Vehicle Display Fade Control Based on Driver Gaze Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reproduction of image data on optical output devices in vehicles can distract drivers, posing a safety risk, as existing methods do not effectively prevent drivers from being distracted by image data during vehicle operation.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that dynamically adjust the fade-out and fade-in rates of image data on an optical output device based on the driver's gaze direction, increasing the fade-out rate if the driver looks back at the device during a predetermined interval, and only allowing image data to be displayed if audio is output through headphones, ensuring maximum driver attention on traffic events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If image data is displayed on the output device for the front-seat passenger, then the passenger can access entertainment or information content, but the driver may be distracted from traffic events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display behavior based on the driver's gaze direction. When the driver is not looking at the output device, image data is displayed for the front-seat passenger. When the driver's gaze is detected at the output device, the image data is faded out. This creates spatially differentiated visibility where the same display serves different users based on their location and attention state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the driver's gaze direction using a gaze detection device and uses this feedback to dynamically control the display output. The gaze detection provides real-time feedback about driver attention, which triggers automatic fade-out or fade-in of image data, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts display behavior to current driver state.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the fade-out rate is increased when the driver looks back at the output device, then driver distraction is prevented more effectively, but the image data becomes less accessible to the front-seat passenger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the fade-out rate based on real-time driver gaze detection. Rather than using a fixed fade-out rate, the system adjusts the fade-out speed dynamically: when the driver's gaze is detected at the output device during or after a fade-in process within a predetermined time interval, an increased fade-out rate is applied. This creates adaptive temporal behavior that prioritizes driver safety while minimizing impact on passenger access.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the image data is faded out slowly, then the front-seat passenger can view the content comfortably, but the driver has more time to become distracted
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the fade-out rate based on driver gaze behavior. When the driver looks at the output device during or after fade-in within a predetermined time interval, the fade-out rate is increased to quickly remove distracting content. This dynamic adjustment ensures that while passengers can view content during normal operation, driver safety takes precedence when distraction is detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of the fade-out process based on detected driver gaze. The fade-out rate parameter is modified from a standard rate to an increased rate when specific conditions are met (driver gaze detected during or after fade-in within predetermined time). This parameter change allows the system to optimize between passenger comfort and driver safety by adjusting the speed of content disappearance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for influencing optical output of image data on an output device in a vehicle based on a determined gaze direction of a driver. If the gaze direction is directed at the output device, the output image data is faded-out at an average fade-out rate DOWN, which decreases the optical perceptibility of the output image data over time. If the gaze direction is directed at the output device and is directed away from the output device, the optical output of the image data is faded-in at an average fade-in rate UP, which increases the optical perceptibility of the output image data over time. If the gaze direction is directed at the output device again within a pre-determined interval of time relative to the start of the fade-out process, the fade-out is performed at an increased fade-out rate DOWN1 relative to a fade-out rate DOWN.