Vehicular Display Camera Relocation for Unobstructed Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicular display devices, the placement of a camera for photographing passengers in the center display portion often restricts the layout and visibility of displayed information, making the camera location conspicuous to passengers.

Innovation Solution

The camera is positioned in one of the lateral portions of the vehicular display device, rather than the center, allowing for an unobstructed layout and reduced visibility, with the camera's location being less conspicuous as passengers focus on the center display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the camera is placed in the center display portion, then the passenger monitoring function is achieved, but the layout of displayed information is restricted and the camera location becomes conspicuous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger monitoring functionVSAvoidlayout restriction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display device is divided into a center display portion and lateral portions. The camera is relocated from the center to one of the lateral portions, segmenting the functional areas so that the center remains dedicated to information display while the lateral portion handles monitoring functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The camera is extracted from the center display portion and repositioned to a lateral portion. This extraction removes the conflicting element from the center area, allowing the displayed information layout to expand freely without obstruction while maintaining the camera's monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the camera is placed in the center display portion, then the passenger monitoring function is achieved, but the camera location becomes conspicuous to passengers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassenger monitoring functionVSAvoidconspicuousness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the display device are assigned different functional qualities. The center display portion maintains high visibility and importance for information display, while the lateral portions are positioned in less conspicuous areas, naturally camouflaging the camera's presence while preserving its monitoring effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the camera is relocated to lateral portions, then the layout freedom and inconspicuousness are improved, but the photographing coverage must be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelayout freedomVSAvoidphotographing coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The camera in the lateral portion utilizes angular positioning and optical design to achieve wide-area coverage. By changing the dimensional approach from central direct photography to lateral angular photography, the system maintains comprehensive monitoring coverage despite the relocated position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11178318B2Imaging device and vehicular display device

Publication Date: 2021.11.16 DENSO CORP

AI summary

An imaging device is provided in a vehicular display device including a center display portion that displays, at a center of the vehicular display device, information toward a passenger of a vehicle and a pair of lateral portions located lateral to the center display portion. The imaging device includes a camera located in one of the lateral portions to photograph the passenger.