IP Library › Granted Patent US 12694812

Granted Patent B1

US 12694812 · App. 19/299,969 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Automobile display mute

Inventors: Benjamin J Kwitek (Colorado Springs, CO); Scott C Harris (San Diego, CA)

G09G3/2003 G09G2320/0242 G09G2320/0666 G09G2320/0686 G09G2354/00 G09G2360/144 G09G2380/10

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12694812
App. No.: 19/299,969
Granted: Jul 28, 2026
Kind: B1

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Abstract

A vehicle display system for use in a vehicle that has an internal vehicle compartment. A vehicle screen, in the internal vehicle compartment, driven by the processor to display information on the vehicle screen. The amount of light in the compartment is sensed, and a darkness score is formed that depends on both the amount of light in the vehicle compartment and an amount of time that the light has been at a current level in the vehicle compartment. If the amount of light is less than a specified amount, one portion of a displayed information on the screen is muted without muting another portion.

Claims (40)

1 . A vehicle display system for use in a vehicle that has an internal vehicle compartment, comprising:

a processor in the vehicle;

a vehicle screen, in the internal vehicle compartment, driven by the processor to display information on the vehicle screen;

a light sensor, in the internal vehicle compartment, sensing an amount of light in the compartment;

the processor receiving the amount of light from the light sensor, and storing a darkness score that depends on both the amount of light in the vehicle compartment and an amount of time that the light has been at a current level in the vehicle compartment;

the processor determining, if the darkness score indicates an amount of light less than a specified amount for an amount of time greater than a specified amount, a portion of a displayed information on the screen of the vehicle that has a first brightness and first color greater than a specified amount, and where there is another portion of the displayed information that has a second brightness and second color less than the specified amount;

the processor determining the portion of the displayed information which defines a brighter portion of the displayed information, and defining a perimeter of the portion of the displayed information which defines the brighter portion of the displayed information, and

the processor operating to modify the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter to reduce a color discomfort to a user for the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter, and not modifying the displayed information outside the perimeter.

2 . The system as in claim 1 , wherein the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter is modified to change the portion of the displayed information from displayed information in color to displayed information in greyscale.

3 . The system as in claim 1 , wherein the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter is modified to reduce a saturation of color inside the portion of the displayed information.

4 . The system as in claim 1 , wherein the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter is modified to reduce its brightness.

5 . The system as in claim 1 , further comprising obtaining a user profile for the user that defines a darkness relationship indicating a relationship between the dark score and brightness of the displayed information, and modifying the user profile based on actual user eye discomfort at certain dark scores and certain displayed information brightnesses and colors.

6 . The system as in claim 5 , wherein the actual user eye discomfort is determined by using a camera in the vehicle to monitor facial movements of the user and determine the user discomfort from the facial movements.

7 . The system as in claim 6 , wherein the user profile is initially a default user profile that is modified by detection of the actual user eye discomfort.

8 . The system as in claim 5 , wherein the light sensor is located at a location in the vehicle that receives a same direction of light as at least one of a user's eyes.

9 . A method of displaying in a vehicle that has an internal vehicle compartment, comprising:

using a vehicle screen, in the internal vehicle compartment, and a processor in the vehicle to display information on the vehicle screen;

sensing an amount of light in the compartment;

receiving the amount of light, and storing a darkness score that depends on both the amount of light in the vehicle compartment and an amount of time that the light has been at a current level in the vehicle compartment;

determining, if the darkness score indicates an amount of light less than a specified amount for an amount of time greater than a specified amount, a portion of a displayed information on the screen of the vehicle that has a first brightness and first color greater than a specified amount, and where there is another portion of the displayed information that has a second brightness and second color less than the specified amount;

determining the portion of the displayed information which defines a brighter portion of the displayed information, and using a processor for defining a perimeter of the portion of the displayed information which defines the brighter portion of the displayed information, and

modifying the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter to reduce a color discomfort to a user for the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter, and not modifying the displayed information outside the perimeter.

10 . The method as in claim 9 , wherein the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter is modified to reduce to change the portion of the displayed information from displayed information in color to displayed information in greyscale.

11 . The method as in claim 9 , wherein the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter is modified to reduce a saturation of color inside the portion of the displayed information.

12 . The method as in claim 9 , wherein the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter is modified to reduce its brightness.

13 . The method as in claim 9 , further comprising obtaining a user profile for the user that defines a darkness relationship indicating a relationship between the dark score and brightness of the displayed information, and modifying the user profile based on actual user eye discomfort at certain dark scores and certain displayed information brightnesses and colors.

14 . The method as in claim 13 , wherein the actual user eye discomfort is determined by using a camera in the vehicle to monitor facial movements of the user and determine the user discomfort from the facial movements.

15 . The method as in claim 14 , wherein the user profile is initially a default user profile that is modified by detection of the actual user eye discomfort.

16 . The method as in claim 13 , wherein a light sensor is located at a location in the vehicle that receives a same direction of light as at least one of a user's eyes.

17 . A vehicle display system for use in a vehicle that has an internal vehicle compartment, comprising:

a processor in the vehicle;

a vehicle screen, in the internal vehicle compartment, driven by the processor to display information on the vehicle screen;

a first light sensor, in the internal vehicle compartment, located at a first location where an amount of light that would enter a first of a user's eyes is sensed as a first eye light amount;

a second light sensor, in the internal vehicle compartment, located at a second location, different than the first location, and located where a second amount of light that would enter a second of the user's eyes is sensed as a second eye light amount;

the processor receiving the first eye light amount and the second eye light amount, and storing a darkness score that depends on all of the first eye light amount and the second eye light amount, and also an amount of time that the light amounts has been at a current level in the vehicle compartment;

the processor determining, if the darkness score indicates amounts of light less than a specified amount for amounts of time greater than a specified amount, a portion of a displayed information on the screen of the vehicle that has a first brightness and first color greater than a specified amount, and where there is another portion of the displayed information that has a second brightness and second color less than the specified amount;

the processor determining the portion of the displayed information which defines a brighter portion of the displayed information, and defining a perimeter of portion of the displayed information which defines the brighter portion of the displayed information, and

the processor operating to modify the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter to reduce a color discomfort to the user for the portion of the displayed information inside the perimeter, and not modifying the displayed information outside the perimeter.

18 . The system as in claim 17 , further comprising obtaining a user profile for the user that defines a darkness relationship indicating a relationship between the dark score and brightness of the displayed information, and modifying the user profile based on actual user eye discomfort at certain dark scores and certain displayed information brightnesses and colors.

19 . The system as in claim 18 , wherein the actual user eye discomfort is determined by using a camera in the vehicle to monitor facial movements of the user and determine the user discomfort from the facial movements.