In-Vehicle Display Control During Lane Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing in-vehicle display systems cause discomfort to occupants when displaying a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance indicator during lane changes, as the indicator moves across lane markings, disrupting the visual experience.

Innovation Solution

An in-vehicle display device that adjusts the display of the vehicle-to-vehicle distance indicator based on lane change operations, ensuring it is not shown until the lane change is completed, and includes a change prohibition mechanism to prevent distance adjustments during lane changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the set vehicle-to-vehicle distance indicator is displayed in front of the host vehicle icon during lane change, then the driver can understand the set distance, but the occupant feels discomfort due to the indicator crossing lane markings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of distance indicatorVSAvoidoccupant discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects lane change operations in advance and proactively hides the distance indicator before the host vehicle icon crosses the lane marking. The operation determination unit identifies when a lane change is being performed and the display controller suppresses the indicator display during this period, preventing the visual discomfort before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the distance indicator is hidden during lane change, then occupant discomfort is reduced, but the driver loses visibility of the distance information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoccupant discomfortVSAvoidvisibility of distance indicator
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The display controller dynamically adjusts the visibility of the distance indicator based on the lane change state. When a lane change operation is detected, the indicator is hidden; when the lane change is completed, the indicator is restored. This dynamic adaptation optimizes both comfort and information visibility at different operational phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If lane change operation detection is added, then display accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelane change detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The operation determination unit serves multiple functions: it detects lane change operations to control indicator visibility and also determines when to restore the indicator after lane change completion. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate detection and control mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4640509A1In-vehicle display device
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4640509A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4640509A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4640509A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An in-vehicle display device displays, on a display, a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance indicator indicating a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance of vehicle-to-vehicle distance control between a preceding vehicle and a host vehicle. The in-vehicle display device includes an operation determination unit configured to determine whether or not a lane change operation of the host vehicle is being performed, and a display controller configured to display, on the display, a host vehicle icon, a set vehicle-to-vehicle distance indicator displayed in front of the host vehicle icon, and a lane marking. The display controller is configured not to display the set vehicle-to-vehicle distance indicator until the lane change is completed when it is determined that the lane change operation of the host vehicle is being performed.