IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,728,667
Granted Patent B2
US 12,728,667 · App. 18/356,820 · Granted Sep 8, 2026

Vehicle wheel-based computing device

Inventors: Thomas Albin (Stuttgart, DE); Timothy Fenlon (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
B60B7/20B60W40/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,728,667
App. No.
18/356,820
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle wheel-based computing device includes a display device that can be at least partially attached to a wheel of a vehicle, and a control circuit. The control circuit can obtain content to be provided for presentation on a display screen of the display device, receive vehicle data indicating a motion parameter associated with the vehicle, and perform a transformation of the content based on: (i) a refresh rate associated with the display device, and (ii) the motion parameter associated with the vehicle.

Claims (41)

1 . A vehicle wheel-based computing device, comprising:

a display device configured for at least partial attachment to a wheel of a vehicle; and

a control circuit configured to:

obtain content to be provided for presentation on a display screen of the display device,

receive vehicle data indicating a motion parameter associated with the vehicle,

perform a transformation of the content based on: (i) a refresh rate associated with the display device, and (ii) the motion parameter associated with the vehicle; and

render the content to be provided for presentation on the display screen of the display device, the content being generated at least partially via one or more machine-learned models, wherein the one or more machine-learned models comprise one or more machine-learned generative models trained based on training data indicative of a plurality of wheel-based features.

2 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein the transformation comprises a rotation of the content in a direction opposite of a rotation direction of the wheel.

3 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein the display device is circular-shaped.

4 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein the display device covers a rim of the wheel.

5 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein the display device is integrated into the wheel.

6 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein the display device is configured to be detachable from the wheel and attachable to the wheel.

7 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein the motion parameter comprises at least one of a speed of the vehicle, an angular velocity of the wheel, revolutions per minute of the wheel, a heading of the wheel or the vehicle, or an acceleration of the vehicle.

8 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a motion sensor configured to obtain the vehicle data, and

wherein the vehicle data comprises at least one of accelerometer data associated with the display device, gyroscope data associated with the display device, wheel torque data, or brake torque data.

9 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein the motion parameter comprises an angular velocity of the display device and wherein the transformation comprises a rotation of the content, and wherein when the angular velocity of the display device is less than a threshold angular velocity value, the control circuit is configured to rotate the content at a rotation rate which matches the angular velocity of the display device, and when the angular velocity of the display device is more than the threshold angular velocity value, the content corresponds to a static image and the control circuit is configured to provide the static image for presentation on the display screen of the display device.

10 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein the motion parameter comprises an angular velocity of the display device and wherein the transformation comprises a rotation of the content, and wherein when the angular velocity of the display device is less than a threshold angular velocity value, the control circuit is configured to rotate the content at a rotation rate which matches the angular velocity of the display device, and when the angular velocity of the display device is more than the threshold angular velocity value, the content corresponds to a video stream and the control circuit is configured to provide the video stream for presentation on the display screen of the display device which appears stationary on the display device.

11 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein: the control circuit is configured to obtain an image captured by a camera disposed at the vehicle, and to provide for presentation on the display screen of the display device an augmented-reality image which comprises one or more virtual objects which are overlaid on the image captured by the camera.

12 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein to perform the transformation of the content the control circuit is configured to rotate the content to match an angular velocity of the display device such that an orientation of the content presented on the display device is maintained.

13 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein: the content to be provided for presentation on the display screen of the display device comprises an animation comprising a plurality of image frames, and wherein to perform the transformation of the content, the control circuit is configured to rotate one or more of the image frames to maintain, while the animation is provided for presentation on the display screen of the display device during rotation of the wheel, an orientation of the animation as it appears from a viewpoint external to the vehicle.

14 . The vehicle wheel-based computing device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:

obtain motion data associated with the display device based on one or more sensors integrated with the display device, and transmit the motion data to an infotainment system of the vehicle to provide for display within the vehicle a representation of the display screen of the display device based on the motion data.

15 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:

obtaining, by a vehicle wheel-based computing device, content to be provided for presentation on a display screen of a display device, the display device being configured for at partial attachment to a wheel of a vehicle;

receiving, by the vehicle wheel-based computing device, vehicle data indicating a motion parameter associated with the vehicle;

performing, by the vehicle wheel-based computing device, a transformation of the content based on: (i) a refresh rate associated with the display device, and (ii) the motion parameter associated with the vehicle; and

rendering, by the vehicle wheel-based computing device, the content to be provided for presentation on the display screen of the display device, the content being generated at least partially via one or more machine-learned models, wherein the one or more machine-learned models comprise one or more machine-learned generative models trained based on training data indicative of a plurality of wheel-based features.

16 . A vehicle, comprising:

a wheel; and

a vehicle wheel-based computing device including:

a display device configured for at least partial attachment to the wheel, and

a control circuit configured to:

obtain content to be provided for presentation on a display screen of the display device,

receive vehicle data indicating a motion parameter associated with the vehicle,

perform a transformation of the content based on: (i) a refresh rate associated with the display device, and (ii) the motion parameter associated with the vehicle, and

receive an input requesting content to be provided for presentation on the display screen of the display device, and to render the content to be provided for presentation on the display screen of the display device based on the input, the content being rendered at least partially via one or more machine-learned models, wherein the one or more machine-learned models comprise one or more machine-learned generative models trained based on training data indicative of a plurality of wheel-based features.

17 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the transformation comprises a rotation of the content in a direction opposite of a rotation direction of the wheel.

18 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the display device is circular-shaped and covers a rim of the wheel.

19 . The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the motion parameter comprises an angular velocity of the display device, the display device comprises a motion sensor configured to measure motion data associated with the display device, and the control circuit is configured to determine the angular velocity of the display device based on the motion data.

20 . The vehicle of claim 16 , further comprising a charging system disposed proximate to the display device, the charging system being configured to transfer power wirelessly to a power source of the display device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2023
From: ALBIN, THOMAS; FENLON, TIMOTHY
To: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
Reel/Frame 065292/0911 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250026144A1 · Jan 23, 2025
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