Dynamic Virtual Marker Positioning for Vehicle HUD Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head-up display systems for vehicles face challenges in maintaining visibility of virtual markers when the inter-vehicle distance becomes small, leading to confusion between the virtual marker and the forward vehicle, especially in poor visibility conditions.

Innovation Solution

A display system that includes a detector to measure inter-vehicle distance, a projection unit to project a virtual marker on the vehicle's front glass, and a controller to adjust the display position and size of the virtual marker based on the inter-vehicle distance, ensuring it does not overlap with the forward vehicle, and optionally hiding or resizing the marker when the distance becomes too small.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the virtual marker is displayed at a fixed position on the front glass, then the driver can easily recognize the marker, but the marker overlaps with the forward vehicle when the inter-vehicle distance becomes small, reducing visibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of virtual markerVSAvoiddriver recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the virtual marker's display position variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the marker's position on the front glass based on real-time inter-vehicle distance measurements from the detection unit. When the distance to the forward vehicle decreases, the marker is repositioned to avoid overlap, ensuring continuous visibility while maintaining accurate directional guidance for the driver.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the display position of the virtual marker is moved sideward to avoid overlap with the forward vehicle, then the marker remains visible, but the driver may mistakenly recognize that the vehicle is traveling sideward or become confused about focusing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of virtual markerVSAvoidtraveling direction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing a third dimension - the inter-vehicle distance parameter - to control marker positioning. Instead of simply moving the marker sideward (2D adjustment), the system adjusts the marker's position along the depth dimension relative to the forward vehicle's position. This dimensional approach allows the marker to remain visible without creating lateral displacement confusion, as the marker's position changes are directly correlated with the measured distance to the forward vehicle, maintaining accurate traveling direction information.

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

3Productivity

If the virtual marker is displayed when the inter-vehicle distance is very small, then the marker provides guidance information, but the marker overlaps with the forward vehicle making it difficult to view

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance information provisionVSAvoidmarker visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously measuring the inter-vehicle distance using the detection unit and using this feedback information to control the virtual marker's display position. The controller receives real-time distance data and automatically adjusts the marker's position on the front glass accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that the marker remains visible and provides accurate guidance information regardless of how small the inter-vehicle distance becomes, eliminating the need for manual intervention or fixed positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3505381B1Display system and display control program
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 ALPINE ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3505381B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3505381B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3505381B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

In a display system according to the present invention, a HUD displays a virtual marker D indicating a vehicle shape which guides a traveling direction of an own vehicle. The display system measures an inter-vehicle distance between the own vehicle and a forward vehicle and determines a display position and a display size of the virtual marker in accordance with the inter-vehicle distance. The virtual marker is shifted to a near side of the own vehicle when the inter-vehicle distance is small whereas the virtual marker is shifted to a far side of the own vehicle when the inter-vehicle distance is large. A portion of the virtual marker is brought into a non-display state as if the portion is absorbed into the own vehicle when the inter-vehicle distance is reduced and the virtual marker is totally not displayed when the distance is further reduced.