Shift Timing Display Layout for Better Visibility in Cornering

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

During vehicle cornering, the driver's field of view narrows on one side, making it difficult to check the shift timing on the shift timing indicator.

Innovation Solution

A display device with a control unit that extends an indicator from both ends of the display region towards the center as the shift timing approaches, lighting regions are sequentially lit from the ends to the center, and the lighting regions are controlled based on engine revolutions and gear stages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a traditional shift timing indicator is used, then the indicator can display shift timing information, but the visibility is poor during vehicle cornering when the driver's field of view narrows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of shift timing indicatorVSAvoiddriver's ability to check shift timing during cornering

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The indicator is divided into multiple lighting regions arranged horizontally across the display region. These regions can be illuminated independently and sequentially, allowing the indicator to be segmented into multiple visible segments that can be perceived from different viewing angles, thereby improving visibility during cornering when the driver's field of view is narrowed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The indicator extends from both the left end and right end of the display region toward the center in the horizontal direction. This bidirectional extension creates a wider spatial footprint across the display, ensuring that at least a portion of the illuminated regions remains within the driver's narrowed field of view during cornering maneuvers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the indicator extends from both ends toward the center, then visibility during cornering is improved, but the display region requires more horizontal space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver's ability to check shift timing during corneringVSAvoidhorizontal space required in display region

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The indicator is divided into multiple lighting regions that can be illuminated selectively. By segmenting the indicator, the patent allows the display to achieve wide horizontal coverage through sequential illumination of regions at both ends, while the actual physical display structure can be more compact since not all regions need to be simultaneously visible or active.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250276577A1Display device

Publication Date: 2025.09.04 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

The display device includes a display unit that displays an indicator of a shift timing at which a driver of the vehicle shifts the transmission, and a control unit that controls the display unit such that the indicator extends from the left end and the right end of the display area toward the center in the horizontal direction of the vehicle as the shift timing approaches.