Management of the operation of a head-up display device and a screen of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing the operation of a head-up display device (2) and a screen (3) of a motor vehicle with respect to a journey made by the vehicle. The invention also relates to a computer device (100) implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle (1) comprising such a device (100). Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Management of the operation of a head-up display device and a screen of a motor vehicle Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of information display systems fitted to motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to a method for managing the operation of a head-up display device and a screen of a motor vehicle with respect to a journey made by the vehicle. The invention also relates to a device implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle comprising such a device. The invention applies to motor vehicles such as land motor vehicles, in particular cars. State of the prior art

[0002] It is known that most motor vehicles allow the display of information on one or more screens arranged in the passenger compartment. Such screens are used in particular to provide navigation information which is established by the navigation system by interacting with a satellite positioning system. However, the fundamental problem linked to this way of displaying information to the driver of a motor vehicle is linked to the arrangement of these screens close to the driving position, which forces the driver to look away from the road and the driving environment when he wishes to take note of the information displayed. Obviously, this constraint degrades driving safety and is all the more harmful in situations where the vehicle is traveling at high speed or in an urban environment.To minimize this risk, some modern motor vehicles are equipped with a head-up display that allows visual content to be projected into the driver's field of vision when the driver is looking at the road. However, the visual content that can be displayed is generally limited to the most basic information, without however allowing the display of personalized information, in particular in connection with virtual route markings that some advanced navigation systems now allow to be specified. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks. In particular, it aims to provide a solution for displaying information in a motor vehicle for the driver and other occupants of the vehicle, in particular information relating to virtual route markings which are specified, and this in a in a manner that does not degrade driving safety. In this way, the invention aims to enable the provision of more ergonomic and safer motor vehicles.

[0004] In order to achieve these aims, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method for managing, by a computer device on board a motor vehicle, the operation of a head-up display device and a screen of the vehicle with regard to a journey made by the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: i. obtaining data characterizing a virtual marking of said previously specified journey; ii. causing, during the journey, the display by the head-up display device of a first visual content established as a function of said virtual marking of said journey and the display on the screen of a second visual content established as a function of said virtual marking of said journey; and iii. cause, at the end of the journey, the display on the screen of a third visual content.

[0005] According to a variant, a first portion of the first visual content may be displayed on a first plane and a second portion of the first visual content may be displayed on a second plane, the first plane appearing at a first distance from the driver and the second plane appearing at a second distance from the driver.

[0006] According to another variant, the first visual content may include a first pictogram which provides information on the current position of the vehicle and said virtual marking of said route within a representation of said route, a second pictogram which provides information on at least one identifier of a marker identified by said virtual marking of said route for a location of said route which the vehicle is approaching and an indication of the current speed of the vehicle.

[0007] According to yet another variant, the second pictogram can change depending on the distance between the vehicle and the beacon.

[0008] According to yet another variant, the second visual content may include an indication of a time elapsed between the passage of the vehicle at a location for which said virtual marking of said route lists a first marker and its passage at a location for which said virtual marking of said route lists a second marker.

[0009] According to yet another variant, the third visual content may include an indication of the average speed of the vehicle during said journey and an indication of a braking power applied during said journey.

[0010] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for managing the operation of a head-up display device and a screen of a motor vehicle with respect to a journey made by the vehicle, the device comprising at least one information processing unit, comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium configured to implement a method as described above.

[0011] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method as described above when said program is executed by at least one processor.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a medium usable in a computer on which a program as described above is recorded.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a device as described above. Brief description of the figures

[0014] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended figures, in which:

[0015] [Fig-1] is a diagram of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0016] [Fig.2] is a functional diagram of a device according to the invention;

[0017] [Fig.3] is a flowchart of the steps of a method according to the invention;

[0018] [Fig.4] is an illustration of the implementation of at least one step of the method according to the invention;

[0019] [Fig.5] is an illustration of the implementation of at least one step of the method according to the invention; and

[0020] [Fig.6] is an illustration of the implementation of at least one step of the method according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0021] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. This is equipped with a head-up display apparatus 2, which conventionally allows the display of visual contents on the windshield of the vehicle positioned so as to be in the driver's field of vision when the latter looks at the road in front of the vehicle 1. Preferably, the head-up display apparatus 2 comprises several mirrors in order to allow the display of such visual contents on several planes which appear at a greater or lesser distance from the driver. The vehicle 1 according to the invention also comprises a screen 3, for example arranged in the middle of the console of the vehicle 1, and a navigation system 4, which can conventionally determine the current position of the vehicle 1, its instantaneous speed, an average speed during a journey, a travel time of a journey or of a segment of a journey.Advantageously, the navigation system 4 also makes it possible to specify virtual marking of a route, in other words to specify points of interest at particular locations on a route.

[0022] Advantageously, the vehicle 1 according to the invention also carries a device 100 for managing the operation of a head-up display device and a screen of a motor vehicle with respect to a journey made by the vehicle, as described below, which implements a method for managing the operation of a head-up display device and a screen of a motor vehicle with respect to a journey made by the vehicle, as briefly summarized below and described in detail further below.

[0023] When implementing the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention causes, during the journey, the display by the head-up display apparatus 2 of a first visual content and the display on the screen 3 of a second visual content. Advantageously, these visual contents which are thus displayed are established according to a virtual marking of the journey which has been previously specified. Preferably, the first visual content thus displayed by the head-up display apparatus 2 includes a first pictogram which provides information on the current position of the vehicle 1 and the virtual marking within a representation of the journey. It further comprises a second pictogram which provides information on at least one identifier of a beacon identified by the virtual marking of the journey for a location on the journey which the vehicle is approaching as well as an indication of the current speed of the vehicle.Advantageously, when the head-up display apparatus 2 is capable of displaying visual content on several planes, certain pictograms or certain indications are dynamically transferred from one display plane to another, for example when the vehicle 1 passes through locations for which beacons are specified. Furthermore, in order to materialize the movement of the vehicle with respect to the beacons, certain pictograms evolve according to the distance between the vehicle and the beacon. The second visual content which is displayed on the screen 3 preferably includes an indication of a time elapsed between the vehicle passing through a location for which the virtual marking of the route lists a first beacon and its passing through a location for which the virtual marking of the route lists a second beacon.The third visual content includes an indication of the average speed of the vehicle during said journey and an indication of braking power applied during said journey. It is thus possible to inform in an elaborate manner during and after the journey the occupants of the vehicle 1 who are not able to see the content displayed by the head-up display apparatus 2. Thus, the device 100 according to the invention makes it possible to inform the driver and occupants of a motor vehicle about a journey which has been previously marked out in a more ergonomic and safer manner.

[0024] [Fig. 2] schematically illustrates the device 100 according to the invention for managing the operation of a head-up display device and a screen. of a motor vehicle with respect to a journey made by the vehicle. It is essentially a computer device, which comprises at least one information processing unit 101, comprising one or more processors, a data storage medium 102, on which is recorded in particular a program which comprises program code instructions for the execution of the steps of the method according to the invention described below, and an input and output interface 103 allowing the reception and transmission of data.

[0025] Preferably, the device 100 according to the invention is hosted on an independent computer and it interacts via its input and output interface 103 and by means of a wired communication network of the vehicle (e.g. CAN, Ethernet, MOST) - shown in [Fig.l] by the two-way arrows - with the head-up display apparatus 2, with the screen 3, and with the navigation system. As a result, the device 100 according to the invention can, in particular, obtain data characterizing a previously specified virtual beaconing, and it can cause the display of visual content by the head-up display apparatus 2 and on the screen 3.

[0026] According to the invention, all the elements described above contribute to enabling the implementation of a method for managing the operation of a head-up display device and a screen of a motor vehicle with regard to a journey made by the vehicle, as described below in connection with Figures 3-6.

[0027] [Fig. 3] illustrates by means of a flowchart the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0028] According to a first step 301 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention obtains data characterizing a virtual marking of the previously specified route. Indeed, it is considered in the context of the invention that the route has previously been carried out and that the driver or another occupant of the vehicle has specified during this carrying out of the route a virtual marking of the route, in other words he has assigned virtual beacons to particular locations of the route. To do this, he has used the navigation system 4, which has determined in a conventional manner in real time the geographical coordinates of these locations by interacting with a satellite positioning system, possibly also by interacting with one or more detection devices (e.g. camera, radar, lidar, etc.) on board the vehicle 1 in order to enrich the virtual marking with additional information on the environment of the vehicle 1 near these locations of the journey for which virtual markers have been specified, and this so as to then allow the device 100 according to the invention and / or the navigation system 4 to be able to use this additional data to determine when the vehicle 1 is at a location for which a marker is specified. The locations of these markers have been recorded on a data storage medium, possibly included in the navigation system 4,. and it is by interacting with this data storage medium that the device 100 according to the invention can, during this first step of the method, obtain the data characterizing a virtual marking of the previously established route. Thus, at the end of this first step, the device 100 according to the invention advantageously holds data which provide information on the topology of the route and one or more markers which are specified for one or more particular locations thereof. It is therefore thus able, in particular, to determine when the vehicle 1 approaches and / or passes one of these markers during a new execution of the route.

[0029] According to a second step 302 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention causes, during the journey, the display by the head-up display apparatus 2 of a first visual content established as a function of the virtual marking of the journey and the display on the screen 3 of a second visual content established as a function of the virtual marking of the journey.

[0030] With regard to the display of the first visual content by the head-up display apparatus 2, an exemplary embodiment of which is illustrated schematically in [Fig. 4], this includes at least a first pictogram 5 which provides information on the current position of the vehicle and said virtual marking of the route within a representation of the route, a second pictogram 6 which provides information on at least one identifier of a beacon identified by the virtual marking of the route for a location on the route which the vehicle is approaching and an indication 7 of the current speed of the vehicle.Furthermore, when the head-up display apparatus 2 allows the display of visual content on several planes, a first part of the first visual content is displayed on a first plane (PI, P2 or P3), and a second part of the first visual content is displayed on a second plane (PI, P2 or P3), the first plane appearing at a first distance from the driver and the second plane appearing at a second distance from the driver. According to an exemplary embodiment, one or more pictograms are transferred from one plane to the other according to the movement of the vehicle, for example the second picogram 6 which is initially displayed on the second plane P2 is transferred to the first plane PI when the vehicle approaches the beacon. Alternatively or cumulatively, the second pictogram 6 evolves according to the distance between the vehicle and the beacon (for example, the closer the vehicle gets to the beacon, the closer the flag gets).

[0031] As regards the second visual content which is displayed on the screen 3 during the journey, which has been illustrated schematically in [Fig. 5], it includes at least one indication 8 of a time elapsed between the passage of the vehicle 1 at a location for which the virtual marking of the journey lists a first marker and its passage at a location for which said virtual marking of the journey lists a second marker. thus informs during the journey an occupant of the vehicle 1 who does not see the visual content displayed by the head-up display device 2.

[0032] According to a third step 303 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention causes, at the end of the journey, the display on the screen 3 of a third visual content. Preferably, as illustrated schematically in [Fig. 6], this third visual content includes an indication 9 of the average speed of the vehicle during said journey and an indication 10 of a braking power applied during said journey. An occupant of the vehicle 1 who does not see the visual content displayed by the head-up display apparatus 2 is thus informed in a complementary manner at the end of the journey.

[0033] Thus, thanks to the method and the device according to the invention described above, a solution exists for displaying information in a motor vehicle intended for the driver and the other occupants of the vehicle, in particular information relating to virtual route markings which are specified, and this in a manner which does not degrade driving safety. Thus, the method and the device according to the invention contribute to the provision of more ergonomic and safer motor vehicles.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for managing, by a computer device (100) on board a motor vehicle (1), the operation of a head-up display device (2) and a screen (3) of the vehicle with respect to a journey made by the vehicle, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: i. obtaining data characterizing a virtual marking of said prior journey ii. causing, during the journey, the display by the head-up display device of the first visual content established as a function of said virtual marking of said journey on the screen (3) of a second visual content established as a function of said marking; and iii. causing, at the end of the journey, the display on the screen (3) of a third and

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a first part of the first visual content is displayed on a first plane (PI, P2, P3) and a second part of the first visual content is displayed on a second plane (PI, P2, P3), the first plane appearing at a first distance from the driver and the second plane appearing at a second distance from the driver.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first visual content includes a first pictogram (5) which provides information on the current position of the vehicle and said virtual marking of said route within a representation of said route, a second pictogram (6) which provides information on at least one identifier of a beacon identified by said virtual marking of said route for a location of said route which the vehicle is approaching and an indication (7) of the current speed of the vehicle.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the second pictogram (6) evolves according to the distance between the vehicle and the beacon.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second visual content includes an indication (8) of a time elapsed between the passage of the vehicle at a location for which said virtual marking of said route lists a first marker and its passage at a location for which said virtual marking of said route lists a second marker.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the third visual content includes an indication (9) of the average speed of the vehicle during said journey and an indication (10) of braking power applied during said journey.

7. Device (100) for managing the operation of a head-up display device (2) and a screen (3) of a motor vehicle (1) in connection with a journey made by the vehicle, characterized in that the device comprises at least one information processing unit (101), comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium (102) configured to implement a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

8. A computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 when said program is executed by at least one processor.

9. Support usable in a computer, characterized in that a program according to claim 8 is recorded therein.

10. Motor vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises a device (100) according to claim 7.

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