Vehicle Projection Interface Distortion Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicle user interfaces are limited by their fixed mounting positions, requiring drivers to divert attention from the road, are costly, and prone to contamination, with existing solutions like heads-up displays not fully addressing ergonomic and flexibility issues.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle user interface system comprising a projector and camera that projects images onto any surface within the cabin, correcting distortions and allowing gesture recognition for intuitive operation, eliminating the need for additional screens and reducing driver distraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a large display is mounted in the dashboard to provide comprehensive information display, then the information display capability is improved, but the driver distraction increases and the mounting space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device to capture the driver's eye position and hand gestures. The camera system mediates between the driver's natural behavior and the system's control requirements, enabling the system to understand driver intent without requiring the driver to actively interact with controls that cause distraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical control elements (buttons, knobs, touchscreens) with an optical-based gesture recognition system. Instead of requiring physical interaction with mechanical interfaces that demand driver attention, the system uses computer vision to detect hand gestures and translate them into control commands, eliminating the need for mechanical interaction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical control elements and displays are used to provide comprehensive system control, then the system functionality is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control functionality from physical mechanical elements and displays, leaving only the essential information display function. By removing expensive mechanical components (buttons, switches, physical dials) and replacing them with gesture-based control, the system maintains full functionality while significantly reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses digital copies and virtual representations instead of physical components. Hand gestures are captured as digital images and processed into control signals, replacing the need for physical control elements. This digital copying approach eliminates the need for expensive mechanical parts while preserving system functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical control elements and displays are used for user interface, then the system functionality is improved, but the maintenance requirements increase due to contamination and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical control surfaces (touchscreens, buttons) that are prone to contamination with a contactless gesture recognition system. By using optical fields instead of physical interfaces, the system eliminates surfaces that can accumulate dirt, fingerprints, and wear, thereby reducing maintenance requirements while preserving full control functionality.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the projection surface is curved or textured to fit vehicle cabin surfaces, then the adaptability to different mounting positions is improved, but the image distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary distortion correction to the projected image based on pre-characterized properties of the projection surface. Before projection, the system uses stored surface information (curvature, texture, material properties) to pre-distort the image in the opposite direction of the expected distortion, so that when the image is projected onto the curved or textured surface, it appears correctly undistorted to the viewer.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle user interface and a method of providing a user interface to a vehicle electronic system are provided. The vehicle user interface system comprises a projector projecting an image onto a projection surface of the vehicle cabin and a camera arranged in the vehicle cabin. The system further comprises a processing unit which is configured to adapt projection image data so as to correct a distortion in the projected image caused by the projection surface.