Vehicle Display Translucency Control for Driver Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle display devices often switch between transparent and opaque states frequently, even when not necessary, potentially obstructing the driver's view of the road and traffic, especially when parked or in situations where imminent danger is not present.

Innovation Solution

A control unit receives driving situation signals from sensors to determine if a predetermined danger criterion is met, triggering the display device to switch to a transparent state for full visibility in imminent danger situations and remaining opaque in safe conditions, allowing the screen to be displaced from the visual field when not needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the display device switches to transparent state frequently to ensure driver visibility, then the driver's view of the road is improved, but the display of graphical information is interrupted unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver's view obstructionVSAvoidgraphical information display continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit receives driving situation signals from sensor modules and uses this feedback to intelligently control the switching between transparent and opaque states. The system continuously monitors driving conditions and adjusts the display state accordingly, switching to transparent only when danger criteria are met, thus avoiding unnecessary interruptions of graphical information display while ensuring driver visibility when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If the screen remains in opaque state to display graphical information continuously, then information display is maintained, but the driver's view of the road is obstructed in dangerous situations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegraphical information display continuityVSAvoiddriver's view obstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The display device dynamically adjusts its transparency state based on real-time driving conditions. The control unit evaluates driving situation signals and automatically switches the display between opaque and transparent states, making the system adaptive to changing conditions rather than static. This dynamic control ensures graphical information is displayed when safe while providing clear road view when dangerous situations are detected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a displaceable screen is used to move the display out of the visual field, then the driver's view is maintained, but the response time is delayed due to mechanical displacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver's view obstructionVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical displacement system with an optical control system. Instead of physically moving the screen out of the driver's visual field, the control unit electronically switches the display between transparent and opaque states. This substitution eliminates mechanical response delays and provides immediate transition, ensuring the driver's view is restored instantly when danger is detected while maintaining graphical information display when conditions are safe.

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

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances driving safety by providing immediate full view of the surroundings during danger and maintaining visibility of graphical information in safe conditions, reducing the need for mechanical screen displacement and improving situational awareness.

Implementation Method 1

the display screen unit may comprise a sight protection element... designed to set or adjust or regulate the degree of transparency and/or opacity of the display screen unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrochromism: Electrochromism

Data Source

PatentEP3670230B1Method for operating a display device of a motor vehicle, control unit, display device, and motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.03.29 AUDI AG
  • EP3670230B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3670230B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3670230B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a display device (16) of a motor vehicle (10). The method is performed by a control unit (24), and comprises: receiving a driving situation signal of a sensor module (32), whereby the received signal describes a driving situation in the surroundings of the motor vehicle (10) (S3); on basis of thereof: determining whether the driving situation fulfils a predetermined danger criterion, whereby the provided danger criterion describes a predetermined minimum probability that the motor vehicle (10) is in an imminent dangerous traffic situation (S4), and, if the predetermined danger criterion is fulfilled, providing a display control signal that describes a switching of the screen to a danger mode, in which a part of the surroundings of the motor vehicle (10) is visible on or through said screen, as well as sending said provided display control signal to the display device (16, S6).