Interactive Visibility Screen for Motor Vehicle Pane

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional roller blinds in motor vehicles offer limited adjustability and allow light to pass through, causing discomfort to drivers and passengers, and require fixation in a single position, restricting flexibility in visibility control.

Innovation Solution

An interactive visibility screen on a transparent pane using a display unit that fades in opaque pixels to form a coherent screen surface, allowing users to adjust the screen area dynamically through detected movements and gestures, enabling partial or complete coverage and creation of peepholes for flexible viewing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a roller blind is pulled completely over the window pane to block light, then light incidence is prevented, but the window pane cannot be adjusted to intermediate positions and requires fixation mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight incidenceVSAvoidadjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The visibility screen is segmented into multiple individually controllable segments or zones across the window pane. Each segment can be independently adjusted between transparent and opaque states, allowing selective light blocking in different areas without requiring the entire screen to be in a fixed position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The visibility screen transitions from a static, fixed-position roller blind to a dynamic system where individual segments can be continuously adjusted between transparent and opaque states. This dynamic control eliminates the need for fixation mechanisms while providing precise light blocking capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a roller blind is rolled out to provide visibility screening, then light blocking is achieved, but the fabric web does not completely darken the window pane and light passes by the edges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight blockingVSAvoiddarkening effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The visibility screen applies different optical properties to different locations on the window pane. The screen can be configured to extend to the edges of the window or incorporate edge-glow elements that prevent light leakage, ensuring complete darkening where needed while maintaining transparency in other areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a roller blind is used to provide visibility screening, then light blocking is achieved, but fixation is required to maintain the rolled-out state, increasing device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight blockingVSAvoidfixation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical roller blind system with fixation mechanisms is replaced by an electronically controlled visibility screen. The screen uses electrical signals to control the transparency of individual segments, eliminating the need for mechanical rolling and fixation components while maintaining light blocking functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a visibility screen provides complete coverage of the window pane, then light blocking is maximized, but user interaction and viewing from inside become restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight blockingVSAvoidviewing flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The visibility screen is divided into multiple controllable segments that can be independently adjusted. Users can create selective transparent zones within the overall screen coverage, allowing viewing from inside while maintaining light blocking in other areas. This segmentation provides both complete coverage when needed and flexible viewing openings when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11227565B2Method for operating an interactive visibility screen, a pane device and a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.01.18 AUDI AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating an interactive visibility screen on a transparent pane of a pane device, in particular in a motor vehicle. The visibility screen is generated by means of a display unit of the pane device on the pane by pixel-wise fade-in of opaque image points, wherein the image points form a coherent visibility screen area. In the method, an operational action by the user is first detected by means of a detection device, which comprises a selection of a setting range and a movement relative to the pane. Subsequently, an expansion of the visibility screen area at the setting range is set as a function of the detected movement by means of a control device.