Display device for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a display device for a vehicle in which a driver is easy to recognize that a design is displayed even when the design is displayed in a one-eye region.SOLUTION: An image includes: a both-eye region CB being a region visually recognized by both eyes of a driver 200; and a one-eye region CRL being a region visually recognized by one eye of the driver 200. When a right turn guide design D1 is displayed in the one-eye region CRL, a control unit 23 causes the right turn guide design D1 to be displayed in an interruption display area A1 temporarily provided in the both-eye region CB, and then causes a display position of the right turn guide design D1 move to the one-eye region CRL.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been known display devices for vehicles, such as head-up displays that allow a driver to view an image as a virtual image from the driver's eye position (eye point). For example, Patent Document 1 describes a display device that improves visibility by making the luminance of a one-eye region of an image that is visible only with one eye higher than the luminance of a both-eye region that is visible with both eyes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-130771 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, even if the luminance is increased, a design displayed in one eye area is less noticeable than a design displayed in both eye areas.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a display device for a vehicle that makes it easy for the driver to notice that a design is displayed, even when the design is displayed in one eye area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle display device according to the present invention has the following features. an image display unit that emits display light for an image; an optical system that projects display light emitted from the image display unit toward a reflective surface in front of a driver; A control unit that controls the image display unit, The image has a binocular region that is a region viewed by both eyes of the driver, and a one-eye region that is a region viewed by only one eye of the driver, When displaying a design in the one-eye region, the control unit temporarily displays the design in an interrupt display area provided in the both-eye region, and then moves a display position of the design to the one-eye region. It is a display device for vehicles. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, a vehicle display device is provided that allows a driver to easily notice that a design is displayed even when the design is displayed in one eye area.

[0008] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "embodiment") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a display device for a vehicle according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the optical positional relationship between the virtual image, the second mirror, and the driver's eyes when the driver's eyes are located at the center of the eye box in the left-right direction. [Diagram 3] 3 and 4 are diagrams showing the arrangement of each area of ​​a virtual image visually recognized by a driver. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit constituting the vehicle display device shown in FIG. 1 in the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control unit constituting the vehicle display device shown in FIG. 1 in the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] For convenience of explanation, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper" and "lower" are defined below as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The "front-rear direction", "left-right direction" and "up-down direction" are perpendicular to each other.

[0012] (First embodiment) First, a first embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, a vehicle display device 1 of this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 100 and constitutes a head-up display. The vehicle display device 1 is disposed, for example, inside an instrument panel 101. The instrument panel 101 has an opening 101a that opens upward. The opening 101a faces a windshield 102 in the up-down direction of the vehicle 100.

[0013] The vehicle display device 1 has a housing 4, a cover 5, an image display unit 20, a control unit 23, and an optical system 25. The image display unit 20, the control unit 23, and the optical system 25 are housed inside the housing 4. The housing 4 has a main body 2 and a lid member 3 that engages with the main body 2. The main body 2 has an opening that opens upward. The lid member 3 closes the opening of the main body 2 from above. The lid member 3 has a wall portion 30 that faces the opening 101a. The wall portion 30 has an opening 31 that opens upward. The housing 4 is arranged so that the opening 31 faces the opening 101a. The cover 5 is a plate-shaped member that closes the opening 31 of the lid member 3. The cover 5 is formed of a translucent resin such as polycarbonate (PC) or acrylic.

[0014] The image display unit 20 is a device that emits display light 70 of an image. The illustrated image display unit 20 is a liquid crystal display device, for example, a TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display). However, the image display unit 20 is not limited to a liquid crystal display device. The image display unit 20 may be, for example, a device that scans laser light to generate an image on a transparent screen.

[0015] The optical system 25 has a first mirror 21 and a second mirror 22. The first mirror 21 reflects the display light 70 emitted from the image display unit 20 toward the second mirror 22. The first mirror 21 is, for example, a flat mirror. The second mirror 22 reflects the display light 70 toward the windshield 102. The shape of the reflecting surface of the second mirror 22 is, for example, a free-form surface. The second mirror 22 is, for example, a concave mirror that magnifies the display light 70.

[0016] The display light 70 reflected by the second mirror 22 passes through the opening 31 and the opening 101a, and is reflected by the reflecting surface 102a of the windshield 102 toward the driver 200. A virtual image is formed by the display light 70 incident on the eye 201 of the driver 200. The instrument panel 101 is provided with a cylindrical wall portion 103. The wall portion 103 surrounds the optical path of the display light 70 traveling from the opening 31 toward the opening 101a.

[0017] 2, the image displayed on the image display unit 20 and displayed as a virtual image to the driver 200 has a both-eye region CB which is a region that is viewed by both eyes of the driver 200, a right-eye region CR which is a region that is not viewed by the left eye and is only viewable by the right eye, and a left-eye region CL which is a region that is not viewed by the right eye and is only viewable by the left eye. The right-eye region CR and the left-eye region CL are regions on the left-right end side of the both-eye region CB. Hereinafter, the right-eye region CR and the left-eye region CL are collectively referred to as the "one-eye region CRL."

[0018] Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of each region of the virtual image visually recognized by driver 200. As shown in Fig. 3, the left end region of the virtual image corresponds to the right eye region CR, the central region of the virtual image corresponds to the both eye region CB, and the right side region of the virtual image corresponds to the left eye region CL.

[0019] The control unit 23 has a control circuit configured to control the image display unit 20. The control unit 23 is mounted on, for example, a control board arranged inside the housing 4. The control unit 23 controls the image display unit 20 to generate an image according to, for example, a program stored in advance.

[0020] Vehicle 100 has a driver monitor 104. Driver monitor 104 includes a camera arranged in front of driver 200. Driver monitor 104 captures an image of driver 200 to generate a driver image. Driver monitor 104 detects the position of the head of driver 200 and the position of eyes 201 of driver 200 (viewpoint position) based on the driver image. The detection result by driver monitor 104 is sent to control unit 23.

[0021] The control unit 23 sets a both-eyes area CB and a one-eye area CRL (see FIG. 2) on the display screen of the image display unit 20, and changes the luminance between the both-eyes area CB and the one-eye area CRL. As shown in FIG. 3, when the control unit 23 displays, for example, a right-turn guidance design D1 (=design) in the one-eye area CRL, the control unit 23 temporarily displays the right-turn guidance design D1 in the cut-in area A1 provided in the both-eyes area CB, and then moves the display position of the right-turn guidance design D1 to the one-eye area CRL.

[0022] Next, the details of the above-mentioned both-eyes region CB and one-eye region CRL will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the optical positional relationship between a virtual image, a second mirror, and an eye 201 of the driver 200. The position of the eye 201 shown in FIG. 2 is the center position in the left-right direction in the eye box EB. The eye box EB is a range assumed in advance as a range within which the position of the eye 201 moves. The eye box EB has a predetermined width in the left-right direction. The vehicle display device 1 is configured so that an image can be viewed by the driver 200 when the eye 201 is inside the eye box EB.

[0023] 2, when the light reflected by the entire surface of the second mirror 22 is viewed, the left end position of the right eye region CR is on an extension of a light ray "L1" connecting the right eye of the driver 200 and the left end position of the second mirror 22. Also, the right end position of the left eye region CL is on an extension of a light ray "L2" connecting the left eye of the driver 200 and the right end position of the second mirror 22. Note that the driver 200 cannot view the left end position of the right eye region CR with the left eye, and cannot view the right end position of the left eye region CL with the right eye.

[0024] In addition, the left end position of the eye region CB is on an extension line of the configuration "L3" that connects the left eye of the driver 200 and the left position of the second mirror 22. The right end position of the eye region CB is on an extension line of the configuration "L4" that connects the right eye of the driver 200 and the left position of the second mirror 22.

[0025] As is clear from Figure 2, when the viewpoint position of driver 200 is in the center position in the left-right direction of eye box EB, the eye area CB, right eye area CR and left eye area CL can be set based on the distance between the eyes of driver 200 and the position of optical system 25.

[0026] Next, the operation of the control unit 23 outlined above will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 4. When the ignition switch is turned on, the control unit 23 starts processing. First, the control unit 23 measures the distance between the eyes of the driver 200 based on the driver image from the driver monitor 104 (S1).

[0027] Next, the control unit 23 sets the both-eye area CB and one-eye area CRL on the display screen of the image display unit 20 when the eye 201 of the driver 200 is in the center position in the left-right direction of the eye box EB based on the measured distance between the eyes and the known position of the optical system 25 (S2).

[0028] Thereafter, when the control unit 23 determines that it is necessary to display a design in the one-eye region CRL (Y in S3), it temporarily displays the design to be displayed in the interrupt display area A1 of the both-eye region CB (S4). Next, after waiting for a certain period of time to elapse (Y in S5), the control unit 23 moves the design displayed in the interrupt area A1 to the one-eye region CRL and displays it (S6), and then returns to S3.

[0029] The interruption display area A1 is an area for temporarily displaying the design in the one-eye area CRL, and the control unit 23 does not display the design to be displayed in the both-eye area CB in the interruption display area A1.

[0030] According to the above-described embodiment, when the control unit 23 displays a design in the one-eye region CRL, the control unit 23 temporarily displays the design in the interrupt display area A1 provided in the both-eye region CB where the design is easily visible, and then moves the display position of the design to the one-eye region CRL. This makes it easy for the driver 200 to notice that the design has been displayed, even when the design is displayed in the one-eye region CRL where the design is difficult to see.

[0031] Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. The vehicle display device 1 of the second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0032] The first embodiment and the second embodiment differ in the operation performed by the control unit 23. Next, the operation of the control unit 23 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 5. In Fig. 5, the same parts as those in the flowchart shown in Fig. 4 already described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0033] First, the control unit 23 measures the distance between the eyes (S1) and sets a both-eyes area CB and a single-eye area CRL (S2) in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0034] Thereafter, when the control unit 23 determines that it is necessary to display a design in the one-eye area CRL (Y in S3), it determines whether or not there is a design being displayed in the interruption display area A1 (S7). If there is a design being displayed in the interruption display area A1 (Y in S7), the control unit 23 moves that design to the one-eye area CRL and displays it (S8). Next, the control unit 23 displays the design determined to be necessary to be displayed in S3 in the interruption display area A1 (S9), and then returns to S3.

[0035] According to the embodiment described above, after the control unit 23 temporarily displays a design in the interruption display area A1, the control unit 23 continues to display the design in the interruption display area A1 until another design that needs to be displayed in the one-eye area CRL is temporarily displayed in the interruption display area A1. This makes it easier for the driver 200 to notice that a design has been displayed, even when the design is displayed in the one-eye area CRL, which is difficult to view.

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

[0037] According to the above-described embodiment, the control unit 23 sets the both-eyes region CB and one-eye region CRL when the eye is located at the center of the eye box EB in the left-right direction, but this is not limited to the above. The both-eyes region CB and one-eye region CRL are shifted to the left when the eye 201 is located to the right side of the eye box EB, and shifted to the right when the eye 201 is located to the left side of the eye box EB. Therefore, the control unit 23 may periodically measure the position (gaze position) of the eye 201 and reset the both-eyes region CB and one-eye region CRL set according to the position of the eye 201.

[0038] According to the above-described embodiment, one interruption display area A1 is provided in the both-eye area CB, but this is not limited to this. A plurality of interruption display areas A1 may be provided in the both-eye area CB. This makes it possible to deal with cases where a plurality of designs need to be displayed simultaneously in one-eye area CRL.

[0039] In the above embodiment, the case where the light reflected by the entire surface of the second mirror 22 is visually recognized by the driver 200 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image may be cut off by the cover member 3. In this case, the both-eyes region CB and the one-eye region CRL are determined by lines connecting the eye 201 of the driver 200 and the right and left end positions of the opening 31 of the cover member 3.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the control unit 23 measures the distance between the eyes based on the driver image, and sets the both-eyes area CB, the one-eye area CRL, and the non-display area CN based on the measured distance between the eyes, but this is not limited to the above. The control unit 23 may set the both-eyes area CB, the one-eye area CRL, and the non-display area CN based on a predetermined average distance between the eyes without measuring the distance between the eyes.

[0041] Here, the features of the above-described embodiment of the display device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [3].

[0042] [1] an image display unit (20) that emits image display light (70); an optical system that projects display light (70) emitted from the image display unit (20) toward a reflective surface in front of a driver; A control unit that controls the image display unit (20), The image has a binocular region (CB) which is a region viewed by both eyes of the driver (200) and a single-eye region (CRL) which is a region viewed by only one eye of the driver (200), When displaying a design in the one-eye region (CRL), the control unit (23) temporarily displays the design in an interrupt display area (A1) provided in the both-eye region (CB), and then moves the display position of the design to the one-eye region (CRL). Vehicle display device (1).

[0043] According to the configuration of [1] above, when the control unit (23) displays a design in the one-eye region (CRL), it temporarily displays the design in the interrupt display area (A1) provided in the both-eye region (CB) where it is easy to see, and then moves the display position of the design to the one-eye region (CRL). This makes it easy for the driver (200) to notice that the design has been displayed, even when the design is displayed in the one-eye region (CRL) where it is difficult to see.

[0044] [2] In the vehicle display device (1) described in [1], A plurality of the interrupt display areas (A1) are provided in the both-eye area (CB). Vehicle display device (1).

[0045] According to the configuration of [2] above, multiple interrupt display areas (A1) are provided in the both eye areas (CB), which makes it possible to deal with cases where multiple designs need to be displayed simultaneously in the one eye area (CRL).

[0046] [3] In the vehicle display device (1) described in [1], After temporarily displaying the design in the interruption display area (A1), the control unit (23) continues to display the design in the interruption display area (A1) until another design to be displayed in the one-eye region (CRL) is temporarily displayed in the interruption display area (A1). Vehicle display device (1).

[0047] According to the above configuration [3], even when the design is displayed in the one-eye region (CRL) which is difficult to view, the driver (200) can more easily notice that the design is displayed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1 Vehicle display device 20 Image display unit 23 Control Unit 70 display light 200 Drivers A1 Interrupt display area CB Eye area CRL single eye area

Claims

1. an image display unit that emits display light for an image; an optical system that projects display light emitted from the image display unit toward a reflective surface in front of a driver; A control unit that controls the image display unit, The image has a binocular region that is a region viewed by both eyes of the driver, and a one-eye region that is a region viewed by only one eye of the driver, When displaying a design in the one-eye region, the control unit temporarily displays the design in an interrupt display area provided in the both-eye region, and then moves a display position of the design to the one-eye region. Vehicle display device.

2. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, A plurality of the interrupt display areas are provided in the eye regions. Vehicle display device.

3. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, After temporarily displaying the design in the interruption display area, the control unit continues to display the design in the interruption display area until another design to be displayed in the one-eye region is temporarily displayed in the interruption display area. Vehicle display device.

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