A motor-driven pop-up monitor system that is centrally mounted at the top of the instrument panel has been developed in response to the trend toward full-scale deployment of ITS information technology. This monitor system has been adopted on some new Nissan models sold in the Japanese market. The monitor is positioned to minimize the driver's eye movement when viewing the screen and can be fully retracted into the instrument panel when not in use. This design eliminates any sense of visual obstruction or oppression when the monitor is not needed, thereby contributing to greater interior comfort. In the process of developing this monitor system, a method was established for using a computer aided design (CAD) model to reproduce the characteristics of the driver's field of vision. Application of this method made clear the conditions for positioning the monitor so that the driver can still perceive changes in the forward view even while gazing directly at the screen. These conditions were confirmed to be consistent with experimental results. (A*)
Abstract