Heads-Up Display Visual Excitability Modulation for Driver Distraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional information display systems in vehicles cause inconvenience and annoyance to drivers due to simple controlling processes, and they struggle to effectively display navigation information without overwhelming the driver with excessive data.

Innovation Solution

A heads-up display (HUD) system using a laser scanning technology that projects navigation information, such as the direction, name, and distance to the next corner, onto the windshield, with adjustable visual excitability and characteristics like brightness, color, and position to minimize driver distraction and annoyance, while ensuring the information is easily recognizable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If navigation information is continuously displayed with high visual excitability, then driver recognition of information is improved, but driver annoyance and distraction increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation recognitionVSAvoiddriver annoyance
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The HUD system employs periodic action by alternating between high-visual-excitability display (when corner information is updated) and low-visual-excitability display (during steady-state navigation). This periodic modulation ensures drivers notice updated information while reducing continuous visual stimulation that causes annoyance and distraction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts visual excitability characteristics based on navigation state. When corner information is updated, the display transitions to high visual excitability for prominent recognition; when stable, it transitions to low visual excitability to minimize distraction. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between recognition and annoyance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If navigation information is displayed with low visual excitability, then driver annoyance is reduced, but information recognition becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver annoyanceVSAvoidinformation recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic action to switch between display states. During corner information updates, high visual excitability is activated for clear recognition; during stable navigation phases, low visual excitability is used to reduce annoyance. This temporal separation ensures both recognition effectiveness and driver comfort are achieved at different times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by making visual excitability characteristics dependent on the specific navigation context. Updated corner information receives high visual excitability treatment for prominence, while stable navigation information uses low visual excitability for comfort. This contextual differentiation resolves the recognition-annoyance contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If multiple information items are displayed simultaneously, then comprehensive navigation information is provided, but driver cognitive load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation information completenessVSAvoidcognitive processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and prioritizes only the most critical navigation information (corner direction, name, and distance) for display in the HUD. By selectively extracting essential information rather than displaying all available navigation data, the system provides comprehensive guidance while minimizing cognitive load from extraneous information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The navigation information is segmented into distinct, organized elements (corner direction, corner name, distance to corner) that are displayed in a structured format. This segmentation helps drivers process information systematically rather than overwhelming them with undifferentiated data, reducing cognitive load while maintaining completeness.

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

The HUD system reduces driver annoyance and maintains recognition of navigation information by dynamically altering the display's visual excitability and characteristics, ensuring the information is highlighted only when necessary, thus enhancing safety and reducing stress during navigation.

Implementation Method 1

A heads-up display (HUD) system using a laser scanning technology that projects navigation information

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 2

projects navigation information, such as the direction, name, and distance to the next corner, onto the windshield

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3348433B1Information display device and vehicle apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.02.08 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3348433B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3348433B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3348433B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An information display device (100) and a vehicle. The information display device (100) displays information including information display related to a route along which a vehicle is to travel as a virtual image in a display area. The information display device (100) includes a controller (600, 902) configured to alter properties and characteristics of the information display being displayed in the display area. The controller (600, 902) alters the properties and characteristics of the information display at a timing determined in advance, and the controller (600, 902) alters the properties and characteristics of the information display at a timing when information about the route is input from a device (200) in which the route is set and position information of the vehicle is obtained. Alternatively, The controller (600, 902) switches between showing and hiding the information display. The vehicle includes the information display device (100) and a vehicle on which the information display device (100) is mounted.