Vehicle Display Readout Duplication for Sunlight Washout
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle instrument clusters experience significant reflection and obscuration of readouts due to excessive ambient light, particularly in sunny conditions, leading to washout conditions that hinder the driver's ability to read critical vehicle status information.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes an instrument cluster, an infotainment cluster, a conlight sensor, and an electronic control unit to estimate light intensity based on navigation data and sunlight conditions, prompting the duplication of instrument panel readouts onto the infotainment panel when excessive light is predicted, ensuring visibility during washout conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If transparent panels are used to protect the instrument cluster, then the instruments are protected from damage, but excessive reflection and washout occur that obscure the readouts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a duplicate display of instrument cluster information on a second display panel (infotainment screen) when washout conditions are detected. This copying mechanism ensures that critical vehicle status information remains accessible even when the primary instrument cluster becomes obscured by reflection, thus resolving the contradiction between needing protective transparent panels and maintaining readable displays.
2Ease of operation
If the instrument cluster is positioned behind the steering wheel on the dashboard, then the driver can easily view the information, but the position is subject to direct sunlight and reflection from transparent panels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second display panel (infotainment screen) as an intermediary display device. When the primary instrument cluster becomes unreadable due to sunlight and reflection, the system transfers critical information to this intermediary display, allowing the driver to access vehicle status information without directly viewing the obscured instrument cluster.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively detects potential washout conditions using light sensors and navigation data before the driver encounters readability issues. By predicting when and where washout will occur along the programmed route, the system can prepare by duplicating display content in advance, ensuring continuous readability without requiring the driver to react to already-obscured displays.
3Illumination intensity
If light intensity increases due to sunny weather, then visibility outside the vehicle improves, but reflection off transparent panels and instruments increases causing washout
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs light sensors to continuously monitor ambient light intensity and reflection conditions on the instrument cluster. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect when light intensity exceeds thresholds that cause washout, triggering the duplication of display content to the second display panel. The system adjusts its behavior based on real-time light condition monitoring, resolving the contradiction between outdoor visibility and internal reflection.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for addressing a washout condition on a vehicle display includes an instrument cluster that makes up a first display panel, an infotainment cluster that makes up a second display panel positioned apart from the instrument cluster. The system also includes a conlight sensor to determine a sunlight condition, a navigation unit to determine navigational information pertaining to the vehicle, and an electronic control unit communicatively coupled to the first display panel, the second display panel, the conlight sensor, and the navigation unit. The electronic control unit determines an estimated light intensity on the first display panel based on the navigation information and the sunlight condition, and presents a prompt on the second display panel to duplicate contents displayed on the first display panel onto the second display panel when the estimated light intensity exceeds a reference light intensity value.