Utility Vehicle Camera Display Layout for Running Board Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators on commercial vehicles like refuse collection vehicles face restricted visibility and safety risks due to limited views of traffic ahead and behind, leading to potential accidents during operation.
Innovation Solution
Equipping commercial vehicles with cameras that capture areas in front and behind the vehicle, displaying image information on a display device at the operator's eye level, enhanced by artificial intelligence for critical information identification and warnings, and adjusting display based on vehicle operation mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operator rides on the running board to travel along, then comfort is improved as the operator can adjust to driving dynamics, but safety deteriorates due to restricted visibility of traffic ahead and behind
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cameras as intermediary devices that capture traffic situations ahead and behind the vehicle. These cameras act as mediators between the operator's limited field of view and the actual traffic environment, transmitting visual information to the operator through display devices mounted on the running board. This allows the operator to maintain comfort while riding on the running board while simultaneously improving safety through enhanced situational awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the operator's perception from the physical three-dimensional space they can directly observe to an additional informational dimension provided by camera feeds. By displaying captured images on screens mounted on the running board, the system creates a fourth dimension of awareness (visual information from multiple angles) that complements the operator's direct line of sight, enabling safe operation despite physical positioning constraints.
2Reliability
If cameras and display devices are added to provide comprehensive traffic view, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional camera system where the same camera devices serve multiple purposes: capturing traffic ahead, monitoring areas behind the vehicle, and providing comprehensive situational awareness. The display devices mounted on the running board serve dual functions by being positioned to be visible to operators while maintaining a compact integration with the vehicle structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components for each monitoring function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the camera system, display devices, and mounting structures into an integrated safety monitoring system. Rather than adding separate independent components, the design merges the imaging devices with the running board structure itself, where displays are mounted on the running board to be visible to operators. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity by integrating multiple functions into unified components.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a commercial vehicle (1) with at least one standing area for operating personnel, with a first camera that captures an area (2) in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle, and with a second camera that captures an area (3) in the direction of travel behind the vehicle (1), wherein at least one display device is arranged in the area of the standing area, on which image information from at least one camera can be displayed depending on the operating mode of the commercial vehicle (1). This greatly increases the safety of the operating personnel, since the personnel's perception of the commercial vehicle's surroundings is improved.