Navigation device, head-up display, control method, program, and storage medium

Abstract

To provide a navigation device and a head-up display that enable a driver to visually recognize a route guidance image in good condition.SOLUTION: A head-up display 2 includes a light source unit 4 and a combiner 9. A control part 55 of the light source unit 4 controls a communication part 56 to acquire positional information on a vehicle Ve from a navigation device 1. The control part 55 then controls the combiner 9 to display a route guidance image and switches between a normal mode and a wide area mode. When a route distance Dtag in a display object area Atag in the normal mode becomes equal to or less than a first threshold Dth1, the control part 55 switches to the wide area mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display technique for providing route guidance. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known an in-vehicle display system that displays a route guidance image showing a route from a current position to a destination or a stop-off point. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a head-up display that displays a route guidance image showing a route from a current position to a destination or a stop-off point in correspondence with a road surface included in a scene in front of a vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-79930 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of a head-up display, when the vehicle approaches a curve with a large curvature or a turning point, the route guidance image also turns sharply, and the distance of the route shown in the route guidance image becomes shorter. In this case, the user can only grasp the immediate route from the route guidance image, which can make the user feel uneasy because they do not know the route beyond that.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its main object to provide a navigation device and a head-up display that can allow a user to preferably view a route guidance image. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The claimed invention is a control means for switching between a normal mode in which a route guidance image showing a route along which the mobile body should proceed is superimposed on a view ahead of the mobile body or a view ahead of the mobile body captured by a photograph of the view ahead, and a wide area mode in which a route guidance image having a wider area than that in the normal mode is displayed on the display means; The control means displays, in the normal mode, a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a first angle range including the direction of travel of the moving body, and in the wide area mode, displays a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a second angle range wider than the first angle range, and switches to the wide area mode when the length of the road corresponding to the route guidance image in the normal mode becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.

[0007] The claimed invention also includes: A control method executed by a navigation device, comprising: a control step of switching between a normal mode in which a route guidance image showing a route along which the moving body should proceed is superimposed on a view ahead of the moving body or a view ahead of the moving body captured by a forward image, and a wide area mode in which a route guidance image having a wider area than that in the normal mode is displayed on the display means; The control process is characterized in that in the normal mode, a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a first angle range including the traveling direction of the moving body is displayed, and in the wide area mode, a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a second angle range wider than the first angle range is displayed, and when the length of the road corresponding to the route guidance image in the normal mode becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the mode is switched to the wide area mode.

[0008] The claimed invention also includes: A program executed by a computer, A control means for switching between a normal mode in which a route guidance image showing a route along which the mobile body should proceed is superimposed on a view ahead of the mobile body or a view ahead of the mobile body captured by a photograph of the view ahead, and a wide area mode in which a route guidance image having a wider range than that in the normal mode is displayed on the display means. and causing the computer to function as The control means is characterized in that in the normal mode, it displays a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a first angle range including the direction of travel of the moving body, and in the wide area mode, it displays a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a second angle range wider than the first angle range, and switches to the wide area mode when the length of the road corresponding to the route guidance image in the normal mode becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic configuration of a display system. [Diagram 2] 1 shows a schematic configuration of a navigation device. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a schematic configuration of a head-up display. [Figure 4] 2 shows a schematic configuration of a light source unit. [Diagram 5] (A) shows the set range of the display area within a map showing the surroundings of the current position. (B) is an example of the view ahead as seen from the driver's seat in the example of (A). [Figure 6] This shows the state after the vehicle has traveled a certain distance from the example of FIG. [Figure 7] This shows the state after switching from the example in Figure 6 to wide area mode. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating a route distance. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of calculating a route distance. [Figure 10] 1 shows a flowchart illustrating a process in a normal mode. [Figure 11] 1 shows a flowchart illustrating a process in a wide area mode. [Figure 12] 13 shows a configuration of a display system according to a modified example. [Figure 13] 13 shows a display example according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a navigation device comprises an acquisition means for acquiring a position of a moving body, and a control means for switching between a normal mode in which a route guidance image showing a route from the current position of the moving body to a destination or a stop-off point is displayed on a display means by superimposing the route guidance image on a scenery ahead of the moving body or a forward image captured of the scenery, and the route guidance image is displayed on the display means in correspondence with a road surface corresponding to the route contained in the scenery or the forward image, and a wide-area mode in which a route guidance image showing a route over a wider area than the route guidance image displayed in the normal mode is displayed on the display means, and the control means switches to the wide-area mode when the distance of the road surface corresponding to the route guidance image becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value when the route guidance image is displayed in the normal mode.

[0011] The navigation device includes an acquisition means and a control means. The acquisition means acquires the position of the moving body. The control means displays a route guidance image on the display means, and switches between a normal mode and a wide-area mode. Here, the route guidance image shows a route from the current position of the moving body to a destination or a stop-off point by superimposing the route guidance image on a scenery ahead of the moving body or a forward image obtained by photographing the scenery. The normal mode is a mode in which the route guidance image is displayed on the display means in association with a road surface corresponding to the route included in the scenery or forward image, and the wide-area mode is a mode in which the route guidance image showing a route in a wider range than the route guidance image displayed in the normal mode is displayed on the display means. The control means switches to the wide-area mode when the distance of the road surface corresponding to the route guidance image becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value when the route guidance image is displayed in the normal mode. In this aspect, the navigation device switches to a route guidance image showing a wide-area route when the distance of the road surface corresponding to the route guidance image is short. This allows the navigation device to allow the user to recognize an appropriate route range, even when approaching a curve with a large curvature or a point where a right or left turn is required, thereby providing the user with a sense of security.

[0012] In one aspect of the above navigation device, the acquisition means acquires the position and traveling direction of a moving object, and the control means causes the display means to display a route guidance image that exists within a first angle range that includes the traveling direction in the normal mode, and causes the display means to display a route guidance image that exists within a second angle range that is wider than the first angle range in the wide area mode. In this way, by displaying a route guidance image that exists within a second angle range that is wider than the first angle range in the wide area mode, the navigation device can suitably display a wide range of the route in the route guidance image even when approaching a curve with a large curvature or a right or left turning point.

[0013] In another aspect of the above navigation device, the control means switches from the wide area mode to the normal mode when the distance of the road surface corresponding to the route guidance image displayed in the normal mode is greater than a second predetermined value that is longer than the predetermined value. In this way, the navigation device can suitably suppress frequent switching between the wide area mode and the normal mode by setting a stricter threshold value for switching from the wide area mode to the normal mode than a threshold value for switching from the normal mode to the wide area mode.

[0014] In another aspect of the above navigation device, the control means displays, together with the route guidance image, a mark image indicating a facility included in the scenery at a position corresponding to the facility in the normal mode, and does not display the mark image in the wide area mode. In the wide area mode, by making the route displayed in the route guidance image wide, the mark image may be displayed at a position that does not correspond to a facility in the actual scenery. Therefore, this aspect makes it possible to suitably suppress a sense of discomfort felt by the user due to a positional deviation of the mark image.

[0015] In another aspect of the navigation device, the control means increases the predetermined value as the moving speed of the moving object increases. In general, when moving at high speed, the distance traveled per unit time is long, and it is assumed that the user would like to check the route further ahead. Therefore, with this aspect, the navigation device can accelerate the timing of switching to the wide area mode when moving at high speed, and suitably reduce anxiety caused by not being able to grasp the route ahead.

[0016] In another aspect of the navigation device, the control means switches to the wide-area mode when the road surface shown in the route guidance image displayed in the normal mode is not continuous and the distance of the road surface excluding the road surface after the discontinuity is equal to or less than the predetermined value. With this aspect, the navigation device can suitably switch to the wide-area mode when the route shown in the route guidance image is short on the near side even when the route has a large, dogleg-shaped curve.

[0017] In another aspect of the navigation device, the control means causes the display means to display the route guidance image superimposed on a forward image acquired from a camera that captures a view ahead of the moving body. Even in this aspect, the present invention can be preferably implemented.

[0018] In another aspect of the above navigation device, when the control means causes the display means to display a route guidance image that exists within a first angle range including the traveling direction in the normal mode and causes the display means to display a route guidance image that exists within a second angle range wider than the first angle range in the wide area mode, the control means sets the angle of view of the front image displayed in the wide area mode to be wider than the angle of view of the front image displayed in the normal mode. In this way, the navigation device can preferably display the route guidance image in association with the road surface displayed in the front image even when switched to the wide area mode.

[0019] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a head-up display includes any one of the navigation devices described above and a display unit that reflects light constituting an image toward a driver of a vehicle to allow the driver to visually recognize a virtual image. The head-up display of the above aspect allows a user to recognize an appropriate route range even when approaching a curve with a large curvature or a right or left turning point.

[0020] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a control method executed by a navigation device includes an acquisition step of acquiring a position of a moving body, and a control step of switching between a normal mode in which a route guidance image showing a route from the current position of the moving body to a destination or a stop-off point is displayed on a display means by superimposing the scenery ahead of the moving body or a forward image captured of the scenery, and the route guidance image is displayed on the display means in correspondence with a road surface corresponding to the route included in the scenery or the forward image, and a wide-area mode in which a route guidance image showing a route in a wider range than the route guidance image displayed in the normal mode is displayed on the display means, and in the control step, when the distance of the road surface corresponding to the route guidance image is equal to or less than a predetermined value when the route guidance image is displayed in the normal mode, the control step switches to the wide-area mode. By executing this control method, the navigation device can make a user recognize an appropriate range of the route even when approaching a curve with a large curvature or a right or left turning point, and give the user a sense of security.

[0021] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a program executed by a computer causes the computer to function as an acquisition means for acquiring the position of a moving body, and a control means for switching between a normal mode in which a route guidance image showing a route from the current position of the moving body to a destination or a stop-off point is displayed on a display means by superimposing the scenery ahead of the moving body or a forward image captured of the scenery, and a wide-area mode in which the display means displays a route guidance image showing a route in a wider range than the route guidance image displayed in the normal mode, and the control means switches to the wide-area mode when the distance of the road surface corresponding to the route guidance image is equal to or less than a predetermined value when the route guidance image is displayed in the normal mode. By executing this program, the computer can make the user recognize an appropriate range of the route even when approaching a curve with a large curvature or a right or left turn point, thereby giving the user a sense of security. Preferably, the program is stored in a storage medium. EXAMPLES

[0022] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0023] [Schematic configuration] (1) System Configuration Fig. 1 shows a configuration example of a display system 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the display system 100 is mounted on a vehicle Ve, and includes a navigation device 1 and a head-up display 2. Note that, instead of the configuration shown in Fig. 1, the head-up display 2 may be equipped with a function equivalent to the navigation device 1.

[0024] The navigation device 1 has a function of providing route guidance from a departure point to a destination, etc. The navigation device 1 can be, for example, a stationary navigation device installed in a vehicle Ve, a PND (Portable Navigation Device), or a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

[0025] The head-up display 2 is a device that generates an image (also called a "guide image") that displays map information including the current position, route guidance information, driving speed, and other information that assists driving, and allows the driver to view the guide image as a virtual image from the driver's eye position (eye point). Various information used for navigation processing, such as vehicle position information, information on the guided route, and map information including facility information, is supplied to the head-up display 2 from the navigation device 1. Note that instead of generating a guide image, the head-up display 2 may receive a guide image generated by the navigation device 1 and allow the driver to view the guide image as a virtual image.

[0026] When the navigation device 1 is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, the navigation device 1 may be held by a cradle or the like. In this case, the navigation device 1 may exchange information with the head-up display 2 via the cradle or the like.

[0027] (2) Configuration of navigation device Fig. 2 shows the configuration of the navigation device 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the navigation device 1 includes a standalone positioning device 10, a GPS receiver 18, a system controller 20, a disk drive 31, a data storage unit 36, a communication interface 37, a communication device 38, an interface 39, a display unit 40, an audio output unit 50, and an input device 60.

[0028] The independent positioning device 10 includes an acceleration sensor 11, an angular velocity sensor 12, and a distance sensor 13. The acceleration sensor 11 is, for example, a piezoelectric element, detects the acceleration of the vehicle Ve, and outputs the acceleration data. The angular velocity sensor 12 is, for example, a vibration gyroscope, detects the angular velocity of the vehicle Ve when the vehicle Ve changes direction, and outputs the angular velocity data and the relative direction data. The distance sensor 13 measures a vehicle speed pulse consisting of a pulse signal generated in association with the rotation of the wheels of the vehicle Ve.

[0029] The GPS receiver 18 receives radio waves 19 carrying downlink data including positioning data from multiple GPS satellites. The positioning data is used to detect the absolute position (also called the "current position") of the vehicle Ve from latitude and longitude information, etc.

[0030] The system controller 20 includes an interface 21 , a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22 , a ROM (Read Only Memory) 23 , and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 24 , and controls the navigation device 1 as a whole.

[0031] The interface 21 performs interface operations with the acceleration sensor 11, the angular velocity sensor 12, the distance sensor 13, and the GPS receiver 18. From these, vehicle speed pulses, acceleration data, relative direction data, angular velocity data, GPS positioning data, absolute direction data, etc. are input to the system controller 20. The CPU 22 controls the entire system controller 20. The ROM 23 has a non-volatile memory (not shown) in which a control program for controlling the system controller 20, etc. is stored. The RAM 24 readably stores various data such as route data preset by the user via the input device 60, and provides a working area for the CPU 22.

[0032] The system controller 20 , a disk drive 31 such as a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, a data storage unit 36 ​​, a communication interface 37 , a display unit 40 , an audio output unit 50 and an input device 60 are interconnected via a bus line 30 .

[0033] The disk drive 31 reads and outputs content data such as music data and video data from a disk 33 such as a CD or DVD under the control of the system controller 20. Note that the disk drive 31 may be either a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, or may be a drive compatible with both CD and DVD.

[0034] The data storage unit 36 ​​is, for example, a HDD, and is a unit that stores various data used in navigation processing, such as map data. The map data includes road data represented by links corresponding to roads and nodes corresponding to road connections (intersections), facility information on each facility, etc. The facility information includes, for example, information on a facility mark (mark image) to be displayed for each registered facility, and location information of the facility.

[0035] The communication device 38 is composed of, for example, an FM tuner, a beacon receiver, a mobile phone, or a dedicated communication module, and receives road traffic information such as congestion and traffic information distributed from a VICS (Vehicle Information Communication System, a registered trademark) center, and other information, via the communication interface 37. The communication device 38 also transmits to the head-up display 2 various information used in navigation processing, such as current position information acquired from the GPS receiver 18, information such as vehicle speed pulses acquired from the independent positioning device 10, and map data.

[0036] The display unit 40 displays various display data on a display device such as a display under the control of the system controller 20. Specifically, the system controller 20 reads map data from the data storage unit 36. The display unit 40 displays the map data and the like read from the data storage unit 36 ​​by the system controller 20 on a display screen. The display unit 40 includes a graphic controller 41 that controls the entire display unit 40 based on control data sent from the CPU 22 via the bus line 30, a buffer memory 42 that is a memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM) and temporarily stores image information that can be displayed immediately, a display control unit 43 that controls the display 44 such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) based on image data output from the graphic controller 41, and a display 44. The display 44 functions as an image display unit, and is, for example, a liquid crystal display device with a diagonal size of about 5 to 10 inches, and is attached near the front panel inside the vehicle.

[0037] The audio output unit 50 is configured to include a D / A converter 51 that performs D / A (Digital to Analog) conversion of audio digital data sent via the bus line 30 from the CD-ROM drive 31, DVD-ROM 32, RAM 24, etc. under the control of the system controller 20, an amplifier (AMP) 52 that amplifies the audio analog signal output from the D / A converter 51, and a speaker 53 that converts the amplified audio analog signal into audio and outputs it inside the vehicle.

[0038] The input device 60 is composed of keys, switches, buttons, a remote control, a voice input device, etc. for inputting various commands and data. The input device 60 is disposed on the front panel of the main body of the in-vehicle electronic system mounted in the vehicle or around the display 44. In addition, if the display 44 is of a touch panel type, the touch panel provided on the display screen of the display 44 also functions as the input device 60.

[0039] (3) Head-up display configuration Fig. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the head-up display 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the head-up display 2 according to this embodiment includes a light source unit 4 and a combiner 9, and is attached to a vehicle Ve that includes a windshield 25, a ceiling portion 27, a bonnet 28, a dashboard 29, and the like.

[0040] The light source unit 4 is installed on the ceiling 27 inside the vehicle cabin via support members 5a, 5b, and emits light that constitutes a guide image showing information to assist driving toward the combiner 9, allowing the driver to view a virtual image "Iv" through the combiner 9.

[0041] The combiner 9 projects the display image emitted from the light source unit 4 and reflects the display image to the driver's eye point "Pe" to display the display image as a virtual image Iv. The combiner 9 has a support shaft 8 installed on the ceiling 27 and rotates around the support shaft 8 as a support shaft. The support shaft 8 is installed, for example, on the ceiling 27 near the upper end of the front windshield 25, in other words, near the position where a sun visor (not shown) for the driver is installed. The support shaft 8 may be installed in place of the above-mentioned sun visor. The combiner 9 is an example of the "display means" in the present invention.

[0042] (4) Light source unit configuration 4 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the light source unit 4. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the light source unit 3 includes a light source 54, a control unit 55, and a communication unit 56.

[0043] The light source 54 has, for example, red, blue, and green laser light sources, and emits light (also called “display light”) that constitutes a display image to be irradiated onto the combiner 9 under the control of the control unit 55.

[0044] The communication unit 56 receives various information used in navigation processing from the navigation device 1 under the control of the control unit 55. For example, when a destination is set, the communication unit 56 receives information on a guided route from the navigation device 1. The communication unit 56 also receives information on a current position measured by the GPS receiver 18 from the navigation device 1 at predetermined intervals. The communication unit 56 also receives information on facilities that serve as landmarks for route guidance, information on traffic regulations on the guided route and around the current position, and the like from the navigation device 1 as POI (Point of Interest) information.

[0045] The control unit 55 has a CPU, a ROM that stores control programs and data executed by the CPU, and a RAM to which various data is sequentially read and written as a work memory when the CPU is operating, and performs overall control of the head-up display 2.

[0046] In this embodiment, the control unit 55 recognizes the position and traveling direction of the vehicle Ve based on the measurement information of the GPS receiver 18 and the measurement information of the independent positioning device 10 received from the navigation device 1. The control unit 55 recognizes an area (also called "display target area Atag") that is within a predetermined angle (also called "angle θ") from the traveling direction of the vehicle Ve and within a predetermined distance (also called "distance r") from the vehicle Ve. The control unit 55 generates a route guidance image showing a guide route in the display target area Atag and a mark image showing a facility in the display target area Atag as guidance images, and displays the guidance images on the combiner 9 so as to be superimposed on the scenery ahead of the driver by emitting light constituting these guidance images to the light source 54. The control unit 55 functions as an "acquisition means", a "control means", and a computer that executes a program.

[0047] [Display guide image] Next, a method of displaying a guide image executed by the control unit 55 will be described. In summary, when the length of the road surface that is the guide route in the display target area Atag (also called "route distance Dtag") falls within a predetermined distance, the control unit 55 enlarges the display target area Atag by increasing the angle θ. In this way, even when the vehicle approaches a right or left turn point or a sharp curve, the control unit 55 allows the driver to appropriately recognize the route to be taken.

[0048] Hereinafter, the display mode of the guide image before the angle θ is increased to enlarge the display target area Atag is referred to as the "normal mode," and the display mode of the guide image when the angle θ is increased to enlarge the display target area Atag is also referred to as the "wide area mode." Additionally, the angle θ and distance r used in the normal mode are also referred to as the "first angle θ1" and the "first distance r1," respectively, and the angle θ and distance r used in the wide area mode are also referred to as the "second angle θ2" and the "second distance r2," respectively.

[0049] (1) Display processing in normal mode First, the display process of the guide image in the normal mode will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG.

[0050] Fig. 5(A) shows the set range of the display target area Atag in a map showing the periphery of the current position of the vehicle Ve. In Fig. 5(A), the guide route within the display target area Atag is shown by a solid line 84A, and the guide route outside the display target area Atag is shown by a dashed line 84B.

[0051] First, the control unit 55 recognizes the display target area Atag based on a first angle θ1 (e.g., 20 degrees) and a first distance r1 (e.g., 200 m). In the example of FIG. 5(A), the control unit 55 recognizes a sector-shaped area surrounded by a dashed line that is within the first angle θ1 from the traveling direction of the vehicle Ve and within the first distance r1 from the current position of the vehicle Ve as the display target area Atag. Note that the first angle θ1 and the first distance r1 are set to values ​​such that the range of the scenery visible to the driver through the combiner 9 approximately matches the display target area Atag.

[0052] Then, the control unit 55 generates a route guidance image corresponding to the road 85A in the display target area Atag and a mark image (here, "A") for a facility that is a landmark on the route guidance, and displays these images superimposed on the scenery ahead on the combiner 9. This will be described with reference to FIG. 5(B).

[0053] Fig. 5(B) is an example of a forward view visually recognized from the driver's seat in the example of Fig. 5(A). In Fig. 5(B), the control unit 55 displays a route guidance image 80 showing a road 85A that is a guide route existing in the display target area Atag, and also displays a mark image 81 of a facility 90 that is existing in the display target area Atag. Here, the control unit 55 displays the route guidance image 80 in a position above the road 85A that is a guide route in the display target area Atag, which is upside down. In addition, the control unit 55 displays the mark image 81 at a position corresponding to the facility 90, with a size according to the distance from the current position.

[0054] In addition to displaying the guide image, the control unit 55 calculates the route distance Dtag within the display target area Atag and determines whether the route distance Dtag is longer than a threshold (also called "first threshold Dth1") for determining whether to switch from the normal mode to the wide area mode. In the example of Fig. 5(A) and (B), the control unit 55 determines that the route distance Dtag is longer than the first threshold Dth1 (e.g., 100 m) and continues the normal mode.

[0055] Fig. 6(A) shows a state after the vehicle Ve has traveled a predetermined distance from the example of Fig. 5(A). In this case, the control unit 55 again recognizes the display target area Atag based on the first angle θ1 and the first distance r1. Furthermore, the control unit 55 calculates the route distance Dtag within the display target area Atag, determines that the route distance Dtag is longer than the first threshold Dth1, and continues the normal mode. Then, the control unit 55 generates a guidance image for roads 85A and 85B, which are the guidance route present within the display target area Atag, and facilities 90 present within the display target area Atag.

[0056] Fig. 6(B) is a display example of the combiner 9 superimposed on the landscape in the example of Fig. 6(A). Fig. 6(B) shows only the display of the portion overlapping the combiner 9. In this case, as shown in Fig. 6(B), the control unit 55 displays a route guidance image 80 showing roads 85A and 85B, which are the guidance route present in the display target area Atag, in association with each road, and also displays a mark image 81 of a facility 90 present in the display target area Atag at a position corresponding to the facility 90.

[0057] In the example of Fig. 6, the road 85B, which is the route after turning left from the road 85A, extends so as to pass through the left end position of the combiner 9, and the route guidance image 80 corresponding to the road 85B is interrupted at the left end of the combiner 9. Therefore, in this case, the driver cannot yet grasp the route after turning left from the road 85A to the road 85B. To deal with this, the control unit 55 immediately switches to the wide area mode, which will be described later.

[0058] (2) Display processing in wide mode Next, the display process in the wide area mode will be described with reference to FIG.

[0059] Fig. 7(A) shows the range of the display target area Atag after the vehicle Ve has traveled a predetermined distance from the state shown in Fig. 6(A). In this example, the control unit 55 calculates the route distance Dtag within the display target area Atag recognized based on the first angle θ1 and the first distance r1, and determines that the route distance Dtag has become equal to or smaller than the first threshold value Dth1, and switches from the normal mode to the wide area mode.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 7(A), in the wide area mode, the control unit 55 sets the display target area Atag based on the second angle θ2 set to a value larger than the first angle θ1 (here, twice the first angle θ1) and the second distance r2 set to a value equal to or larger than the first distance r1. As a result, the set display target area Atag is set to be wider than the display target area Atag in the normal mode. The set display target area Atag newly includes the road 85C to be traveled next after the road 85B, and a facility corresponding to the facility mark "B" existing near the intersection of the road 85B and the road 85C. The control unit 55 generates a guidance image for the roads 85A to 85C existing in the display target area Atag based on the second angle θ2 and the second distance r2, and the facility 90 existing in the display target area Atag and the facility corresponding to the facility mark "B".

[0061] Fig. 7(B) is a display example of the combiner 9 superimposed on the landscape in the example of Fig. 7(A). Note that Fig. 7(B) shows only the portion overlapping with the combiner 9, similar to Fig. 6(B).

[0062] 7(B), in this case, the control unit 55 causes a route guidance image 80 corresponding to a road 85C in the scenery that cannot be seen through the combiner 9 to be displayed on the combiner 9 in addition to roads 85A and 85B. Similarly, the control unit 55 causes a facility mark 88 corresponding to a facility in the scenery that cannot be seen through the combiner 9 to be displayed at a position based on the route guidance image 80. In addition, the control unit 55 causes a facility mark 81 corresponding to a facility 90 to be displayed at a position based on the route guidance image 80.

[0063] 7B, the control unit 55 expands the range of the guide route shown by the route guidance image 80 by setting the display target area Atag to a larger area than the area visible through the combiner 9. This allows the control unit 55 to allow the driver to preferably view the route after turning left from the road 85A to the road 85B.

[0064] Furthermore, even in the case of the wide area mode, the control unit 55 calculates the route distance Dtag within the display target area Atag based on the first angle θ1 and the first distance r1, and if the route distance Dtag is longer than a threshold (also called the "second threshold Dth2") for determining whether to switch from the wide area mode to the normal mode, returns the wide area mode to the normal mode. The second threshold Dth2 may be the same value as the first threshold Dth1, or may be a different value. Preferably, the control unit 55 sets the second threshold Dth2 to a distance longer than the first threshold Dth1. For example, when the first threshold Dth1 is set to 100 m, the control unit 55 sets the second threshold Dth2 to 150 m. This allows the control unit 55 to preferably suppress frequent switching between the normal mode and the wide area mode.

[0065] (3) Calculation method of guide distance Next, a specific example of a method for calculating the route distance Dtag will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0066] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a guide route represented by points (nodes) N1-N6 and lines (links) L1-L6 on map data together with the display target area Atag. When calculating the route distance Dtag in the example of FIG. 8, first, the control unit 55 recognizes the boundary of the display target area Atag based on the traveling direction and current position of the vehicle Ve, the first angle θ1, and the first distance r1. Next, the control unit 55 recognizes the intersection point "α" between the lines L1-L6 indicating the guide route and the boundary of the display target area Atag, and recognizes that the point closest to the intersection point α is point N4. Then, the control unit 55 calculates the sum of the lengths of the lines connecting the current position or the point N2 closest to the current position on the line L2 to the point N4 closest to the intersection point α, and recognizes the value obtained by multiplying the sum by a coefficient according to the scale of the map as the route distance Dtag. In this way, the control unit 55 can suitably calculate the route distance Dtag.

[0067] When the control unit 55 determines that the current position is off the guide route, it is not necessary to perform the calculation process of the route distance Dtag. In this case, the control unit 55 performs the display process of the guide image by fixing the display mode (normal mode or wide area mode) of the guide image before the current position deviates from the guide route.

[0068] In addition, preferably, when the guide route goes out of the display target area Atag and then re-enters the display target area Atag, the control unit 55 does not use the portion of the guide route that re-enters the display target area Atag as a target for calculating the route distance Dtag. This will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

[0069] Fig. 9 shows a specific example of a case where the guide route goes out of the display target area Atag and then re-enters the display target area Atag. In the road 89 shown in Fig. 9, a section 89B beyond section 89A is outside the display target area Atag, and a section 89C beyond section 89B is again within the display target area Atag.

[0070] In this case, the control unit 55 calculates the route distance Dtag for the section 89A from the current position to the exit of the display target area Atag, and does not include a section 89C that re-enters the display target area Atag from outside the display target area Atag as a calculation target of the route distance Dtag. That is, when the guided route indicated by the route guide image displayed in the normal mode is not continuous, the control unit 55 calculates the route distance Dtag by excluding the portion of the guided route after the discontinuity. This allows the control unit 55 to suitably switch from the normal mode to the wide area mode before approaching a curve, even when the vehicle is traveling on a road that curves in a dogleg shape, such as the road 89 shown in Fig. 9.

[0071] (4) Processing flow Fig. 10 is an example of a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the normal mode. The control unit 55 repeatedly executes the processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 10 when the display mode of the guide image is the normal mode.

[0072] First, the control unit 55 recognizes the display target area Atag based on the first angle θ1 and the first distance r1 (step S101). Next, the control unit 55 calculates the route distance Dtag within the display target area Atag recognized in step S101, and determines whether the route distance Dtag is equal to or less than the first threshold Dth1 (step S102). If the route distance Dtag is equal to or less than the first threshold Dth1 (step S102; Yes), the control unit 55 determines that the route indicated by the route guidance image is too short in the normal mode, and switches to the wide area mode to perform display processing of the guidance image (step S103). The processing in the wide area mode will be described later with reference to FIG. 11.

[0073] On the other hand, when the control unit 55 determines that the route distance Dtag is longer than the first threshold value Dth1 (step S102; No), the control unit 55 generates a guidance image based on the display target area Atag based on the first angle θ1 and the first distance r1, and displays the image on the combiner 9 (step S104). That is, in this case, the control unit 55 generates route guidance images, mark images, etc. corresponding to the guide route and facilities, etc., visually recognized through the combiner 9, and displays these images on the combiner 9 in association with the actual roads and facilities.

[0074] Fig. 11 is an example of a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the wide area mode. The control unit 55 repeatedly executes the processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 11 when the display mode of the guide image is the wide area mode.

[0075] First, the control unit 55 recognizes the display target area Atag based on the second angle θ2 larger than the first angle θ1 and the second distance r2 set to be equal to or larger than the first distance r1. Then, the control unit 55 generates a guidance image for the recognized display target area Atag and displays it by the combiner 9 (step S201). In this case, the angle θ is expanded from the first angle θ1 to the second angle θ2, so that the range of the guided route displayed as the route guide image is expanded. Therefore, when approaching a right or left turn point or a point of a curve with a large curvature, the control unit 55 can suitably suppress the driver's anxiety caused by the short guided route displayed as the route guide image.

[0076] Next, the control unit 55 calculates the route distance Dtag within the display target area Atag based on the first angle θ1 and the first distance r1 (step S202). Then, the control unit 55 determines whether the route distance Dtag is longer than the second threshold Dth2 (step S203). Then, when the control unit 55 determines that the route distance Dtag is longer than the second threshold Dth2 (step S203; Yes), it switches the display mode of the guidance image to the normal mode (step S204). Here, preferably, the control unit 55 sets the second threshold Dth2 to a value larger than the first threshold Dth1. This makes it possible to suppress frequent switching of the display mode of the guidance image. On the other hand, when the control unit 55 determines that the route distance Dtag is equal to or less than the second threshold Dth2 (step S203; No), it returns the process to step S202 again.

[0077] As described above, the head-up display 2 according to this embodiment includes the light source unit 4 and the combiner 9. The control unit 55 of the light source unit 4 acquires position information of the vehicle Ve from the navigation device 1 through the communication unit 56. Then, the control unit 55 displays a route guidance image on the combiner 9, and switches between the normal mode and the wide-area mode. At this time, the control unit 55 switches to the wide-area mode when the route distance Dtag within the display target area Atag in the normal mode is equal to or less than the first threshold Dth1. Thereby, even when approaching a curve with a large curvature or a right or left turning point, the head-up display 2 allows the user to recognize an appropriate range of the route, and gives the user a sense of security.

[0078] [Variations] Preferred modifications of the above-described embodiment will be described below. The following modifications may be applied to the above-described embodiment in any combination.

[0079] (Variation 1) Instead of displaying the guidance image on the head-up display 2 superimposed on the scenery, the display system 100 may display the guidance image on the display 44 of the navigation device 1 superimposed on an image captured by a camera capturing an image in front of the vehicle Ve.

[0080] Fig. 12 shows a configuration example of a display system 100A according to this modified example. As shown in Fig. 12, the display system 100A includes a navigation device 1 such as a mobile terminal, as well as a camera 6 that captures an image ahead of a vehicle Ve. The camera 6 supplies the captured image (also called a "camera image") to the navigation device 1. Then, the system controller 20 of the navigation device 1 displays a guidance image such as a route guidance image or a mark image on the display 44 by superimposing it on the camera image.

[0081] 10 and 11, and switches between the normal mode and the wide-area mode according to the route distance Dtag. Even in this embodiment, the control unit 55 can allow the user to recognize an appropriate route range even when approaching a curve with a large curvature or a right or left turning point.

[0082] 10 and 11, the system controller 20 preferably switches the angle of view of the camera 6 in conjunction with switching of the display mode of the guide image. This can reduce the positional deviation between the route guide image and the mark image in the wide area mode and the actual scenery. This will be described with reference to FIG. 13.

[0083] Figure 13(A) is an example of the display of display 44 in normal mode just before switching to wide-area mode when vehicle Ve is traveling on road 85A, and Figure 13(B) is an example of the display of display 44 just after switching to wide-area mode from the state of Figure 13(A).

[0084] As shown in Fig. 13(A) and (B), the system controller 20 widens the angle of view of the camera 6 in the wide area mode compared to the normal mode. In other words, the system controller 20 widens the angle of view of the camera 6 by the amount that the angle θ is expanded from the first angle θ1 to the second angle θ2 by switching from the normal mode to the wide area mode. In this case, for example, the system controller 20 changes the angle of view of the camera image in the normal mode and the wide area mode by transmitting a control signal related to the setting of the angle of view to the camera 6. In another example, the angle of view of the camera 6 is fixed to the angle of view used in the wide area mode, and the system controller 20 cuts out both the left and right ends of the camera image and displays them full-screen on the display 44 in the normal mode.

[0085] 13B, as a result of widening the angle of view of camera 6 in wide area mode, route guidance image 80 and mark images 81, 88 pointing to roads 85A-85C and facilities 90-91 in the camera image are associated with appropriate positions. In this way, by widening the angle of view of camera 6 in wide area mode, system controller 20 can display the route guidance image and mark images in appropriate association with the positions of the guide route and facilities on the camera image.

[0086] In this modification, the display 44 of the display unit 40 is an example of the "display means" in the present invention. The system controller 20 is an example of the "acquisition means," the "control means," and the "computer" in the present invention.

[0087] (Variation 2) The control unit 55 may change the first threshold value Dth1 and the second threshold value Dth2 according to the traveling speed of the vehicle Ve, instead of setting the first threshold value Dth1 and the second threshold value Dth2 to fixed values. Specifically, the control unit 55 may increase the first threshold value Dth1 and the second threshold value Dth2 as the traveling speed of the vehicle Ve increases.

[0088] Generally, when traveling at high speeds, the vehicle Ve travels a long distance within a unit time, and the driver needs to check the route further ahead compared to when traveling at low speeds. Therefore, the control unit 55 makes it easier to switch to the wide area mode when traveling at high speeds by setting the first threshold value Dth1 and the second threshold value Dth2 higher as the traveling speed of the vehicle Ve increases, thereby allowing the driver to easily understand the recommended route.

[0089] Furthermore, in addition to or instead of increasing the first threshold value Dth1 and the second threshold value Dth2 as the traveling speed of the vehicle Ve increases, the control unit 55 may increase the second angle θ2 and / or the second distance r2 as the traveling speed of the vehicle Ve increases. In this way, when the control unit 55 switches to the wide area mode while traveling at high speed, the control unit 55 can allow the driver to preferably view the further ahead guided route.

[0090] (Variation 3) Instead of the display example in the wide area mode of FIG. 7(B), the control unit 55 may hide the mark image in the wide area mode.

[0091] 7(B), in the case of the wide area mode, the angle θ is made larger than in the normal mode, resulting in a larger deviation between the display position of the mark image 81 and the position of the facility 90. In consideration of the above, in this modified example, the control unit 55 makes the mark image invisible in the wide area mode, thereby preventing the occurrence of a sense of incongruity due to the deviation between the display position of the mark image 81 and the position of the facility 90.

[0092] (Variation 4) When switching the display mode from the normal mode to the wide area mode, the control unit 55 may transition the angle θ from the first angle θ1 to the second angle θ2 stepwise or continuously. For example, when the second angle θ2 is twice the first angle θ1, the control unit 55 gradually changes the angle θ from the first angle θ1 to 1.2×θ1, 1.4×θ1, 1.6×θ1, 1.8×θ1, 2×θ1, and so on.

[0093] (Variation 5) In FIG. 3, the head-up display 2 has a combiner 9, and allows the driver to view a virtual image Iv based on the light emitted from the light source unit 4 reflected by the combiner 9. However, the configuration to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to this. Alternatively, the head-up display 2 may not have a combiner 9, and may allow the driver to view a virtual image Iv based on the light emitted from the light source unit 4 reflected by a windshield 25. In this case, the windshield 25 is an example of a "display means" in the present invention.

[0094] Furthermore, the position of the light source unit 4 is not limited to being installed on the ceiling portion 27. Alternatively, the light source unit 4 may be installed on the dashboard 29 or inside the dashboard 29. When installed on the dashboard 29, a combiner 9 is provided on the dashboard 29, or light is directly reflected from the light source unit 4 onto the windshield 25 to allow the driver to recognize a virtual image Iv. When installed inside the dashboard, an opening is provided in the dashboard 29 to allow light to pass through the combiner 9 or the windshield 25.

[0095] (Variation 6) A part of the processing of the control unit 55 may be executed by the system controller 20. For example, a guidance image to be displayed by the head-up display 2 may be generated by the system controller 20, and the light source unit 4 of the head-up display 2 may receive the guidance image. In this case, the system controller 20 executes the processing of the flowcharts of Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 in place of the control unit 55. In this case, in steps S104 and S201 of Fig. 10, the system controller 20 transmits the generated guidance image to the light source unit 4, thereby causing the guidance image to be displayed on the head-up display 2.

[0096] In this modified example, the system controller 20 is an example of the "acquiring means," the "controlling means," and the "computer" of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0097] 1 Navigation devices 2 Head-up display 4 Light source unit 9 Combiner 25 Windshield 28 Bonnet 29 Dashboard 100, 100A Display System

Claims

1. a control means for switching between a normal mode in which a route guidance image showing a route along which the mobile body should proceed is superimposed on a view ahead of the mobile body or a view ahead of the mobile body captured by a photograph of the view ahead, and a wide area mode in which a route guidance image having a wider area than that in the normal mode is displayed on the display means; The control means displays, in the normal mode, a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a first angle range including the direction of travel of the moving body, and in the wide area mode, displays a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a second angle range wider than the first angle range, and switches to the wide area mode when the length of the road corresponding to the route guidance image in the normal mode becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.

2. 2. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the control means switches from the wide area mode to the normal mode when a length of a road corresponding to a route guidance image in the normal mode is longer than a second predetermined value that is greater than the predetermined value.

3. The navigation device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the normal mode, the control means displays a mark image indicating a facility included in the scenery ahead together with the route guidance image at a position corresponding to the facility, and in the wide area mode, does not display the mark image.

4. 4. The navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the control means increases the predetermined value as the moving speed of the moving object increases.

5. The navigation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control means switches to the wide area mode when roads indicated by the route guidance image displayed in the normal mode are not continuous in the area within the first angle range, and when the length of the roads excluding the roads after the discontinuity is equal to or less than the predetermined value.

6. The navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means causes the display means to display a route guidance image, which indicates a route along which the moving body should proceed, superimposed on the forward image, and the angle of view of the forward image when displayed in the wide area mode is made wider than the angle of view of the forward image when displayed in the normal mode.

7. A navigation device according to claim 1; a display unit that reflects light constituting an image toward a driver of a vehicle, thereby allowing the driver to visually recognize a virtual image.

8. A control method executed by a navigation device, comprising: a control step of switching between a normal mode in which a route guidance image showing a route along which the moving body should proceed is superimposed on a view ahead of the moving body or a view ahead of the moving body captured by a photograph of the view ahead and displayed on a display means, and a wide area mode in which a route guidance image having a wider area than that in the normal mode is displayed on the display means; The control method is characterized in that, in the control process, in the normal mode, a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a first angle range including the direction of travel of the moving body is displayed, and in the wide area mode, a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a second angle range wider than the first angle range is displayed, and when the length of the road corresponding to the route guidance image in the normal mode becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control method switches to the wide area mode.

9. A program executed by a computer, A control means for switching between a normal mode in which a route guidance image showing a route along which the mobile body should proceed is superimposed on a view ahead of the mobile body or a view ahead of the mobile body captured by a photograph of the view ahead, and a wide area mode in which a route guidance image having a wider range than that in the normal mode is displayed on the display means. and causing the computer to function as The control means displays, in the normal mode, a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a first angle range including the direction of travel of the moving body, and in the wide area mode, displays a route guidance image corresponding to roads existing in an area within a second angle range wider than the first angle range, and switches to the wide area mode when the length of the road corresponding to the route guidance image in the normal mode becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.

10. A storage medium storing the program according to claim 9.

Images