Vehicle Infotainment Power Management When the Display Is Off

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing energy consumption of infotainment systems in motor vehicles, particularly when the information display is not in use, leads to high energy usage and CO2 emissions, as the system continues to process and display information even when not required by the user.

Innovation Solution

A procedure and device that deactivates the information display and graphic processor unit of motor vehicles, allowing for targeted reduction of electrical energy consumption by maintaining prepared information for immediate display, and implementing low-power modes for unused components, ensuring infotainment functions are updated quickly when needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the information display is switched off to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the system continues to process and display information in the background leading to high energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumption of information displayVSAvoidenergy consumption of head unit processors and vehicle functions

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic power management by adjusting the operational state of vehicle functions based on display usage. When the display is deactivated, the system dynamically degrades functionality of vehicle functions that provide information to the display, switching them from full operational mode to a low-power mode. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system's energy consumption responsive to actual user needs rather than maintaining constant high-power operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters of vehicle functions when the display is switched off. Specifically, it modifies the functional state from complete operation to degraded functionality, where vehicle functions continue to determine their specific information but maintain it in a prepared state without full graphic processing. This parameter change allows the system to reduce energy consumption while preserving the ability to quickly restore full functionality when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the graphics processor unit is deactivated to reduce energy consumption, then energy savings are achieved, but information processing and display readiness are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumption of graphics processor unitVSAvoidavailability of information display

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having vehicle functions continuously determine and prepare their specific information even when the display and GPU are deactivated. The information is kept in a prepared state, ready for immediate graphic processing when the display is reactivated. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by ensuring that while the GPU can remain inactive to save energy, the data required for processing is already available, enabling rapid restoration of full functionality without compromise to system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If vehicle functions are fully operational to provide current information, then information accuracy is maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent information availabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption of vehicle functions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by maintaining only the essential functions of vehicle components when the display is deactivated. Vehicle functions continue to determine their specific information but operate in a degraded mode without full graphic processing capabilities. This partial operation resolves the contradiction by maintaining sufficient information accuracy and readiness while consuming significantly less energy than full operational mode, providing just enough functionality to support quick display reactivation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3558753B1Low-energy operation of motor vehicle functions during the operation of the motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.01.29 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method for electric low-energy operation of motor vehicle functions during the operation of a motor vehicle (100). The motor vehicle (100) has an information display (110). The method comprises: deactivating (10) the information display (110) of the motor vehicle (100); degrading (20) a functionality of at least one vehicle component (120) that uses the information display (110) to visually represent specific information (121) of the vehicle component (120); and deactivating (30) a graphical processor unit (130) of the motor vehicle (100) as an energy-saving measure. The graphical processor unit (130) is configured to prepare the specific information (121) of the vehicle component (120) such that this information (121) can be visually represented on the information display (110). The functionality of the vehicle component (120) is degraded (20) such that the vehicle component (120) continues to determine its associated specific information (121) in accordance with the function and keep said information ready in a prepared manner for graphical processing. The invention further relates to a corresponding device (200) and to a corresponding motor vehicle (100).