Vehicle Mirror Projection for Post-Parking Navigation Guidance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems fail to provide reliable and efficient guidance to a destination after parking, requiring drivers to manually re-enter navigation instructions on their smartphones, which is time-consuming and inconvenient, especially in challenging parking scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A method using a projector integrated into a vehicle's exterior mirror to project a light pattern aligned with the surroundings, considering the door opening angle, which includes navigation cues such as maps or arrows, animated elements, and text, ensuring accurate orientation and intuitive route guidance post-parking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the driver uses a smartphone to continue navigation after parking, then navigation can be continued, but the driver has to re-enter the destination which is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for re-entering destinationVSAvoidease of continuing navigation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The navigation destination and route are pre-configured in the vehicle's navigation system before parking. The system automatically retrieves and displays the pre-planned route on the smartphone without requiring the driver to re-enter the destination, thus saving time while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle's navigation system acts as an intermediary between the driver and the smartphone navigation app. It automatically transfers the destination and route information to the smartphone, eliminating the need for manual re-entry and streamlining the navigation continuation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the light pattern is projected without considering door opening angle, then the projection system is simpler, but the light pattern orientation becomes inaccurate when doors are open

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight pattern orientation accuracyVSAvoidcomplexity of alignment system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses sensors to detect the door opening angle and provides feedback to the projection system. Based on this feedback, the projection system automatically adjusts the light pattern orientation to compensate for the door angle, ensuring accurate orientation without requiring complex mechanical alignment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The light pattern projection system is made dynamic by continuously adjusting the projection angle based on real-time door position data. This allows the system to maintain accurate orientation accuracy while keeping the physical structure simple, as the adjustment is achieved through software control rather than mechanical complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4370873B1Method for projecting at least one light pattern into the surroundings of a vehicle and vehicle having at least one projector
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 MERCEDES BENZ GROUP AG
  • EP4370873B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4370873B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for projecting at least one light pattern (1) into the surroundings of a vehicle using at least one projector (3) mounted on a vehicle (2). The invention is characterised in that the light pattern (1) comprises a navigation instruction for continuing navigation in the form of a path to be selected to reach a navigation destination (4) in order to point a person in the direction of the navigation destination (4) after the vehicle (2) has been parked.