Reconfigurable Vehicle Display Layout for Steering Wheel Obstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicles, the driver's view of electronic displays can be obstructed by the steering wheel, leading to partial or complete obscuration of critical information such as speedometer, gear indicator, and telltale lamps, which hinders the driver's ability to access essential information during operation.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable electronic display system that prompts the driver to select a visible portion of the display, allowing images to be resized or moved to ensure full visibility, and if obstruction persists, the system reconfigures the display to maintain visibility by resizing or relocating images, or displaying them on alternative vehicle displays like the center stack or heads-up display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the display is positioned behind the steering wheel for better ergonomics, then the driver's access to controls is improved, but the driver's view of the display is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The display system dynamically adjusts the position and size of displayed elements based on detected steering wheel obstruction. The system monitors the steering wheel position and automatically repositions display content to remain visible to the driver, transforming a static display into an adaptive one that responds to changing spatial conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes multiple display dimensions and perspectives by projecting display content through the steering wheel aperture or onto alternative surfaces. This dimensional approach allows the display to be positioned behind the steering wheel while still presenting information in the driver's line of sight.
2Loss of information
If the display size is increased to show more information, then the information capacity is improved, but the visibility through the steering wheel aperture is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The display content is segmented into multiple sections or layers, with critical information prioritized for visibility through the steering wheel aperture. Less critical information can be displayed in additional areas that may be partially obscured, allowing the system to maintain high information capacity while ensuring essential data remains accessible.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display have different qualities or priorities. The portion of the display visible through the steering wheel aperture is optimized for critical information with higher contrast and clarity, while other regions can display supplementary information with varying visual characteristics.
3Ease of operation
If the driver adjusts the steering wheel position for comfort, then the ergonomic comfort is improved, but the display visibility changes and may become obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The display system incorporates feedback mechanisms that detect steering wheel position and driver orientation, automatically adjusting display parameters to maintain optimal visibility. This closed-loop system allows the driver to adjust steering wheel position for comfort while the system compensates to keep display information visible.
Solution Approach 2:
The display system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides ergonomic positioning flexibility, adapts to various steering wheel configurations, and maintains information visibility across different driver positions and preferences.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for presenting one or more images to an observer on a reconfigurable electronic display includes prompting the observer to select a portion of the display that is visible to the observer and, if the observer has selected a portion of the display, presenting the images to fit within the selected portion of the display. Subsequent to presenting the images to fit within the selected portion of the display and in response to at least partial obstruction of the observer's view of the images by a visual obstruction, the images are reconfigured to be fully visible to the observer notwithstanding the visual obstruction.