Vehicle Display Positioning for Shared Viewing and Glare Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle display apparatuses are driver-centric, making it difficult for passengers to view and operate the display unit, and are susceptible to reduced visibility due to external light, with a need for adjustable angles based on the driver's body type.

Innovation Solution

A control system with a switch unit combining a display activation switch and a side mirror operation switch to control a display unit and side mirror, allowing them to move in up-and-down or left-and-right directions, driven by processors and motors, with adjustable angles and positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the display unit is positioned close to the driver's seat and faces the front, then the driver can easily view and operate the display, but the passenger in the passenger seat has difficulty viewing and using the display unit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver's ease of operationVSAvoidviewability for both driver and passenger
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The display unit is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be dynamically repositioned between driver-centric and passenger-shared viewing configurations. The motor-driven mechanism enables the display to rotate and move along the dashboard, adapting its position based on whether the driver or passenger needs to view it, thus resolving the contradiction between driver ease of operation and passenger viewability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the display unit is positioned facing the front, then the driver can easily view the display, but the visibility of the display unit is reduced due to light shining from the outside

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver's ease of viewingVSAvoidvisibility reduction due to external light
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The display unit's ability to move and rotate allows it to dynamically adjust its orientation to avoid direct sunlight. When external light causes visibility issues, the display can be repositioned to a different angle or location on the dashboard, eliminating the harmful lighting effect while maintaining driver accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the display unit has a fixed position and angle, then the structure is simple, but the angle of the display unit cannot be optimally adjusted according to the driver's body type

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidadjustability to driver's body type
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The display unit incorporates motor-driven mechanisms that enable it to automatically or manually adjust its position and angle based on the driver's body type and preferences. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the display to adapt to different drivers without significantly complicating the overall structure, as the movement mechanisms are integrated into the existing mounting system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system can automatically detect the driver's position and body type, then self-adjust the display unit's angle and position to optimal viewing parameters. This self-service capability reduces the need for manual adjustment mechanisms, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving high adaptability to different drivers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4678452A1Apparatus for controlling display of vehicles and method thereof
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • EP4678452A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4678452A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4678452A1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

Apparatus for controlling a display (210) of a vehicle and method thereof. The apparatus for controlling a display (210) of a vehicle according to an aspect of the present invention may include a display unit (210) installed inside a vehicle, a housing (220) arranged at the rear of the display unit (210) and including an accommodation space inside thereof, a display driving unit (230) arranged inside the housing (220) and driving the display unit (210) in an up-and-down or left-and-right direction, a switch unit (100) generating a signal to allow at least one of the display unit (210) and a side mirror (310) to move in an up-and-down or left-and-right direction, and a processor (400) controlling the display driving unit (230) to move the display (210) or controlling a side mirror (310) driving unit (330) to move the side mirror unit (330) according to a signal generated from the switch unit (100).