Vehicle Message Display Spatial Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle message displays in motor vehicles often present messages in an ambiguous and context-less manner, leading to confusion for drivers, especially in complex or rare error situations, which can result in delays and safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

A device that outputs vehicle messages by assigning them to specific spatial positions on a motor vehicle's perspective view, allowing the display unit to show the message in context, using a control unit to receive reports from various sources and a display unit that provides a perspective view of the vehicle with messages highlighted at their corresponding locations, enabling clear and continuous contextual display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If conventional symbolic or text-based displays are used to show vehicle messages, then the display can be implemented with simple display elements, but the messages become ambiguous and require additional interpretation by the driver

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay implementationVSAvoidmessage clarity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the vehicle with its components arranged in spatial relationships that mirror the actual vehicle layout. This virtual model allows messages to be displayed at their corresponding spatial positions, providing intuitive location information without requiring complex additional display hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional abstract symbols to a three-dimensional virtual representation of the vehicle. By displaying messages in a spatial context that reflects their actual location on the vehicle, the system adds a dimensional context that makes message interpretation intuitive without increasing physical display complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If abstract error messages are displayed without location information, then the display remains simple, but the driver cannot quickly identify the specific component location

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay systemVSAvoiddriver response time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual vehicle model serves as a copy that preserves the spatial relationships of actual vehicle components. When an error occurs, the message is displayed at the corresponding position in the virtual model, allowing the driver to instantly identify component location without searching through text descriptions or manual references.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual vehicle model acts as an intermediary between the error detection system and the driver. It translates abstract error codes into spatially contextualized visual information, bridging the gap between technical data and human understanding while maintaining simple display hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple vehicle messages are displayed in the conventional manner, then the display can accommodate various message types, but the messages appear in an erratic and disconnected manner

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage display capabilityVSAvoidmessage context continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the vehicle information space into distinct spatial zones corresponding to different vehicle components and areas. Each message is displayed in its appropriate spatial zone within the virtual vehicle model, creating a structured and continuous contextual framework that connects all messages to their relevant locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual vehicle model serves as a universal display framework that can accommodate any type of vehicle message by mapping it to the appropriate spatial position. This single contextual framework handles diverse message types (errors, warnings, information) in a consistent manner, maintaining context continuity across all message types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3385932B1Technology for issuing vehicle messages
Publication Date: 2021.11.03 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP3385932B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3385932B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3385932B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A technique for outputting vehicle messages (104) at a driver's seat (106) of a motor vehicle (100) is described. A device aspect (102) of the technique comprises a control unit (108) configured to receive one or more vehicle messages (104) from a plurality of sources (112-124) of the motor vehicle (100) and to assign each to a spatial position relative to the motor vehicle (100); and a display unit (110) controlled by the control unit (108) configured to display a perspective view of the motor vehicle (100) with at least one of the received vehicle messages (104) at the assigned spatial position, wherein the displayed perspective of the motor vehicle (100) depends on the assigned spatial position.