Vehicle-mounted display system

Abstract

An in-vehicle display system (1) is provided with a display control unit that controls the display of a display. The display control unit is configured so as to display, on the display, a following control object on a preceding vehicle icon (6) corresponding to a preceding vehicle when the host vehicle performs following control with respect to the preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the host vehicle; during execution of the following control, even if a more preceding vehicle traveling in front of the preceding vehicle is detected, an icon corresponding to the more preceding vehicle is not displayed on the display; and when the preceding vehicle is the deceleration control object of the host vehicle during execution of the following control, maintaining the following control object display of the preceding vehicle icon (6), and executing the deceleration control object display of the preceding vehicle icon (7) corresponding to the preceding vehicle on the display.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an in-vehicle display system. Background Art

[0002] As a technical document related to the in-vehicle display system mounted on the present vehicle, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-41126 is known. In the in-vehicle display system described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-41126, when a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the present vehicle is a control target (for example, a following control target) of the present vehicle, a control target display of the preceding vehicle icon is displayed on the display screen of the present vehicle.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-41126

[0006] Furthermore, when a pre-preceding vehicle is traveling in front of the preceding vehicle, the pre-preceding vehicle may sometimes become a deceleration control target. In such a case, when the control target display of the pre-preceding vehicle icon is displayed on the display screen instead of the control target display of the preceding vehicle icon, the driver may feel uneasy. Summary of the Invention

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an in-vehicle display system that can alleviate the driver's uneasiness.

[0008] The in-vehicle display system of the present disclosure is mounted on the present vehicle and displays the conditions around the present vehicle on a display in the vehicle compartment. The in-vehicle display system includes a display control unit that controls the display on the display. The display control unit is configured to: when the present vehicle performs following control on a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the present vehicle, perform following control target display of a preceding vehicle icon corresponding to the preceding vehicle on the display; during the execution of the following control, even if a pre-preceding vehicle traveling in front of the preceding vehicle is detected, an icon corresponding to the pre-preceding vehicle is not displayed on the display; during the execution of the following control, when the pre-preceding vehicle has become a deceleration control target of the present vehicle, maintain the following control target display of the preceding vehicle icon and perform deceleration control target display of a pre-preceding vehicle icon corresponding to the pre-preceding vehicle on the display.

[0009] Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the present disclosure, an in-vehicle display system that can alleviate the driver's uneasiness can be provided. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] Figure 1It is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an in-vehicle display system according to an embodiment.

[0012] Figure 2 It represents Figure 1 a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the display shown.

[0013] Figure 3 It represents Figure 1 a diagram showing an example of the display screen of the display shown.

[0014] Figure 4 It represents Figure 1 a flowchart of the processing executed by the ECU shown.

[0015] Explanation of reference numerals

[0016] 1: In-vehicle display system; 4: Display; 5: Speaker; 6: Preceding vehicle icon; 7: Even more preceding vehicle icon; 15: Display control unit; 16: Reporting unit; 61: Follow-up control target icon; 71: Deceleration control target icon. Detailed implementation manners

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 It is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an in-vehicle display system according to an embodiment. Figure 1 The in-vehicle display system 1 shown is mounted on the host vehicle such as an autonomous driving vehicle or a driving assistance vehicle. As Figure 1 shown, the in-vehicle display system 1 includes a camera 2, a sensor 3, a display 4, a speaker 5, and an ECU [Electronic Control Unit] 10. The in-vehicle display system 1 displays the surrounding conditions of the host vehicle on the display 4 in the vehicle compartment.

[0019] The camera 2 photographs the external environment of the host vehicle. In the present embodiment, the camera 2 is, for example, a front camera provided on the inner side of the front window glass of the host vehicle and photographing the front of the host vehicle. The camera photographs preceding vehicles and the like located in front of the host vehicle. The camera 2 can be a monocular camera or a stereo camera. The camera 2 sends the photographed image of the external environment of the host vehicle to the ECU 10.

[0020] The sensor 3 is a detection device that detects the external environment of the vehicle (the conditions around the vehicle). That is to say, the sensor 3 is an external sensor. The sensor 3 is, for example, a radar sensor. The radar sensor is a detection device that uses radio waves (such as millimeter waves) or light to detect the objects around the vehicle. The radar sensor is, for example, a millimeter wave radar or a LiDAR [Light Detection and Ranging], etc. The sensor 3 detects the distance and relative position between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle located in front of the vehicle. The sensor 3 detects the speed of the vehicle ahead of the preceding vehicle. The sensor 3 sends the information of the detected object to the ECU 10.

[0021] The display 4 is provided inside the vehicle compartment of the vehicle. The display 4 is, for example, provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle. The display 4 has a display screen 41 for displaying images (refer to Figure 2 ). The display 4 displays an image on the display screen 41 according to the control signal from the ECU 10. It should be noted that the display 4 can also be an HUD [Head Up Display] that projects and displays on the front window glass or the projection screen of the vehicle, etc.

[0022] The speaker 5 is provided inside the vehicle compartment of the vehicle. The speaker 5 is a device for providing information based on sound to the occupants of the vehicle. The speaker 5 is configured to output sound or voice to the occupants inside the vehicle compartment.

[0023] The ECU 10 is an electronic control unit having a CPU [Central Processing Unit] and a storage unit such as a ROM [Read Only Memory] or a RAM [Random Access Memory]. In the ECU 10, various functions are realized, for example, by the CPU executing the program stored in the storage unit.

[0024] The ECU 10 includes a preceding vehicle recognition unit 11, a vehicle ahead of the preceding vehicle recognition unit 12, a following control unit 13, a deceleration control unit 14, a display control unit 15, and a reporting unit 16 as its functional components.

[0025] The preceding vehicle recognition unit 11 determines whether there is a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the host vehicle based on the detection result of at least one of the camera 2 and the sensor 3. The preceding vehicle recognition unit 11 may also determine the presence of a preceding vehicle based on the captured image of the camera 2, for example, by using known image processing methods such as edge extraction, noise removal, pattern matching, etc., or a machine learning model learned by deep learning or the like. The preceding vehicle recognition unit 11 may also determine the presence of a preceding vehicle based on the detection result of radio waves or light reflected by the preceding vehicle. The preceding vehicle recognition unit 11 identifies the speed of the preceding vehicle and the distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle based on the detection result of the sensor 3.

[0026] The even preceding vehicle recognition unit 12 determines whether there is an even preceding vehicle traveling in front of the preceding vehicle based on the detection result of at least one of the camera 2 and the sensor 3. The even preceding vehicle recognition unit 12 determines the presence of an even preceding vehicle based on the captured image of the camera 2, for example, by using known image processing methods such as edge extraction, noise removal, pattern matching, etc., or a machine learning model learned by deep learning or the like. The even preceding vehicle recognition unit 12 may also determine the presence of an even preceding vehicle based on the detection result of radio waves or light reflected by the even preceding vehicle, the bottom of the preceding vehicle, or the road surface on which the preceding vehicle is traveling. The even preceding vehicle recognition unit 12 identifies the speed of the even preceding vehicle and the distance between the host vehicle and the even preceding vehicle based on the detection result of the sensor 3.

[0027] When there is a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the host vehicle, the following control unit 13 performs following control, where the following control is a control for adjusting the speed of the host vehicle so that the inter-vehicle distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle becomes a preset set inter-vehicle distance. The following control unit 13 performs following control, for example, as part of ACC [Adaptive Cruise Control]. The following control unit 13 cooperates with the brake hold function that operates the braking device to perform automatic braking, and causes the host vehicle to travel or stop following the preceding vehicle.

[0028] When there is an even preceding vehicle in front of the preceding vehicle and the speed of the even preceding vehicle is decreasing, the deceleration control unit 14 performs deceleration control to decrease the speed of the host vehicle. The deceleration control unit 14 cooperates with the brake hold function that operates the braking device to perform automatic braking, and decreases the speed of the host vehicle.

[0029] The display control unit 15 controls the display of the display 4. Figure 2 and Figure 3 are respectively diagrams showing an example of the display screen 41 of the display 4. As Figure 2As shown, when the present vehicle performs follow-up control on a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the present vehicle, the display control unit 15 displays a preceding vehicle icon 6 corresponding to the preceding vehicle on the display screen 41 of the display 4. During the execution of the follow-up control, even if a vehicle traveling even ahead of the preceding vehicle is detected, the display control unit 15 does not display a vehicle icon 7 corresponding to the vehicle traveling even ahead on the display screen 41 of the display 4. It should be noted that in Figure 2 the information displayed on the display screen 41 of the display 4 is shown by a solid line, and the information not displayed on the display screen 41 of the display 4 is shown by a dashed line.

[0030] When the present vehicle performs follow-up control on a preceding vehicle, the display control unit 15 performs display for follow-up control target on the preceding vehicle icon 6. Specifically, as the display for follow-up control target on the preceding vehicle icon 6, the display control unit 15 controls the color of the preceding vehicle icon 6 and a follow-up control target icon 61 corresponding to the preceding vehicle icon 6. When the present vehicle performs follow-up control on a preceding vehicle, the display control unit 15 sets the color of the preceding vehicle icon 6 to white, for example. When the present vehicle performs follow-up control on a preceding vehicle, the display control unit 15 displays the follow-up control target icon 61 in an area near the preceding vehicle icon 6 on the display screen 41. The follow-up control target icon 61 includes, for example, "Follow-up target" as text information.

[0031] As Figure 3 shown, when the present vehicle performs deceleration control on a vehicle traveling even ahead of the preceding vehicle, the display control unit 15 displays a vehicle icon 7 corresponding to the vehicle traveling even ahead on the display screen 41 of the display 4. When the present vehicle performs deceleration control on the vehicle traveling even ahead, the display control unit 15 performs display for deceleration control target on the vehicle icon 7 corresponding to the vehicle traveling even ahead. Specifically, as the display for deceleration control target on the vehicle icon 7 corresponding to the vehicle traveling even ahead, the display control unit 15 controls the color of the vehicle icon 7 corresponding to the vehicle traveling even ahead and a deceleration control target icon 71 corresponding to the vehicle icon 7 corresponding to the vehicle traveling even ahead. The color of the vehicle icon 7 corresponding to the vehicle traveling even ahead is different from the color of the preceding vehicle icon 6. When the present vehicle performs deceleration control on the vehicle traveling even ahead, the display control unit 15 sets the color of the vehicle icon 7 corresponding to the vehicle traveling even ahead to red or yellow, for example. When the present vehicle performs deceleration control on the vehicle traveling even ahead, the display control unit 15 displays the deceleration control target icon 71 in an area near the vehicle icon 7 corresponding to the vehicle traveling even ahead on the display screen 41. The deceleration control target icon 71 is different from the follow-up control target icon 61. The deceleration control target icon 71 includes, for example, "Deceleration target" as text information.

[0032] In the execution of follow-up control, when a vehicle ahead becomes a deceleration control object of the host vehicle, the display control unit 15 displays the vehicle-ahead icon 6 and also displays the vehicle-ahead-of-ahead icon 7. In the execution of follow-up control, when a vehicle ahead becomes a deceleration control object of the host vehicle, the display control unit 15 maintains the follow-up control object display of the vehicle-ahead icon 6 and executes the deceleration control object display of the vehicle-ahead-of-ahead icon 7. Specifically, in the execution of follow-up control, when a vehicle ahead becomes a deceleration control object of the host vehicle, the display control unit 15 maintains the color of the vehicle-ahead icon 6 as white and displays the follow-up control object icon 61, and sets the color of the vehicle-ahead-of-ahead icon 7 to red or yellow and displays the deceleration control object icon 71.

[0033] The reporting unit 16 controls the speaker 5. When a vehicle ahead becomes a deceleration control object of the host vehicle, the reporting unit 16 causes the speaker 5 to output a reporting sound. The reporting sound may be a periodic sound whose volume or frequency changes over time. The reporting sound is, for example, an intermittent sound. The reporting sound may also be a sound imitating the running sound or engine sound of another vehicle. The reporting sound can give the listener an impression that another vehicle is approaching.

[0034] Next, an example of the process executed by the ECU 10 of the in-vehicle display system 1 will be described. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing each step of the process executed by the ECU 10. As Figure 4 shown, in step S1, the ECU 10 determines whether the host vehicle is executing follow-up control for a vehicle ahead. When the host vehicle is executing follow-up control for a vehicle ahead (step S1: Yes), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S2. When the host vehicle is not executing follow-up control for a vehicle ahead (step S1: No), the ECU 10 ends the process.

[0035] In step S2, the ECU 10 executes the follow-up control object display of the vehicle-ahead icon 6. In step S3, the ECU 10 determines whether a vehicle ahead of the vehicle ahead has become a deceleration control object. When a vehicle ahead of the vehicle ahead has become a deceleration control object (step S3: Yes), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S4. When a vehicle ahead of the vehicle ahead has not become a deceleration control object (step S3: No), the ECU 10 ends the process. Even if a vehicle ahead of the vehicle ahead is detected, when a vehicle ahead of the vehicle ahead has not become a deceleration control object, the ECU 10 does not display the vehicle-ahead-of-ahead icon 7.

[0036] In step S4, the ECU 10 performs a display of a deceleration control target for the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7. In step S4, the ECU 10 displays the preceding vehicle icon 6 and also displays the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7. In step S4, the ECU 10 maintains the color of the preceding vehicle icon 6 as white and maintains the display of the follow control target icon 61, and sets the color of the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7 to red or yellow and displays the deceleration control target icon 71.

[0037] As described above, in the in-vehicle display system 1, when the host vehicle performs a follow control for a preceding vehicle, the display control unit 15 performs a follow control target display on the display 4 for the preceding vehicle icon 6 corresponding to the preceding vehicle. During the execution of the follow control, even if an earlier preceding vehicle is detected, the display control unit 15 does not display the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7 corresponding to the earlier preceding vehicle on the display 4. Further, during the execution of the follow control, when the earlier preceding vehicle becomes a deceleration control target of the host vehicle, the display control unit 15 maintains the follow control target display for the preceding vehicle icon 6 and performs a deceleration control target display for the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7 on the display 4. Thereby, when the earlier preceding vehicle becomes a deceleration control target, the follow control target display for the preceding vehicle icon 6 is maintained and the deceleration control target display for the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7 is performed. Therefore, for example, compared with the case where the deceleration control target display for the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7 is performed instead of the follow control target display for the preceding vehicle icon 6, the driver's uneasiness can be alleviated. Therefore, according to the in-vehicle display system 1, the driver's uneasiness can be alleviated.

[0038] When the earlier preceding vehicle becomes a deceleration control target of the host vehicle, the reporting unit 16 causes the speaker to output a reporting sound. Thereby, it is possible to reliably convey to the driver that the earlier preceding vehicle has become a deceleration control target.

[0039] As the follow control target display for the preceding vehicle icon 6, the display control unit 15 controls the color of the preceding vehicle icon 6 and the follow control target icon 61 corresponding to the preceding vehicle icon 6. Thereby, it is possible to reliably convey to the driver that the preceding vehicle is a follow control target.

[0040] As the deceleration control target display for the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7, the display control unit 15 controls the color of the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7 and the deceleration control target icon 71 corresponding to the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7. Thereby, it is possible to reliably convey to the driver that the earlier preceding vehicle is a deceleration control target. The color of the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7 is different from the color of the preceding vehicle icon 6, and the deceleration control target icon 71 corresponding to the earlier preceding vehicle icon 7 is different from the follow control target icon 61 corresponding to the preceding vehicle icon 6. Thereby, it is possible to separately distinguish and convey the follow control target and the deceleration control target to the driver.

[0041] As described above, one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0042] The in-vehicle display system 1 may also not cause the speaker 5 to output a notification sound. The in-vehicle display system 1 may also not include the speaker 5 and the notification unit 16.

[0043] As the follow-up control object display for the preceding vehicle icon 6, the display control unit 15 may also control either the color of the preceding vehicle icon 6 or the follow-up control object icon 61. That is, as the follow-up control object display for the preceding vehicle icon 6, the display control unit 15 only needs to control at least one of the color of the preceding vehicle icon 6 and the follow-up control object icon 61.

[0044] As the deceleration control object display for the vehicle ahead of the preceding vehicle icon 7, the display control unit 15 may also control either the color of the vehicle ahead of the preceding vehicle icon 7 or the deceleration control object icon 71. Moreover, when performing the deceleration control object display for the vehicle ahead of the preceding vehicle icon 7, the display control unit 15 may also change or add the follow-up control object display. For example, the display control unit 15 may change the follow-up control object display so that the driver understands that the vehicle is decelerating in response to the deceleration of the vehicle ahead of the preceding vehicle. Alternatively, the display control unit 15 may fade the color of the follow-up control object icon 61 or the color of the preceding vehicle icon 6, so that the driver can easily notice the deceleration control object display of the vehicle ahead of the preceding vehicle icon 7. The color of the follow-up control object icon 61 or the color of the preceding vehicle icon 6 may also be changed to a color with less stimulation (for example, changed from red to blue). The display control unit 15 may also add text indicating that the vehicle is decelerating in response to the deceleration of the vehicle ahead of the preceding vehicle around the preceding vehicle icon 6. Alternatively, when the preceding vehicle starts to decelerate in response to the deceleration of the vehicle ahead of the preceding vehicle, the display control unit 15 may cause the follow-up control object icon 61 or the preceding vehicle icon 6 to flash. Thereby, the driver can recognize the change in the movement of the preceding vehicle.

[0045] The in-vehicle display system 1 may also not include the camera 2. The preceding vehicle recognition unit 11 may also recognize the presence of the preceding vehicle based on the detection result of the sensor 3. The vehicle ahead of the preceding vehicle recognition unit 12 may also recognize the presence of the vehicle ahead of the preceding vehicle based on the detection result of the sensor 3.

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 vehicle-mounted display system includes a display control unit that controls the display of the display, the display control unit is configured to: when the vehicle performs a following control on a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle, perform a following control object display on a preceding vehicle icon corresponding to the preceding vehicle on the display; during the execution of the following control, even if a vehicle traveling even further in front of the preceding vehicle is detected, an icon corresponding to the vehicle traveling even further is not displayed on the display; during the execution of the following control, when the vehicle traveling even further becomes a deceleration control object of the vehicle, maintain the following control object display of the preceding vehicle icon and perform a deceleration control object display on a vehicle icon corresponding to the vehicle traveling even further on the display.

2. The vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mounted display system further includes a reporting unit that controls a speaker in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, when the vehicle traveling even further becomes a deceleration control object of the vehicle, the reporting unit causes the speaker to output a reporting sound.

3. The vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein as the following control object display of the preceding vehicle icon, the display control unit controls at least one of the color of the preceding vehicle icon and a following control object icon corresponding to the preceding vehicle icon.

4. The vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 3, wherein as the deceleration control object display of the vehicle icon corresponding to the vehicle traveling even further, the display control unit controls at least one of the color of the vehicle icon corresponding to the vehicle traveling even further and a deceleration control object icon corresponding to the vehicle icon corresponding to the vehicle traveling even further, the color of the vehicle icon corresponding to the vehicle traveling even further is different from the color of the preceding vehicle icon in the following control object display, and the deceleration control object icon is different from the following control object icon.

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