Vehicle Display Interface Transition for Clutter Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern vehicles require efficient and intuitive methods to display diverse information to drivers without causing distraction, as existing systems often overwhelm drivers with complex and cluttered interfaces.

Innovation Solution

A method and display device that transition from a first display mode to a second mode by moving graphical objects and buttons from the edge of the display area towards the center, maintaining aspect ratio and reducing clutter, allowing drivers to easily access information from multiple vehicle devices while minimizing eye diversion from the road.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple vehicle devices are displayed simultaneously on the display surface, then the quantity of information displayed is improved, but the complexity of the display interface increases and causes clutter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of information displayedVSAvoiddisplay interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display surface is segmented into multiple display areas, with each area dedicated to displaying information from a specific vehicle device. This segmentation allows multiple pieces of information to be displayed simultaneously while maintaining organizational structure and reducing visual clutter, thereby resolving the contradiction between displaying more information and maintaining interface simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If detailed information is displayed to ensure complete information delivery, then the completeness of information is improved, but the time required for the driver to process information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of informationVSAvoidinformation processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Different display areas are assigned different levels of information detail based on local requirements. Critical safety-related information is displayed with high prominence and detail, while less critical information is displayed with reduced detail. This local differentiation allows the driver to quickly grasp essential information without being overwhelmed by excessive details, thus reducing processing time while maintaining information completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the display provides comprehensive control options for all vehicle devices, then the versatility of control is improved, but the number of buttons and controls increases causing distraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol versatilityVSAvoiddriver attention requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple control functions are merged into integrated control elements. For example, a single button or touch area can provide access to multiple control options through context-sensitive menus or hierarchical navigation. This merging reduces the physical number of controls while maintaining comprehensive control versatility, thereby reducing driver distraction while preserving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the display transitions between different display modes to show different information, then the adaptability of the display is improved, but the transition complexity increases making it harder to understand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay mode adaptabilityVSAvoidtransition understanding
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display system prepares transition sequences in advance, where the next display mode is pre-animated or pre-indicated before fully switching. This preliminary action allows the driver to mentally prepare for the transition and understand the relationship between different display modes, reducing cognitive load and making transitions easier to understand while maintaining display adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2766208B1Method for displaying information in particular in a vehicle and display unit for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP2766208B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2766208B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2766208B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for displaying information in a vehicle (11), wherein a control device (3) can generate graphics data which control a display surface (2) such that in a first display mode graphic objects (13, 14) and/or buttons (16, 17, 20) for visualising information of a first vehicle unit (10-1, 10-2, 10-3) are displayed and in a second display mode graphic objects (18, 19) and/or switches for visualising information of a plurality of vehicle units (9, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3) are displayed. The method according to the invention is characterised in that in a transition from the first display mode to the second display mode the representation of the graphic objects (13, 14) and/or buttons (16, 17, 20) for visualising information of the first vehicle unit (9) are decreased in size and changed and, during same, on the edge of the display surface (2) graphic objects (19) and/or buttons for visualising information of other vehicle units (10-1, 10-2, 10-3) are re-displayed and said graphic objects (19) and/or buttons for visualising information of other vehicle units (10-1, 10-2, 10-3) are moved from the edge of the display surface (2) in the direction of the centre of the display surface (2). The invention further relates to a display unit (6) for carrying out said method.