Vehicle Door Projection Control for Left-Right Image Orientation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current puddle lamp designs for vehicles are costly and inefficient due to the need for separate production lines and materials for left and right vehicle doors, leading to increased production burdens and maintenance costs, while also potentially confusing passengers with different view angles.

Innovation Solution

A projection apparatus for vehicle doors that includes an illumination source, a projection display, and a controller, which determines the door orientation to project either a standard or adjusted image, using a direction sensor and mask with different light-transmitting patterns to ensure consistent display for passengers regardless of door orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate production lines and materials are used for left and right vehicle doors, then the display effect can be optimized for each door, but the production cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay effect optimizationVSAvoidproduction line complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single projection apparatus that can be installed on both left and right vehicle doors. The control unit automatically adjusts projection parameters based on the installation position, allowing one device to serve multiple functions and positions, thereby eliminating the need for separate production lines for left and right doors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by having the control unit modify projection parameters (such as projection angle, image content, or timing) according to the detected door position. This allows the same hardware to adapt its behavior to different installation locations, achieving position-specific optimization without requiring different hardware configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate production lines are used for left and right vehicle doors, then the display can be optimized for each direction, but the production cost and stock management burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirection-specific displayVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The projection apparatus is designed as a universal device that can be manufactured once and installed on any vehicle door. The control unit's ability to automatically adapt to different positions eliminates the need for position-specific hardware variants, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining direction-optimized display functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If the same projection apparatus is used for both left and right doors without adjustment, then production cost decreases, but the view experience for passengers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidview experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The projection apparatus applies self-service by automatically detecting its own installation position through the direction sensor and autonomously adjusting its projection parameters accordingly. This eliminates the need for manual configuration or position-specific hardware variants, achieving both cost reduction and view experience optimization simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of manufacture

If a single projection apparatus is used for both doors, then stock management is simplified, but the image display must be adjusted for different orientations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestock managementVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit automatically detects the installation position using the direction sensor and self-adjusts the projection parameters without requiring external intervention or complex manual configuration. This automation simplifies stock management (only one type of apparatus needed) while managing control complexity through automated rather than manual adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution allows for a single projection apparatus to be used on both left and right vehicle doors, reducing production costs and simplifying stock management while providing a consistent and optimal view experience for passengers, with images adjusted to match the door orientation.

Implementation Method 1

an illumination source configured to provide an illumination beam; a projection display apparatus disposed on a transmission path of the illumination beam and configured to convert the illumination beam into a projection beam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

The direction sensor is coupled to the controller. The direction sensor is configured to sense the opening operation of the vehicle door to generate a vehicle door opening signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection:

Data Source

PatentEP3845418B1Projection apparatus and control method
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 CORETRONIC CORPORATION
  • EP3845418B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3845418B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3845418B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention provides a projection apparatus configured to be disposed on a vehicle door (104L,104R), and a control method of the projection apparatus. The projection apparatus includes an illumination source (112), a projection display apparatus (114) and a controller (120). The illumination source is configured to provide an illumination beam. The projection display apparatus is disposed on a transmission path of the illumination beam, and is configured to convert the illumination beam into a projection beam. The controller is coupled to the projection display apparatus. The controller determines whether the vehicle door is a first vehicle door or a second vehicle door according to an opening operation of the vehicle door, and correspondingly causes the projection beam to display an image (IM1, IM2).