Vehicle Display Switching for Predictive Rear-View Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle information display systems face challenges in quickly activating rear-view cameras when a vehicle is about to reverse, requiring dedicated software or hardware that increases costs and design time.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle information display device that includes an image processing unit, a display switching unit, and an environment determination unit, which predicts backward movement based on inputs from cameras and sensors, allowing the rear-view camera to activate and process images in advance, readying them for display when the shift lever is moved to the reverse position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the rear-view camera is activated only when the shift lever is moved to reverse position, then power consumption is reduced and device complexity is minimized, but the activation time becomes too long for urgent situations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation timeVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by activating the rear-view camera and image processing unit before the actual reverse operation is needed. The environment determination unit predicts backward movement by analyzing data from front-view camera, vehicle speed sensor, and in-vehicle camera, then pre-activates the rear-view camera system so that when reverse is actually selected, the image is already ready for immediate display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If dedicated software or hardware is used to shorten activation time, then activation speed is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation speedVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multi-functionality by employing general-purpose sensors (front-view camera, vehicle speed sensor, in-vehicle camera) and the environment determination unit for multiple purposes: monitoring driving conditions, predicting backward movement, and triggering camera activation. This eliminates the need for dedicated hardware while achieving fast activation through intelligent prediction based on existing vehicle systems.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces mechanical/dedicated hardware solutions with electronic/software-based prediction. Instead of using dedicated hardware circuitry to force fast activation, the system uses software-based environment determination that analyzes sensor data to predict when reverse operation will occur, substituting complex hardware with intelligent software control of existing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the power supply is shut off when the device is not in use, then power consumption is reduced, but the activation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidactivation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary action by shutting off power to the rear-view camera during normal forward operation (saving energy) but pre-activating it when backward movement is predicted (reducing activation time). The environment determination unit monitors conditions and triggers early activation when reverse is anticipated, optimizing both power efficiency and response time dynamically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3939835B1On-vehicle information display device
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 MAZDA MOTOR CORP
  • EP3939835B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3939835B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3939835B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle information display device (100) includes: an environment determination unit (115) that predicts an occurrence of a backward movement of a vehicle based on an output from an environment information acquisition unit, an image processing unit (121) that receives an image captured by a camera and generates an image to be displayed on a display screen, and a display switching unit that switches a display of a monitor screen provided in a vehicle in accordance with a traveling status of the vehicle. When the environment determination unit (115) predicts an occurrence of a backward movement, the image processing unit (121) starts image processing for the backward movement in advance, and When the user performs the backward movement operation, the output image from the image processing unit is displayed on the display screen.