Flexible Instrument Cluster Layout for Prioritized Vehicle Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle instrument clusters face challenges with physical gauges occupying valuable space, being distracting, and popup notifications being overwhelming and lacking context, which can lead to delayed driver awareness of critical vehicle conditions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a flexible instrument cluster system with dynamic containers and gauge priority logic to display out-of-parameter gauges and notifications in a reconfigurable format, using animations and color changes to draw attention, and prioritizing popup messages based on severity and relevance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical gauges are used in the instrument cluster, then the driver receives visual indication of vehicle status, but valuable real estate space is occupied and the driver is distracted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical gauges with digital representations on a display screen. The digital gauges replicate the functionality of physical gauges by showing vehicle status information (speed, RPM, fuel level, etc.) through graphical interfaces, thereby eliminating the need for physical space while maintaining driver awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical analog gauges with electronic display systems. Instead of physical needles moving across analog dials, the system uses digital rendering of gauge information on a screen, replacing the mechanical system with an electronic/optical system that consumes no physical space in the traditional sense.
2Loss of information
If a maximized set of gauges is displayed on the digital instrument cluster, then comprehensive vehicle information is provided, but additional gauge information cannot be displayed and the layout becomes fixed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic display layout where gauges can be dynamically added, removed, or repositioned based on vehicle conditions and driver preferences. When a gauge enters an out-of-parameter or warning state, it is automatically brought onto the screen and displayed in a dynamic container, while other gauges are compacted to provide room. This creates a flexible, adaptive layout that responds to changing information needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the instrument cluster display into multiple zones and containers that can be independently configured. The display is segmented into primary gauge areas, dynamic containers for warning states, and reconfigurable zones for notifications, allowing different portions of the display to be optimized for different types of information and enabling flexible reconfiguration without affecting the entire display.
3Loss of information
If popup notifications are used to warn the driver of vehicle conditions, then information is provided, but the notifications are too numerous to be effective and lack necessary context
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different display qualities and presentation formats to different types of notifications based on their severity and context. Critical warnings are displayed with prominent visual indicators, animations, and color changes, while less urgent notifications are displayed in a more subdued manner. This localized differentiation of notification quality helps drivers prioritize their attention and respond appropriately to different warning levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a notification management system that acts as an intermediary between vehicle systems and the driver. This system classifies, prioritizes, and contextualizes notifications before presenting them to the driver, filtering out redundant information and organizing warnings in a hierarchical structure that improves effectiveness and reduces driver cognitive load.
4Reliability
If hidden gauges are brought onto the screen when entering out-of-parameter state, then driver awareness is improved, but screen space becomes limited and layout must be reconfigured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested display structure where dynamic containers for out-of-parameter gauges are embedded within the existing instrument cluster layout. When a gauge enters an abnormal state, it is nested within a dynamic container that overlays or integrates with the normal gauge display, allowing additional information to be presented without completely replacing the existing layout and minimizing space consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods and computer readable storage media provide flexible vehicle status notifications via an instrument cluster displayed on an in-vehicle screen. In some examples, when a non-displayed gauge goes into an out-of-parameter or warning range, the gauge may be dynamically shown in the out-of-parameter or warning state in a container position assigned to the gauge in another display or in a dynamic container position in the instrument cluster. In some examples, a popup notification may be provided to inform the driver of a condition. When there are multiple notifications, they may be grouped into definable severity classifications and prioritized so that a notification determined to be a most important message at the time is presented to the driver in a notification zone central to a driver's field of vision on the instrument cluster that allows for reusing screen space for providing warning and information from a range of data sources.