Transparent Vehicle Display Orientation Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Forklift truck drivers face reduced productivity due to the need to reorient information on transparent screens when moving between inside and outside the vehicle, as the screen image reverses when viewed from different positions, disrupting workflow and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A system that projects images from a mobile computer onto a transparent screen, determining the driver's position relative to the vehicle and adjusting the image orientation accordingly, ensuring the same view is maintained regardless of the driver's position, using a combination of sensors and wireless controls to ensure seamless visibility from inside and outside the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a transparent screen is mounted on the vehicle windshield to display information, then the driver can view information both from inside and outside the vehicle, but the image orientation reverses when viewed from different positions, requiring the driver to reorient information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewability from multiple positionsVSAvoidinformation reorientation requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the screen orientation adjustable rather than fixed. The screen can dynamically change its orientation based on the driver's position relative to the vehicle, allowing it to adapt between inside-view and outside-view configurations. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the screen to maintain optimal viewing orientation regardless of whether the driver is inside or outside the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the orientation parameter of the screen based on detected driver position. When the driver is inside the vehicle, the screen displays in one orientation, and when outside, it automatically adjusts to a different orientation. This parameter adjustment eliminates the need for manual reorientation by the driver while maintaining viewability from multiple positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If the computer screen is displayed when the vehicle is stationary to show information, then the driver can access information, but the screen should remain blank when moving to avoid distraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoiddriver distraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by controlling the screen to alternate between on and off states based on vehicle motion. The screen is activated during stationary periods when information is needed and deactivated during motion periods to prevent distraction. This periodic switching resolves the contradiction by ensuring information is accessible when needed while eliminating distraction during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from motion sensors to automatically control screen activation. When the vehicle is detected as moving, the screen turns off; when stationary, it turns on. This automated feedback mechanism ensures the screen is only visible when it serves a useful purpose without causing distraction, resolving the information accessibility versus distraction contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the driver must reorient information on the screen when moving between inside and outside the vehicle, then the transparent screen can be viewed from both positions, but productivity is reduced due to the reorientation requirement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-position viewabilityVSAvoidworkflow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the screen orientation dynamic rather than static, allowing it to automatically adjust based on driver position. This eliminates the manual reorientation action required by the driver when moving between inside and outside positions, maintaining adaptability while preserving workflow efficiency by removing the productivity-reducing reorientation step.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The screen performs self-service by automatically detecting the driver's position and adjusting its orientation accordingly. Instead of requiring the driver to manually reorient the information, the system self-adjusts to present information in the correct orientation, maintaining multi-position viewability while eliminating the productivity loss associated with manual reorientation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3147151B1A system and process for displaying information from a mobile computer in a vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 HAND HELD PRODS INC
  • EP3147151B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3147151B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3147151B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for displaying information from a mobile computer in a vehicle is provided. The system is comprised of a screen, means for projecting images from the mobile computer onto the screen, means to determine a driver of the vehicle's position with respect to the vehicle, and means to adjust the orientation of the images on the screen based upon the position of the driver. The screen is transparent and is mounted on the vehicle. The screen is viewable from inside the vehicle and from outside the vehicle. The system is configured to reverse the orientation of the images on the screen based upon the driver being in front of the vehicle.