Rotatable Vehicle Display Panel for Exterior Message Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current display devices for vehicles do not effectively allow communication of information from a user inside the vehicle to people outside, particularly when the user is not present, and lack the ability to display specific messages to predefined individuals without resorting to physical notes or manual placement on the dashboard.

Innovation Solution

A display device with a rotatable display panel and control circuitry that adjusts between positions to be visible either inside or outside the vehicle, using proximity sensors and electronic control units to manage visibility based on predefined physical environment conditions, enabling secure and timed display of messages or information to specific users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a display panel is fixed inside the vehicle for user access, then information accessibility for interior users is improved, but communication capability with exterior persons deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidcommunication capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The display panel is made rotatable about an axis parallel to its main edge, allowing it to dynamically change orientation between a first position facing the vehicle interior and a second position facing the vehicle exterior. This dynamic repositioning enables the same display panel to serve both interior users and exterior persons, resolving the contradiction between fixed interior accessibility and exterior communication capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the display panel is continuously activated for exterior visibility, then communication with exterior persons is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication availabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A proximity sensor detects the presence of a person outside the vehicle and provides feedback to the control circuitry. The control circuitry then activates the display panel only when a person is detected within a predefined threshold distance, ensuring communication availability while avoiding continuous energy consumption. This feedback-based control resolves the contradiction between communication availability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If general information is displayed for public viewing, then visibility to exterior persons is improved, but privacy for specific message delivery deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage visibilityVSAvoidmessage privacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuitry is configured to display different information based on the identity of the detected person. When a predefined person is identified, a specific personal message is displayed; otherwise, general information is shown. This local quality approach ensures that each person receives information appropriate to their identity, maintaining message privacy while ensuring visibility to the intended recipient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3670232B1A display device for a vehicle and a method for operating the display device
Publication Date: 2024.01.24 AUDI AG
  • EP3670232B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3670232B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3670232B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention is concerned with a display device (10) for a vehicle (12) comprising a display panel (16) for displaying at least one graphic display object (17), the display device (10) comprising a control circuitry (18) which is designed to enable the displaying of the graphic display object (17), such that the information represented by the at least one graphic display object (17) is displayed in accordance with a predefined physical environment condition. The display device comprises a supporting arrangement (19) which is designed to support the display panel (16) which is adjustable between a first position (P1) and a second position (P2). In the first position (P1), the graphic display object (17) is visually accessible to a user inside the vehicle (12) and in the second position (P2), the graphic display object (17) is visually accessible to at least one person outside the vehicle (10).