Vehicle Camera-Display Communication for Separated Groups

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems fail to maintain face-to-face interaction when groups of people are split into separate vehicles, inhibiting social connections and community sense.

Innovation Solution

A communication system with vehicles equipped with display screens and cameras that provide life-size representations and audio-visual links, allowing individuals in separate vehicles to communicate as if they were in the same physical space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If groups of people are split into separate vehicles for transportation, then transportation capacity is improved, but social connection and community sense deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation capacityVSAvoidsocial connection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates visual copies of individuals from one vehicle and displays them on screens in another vehicle, allowing people to see and interact with each other as if physically present. This copying principle enables social connection to be maintained across separate physical spaces, resolving the contradiction between transportation capacity and social connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

Display screens and communication systems serve as intermediaries between individuals in separate vehicles. These intermediaries transmit visual and auditory information, enabling face-to-face interaction despite physical separation, thus maintaining social connection while allowing independent transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If individuals are transported in separate vehicles, then vehicle utilization is improved, but face-to-face interaction capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle utilizationVSAvoidface-to-face interaction capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By creating and transmitting visual copies of individuals through cameras and display screens, the system enables face-to-face interaction capability to function across separate vehicles. This maintains the ease of interaction while allowing vehicles to be utilized independently for different groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a digital/visual dimension to interaction by displaying images of individuals from other vehicles. This creates a new dimension of communication that supplements physical presence, allowing face-to-face interaction to occur across spatial separation and enhancing vehicle utilization flexibility.

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

3Productivity

If traditional communication systems are used in separate vehicles, then transportation efficiency is improved, but sense of connection and community deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation efficiencyVSAvoidsense of connection
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses visual copying through display screens to create a reliable sense of connection between individuals in separate vehicles. This goes beyond traditional audio communication by providing visual presence, making the sense of connection more reliable and tangible while maintaining transportation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the communication function from the physical vehicle grouping. By enabling communication between separate vehicles through display screens, it allows transportation groups to be segmented for efficiency while maintaining connection through the segmented communication channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12395607B2Communication system, vehicle for use with same, and associated method
Publication Date: 2025.08.19 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC
  • US12395607B2 patent drawing
  • US12395607B2 patent drawing
  • US12395607B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A communication system and associated methods are provided. The communication system and associated methods includes a vehicle having an interior for seating a number of individuals, a camera coupled to the interior, and a display screen coupled to the interior. The communication system further includes an apparatus having a camera and a display screen. The camera of the vehicle is wirelessly connected to the display screen of the apparatus. The camera of the apparatus is wirelessly connected to the display screen of the vehicle.