Work Vehicle Meter Panel Layout for High-Visibility Transmission Settings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural and construction machines require a meter panel that can accurately display various kinds of information with high visibility, as the amount of information displayed increases, making it difficult for operators to obtain necessary information.

Innovation Solution

An information display system with a meter panel unit featuring a display element and a controller that enables operation settings for each stage of an auxiliary transmission on a single setting screen, using graphical user interfaces and tabs, along with analog and digital meters, to enhance visibility and information display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the amount of information displayed on the meter panel increases, then the completeness of information notification is improved, but the visibility of individual information items deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of information notificationVSAvoidvisibility of information
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is divided into multiple regions (first display region for travel state information, second display region for work state information, third display region for setting information). This segmentation allows different types of information to be organized spatially, maintaining visibility of individual items while displaying comprehensive information across the entire panel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from traditional linear or radial meter arrangements to a multi-region planar display layout. By utilizing the two-dimensional screen space effectively with distinct regions for different information types, the system can present more information without compromising the visibility of individual elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the meter panel displays more kinds of information for smart agriculture operations, then the versatility of the agricultural machine is improved, but the complexity of the display system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveversatility for various worksVSAvoidcomplexity of display system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The meter panel is designed as a universal display system that can show multiple types of information (travel state, work state, settings) simultaneously through its multi-region layout. The display element serves multiple functions by presenting diverse information categories in an integrated manner, reducing the need for separate specialized displays for different operations.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The display system dynamically adjusts the content shown in different regions based on the operational context. The controller can modify what information is displayed in each region according to the current state of the agricultural machine, allowing the system to adapt to various work requirements without physical reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If traditional meter panels are used with multiple separate displays, then the simplicity of the display structure is maintained, but the ease of operation for accessing different information deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of display structureVSAvoidease of accessing information
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple information displays into a single integrated meter panel with a unified display element. Instead of having separate physical displays for travel information, work information, and settings, all these functions are merged into one panel with logically separated regions, simplifying the overall structure while improving accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The display element acts as an intermediary that presents different types of information in an organized manner through its multi-region structure. This intermediary approach allows operators to access various information types within a single interface rather than switching between multiple separate displays, improving operational ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4681958A1Information display system, image display method, and work vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP4681958A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4681958A1 patent drawingFigure 1B~2
  • EP4681958A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An information display system for a work vehicle including an auxiliary transmission is disclosed. The information display system comprises a meter panel unit including a display element and a controller configured to control the meter panel unit. The controller causes a display region of the display element to display a graphical user interface (GUI) to enable operation settings to be made for the work vehicle for each stage of the auxiliary transmission on a single setting screen.