Vehicle Surround View Display With Directional Angle Overlay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle display systems fail to clearly indicate the direction from which the displayed image is viewed relative to the associated vehicle, making it difficult for users to understand the orientation of blind spots and driving assistance information.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle display device that combines image data from multiple cameras to generate an overhead surround view composite image, with additional images and angles of view displayed in specific regions, allowing users to easily distinguish the direction of view by superimposing angle information on the composite image.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If multiple images are combined to generate an overhead surround view composite image, then the coverage of blind spots is improved, but it becomes difficult for users to distinguish the direction of view

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoiddirection information

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is divided into multiple display regions, with each region showing a different image (overhead surround view composite image, wide-range rear image, left rear image, right rear image, front image, or rear image). This segmentation allows users to see both the comprehensive overhead view and directional reference images simultaneously, preserving direction information while maintaining broad coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Directional reference images (such as wide-range rear image, left rear image, right rear image) are introduced as intermediary elements that mediate between the overhead composite image and the user's understanding of vehicle orientation. These reference images serve as visual cues that help users interpret the directionality of the composite image without disrupting the comprehensive view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If only an overhead surround view composite image is displayed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay structureVSAvoiduser understanding

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display device is designed to perform multiple functions: it can display the overhead surround view composite image for comprehensive monitoring, switch to wide-range rear images for broader visibility, and show directional reference images for orientation. This multi-functionality allows a single device to adapt to different user needs and driving scenarios without requiring multiple separate devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The display device dynamically switches between different display modes and images based on user input (switching portion operations) and vehicle conditions. The system can transition from showing only the overhead composite image to displaying multiple regional images with directional references, making the interface adaptive rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If directional reference images are added to help users understand view direction, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirection recognitionVSAvoidimage processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the display screen are assigned different functions and image types. The center region displays the overhead composite image, while surrounding regions display directional reference images or alternative views. This local differentiation optimizes the information presentation for each specific viewing need without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11833973B2Vehicle display device, vehicle display method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing vehicle display program

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A control section generates an overhead surround view composite image by combining image data acquired by plural cameras, and, combines the image data to generate a wide-range rear image, a left rear image, a right rear image, a front image and a rear image. The control section calculates angles of view of the image data that were used in generating the wide-range rear image, the left rear image, the right rear image, the front image and the rear image, respectively. The control section displays any of the wide-range rear image, the left rear image, the right rear image, the front image and the rear image in a first display region, and displays information expressing angles of view corresponding to images displayed in the first display region in a second display region in a manner of being superimposed on the overhead surround view composite image.