Flip-Dot Vehicle Display With Adaptive Lighting for Night Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles need to effectively communicate their driving state and surrounding situation to pedestrians and oncoming vehicles, both day and night, while existing display technologies lack sufficient visibility and efficiency in conveying this information.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle information display apparatus featuring a flip-dot display and an illumination device, which uses a control unit to output recognition, warning, and cancellation information through pixel-based symbols, icons, and characters, along with sound outputs, and adjusts illumination based on ambient brightness and detected distances, utilizing electromagnets to rotate flip disks with different reflection characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a flip-dot display is used to convey vehicle information, then information transfer efficiency is improved, but visibility in nighttime conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation transfer efficiencyVSAvoidvisibility in nighttime
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a flip-dot display with an illumination device into an integrated system. The illumination device includes light sources positioned around the flip-dot display to provide backlighting, ensuring that the displayed information remains visible in nighttime conditions while maintaining the high information transfer efficiency of the flip-dot technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The display system serves multiple functions: it displays vehicle information during daytime using the flip-dot mechanism, and automatically activates the illumination device during nighttime to maintain visibility. This multi-functional approach allows the same system to effectively operate under different lighting conditions without requiring separate display systems.

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

2Illumination intensity

If traditional display technologies are used, then visibility is maintained, but information transfer efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidinformation transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display system segments information into different types (recognition information, warning information, cancellation information) and uses the flip-dot display's mechanical flipping capability to convey these segments clearly. The illumination device segments its lighting function to enhance specific areas of the display as needed, maintaining high visibility while supporting efficient information transfer through structured presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Illumination intensity

If illumination is added to improve nighttime visibility, then visibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenighttime visibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination device is merged with the flip-dot display assembly, sharing common structural elements, mounting mechanisms, and control systems. This integration reduces the overall system complexity compared to adding a separate illumination system, as the lighting components are incorporated into the existing display framework rather than requiring independent installation and control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enhances visibility and information transfer to pedestrians and oncoming vehicles, improving safety and visibility both day and night, while reducing the apparatus's volume, weight, and manufacturing costs by leveraging electromagnets for flip-dot operation.

Implementation Method 1

a flip-dot display (60) installed in the vehicle and configured to implement a pixel by rotating a flip disk

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnet: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

rotating a flip disk having surfaces with different colors by changing the polarity of an electromagnet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic rotation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

an illumination module (70) installed around the flip-dot display (60), and configured to illuminate the surface of the flip-dot display

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIllumination: Light

Implementation Method 4

rotating a flip disk having surfaces with different colors

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3944978B1Vehicle information display apparatus and control method thereof
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 HYUNDAI MOBIS CO LTD
  • EP3944978B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3944978B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3944978B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle information display apparatus may include: a vehicle state input unit configured to receive a vehicle state; a front detection unit configured to detect a forward object ahead of a vehicle; a flip-dot display installed in the vehicle and configured to implement a pixel by rotating a flip disk; and an illumination module installed around the flip-dot display, and configured to illuminate the surface of the flip-dot display.