Vehicle display device

Abstract

A vehicle display apparatus including an image display unit and a control unit is provided. The image includes a binocular region that is a region recognized by binocular vision of the driver, and a monocular region that is a region recognized only by monocular vision of the driver. The control unit sets a non-display area at a boundary portion between the binocular area and the monocular area, and performs control such that at least the still image is not displayed within the non-display area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle display device. Background Art

[0002] In the related art, there is known a vehicle display device such as a head-up display for visually recognizing an image as a virtual image from the position of the driver's eyes (eye point). For example, Patent Document 1 describes a display device that improves the visibility of an image by making the brightness of a monocular area of ​​an image that can be visually recognized only by one eye higher than the brightness of a binocular area of ​​an image that can be visually recognized by both eyes.

[0003] Citation List

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: JP2016-130771A Summary of the invention

[0006] However, in the above-mentioned related art, the image displayed near the boundary between the monocular area and the binocular area may cross the boundary due to the movement of the driver's head, etc. When the image crosses the boundary in this way, the driver may feel uncomfortable.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle display device capable of reducing a driver's discomfort.

[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a vehicle display device according to the present disclosure has the following features.

[0009] The vehicle display device includes: an image display unit that emits display light for an image; an optical system that projects the display light emitted from the image display unit toward a reflective surface in front of a driver; and a control unit that controls the image display unit. The image includes a binocular area that is an area recognized by binocular vision of the driver, and a monocular area that is an area recognized by monocular vision of the driver, and the control unit sets a non-display area at a boundary between the binocular area and the monocular area, and controls so that at least a static image is not displayed in the non-display area.

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle display device capable of alleviating a driver's discomfort.

[0011] The present disclosure has been briefly described above. The details of the present disclosure can be further clarified by reading the following modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1is a schematic configuration diagram showing a vehicle display device according to an embodiment;

[0013] Figure 2 The optical position relationship between the virtual image, the second reflector and the driver's eye is shown when the driver's eye is located at the center of the eye box in the left-right direction;

[0014] Figure 3 shows the optical position relationship between the virtual image, the second reflector and the driver's eye when the driver's eye is located on the right side of the eye box;

[0015] Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the area of ​​the virtual image superimposed on the foreground of the driver; and

[0016] Figure 5 It shows the composition Figure 1 A flow chart of the operation of the control unit of the vehicle display device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] In the following, for the convenience of description, Figures 1 to 3 As shown, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "up" and "down" are defined. The "front-rear direction", "left-right direction" and "up-down direction" are orthogonal to each other. The left-right direction corresponds to the "horizontal direction" of the present disclosure.

[0019] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle display device 1 of this embodiment is installed in a vehicle 100 and constitutes a head-up display. The vehicle display device 1 is set inside an instrument panel 101, for example. The instrument panel 101 has an opening 101a that opens upward. The opening 101a is opposite to a windshield 102 in the vertical direction of the vehicle 100.

[0020] The vehicle display device 1 includes a frame 4, a cover 5, an image display unit 20, a control unit 23, and an optical system 25. The image display unit 20, the control unit 23, and the optical system 25 are accommodated inside the frame 4. The frame 4 includes a main body 2 and a cover member 3 joined to the main body 2. The main body 2 has an opening that opens upward. The cover member 3 closes the opening of the main body 2 from above. The cover member 3 includes a wall portion 30 opposite to the opening 101a. The wall portion 30 has an opening 31 that opens upward. The frame 4 is configured so that the opening 31 is opposite to the opening 101a. The cover 5 is a plate-shaped member that closes the opening 31 of the cover member 3. The cover 5 is formed of a light-transmitting resin such as polycarbonate (PC) and acrylic.

[0021] The image display unit 20 is a device that emits display light 70 for an image. The image display unit 20 shown is a liquid crystal display device, and is, for example, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD). However, the image display unit 20 is not limited to a liquid crystal display device. The image display unit 20 can be, for example, a device that generates an image on a light-transmitting screen by scanning the screen with a laser.

[0022] The optical system 25 includes a first reflector 21 and a second reflector 22. The first reflector 21 reflects the display light 70 emitted from the image display unit 20 toward the second reflector 22. The first reflector 21 is, for example, a plane reflector. The second reflector 22 reflects the display light 70 toward the windshield 102. The shape of the reflection surface of the second reflector 22 is, for example, a free-form surface. The second reflector 22 is, for example, a concave mirror that amplifies the display light 70.

[0023] The display light 70 reflected by the second reflector 22 passes through the opening 31 and the opening 101a, and is reflected toward the driver 200 by the reflection surface 102a of the windshield 102. A virtual image is formed by the display light 70 incident on the eye 201 of the driver 200. The instrument panel 101 is provided with a cylindrical wall portion 103. The wall portion 103 surrounds the optical path of the display light 70 from the opening 31 toward the opening 101a.

[0024] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the image for the driver 200 displayed as a virtual image on the image display unit 20 includes a binocular region CB, i.e., an area visually recognized by the binocular vision of the driver 200, a right eye region CR, i.e., an area visually recognized only by the right eye but not by the left eye, and a left eye region CL, i.e., an area visually recognized only by the left eye but not by the right eye. The right eye region CR and the left eye region CL are regions on the end side in the left-right direction relative to the binocular region CB. Hereinafter, the right eye region CR and the left eye region CL are also collectively referred to as "monocular region CRL".

[0025] Figure 4 The arrangement of the areas of the virtual image superimposed on the foreground of the driver 200 is shown. Figure 4 As shown, the left area of ​​the virtual image corresponds to the right eye area CR, the central area of ​​the virtual image corresponds to the binocular area CB, and the right area of ​​the virtual image corresponds to the left eye area CL.

[0026] The control unit 23 includes a control circuit for controlling the image display unit 20. The control unit 23 is mounted on, for example, a control substrate provided inside the housing 4. The control unit 23 controls the image display unit 20 to generate an image according to, for example, a program stored in advance.

[0027] The vehicle 100 includes a driver monitor 104. The driver monitor 104 includes a camera arranged in front of the driver 200. The driver monitor 104 images the driver 200 and generates a driver image. The driver monitor 104 detects the position of the head of the driver 200 and the position (viewpoint position) of the eyes 201 of the driver 200 based on the driver image. The detection result of the driver monitor 104 is sent to the control unit 23.

[0028] The control unit 23 sets the binocular area CB and the monocular area CRL on the display screen of the image display unit 20 (see Figure 2 and Figure 3 ), and changes the brightness between the binocular area CB and the monocular area CRL. The control unit 23 also sets a non-display area CN (see Figure 2 and Figure 3 ) and controls so that a static image is not displayed in the non-display area CN.

[0029] Next, we will refer to Figure 2 Describe the details of the binocular region CB and the monocular region CRL. Figure 2 The optical positional relationship among the virtual image, the second reflecting mirror, and the eye 201 of the driver 200 is shown. Figure 2 The position of the eye 201 shown in is the center position of the eye box EB in the left-right direction. The eye box EB is a range that is presumed to be the range of movement of the position of the eye 201. The eye box EB has a prescribed width in the left-right direction. The vehicle display device 1 is configured so that the driver 200 can visually recognize the image when the eye 201 is within the eye box EB.

[0030] When the light reflected by the entire surface of the second reflecting mirror 22 is visually recognized, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown, the left end position of the right eye region CR is located on the extension line of the light beam "L1" connecting the right eye of the driver 200 and the left end position of the second reflector 22. The right end position of the left eye region CL is located on the extension line of the light beam "L2" connecting the left eye of the driver 200 and the right end position of the second reflector 22. The driver 200 cannot recognize the left end position of the right eye region CR with the left eye vision, nor can he recognize the right end position of the left eye region CL with the right eye vision.

[0031] The left end position of the binocular region CB is located on the extension line of the structure "L3" connecting the left eye of the driver 200 and the left end position of the second reflector 22. The right end position of the binocular region CB is located on the extension line of the structure "L4" connecting the right eye of the driver 200 and the right end position of the second reflector 22.

[0032] like Figure 2As shown, when the viewpoint position of the driver 200 is located at the center position of the eye box EB in the left-right direction, the binocular area CB, the right eye area CR and the left eye area CL can be set based on the interval between the two eyes of the driver 200 and the configuration position of the optical system 25.

[0033] Figure 3 The state where the position of the eye 201 is located on the right side of the eye box EB is shown. In this case, the double-eye area CB, the right-eye area CR, and the left-eye area CL are relative to each other. Figure 2 On the contrary, when the position of the eye 201 is the left side of the eye box EB, the binocular area CB, the right eye area CR and the left eye area CL are relative to each other. Figure 2 That is, the double-eye area CB, the right-eye area CR, and the left-eye area CL vary according to the position (viewpoint position) of the eye 201 of the driver 200.

[0034] In this embodiment, the control unit 23 changes the position of the non-display area CN according to the position of the eye 201 detected by the driver monitor 104. In this embodiment, the control unit 23 obtains the average value of the amplitude of the head in the left and right directions based on the head position detected by the driver monitor 104. Then, the control unit 23 sets the width W of the non-display area CN based on the average value (see Figure 4 ).

[0035] Next, we will refer to Figure 5 The flowchart of FIG. 2 describes the operation of the control unit 23 described in the above overview. When the ignition switch is turned on, the control unit 23 starts processing. First, the control unit 23 measures the interval between the eyes of the driver 200 based on the driver image from the driver monitor 104 (S1).

[0036] Next, the control unit 23 sets the binocular area CB, monocular area CRL and non-display area CN (S2) on the display screen of the image display unit 20 when the driver's 200 eye 201 is located at the center position in the left-right direction of the eye box EB based on the measured interval between the two eyes and the known layout position of the optical system 25.

[0037] Thereafter, the control unit 23 functions as a first acquisition unit and acquires the position of the eye 201 of the driver 200 detected by the driver monitor 104 (S3). Thereafter, the control unit 23 functions as a first setting unit and changes the positions of the binocular area CB, the monocular area CRL, and the non-display area CN based on the position of the eye 201 of the driver 200 acquired in S3 (S4).

[0038] In S4, when the position of the eye 201 of the driver 200 is located on the right side of the eye box EB, the control unit 23 shifts the positions of the binocular area CB, the monocular area CRL, and the non-display area CN from the positions set in S2 to the left by a corresponding amount. When the position of the eye 201 of the driver 200 is located on the left side of the eye box EB, the control unit 23 shifts the positions of the binocular area CB, the monocular area CRL, and the non-display area CN from the positions set in S2 to the right by a corresponding amount.

[0039] Thereafter, the control unit 23 functions as a second acquisition unit and acquires the head movement of the driver 200 from the head position of the driver 200 detected by the driver monitor 104 (S5). Thereafter, the control unit 23 changes the width W of the non-display area CN based on the head movement acquired in S5 (S6).

[0040] In S5, the control unit 23 mainly acquires the movement of the head of the driver 200 in the left-right direction. In S6, the control unit 23 changes the width W of the non-display area CN based on, for example, the average value of the amplitude of the head in the left-right direction. Specifically, when the average value of the amplitude of the head in the left-right direction is large, the control unit 23 changes the width W of the non-display area CN to a larger value, and when the average value of the amplitude of the head is small, the width W of the non-display area CN is changed to a smaller value.

[0041] When S6 ends, the control unit 23 returns to S3 again, and periodically changes the positions of the binocular area CB, the monocular area CRL, and the non-display area CN, and the width of the non-display area CN.

[0042] The control unit 23 is based on Figure 5 The operation in the flowchart shown sets the binocular area CB, the monocular area CRL, and the non-display area CN, and controls the image display unit 20. The control unit 23 prevents a static image from being displayed in the non-display area CN. For example, when independent designs representing route guidance, hourly speed, and time are arranged side by side and displayed in the left-right direction, the control unit 23 prevents these designs from being displayed in the non-display area CN or over the non-display area CN.

[0043] According to the above embodiment, the static image is not displayed in the non-display area CN which is the boundary between the binocular area CB and the monocular area CRL. Therefore, the static image is not displayed beyond the boundary, and the discomfort of the driver 200 can be reduced.

[0044] According to the above-described embodiment, the control unit 23 sets the width of the non-display area CN based on the head movement of the driver 200. Therefore, even when the head of the driver 200 moves and the positions of the binocular area CB and the monocular area CRL change, the probability of displaying a static image across the boundary portion can be reduced, and the discomfort of the driver 200 can be reduced.

[0045] According to the above embodiment, the control unit 23 sets the binocular area CB, the monocular area CRL, and the non-display area CN based on the position of the eye 201 of the driver 200. Therefore, the non-display area CN can be accurately set at the boundary between the binocular area CB and the monocular area CRL.

[0046] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be appropriately modified, improved, etc. The materials, shapes, sizes, quantities, configuration positions, etc. of the components in the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily selected without limitation as long as the present disclosure can be implemented.

[0047] The above embodiment describes the case where the light reflected by the entire surface of the second reflector 22 is visually recognized by the driver 200. Alternatively, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the image may be cut off by the cover member 3. In this case, the binocular area CB and the monocular area CRL are determined by the line connecting the right end position and the left end position of the eye 201 of the driver 200 and the opening 31 of the cover member 3.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the control unit 23 measures the interval between the eyes based on the driver image, and sets the binocular area CB, the monocular area CRL, and the non-display area CN based on the measured interval between the eyes. The control unit 23 may set the binocular area CB, the monocular area CRL, and the non-display area CN based on a preset average interval between the eyes instead of measuring the interval between the eyes.

[0049] In the above embodiment, the control unit 23 changes (sets) the width W of the non-display area CN based on the average value of the amplitude of the head in the left-right direction. Alternatively, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The control unit 23 may change the width W of the non-display area CN based on the maximum value and the median value of the amplitude of the head in the left-right direction.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the movement of the head is periodically acquired to change the width W of the non-display area CN, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the movement of the head within the first prescribed time from the start of ignition may be acquired, and the width W of the non-display area CN may be set based on the acquired movement of the head, and the width W may not be changed thereafter.

[0051] Here, the features of the embodiments of the vehicle display device according to the present disclosure described above are briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [3].

[0052] [1] A vehicle display device (1), comprising:

[0053] An image display unit (20) configured to emit display light (70) for an image;

[0054] an optical system (25) configured to project the display light (70) emitted from the image display unit (20) toward a reflective surface in front of a driver (200); and

[0055] A control unit (23) is configured to control the image display unit (20), wherein:

[0056] The image includes a binocular region (CB) which is a region recognized by binocular vision of the driver (200), and a monocular region (CRL) which is a region recognized only by monocular vision of the driver (200), and

[0057] The control unit (23) sets a non-display area (CN) at a boundary between the binocular area (CB) and the monocular area (CRL), and performs control so that at least a static image is not displayed in the non-display area (CN).

[0058] According to a vehicle display device (1) having the configuration of [1], a static image is not displayed in a non-display area (CN) which is a boundary between a binocular area (CB) and a monocular area (CRL). Thus, the probability of a static image being displayed beyond the boundary can be reduced, and the discomfort of a driver (200) can be reduced.

[0059] [2] The vehicle display device (1) according to [1], further comprising:

[0060] a first acquisition unit (23) configured to acquire the movement of the driver's (200) head; and

[0061] A first setting unit (23) is configured to set the horizontal width of the non-display area (CN) based on the movement of the head of the driver (200) acquired by the first acquisition unit (23).

[0062] According to a vehicle display device (1) having the configuration of [2], even when the driver's (200) head moves and the positions of the binocular area (CB) and the monocular area (CRL) change, the possibility of displaying a static image across the boundary portion can be reduced, thereby reducing the discomfort of the driver (200).

[0063] [3] The vehicle display device (1) according to [1], further comprising:

[0064] a second acquisition unit (23) configured to acquire the viewpoint position of the driver (200); and

[0065] A second setting unit (23) is configured to set the position of the non-display area (CN) based on the viewpoint position of the driver (200) acquired by the second acquisition unit.

[0066] According to the vehicle display device (1) having the configuration of [3], the non-display area (CN) can be accurately set at the boundary portion between the binocular area (CB) and the monocular area (CRL).

Claims

1. A vehicle display device, comprising: An image display unit that emits display light for an image; an optical system for projecting the display light emitted from the image display unit toward a reflective surface in front of the driver; as well as A control unit controls the image display unit, wherein: The image includes a binocular area which is an area recognized by binocular vision of the driver, and a monocular area which is an area recognized only by monocular vision of the driver, and The control unit sets a non-display area at a boundary portion between the binocular area and the monocular area, and performs control so that at least a static image is not displayed in the non-display area.

2. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, further comprising: A first acquisition unit, acquiring movement of the driver's head; as well as The first setting unit sets a horizontal width of the non-display area based on the movement of the driver's head acquired by the first acquiring unit.

3. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, further comprising: A second acquisition unit, acquiring a viewpoint position of the driver; as well as The second setting unit sets the position of the non-display area based on the viewpoint position of the driver acquired by the second acquiring unit.

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