation while mitigating harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2279091B1Display controller, image processing system, display system, apparatus and computer program product
Publication Date: 2017.12.06 NXP USA INC
  • EP2279091B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2279091B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A display controller (3) includes a controller input (300,301 ) connectable to receive first image data representing a non-safety relevant part of an image to be displayed on a display (5) and to receive second image data representing a safety relevant part of the image. A merging unit (31 ) is connected to the controller input (300,301 ), for composing the image from the first image data and second image data. A controller output (33) is connectable to the display, for outputting display data representing the image. An image monitor (4) is connected to the controller output (33), for comparing a part of the image corresponding to the safety relevant part with an reference for the part.