Information display device

Abstract

To provide an information display device which can display camera image without oppressing apparatus installation space of a driving cab.SOLUTION: An information display device is equipped with a display part, an image acquisition part and control part. The display part displays vehicle body information which is acquired from sensor group installed on a railway vehicle. The image acquisition part acquires camera image of vehicle inside or vehicle outside from a plurality of cameras installed on the railway vehicle. The control part displays the camera image acquired by the image acquisition part on the display part on the basis of input of prescribed switch signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information display device installed on the driver's cab of a railway vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] On the driver's cab of a railway vehicle, various displays for displaying driving information and monitoring information necessary for vehicle operation, such as a speedometer, an overhead line voltage meter, and a pressure gauge, are installed. Furthermore, in recent years, there has been known a railway vehicle in which a safety confirmation monitor for displaying a camera image near the boarding and alighting doors is installed above the driver's seat during a stop at a station, enabling a crew member to perform safety confirmation when opening and closing the doors without changing the driving posture.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, since the safety confirmation monitor for displaying the above camera image is configured separately from the display system for displaying vehicle operation information and monitoring information, there is a problem that not only the installation cost of the information display system increases, but also the equipment installation space on the driver's cab is compressed.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an information display device capable of displaying a camera image without compressing the equipment installation space on the driver's cab.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information display device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a display unit, an image acquisition unit, and a control unit. The display unit displays vehicle body information acquired from a group of sensors installed on the railway vehicle. The image acquisition unit acquires in-vehicle or off-vehicle camera images from a plurality of cameras installed on the railway vehicle. Based on the input of a predetermined switching signal, the control unit causes the display unit to display the camera images acquired by the image acquisition unit.

[0007] In the above information display device, by using the display system for displaying the vehicle body information as the display system for the camera images, the camera images can be displayed without squeezing the equipment installation space on the driver's cab.

[0008] The display unit may be a monitor screen that displays monitoring information related to the equipment data of the railway vehicle as the vehicle body information.

[0009] The display unit may be an instrument display screen that displays driving information related to the instrument data of the railway vehicle as the vehicle body information.

[0010] The predetermined switching signal may be an input signal generated by an input operation on the display unit.

[0011] The predetermined switching signal may be an alarm signal transmitted from the vehicles that form the train of the railway vehicle.

[0012] The predetermined switching signal may be a door opening / closing signal generated when the entrance / exit door of the railway vehicle is opened / closed.

[0013] The display unit may have a normal display mode for displaying only the vehicle body information and an aggregated display mode for simultaneously displaying the vehicle body information and the camera images.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the information display device of the present invention, camera images can be displayed without squeezing the equipment installation space on the driver's cab.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a railway vehicle 100 equipped with an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The railway vehicle 100 includes a leading vehicle 1 and one or more intermediate vehicles 2 connected to the leading vehicle 1.

[0018] The leading vehicle 1 includes a driver's cab 10, an information acquisition unit 21, an image acquisition unit 22, a relay device 23A, etc.

[0019] The driver's cab 10 has various display units described later, in addition to operating devices such as a mass controller operated by a driver. The information acquisition unit 21 and the image acquisition unit 22 acquire various sensor information from the relay device 23A. The relay device 23A collects detection signals from the sensor group installed in the leading vehicle 1 and transmits the sensor information to the information acquisition unit 21 and the image acquisition unit 22. The above-mentioned sensor group includes various instruments 24 such as a speedometer, a voltmeter, and a pressure gauge installed in the leading vehicle 1, and a camera 25 that acquires images inside and outside the leading vehicle 1. Note that the relay device 23A may be configured as a part of each of the information acquisition unit 21 and the image acquisition unit 22.

[0020] The intermediate vehicle 2 is provided with a relay device 23B. The relay device 23B collects detection signals from the sensor group (instruments 24, camera 25) installed in the intermediate vehicle 2 and transmits them to the relay device 23A of the leading vehicle 1. The intermediate vehicle 2 may be composed of a plurality of vehicles. In this case, the relay device 23B further has a function of receiving detection signals of the sensor group installed in other intermediate vehicles (detection signals collected by the relay device installed in the other intermediate vehicle) and transmitting them to the relay device 23A of the leading vehicle 1.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information display device 30 according to the present embodiment. The information display device 30 includes an instrument display screen 11 (first display unit), a monitor screen 12 (second display unit), an information acquisition unit 21, an image information acquisition unit 22, and a control unit 31.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the information acquisition unit 21 acquires vehicle body information obtained from the sensor group installed in the railway vehicle 100 via the relay device 23A. The vehicle body information includes operation information TS related to instrument data and monitoring information MS related to device monitoring data. Here, the sensor group means the sensor group installed in all vehicles including not only the leading vehicle 1 but also the intermediate vehicle 2 (the same applies hereinafter).

[0023] Examples of the operation information TS include a speed signal, a control voltage, a straight-through air pipe pressure, a brake cylinder pressure, a brake pipe pressure, a primary air reservoir pressure, a notch signal, an ATS (Automatic Train Stop) brake pattern signal, a partial ATS operation signal, an ATS speed limit signal, a partial equipment operation signal, etc. The signal format of these pieces of information may be an analog signal or a digital signal.

[0024] Examples of the monitoring information MS include information indicating the operating states in the passenger compartments of the respective vehicles that make up the railway vehicle 100 (such as opening / closing doors, air conditioners, lighting, etc.), warning devices installed in each vehicle, and further monitoring data indicating the operating states of various devices necessary for the operation of the railway vehicle 100. The signal format of these pieces of information may be an analog signal or a digital signal.

[0025] The image acquisition unit 22 acquires a camera image CS inside or outside the vehicle from a sensor group (camera 25) via the relay device 23A. Examples of the camera image CS include a photographed image of the interior of the vehicle and a photographed image of the exterior of the vehicle near the boarding / alighting door. The image data is typically video data and includes the camera images of all the vehicles.

[0026] The instrument display screen 11 and the monitor screen 12 constitute the above-described various display units installed on the driver's cab 10 and display the above-described vehicle body information. The instrument display screen 11 and the monitor screen 12 are connected to the information acquisition unit 21 by wire or wirelessly. The instrument display screen 11 is normally configured to display the operation information TS acquired by the information acquisition unit 21. The monitor screen 12 is normally configured to display the monitoring information MS acquired by the information acquisition unit 22.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the instrument display screen 11. On the instrument display screen 11, a speed signal, a control voltage, a straight-through air pipe pressure, a brake cylinder pressure, a brake pipe pressure, a primary air reservoir pressure, a notch signal, an ATS brake pattern signal, a partial ATS operation signal, an ATS speed limit signal, a partial equipment operation signal, etc. are displayed.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the monitor screen 12. The formation information (type, destination, current time, distance in kilometers) of the railway vehicle 100 is displayed at the upper part of the monitor screen 12, and the equipment monitoring data is displayed at the central part. And at the lower part of the monitor screen 12, tabs for screen switching are displayed, and the corresponding screens can be displayed by the operation of the driver.

[0029] Based on the input of a predetermined switching signal, the control unit 31 causes the camera image CS acquired by the image acquisition unit 22 to be displayed on the display unit (the instrument display surface 11 or the monitor screen 12). Thus, in the present embodiment, by using the display system (the instrument display surface 11 or the monitor screen 12) for displaying the vehicle body information as the display system for the camera image CS, the camera image CS can be displayed without squeezing the equipment installation space on the driver's cab 10.

[0030] The predetermined switching signal may be an input signal generated by an input operation on the display unit (the instrument display surface 11 or the monitor screen 12), or may be an alarm signal transmitted from the vehicle that forms the railway vehicle 100, or may be a door opening / closing signal generated when the door on the boarding / alighting side of the railway vehicle 100 is opened / closed.

[0031] As the above input signal, for example, it is generated by an input operation on the switching tab on the monitor screen 12. Specifically, the above input signal is generated by a selection operation of a tab capable of displaying a camera image.

[0032] The above alarm signal is generated based on an input operation on an alarm device such as an emergency button inside the vehicle by a passenger or the like, and the control unit 31 causes the camera image inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle where the alarm device has operated to be displayed on the instrument display screen 11 or the monitor screen 12. Also, when a camera device equipped with artificial intelligence is adopted for the camera 25, it is also possible to adopt, as the alarm signal, a signal autonomously generated when the camera detects an abnormality.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows an example of the display of the in-cabin camera image CS on the monitor screen 12. The monitor screen 12 has a normal display mode (see FIG. 4) that displays only vehicle body information (monitoring information MS in this example), and an aggregated display mode that simultaneously displays vehicle body information (monitoring information MS) and the camera image CS. In the aggregated display mode, in order to enhance the visibility of the camera image CS, the camera image CS is displayed in the main area of the monitor screen 12. In this case, by displaying the minimum necessary monitoring information around the camera image CS, it is possible to ensure the safe operation of the railway vehicle even during vehicle travel.

[0034] The above door opening / closing signal is the image signal of a camera installed on the upper part outside each vehicle, and is generated, for example, when stopping at a station (or during a door opening / closing operation). FIG. 6 shows an example of the display of the camera image CS near the door on the boarding / alighting side on the monitor screen 12. Also in this case, the camera image CS is displayed on the monitor screen 12 in the above aggregated display mode. The camera image CS is displayed as a composite image of the camera images of each vehicle, and the states near the doors of multiple vehicles can be visually recognized on one screen.

[0035] If the camera image cannot be displayed on one screen, the camera image CS may be displayed on both the instrument display screen 11 and the monitor screen 12. FIG. 7 shows an example of the display of the camera image CS near the door on the boarding / alighting side on the instrument display screen 11. Also in this case, the camera image CS is displayed on the instrument display screen 12 in the above aggregated display mode. Thereby, the states near the doors of all vehicles can be visually recognized.

[0036] As described above, according to this embodiment, by using the display systems (instrument display screen 11 and monitor screen 12) for displaying vehicle body information also as the display system for the camera image CS, the camera image CS can be displayed without squeezing the equipment installation space on the driver's cab 10.

[0037] According to this embodiment, since the camera image CS is displayed on the instrument display screen 11 and / or the monitor screen 12 installed on the driver's cab 10, compared with the case of displaying the camera image on a monitor installed above the conventional driver's cab, it is possible to reduce the burden associated with the line-of-sight movement of the crew (driver).

[0038] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been explained. However, the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made.

[0039] For example, in the above embodiments, the camera image CS inside the vehicle is displayed on the monitor screen 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be displayed on the instrument display screen 11 in the manner shown in FIG. 7.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0040] 10... Driver's cab 11... Instrument display screen 12... Monitor screen 21... Information acquisition unit 22... Image acquisition unit 30... Information display device 31... Control unit 100... Railway vehicle TS... Driving information MS... Monitoring information CS... Camera image

Claims

1. a display unit that displays vehicle body information acquired from a group of sensors installed in the railway vehicle; an image acquisition unit that acquires camera images of the inside or outside of the train from a plurality of cameras installed in the train; a control unit that causes the camera image acquired by the image acquisition unit to be displayed on the display unit based on an input of a predetermined switching signal; An information display device comprising:

2. The information display device according to claim 1 , The display unit is a monitor screen that displays monitoring information related to equipment data of the railcar as the car body information. Information display device.

3. The information display device according to claim 1 , The display unit is an instrument display screen that displays operation information related to instrument data of the railway vehicle as the car body information. Information display device.

4. The information display device according to claim 2 or 3, The predetermined switching signal is an alarm signal transmitted from a vehicle that constitutes the railway vehicle. Information display device.

5. The information display device according to claim 2 or 3, The predetermined switching signal is a door opening / closing signal that is generated when the boarding / alighting door of the railroad car is opened or closed. Information display device.

6. The information display device according to claim 2 or 3, The predetermined switching signal is an input signal generated by an input operation on the display unit. Information display device.

7. The information display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The display unit has a normal display mode in which only the vehicle body information is displayed, and an aggregate display mode in which the vehicle body information and the camera image are displayed simultaneously. Information display device.

Images