Tiltable In-Vehicle Display Orientation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In-vehicle and other tiltable entertainment systems face challenges in maintaining an optimal user viewing angle due to the integration of displays within tiltable structures, which can be exacerbated by tilting, leading to decreased user experience.

Innovation Solution

A processing unit that communicates with the display and determines the tilting angle of the structure to adjust display parameters such as orientation, position, and active area, ensuring the display is optimally positioned and oriented to maintain a clear viewing angle for users, regardless of the tilting angle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the display is integrated into the tiltable seat structure, then the space consumption is reduced, but the user's viewing angle deteriorates due to seat tilting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace consumptionVSAvoidviewing angle
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display is designed to be rotatable relative to the seat structure, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation in response to seat tilting. When the seat tilts, the display rotates to maintain a substantially vertical orientation, ensuring the viewing angle remains optimal regardless of seat position. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the display adaptive rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A sensor detects the tilting angle of the seat structure and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts the display's orientation to compensate for the tilting. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the display maintains the correct viewing angle even as the seat position changes, resolving the contradiction between space-saving integration and viewing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the display orientation is fixed relative to the seat structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the viewing angle deteriorates when the seat is tilted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay mounting structureVSAvoidviewing angle
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display mounting structure incorporates a rotatable joint that enables the display to change its orientation relative to the seat structure. This dynamic mounting mechanism, while adding some complexity, allows the display to automatically track and compensate for seat tilting, maintaining optimal viewing angles without requiring manual adjustment or complex mechanical linkages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex mechanical linkages or cam mechanisms to maintain display orientation, the patent employs a simpler sensor-based detection system combined with an electrically controllable rotatable mount. This substitution of mechanical complexity with sensor-electric actuator systems achieves the same goal with reduced mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If the display is mounted behind the cover glass, then the integration is improved, but the viewing angle control becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration qualityVSAvoidviewing angle adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit acts as an intermediary between the sensor that detects seat tilting and the display that needs adjustment. It processes the tilting angle information and calculates the appropriate rotation angle for the display, mediating between the detection system and the display mechanism to achieve precise viewing angle control despite the display being mounted behind the cover glass.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4174832A1Processing unit, in-vehicle infotainment system, method and computer program
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP4174832A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4174832A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4174832A1 patent drawingFigure 2c~2d

AI summary

Embodiments relate to a processing unit (30). The processing unit (30) for improving a user's viewing angle (ω) on a display (210a; 210g; 210i) integrated in a tiltable structure (200a; 200g; 200i) may comprise one or more interfaces (32) configured to communicate with the display (210a; 210g; 210i) and processing circuitry (34) configured to control the one or more interfaces (32). Further, the processing circuitry (34) may be configured to determine a tilting angle of the tiltable structure (200a; 200g; 200i) and to adjust a display parameter based on the determined tilting angle to improve the user's viewing angle (ω) on the display (210a; 210g; 210i).