Vehicle Display Feedback for Autonomous Driving Intervention Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle display systems fail to effectively inform occupants of driving operation interventions during autonomous driving, potentially causing discomfort to other occupants due to unintentional driver interactions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle display control system that detects driving operation interventions during autonomous driving and visually alerts the occupant through changes in background information on the display, such as altering colors and hiding certain elements to indicate steering or accelerator operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If voice messages are used to notify occupants of driving operation interventions, then notification is provided, but comfort of other occupants is disturbed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification of driving operation interventionVSAvoiddisturbance to other occupants
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces acoustic notification (voice messages) with visual notification (display unit showing background changes). This substitution eliminates the harmful acoustic disturbance to other occupants while maintaining effective communication of the driving operation intervention status to the driver.

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

2Extent of automation

If driving operations are transferred to vehicle occupant during autonomous driving, then driving control is achieved, but occupant may not be ready causing safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving mode transferVSAvoidoccupant readiness
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The display unit provides visual notification before or during the transfer of driving control from autonomous mode to manual mode. This preliminary visual alert gives the occupant advance notice and time to prepare for the mode transition, ensuring the occupant is ready to take control safely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides visual feedback through the display unit that indicates when a driving operation intervention is detected. This feedback mechanism informs the occupant of the system's detection of their operational input, confirming the transfer of control and allowing the occupant to verify their readiness status.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If frequent voice notifications are used to alert occupants, then awareness of operations is improved, but comfort of cabin environment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveawareness of driving operationsVSAvoidcabin comfort disturbance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes acoustic notification mechanisms with visual notification mechanisms. The display unit changes background information to provide awareness of driving operations without using voice messages, thereby maintaining cabin comfort while achieving effective communication of operational status.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3960516B1Vehicle display control device, vehicle display control method, and non-transitory storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3960516B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3960516B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3960516B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle display control device includes: a driving mode acquisition section that acquires information on which of a manual driving mode or an autonomous driving mode is a driving mode; an operation intervention detection section that, in a case in which the driving mode acquired by the driving mode acquisition section is the autonomous driving mode, detects a driving operation intervention by the vehicle occupant; and a display control section that displays vicinity information of the vehicle at a display unit provided at a vehicle cabin at least in a case in which the driving mode acquired by the driving mode acquisition section is the autonomous driving mode, wherein, in a case in which a driving operation intervention is detected by the operation intervention detection section, the display control section changes background information of the vicinity information and displays the background information at the display unit.