Device and method for controlling the display of information in the field of vision of a vehicle driver

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (20) for controlling the display of information in a field of vision of a driver of a vehicle.The device includes a memory (21) storing a table associating different display classes with threshold values ​​of an attentional score representative of the driver's attention level, and one or more processors (22) configured to: collect information to be displayed in the driver's field of vision, each piece of information to be displayed belonging to a display class; collect attentional information relating to the driver's attention level; calculate an attentional score representative of the driver's attention level from the collected attentional information; for each piece of information to be displayed: compare the calculated attentional score with the threshold value associated with the display class to which said information belongs; and decide whether or not to display said information based on the result of said comparison. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2.

Description

Title of the invention: Device and method for controlling the display of information in the field of vision of a driver of a vehicle Field of invention

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of displaying information in the field of vision of a driver of a means of locomotion. The invention relates in particular to a device and a method for controlling the display of information in the field of vision of the driver with the aim of increasing the driving safety of the means of locomotion. State of the art

[0002] Technological advances and cost reductions observed recently for screens and display systems are leading to the integration of increasingly larger and more numerous screens into the dashboards of motor vehicles.

[0003] It is also known to use so-called "head-up display" (HUD) systems to superimpose information on the external environment by generating a virtual image using a transparent projection support such as a windshield or a semi-reflective transparent screen placed between the windshield and the driver (semi-reflective blade for head-up display system or "combine" in the Anglo-Saxon literature).

[0004] All this contributes to more and more information being displayed in the driver's field of vision (information on the operating status of the vehicle, on navigation, on environmental conditions outside the vehicle, on points of interest located near the vehicle, short text messages or e-mails addressed to the driver, press or social network articles, entertainment information, etc.). However, while certain information displayed in the driver's field of vision can increase the driver's vigilance and thus improve driving safety, other information is distracting and leads to a decrease in the driver's vigilance and consequently a deterioration in driving safety.

[0005] Several sources of distraction are now identified for a driver: auditory distraction (attention is diverted by what one hears), visual distraction (attention is diverted by what one sees), physical distraction (attention is diverted by what one does) and cognitive distraction (attention is diverted by thoughts). Auditory distraction corresponds, for example, to having a phone conversation or a discussion with other passengers in the vehicle. Visual distraction is, for example, taking your eyes off the road to do something unrelated to driving (for example, looking for your cell phone in the passenger compartment of the vehicle). Physical distraction is, for example, handling your cell phone rather than holding the steering wheel with both hands. Cognitive distraction is, for example, thinking about a message you want to write on your cell phone rather than analyzing traffic conditions. Added to this is the fear of missing out (FOMO syndrome, an acronym for "Fear Of Missing Out"), which increases the frequency of sources of distraction (for example, the driver will regularly look at and / or handle their cell phone to check if they have received a call or a message).

[0006] It is therefore necessary to control the quantity and nature of the information displayed in the driver's field of vision to improve driving safety. Conventionally, predetermined display configurations define what information must be displayed and at what locations it must be displayed in the driver's field of vision. These configurations are generally preconfigured, but they can also be configured by the driver. However, these display configurations are fixed and they do not allow dynamic control of the information to be displayed taking into account in real time the conditions in which the driver finds himself (traffic conditions, state of the vehicle, physiological and / or psychological state of the driver, etc.).

[0007] Generally speaking, existing solutions do not allow a satisfactory compromise to be found to give the driver access to a maximum of information while guaranteeing driving safety. Statement of the invention

[0008] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art, in particular those set out above.

[0009] To this end, and according to a first aspect, the present invention proposes a device for controlling the display of information in a field of vision of a driver of a means of locomotion. The device comprises a memory storing a table respectively associating different display classes with threshold values ​​of an attentional score representative of a level of attention of the driver. The device also comprises one or more processors configured to:

[0010] - collect one or more pieces of information to be displayed in the field of vision of the driver, each information to be displayed belonging to a display class of said table,

[0011] - collect one or more attentional information relating to the level driver attention,

[0012] - calculate an attentional score representative of the driver's level of attention to from the collected attentional information,

[0013] - for each information to be displayed:

[0014] • compare the calculated attentional score with the threshold value associated with the display class to which said information to be displayed belongs, • decide whether or not to display said information to be displayed depending on the result of said comparison.

[0015] The invention applies particularly well to the case where the means of locomotion is a motor vehicle. The information to be displayed can for example be displayed on a screen integrated into the dashboard of the vehicle. This may in particular be a liquid crystal display (LCD for "Liquid Crystal Display"), and more particularly a "thin film transistor" (TFT for "Thin Film Transistor") type screen, possibly transparent.

[0016] According to another example, the information to be displayed may be displayed in the driver's field of vision by a head-up display system. In this case, the information to be displayed may be projected towards the windshield to appear to the driver in the form of a virtual image located behind the windshield and superimposed on the external environment in the driver's field of vision. Alternatively, the information to be displayed may be projected by the head-up display system towards a "combineer" taking the form of a semi-reflective transparent screen positioned between the driver and the windshield.

[0017] It should however be noted that the invention can be applied to any type of means of locomotion as long as it is possible to display information to the driver of said means of locomotion. The information can for example be displayed on a screen embedded in or on the means of locomotion. The information can however also be displayed in the field of vision of the driver of the means of locomotion via a head-up display device embedded in a helmet, a mask or a pair of glasses worn by the driver. The invention can therefore be applied to any type of means of locomotion (car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, scooter, skis, snowboard, airplane, boat, etc.).

[0018] The device according to the invention may be a physical entity integrated into the means of locomotion (for example a control unit integrated as original equipment, or a device integrated as a second-hand device), but it may also be a device separate from the means of locomotion, for example a device worn by the driver (for example a control unit integrated into a helmet, a mask or the driver's glasses, or a cell phone, etc.).

[0019] The term "driver's field of vision" means the portion of space that the driver can see when driving without having to significantly move his head. The driver's field of vision therefore includes the space that the driver can see simply by moving his eyes without moving his head, but also the space that the driver can see when he moves his head with a range of head movement that remains natural for a driver.

[0020] The information to be displayed is classified according to its nature into different classes of information. The information to be displayed may relate to driving safety. The information to be displayed may also be unrelated to driving. Classes of information are listed below by way of example and in no way limiting for the case of a motor vehicle:

[0021] • information on the operating status of the vehicle which relates to safety (tire pressure, engine temperature, oil level, indications relating to the activation status of the airbags or seat belts, level of autonomous driving, etc.), • information on environmental conditions outside the vehicle and which are related to safety (dangerous climatic conditions, deformed, wet or icy road surface, danger zones due to works or accidents, authorized speed limit, etc.), • information on the operating status of the vehicle which is not related to safety (temperature in the passenger compartment, power level and direction of ventilation, information on controlling the lighting in the passenger compartment, etc.), • information on environmental conditions outside the vehicle that are not safety-related (outside air temperature, weather forecast, traffic conditions, etc.), • navigation information provided by a satellite positioning system, • meaning of an incoming telephone call, • short text message, • email message, • information about the music currently playing, • social media articles, • videos, • etc.

[0022] Each display class is associated with a threshold value of an attentional score representative of a driver's level of attention. The attentional score is by representative example of the driver's attentional resources that are available for tasks unrelated to driving without compromising safety. In this case, the attentional score is higher when driving conditions are easy (low-traffic road, favorable weather conditions, low speed, high level of driving automation, satisfactory physiological state of the driver, etc.). In another example, the attentional score is representative of the driver's attentional resources that are necessary to ensure satisfactory driving safety. In this case, the attentional score is higher when driving conditions are difficult (heavy traffic, adverse weather conditions, low level of driving automation, high driver fatigue, etc.). Thus, there are different ways to define an attentional score representative of a driver's level of attention.The different ways of defining the attentional score are only variations of the invention.

[0023] The threshold value associated with a display class depends on the nature of the information belonging to said class. For example, for a display class comprising information relating to driving safety, it will be appropriate to define a threshold value authorizing the display even if the driver's attentional resources are already mainly monopolized by driving. Conversely, for a display class comprising information unrelated to driving, it will be appropriate to define a threshold value authorizing the display only if the driver's attentional resources can be allocated to tasks unrelated to driving without harming driving safety.

[0024] The attentional score is calculated from attentional information relating to the driver's level of attention. Attentional information may in particular be representative of a physiological or psychological state of the driver (heart rate, body temperature, movement of the pupils or eyelids, or a psychological profile of the driver predefined and stored by the device, are all examples of information making it possible to determine a level of attention of the driver). Attentional information may also be representative of an operating state of the means of locomotion (for example, if the speed is high, if the level of automation of driving is low, and / or if one or more elements of the means of locomotion are defective, then the driver's attentional resources that must be reserved for driving are greater).Attentional information can also be representative of external environmental conditions by means of locomotion (e.g. in case of heavy rain or dense fog, the driver's attentional resources that may be available for tasks unrelated to driving are lower).

[0025] Attentional information can be acquired using a sensor belonging to the device according to the invention or by a sensor belonging to an entity distinct from the device according to the invention (for example a mobile phone, a connected object such as a smart watch, a GPS receiver embedded in the means of locomotion, a heart rate monitor integrated into the steering wheel of the vehicle or in the smart watch, a camera and an image analysis module for analyzing the driver's eye and eyelid movements, etc.). The device may in particular include a communication module for receiving attentional information acquired by sensors belonging to entities distinct from the device.

[0026] The information to be displayed in the driver's field of vision may come from different sources: mobile phone, smart watch, multimedia system on board the means of locomotion, diagnostic system on board the means of locomotion, etc. The device may in particular include a communication module for receiving information to be displayed from these different sources. The different sources may correspond to systems installed as original equipment (i.e. directly assembled on the means of locomotion during its manufacture) or as retrofit (i.e. added after the purchase of the means of locomotion).

[0027] It should be noted that the information to be displayed does not generally relate to attentional information. In other words, the nature of the information to be displayed is generally independent of the attentional information (the nature of the information to be displayed is unrelated to the attentional information). In this case, only the decision to display or not the information to be displayed is dependent on the attentional information. In particular embodiments, at least one piece of information to be displayed is unrelated to the attentional information used to calculate the attentional score.

[0028] For each piece of information to be displayed, the threshold value associated with the display class to which said information to be displayed belongs is compared with the attentional score calculated for the driver. A decision to display or not the information to be displayed is then taken based on the result of the comparison. A positive decision means that the information to be displayed can be displayed in the driver's field of vision. A negative decision means that the information to be displayed must not be displayed in the driver's field of vision. In the case of a positive decision, the display of the information may further be conditioned by the verification of a legal constraint.

[0029] Such arrangements make it possible to obtain a good compromise to give the driver access to a maximum of information while guaranteeing driving safety.

[0030] In particular embodiments, the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, taken in isolation or in all combinations: technically possible combinations.

[0031] In particular embodiments, the device further comprises at least one sensor making it possible to acquire attentional information relating to the driver's level of attention.

[0032] In particular embodiments, the device further comprises a communication module for receiving at least one piece of attentional information acquired by a sensor belonging to an entity distinct from the device.

[0033] In particular embodiments, the device further comprises an image generator adapted to generate an image intended to be projected onto a transparent projection medium to form, by reflection on the projection medium, a virtual image appearing behind the projection medium for the driver. The virtual image thus formed comprises the information to be displayed for which the decision to display is positive.

[0034] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a head-up display system comprising a device according to any one of the preceding embodiments with an image generator. The head-up display system also comprises a transparent projection medium. The image generator projects an image towards the transparent projection medium in order to generate, by reflection on the projection medium, a virtual image which appears behind the projection medium for the driver.

[0035] In particular embodiments, the transparent projection support is a windshield of a vehicle or a transparent projection screen placed between the driver and the windshield.

[0036] In particular embodiments, the transparent projection support is a visor of a helmet, a screen of a mask or a lens of glasses.

[0037] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a decision-making method for controlling the display of information in a field of vision of a driver of a means of locomotion. The method is implemented by a device according to any one of the preceding embodiments. The method comprises the following steps:

[0038] • a collection of one or more pieces of information to be displayed in the driver's field of vision, each piece of information to be displayed belonging to a display class of the table stored in the memory of the device, • collection of one or more attentional information relating to the driver's level of attention, • a calculation of an attentional score representative of the driver's level of attention from the attentional information collected, • for each information to be displayed:

[0039]

[0040]

[0041]

[0042]

[0043]

[0044]

[0045]

[0046] • a comparison of the calculated attention score with the threshold value associated with the display class to which the said information to be displayed belongs, • a decision whether or not to display said information to be displayed based on the result of said comparison. In particular embodiments, the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically possible combination. In particular modes of implementation, attentional information is representative of a physiological or psychological state of the driver, an operating state of the means of locomotion, or environmental conditions external to the means of locomotion. In particular implementations, a display class corresponds to one of the following classes: • information on the operating status of the means of transport relating to driving safety, • information on external environmental conditions by means of locomotion and relating to driving safety, • information on the operating status of the means of transport which does not relate to driving safety, • information on environmental conditions outside the means of locomotion which are not related to driving safety, • navigation information, • meaning of an incoming telephone call, • short text message, • email message, • information about the music currently playing, • social media articles, • video. In particular modes of implementation, the attentional score is representative of a level of attention available to the driver to view information displayed in his field of vision without harming the driving safety of the means of locomotion. In particular modes of implementation, the decision to display information to be displayed is positive when the calculated attention score is greater than or equal to the threshold value associated with the display class to which said information to be displayed belongs. In particular modes of implementation, when there is more than one information to be displayed, the information to be displayed is ordered by an order of priority, and the decisions to display or not the said information are taken successively according to the said order of priority.

[0047] Indeed, when there is more than one piece of information to be displayed, displaying a particular piece of information can impact the driver's attentional resources (the number of pieces of information displayed can be seen as attentional information). Consequently, displaying a particular piece of information can have an effect on the decision to display other information. It is therefore advantageous to order the information to be displayed according to an order of priority and to make the decisions whether or not to display said information successively according to said order of priority. For example, a higher order of priority can be given to information concerning driving safety compared to information unrelated to driving.As another example, it is conceivable to assign a higher priority to information coming from a particular source (incoming call, SMS message or email from a particular predetermined contact). The priority levels can be defined per display class. Alternatively or in addition, priority levels with finer granularity can be defined within the same display class.

[0048] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program product characterized in that it comprises a set of program code instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, configure the processor(s) to implement a method according to any one of the preceding embodiments. Presentation of figures

[0049] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to Figures 1 to 3 which represent:

[0050] [Fig.l] a schematic representation of a motor vehicle in which a device according to the invention is installed for controlling the display of information in the driver's field of vision,

[0051] [Fig.2] a schematic representation of a device according to the invention and of different sensors configured to acquire attentional information relating to the driver's level of attention,

[0052] [Fig.3] a schematic representation of the main steps of a process for control the display of information in the driver's field of vision.

[0053] In these figures, identical references from one figure to another designate identical or similar elements. For reasons of clarity, the elements represented are not necessarily on the same scale, unless otherwise stated.

[0054] Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0055] As indicated previously, the present invention aims to provide a solution for controlling the display of information in a field of vision of a driver of a means of locomotion, so as to find a satisfactory compromise to give the driver access to a maximum of information while guaranteeing driving safety.

[0056] In the remainder of the description, the case where the means of locomotion is a motor vehicle is considered in a non-limiting manner.

[0057] [Fig. 1] represents a motor vehicle 10 in which a device 20 according to the invention is installed for controlling the display of information in the field of vision of the driver of the vehicle 10.

[0058] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the information to be displayed may come from different sources.

[0059] Information to be displayed may in particular come from a mobile telephone 41 located inside the vehicle 10 (for example, this is the driver's mobile telephone). For example, information to be displayed in the driver's field of vision may correspond to a text message (or SMS messages for "Short Message Service"), an email, an article from a social network, a news item, the day's weather, an entertainment video, navigation assistance, an indication of an incoming telephone call, information relating to an electronic diary, etc. The information to be displayed is for example received by the device 20 from the mobile telephone 41 via communication according to a wireless communication protocol (for example, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, RFID, Zigbee®, etc.) or a wired communication protocol (for example, USB). USB is the English acronym for "Universal Serial Bus".RFID is the English acronym for “Radio Frequency Identification”.

[0060] Information to be displayed in the driver's field of vision may also correspond to information originating from a diagnostic system 11 embedded in the vehicle 10 (OBD for "On-Board Diagnostic" in the English literature). A diagnostic system 11 manages the operation of the vehicle and diagnoses its faults. This information on the operating state of the vehicle generally relates to driving safety (tire pressure, engine temperature, oil level, engine fault, etc.).

[0061] Information to be displayed in the driver's field of vision may also correspond to information coming from a multimedia system 12 on board the vehicle 10.

[0062] The device 20 can in particular be connected to the multimedia system 12 or to the diagnostic system 11 via a CAN data bus (English acronym for “Controller Area Network”) or via a wireless communication protocol (for example example Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi®).

[0063] Information to be displayed in the driver's field of vision may also be received directly by the device 20 from an access network 42 of a wireless communication system (for example a cellular network of the 3G, LTE or 5G type) or from a satellite navigation system 43 (GNSS for “Global Navigation Satellite System”).

[0064] Information to be displayed may also be received by the device 20 via communication with another vehicle of a V2V network 44 (V2V is the acronym for “Vehicle-to-vehicle”, this is a radio technology dedicated to communication between vehicles), or via communication with a road infrastructure of a V2I network 45 (V2I is the acronym for “Vehicle-to-infrastructure”, this is a radio technology dedicated to communication between a vehicle and road infrastructures). A neighboring vehicle may indeed communicate its status to the vehicle 10. This allows, for example, a neighboring vehicle to alert the driver of the vehicle 10 in the event of imminent danger (emergency braking of a neighboring vehicle in front, detection of neighboring vehicles arriving at an intersection, etc.).The vehicle 10 can also receive information from connected road infrastructures comprising wireless communication means: for example a traffic light capable of communicating its status to the vehicle 10, or a speed limit sign capable of communicating the authorized speed limit to the vehicle 10.

[0065] Information to be displayed can also be received by the device 20 from a network 46 of wireless sensors of the “smart city” type.

[0066] To support these different examples, the device 20 may comprise a communication module which supports, in a conventional manner, the communication protocol(s) enabling it to receive the information to be displayed sent by the different information sources.

[0067] [Fig.2] schematically represents an exemplary embodiment of a device 20 according to the invention.

[0068] The device 20 comprises an electronic memory 21 (magnetic hard disk, electronic memory, optical disk, etc.) in which a table is stored comprising different display classes. The different display classes make it possible to classify the information to be displayed according to its nature. For example, a first display class groups together the information to be displayed which concerns the operating status of the vehicle and which relates to driving safety (tire pressure, engine temperature, oil level, indications relating to the activation status of the airbags or seat belts, etc.); a second display class groups together the information to be displayed which concerns the environmental conditions outside the vehicle and which are related to driving safety (dangerous weather conditions, uneven, wet or icy road surface, danger zones due to roadworks or accidents, authorized speed limit, etc.); a third display class groups together the information to be displayed which concerns the operating status of the vehicle and which is not related to safety (temperature in the passenger compartment, power level and orientation of the ventilation, information on controlling the lighting in the passenger compartment, etc.); a fourth display class groups together the information to be displayed which concerns environmental conditions outside the vehicle and which is not related to driving safety (outside air temperature, weather forecast, traffic conditions, etc.); a fifth display class groups together the information to be displayed which concerns navigation; a fifth display class corresponds to the meaning of an incoming telephone call; a sixth display class groups together short text messages (text messages or social network messages); a sixth display class groups together long text messages (emails, press articles); a seventh display class groups together information on the music currently being listened to; an eighth display class groups together entertainment videos (film).

[0069] It should be noted that the display classes described above have been given as a non-limiting example, and that other display classes could be defined for implementing the invention. A particular choice of a set of display classes only corresponds to one variant of the invention.

[0070] In the table, each display class is associated with a threshold value of an attentional score representative of a level of attention of the driver. The attentional score is for example representative of the driver's attentional resources which are available for tasks unrelated to driving without this harming safety. According to another example, the attentional score is representative of the driver's attentional resources which are necessary to guarantee satisfactory driving safety. The threshold value associated with a display class depends on the nature of the information belonging to said class.

[0071] The driver's attention score is calculated from one or more pieces of attentional information relating to the driver's level of attention. This attentional information is acquired by different sensors 30. According to different embodiments, the sensors 30 can be integrated into the device 20 according to the invention, or the sensors 30 can belong to separate entities (for example a sensor integrated into the mobile phone 41, a sensor integrated or connected to the on-board diagnostic system 11 of the vehicle 10, a sensor integrated or connected to the on-board multimedia system 12 of the vehicle 10, a stand-alone sensor integrated into the vehicle 10 and connected to the device 20, a sensor integrated into a connected object worn by the driver, etc.).

[0072] When the sensors belong to separate entities, the device comprises a communication module 23 for receiving attentional information acquired by said sensors. The communication module is configured to support, in a conventional manner, different radio technologies (Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth®, RFID®, Zigbee®, etc.), and / or different wired technologies (USB, CAN, etc.) as well as the communication protocols associated with said technologies. This same communication module 23 can be used to collect the information to be displayed described with reference to [Fig. 1].

[0073] [Fig.2] represents different sensors 30 for acquiring attentional information relating to the driver's level of attention.

[0074] Certain sensors 30 make it possible to acquire attentional information relating to the operating state of the vehicle (if the operating state of the vehicle is degraded, the level of attentional resources that must be reserved to ensure driving safety is greater). This is the case, for example, for the sensor 30-3 of the engine temperature, the sensor 30-4 of an engine failure, or the sensor 30-6 of the speed of the vehicle 10. When a vehicle failure is detected and / or when the speed of the vehicle 10 is high, more of the driver's attentional resources must be reserved for driving to ensure driving safety. Also, the sensor 30-9 indicates the level of autonomous driving currently activated for the vehicle 10.The SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) defines different levels of autonomous driving: level 0, for which the driver remains in control of the vehicle; level 1, for which the driver is assisted by the vehicle; level 2, for which driving is partially automated; level 3, for which the automation of driving is conditioned; level 4, for which the level of automation is very high; and level 5, for which automation is total. The higher the level of automation of driving, the more of the driver's attentional resources are available for tasks that are unrelated to driving.

[0075] Other sensors 30 make it possible to acquire attentional information relating to the physiological or psychological state of the driver. This is the case for the heart rate sensor 30-10 which is for example integrated into the steering wheel of the vehicle 10 or in a connected watch worn by the driver. This is also the case for the fatigue sensor 30-5 which integrates for example a camera and an image analysis module to analyze the behavior of the driver (eyelash blinking, yawning, head tilt, direction of gaze, etc.) and / or a detector of the movements printed by the driver on the steering wheel (when the driver tires, the corrections made at the steering wheel to keep the vehicle in its lane generally become rarer and more abrupt). Optionally, a psychological profile of the driver stored in the memory 21 of the device 20 can also provide attentional information relating to the psychological state of the driver (for example a profile declaring a behavioral disorder of the driver). When the physiological or psychological state of the driver is unfavorable, more of the driver's attentional resources must be reserved for driving to guarantee driving safety.

[0076] Other sensors 30 make it possible to acquire attentional information relating to environmental conditions external to the vehicle. This is the case, for example, for the GNSS sensor 30-11, the rain sensor 30-1, the brightness sensor 30-2, the sensor 30-7 configured to receive information sent by a road infrastructure (V2I), the sensor 30-8 configured to receive information sent by another vehicle (V2V).When environmental conditions are adverse (dangerous weather, night driving, heavy traffic, etc.) more of the driver's attentional resources must be reserved for driving to ensure driving safety.

[0077] As illustrated in [Fig. 2], the device 20 comprises one or more processors 22 configured to execute a computer program product to implement a decision-making method for controlling the display of information in the driver's field of vision. The computer program product is for example stored, in the form of program code instructions, in the memory 21 of the device 20. Alternatively or in addition, the device 20 comprises one or more programmable logic circuits, of the FPGA, PLD, etc. type, and / or specialized integrated circuits (ASIC) adapted to implement the steps of said decision-making method (in other words, the device 20 comprises a set of means configured in software (specific computer program product) and / or hardware (FPGA, PLD, ASIC, etc.) to implement the decision-making method.

[0078] [Fig.3] schematically represents the main stages of this decision-making process.

[0079] The method 100 notably comprises a step 101 of collecting one or more pieces of information to be displayed in the driver's field of vision. As described previously with reference to [Fig. 1], the information to be displayed may come from different sources. Each piece of information to be displayed belongs to a display class of the table stored in the memory 21 of the device 20.

[0080] The method 100 also comprises a step 102 of collecting one or more attentional information relating to the driver's level of attention. As described previously with reference to [Fig. 2], the attentional information is acquired by one or more sensors 30 belonging to the device 20 or connected to the device 20.

[0081] The method 100 also comprises a step 103 of calculating an attentional score representative of the driver's level of attention from the collected attentional information.

[0082] For each piece of information to be displayed, the method 100 comprises a comparison 104 of the calculated attentional score with the threshold value associated with the display class to which said piece of information to be displayed belongs, and a decision 105 to display or not said piece of information to be displayed depending on the result of said comparison.

[0083] An example of implementation of the method 100 is described below. In this example, the attentional score is representative of the attentional resources available to the driver to view information displayed in his field of vision without harming driving safety. The score takes a value between zero and one hundred. The higher the attentional score, the more it is possible to display information in the driver's field of vision. Conversely, the lower the attentional score, the more it is appropriate to limit the information displayed in the driver's field of vision so that the latter remains focused on driving.

[0084] In this example, the table stored in the memory 21 of the device 20 includes the following display classes (the threshold value of the attentional score associated with each display class is also indicated):

[0085] [Tables 1] Display class: Attention score threshold value: Vehicle status information related to driving safety 0 Navigation assistance information 10 Incoming phone call indication 30 Music currently playing information 50 Short text messages (SMS) 60 Long text messages (Email, news article or social network) 90 Video 100

[0086] In the example considered, an attentional score of the driver is calculated by applying one or more multiplicative coefficients associated respectively with different attentional information collected. The multiplicative coefficients associated with the different attentional information are listed in the table below for the example considered:

[0087] [Tables2] Attentional information: Associated multiplicative coefficient: Night driving 0.8 Driving in rainy weather 0.6 Heavy traffic 0.4 Driver fatigue 0.5 Level 0 of autonomous driving 0.6 Level 1 of autonomous driving 0.7 Level 2 of autonomous driving 0.8 Level 3 of autonomous driving 0.85 Level 4 of autonomous driving 0.9

[0088] In the example considered, the driver's attention score is calculated starting from the value one hundred and successively applying the different multiplicative coefficients which must be applied according to the collected attentional information. In addition, when certain attentional information is verified, the attentional score can take a predetermined fixed value (for example, when level 5 of autonomous driving is detected, or when the vehicle is stopped at a red light, then the attentional score takes the maximum value equal to one hundred). The table below gives different examples of scenarios with the associated attentional score:

[0089] [Tables3] Number: Scenario: Attentional score: #1 Level 1 autonomous driving at night, in rainy weather, with heavy traffic 13.44 = 100 x 0.7 x 0.8 x 0.6 x 0.4 #2 Level 0 autonomous driving in rainy weather, with driver fatigue detection 18 = 100 x 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.5 #3 Level 1 autonomous driving in heavy traffic 28 = 100 x 0.7 x 0.4 #4 Level 2 autonomous driving at night, in rainy weather 38.4 = 100 x 0.8 x 0.8 x 0.6 #5 Level 4 autonomous driving with driver fatigue detection 45 = 100 x 0.9 x 0.5 #6 Level 3 autonomous driving at night 68 = 100 x 0.85 x 0.8 #7 Level 4 autonomous driving 90 = 100 x 0.9 #8 Level 5 autonomous driving 100 #9 Stopping (zero speed) at a red light or in a parking lot 100

[0090] The decision whether or not to display information to be displayed in the driver's field of vision is then taken by comparing the calculated attentional score value with the attentional score threshold value associated with said information to be displayed. The decision to display is positive when the driver's attentional score is greater than or equal to the attentional score threshold value associated with said information to be displayed. Conversely, the decision to display is negative when the driver's attentional score is strictly less than the attentional score threshold value associated with said information to be displayed.

[0091] Thus, in the example considered:

[0092] • the decision to display information on the state of the vehicle relating to driving safety is positive in all the scenarios considered (scenario #1 to #9), • the decision to display navigation aid information is positive in all scenarios considered (scenario #1 to #9), • the decision to display an indication of an incoming phone call is positive only for scenarios #4 to #9, • the decision to display information about the music currently playing is positive only for scenarios #6 to #9, • the decision to display a short text message (e.g. SMS) is positive only for scenarios #6 to #9, • the decision to display a long text message (e.g. an email or a press article) is positive only for scenarios #7 to #9, • the decision to display a video is positive only for scenarios #8 and #9.

[0093] It should of course be noted that the example described above is very simplified in order to succinctly explain how an attentional score can be calculated and compared to threshold values ​​associated with display classes. In reality, the number of display classes and / or the number of attentional information collected can be much greater.

[0094] It should also be noted that different methods can be envisaged for calculating the attentional score of a driver from the collected attentional information. The choice of a particular method for calculating the attentional score only corresponds to one variant of the invention.

[0095] The decision to display or not display information can be updated recurrently, for example each time new information must be displayed, or each time a change is detected in the driver's attentional score (for example if a sensor sends back attentional information which causes a change in the calculation of the attentional score), or periodically.

[0096] In particular embodiments, the information to be displayed may be displayed on a screen integrated into the dashboard of the vehicle. This may in particular be a liquid crystal display (LCD for “Liquid Crystal Display”), and more particularly a “thin film transistor” (TFT for “Thin Film Transistor”) type screen, possibly transparent. It is also possible to use a screen using LED (English acronym for “Light-Emitting Diode”) or OLED (English acronym for “Organic Light-Emitting Diode”) technology, possibly transparent.

[0097] In particular embodiments, and as illustrated in [Fig. 2], the device 20 further comprises an image generator 24 adapted to generate a virtual image using a transparent projection support of a head-up display system. The image then comprises the information to be displayed for which the decision to display is positive. The image generator comprises, for example, a light source and micro-mirrors of an electronic circuit of the DLP type (English acronym for “Data Light Processing”, which could be translated into French as “digital light processing”).

[0098] The invention also relates to a head-up display system comprising a device 20 with an image generator 24, and a transparent projection support towards which an image generated by the image generator 24 is projected to form a virtual image which appears behind the transparent projection support for the driver.

[0099] The transparent projection support may correspond to the windshield of the vehicle 10. According to another example, it may be a transparent projection screen placed between the driver and the windshield (combine").

[0100] In particular embodiments, the transparent projection support is a visor of a helmet, a screen of a mask or a lens of glasses.

[0101] In particular embodiments, the transparent projection support is a transparent screen ("combine") placed between the driver's eyes and the visor of a helmet or mask worn by the driver.

[0102] The above description clearly illustrates that, through its various characteristics and their advantages, the present invention achieves the set objectives, namely finding a solution for displaying a maximum of information to a driver of a means of locomotion while guaranteeing driving safety.

[0103] Generally speaking, it should be noted that the implementation and embodiment modes considered above have been described by way of example and in a non-limiting manner in the case where the means of locomotion is a motor vehicle. The invention can however be applied to any type of means of locomotion as long as it is possible to display information to the driver of said means of locomotion on a screen embedded in or on the means of locomotion or via a head-up display device.

[0104] The examples given in the description for the information to be displayed, for the display classes, for the attentional information considered and / or for the method of calculating the attentional score, are in no way limiting. Other information to be displayed, other display classes, other attentional information and / or other methods of calculating an attentional score could consequently be considered to implement the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Head-up display system comprising: • a transparent projection support corresponding to a helmet visor, a mask screen, or a pair of glasses, • a device (20) for controlling the display of information in a field of vision of a driver of a means of locomotion, said device comprising: • an image generator (24) adapted to generate an image intended to be projected towards the transparent projection support to form a virtual image appearing behind the projection support for the driver, • a memory (21) storing a table respectively associating different display classes with threshold values ​​of an attentional score representative of a level of attention of the driver, • one or more processors (22) configured to: • collect one or more pieces of information to be displayed in the driver's field of vision, each piece of information to be displayed belonging to a display class of said table, • collect one or more attentional information relating to the driver's level of attention, • calculate an attentional score representative of the driver's level of attention from the attentional information collected, • for each piece of information to be displayed: compare the calculated attention score with the threshold value associated with the display class to which the said information to be displayed belongs, and decide whether or not to display the said information to be displayed based on the result of the said comparison, wherein the image formed by the image generator (24) comprises the information to be displayed for which the decision to display is positive.

2. Head-up display system according to claim 1 wherein the device (20) for controlling the display of information comprises at least one sensor (30) making it possible to acquire attentional information relating to the driver's level of attention.

3. Head-up display system according to one of claims 1 to 2 wherein the device (20) for controlling the display of information comprises a communication module (23) for receiving at least one piece of attentional information acquired by a sensor belonging to an entity separate from the device.

4. Head-up display system according to one of claims 1 to 3 in which attentional information is representative of a physiological or psychological state of the driver, an operating state of the means of locomotion, or environmental conditions external to the means of locomotion.

5. Head-up display system according to one of claims 1 to 4 wherein a display class corresponds to one of the following classes: • information on an operating state of the means of locomotion relating to driving safety, • information on environmental conditions external to the means of locomotion and relating to driving safety, • information on an operating state of the means of locomotion which is not relating to driving safety, • information on environmental conditions external to the means of locomotion which is not relating to driving safety, • information on navigation, • meaning of an incoming telephone call, • short text message, • email message, • information on the music currently being listened to, • social network articles, • video.

6. Head-up display system according to one of claims 1 to 5 in which the attention score is representative of a level of attention available to the driver to view displayed information. in his field of vision without affecting the driving safety of the means of transport.

7. Head-up display system according to one of claims 1 to 6 in which the decision to display information to be displayed is positive when the calculated attention score is greater than or equal to the threshold value associated with the display class to which said information to be displayed belongs.

8. Head-up display system according to one of claims 1 to 7 wherein, when there is more than one information to be displayed, the processor(s) (22) are further configured to order the information to be displayed according to an order of priority, and to make decisions whether or not to display said information successively according to said order of priority.

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