Gaze-Adaptive Vehicle Display System for Driver Attention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle display systems fail to ensure that drivers consciously notice important information and have sufficient time to process it without being distracted, and they often disturb other occupants with irrelevant messages.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a display system that uses gaze tracking to delay the appearance of messages until the driver is focused on the display, and reappear when the driver looks back, ensuring the message is seen when attention is available and avoiding distraction from critical tasks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If messages are displayed for a fixed period regardless of driver attention, then the driver is informed of important information, but the driver may be distracted from critical tasks or other occupants are disturbed by irrelevant messages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation delivery to driverVSAvoiddriver distraction and disturbance to occupants
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The display system dynamically adjusts message visibility based on real-time detection of driver attention state. Messages are displayed only when the driver is determined to be attentive, and hidden when distraction is detected, creating a dynamic adaptation to changing operational conditions rather than a static fixed-duration display approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors driver state through sensors (eye tracking, head position, steering behavior) and uses this feedback to control message display. The display state is adjusted based on feedback about whether the driver is currently attentive or distracted, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents harmful distraction while ensuring information delivery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If messages are displayed immediately when determined relevant, then the driver receives timely information, but the driver may not have sufficient conscious attention to process the information safely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation delivery timingVSAvoidsafe information processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary assessment of driver attention state before initiating message display. By evaluating whether the driver is currently attentive through sensor data analysis, the system ensures that information is only presented when the driver is in a safe state to process it consciously, preventing premature display during critical driving moments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If gaze tracking and attention detection systems are implemented, then message display can be optimized for driver attention, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptive message displayVSAvoidsensor systems and processing requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multi-functional sensors that serve both primary driving assistance functions and secondary attention detection functions. For example, cameras and sensors used for driver monitoring and collision avoidance are also utilized to detect gaze direction and attention state, eliminating the need for separate dedicated attention detection hardware and reducing overall system complexity

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

Data Source

PatentEP3562700B1User interfaces, computer program product, signal sequence, means of locomotion and method for displaying information on a display device
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3562700B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3562700B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to user interfaces, a computer program product, a signal sequence, a means of locomotion and a method for displaying information (5) on a display device (4) of a means of locomotion (10). The method comprises the following steps: - determining an information to be displayed, - determining that a user (1) sees the display device (4) and in response thereto, - displaying a message (5) representing the information on the display device (4). Alternatively, it is proposed, in response to the display of the message (5) on the display device, to determine that the user (1) looks away from the display device (4) and in response thereto to hide the message (5).