Vehicle Map Display Scale Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The computational intensity of calculating image data for digital maps in vehicles, particularly when changing scales, leads to high resource usage and potential driver distraction due to information overload in multifunction display systems.

Innovation Solution

A method where the scale of the digital map remains unchanged when the display area is resized, reducing computational requirements by only adding graphics data for newly visible map sections, using a formula to adjust image parameters such as position, brightness, color, and transparency, and employing a control device to manage display modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the display area for displaying the digital map is changed in size by zooming in or out, then the displayed map section is updated, but the computational load increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay area size adaptabilityVSAvoidcomputational power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The digital map display is segmented into a visible area and an information bar. When the display area size changes, only the necessary portion of the map is recalculated and updated, rather than recalculating the entire map data. This segmentation allows the system to maintain adaptability while reducing computational load by focusing only on the changed portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing a complete recalculation of the entire digital map when the display area changes, the system performs only the partial action necessary to update the specific map section that becomes visible or hidden. This partial update approach significantly reduces computational power consumption while still achieving the desired display adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Loss of information

If comprehensive information is displayed in the instrument cluster, then the driver can access multiple information sources, but the driver becomes distracted and cannot grasp desired information quickly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidinformation retrieval speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The display information is segmented into different functional areas: the digital map in the background and an information bar in the foreground. This segmentation allows comprehensive information to be displayed without overwhelming the driver, as information is organized into distinct, manageable sections that can be processed sequentially rather than all at once.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The information bar acts as an intermediary element between the comprehensive map data and the driver's attention. It selectively presents only the most relevant information in a simplified format, mediating between the need for comprehensive information display and the need for quick, intuitive comprehension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If processors with higher computing power are installed to handle map scale changes, then image data calculation is faster, but the cost of the control device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage data calculation speedVSAvoidcontrol device manufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs only the minimum necessary calculation to update the map display when scale changes occur, rather than recalculating all map data. This partial action approach allows standard processors to achieve adequate performance without requiring expensive high-power processors, thus maintaining productivity while controlling manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and separates the computationally intensive scaling calculations from the overall system requirements. By implementing optimization techniques that eliminate unnecessary calculations, the system removes the need for high-power processors, allowing standard processors to suffice and thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining acceptable calculation speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2541209B1Method for displaying a digital map in a vehicle and corresponding display unit.
Publication Date: 2016.04.13 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP2541209B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2541209B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2541209B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for displaying a digital map in a vehicle (1) by means of a display device (2) whose display area for the map is variable in size: In the method according to the invention, the displayed scale of the digital map remains unchanged when the size of the display area for the map is changed. Furthermore, the display device (2) comprises a display (7). On the display (7) or on a partial area of ​​the display (7), a displayed image is changed by changing an image parameter, which is calculated by a specific formula. The invention further relates to a display device for carrying out this method.