Selective Visibility Motor Vehicle Projection System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for displaying information outside a motor vehicle using projection technology are limited by the potential to irritate other road users and do not allow for selective visibility of information, as all projected information is visible to everyone, including irrelevant or sensitive details.

Innovation Solution

A method to generate projection objects outside a motor vehicle that can be made invisible to other road users without optical aids, allowing only the driver to see certain information, using techniques such as infrared or polarized light, while other road users can see essential information like a marked lane area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If projection objects are displayed outside the motor vehicle using visible light, then other road users can see the projected information, but unnecessary irritation to other road users occurs and sensitive information cannot be kept private

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselective visibility of informationVSAvoidirritation to other road users
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the projection system have different visibility properties. Specifically, the projection means can project both visible light components (for general road users) and infrared components (for driver-only viewing through optical aids). This allows certain information to be selectively visible to the driver while other information remains visible to all road users, thus resolving the contradiction between information privacy and public visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the projected light from purely visible light to a combination of visible and infrared light. By projecting infrared components that are invisible to the naked eye but detectable by optical aids worn by the driver, the system enables selective information display. This parameter change allows the same projection system to serve dual purposes: providing public visibility for safety-critical information while maintaining privacy for sensitive navigation or planning information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If all projected information is made visible to all road users, then safety information can be shared, but sensitive or irrelevant details are unnecessarily disclosed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety information sharingVSAvoidunwanted information disclosure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the projected information into different visibility layers. Critical safety information (such as lane markings, obstacle warnings, and traffic signals) is projected in the visible spectrum for all road users to see. Meanwhile, sensitive information (such as intended route, navigation instructions, or private communication data) is projected in the infrared spectrum, visible only to the driver through optical aids. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of safety information sharing and prevention of unwanted disclosure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If projection means are used to mark the vehicle's future location, then the driver can plan the vehicle's path, but other road users are irritated by the projection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepath planning capabilityVSAvoidirritation to other road users
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces optical aids (such as infrared-transparent glasses or contact lenses) as an intermediary between the driver and the projection system. The projection means emits infrared light that is invisible to other road users but can be detected by the optical aids worn by the driver. This intermediary allows the driver to see detailed path planning information and future location markings without causing irritation or distraction to other road users, as they cannot see the infrared projections with the naked eye.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables selective visibility of projection objects, allowing drivers to plan their vehicle's path without sharing this information with other road users, reducing irritation and improving safety by clearly marking the vehicle's future location and space requirements.

Implementation Method 1

using techniques such as infrared or polarized light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

using techniques such as infrared or polarized light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentEP1916154B1Method for displaying information
Publication Date: 2012.12.05 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP1916154B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1916154B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1916154B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a method for information display in which at least one projection object is generated at a projection point outside a motor vehicle by means of projection means provided on the motor vehicle, the generation of at least one generated projection object is carried out in such a way that at least one part of this projection object is essentially invisible to other road users without optical aids, and the at least one part of this projection object that is essentially invisible to other road users is made visible to the driver of the motor vehicle by means of optical aids.