US 12,280,667 B2
Instrument cluster display obscuration tool
Christopher P. Scolaro, Rochester, MI (US); and Joseph Smeltzer, Ferndale, MI (US)
Assigned to GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/350,225.
Prior Publication US 2025/0018791 A1, Jan. 16, 2025
Int. Cl. B60K 35/00 (2024.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); B60K 35/21 (2024.01); B60K 35/29 (2024.01)
CPC B60K 35/00 (2013.01) [G06F 3/013 (2013.01); B60K 35/213 (2024.01); B60K 35/29 (2024.01); B60K 2360/18 (2024.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A display obscuration tool, comprising:
a spatial detection module configured for determining a relative positioning between an instrument cluster display, a steering wheel, and a driver of a vehicle;
a gaze detection module configured for determining a field of view for the driver relative to the instrument cluster display; and
an obscuration module configured for identifying one or more obscured zones within the instrument cluster display based at least in part on the relative positioning and the field of view, the obscured zones identifying surface areas of the instrument cluster display that the driver is unable to view due to the steering wheel obscuring the field of view;
wherein the obscuration module is configured for performing an umbra obscuration process to identify the obscured zones and the umbra obscuration process includes;
determining a geometry of the steering wheel within the field of view;
determining one or more display shadows cast upon the instrument cluster display, the display shadows resulting from the steering wheel obscuring the field of view; and
determining the obscured zones to coincide with the surface areas covered with the display shadows.