Viewing Angle-Dependent GUI for Dual-View Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dual-view displays in vehicles often result in operating errors due to the lack of differentiation between driver and passenger interactions, as the same control elements are displayed with different functions for each viewer, leading to potential incorrect operations.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for viewing angle-dependent display of a graphical user interface, where the same operating elements perform the same functions but with different representations for the driver and passenger, utilizing a dual-view display that maintains full resolution by using all pixels for shared content areas, with varying levels of detail based on the user's task or individualization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If different image contents are displayed for driver and passenger on a dual-view display, then information relevance to each user is improved, but operating errors occur due to inconsistent control element functions across viewing angles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation relevanceVSAvoidoperation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the display content according to viewing angle: the driver sees navigation and traffic information with driving-relevant control elements, while the passenger sees infotainment content with media control elements. Each viewing angle receives customized information and controls appropriate to that user's needs, resolving the contradiction between information relevance and operation reliability through spatially differentiated display quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of moving object

If the parallax barrier is switched at high rate to prevent perceptible interruption, then display continuity is improved, but the horizontal resolution is reduced to half the maximum possible resolution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay continuityVSAvoidhorizontal resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic action through the time-multiplexed switching of the parallax barrier at high frequency, alternately directing light to the driver's and passenger's viewing angles. This periodic switching creates the perception of continuous display for both users simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between display continuity and horizontal resolution by using temporal multiplexing to achieve what spatial multiplexing alone cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the same control elements are displayed with different functions for each viewer, then information customization is improved, but operating errors occur due to lack of differentiation between driver and passenger interactions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation customizationVSAvoidoperation clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the display functionality into angle-specific segments: the driver's view contains navigation controls and driving information, while the passenger's view contains media playback controls and infotainment content. This segmentation ensures that each user interacts only with controls relevant to their role, eliminating the confusion that would arise from identical controls having different functions depending on viewing angle, thus resolving the contradiction between customization and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 approach prevents incorrect operations by ensuring that the same operating elements function consistently across viewing angles, providing a detailed and intuitive interface for the driver while allowing individualization and privacy protection for the passenger, without the need for sensors.

Implementation Method 1

a liquid crystal layer that can be switched to be transparent or opaque depending on requirements and the viewing angle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid crystal switching: Liquid Crystals

Implementation Method 2

an array of cylindrical lenses on the display surface separates the two displays. Here, too, the pixels for the two viewing angles are nested in one another in the horizontal direction, but unlike the parallax barrier, part of the light is not blocked, but rather deflected in different directions by the lens array for the two viewing angles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight refraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3532332B1Method and device for the viewing angle-dependent representation of a graphic user interface
Publication Date: 2022.12.28 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3532332B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3532332B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3532332B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

For the viewing angle-dependent representation of a graphic user interface, different representations of the same image and/or operating content are displayed at different viewing angles, wherein at least one operating element (8, 9) performs the same function for different viewing angles and/or is located at the same position on the represented graphic user interface. Preferably, the representation occurs on a dual-view display, which displays a first representation (2) of the image and/or operating content at a first viewing angle and displays a second representation (3) of the same image and/or operating content at a second viewing angle, wherein the representations (2, 3) of the same image and/or operating content at the two viewing angles differ in terms of a different level of detail.