Vehicle-mounted display system and control method of vehicle-mounted display system

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle-mounted display system and a control method of the vehicle-mounted display system. A vehicle-mounted display system is provided with: a target inter-vehicle distance acquisition unit that acquires a target inter-vehicle distance for vehicle speed control of a host vehicle with respect to a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the host vehicle; and a display control unit that, when the preceding vehicle is detected, displays a host vehicle icon and a preceding vehicle icon on a travel lane region displayed on the display, at least a first preceding vehicle display position in front of the host vehicle icon and a second preceding vehicle display position disposed between the first preceding vehicle display position and the host vehicle icon are set in the travel lane region, and when the target inter-vehicle distance is changed from the first set distance to the second set distance, the target inter-vehicle distance is changed from the first set distance to the second set distance. The display control unit moves the preceding vehicle icon such that the preceding vehicle icon approaches the second preceding vehicle display position from the first preceding vehicle display position on the display as the inter-vehicle distance approaches the second set distance from the first set distance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle display system and a control method for an in-vehicle display system. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a technical document related to an in-vehicle display system, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2023-117717 is known. This publication shows a vehicle control device that indicates the status of other vehicle identification of the device by displaying a preceding vehicle icon at a fixed position on a display in the vehicle compartment.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2023-117717

[0006] However, it is known that since the display area of the display is limited as in the above device, the preceding vehicle icon is displayed at a fixed position on the display. Furthermore, in the case of controlling the vehicle speed of the host vehicle according to the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle, a target inter-vehicle distance as a control target is set. Regarding this target inter-vehicle distance, a display that is easy to intuitively understand using the preceding vehicle icon on the display rather than a numerical value is required. Summary of the Invention

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is an in-vehicle display system mounted on a host vehicle and configured to display the surrounding conditions of the host vehicle on a display in the vehicle compartment. The in-vehicle display system includes: a target inter-vehicle distance acquisition unit that acquires a target inter-vehicle distance for speed control of the host vehicle with respect to a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the host vehicle; and a display control unit that, when the preceding vehicle is detected, displays a host vehicle icon and a preceding vehicle icon on a driving lane area displayed on the display. At least a first preceding vehicle display position in front of the host vehicle icon and a second preceding vehicle display position disposed between the first preceding vehicle display position and the host vehicle icon are set in the driving lane area. When the target inter-vehicle distance is a first set distance, the display control unit displays the preceding vehicle icon on the first preceding vehicle display position on the display. When the target inter-vehicle distance is a second set distance smaller than the first set distance, the display control unit displays the preceding vehicle icon on the second preceding vehicle display position on the display. When the target inter-vehicle distance is changed from the first set distance to the second set distance, the display control unit moves the preceding vehicle icon in such a manner that the preceding vehicle icon approaches the second preceding vehicle display position on the display as the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle approaches the second set distance from the first set distance.

[0008] An in-vehicle display system according to an aspect of the present invention can display a preceding vehicle icon at a predetermined position according to a target inter-vehicle distance, and can move the preceding vehicle icon in accordance with a change in the actual inter-vehicle distance when the target inter-vehicle distance is changed, thereby appropriately conveying to the user the conditions of the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle corresponding to the target inter-vehicle distance.

[0009] In an in-vehicle display system according to an aspect of the present invention, it may also be that regardless of the target inter-vehicle distance, when the inter-vehicle distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is less than a proximity determination threshold, the display control unit displays the preceding vehicle icon at a position closer to the host vehicle icon in the driving lane area than the second preceding vehicle display position, and moves the preceding vehicle icon in such a manner that the closer the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle becomes, the closer the preceding vehicle icon approaches the host vehicle icon.

[0010] In an in-vehicle display system according to an aspect of the present invention, it may also be that in the case where the target inter-vehicle distance is changed from a first set distance to a second set distance, the display control unit moves the preceding vehicle icon in such a manner that the preceding vehicle icon reaches the second preceding vehicle display position at the timing when the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle reaches the second set distance.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is a control method for an in-vehicle display system, which is mounted on the host vehicle and displays the conditions around the host vehicle on a display in the vehicle cabin. The control method for the in-vehicle display system includes: acquiring a target inter-vehicle distance for speed control of the host vehicle with respect to a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the host vehicle; displaying a host vehicle icon and a preceding vehicle icon on a driving lane area displayed on the display when the preceding vehicle is detected; at least setting a first preceding vehicle display position in front of the host vehicle icon and a second preceding vehicle display position disposed between the first preceding vehicle display position and the host vehicle icon in the driving lane area; displaying the preceding vehicle icon at the first preceding vehicle display position on the display when the target inter-vehicle distance is a first set distance; displaying the preceding vehicle icon at the second preceding vehicle display position on the display when the target inter-vehicle distance is a second set distance smaller than the first set distance; and when the target inter-vehicle distance is changed from the first set distance to the second set distance, moving the preceding vehicle icon on the display in such a manner that the preceding vehicle icon approaches the second preceding vehicle display position from the first preceding vehicle display position as the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle approaches the second set distance from the first set distance.

[0012] A control method for an in-vehicle display system according to another aspect of the present invention can display a preceding vehicle icon at a predetermined position according to a target inter-vehicle distance, and can move the preceding vehicle icon in accordance with a change in the actual inter-vehicle distance when the target inter-vehicle distance is changed, thereby appropriately conveying information related to the target inter-vehicle distance to the user.

[0013] Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the various aspects of the present invention, the conditions of the present vehicle and the preceding vehicle corresponding to the distance to the target vehicle can be appropriately conveyed to the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a block diagram showing an in-vehicle display system according to an embodiment.

[0016] [[ID=1-`]] Figure 2 It is a diagram showing an example of the display on the display.

[0017] Figure 3 (a) of is a top view showing an example of the actual conditions of the present vehicle and the preceding vehicle. Figure 3 (b) of is for Figure 3 It is a diagram for explaining an example of the display on the display corresponding to (a) of.

[0018] Figure 4 (a) of is a top view showing an example of the condition where the target vehicle distance is switched to the second set distance. Figure 4 (b) of is for Figure 4 It is a diagram for explaining an example of the display on the display corresponding to (a) of.

[0019] Figure 5 (a) of is a top view showing an example of the condition where the actual vehicle distance is less than the approach determination threshold. Figure 5 (b) of is for Figure 5 It is a diagram for explaining an example of the display on the display corresponding to (a) of.

[0020] Figure 6 (a) of is a flowchart showing an example of the preceding vehicle icon display process. Figure 6 (b) of is a flowchart showing an example of the preceding vehicle icon display position change process.

[0021] Figure 7 (a) of is a flowchart showing an example of the approach determination process. Figure 7 (b) of is a flowchart showing another example of the preceding vehicle icon display position change process.

[0022] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0023] 1: External sensor; 2: Display; 3: Vehicle control ECU; 10: Display control ECU; 11: Target inter-vehicle distance acquisition unit; 12: Display control unit; 100: In-vehicle display system; D: Inter-vehicle distance; D1: First set distance; D2: Second set distance; MA: Own vehicle icon; M: Own vehicle; NA: Preceding vehicle icon; N: Preceding vehicle; P1: First preceding vehicle display position; P2: Second preceding vehicle display position; RA: Driving lane area. Detailed implementation mode

[0024] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Figure 1 It is a block diagram showing an in-vehicle display system 100 according to an embodiment. Figure 1 The shown in-vehicle display system 100 is a device mounted on a vehicle such as a passenger car or a truck (hereinafter referred to as the own vehicle) and performs image display corresponding to the surrounding conditions of the vehicle.

[0026] The own vehicle has the following function: controlling the vehicle speed of the own vehicle so that the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the own vehicle becomes the target inter-vehicle distance, where the preceding vehicle is the vehicle that travels in front of the own vehicle in the driving lane of the own vehicle. The own vehicle may have a driving assistance function such as ACC [Adaptive Cruise Control], or may have an autonomous driving function including vehicle speed control. The target inter-vehicle distance is a set value that is a reference for the vehicle speed control of the own vehicle with respect to the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the own vehicle.

[0027] [Configuration of in-vehicle display system]

[0028] Hereinafter, the configuration of the in-vehicle display system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As Figure 1As shown, the in-vehicle display system 100 includes a display control ECU [Electronic Control Unit] 10 that comprehensively manages the device. The display control ECU 10 is an electronic control unit having a CPU [Central Processing Unit] and a storage unit. The storage unit is composed of, for example, a ROM [Read Only Memory], a RAM [RandomAccess Memory], an EEPROM [Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory], etc. In the display control ECU 10, various functions are implemented, for example, by the CPU executing a program stored in the storage unit. The display control ECU 10 may also be composed of multiple electronic units.

[0029] An external sensor 1, a display 2, and a vehicle control ECU 3 are connected to the display control ECU 10. The external sensor 1 is a detection device that detects the surrounding conditions of the vehicle such as a preceding vehicle. The external sensor 1 includes at least one of a camera and a radar sensor. The camera is a photographing device that photographs the external conditions of the vehicle. The camera is, for example, provided inside the front window glass of the vehicle and photographs the front of the vehicle. The camera sends a photographed image related to the external conditions of the vehicle to the display control ECU 10. The radar sensor is a detection device that uses radio waves (e.g., millimeter waves) or light to detect objects around the vehicle. The radar sensor includes, for example, a millimeter wave radar or a LiDAR [Light Detection and Ranging]. The radar sensor sends information on the detected objects to the display control ECU 10.

[0030] The display 2 is a display device provided inside the vehicle compartment of the vehicle. The display 2 may be a central display, an MID [Multi Information Display], or an HUD [Head Up Display]. The display 2 displays various information according to a control signal from the display control ECU 10.

[0031] The vehicle control ECU 3 is an electronic unit that controls the driving assistance function or the autonomous driving function of the vehicle. Here, detailed descriptions of the driving assistance function and the autonomous driving function are omitted. The target inter-vehicle distance set by the user of the vehicle is stored in the vehicle control ECU 3. The user is, for example, a driver. In the case where the vehicle is a fully autonomous vehicle, the user does not need to be a driver and may also be a passenger.

[0032] Next, the functional configuration of the display control ECU 10 will be described. The display control ECU 10 includes a target inter-vehicle distance acquisition unit 11 and a display control unit 12. It should be noted that the display control ECU 10 may also be composed of multiple electronic units.

[0033] The target inter-vehicle distance acquisition unit 11 acquires the target inter-vehicle distance set for the own vehicle from the vehicle control ECU 3. In addition, when the target inter-vehicle distance is changed, the target inter-vehicle distance acquisition unit 11 acquires the change information of the target inter-vehicle distance. The change of the target inter-vehicle distance can be performed by the operation of the user or automatically by the determination of the vehicle control ECU 3 (such as the ECU of the automatic driving system or the driving assistance system).

[0034] The vehicle control ECU 3 may also automatically change the target inter-vehicle distance based on at least one of, for example, the change of the weather, the change of the road surface condition, and the change of the vehicle driving mode performed by the user (such as switching to the sports mode or the energy-saving mode). For example, in the case of deteriorated weather, slippery road surface, or when the user switches the vehicle driving mode from the standard mode to the sports mode, the vehicle control ECU 3 changes the target inter-vehicle distance so that it becomes longer.

[0035] When the preceding vehicle is detected by the external sensor 1, the display control unit 12 displays the own vehicle icon and the preceding vehicle icon in the driving lane area displayed on the display 2. Here, Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the display on the display. Figure 2 The driving lane area RA, the left line LA1 and the right line LA2 forming the driving lane area RA, the own vehicle icon MA, the preceding vehicle icon NA, and the parallel vehicle icon WA are shown. It should be noted that the display on the display 2 is not limited to Figure 2 the top-down display as shown, and various display schemes that enable the user to recognize the surrounding conditions of the own vehicle can be adopted.

[0036] The display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA in the display on the display according to the target inter-vehicle distance acquired by the target inter-vehicle distance acquisition unit 11. Here, Figure 3 The (a) of is a top view showing an example of the actual situation of the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle. Figure 3 The own vehicle M and the preceding vehicle N are shown in the (a) of. In addition, the inter-vehicle distance D between the own vehicle M and the preceding vehicle N and the first set distance D1 set as the target inter-vehicle distance are shown. The first set distance D1 is a distance of a value determined in advance. The first set distance D1 can also be set based on the display area of the display 2, for example.

[0037] Figure 3 The (b) of is used to pair withFigure 3 A diagram for explaining an example of the display on the display corresponding to (a) of Figure 3 The display on the display as viewed from above is shown in (b) of Figure 3 In (b) of Figure 3 The first preceding vehicle display position P1 for displaying the preceding vehicle icon NA is shown in the situation of (a) of . The first preceding vehicle display position P1 is the position for displaying the preceding vehicle icon NA when the set value of the target inter-vehicle distance is set to the first set distance D1. The first preceding vehicle display position P1 is formed in front of the own vehicle icon MA within the driving lane area RA. The display position of the own vehicle icon MA can be fixed or changed according to conditions.

[0038] When it is detected based on the detection result of the external sensor 1 that Figure 3 In the situation shown in (a) of , the display control unit 12 Figure 3 Displays the preceding vehicle icon NA at the first preceding vehicle display position P1 as shown in (b) of . It should be noted that when the preceding vehicle N is not detected, the display control unit 12 does not display the preceding vehicle icon NA.

[0039] When the target inter-vehicle distance is switched from the first set distance D1 to the second set distance D2, the display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA according to the actual inter-vehicle distance D between the preceding vehicle N and the own vehicle M. The second set distance D2 is a distance shorter than the first set distance D1.

[0040] Here, Figure 4 (a) of is a top view showing an example of the situation where the target inter-vehicle distance is switched to the second set distance D2. Figure 4 The second set distance D2 and the arrow TA are shown in (a) of , where the arrow TA indicates the situation where the inter-vehicle distance D between the own vehicle M and the preceding vehicle N gradually becomes shorter due to the switching of the target inter-vehicle distance.

[0041] Figure 4 (b) of is a diagram for explaining an example of the display on the display corresponding to (a) of Figure 4 Figure 4In (b), a second preceding vehicle display position P2 and an arrow TB are shown, where the arrow TB indicates the movement of the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA corresponding to the reduction of the actual inter-vehicle distance D. The second preceding vehicle display position P2 refers to the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA corresponding to the case where the target inter-vehicle distance is set to the second set distance D2. The second preceding vehicle display position P2 is set at a position closer to the own vehicle icon MA than the first preceding vehicle display position P1 in front of the own vehicle icon MA within the driving lane area RA. The second preceding vehicle display position P2 is set at a position disposed between the first preceding vehicle display position P1 and the own vehicle icon MA.

[0042] In the situation where Figure 4 as shown in (a), the target inter-vehicle distance is switched from the first set distance D1 to the second set distance D2, so that the inter-vehicle distance D becomes shorter, the display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA in such a way that the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA moves from the first preceding vehicle display position P1 to the second preceding vehicle display position P2 (refer to Figure 4 (b)). The display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA in such a way that the preceding vehicle icon NA approaches the second preceding vehicle display position P2 as the inter-vehicle distance D approaches the second set distance D2 from the first set distance D1. The display control unit 12 moves the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA in such a way that the preceding vehicle icon NA reaches the second preceding vehicle display position P2 at the timing when the inter-vehicle distance D reaches the second set distance D2.

[0043] It can be set to be the same in the opposite case. It can also be that, in the situation where the target inter-vehicle distance is switched from the second set distance D2 to the first set distance D1, so that the inter-vehicle distance D becomes larger, the display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA in such a way that the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA approaches the first preceding vehicle display position P1 from the second preceding vehicle display position P2.

[0044] It should be noted that the timing of the change in the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA does not necessarily need to be strict. The display control unit 12 does not need to make the preceding vehicle icon NA reach the second preceding vehicle display position P2 at the timing when the inter-vehicle distance D reaches the second set distance D2 from the first set distance D1. The timing when the preceding vehicle icon NA reaches the second preceding vehicle display position P2 can also be earlier than the timing when the inter-vehicle distance D reaches the second set distance D2, or can be later than the timing when the inter-vehicle distance D reaches the second set distance D2.

[0045] In addition, the first set distance D1 and the second set distance D2 are an example, and three or more set distances can also be determined in advance. The same applies to the first preceding vehicle display position P1 and the second preceding vehicle display position P2.

[0046] Alternatively, when the inter-vehicle distance D between the preceding vehicle N and the own vehicle M is less than the approach determination threshold T, regardless of the set value of the target inter-vehicle distance, the display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA to the third preceding vehicle display position P3.

[0047] The approach determination threshold T is a threshold value of a preset value. The approach determination threshold T is not particularly limited, and may be set to 15 m, or may be set to 10 m. Alternatively, the greater the vehicle speed, the greater the value to which the approach determination threshold T is changed. The approach determination threshold T may also be set to a value that is a certain value smaller than the target inter-vehicle distance. The third preceding vehicle display position P3 is set at a position closer to the own vehicle icon MA than the second preceding vehicle display position P2 in front of the own vehicle icon MA within the driving lane area RA.

[0048] Figure 5 The top view of (a) shows an example of a situation where the actual inter-vehicle distance D is less than the approach determination threshold T. Figure 5 The (b) is a diagram for explaining an example of the display on the display corresponding to (a) of Figure 5 The (b) shows an example of the third preceding vehicle display position P3. In the case where the inter-vehicle distance D is less than the approach determination threshold T as shown in (a) of Figure 5 regardless of the set value of the target inter-vehicle distance, the display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA to the third preceding vehicle display position P3. Figure 5 Alternatively, when the situation where the inter-vehicle distance D is less than the approach determination threshold T continues, the display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA according to the inter-vehicle distance D. In this case, the display control unit 12 moves the preceding vehicle icon NA in such a manner that the closer the inter-vehicle distance D between the preceding vehicle N and the own vehicle M becomes, the closer the preceding vehicle icon NA approaches the own vehicle icon MA.

[0049] In addition, when the situation where the inter-vehicle distance D is less than the approach determination threshold T continues, the display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA according to the inter-vehicle distance D. In this case, the display control unit 12 moves the preceding vehicle icon NA in such a manner that the closer the inter-vehicle distance D between the preceding vehicle N and the own vehicle M becomes, the closer the preceding vehicle icon NA approaches the own vehicle icon MA.

[0050] [Control Method of On-Vehicle Display System]

[0051] Next, a control method of the on-vehicle display system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 6 The (a) is a flowchart showing an example of the preceding vehicle icon display process. The preceding vehicle icon display process is executed when the user turns on the display of the surrounding situation of the own vehicle.

[0052] As shown in Figure 6As shown in (a) of , as S10, the display control ECU 10 of the in-vehicle display system 100 acquires the target inter-vehicle distance used in the vehicle speed control of the host vehicle through the target inter-vehicle distance acquisition unit 11. After that, the display control ECU 10 proceeds to S11.

[0053] In S11, the display control ECU 10 determines whether the preceding vehicle N is detected through the display control unit 12. If it is determined that the preceding vehicle N is detected (S11: Yes), the display control ECU 10 proceeds to S12. If it is not determined that the preceding vehicle N is detected (S11: No), the display control ECU 10 ends the current process.

[0054] In S12, the display control ECU 10 displays the preceding vehicle icon NA on the display 2 through the display control unit 12. The display control unit 12 displays the preceding vehicle icon NA on the driving lane area RA, for example, as shown in Figure 2 . When the target inter-vehicle distance is the first set distance D1, the display control unit 12 displays the preceding vehicle icon NA at the first preceding vehicle display position P1 (refer to (a) of Figure 3 and Figure 3 (b)). After that, the display control ECU 10 ends the current process.

[0055] Figure 6 (b) is a flowchart showing an example of the preceding vehicle icon display position change process. Figure 6 The preceding vehicle icon display position change process shown in (b) of is executed when the preceding vehicle icon NA is displayed. It should be noted that this is excluded when the conditions in (a) of Figure 7 described later are met.

[0056] As shown in (b) of Figure 6 , as S20, the display control ECU 10 determines whether the target inter-vehicle distance has been changed from the first set distance D1 to the second set distance D2 through the target inter-vehicle distance acquisition unit 11. If it is determined that the target inter-vehicle distance has been changed from the first set distance D1 to the second set distance D2 (S20: Yes), the display control ECU 10 proceeds to S2I. If it is not determined that the target inter-vehicle distance has been changed from the first set distance D1 to the second set distance D2 (S20: No), the display control ECU 10 ends the current process.

[0057] In S21, the display control ECU 10 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA according to the actual inter-vehicle distance D through the display control unit 12. As shown in (a) of Figure 4 and Figure 4As shown in (b), the display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA from the first preceding vehicle display position P1 to the second preceding vehicle display position P2 in such a way that the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA responds to the situation where the inter-vehicle distance D approaches the second set distance D2 from the first set distance D1. After that, the display control ECU 10 ends the current process.

[0058] Figure 7 (a) is a flowchart showing an example of the approach determination process. As Figure 7 As shown in (a), in S30, the display control ECU 10 determines, via the display control unit 12, whether the actual inter-vehicle distance D is less than the approach determination threshold T. If it is determined that the inter-vehicle distance D is less than the approach determination threshold T (S30: Yes), the display control ECU 10 proceeds to S31. If it is not determined that the inter-vehicle distance D is less than the approach determination threshold T (S30: No), the display control ECU 10 ends the current process.

[0059] In S31, the display control ECU 10 changes, via the display control unit 12, the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA to the third preceding vehicle display position P3. In this case, regardless of the target inter-vehicle distance, the display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA to the third preceding vehicle display position P3. That is, the change in the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA due to the approach of the own vehicle M to the preceding vehicle N is given priority over the change in the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA due to the change in the target inter-vehicle distance. After that, the display control ECU 10 ends the current process.

[0060] Figure 7 (b) is a flowchart showing another example of the preceding vehicle icon display position change process. Figure 7 The preceding vehicle icon display position change process shown in (b) is executed Figure 7 when the process in S31 of (a) is performed.

[0061] As Figure 7 shown in (b), as S40, the display control ECU 10 determines, via the display control unit 12, whether the state where the actual inter-vehicle distance D is less than the approach determination threshold T continues. If it is determined that the state where the inter-vehicle distance D is less than the approach determination threshold T continues (S40: Yes), the display control ECU 10 proceeds to S41. If it is not determined that the state where the inter-vehicle distance D is less than the approach determination threshold T continues (S40: No), the display control ECU 10 ends the current process.

[0062] In S41, the display control ECU 10 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA according to the actual inter-vehicle distance D through the display control unit 12. The display control unit 12 changes the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA such that as the inter-vehicle distance D becomes shorter, the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA approaches the own vehicle icon MA from the third preceding vehicle display position P3.

[0063] According to the in-vehicle display system 100 (and its control method) of the present embodiment described above, the preceding vehicle icon NA can be displayed at a predetermined position according to the target inter-vehicle distance, and when the target inter-vehicle distance is changed, the preceding vehicle icon NA can be moved in accordance with the change in the actual inter-vehicle distance D. Thus, the conditions of the own vehicle M and the preceding vehicle N corresponding to the target inter-vehicle distance can be appropriately conveyed to the user. The user can intuitively grasp the change in the target inter-vehicle distance and the change in the inter-vehicle distance D without a sense of discomfort.

[0064] In addition, according to the in-vehicle display system 100, when the target inter-vehicle distance is changed from the first set distance D1 to the second set distance D2, the preceding vehicle icon NA is moved such that the preceding vehicle icon NA reaches the second preceding vehicle display position P2 at the timing when the inter-vehicle distance D between the preceding vehicle N and the own vehicle M reaches the second set distance D2. Thus, the timing of completion of the adjustment of the inter-vehicle distance D corresponding to the change in the target inter-vehicle distance can be appropriately conveyed to the user.

[0065] In addition, according to the in-vehicle display system 100, when the actual inter-vehicle distance D is less than the approach determination threshold T, the display position of the preceding vehicle icon NA is changed to the third preceding vehicle display position P3 closer to the own vehicle icon MA. Therefore, information related to the inter-vehicle distance D can be appropriately conveyed to the user when the own vehicle M approaches the preceding vehicle N.

[0066] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The present invention can be represented by the above embodiments and can be implemented in various ways with various changes and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted display system is mounted on the vehicle and displays the conditions around the vehicle on a display in the passenger compartment, wherein, The in-vehicle display system includes: a target inter-vehicle distance acquisition unit that acquires a target inter-vehicle distance for vehicle speed control of the host vehicle with respect to a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle; and a display control unit that, when the preceding vehicle is detected, displays a host vehicle icon and a preceding vehicle icon in a driving lane area displayed on the display, wherein at least a first preceding vehicle display position in front of the host vehicle icon and a second preceding vehicle display position arranged between the first preceding vehicle display position and the host vehicle icon are set in the driving lane area, when the target inter-vehicle distance is a first set distance, the display control unit displays the preceding vehicle icon at the first preceding vehicle display position on the display, when the target inter-vehicle distance is a second set distance smaller than the first set distance, the display control unit displays the preceding vehicle icon at the second preceding vehicle display position on the display, when the target inter-vehicle distance is changed from the first set distance to the second set distance, the display control unit moves the preceding vehicle icon in such a manner that as the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle approaches the second set distance from the first set distance, the preceding vehicle icon approaches the second preceding vehicle display position on the display.

2. The in-vehicle display system according to claim 1, wherein regardless of the target inter-vehicle distance, when the inter-vehicle distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is less than a proximity determination threshold, the display control unit displays the preceding vehicle icon at a position closer to the host vehicle icon than the second preceding vehicle display position in the driving lane area, and moves the preceding vehicle icon in such a manner that the shorter the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle becomes, the closer the preceding vehicle icon approaches the host vehicle icon.

3. The in-vehicle display system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the target inter-vehicle distance is changed from the first set distance to the second set distance, the display control unit moves the preceding vehicle icon in such a manner that the preceding vehicle icon reaches the second preceding vehicle display position at the same time as the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle reaches the second set distance.

4. A control method for an in-vehicle display system, the in-vehicle display system being mounted on a host vehicle and displaying the surrounding conditions of the host vehicle on a display in a vehicle compartment, the control method for the in-vehicle display system including: acquiring a target inter-vehicle distance for vehicle speed control of the host vehicle with respect to a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle; when the preceding vehicle is detected, displaying a host vehicle icon and a preceding vehicle icon in a driving lane area displayed on the display; wherein at least a first preceding vehicle display position in front of the host vehicle icon and a second preceding vehicle display position arranged between the first preceding vehicle display position and the host vehicle icon are set in the driving lane area; When the target inter-vehicle distance is the first set distance, display the leading vehicle icon at the first leading vehicle display position on the display; When the target inter-vehicle distance is the second set distance smaller than the first set distance, display the leading vehicle icon at the second leading vehicle display position on the display; and When the target inter-vehicle distance is changed from the first set distance to the second set distance, move the leading vehicle icon on the display in such a way that as the inter-vehicle distance between the leading vehicle and the own vehicle approaches the second set distance from the first set distance, the leading vehicle icon approaches the second leading vehicle display position from the first leading vehicle display position.

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