Vehicle Display Obstruction Handling via Gaze Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle display features can be obstructed from view by the steering wheel, making it difficult for occupants to access important information, and existing systems lack the ability to dynamically adjust displays based on user interaction.

Innovation Solution

A method using a sensor, such as a camera, to detect the occupant's gaze and determine if features on vehicle displays are obstructed, with a controller circuit adjusting the position, dimension, or location of these features to ensure they are viewable, and allowing user input to modify aspects like position, dimension, or brightness through devices like voice recognition or touch screens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If features are displayed on vehicle displays, then information is provided to the occupant, but the features may be obstructed from view by the steering wheel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewability of display featuresVSAvoidobstruction by steering wheel
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the presentation of display features based on real-time gaze detection. The controller circuit monitors occupant gaze direction and automatically repositions or resizes obstructed features to make them viewable, creating a dynamic adaptation to changing viewing conditions without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses gaze detection as feedback to determine which features are obstructed and adjusts their presentation accordingly. The sensor detects gaze direction, the controller analyzes this data to identify obstructed features, and then modifies the display presentation based on this feedback loop, enabling automatic compensation for steering wheel obstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the presentation of features is adjusted to be viewable, then accessibility is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of display featuresVSAvoiddisplay adjustment system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display system performs self-adjustment based on automatic gaze detection. The sensor and controller work autonomously to detect when features are obstructed and reposition them without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by automatically monitoring and correcting its own display presentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment of display features with an automated optical/electronic solution. Instead of requiring physical movement of display components or manual repositioning by the user, the system uses gaze detection and electronic control to automatically adjust feature presentation, substituting mechanical interaction with sensor-based automation.

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

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If gaze detection is implemented, then obstructed features can be identified, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegaze detection capabilityVSAvoidsensor integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor system serves multiple functions: it detects occupant gaze direction to identify obstructed features and can also track overall attention patterns. This multi-functional approach allows a single sensor system to handle both gaze detection and obstruction identification, reducing the need for separate specialized components and simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3734502B1Display method
Publication Date: 2023.01.11 APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LTD
  • EP3734502B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3734502B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3734502B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method (100) includes detecting, with a sensor (16), a gaze (18) of an occupant (10) of a vehicle. The gaze (18) is directed to at least one vehicle displays (14). The method (100) also includes determining, with a controller circuit (20) in communication with the sensor (16), whether one or more features (22) presented on the at vehicle displays (14) are partially obstructed from a view of the occupant (10). When the one or more features (22) presented on vehicle displays (14) are partially obstructed from the view of the occupant (10), the controller circuit (20) adjusts a presentation of at least one partially obstructed features (22A) to be viewable by the occupant (10).