Vehicle Display Illumination Control for Stealth Mode

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle dashboard systems lack the ability to dynamically adjust illumination to create a more focused driving environment or emotional connection without compromising the functionality of multiple dashboard components, leading to potential distractions and inefficiencies in information presentation.

Innovation Solution

A control system for a vehicle display system that can switch between normal and stealth modes, adjusting the illumination of gauges, indicators, user controls, and ambient lighting based on user preferences and environmental conditions to consolidate information and reduce visual clutter, thereby enhancing focus during driving.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple dashboard and center stack components are illuminated simultaneously, then information availability and convenience are improved, but visual distractions and driver focus are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation availabilityVSAvoidvisual distractions
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts illumination states of dashboard components based on detected driver attention. When the driver is looking at the road, multiple components are illuminated to provide full information access. When the driver looks at the display, illumination is reduced to minimize distractions. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making illumination conditional rather than static.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different illumination qualities to different dashboard components based on their relevance to current driving conditions and driver attention. Instead of uniform illumination across all components, the controller selectively adjusts brightness levels of specific gauges, displays, and controls, providing necessary information while reducing visual clutter in less critical areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If dashboard components provide comprehensive information, then functionality and user control are improved, but visual clutter and distraction are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidvisual clutter
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements partial illumination action by selectively activating only the necessary subset of dashboard components based on current driving context and driver attention. Instead of illuminating all components simultaneously, the controller activates only those components that provide relevant information at that moment, reducing visual clutter while maintaining essential functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Illumination intensity

If ambient lighting is increased for visibility, then driver vision conditions are improved, but driver focus and emotional connection are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevision conditionsVSAvoiddriver focus
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes illumination parameters dynamically based on driver attention state and environmental conditions. Instead of maintaining constant high ambient lighting, the controller adjusts brightness levels according to whether the driver needs maximum visibility or focused attention on the road, resolving the contradiction between vision conditions and driver focus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2712755B1Stealth mode vehicle operation
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2712755B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2712755B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2712755B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments of a system and method for controlling illumination in a vehicle passenger compartment are disclosed. In one aspect, a display system for a motor vehicle passenger compartment, comprises: at least one indicia visible to an operator of the vehicle and configured to indicate a vehicle operating condition; an indicia light configured to illuminate the indicia; a display device visible to an operator of the vehicle; and a controller, in communication with the indicia light and the display device, programmed to: operate the display system in a first mode wherein the indicia light is activated to illuminate the indicia, and in response to a first control signal indicative of a change from the first mode to a second mode, reduce illumination of the indicia by the indicia light and control the display device to output information indicative of the vehicle operating condition.