Method and device for controlling a display system for displaying a crosswind zone warning for a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a display system of a vehicle. For this purpose, the presence of a crosswind risk zone is detected when the vehicle is approaching and at a determined distance from the flow or the end of such a zone. The display of a graphic content (30) in augmented reality is controlled to display this graphic content (30) on a display device (13), the graphic content (30) comprising an image (31) of a real scene located in front of the vehicle and a virtual graphic object (32) superimposed on the image (31), a graphic representation of the virtual graphic object (32) being a function of data relating to a wind intensity in the crosswind risk zone. Figure for abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling a display system for displaying a crosswind zone warning for a vehicle Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to methods and devices for controlling an on-board display system in a vehicle, in particular but not exclusively a motor vehicle. The present invention also relates to a method and a display system or device for signaling a crosswind zone in a vehicle approaching such a zone. Technological background

[0002] To assist the driver of a vehicle, it is known to display information relating to the road environment in which the vehicle is traveling, for example on a display device of the vehicle or on a display screen of a mobile communication device such as a smartphone on board the vehicle. The display of such information is done for example via a human-machine interface (HMI) of a navigation system. Such a navigation system uses map data such as digital road maps indicating the roads of the road environment in which the vehicle is traveling, this map data being associated with or including additional data relating to the road environment such as the presence of places of interest such as parking lots or information on current traffic conditions.

[0003] Certain information, particularly useful to the driver to ensure his safety as well as that of the passengers on board the vehicle, is difficult to present to the driver. For example, information relating to areas at risk of crosswinds that the vehicle is required to cross during a journey is difficult to represent on a map for example.

[0004] To ensure the safety of the vehicle and its passengers, it is important to provide the driver with the information necessary for controlling the vehicle according to the situations encountered during a journey. Summary of the present invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to better alert a driver of a vehicle of a risk associated with a crosswind risk zone.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to improve the user experience vis- with regard to information associated with a crosswind risk zone which the vehicle is approaching.

[0008] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling an on-board display system in a vehicle, the display system comprising a display device, the method comprising the following steps: - obtaining initial data representative of the presence of a crosswind risk zone on a section of road on which the vehicle is traveling; - receiving second data representative of wind intensity at the level of the crosswind risk zone using a wireless communication mode; - control of display of graphic content in augmented reality on the display device, the graphic content comprising an image of a real scene located in front of the vehicle acquired by a camera on board the vehicle and a virtual graphic object superimposed on the image, the virtual graphic object comprising a set of graphic objects representative of the zone at risk of crosswind, a graphic representation of the virtual graphic object being a function of the second data.

[0009] Such a method makes it possible to visually alert a driver of a vehicle when the latter is approaching a zone at risk of crosswinds, the alert being further adapted to the intensity or strength of the wind in the zone which the vehicle is approaching. The use of augmented reality makes it possible to embed virtual objects on an image of the scene, providing the driver with clear information on the presence of a zone at risk of crosswinds and on the reality of this risk by taking into account the intensity of the wind. This makes it possible to adjust the control of the vehicle to the particular situation encountered, with anticipation of the associated risks.

[0010] According to a variant, the first data are determined from third data representative of geographical positions of the vehicle, fourth data representative of a map of a road environment in which the vehicle is traveling and fifth data representative of the location of a set of zones at risk of lateral wind included in the road environment.

[0011] According to another variant, the graphic representation of the virtual graphic object corresponds to: - a first graphic representation corresponding to a gantry supporting at least one first graphic object representative of a road sign indicating the start of a crosswind risk zone and at least one second graphic object representative of a light signal when the first data are representative of the start of a crosswind risk zone and the second data are representative of an intensity greater than a threshold; and - a second graphic representation of the gantry supporting the at least one first graphic object and at least one second graphic object when the first data are representative of the start of a crosswind risk zone and the second data are representative of an intensity below the threshold.

[0012] According to another variant: - the gantry is represented with a first color and the second graphical object is representative of a flashing light signal when the virtual graphical object is represented according to the first graphical representation; and - the gantry is represented with a second color different from the first color and the second graphic object is representative of a fixed light signal when the virtual graphic object is represented according to the second graphic representation.

[0013] According to an additional variant, the graphical representation of the virtual graphical object corresponds to: - a third graphic representation corresponding to the gantry supporting at least one third graphic object representative of a road sign indicating the end of a crosswind risk zone when the first data are representative of the end of a crosswind risk zone and the second data are representative of an intensity greater than the threshold; and - a fourth graphical representation of the gantry supporting the at least one third graphical object when the first data are representative of the end of a crosswind risk zone and the second data are representative of an intensity lower than the threshold.

[0014] According to an additional variant: - the gantry is represented with the first color when the virtual graphic object is represented according to the third graphic representation; and - the gantry is represented with the second color when the virtual graphic object is represented according to the fourth graphic representation.

[0015] According to another variant, the method further comprises a step of receiving sixth data representative of activation or deactivation of a crosswind risk zone alert service from a human-machine interface on board the vehicle, the control of display of the graphic content being a function of the sixth data.

[0016] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling an on-board display system in a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0017] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0018] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0019] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0020] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0021] On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording means or a hard disk.

[0022] Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0023] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question. Brief description of the figures

[0024] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 6, in which:

[0025] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates an environment of a vehicle, according to an example particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a passenger compartment of the vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a display screen on board the vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a first particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a display screen on board the vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a second particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates a device configured for controlling an on-board display system in the vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] [Fig.6] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling an on-board display system in the vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of implementation

[0031] A method and a device for controlling an on-board display system in a vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

[0032] The terms "first(s)", "second(s)" (or "first(s)", "second(s)"), etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to enable different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below to be identified and distinguished. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0033] According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, the control of a display system on board a vehicle is for example implemented by one or more computers of the vehicle, for example via one or more processors, or by one or more processors of a mobile communication device on board the vehicle, in particular when the display system is integrated into the mobile communication device.

[0034] For this purpose, first data representative of the presence of a crosswind risk zone on a portion of road on which the vehicle is traveling are obtained. The first data are for example obtained by analyzing one or more images acquired by a camera on board the vehicle and the detection in this or these images of objects representative of the presence of such a zone (crosswind risk sign and / or windsock). According to another example, the first data are determined from third data representative of geographical positions of the vehicle, fourth data representative of a map of a road environment in which the vehicle is traveling and fifth data representative of the location of a set of crosswind risk zones included in the road environment.

[0035] Second data representative of the intensity or force of the wind at the level of the zone at risk of lateral wind are received according to a communication mode wirelessly, for example from a remote device such as a cloud server, for example a weather server.

[0036] The display of graphic content in augmented reality is controlled in such a way that this graphic content is displayed on a display device of the vehicle display system. The graphic content comprises an image of a real scene located in front of the vehicle, which image is acquired by a camera on board the vehicle (for example a camera of the vehicle or a camera of the mobile communication device) and a virtual graphic object displayed superimposed on the image. The virtual graphic object comprises a set of graphic objects representing the crosswind risk zone which the vehicle is approaching. The virtual graphic object is represented according to a determined graphic representation which is a function of the second data, i.e. the intensity or force of the wind.

[0037] The first data comprises data or information indicating, for example, the start of an area where there is a risk that the side wind (i.e. coming from one side or the other of the roadway) will be strong, with a risk of causing the vehicle to deviate from its trajectory. Such an area corresponds to a geographical area whose particular typology creates a greater risk of the presence of strong wind than elsewhere. Such an area corresponds, for example, to a portion of road comprising a high bridge or viaduct, a hilltop exposed to the wind, a countryside area exposed to the wind, etc. According to an alternative embodiment, the first data further comprises data or information indicating the end of the area at risk of side wind.

[0038] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a vehicle 10 in an environment 1, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] [Fig.l] illustrates a vehicle 10, for example a motor vehicle, in an environment 1, the environment 1 corresponding to a road environment in which the vehicle 10 moves and circulates.

[0040] The vehicle 10 corresponds for example to a vehicle with a thermal engine, with electric motor(s) or even a hybrid vehicle with a thermal engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle 10 thus corresponds for example to a land vehicle, for example an automobile, a truck, a bus.

[0041] According to the example of [Fig.l], the vehicle 10 is traveling on a road or portion of road 110 comprising one or more traffic lanes and belonging to a crosswind risk zone or leading to such a zone. The vehicle 10 is thus approaching the crosswind risk zone, that is to say that the crosswind risk zone is downstream of the vehicle 10 (or in front of the vehicle 10) depending on the direction of travel of the vehicle 10.

[0042] According to the example of [Fig.l], the start of the crosswind risk zone is ma materialized or indicated by a road sign 111 of type A24 signaling a danger and announcing the presence of crosswind. Such a sign 111 represents a windsock. According to another example, the presence of the crosswind risk zone is materialized or indicated by the presence of a windsock 112 arranged on the edge of the roadway, this windsock 112 being for example arranged in addition to the sign 111 or replacing the sign 111.

[0043] According to a particular exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 10 carries a communication system configured to communicate with one or more remote devices or servers 103 via a wireless communication network infrastructure.

[0044] The remote server(s) 103 each correspond, for example, to a server of the “cloud” 100 (or “cloud” in French). The wireless communication infrastructure comprises, for example, a set of communication devices of the LTE (Long Term Evolution) cellular network antenna type 102 4G or 5G. According to an alternative embodiment, the communication devices belonging to the wireless communication infrastructure correspond to UBR (Roadside Unit).

[0045] The communication system of the vehicle 10 comprises, for example, one or more communication antennas connected to a telematic control unit, called TCU (from the English "Telematic Control Unit"), itself connected to one or more computers of the on-board system of the vehicle 10. The antenna(s), the TCU unit and the computer(s) form, for example, a multiplexed architecture for the realization of different services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle and for assisting the driver and / or the passengers of the vehicle in the control of the vehicle 10.The computer(s) and the TCU communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the data bus type CAN (from the English "Controller Area Network" or in French "Réseau de contrôles"), CAN FD (from the English "Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate" or in French "Réseau de contrôles à débit de données flexible"), FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (according to the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0046] According to a particular embodiment, the vehicle 10 carries a navigation and geolocation system, also called a GNSS system (Geolocation and Navigation by a Satellite System), for example a GPS (Global Positioning System) or Galileo type system. According to this embodiment, the vehicle 10 carries a geolocation system receiver allowing the vehicle 10 to obtain third data representative of its geographical position at any time. instant, for example in the form of GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude), via a satellite link with a set of satellites 101.

[0047] The navigation system of the vehicle 10 is for example connected via an OTA (Over The Air) type link to receive mapping data and data relating to the presence of one or more areas at risk of crosswinds, for example as the vehicle 10 moves, via the communication system of the vehicle 10. According to a variant, such data is recorded in a memory of the vehicle 10 associated with the navigation system, the recorded data being for example updated via the OTA link (for example periodically or when the mapping data and / or the level crossing and barrier data have been updated on the remote device 103).

[0048] According to an alternative embodiment, the vehicle 10, for example the navigation system, further receives meteorological data relating to the intensity or force of the wind in the environment 1 or at the level of the geographical zone in which the vehicle 10 is traveling at the current time. The meteorological data is received from a remote device of the “cloud” server type such as the remote device 103.

[0049] According to another particular embodiment, the vehicle 10 carries a mobile communication device, such as a smartphone (from the English "Smartphone") or a tablet, such a wireless communication device being for example arranged on a support fixed to an element of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10 so that the display screen of the mobile communication device is visible to the driver when the latter is driving the vehicle 10. According to such an embodiment, the mobile communication device incorporates a navigation and geolocation system, also called a GNSS system (Geolocation and Navigation by a Satellite System), for example a GPS type system (from the English "Global Positioning System" or in French "Geo-positioning system by satellites"), for example installed on the communication device in the form of a mobile application.Such an embodiment allows the driver of the vehicle 10 to use the navigation system and the display system of the mobile communication device, for example when the vehicle 10 does not integrate a navigation system or when the driver prefers to use the navigation system of the mobile communication device instead of the navigation system of the vehicle 10. The mobile communication device is advantageously connected in wireless communication with the remote device(s) 103 via the wireless network infrastructure, for example to receive mapping data as well as data relating to crosswind risk zones, or updates of such data stored in the memory of the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device is by . example connected in wireless communication to the vehicle 10, for example via a wireless connection of the Bluetooth® or Wifi® type.

[0050] The remote server 103 is for example configured to send data relating to the road infrastructure such as: - fourth mapping data, for example fourth data representative of road maps, and / or - fifth data representative of one or more crosswind risk zones, for example data representative of the coordinates of the start of each zone or location data of this or these zones on the roads with the start and end of the zone.

[0051] The remote server 103 or another remote server distinct from the remote server is further configured to transmit second data representative of the intensity (or force) of the wind predicted, estimated or measured at each zone at risk of lateral wind. The intensity of the wind is for example expressed in km / h (kilometers per hour), with a level ranging for example from 1 to 5 or from 1 to 10 (1 corresponding to the weakest wind force and 5 or 10 the highest) or with a binary value or a boolean to indicate whether the wind is weak (i.e. below a determined threshold) or whether the wind is strong (i.e. above the determined threshold).

[0052] According to a particular embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], vehicle 10 has a display system comprising a display device or screen 13 and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) of a graphical MMI on the touch screen 13. The computer corresponds for example to the computer of the infotainment system, called the IVI computer (from the English “In-Vehicle Infotainment” or in French “Infodivertissement embargo”) of the vehicle 10.

[0053] According to an alternative embodiment, the display system of the vehicle 10 comprises one or more other screens, for example a screen of a device or system called a head-up display corresponding for example to a transparent or semi-transparent blade arranged in such a way that a driver seated in the seat 16 sees the content displayed or projected on the transparent blade when the driver drives the vehicle 10, or a display screen 15 called a handset or dashboard generally arranged in an area behind the steering wheel 14 in the dashboard 11.

[0054] The screen 13 is for example associated with a touch interface and corresponds for example to a screen of the LCD type (from the English “Liquid Crystal Display” or in French “Display à cristals liquide”), for example of the TFT type (from the English “Thin-Film Transistor” or in French “Transistor en film mince”), or OLED type (from the English “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” or in French “Diode électroluminescente biologique”).

[0055] The screen 13 is configured to display content intended for the driver and vehicle passengers. The screen 13 is also configured to allow the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle to interact with one or more systems embedded in the vehicle via a human machine interface (HMI) displayed on the screen 13. For example, the screen 13 is configured to interact with the IVI system and / or a navigation system of the vehicle 10.

[0056] According to a particular embodiment, the screen 13 is not integrated into the passenger compartment of the vehicle but corresponds to a screen of a mobile communication device (smartphone, tablet), connected in communication, for example wirelessly, with the on-board system of the vehicle 10.

[0057] The vehicle 10 also carries, for example, one or more cameras, for example a camera 12 corresponding to a front camera (also called a windshield camera). Such a camera 12 is arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10 under the windshield and at the top and in the middle of this windshield. Such a front camera 12 has a field of vision corresponding to the space located in front of the vehicle 10 according to the direction of travel of the vehicle 10. Such a camera 12 is thus configured for the acquisition of image data representative of the real scene located in front of the vehicle 10, according to the direction of travel of the vehicle 10.

[0058] The camera 12 comprises for example the following elements: - a photosensitive sensor corresponding for example to a matrix of photoreceptors associated for example with a Bayer filter; - an optical assembly arranged in front of the sensor with respect to the scene to be acquired by the sensor, the optical assembly comprising for example an arrangement of one or more lenses; and - optionally one or more calculators associated with memory and configured for processing images acquired by the sensor.

[0059] According to an alternative embodiment, the camera corresponds to a camera of the mobile communication device on board the vehicle 10, if applicable. The camera of the mobile communication device is also configured for the acquisition of image data representative of the real scene located in front of the vehicle 10, depending on where the mobile communication device is arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10.

[0060] A process for controlling an on-board display system in the vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more processors of the display system, for example by a computer of an on-board system of the vehicle 10 such as the IVI system or the navigation system or by a processor of the mobile communication device. The on-board display system thus corresponds to a display device integrated into the vehicle 10 or to a display system of a mobile communication device itself embedded in the vehicle 10.

[0061] In a first operation of the process, first data representative of the presence of a zone at risk of side wind on a portion of road on which the vehicle 10 is traveling are obtained, for example received from another device (for example another computer of the vehicle 10) or determined from other data.

[0062] According to a first exemplary embodiment, the presence of the crosswind risk zone is detected or determined by crossing third data representative of geographical positions of the vehicle 10, fourth data representative of a map of the road environment 1 in which the vehicle 10 is traveling and fifth data representative of the location of a set of crosswind risk zones included in the road environment 1.

[0063] According to an alternative embodiment, the fifth data received are only representative of the zone at risk of crosswinds which the vehicle 10 is approaching, these fifth data being received knowing the current position of the vehicle 10 (via the third data) and the mapping (via the fourth data).

[0064] According to another variant, the fifth data form a part of the fourth data, that is to say that the mapping data comprises the position or the location of the areas at risk of lateral wind.

[0065] The third data are for example received from a receiver of a geolocation system 101. The fourth and fifth data are for example received from a memory and / or from a remote device such as a server 103 configured to make such data available to navigation systems of so-called connected vehicles and / or mobile navigation applications of mobile communication devices.

[0066] The fourth and fifth data received correspond for example to data relating to the road environment in which the vehicle 10 is traveling at each instant, these fourth and fifth data varying as the vehicle 10 moves in its environment 1. For example, the fourth and fifth data relate to an area surrounding the vehicle 10, for example over a radius equal to a few kilometers or a few hundred meters.

[0067] According to a second exemplary embodiment, the presence of the crosswind risk zone is detected or determined by analyzing image data of the scene located in front of the vehicle 10 acquired by the camera 12 or by a camera of a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle 10, as the vehicle 10 moves on the road 110.

[0068] The analysis of image data includes the detection and recognition of specific objects, such as an A24 road sign and / or a windsock. When such an object is detected in one or more acquired images, the presence of a crosswind risk zone is detected and the first data is generated, then transmitted to the computer implementing the process by the computer controlling the image analysis system.

[0069] The detection of the presence of the crosswind risk zone is for example obtained when the vehicle 10 arrives at a determined distance from the start of such a zone, for example when the vehicle 10 is located 50, 100, 200 or 500 m from the start of the crosswind risk zone (the start of the zone being for example materialized by the presence of the sign 111 or indicated in the fifth data). The detection distance corresponds for example to a fixed parameter of the system or to a parameter adjustable by a user of the system, for example by the driver of the vehicle 10.

[0070] In a second operation of the process, second data representative of wind intensity at the level of the zone at risk of lateral wind are received according to a wireless communication mode, for example according to an I2V type communication mode (from the English “Infrastructure-to-Vehicle” or in French “Infrastructure to vehicle”) and / or according to a wireless link using a 4G or 5G type cellular network.

[0071] The second data are received from a remote server such as the server 103 configured to store and transmit meteorological data, including the strength or intensity of the wind (estimated according to a meteorological model or measured by anemometers arranged in the environment 1) at different locations and in particular at the level of the zone at risk of lateral wind to which the vehicle 10 is approaching.

[0072] The second data are received automatically by the vehicle 10, for example at regular intervals, the second data comprising a set of wind intensity values ​​at different locations. According to another example, the second data are received automatically and they only comprise the wind intensity in the crosswind risk zone which the vehicle 10 is approaching. According to this other example, the vehicle 10 transmits for example its geographical location at regular intervals and the server, detecting the presence of the vehicle 10 approaching the crosswind risk zone, automatically transmits the second data relating to this crosswind risk zone.According to yet another example, the second data are transmitted by the remote server to the vehicle 10 following the transmission from the vehicle 10 to the remote server of a request to receive the second data, the request comprising for example the geographic position data of the vehicle 10 at the time of transmission of the request so that the remote server transmits in return the second data for the area comprising the position of the vehicle 10.

[0073] In a third operation of the process, the display of graphical content in augmented reality is controlled so that this graphical content is displayed on a display device, for example screen 13.

[0074] The display control is triggered by the detection of the presence of the crosswind risk zone materialized by obtaining the first data at the first operation of the process.

[0075] The graphic content advantageously includes: - an image of the actual scene located in front of the vehicle 10 acquired by a camera on board the vehicle 10 such as the camera 12; and - a virtual graphic object displayed superimposed on the image, the virtual graphic object comprising a set of graphic objects representative of the crosswind risk zone, a graphic representation of the virtual graphic object being a function of the second data, i.e. the wind intensity at the level of the crosswind risk zone.

[0076] Display control includes rendering of the graphic content, such rendering corresponding to a set of operations performed by one or more processors on the pixels of the image to compose the graphic content. For example, rendering consists of associating with a set of pixels of the image pixel data (for example color data expressed in an RGB (Red, Green, Blue) type space) associated with the virtual graphic object.

[0077] The virtual graphic object (and the graphic objects that this virtual graphic object comprises) corresponds to a graphic object obtained by image synthesis, the virtual graphic object being superimposed on the image at a determined location, for example at a determined distance from the point of view associated with the image, that is to say at a location situated at a determined distance from the point of view of the camera 12 for example. Thus, the pixels of the first image at the location of the incrustation of the virtual graphic object in the image are replaced by the pixels defining the virtual graphic object.

[0078] The graphical representation of the virtual graphical object 32 corresponds to: - a first graphic representation corresponding to a gantry supporting at least one first graphic object representative of a road sign indicating the start of a crosswind risk zone and at least one second graphic object representative of a light signal when the first data are representative of the start of a crosswind risk zone and the second data are representative of an intensity greater than a threshold (corresponding to a risk of strong wind); and - a second graphical representation of the gantry supporting the at least one first graphical object and the at least one second graphical object when the first data are representative of the start of a crosswind risk zone and the second data are representative of an intensity lower than the threshold (corresponding to a risk of low or moderate wind).

[0079] [Fig. 3] illustrates an example of the result of such a rendering of the virtual graphic object, i.e. the display of a graphic content 30 on the screen 13 with the virtual graphic object 32 according to the first or second graphic representation.

[0080] The graphic content 30 thus displayed results from the overlaying of a virtual graphic object 32, for example a 3-dimensional (3D) graphic object, on an image 31 whose content represents the real scene that the driver sees (at least partially) through the windshield of the vehicle 10 at the time of acquisition of the image 31 (or with a slight time shift necessary for the composition of the graphic content 30, of the order of a few hundred milliseconds for example).

[0081] The rendering result thus corresponds to so-called augmented reality content (noted RA, or AR in English for “Augmented Reality”) in that this content mixes content representing a real environment (acquired by a camera) with digital virtual content obtained by computer.

[0082] The graphic content 30 varies depending on the movement of the vehicle 10 on the roadway, as the vehicle 10 moves on the roadway, via: - the displayed image 31 which varies as the image data received from the camera 12 changes depending on the point of view of the camera 12 which evolves and varies depending on the movement of the vehicle 10, the images being for example refreshed / displayed at a frequency of 24, 48 or 50 images per second; and - an adjustment of the representation of the virtual graphic object 32 as the vehicle 10 moves, the virtual graphic object 32 being for example embedded in the image at a constant distance from the point of view of the camera 12 or the representation of the virtual graphic object 32 being modified as the vehicle moves to provide the driver with the illusion that the vehicle 10 is approaching the virtual graphic object 32, the adjustment of the graphic representation making it possible to adapt the perspective according to the evolution of the point of view of the graphic content 30 which varies with the movement of the vehicle 10, until the vehicle 10 virtually passes under the virtual graphic object 32 which then disappears from the graphic content 30.

[0083] According to the example of [Fig.3], the virtual graphic object 32 is representative of a gantry supporting one or more first graphic objects or pictograms 321 each representing a warning sign for the risk of lateral wind and / or strong wind (sign of type A24 for example) and a second graphic object or pictogram 322 representing one or more light signals.

[0084] According to the particular example of [Fig.3], the second graphic object 322 is arranged in the middle of the first two graphic objects 321.

[0085] Of course, the virtual graphic object 32 is not limited to such a representation but extends to any virtual graphic representation, for example to a gallows or a side post supporting the first and second graphic objects 321, 322, or even a line drawn on the ground with the first and second graphic objects superimposed.

[0086] According to a particular embodiment, the first graphic representation comprises the gantry represented with a first color (for example red) and the second graphic object 322 is representative of a flashing light signal when the virtual graphic object is represented according to the first graphic representation, that is to say when the wind at the level of the zone at risk of lateral wind from which the vehicle 10 is approaching is greater than a threshold (corresponding to a risk of strong wind).

[0087] According to this particular embodiment, the second graphic representation comprises the gantry represented with a second color different (for example green) from the first color and the second graphic object 322 is representative of a fixed light signal when the virtual graphic object 32 is represented according to the second graphic representation (corresponding to a risk of low or moderate wind).

[0088] Other colors can of course be used, such as for example orange for the first color or blue for the second color.

[0089] The flashing light signal makes it possible to draw the driver's attention to a situation requiring increased vigilance, for example when the wind blowing in the crosswind risk zone is strong, i.e. above the threshold.

[0090] When the second data indicates an intensity according to a wind speed (in km / h) or an intensity level on a determined scale (for example from 1 to 5 or from 1 to 2), the process further comprises a comparison of this intensity information with the threshold (which is fixed or configurable) to determine whether the wind intensity is greater or less than the threshold.

[0091] According to another particular embodiment, when the first data comprises information on the start of the crosswind risk zone and information on the end of this zone (for example when the fifth data received comprises these two pieces of information), the graphic representation of the virtual graphic object comprises other graphic representations in addition to the first and second graphic representations described previously.

[0092] [Fig.4] illustrates an example of the result of such a rendering of the virtual graphic object, i.e. the display of a graphic content 40 on the screen 13 with the virtual graphic object 42, according to a third or a fourth graphic representation of the virtual graphic object, embedded in superposition of an image 41 of the real scene.

[0093] Thus, according to the example of [Fig.4], the graphic representation of the virtual graphic object 42 corresponds to: - a third graphic representation corresponding to the gantry supporting one or more third graphic objects 421 (2 third graphic objects according to [Fig.4]) representative of a road sign indicating the end of a crosswind risk zone when the first data are representative of the end of a crosswind risk zone and the second data are representative of an intensity greater than the threshold; and - a fourth graphic representation of the gantry supporting the third graphic object(s) 421 when the first data are representative of the end of a zone at risk of lateral wind and the second data are representative of an intensity lower than the threshold.

[0094] Unlike the first and second graphical representations, neither the third graphical representation nor the fourth graphical representation includes a graphical object representing a light signal.

[0095] The gantry is represented with the first color (for example the color red) when the virtual graphical object 42 is represented according to the third graphical representation and the gantry is represented with the second color (for example the color green) when the virtual graphical object is represented according to the fourth graphical representation.

[0096] The virtual graphic object 32 is for example displayed at the start of the crosswind risk zone whose geographical coordinates are fixed in the real world. Thus, the graphic representation of this virtual graphic object 32, whether according to the first or the second graphic representation, varies as the vehicle 10 advances towards the start of the zone. The dimensions of the virtual graphic object 32 are for example modified as the vehicle 10 approaches the start of the zone to give the visual impression that the vehicle is approaching the start of the zone, until it passes it.

[0097] When the virtual graphical object 32 takes the form of a gantry, its graphical representation is adapted to give the driver the illusion that the vehicle 10 passes under the gantry when the vehicle 10 physically reaches the start of the zone, the virtual graphical object 32 disappearing from the graphical content 30 once the vehicle 10 has passed the start of the zone.

[0098] In the same way, the virtual graphic object 42 is displayed at the end of the crosswind risk zone whose geographical coordinates are fixed in the real world. As for the virtual graphic object 32, the graphic representation of the virtual graphic object 42 is adapted to the movement of the vehicle 10, until the vehicle 10 crosses the end of the zone.

[0099] According to a particular embodiment, the display of the virtual graphic object 32, 42 is controlled so that the display begins when the vehicle 10 is at a determined distance from the start or end of the crosswind risk zone, for example when the vehicle 10 is 150 m from the start or end of the crosswind risk zone. In other examples, the display begins when the vehicle is 100, 200 or 300 m from the start or end of the crosswind risk zone.

[0100] According to this particular embodiment, the display of the virtual graphic object 32, 42 ends when the vehicle 10 crosses the start or the end of the crosswind risk zone, this information being determined from the geographical position of the vehicle (via the third data), the mapping data (via the fourth data) and the location data of the start or the end of the crosswind risk zone (via the fifth data).

[0101] According to another particular embodiment, the display control of the graphic content is a function of the sixth data representing activation or deactivation of a crosswind risk zone alert service.

[0102] According to this other particular embodiment, the sixth data are for example received from a human-machine interface (HMI) on board the vehicle 10. The sixth data are for example generated following an action by a user activating or deactivating the crosswind risk zone alert service, for example via the touch interface associated with the screen 13.

[0103] The crosswind risk zone alert service, when activated, causes the generation or rendering of graphic contents 30, 40 when the vehicle 10 is approaching the start or end of a crosswind risk zone and then the display of these graphic contents 30, 40 on the screen 13.

[0104] Conversely, when the crosswind risk zone alert service is deactivated, the rendering and display of the graphic contents 30, 40 are deactivated and inoperative.

[0105] According to yet another variant, other virtual graphic objects are for example added to the graphic content 30, 40, for example when the navigation system is used in a guidance mode (following a route calculated by the navigation system), these other virtual graphic objects representing for example guidance instructions (for example arrows embedded on the roadway to materialize the route to follow) to indicate to the driver the route to follow.

[0106] The display of the graphic contents 30, 40 is controlled and implemented, whether the navigation system is used in a guidance mode or not.

[0107] [Fig. 5] schematically illustrates a device 5 configured for controlling a display system on board a vehicle, for example the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The device 5 corresponds for example to a device on board the vehicle 10, for example a computer, or to a device or unit of a mobile communication device.

[0108] The device 5 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 and / or the steps of the method described with reference to [Fig.6]. Examples of such a device 5 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 5, individually or in combination, may be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components. The device 5 may be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0109] The device 5 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 50 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and / or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 5. The processor 50 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 5 further comprises at least one memory 51 corresponding for example to a volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0110] The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the memory 51.

[0111] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 5 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0112] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 5 comprises a block 52 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 52 comprise one or more of the following interfaces: - RF radio frequency interface, for example Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (LTE) “Long-Term Evolution” or in French “Long-Term Evolution”), LTE-Advanced (or in French LTE-advanced); - USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French); - HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface” or “High Definition Multimedia Interface” in French); - LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

[0113] According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 5 comprises a communication interface 53 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 530. The communication interface 53 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 530. The communication interface 53 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (from the English "Controller Area Network" or in French "Réseau de contrôles") type, CAN FD (from the English "Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate" or in French "Réseau de contrôles à débit de données flexible"), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0114] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 5 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 540, touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers 550 and / or other peripherals 560 (projection system) via output interfaces 54, 55 and 56 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 5.

[0115] [Fig. 6] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a display system on board a vehicle, for example the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the vehicle 10, by a mobile communication device or by the device 5 of [Fig. 5].

[0116] In a first step 61, first data representative of the presence of a zone at risk of side wind on a portion of road on which the vehicle is traveling are obtained.

[0117] In a second step 62, second data representative of wind intensity at the level of the zone at risk of lateral wind are received according to a wireless communication mode.

[0118] In a third step 63, the display of graphic content in augmented reality is controlled so that this graphic content is displayed on a display device of the vehicle, the graphic content comprising an image of a real scene located in front of the vehicle acquired by a camera on board the vehicle and a virtual graphic object superimposed on the image, the virtual graphic object comprising a set of graphic objects representative of the crosswind risk zone, a graphic representation of the virtual graphic object being a function of the second data.

[0119] According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to one of figures 1 to 4 apply to the steps of the method of [Fig.6].

[0120] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method for displaying graphic content in augmented reality which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for implementing such a method.

[0121] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-based motor vehicle, comprising the device 5 of [Fig.5] or a display system comprising the device 5 of [Fig.5] connected in communication to a screen 13.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for controlling an on-board display system in a vehicle (10), said display system comprising a display device (13), said method comprising the following steps: - obtaining (61) first data representative of the presence of a zone at risk of side wind on a portion of road (110) on which said vehicle (10) is traveling; - receiving (62) second data representative of wind intensity at said zone at risk of side wind according to a wireless communication mode; - display control (63) of graphic content (30; 40) in augmented reality on said display device (13), said graphic content (30; 40) comprising an image (31; 41) of a real scene located in front of said vehicle (10) acquired by a camera (12) on board said vehicle (10) and a virtual graphic object (32; 42) superimposed on said image (31; 41), said virtual graphic object (32;42) comprising a set of graphic objects representative of said risk zone, a graphic representation of said virtual graphic object (32; 42) being a function of said second data.;

2. Method according to claim 1, for which said first data are determined from third data representative of geographical positions of the vehicle (10), fourth data representative of a map of a road environment (1) in which said vehicle (10) is traveling and fifth data representative of the location of a set of areas at risk of lateral wind included in said road environment (1).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, for which the graphical representation of said virtual graphical object (32) corresponds to: - a first graphical representation corresponding to a gantry supporting at least one first graphical object (321) representative of a road sign signaling the start of a crosswind risk zone and at least one second graphical object (322) representative of a light signal when said first data are representative of the start of a crosswind risk zone and said second data are representative of an intensity greater than a threshold; and - a second graphical representation of said gantry supporting said at least one first graphic object and said at least one second graphic object when said first data are representative of the start of a crosswind risk zone and said second data are representative of an intensity lower than said threshold.

4. Method according to claim 3, for which: - said gantry is represented with a first color and said second graphic object (322) is representative of a flashing light signal when said virtual graphic object (32) is represented according to the first graphic representation; and - said gantry is represented with a second color different from said first color and said second graphic object (322) is representative of a fixed light signal when said virtual graphic object (32) is represented according to the second graphic representation.

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, for which the graphical representation of said virtual graphical object (42) corresponds to: - a third graphical representation corresponding to said gantry supporting at least one third graphical object (421) representative of a road sign signaling an end of a crosswind risk zone when said first data are representative of an end of a crosswind risk zone and said second data are representative of an intensity greater than said threshold; and - a fourth graphical representation of said gantry supporting said at least one third graphical object (421) when said first data are representative of an end of a crosswind risk zone and said second data are representative of an intensity lower than said threshold.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein: - said gantry is represented with the first color when said virtual graphical object (42) is represented according to the third graphical representation; and - said gantry is represented with the second color when said virtual graphical object (42) is represented according to the fourth graphical representation.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a step of receiving sixth data representative of activation or deactivation of a crosswind risk zone alert service from a human-machine interface on board said vehicle, said display control (63) of the graphic content being a function of the said sixth data.

8. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, when these instructions are executed by a processor.

9. Device (5) for controlling an on-board display system in a vehicle, said device (5) comprising a memory (51) associated with at least one processor (50) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Vehicle (10) comprising the device (5) according to claim 9.

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