On-vehicle display apparatus

Abstract

To provide an on-vehicle display apparatus capable of saving an installation space of a projector.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle display apparatus includes a display unit that is installed on a dashboard of a vehicle and is disposed to face an occupant seat side of the vehicle, and a projector that is disposed integrally with the display unit and projects an image on a screen of the dashboard disposed on a front side of the vehicle relative to the display unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle display device. [Background technology]

[0002] A technology has been proposed in which a projector is placed on the ceiling of a vehicle and an image is projected from the projector onto a screen placed in front of the driver's seat (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-011237 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a projector is installed on the ceiling, the projection direction is limited to prevent the heads of vehicle occupants from getting in the projector's projection direction. Furthermore, installing the projector inside the dashboard can prevent the heads of vehicle occupants from getting in the projector's projection direction. On the other hand, a certain amount of depth must be secured in the dashboard to enable projection by the projector. Therefore, in vehicles with short noses, such as light cars and minivans, it is difficult to secure space to install a projector.

[0005] An object of one aspect of the disclosed technology is to provide an in-vehicle display device that can save the installation space of a projector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the disclosed technology is exemplified by the following in-vehicle display device: The in-vehicle display device includes a display unit that is installed on a dashboard of a vehicle and faces the passenger seat side of the vehicle, and a projector that is integrally arranged with the display unit and projects an image onto a screen that is arranged on the dashboard further forward than the display unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the disclosed technology, the installation space for the projector can be saved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of the display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the dashboard, the display device, the screen, and the windshield. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing block of the display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow of the display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of a display device according to a first modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing an area onto which the projector projects in the first modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a processing block of a display device according to a first modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle 100 according to an embodiment. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the vehicle 100 as viewed from above. In Fig. 1, the ceiling, windshield, and window glass are omitted in order to explain the interior of the vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 is, for example, a passenger car.

[0010] The vehicle 100 has passenger seats, including a driver's seat 1, a passenger seat 2, a right rear seat 3, a center rear seat 4, and a left rear seat 5. The driver's seat 1 and the passenger seat 2 are arranged in a line along the width direction of the vehicle 100. The right rear seat 3, the center rear seat 4, and the left rear seat 5 are also arranged in a line along the width direction of the vehicle 100 behind the driver's seat 1 and the passenger seat 2. A dashboard 10 is arranged in front of the driver's seat 1 and the passenger seat 2. An instrument section 20 and a display device 40 are arranged on the surface of the dashboard 10 facing the driver's seat 1 and the passenger seat 2. The instrument section 20 includes, for example, a speedometer and a tachometer. The display device 40 is, for example, a center information display (CID). A screen 50 is arranged on the dashboard 10 in front of the display device 40. The screen 50 extends in the width direction of the vehicle 100, for example, from in front of the driver's seat 1 to in front of the passenger seat 2. In other words, the screen 50 is disposed so as to be located in front of the driver's seat 1 and the passenger seat 2. The driver's seat 1, the passenger seat 2, the right rear seat 3, the center rear seat 4, and the left rear seat 5 are examples of "passenger seats."

[0011] The vehicle 100 is provided with a front right door 6, a front left door 7, a rear right door 8, and a rear left door 9, which are used by passengers to get in and out of the vehicle. A front right speaker 31 is provided in the front right door 6, which is located to the right of the driver's seat 1. A front left speaker 32 is provided in the front left door 7, which is located to the left of the passenger seat 2. A rear right speaker 33 is provided in the rear right door 8, which is located to the right of the right rear seat 3. A rear left speaker 34 is provided in the rear left door 9, which is located to the left of the left rear seat 5. The front right speaker 31, the front left speaker 32, the rear right speaker 33, and the rear left speaker 34 are used to play music and output movie sound through in-vehicle infotainment (IVI). When the front right speaker 31, the front left speaker 32, the rear right speaker 33, and the rear left speaker 34 are not to be distinguished from one another, they are also referred to as IVI speakers 30.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the appearance of a display device 40 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 illustrates the appearance of the display device 40 as seen from one side (the appearance of the front side) and the appearance as seen from the other side (the appearance of the rear side). In FIG. 2, the front side and the rear side of the display device 40 are interchanged and illustrated by the arrow. The display device 40 has a plate-shaped housing 41. It is assumed that the upper side of FIG. 2 is the upper side of the display device 40, and the lower side of the page is the lower side of the display device 40. The front side of the display device 40 is an example of a "first side." The rear side of the display device 40 is an example of a "second side."

[0013] A display unit 42 is provided on the front of the housing 41. The display device 40 also has a protrusion 43 that protrudes upward from the center of the top of the housing 41. A camera 44 is provided on the front of the protrusion 43. For example, a wide-angle camera is used as the camera 44 so that the passengers seated in the driver's seat 1, passenger seat 2, right rear seat 3, center rear seat 4, and left rear seat 5 of the vehicle 100 can be included in the shooting range. A projector 45 is provided on the back of the protrusion 43. The projector 45 is provided on the protrusion 43 so that the projection direction of the projector 45 can be changed, for example. There is no limitation on the mechanism for changing the projection direction of the projector 45, and any of the well-known Various mechanisms can be adopted. The display device 40 is used, for example, in a driver monitoring system (DMS) that monitors occupants of the vehicle 100 based on images of the occupants captured by the camera 44. The camera 44 and the projector 45 do not necessarily have to be provided in the protruding portion 43. For example, the camera 44 may be provided in a frame portion of the housing 41 that surrounds the display unit 42, or the projector 45 may be provided in the center of the back surface of the housing 41. If the camera 44 and the projector 45 are not provided in the protruding portion 43, the protruding portion 43 may be omitted. The position at which the projector 45 is provided in the housing 41 may be higher than the top surface 11 of the dashboard 10, for example. However, when an image is projected from the projector 45 in an obliquely upward direction, this is not necessarily the case, and the projector 45 may be located in a position lower than the top surface 11 of the dashboard 10.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the dashboard 10, the display device 40, the screen 50, and the windshield 70. FIG. 3 illustrates a state as viewed from the arrow A1 in FIG. 1. The display device 40 is attached to the dashboard 10 via, for example, an arm 60. The arm 60 has a joint 61, which allows the angle of the display device 40 relative to the dashboard 10 to be changed, as illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 3. A screen 50 onto which an image is projected by a projector 45 is disposed between the display device 40 and the windshield 70. In other words, the screen 50 is disposed forward of the projector 45 within the vehicle 100.

[0015] Furthermore, the display device 40 is attached by the arm 60 so that the protrusion 43 protrudes above the top surface 11 of the dashboard 10. Therefore, the dashboard 10 does not obstruct the projection of the projector 45 onto the screen 50.

[0016] 4 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a display device 40 according to an embodiment. The display device 40 includes a CPU 401, a main memory unit 402, an auxiliary memory unit 403, a gyro sensor 404, a drive unit 405, a connection unit 406, a display unit 42, a camera 44, a projector 45, and a connection bus B1. The CPU 401, the main memory unit 402, the auxiliary memory unit 403, the gyro sensor 404, the drive unit 405, the connection unit 406, the display unit 42, the camera 44, and the projector 45 are connected to each other by the connection bus B1.

[0017] The CPU 401 is also referred to as a microprocessor unit (MPU) or processor. The CPU 401 is not limited to a single processor and may have a multiprocessor configuration. Furthermore, a single CPU 401 connected via a single socket may have a multi-core configuration. At least a portion of the processing performed by the CPU 401 may be performed by a processor other than the CPU 401, such as a dedicated processor, such as a digital signal processor (DSP), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a numerical calculation processor, a vector processor, or an image processing processor. Furthermore, at least a portion of the processing performed by the CPU 401 may be performed by an integrated circuit (IC) or other digital circuit. Examples of integrated circuits include large-scale integrated circuits (LSIs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and programmable logic devices (PLDs). Examples of PLDs include field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The CPU 401 may be a combination of a processor and an integrated circuit. Such a combination is called, for example, a microcontroller unit (MCU), a system-on-a-chip (SoC), a system LSI, or a chipset. In the display device 40, the CPU 401 loads a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 403 into the work area of ​​the main storage unit 402, and controls peripheral devices through the execution of the program. This allows the display device 40 to execute processing that meets a predetermined purpose. The main storage unit 402 and the auxiliary storage unit 403 store data that the CPU 401 reads. It is a rewritable recording medium.

[0018] The main storage unit 402 is exemplified as a storage unit that is directly accessed by the CPU 401. The main storage unit 402 includes a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM).

[0019] The auxiliary storage unit 403 stores various programs and various data on a readable and writable recording medium. The auxiliary storage unit 403 is also called an external storage device. The auxiliary storage unit 403 stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc.

[0020] The auxiliary storage unit 403 is, for example, an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), a solid state drive (SSD), a hard disk drive (HDD), etc. The auxiliary storage unit 403 is also, for example, a compact disc (CD) drive device, a digital versatile disc (DVD) drive device, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc (BD) drive device, etc.

[0021] Gyro sensor 404 is a sensor that detects the tilt of housing 41. A detection value indicating the tilt of housing 41 detected by housing 41 is input to CPU 401. Gyro sensor 404 is an example of a "sensor."

[0022] The driving unit 405 is a module that drives the projector 45 to change the projection direction of the projector 45 .

[0023] Connection unit 406 is a connection terminal to which IVI speaker 30 is connected. The sound of the image displayed on display unit 42 and the image projected by projector 45 is output to IVI speaker 30 via connection unit 406, for example.

[0024] The display unit 42 displays data processed by the CPU 401 and data stored in the main memory unit 402. The display unit 42 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an inorganic electroluminescence (EL) panel, or an organic EL panel. For example, a touch panel that detects touch operations by the user's finger or the like may be provided superimposed on the display unit 42. By providing a touch panel superimposed on the display unit 42, the display device 40 can provide the user with an intuitive operating environment.

[0025] The camera 44 is a digital camera having a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, and is capable of capturing still and moving images.

[0026] Projector 45 projects an image onto screen 50. The image output by projector 45 is generated based on image data processed by CPU 401 or image data stored in main storage unit 402, for example.

[0027] <Processing Blocks of Display Device 40> FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a processing block of the display device 40 according to the embodiment. The display device 40 includes a control unit 411, an imaging unit 412, an analysis unit 413, a projection unit 414, an output unit 415, and a management unit 416. The display device 40 stores the data executed in the main memory unit 402. The CPU 401 executes the executable computer program, thereby performing the processing of each part of the display device 40, such as the control unit 411, the photographing unit 412, the analysis unit 413, the projection unit 414, the output unit 415, and the management unit 416.

[0028] The management unit 416 is constructed, for example, on the auxiliary storage unit 403. The management unit 416 stores, for example, a correspondence between the angle of the housing 41 indicated by the detection value received from the gyro sensor 404 and the projection direction of the projector 45 for projecting the image output by the projector 45 onto the screen 50.

[0029] The control unit 411 acquires from the management unit 416 the projection direction of the projector 45 that corresponds to the angle of the housing 41 indicated by the detection value received from the gyro sensor 404. The control unit 411 controls the projection direction of the projector 45 by driving the drive unit 405 so that the projection direction of the projector 45 coincides with the projection direction acquired from the management unit 416.

[0030] The photographing unit 412 drives the camera 44 to photograph the occupants of the vehicle 100. The photographing unit 412 causes the camera 44 to photograph a video of the occupants of the vehicle 100, for example.

[0031] The analysis unit 413 analyzes the direction of the occupant's gaze, the time their eyes are closed, etc. based on the video captured by the imaging unit 412, and detects the occupant's (particularly the driver's) state, such as fatigue or inattentive driving.

[0032] The projection unit 414 instructs the projector 45 to project the state of the occupant analyzed by the analysis unit 413, for example. Upon receiving the instruction from the projection unit 414, the projector 45 projects the state of the occupant onto the screen 50. The projection unit 414 may also instruct the projector 45 to project information related to the traveling of the vehicle 100 (such as the traveling speed of the vehicle 100 and road signs located ahead of the vehicle 100), for example.

[0033] The output unit 415, for example, causes the display unit 42 to output a video. The output unit 415 also causes the IVI speaker 30 to output the sound of the video output by the display unit 42.

[0034] <Processing flow of the display device 40> Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of the display device 40 according to the embodiment. Fig. 6 illustrates a processing flow of a process for changing the projection direction of the projector 45 when the angle of the housing 41 is changed. Hereinafter, an example of the processing flow of the display device 40 will be described with reference to Fig. 6.

[0035] In step S1, the image capturing unit 412 starts projection onto the screen 50 by the projector 45. In step S2, the control unit 411 acquires the angle of the housing 41 indicated by the detection value received from the gyro sensor 404.

[0036] In step S3, the control unit 411 determines whether the angle of the housing 41 already stored in the auxiliary storage unit 403 matches the angle of the housing 41 acquired in step S2. If they match (NO in step S3), the control unit 411 stores the angle of the housing 41 acquired in step S2 in the auxiliary storage unit 403. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S4. If they do not match (YES in step S3), the process proceeds to step S5. Note that if the angle of the housing 41 is not stored in the auxiliary storage unit 403, the control unit 411 may determine that the angle of the housing 41 already stored in the auxiliary storage unit 403 does not match the angle of the housing 41 acquired in step S2.

[0037] In step S4, the control unit 411 determines the projection direction corresponding to the angle acquired in step S2. from the management unit 416. The control unit 411 drives the connection unit 406 to orient the projection direction of the projector 45 to the projection direction acquired from the management unit 416.

[0038] In step S5, the image capturing unit 412 determines whether or not projection by the projector 45 has ended. End of projection is indicated by, for example, a user operation. If projection has ended (YES in step S5), the process ends. If projection has not ended (NO in step S5), the process proceeds to step S2.

[0039] <Effects of the embodiment> In this embodiment, the projector 45 is provided on the rear surface of the display device 40 (the rear surface of the protrusion 43). Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a display device and a projector device separately, and the limited interior space of the vehicle 100 can be effectively utilized. In other words, according to this embodiment, the installation space for the projector 45 can be saved. Furthermore, since the display device 40 is disposed on the surface of the dashboard 10 on the driver's seat 1 and passenger seat 2 sides, it is relatively easy to ensure a suitable distance between the projector 45 and the screen 50 for projection by the projector 45.

[0040] In this embodiment, the driver's seat 1, passenger seat 2, right rear seat 3, center rear seat 4, and left rear seat 5, where occupants sit, are not located between the display device 40 and the screen 50. Therefore, the projection of the display device 40 onto the screen 50 is prevented from being blocked by the occupants of the vehicle 100.

[0041] In this embodiment, the display device 40 is supported by the arm 60 on the dashboard 10, so that the angle of the display device 40 relative to the dashboard 10 can be changed. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the angle of the housing 41 can be changed to an angle that makes it easy for the occupants of the vehicle 100 to view the display unit 42.

[0042] In this embodiment, when the angle of the housing 41 is changed, the projection direction of the projector 45 is changed to face the screen 50 in accordance with the changed angle. Therefore, according to this embodiment, even if the angle of the housing 41 is changed to an angle that makes it easy for the occupants of the vehicle 100 to view the display unit 42, the projection direction of the projector 45 can be directed toward the screen 50.

[0043] In this embodiment, the state of the occupant is detected based on video captured by the camera 44, and the detected state of the occupant is projected by the projector 45 onto a screen 50 located in front of the driver's seat 1 and the passenger seat 2. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the state of the occupant can be projected in a position that is easy for the occupant to see.

[0044] <First Modification> In the embodiment described above, one projector 45 is arranged in the display device 40. In the first modified example, an example in which multiple projectors 45 are arranged will be described. Components common to the embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. Below, the first modified example will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of a display device 40A according to a first modified example. FIG. 7 illustrates the appearance of the back of the display device 40A. The display device 40A includes projectors 45A and 45B arranged side by side on the back of the protrusion 43. The projectors 45A and 45B are arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle 100, with the projector 45A being arranged closer to the driver's seat 1 and the projector 45B being arranged closer to the passenger seat 2. The projectors 45A and 45B project onto different areas of the screen 50. The projector 45A is an example of a "first projector." The projector 45B is , is an example of a "second projector."

[0046] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing areas onto which projectors 45A and 45B project in the first modified example. In FIG. 8, the area of ​​screen 50 located in front of (in front of) driver's seat 1 is designated as projection area 50A, and the area located in front of (in front of) passenger seat 2 is designated as projection area 50B. Projector 45A projects toward projection area 50A located in front of driver's seat 1. Projector 45B projects toward projection area 50B located in front of passenger seat 2. Projection area 50A is an example of a "first area." Projection area 50B is an example of a "second area."

[0047] 9 is a diagram showing an example of a processing block of a display device 40A according to Modification 1. Display device 40A differs from display device 40 according to the embodiment in that it includes a projection unit 414A instead of projection unit 414 and a management unit 416A instead of management unit 416.

[0048] The projection unit 414A determines whether the occupant state analyzed by the analysis unit 413 indicates the state of an occupant seated in the driver's seat 1 or the state of an occupant seated in the passenger seat 2. When the occupant state analyzed by the analysis unit 413 indicates the state of an occupant seated in the driver's seat 1, the projection unit 414A instructs the projector 45A to project the occupant state. Upon receiving the instruction from the projection unit 414A, the projector 45A projects the occupant state analyzed by the analysis unit 413 onto the projection area 50A. Furthermore, when the occupant state analyzed by the analysis unit 413 indicates the state of an occupant seated in the passenger seat 2, the projection unit 414A instructs the projector 45B to project the occupant state. Upon receiving the instruction from the projection unit 414A, the projector 45B projects the occupant state analyzed by the analysis unit 413 onto the projection area 50B.

[0049] Management unit 416A stores, for example, a correspondence relationship between the angle of housing 41 indicated by the detection value received from gyro sensor 404 and the projection direction of projector 45A for projecting the image output by projector 45A onto projection area 50A of screen 50. Management unit 416A further stores a correspondence relationship between the angle of housing 41 indicated by the detection value received from gyro sensor 404 and the projection direction of projector 45B for projecting the image output by projector 45B onto projection area 50B of screen 50.

[0050] According to the first modified example, when the state of an occupant is analyzed, the state of the occupant is projected onto projection areas 50A, 50B located in front of the occupant who is the subject of analysis on the screen 50. Therefore, according to the first modified example, the state of the occupant is projected at a position that is more easily visible to the occupant who is the subject of analysis.

[0051] In the first modified example, the projection directions of projectors 45A and 45B according to the angle of housing 41 are stored in management unit 416A. Therefore, according to the first modified example, even if the angle of housing 41 is changed, the projection direction of projector 45A can be directed toward projection area 50A of screen 50, and the projection direction of projector 45B can be directed toward projection area 50B of screen 50.

[0052] <Other variations> In the embodiment described above, the instrument unit 20 is arranged in the interior of the vehicle 100 in addition to the display device 40, but various information displayed by the instrument unit 20 (such as the traveling speed of the vehicle 100) may be displayed on the display unit 42 of the display device 40. In this case, the instrument unit 20 may be omitted.

[0053] In the embodiment described above, the display device 40 includes the camera 44, but if the state of the occupants of the vehicle 100 is not analyzed, the camera 44 may be omitted.

[0054] In the embodiment described above, the display device 40 is attached to the dashboard 10 via the arm 60, but the arm 60 may be omitted. In other words, the display device 40 may be fixed directly to the dashboard 10.

[0055] In the embodiment described above, the arm 60 has the joint 61, which allows the housing 41 to tilt up and down. However, the arm 60 may further have, in addition to the joint 61, a joint that can move in a direction different from the joint 61 (for example, left and right). By providing the arm 60 with such a joint, the housing 41 can tilt up, down, left and right. Even in this case, when the angle of the housing 41 is changed, the projection direction of the projector 45 may be changed so as to face the screen 50 in accordance with the changed angle.

[0056] In the embodiment described above, the projector 45 projects an image onto the screen 50. However, the projector 45 may project an image onto the windshield 70. In this case, the windshield 70 serves as a screen located in front of the projector 45.

[0057] The embodiments and modifications disclosed above can be combined with each other. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1. Driver's seat 2...Passenger seat 3. Right rear seat 4. Center rear seat 5. Left rear seat 6. Front right door 7. Front left door 8. Right rear door 9 Rear left door 10. Dashboard 11. Top 20. Instrument section 30··IVI Speaker 31 Front right speaker 32 Front left speaker 33 Rear right speaker 34 Rear left speaker 40. Display device 40A··Display device 41··Case 42...Display section 43...Protrusion 44··Camera 45··Projector 45A··Projector 45B··Projector 50 screens 50A...Projected area 50B...Projected area 60··Arm 61··Joint 70··Windshield 100 vehicles 401 CPU 402...Main memory 403...Auxiliary storage section 404··Gyro sensor 405··Drive unit 406··Connection 411··Control unit 412··Photography Department 413··Analysis Department 414...Projection section 414A...Projection section 415··Output section 416·Management Department 416A··Administration Department B1 Connecting bus

Claims

1. a display unit that is installed on a dashboard of the vehicle and faces a passenger seat side of the vehicle; a projector that is disposed integrally with the display unit and projects an image onto a screen that is disposed on the dashboard further forward than the display unit of the vehicle, In-vehicle display device.

2. The device is installed on the dashboard so that its angle relative to the dashboard can be changed. The in-vehicle display device according to claim 1 .

3. a processor; a sensor that detects the angle, the projector is provided so that the projection direction can be changed, The processor: controlling the projection direction of the projector in accordance with the angle detected by the sensor so that the image is projected onto the screen; The in-vehicle display device according to claim 2 .

4. a processor; It also includes a camera, The processor: Analyzing the state of the occupant of the vehicle based on video data of the occupant captured by the camera; causing the projector to project information indicating the analyzed state of the occupant; The in-vehicle display device according to claim 1 .

5. a plurality of the projectors are disposed on the rear surface at a position higher than a top surface of the dashboard, and each of the plurality of projectors projects the image onto a plurality of areas of the screen that are partitioned in a width direction of the vehicle; The in-vehicle display device according to claim 4 .

6. The processor may cause the projector to: projecting information indicating the state of an occupant seated in the driver's seat onto an area of ​​the screen located in front of the driver's seat; projecting information indicating the state of an occupant seated in the passenger seat onto an area of ​​the screen located in front of the passenger seat; The in-vehicle display device according to claim 5 .

Images