Image display device

Abstract

The invention provides an image display device which can reduce the uncomfortable feeling of scenery seen from a vehicle of a driving simulator. A video display device includes: a video display unit that displays a plurality of videos on each of a plurality of screens disposed around a vehicle of a driving simulator; and an image processing unit that processes the plurality of images such that the image displayed on a second screen closer to the driver's seat of the vehicle than the first screen among the plurality of screens is brighter than the image displayed on the first screen.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to image display devices. Background Technology

[0002] A screen is set up around the vehicle in the driving simulator, displaying images of the scenery projected from multiple projectors (e.g., Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-3923

[0004] Because the images projected onto the screen have the same overall image quality, users inside the vehicle may experience a sense of disharmony in the scenery. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide an image display device that can reduce the sense of disharmony of the scenery seen from the vehicle in the driving simulator.

[0006] The image display device of the present invention includes: an image display unit that displays multiple images in multiple frames surrounding a vehicle arranged in a driving simulator; and an image processing unit that processes the multiple images in such a way that the image displayed in a second frame, which is closer to the driver's seat of the vehicle than the first frame, is more vivid than the image displayed in the first frame.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the sense of disharmony in the scenery seen from the vehicle in the driving simulator. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a top-down view of an example of a driving simulator system.

[0009] Figure 2 (a) is an example of the view from the driver's side window. Figure 2 (b) is an example of the view from the passenger-side window.

[0010] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0011] 1…Image display device; 2…Screen; 3R, 3L, 3F…Projector; 20L…Display area (first screen); 20R…Display area (second screen); 12…Image processing unit; 13…Image display unit; S…Driving simulator; V…Vehicle; D…Driver's seat. Detailed Implementation

[0012] (System Components of a Driving Simulator)

[0013] Figure 1This is a top-view diagram illustrating an example of a driving simulator S system. The driving simulator S is used, for example, for user driving practice, driving ability evaluation, or gaming purposes. The driving simulator S includes an image display device 1, a screen 2, projectors 3L, 3R, 3F, and a vehicle V.

[0014] Screen 2, for example, has a shape obtained by cutting off a fan-shaped portion within a specified angle range from a generally cylindrical shape with its center as a reference. Viewed from above, screen 2 is divided into three generally fan-shaped display areas 20L, 20R, and 20F. Display areas 20L, 20R, and 20F are an example of multiple screens, with images projected from projectors 3L, 3R, and 3F respectively.

[0015] A vehicle V, simulating the body of a real car, is positioned roughly in the center of screen 2. The user sits in the driver's seat D of vehicle V and operates a simulated steering wheel, accelerator pedal, brake pedal, and gear shift lever (not shown). The user can visually view the images displayed in the surrounding display areas 20L, 20R, and 20F from the driver's seat D. Additionally, a passenger seat A is located to the left of the driver's seat D. In this example, the right-hand seat of the front seats of vehicle V is used as the driver's seat D, but it is not a limitation.

[0016] Projectors 3L, 3R, and 3F are installed, for example, on the ceiling above vehicle V. When viewed from above, projector 3L is positioned on the right side of vehicle V, projector 3R on the left side, and projector 3F near the rear of vehicle V.

[0017] Projector 3R projects an image onto display area 20R on the right side of vehicle V, projector 3L projects an image onto display area 20L on the left side of vehicle V, and projector 3F projects an image onto display area 20F in front of vehicle V. The user can view the image in display area 20R from the driver's side (right side) window, the image in display area 20L from the passenger side (left side) window, and the image in display area 20F through the windshield. Because the image changes according to the user's driving actions, the user can experience simulated driving.

[0018] The image display device 1 displays images in display areas 20L, 20R, and 20F respectively by outputting image data to projectors 3L, 3R, and 3F. The image display device 1 is a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory). For example, the image display device 1 can also be implemented using more than one server. The image display device 1 activates the CPU according to the program stored in the ROM.

[0019] The image display device 1 includes a vehicle position determination unit 10, an image acquisition unit 11, an image processing unit 12, and an image display unit 13 as software functions formed through program operation. Furthermore, the vehicle position determination unit 10, the image acquisition unit 11, the image processing unit 12, and the image display unit 13 can also be implemented in hardware such as integrated circuits. Additionally, the image display device 1 has an image database (image DB) 14 pre-stored in a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM).

[0020] The vehicle position determination unit 10 acquires simulated user input from various sensors C inside the vehicle V. Examples of input include, for example, steering wheel angle, gear position, and accelerator pedal opening. The vehicle position determination unit 10 determines the position of the vehicle V within a virtual driving map based on these inputs. Examples of position include, for example, virtual latitude and longitude.

[0021] The image acquisition unit 11 acquires image data from the image DB14 based on the position determined by the vehicle position determination unit 10. The image DB14 contains images of various locations within a driving map created in advance using computer graphics technology.

[0022] The image processing unit 12 performs image processing on the images from each projector 3L, 3R, and 3F. The image processing unit 12 processes each image in such a way that the image displayed in the display area 20R, which is closer to the driver's seat D than the display area 20L, is more vivid than the image displayed in the display area 20L. Therefore, the user can view the view from the window on the driver's seat D side more clearly than the view from the window on the passenger side A side. Display area 20L is an example of the first image, and display area 20R is an example of the second image.

[0023] For example, the image processing unit 12 adjusts the resolutions Ra and Rb of the images displayed in each display area 20R and 20L based on the distance La between the driver's seat D and the display area 20R in the width direction (left-right direction) W of the vehicle V, and the distance Lb (>La) between the driver's seat D and the display area 20L. In this case, the ratio of the resolution Ra of the image in display area 20R to the resolution Rb of the image in display area 20L (Ra / Rb) is equal to the ratio of distance Lb to distance La (Lb / La). For example, when the distance La = 4m and Lb = 5m, the resolution Ra = 125dpi and Rb = 100dpi. Thus, the relationship Lb > La and Ra > Rb holds true. Meanwhile, the image processing unit 12 does not process the image data of display area 20F, keeping its resolution unchanged at a predetermined value (initial value).

[0024] The image display unit 13 displays images in the display areas 20L, 20R, and 20F respectively by outputting image data to each projector 3L, 3R, and 3F. In this example, projectors 3L, 3R, and 3F, as well as screen 2, are used as image display units, but the unit is not limited to these. For example, liquid crystal displays or organic EL (Electro Luminescence) displays can also be used as display units.

[0025] Figure 2 (a) is an example of the view from the window on the driver's seat side D. Figure 2 (b) is an example of the view from the passenger side window A. Here, a view of a grassland area is given as an example.

[0026] As described above, the image of display area 20R can be seen from the window on the driver's side (D), and the image of display area 20L can be seen from the window on the passenger side (A). The image processing unit 12 performs image processing on the image data in a manner where the resolution of the image of display area 20R is higher than the resolution of the image of display area 20L.

[0027] Therefore, compared to the view farther away from the driver's seat D, the user can see the view closer to the driver's seat D more clearly. Consequently, the sense of disharmony in the view from vehicle V is reduced, and the user's immersion in the driving simulation is increased.

[0028] In this example, the image processing unit 12 performs image processing to adjust the resolution of the image data, but it is not limited to this. For example, the image processing unit 12 can also make the image in the display area 20R more vivid than the image in the display area 20L by setting the focus adjustment values ​​(focus adjustment values) of the projectors 3L and 3R. In this case, the same ratio relationship as described above applies between the distances La and Lb and the focus adjustment values ​​of each projector 3L and 3R.

[0029] The above embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, they are not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. An image display device, wherein, have: The image display unit displays multiple images on multiple screens surrounding the vehicle configured in the driving simulator; and The image processing unit processes the plurality of images in such a way that the image displayed in a second frame, which is closer to the driver's seat of the vehicle than the first frame, is more vivid than the image displayed in the first frame.

Images