Rear Vehicle Display Screen for Congestion Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for drivers to obtain congestion information while driving are unsafe, as they often require querying apps on mobile phones, which can distract and increase travel risks, especially in congestion scenarios.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous vehicle equipped with a screen, camera, and lamp strips at the rear communicates congestion information to following vehicles by determining congestion conditions through an Internet-connected intelligent transportation system, displaying prompts, and detecting driver mood to provide mood-soothing information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If drivers query congestion information using mobile phone apps, then they can obtain detailed congestion condition information, but driving safety deteriorates due to driver distraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecongestion informationVSAvoiddriving safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a rear vehicle display screen as an intermediary device to show congestion information. Instead of the driver directly viewing the mobile phone app, the system mediates by projecting the congestion data onto the rear windshield or tailgate, allowing the driver to obtain information without visual distraction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual operation of checking a mobile phone app with an automated electronic display system. The congestion information is automatically fetched, processed, and displayed on the rear screen without requiring driver interaction, substituting the mechanical action of phone querying with an automated electronic information delivery system.

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

2Reliability

If drivers focus on the road to maintain safety, then driving safety is improved, but access to congestion information becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving safetyVSAvoidcongestion information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the information display from the traditional horizontal plane (mobile phone screen in front of the driver) to the vertical rear dimension (tailgate or rear windshield). This spatial repositioning allows the driver to glance at congestion information on the rear surface without turning away from the road, effectively utilizing a different spatial dimension for information access.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The rear display screen acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the need for congestion information and the need for road focus. By placing the display on the rear vehicle surface, it mediates information delivery without requiring the driver to shift attention from the road ahead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If congestion information is displayed on the rear vehicle, then rear vehicle drivers can obtain information safely, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecongestion information transmissionVSAvoidvehicle communication system
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the existing rear vehicle surface (tailgate or rear windshield) as a display medium, making the vehicle structure itself multi-functional. The rear surface serves both its original purpose (vehicle closure or window) and as an information display canvas, eliminating the need for separate dedicated display hardware and reducing overall system complexity.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system leverages the rear vehicle's existing structural surfaces to provide the display function. Instead of adding complex external display devices, the patent enables the vehicle's own rear surface to serve the information display need, allowing the vehicle structure to self-serve the communication function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3636493B1Method, apparatus and storage medium for communicating with a rear vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.04.12 APOLLO INTELLIGENT CONNECTIVITY (BEIJING) TECH CO LTD
  • EP3636493B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3636493B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3636493B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, computer device and storage medium for communicating with a rear vehicle, wherein the method comprises: a present vehicle determining that it is currently in a congestion scenario and obtaining congestion condition information; the present vehicle generating congestion prompt information for the rear vehicle according to the congestion condition information; the present vehicle displaying the congestion prompt information on a screen at a tail of the present vehicle. The solution of the present disclosure can be applied to improve the safety of the travel of the vehicle.