Flexible Steering Wheel Display for Obstructed Dashboard Controls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dashboard controls in vehicles are often obstructed by the steering wheel, making it difficult for drivers to view essential information without adjusting the seat or wheel height, which may not fully resolve the obstruction issue.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a flexible display attached to the steering wheel, sensors to detect the driver's hand and eye position, and cameras to determine obstructed controls, displaying these controls on the flexible display to maintain the driver's view of critical dashboard information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a traditional dashboard layout is used with controls mounted on the dashboard, then the dashboard can house all necessary controls, but the steering wheel obstructs the driver's view of these controls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the dashboard controls and displays it on the steering wheel surface. The flexible display shows a replicated version of the dashboard interface, allowing drivers to view control information directly on the steering wheel without obstructing the physical dashboard controls behind it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the display of control information from a two-dimensional dashboard plane to a three-dimensional surface that conforms to the steering wheel's curvature. The flexible display wraps around the steering wheel, bringing the information display into the driver's natural field of view without requiring dashboard reconfiguration.
2Strength
If the steering wheel is made opaque to ensure structural integrity and comfort, then the steering wheel provides good grip and structure, but it blocks the view of dashboard controls behind it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display function from the structural function of the steering wheel. The flexible display is a separate layer that can be applied to the steering wheel surface, allowing the steering wheel structure to remain opaque and intact while adding a transparent or translucent display layer for visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible display acts as an intermediary between the driver and the dashboard controls. It provides visual information about the controls without requiring the driver to see through the steering wheel material itself, mediating the interaction between the opaque steering wheel structure and the need for control visibility.
3Device complexity
If rigid flat displays are used in the steering wheel, then the display structure is simple and durable, but it cannot conform to the curved surface of the steering wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible display that can be bent and shaped to conform to the curved surface of the steering wheel. This flexible film technology allows the display to adapt to the steering wheel's geometry while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure compared to custom-molded rigid displays.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a system for a vehicle control display device is provided. The system includes a vehicle steering wheel having spokes connected to a steering shaft, the wheel positioned in front of a dashboard having controls mounted therein. The system further includes a flexible display attached to the wheel or a spoke. The system further includes a sensor installed in the wheel to detect a driver's hand position on the wheel. The system further includes an overhead camera and micro cameras installed in the wheel to determine the driver's eye position. The system further includes a processor attached to the flexible display, the sensor, and the cameras to determine which controls are obscured by the wheel and the spokes and for displaying pre-specified ones of the obscured controls on the flexible display.