Head-Up Display Lane Guidance With Uncertainty-Based Path Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head-up display systems for vehicles often fail to provide accurate and appropriate lane-related visual assistance due to uncertainty in environmental conditions, leading to incorrect positioning and representation of virtual objects, which can be confusing for drivers, especially in areas with changing curvatures like roundabouts or intersections.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines the uncertainty of lane-related displays and adjusts the length and curvature of virtual objects based on this uncertainty, providing visual feedback to the driver and improving display quality by reducing the risk of inappropriate displays, without requiring hardware adjustments. This involves obtaining information about the lane using environmental sensors and map data, and dynamically adjusting the display properties such as length and curvature in real-time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the length of virtual objects is increased to provide comprehensive lane guidance, then the coverage area is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to higher uncertainty in distant lane detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage area of lane guidanceVSAvoidreliability of lane detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the length of virtual objects variable rather than fixed. The control device dynamically adjusts the length based on uncertainty values - shorter objects are displayed where detection uncertainty is high, and longer objects are displayed where detection confidence is high. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing comprehensive coverage where reliable while maintaining reliability where uncertain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the lane guidance display have different properties. Specifically, virtual objects with different lengths are displayed in different spatial locations along the lane based on local uncertainty characteristics. This allows the display to provide appropriate information density and reliability indication at each location, resolving the contradiction between overall coverage and local reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If the curvature of virtual objects is increased to match detected lane curvature, then the positional accuracy is improved, but the reliability deteriorates when detection accuracy is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositional accuracy of virtual objectsVSAvoidreliability of curvature detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the curvature of virtual objects variable based on detection confidence. The control device adjusts curvature dynamically - when uncertainty is low, virtual objects are displayed with high curvature to accurately match the detected lane path. When uncertainty is high, the curvature is reduced to prevent misleading the driver with potentially inaccurate curvature information. This resolves the contradiction between positional accuracy and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If environmental sensors and map data are processed to improve lane detection accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelane detection accuracyVSAvoidcomplexity of data processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing complex hardware adjustments with software-based uncertainty assessment and display adaptation. Instead of adding more sensors or improving detection hardware, the system uses software to evaluate uncertainty in existing sensor and map data, then adapts the display accordingly. This substitutes mechanical/hardware complexity with information processing, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3978295B1Driving track related visual assistance function of a head-up display device for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3978295B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a head-up display device (10) and a method for providing a lane-related visual assistance function with a head-up display device (10) for a motor vehicle, wherein the method comprises: - obtaining information concerning a lane (16) currently being traveled by the motor vehicle; - obtaining a parameter that describes an uncertainty regarding the lane-related display of virtual objects (14) serving as a visual assistance function with the head-up display device (16); - displaying at least one virtual object (14) as a visual assistance function, wherein the object (14) is displayed such that it runs along the lane (16) from the driver's perspective; wherein a length (L1, L2) of the object (14) along the lane (16) is determined according to the parameter.