Directional Vehicle Signaling via Segmented Solid Angles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical communication methods between road users, such as turn signals and high beams, are limited in their ability to provide direction-dependent messaging, leading to misunderstandings and overstimulation of irrelevant information for non-targeted road users.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for direction-dependent signaling by a vehicle that displays different graphic messages to specific road users based on their direction relative to the vehicle, using solid angles with distinct angle parameters to ensure each user sees only their intended message, reducing distractions and misunderstandings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If traditional optical signaling methods (turn signals, high beams) are used, then the signaling function is provided, but the ability to provide direction-dependent messaging is limited, leading to misunderstandings and overstimulation of irrelevant information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage directionalityVSAvoidsignaling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display surface is segmented into multiple independently controllable display elements or regions, each capable of showing different graphic messages to different directions. This allows the system to divide the viewing space into multiple solid angles, with each angle receiving a tailored message, thereby achieving direction-dependent signaling without requiring multiple separate physical signaling devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a spatial dimension to traditional signaling by utilizing the angular position of road users around the vehicle. Instead of providing uniform signaling in all directions, the system varies the displayed messages based on the viewer's angular position, creating direction-specific communication channels. This dimensional approach allows multiple messages to coexist without interference.

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

2Ease of operation

If graphic messages are displayed to all directions, then information is provided to all road users, but non-targeted road users are overstimulated with irrelevant information causing distractions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication intuitivenessVSAvoidroad user distraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions or angular sectors of the display are assigned different graphic messages tailored to the specific needs and positions of road users in those directions. Each local display region provides information relevant only to road users in its corresponding direction, ensuring that each user receives appropriate information without being exposed to irrelevant messages from other directions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If multiple graphic messages are displayed simultaneously, then comprehensive information is provided, but misunderstandings occur due to lack of direction-specific messaging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage interpretation accuracyVSAvoiddirection-specific information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display system segments the visual information space into multiple directional channels, each transmitting a specific message to road users in that direction. This segmentation prevents message confusion by ensuring that each road user sees only the message intended for their position, eliminating misunderstandings that would arise from viewing messages not meant for them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2912653B1Method for directionally dependent signalling
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP2912653B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2912653B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2912653B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for directionally dependent signalling, particularly from a vehicle, consisting of: displaying two or more graphical messages from the same vehicle area to the outside; a solid angle being associated with each graphical message from which only the respective graphical message is visible from said angle, not the other graphical message(s); the solid angles differ at least in one angle parameter.