Straddled Vehicle Meter Unit Dual Screen Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drivers of straddled vehicles face difficulty in intuitively recognizing display contents on meter units due to indistinct boundaries between images on elongated screens, leading to visibility issues and reduced forward visibility.

Innovation Solution

The meter unit is designed with two screens, one on either side of the vehicle center, inclined at 45 degrees or more, with distinct boundaries and reduced content to enhance visibility and prevent glare, allowing for easier recognition of display contents.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple display contents are shown on one screen, then information density is improved, but boundary distinctness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of display contentsVSAvoidboundary distinctness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the display system into multiple independent screens (first screen and second screen), each displaying a subset of display contents. This segmentation creates clear physical boundaries between different image groups, solving the problem of indistinct boundaries when multiple contents are shown on a single screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If screens are arranged side by side in transverse direction, then boundary distinctness is improved, but forward visibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboundary distinctnessVSAvoidforward visibility area
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent tilts the screens forward and upward at an angle of 45 degrees or more relative to the horizontal plane, transitioning from a purely transverse arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration. This dimensional change allows the screens to be arranged side by side while reducing their projection area in the forward direction, thereby maintaining boundary distinctness while preserving forward visibility.

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

3Object-affected harmful factors

If screens are inclined forward and upward, then glare is reduced, but visibility of end portions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveglareVSAvoidvisibility of end portions
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the first screen leftward of the vehicle center plane and the second screen rightward of the vehicle center plane, creating an asymmetric layout relative to the driver's position. This asymmetric arrangement, combined with the forward and upward tilt, optimizes the angle of incidence for sunlight, reducing glare on the screens while maintaining visibility of all portions including the end portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3960515B1Straddled vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3960515B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3960515B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3960515B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a straddled vehicle (1) including a meter unit (29). The meter unit (29) includes a first display (41) and a second display (42). The first display (41) includes a first screen (43). The second display (42) includes a second screen (44). The first screen (43) is located leftward of a vehicle center plane (C). The second screen (44) is located rightward of the vehicle center plane (C). The first screen (43) and the second screen (44) are each inclined forward and upward at an angle (θ1) of 45 degrees or more relative to a horizontal plane (G). The first screen (43) is inclined leftward and rearward in plan view of the vehicle. The second screen (44) is inclined rightward and rearward in plan view of the vehicle. The first display (41) and the second display (42) are arranged side by side in a transverse direction (Y) and are spaced apart from each other. The meter unit (29) forms a center space (S).