Vehicle display control device, vehicle display control method, vehicle display control program

Abstract

To display an effective image in a limited region in a vehicle.SOLUTION: A display control device displays display images 60, 68 in a display region 16A of a windshield glass 16. At this time, when a travel support function is not operated, the display image 60 including a positioning part 62, a vehicle speed part 64, a tachometer part 66 is displayed, the travel support function operates, and thereby, the display image is switched to the display image 68 including a symbol of the travel support function and not including the tachometer part 66. As a result, an effective image can be displayed in the display region 16A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle display control device, a vehicle display control method, and a vehicle display control program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle equipped with driving assistance functions such as an ACC (adaptive cruise control) function that maintains the distance between the vehicle and the vehicle ahead while controlling the vehicle's speed, and an LKA (lane keeping assist) function that keeps the vehicle within the lane in which it is traveling.

[0003] The vehicle is also equipped with a HUD (Head-Up Display) device that allows the driver to perceive an image (virtual image) projected onto a specified projection area on the windshield. The HUD device reminds the driver of the activation status of ACC and LKA, displays a message indicating that they are in standby mode, and when activation is confirmed, displays an image indicating that each function is activated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-197390 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, since the area for displaying an image is limited in a HUD device mounted on a vehicle, it is desirable for the image displayed in the limited area of ​​the vehicle to contain information effectively.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and aims to provide a vehicle display control device, a vehicle display control method, and a vehicle display control program that can display effective images in a limited area in a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A vehicle display control device according to a first aspect includes a display unit that is installed in a vehicle that is driven by driving a driving source and that displays an image in a display area; and a control unit that controls the display so that, when a predetermined driving assistance function provided in the vehicle is not operating, driving information indicating the driving status of the driving source is displayed in the upper vertical part of the display area, a first display image including information corresponding to the driving status of the vehicle is displayed in the lower vertical part of the display area, and the driving information is displayed along the boundary between the upper and lower vertical parts of the display area, and when the predetermined driving assistance function is operated, the driving information is hidden and a second display image including a symbol indicating the predetermined driving assistance function and information indicating the operating status of the predetermined driving assistance function is displayed in the upper vertical part of the display area and above the first display image.

[0008] A first aspect of the vehicular display control device is provided in a vehicle that travels when a drive source is driven, and a display unit displays an image in a display area.

[0009] The control means controls images to be displayed in the display area. In this case, the control unit controls so that, when a predetermined driving support function provided in the vehicle is not operating, drive information (e.g., engine speed) indicating the drive state of the drive source is displayed in the upper vertical portion of the display area, a first display image including information corresponding to the driving state of the vehicle is displayed in the lower vertical portion of the display area, and the drive information is displayed along the boundary between the upper and lower vertical portions of the display area. In addition, the control unit controls so that, when the predetermined driving support function is operating, a second display image including a symbol indicating the predetermined driving support function and information indicating the operating state of the predetermined driving support function is displayed in the upper vertical portion of the display area and above the first display image.

[0010] Here, the second display image does not display the driving information that indicates the driving state of the driving source. The driving assistance function assists the driver in driving operations, and when the driving assistance function is activated, the driver does not necessarily need the driving information that indicates the driving state of the driving source.

[0011] As a result, by not displaying the drive information of the drive source in the second display image that is displayed when the driving support function is activated, an effective image can be displayed in a limited area of ​​the vehicle.

[0012] The display control device for a vehicle of a second aspect is the first aspect, wherein the first display image and the second display image include at least one of a shift range and a vehicle speed of the vehicle.

[0013] In the second aspect of the vehicle display control device, the second display image includes at least one of the shift range and the vehicle speed, allowing the driver to understand the vehicle's driving state regardless of whether the driving assistance function is operating.

[0014] In the third aspect of the vehicle display control device, in the first aspect, the predetermined driving assistance function includes a function to maintain vehicle speed and distance from the preceding vehicle, and the symbol in the second display image includes a symbol indicating the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle.

[0015] In the vehicle display control device of the third aspect, the predetermined driving support function includes ACC, which is a function for maintaining the vehicle speed and the distance from the preceding vehicle, and when ACC is operating, a symbol indicating the distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is displayed in the second display image, thereby allowing the driver to accurately understand that ACC is operating.

[0016] In the fourth aspect of the vehicle display control device, in the first aspect, the predetermined driving assistance function includes a function to cause the vehicle to maintain the driving lane, and the symbol in the second display image includes a symbol indicating the lane in which the vehicle is driving.

[0017] In the vehicle display control device of the fourth aspect, the predetermined driving assistance function includes a lane keeping function that causes the host vehicle to maintain the driving lane, and when the lane keeping function is operating, the second display image includes a symbol indicating the lane the host vehicle is driving in. This allows the driver to accurately understand that the lane keeping function is operating.

[0018] The fifth aspect of the vehicle display control device is such that, in the first aspect, the predetermined driving assistance function includes a function for maintaining vehicle speed and a distance from a preceding vehicle, and a function for making the host vehicle maintain the driving lane, and the symbols in the second display image include a symbol indicating the distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle for the function for maintaining the vehicle speed and the distance from the preceding vehicle, and a symbol indicating the lane in which the host vehicle is driving for the function for making the host vehicle maintain the driving lane, and the control unit includes, when the function for maintaining the vehicle speed and the distance from the preceding vehicle is set to operate and the function for making the host vehicle maintain the driving lane is set to not operate, the control unit displays the symbol indicating the distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle and hides the symbol indicating the lane in which the host vehicle is driving, and when the function for maintaining the vehicle speed and the distance from the preceding vehicle is set to not operate and the function for making the host vehicle maintain the driving lane is set to operate, the control unit hides the symbol indicating the distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle and displays the symbol indicating the lane in which the host vehicle is driving.

[0019] In a fifth aspect of the vehicle display control device, when the function for maintaining vehicle speed and distance from the preceding vehicle is set to operate and the function for causing the host vehicle to maintain its driving lane is set to not operate, a symbol indicating the distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is displayed and the symbol indicating the lane the host vehicle is traveling in is hidden, and when the function for maintaining vehicle speed and distance from the preceding vehicle is set to not operate and the function for causing the host vehicle to maintain its driving lane is set to operate, the symbol indicating the distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is hidden and the symbol indicating the lane the host vehicle is traveling in is displayed. This allows the driver to reliably recognize the operating status of each of the predetermined driving assistance functions, namely the function for maintaining vehicle speed and distance from the preceding vehicle and the function for causing the host vehicle to maintain its driving lane.

[0020] A sixth aspect of the vehicle display control method is a method in which, when an image is displayed in a display area by a display unit installed in a vehicle that is driven by a drive source, if a predetermined driving assistance function provided in the vehicle is not operating, a computer executes processing including: displaying drive information indicating the driving status of the drive source in the upper vertical part of the display area; displaying a first display image including information corresponding to the driving status of the vehicle in the lower vertical part of the display area; displaying the drive information along the boundary between the upper and lower vertical parts of the display area; and, if the predetermined driving assistance function is operated, hiding the drive information and displaying a second display image including a symbol indicating the predetermined driving assistance function and information indicating the operating status of the predetermined driving assistance function in the upper vertical part of the display area and above the first display image.

[0021] In the sixth aspect of the vehicle display control method, as in the first aspect, by not displaying the driving information of the driving source in the second display image that is displayed when the driving assistance function is activated, an effective image can be displayed in a limited area of ​​the vehicle.

[0022] A seventh aspect of the vehicle display control program causes a computer to execute processing including, when an image is displayed in a display area on a display unit installed in a vehicle that is driven by a drive source, if a predetermined driving assistance function provided in the vehicle is not operating, displaying drive information indicating the driving status of the drive source in the upper vertical part of the display area, displaying a first display image including information corresponding to the driving status of the vehicle in the lower vertical part of the display area, and displaying the drive information along the boundary between the upper and lower vertical parts of the display area, and when the predetermined driving assistance function is operated, hiding the drive information and displaying a second display image including a symbol indicating the predetermined driving assistance function and information indicating the operating status of the predetermined driving assistance function in the upper vertical part of the display area and above the first display image.

[0023] In the seventh aspect of the vehicle display control program, as in the first aspect, by not displaying the driving information of the driving source in the second display image that is displayed when the driving assistance function is activated, an effective image can be displayed in a limited area of ​​the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to this aspect of the present invention, the driving information of the driving source is not displayed in the second display image that is displayed when the driving assistance function is operating, which has the effect of allowing an effective image to be displayed in a limited area of ​​the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of a display control device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the main parts of the vehicle. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the main components of the HUD. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a steering switch. [Figure 5]10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing examples of display images, where 10A shows a display image in a steady state, and 10B shows a display image in a driving support state. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing an example of a display image in which a symbol corresponding to the operation of the ACC function is displayed. [Figure 7] 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display image in which a symbol according to the operation of the LTA function is displayed. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing an outline of a display control process. [Figure 9] 10A is a flowchart showing an example of a display process for an ACC symbol, and FIG. 10B is a flowchart showing an example of a display process for an LTA symbol. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. A display control device 10 as a vehicle display control device according to this embodiment is provided in a vehicle 12, and displays various types of information about the vehicle 12 to inform an occupant (driver) of the vehicle 12. Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a schematic configuration of the main parts of the display control device 10, and Fig. 2 shows a front view of the main parts inside the vehicle cabin as seen from the occupant (driver).

[0027] A vehicle 12 according to this embodiment is provided with an engine (an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline engine) as a drive source for traveling, and when the engine is driven, the vehicle 12 travels by the driving force of the engine. As shown in Fig. 2, an instrument panel 14 is disposed in the vehicle interior, in front of a seat (driver's seat) in the vehicle longitudinal direction. A windshield glass 16 is disposed at the front end of the instrument panel 14, and extends in the vertical direction and the vehicle width direction to separate the interior and exterior of the vehicle interior.

[0028] A steering shaft (not shown) with an axial direction aligned in the vehicle longitudinal direction is disposed at the front of the vehicle interior, and the steering shaft is rotatably supported by the vehicle body. A steering wheel 18 is disposed at the front of the driver's seat. The steering wheel 18 is integrally formed by an annular rim portion 18A and a hub portion 18B located at the center of the rim portion 18A, which are connected by spokes 18C.

[0029] The steering wheel 18 has a hub portion 18B fixed to the rear end of the steering shaft of the vehicle and is rotatably supported on the vehicle body. When the steering wheel 18 (rim portion 18A) is rotated, the steering shaft is rotated and the vehicle 12 is steered. In addition, a steering switch 46 (described later) is disposed on the spoke portion 18C of the steering wheel 18, and the steering switch 46 can be operated by the occupant. Note that FIG. 2 shows the steering wheel 18 when the vehicle is traveling straight ahead.

[0030] 1, the display control device 10 includes a HUD (Head-Up Display) 20 as a display device, and a display control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 24 that includes a control unit that controls image display on the HUD 20. FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the HUD 20.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the HUD 20 includes a display unit 26 that emits projection light for a display image, a mirror 28 that is a concave mirror and reflects and projects the projection light emitted from the display unit 26 onto the windshield glass 16, and a mirror angle changing ACT (actuator) 28A that changes the reflection angle of the mirror 28 with respect to the projection light.

[0032] 2 and 3, a display area 16A onto which a display image is projected is set on the windshield glass 16, and the display area 16A is located in front of the driver's seat and in the vertically lower part of the windshield glass 16. As a result, the vertically lower part of the display area 16A is positioned so that it overlaps with the hood (not shown) or the like at the front of the vehicle 12 when viewed from the occupant seated in the driver's seat.

[0033] The windshield glass 16 is treated with a half mirror or the like on the interior surface corresponding to the display area 16A. The windshield glass 16 allows the occupants to view the display image projected on the display area 16A, and also allows the occupants to view the scenery (scenery) and people (pedestrians) ahead of the vehicle from inside the vehicle.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the display control ECU 24 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 3 The display control ECU 24 includes a CPU 30A and a memory 30B such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The display control ECU 24 also includes a storage unit 30C equipped with non-volatile storage such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), a communication interface (I / F) 30D, and an input / output interface (I / F) 30E. In the display control ECU 24, the CPU 30A, memory 30B, storage unit 30C, communication I / F 30D, and input / output I / F 30E are connected to each other via a bus 30F so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0035] A control program 32 serving as a vehicle display control program is stored in a storage unit 30C of the display control ECU 24. The display control ECU 24 functions as a control unit that controls the display image of the HUD 20 by having the CPU 30A read out the control program 32 from the storage unit 30C and execute it while expanding it into a memory (RAM) 30B.

[0036] The display control ECU 24 is connected to a system bus 34 arranged in the vehicle 12. The vehicle 12 is also equipped with a vehicle control ECU 36 that is responsible for vehicle control including driving control, and the vehicle control ECU 36 is connected to the system bus 34. The vehicle 12 is equipped with various control ECUs (none of which are shown), such as an engine ECU that controls the engine, a steering control ECU that controls steering, a braking control ECU that controls braking, and a transmission control ECU that controls the transmission. The vehicle control ECU 36 executes vehicle control in cooperation with the various control ECUs.

[0037] The vehicle 12 is equipped with various in-vehicle devices (none of which are shown), such as an air conditioner, an audio system, a car navigation system, and a voice input system, and these in-vehicle devices are connected to the system bus 34. As a result, the vehicle control ECU 36 is connected to the in-vehicle devices via the system bus 34, and is able to manage and control the operation of each of the in-vehicle devices.

[0038] Meanwhile, the vehicle 12 is equipped with devices for driving assistance (driving assistance devices) such as an ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) device 40 and an LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) device 42. The ACC device 40 and the LTA device 42 are each connected to the system bus 34.

[0039] In the vehicle 12, the ACC device 40 realizes a driving assistance function of maintaining the vehicle speed and the distance from the preceding vehicle (ACC function), and the LTA device 42 realizes a driving assistance function of causing the host vehicle (vehicle 12) to maintain the driving lane (lane keeping function, LTA function). Note that in the vehicle 12, the vehicle control ECU 36, the ACC device 40, and the LTA device 42 may cooperate to operate as a driving assistance device and realize a driving assistance function that assists the occupant in driving operations.

[0040] The ACC device 40, in cooperation with the vehicle control ECU 36, controls the vehicle 12 to travel at the set vehicle speed when the vehicle occupant sets the vehicle speed (travel speed). The ACC device 40 also uses a camera that captures images ahead of the vehicle, a millimeter wave radar that transmits search waves (millimeter waves) in a predetermined range ahead of the vehicle and receives the reflected waves, and the like to detect a vehicle (preceding vehicle) traveling ahead of the vehicle 12 and detect the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the vehicle 12. The ACC device 40 controls the vehicle speed in cooperation with the vehicle control ECU 36 so that the detected inter-vehicle distance does not become equal to or smaller than a preset inter-vehicle distance.

[0041] The LTA device 42 uses a camera (imaging means) that captures images of the area ahead of the vehicle to detect the lane marks (left and right white lines) on the road surface on which the vehicle 12 is traveling, and works in cooperation with the vehicle control ECU 36 to perform steering control, etc., so that the vehicle 12 travels between the left and right white lines.

[0042] The vehicle 12 is also provided with a switch ECU 44 as a selection means and a setting means, and the switch ECU 44 is connected to the system bus 34. A plurality of switches are connected to the switch ECU 44. In this embodiment, a steering switch 46 is used as the plurality of switches.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the steering wheel 18 has a steering wheel at the spoke portion 18C. A switch 46 is provided on the steering wheel 18. Steering switches are provided on the spoke portion 18C on the right side of the hub portion 18B in the vehicle width direction and on the spoke portion 18C on the left side of the hub portion 18B in the vehicle width direction, but in this embodiment, the right side of the hub portion 18B in the vehicle width direction will be described as the steering switch 46. Figure 4 shows a front view of the main parts of the steering switch 46. Note that the steering switch 46 may be configured to be selectable on either the right side or the left side of the hub portion 18B in the vehicle width direction.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the steering switch 46 includes a tactile switch 48A on the hub portion 18B side (corresponding to the left side of the paper in FIG. 4) and a tactile switch 48B on the rim portion 18A side (corresponding to the right side of the paper in FIG. 4), and the tactile switches 48A and 48B are, for example, of a contact detection type.

[0045] One side of the tactile switch 48A (the upper side of the paper in FIG. 4) is an ACC switch 50, and the other side (the lower side of the paper in FIG. 4) is an LTA switch 52. The ACC device 40 is switched on / off by operating the ACC switch 50. The LTA device 42 is switched on / off by operating the LTA switch 52.

[0046] Furthermore, the tactile switch 48B is provided with a vehicle speed UP switch 54A, a vehicle speed DOWN switch 54B, a vehicle distance UP switch 56A, and a vehicle distance DOWN switch 56B. The vehicle speed set in the ACC device 40 is increased in stages by operating the UP switch 54A, and is decreased in stages by operating the DOWN switch 54B. The vehicle distance is increased in stages by operating the UP switch 56A (increasing the distance between vehicles), and is decreased in stages by operating the DOWN switch 56B.

[0047] The display control ECU 24 acquires information corresponding to the driving state and operating state of the vehicle 12 via the system bus 34, and is capable of displaying an image corresponding to the acquired information in the display area 16A of the windshield glass 16 using the HUD 20.

[0048] Here, the display control ECU 24 acquires operation information of the ACC device 40 and the LTA device 42, and switches the image displayed in the display area 16A of the windshield glass 16 by the HUD 20 in accordance with the acquired operation information. At this time, the display control ECU 24 switches the image displayed in the display area 16A between a state in which neither the ACC device 40 nor the LTA device 42 is operating (hereinafter referred to as a steady state) and a state in which at least one of the ACC device 40 and the LTA device 42 is operating (hereinafter referred to as a driving assistance state).

[0049] In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, image display (image projection) on the display area 16A of the windshield glass 16 will be described as image display on the HUD 20. Also, in the following description, operation of the ACC device 40 will be described as operation of the ACC function, and operation of the LTA device 42 will be described as operation of the LTA function.

[0050] Fig. 5(A) shows a schematic diagram of the display image of the HUD 20 in a steady state, and Fig. 5(B) shows a schematic diagram of the display image of the HUD 20 in a driving assistance state. Also, Fig. 6(A) and Fig. 6(B) show schematic diagrams of symbols (symbols included in the display image) displayed on the HUD 20 when the ACC function is activated, and Fig. 7 shows a schematic diagram of symbols (symbols included in the display image) displayed on the HUD 20 when the LTA function is activated.

[0051] 5(A), the display image 60 as the first display image includes a position section 62 as an image showing the shift position of the transmission of the vehicle 12, which is acquired from the vehicle control ECU 36 of the vehicle 12 or the like via the system bus 34. The display image 60 also includes a vehicle speed section 64 in which an image showing the traveling speed of the vehicle 12 is displayed. The display image 60 further includes a tachometer section 66 or the like in which the rotation speed of the drive shaft of the engine (engine rotation speed) is displayed (an image showing the engine rotation speed is displayed) as operation information showing the operating state of the drive source of the vehicle 12.

[0052] The position section 62 includes the letter "M" and a two-digit number (Arabic numeral), and the two-digit number changes depending on the shift position of the transmission. The tachometer section 66 also includes a scale bar 66A and a pointer bar 66B, each of which is formed in an arc shape. One circumferential side of the scale bar 66A is a low rotation speed side, and the other circumferential side is a high rotation speed side. One circumferential end of the pointer bar 66B is the low rotation speed end of the scale bar 66A, and the other circumferential end changes along the scale bar 66A depending on the engine rotation speed.

[0053] The vehicle speed section 64 is arranged in the lower vertical section and in the middle (center) in the vehicle width direction on the display image 60. The position section 62 is arranged next to the vehicle speed section 64 on the left (or right) side of the vehicle speed section 64 in the vehicle width direction. The tachometer section 66 is arranged above the vehicle speed section 64 so as to be convex upward. Therefore, on the display image 60, the position section 62, vehicle speed section 64, and tachometer section 66 are arranged together in the lower vertical section, and the upper vertical section is a non-image area (an area where no image is arranged).

[0054] 5(B), the tachometer section 66 in the display image 60 is removed from the display image 68 serving as the second display image, and the position section 62 and the vehicle speed section 64 are arranged in the display image 68. That is, the tachometer section 66 is not displayed in the display image 68. The display image 68 also displays an ACC symbol 70 as a symbol indicating that the ACC function is operating, and an LTA symbol 72 as a symbol indicating that the LTA function is operating. The ACC symbol 70 and the LTA symbol 72 are arranged in the upper portion of the display image 68 in the vertical direction (above the vehicle speed section 64).

[0055] 6A, the ACC symbol 70 includes a plurality of distance bars 70A and a set vehicle speed section 70B. The number of distance bars 70A on the ACC symbol 70 corresponds to the distance between vehicles set in the ACC function (ACC device 40), and the distance bars 70A are arranged in a generally trapezoidal shape on the display image 60, with the upper side being shorter than the lower side. The set vehicle speed section 70B is arranged on the opposite side of the vehicle speed section 64 from the position section 62.

[0056] 6(B), the ACC symbol 70 may include a vehicle mark 70C that schematically indicates a preceding vehicle. The vehicle mark 70C is displayed above the distance bar 70A when a preceding vehicle that is the subject of the inter-vehicle distance calculation with the vehicle 12 is detected.

[0057] 7, the LTA symbol 72 uses a pair of white line marks 72A, and the spacing between the pair of white line marks 72A is narrower on the upper side than on the lower side in the vertical direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5(B), the vehicle spacing bar 70A of the ACC symbol 70 is positioned between the pair of white line marks 72A of the LTA symbol 72.

[0058] Next, a description will be given of the display control of the HUD 20 executed by the display control ECU 24. Fig. 8 shows an outline of the display control process in a flowchart, Fig. 9(A) shows the display process of the ACC symbol 70 in a flowchart, and Fig. 9(B) shows the display process of the LTA symbol 72 in a flowchart.

[0059] The vehicle 12 is provided with an ACC device 40, and in the ACC device 40, the vehicle speed and following distance can be set by operating a tactile switch 48B on a steering switch 46. The UP switch 54A and the DOWN switch 54B are used to set the vehicle speed, and the UP switch 56A and the DOWN switch 56B are used to set the following distance. In addition, in the vehicle 12, the ACC device 40 and the LTA device 42 can each be turned on / off by using the tactile switch 48A on the steering switch 46.

[0060] On the other hand, when the display control device 10 is operated by turning on the ignition switch of the vehicle 12, the display control ECU 24 starts the display control process, and when the ignition switch is turned off, the operation is stopped, and the display control process ends.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 8, the display control ECU 24 first checks in step 100 whether the driving assistance function is turned on, and if neither the ACC switch 50 nor the LTA switch 52 of the tactile switch 48A has been turned on, a negative determination is made in step 100 and the process proceeds to step 102.

[0062] In step 102, the display control ECU 24 causes the display image 60 applicable to the steady state to be displayed on the HUD 20. As a result, the HUD 20 displays the position section 62, the vehicle speed section 64, and the tachometer section 66, and the display contents of the position section 62, the vehicle speed section 64, and the tachometer section 66 are changed according to the running state of the vehicle 12.

[0063] Furthermore, when at least one of the ACC switch 50 and the LTA switch 52 is turned on, the display control ECU 24 makes an affirmative determination in step 100 and proceeds to step 104. In step 104, the display control ECU 24 causes the HUD 20 to display the display image 68 that is applicable to the driving assistance state. As a result, the tachometer section 66 is not displayed on the HUD 20 in the driving assistance state.

[0064] Thereafter, the display control ECU 24 checks in step 106 whether the ACC switch 50 has been turned on, and checks in step 108 whether the LTA switch 52 has been turned on.

[0065] If the ACC switch 50 is turned on, the display control ECU 24 makes an affirmative determination in step 106 and proceeds to step 110, where it performs display processing for the ACC symbol 70. If the LTA switch 52 is turned on, the display control ECU 24 makes a negative determination in step 106 and an affirmative determination in step 108, where it proceeds to step 112. In step 112, the display control ECU 24 performs display processing for the LTA symbol 72.

[0066] Thereafter, in step 114, the display control ECU 24 checks whether the driving support function has been turned off, and if either the ACC switch 50 or the LTA switch 52 has not been turned off, an affirmative determination is made in step 114, and the process proceeds to step 106 to continue processing. On the other hand, if either the ACC switch 50 or the LTA switch 52 has been turned off, the display control ECU 24 makes an affirmative determination in step 114, and the process proceeds to step 102, where the display image 60 applicable to the steady state is displayed on the HUD 20.

[0067] On the other hand, the display process of the ACC symbol 70 shown in Fig. 9(A) is executed by proceeding to step 110 of Fig. 8, and the display control ECU 24 displays the inter-vehicle bar 70A and the set vehicle speed section 70B in the first step 120. At this time, the display control ECU 24 displays the number of inter-vehicle bars 70A according to the preset inter-vehicle distance, and displays the preset set vehicle speed in the set vehicle speed section 70B.

[0068] Thereafter, the display control ECU 24 proceeds to step 122 to check whether a preceding vehicle has been detected. If a preceding vehicle has not been detected, the display control ECU 24 makes a negative determination in step 122 and proceeds to step 124 to hide the vehicle mark 70C. As a result, the HUD 20 displays the distance bar 70A and the set vehicle speed section 70B, and displays the ACC symbol 70 with the vehicle mark 70C hidden (see FIG. 6(A)).

[0069] On the other hand, if a preceding vehicle is detected, the display control ECU 24 makes an affirmative determination in step 122 and proceeds to step 126 to display the vehicle mark 70C. As a result, the HUD 20 displays the ACC symbol 70 with the vehicle mark 70C displayed together with the inter-vehicle bar 70A and the set vehicle speed section 70B (see FIG. 6(B)).

[0070] 9(B) is executed by proceeding to step 112 of FIG. 8, and the display control ECU 24 first checks whether the lane in which the vehicle is traveling has been detected in step 130. If white lines on the left and right sides of the road surface indicating the lane in which the vehicle is traveling have been detected, the display control ECU 24 makes an affirmative determination in step 130 and proceeds to step 132.

[0071] When the display control ECU 24 proceeds to step 132, it displays the pair of white line marks 72A on the display image 68, and causes the HUD 20 to display the LTA symbol 70 formed by the pair of white line marks 72A (see FIG. 7).

[0072] On the other hand, if the lane in which the vehicle is traveling is not detected, the display control ECU 24 makes a negative determination in step 130 and proceeds to step 134, where it hides the white line mark 72A. As a result, the white line mark 72A is not displayed on the display image 68 of the HUD 20, and the LTA symbol 70 is not displayed.

[0073] In this way, in the steady state where the driving support function is not turned on, the display control device 10 displays on the HUD 20 a display image 60 in which a position section 62 that is an image indicating the shift position, a vehicle speed section 64 that is an image indicating the vehicle speed, and a tachometer section 66 that is an image indicating the engine rotation speed. This allows the occupant to easily recognize the operating state (driving state) of the traveling vehicle 12 as well as the operating state of the engine.

[0074] Furthermore, in the display image 60, a position section 62, a vehicle speed section 64, and a tachometer section 66 are displayed in the lower portion of the display area 16A of the windshield glass 16. Therefore, even if the display area 16A is provided on the windshield glass 16, the visibility ahead of the vehicle is not obstructed for the occupant who is driving the vehicle 12 without driving assistance.

[0075] Furthermore, when the driving function is turned on, the display control device 10 causes the HDU 20 to display the display image 68. The tachometer section 66 is hidden in the display image 68. Generally, a driving assistance function is a function that assists the occupant in driving operation, and the occupant whose driving operation is being assisted does not necessarily need to know the engine speed, which is the operating state of the engine. Therefore, by hiding the tachometer section 66, it is possible to prevent the display image 68 from becoming cluttered, and it is possible to effectively use the display area 16A to display images. This makes it possible to effectively use the limited display area 16A to display information.

[0076] Furthermore, the display control device 10 switches between the steady state and the driving support state, thereby switching between the display image 60 and the display image 68. This allows the occupant to appropriately recognize from the display on the HUD 20 whether or not the driving support function is operating.

[0077] Furthermore, in the display control device 10, each of the display image 60 and the display image 68 includes a position section 62 and a vehicle speed section 64. This allows the occupant to understand the driving state of the vehicle 12 regardless of whether the driving assistance function is operating or not. Note that, in the display control device 10, each of the display images 68 includes the position section 62 and the vehicle speed section 64, but it is sufficient that the display image 68 includes at least one of the position section 62 and the vehicle speed section 64.

[0078] Furthermore, the display control device 10 displays the number of inter-vehicle bars 70A in the ACC symbol 70 according to the inter-vehicle distance, making it easy to understand the inter-vehicle distance set in the ACC function. Furthermore, when a preceding vehicle is detected while the ACC function is operating, the display control device 10 displays a vehicle mark 70C indicating the preceding vehicle. This allows the occupant to properly understand that the vehicle is traveling while maintaining the set inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle.

[0079] Furthermore, when the LTA function is activated, the display control device 10 displays the LTA symbol 72, in which a pair of white line marks are arranged to indicate the lane. This allows the occupant to effectively recognize that the LTA function is activated. Moreover, if the lane on which the vehicle 12 is traveling cannot be detected, the display control device 10 does not display the white line marks. This allows the occupant to easily recognize that the LTA function is not operating properly. Note that, in the display control device 10, the white line marks 72A are not displayed, so the LTA symbol 72 is essentially not displayed. In this case, the operation of the LTA function may be stopped, which prevents the lane from being suddenly detected and the LTA function from being activated without the occupant's expectation.

[0080] Furthermore, the display control device 10 is configured so that one symbol can be formed by overlapping the ACC symbol 70 and the LTA symbol 72. This allows one symbol to carry multiple pieces of information, making it possible to effectively use the limited display area 16A.

[0081] In the present embodiment, the HUD 20 is described as projecting (displaying) the display images 60, 68 onto the windshield glass 16. However, the display medium for projecting the first and second display images is not limited to the windshield glass, and various known display media can be applied. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the display medium is not limited to a display device that displays a projected image on the windshield glass, and a transmissive display medium that transmits light in accordance with a displayed image, such as a liquid crystal display, or an emissive display medium that displays an image by emitting light in accordance with a displayed image, may also be applied. Specific examples include a meter display disposed on an instrument panel.

[0082] In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle 12 is shown as an example equipped with an engine (reciprocating engine) as a driving source for traveling. However, the vehicle may be any of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), a battery electric vehicle (BEV), etc., equipped with an electric motor as a driving source for traveling.

[0083] The vehicle display device may display information set according to the vehicle in which it is installed, and in a vehicle equipped with an electric motor as a drive source, the drive information indicating the operating state of the electric motor may be the rotation speed (rpm) or output value (W: watt) of the output shaft (rotating shaft) of the electric motor, and at least one of the rotation speed and output value of the output shaft of the electric motor may be displayed. Also, in a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and an electric motor as drive sources, the drive information of the drive source in operation may be displayed, or the drive information of each of the two drive sources may be displayed side by side.

[0084] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control program 32 serving as the vehicle display control program is stored (installed) in advance in the storage unit 30C. However, the vehicle display control program may be provided in a form recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory), or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. Also, the vehicle display control program may be downloaded from an external device via a network. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 10 Display control device (vehicle display control device) 12 vehicles 16 Windshield glass 16A display area 20 HUD (display device) 24 Display control ECU (control unit) 40 ACC device (driving assistance function, function to maintain vehicle speed and distance from the vehicle ahead) 42 LTA device (driving assistance function, lane keeping function) 60 Display image (first display image) 62 Position Section 64 Vehicle speed section 66 Tachometer section (drive information) 68 Display image (second display image) 70 ACC symbol (symbol for maintaining vehicle speed and distance from the vehicle ahead) 72 LTA symbol (symbol, lane keeping function symbol)

Claims

1. a display unit that is installed in a vehicle that is driven by a drive source and that displays an image in a display area; a control unit that controls, when a predetermined driving support function provided in the vehicle is not operating, so that driving information indicating the driving state of the driving source is displayed in an upper part of the display area in the vertical direction, and a first display image including information corresponding to the driving state of the vehicle is displayed in a lower part of the display area in the vertical direction, and so that the driving information is displayed along the boundary between the upper and lower parts of the display area in the vertical direction; and, when the predetermined driving support function is operating, so that the driving information is not displayed, and a second display image including a symbol indicating the predetermined driving support function and information indicating the operating state of the predetermined driving support function is displayed in the upper part of the display area in the vertical direction and above the first display image; A display control device for a vehicle including:

2. The display control device for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the first display image and the second display image include at least one of a shift range and a vehicle speed of the vehicle.

3. 2. The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined driving assistance function includes a function for maintaining vehicle speed and a distance from a preceding vehicle, and the symbol in the second display image includes a symbol indicating a distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle.

4. 2. The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined driving assistance function includes a function for causing the vehicle to maintain the driving lane, and the symbol in the second display image includes a symbol indicating the lane in which the vehicle is driving.

5. the predetermined driving support function includes a function of maintaining a vehicle speed and a distance from a preceding vehicle, and a function of causing the host vehicle to stay in its driving lane; the symbols in the second display image include a symbol indicating a distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle with respect to a function of maintaining the vehicle speed and the distance from the preceding vehicle, and a symbol indicating a lane in which the host vehicle is traveling with respect to a function of causing the host vehicle to maintain the traveling lane, when a function for maintaining the vehicle speed and the distance from the preceding vehicle is set to operate and a function for causing the host vehicle to maintain the driving lane is set to not operate, the control unit displays a symbol indicating the distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle and does not display a symbol indicating the lane in which the host vehicle is traveling; When the function for maintaining the vehicle speed and the distance from the preceding vehicle is set to be inactive and the function for causing the host vehicle to maintain the driving lane is set to be active, a symbol indicating the distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle is not displayed, and a symbol indicating the lane in which the host vehicle is traveling is displayed.

2. The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

6. When an image is displayed in a display area by a display unit installed in a vehicle that is driven by a drive source, When a predetermined driving assistance function provided in the vehicle is not operating, driving information indicating the driving state of the driving source is displayed in an upper portion of the display area in the vertical direction, a first display image including information corresponding to the driving state of the vehicle is displayed in a lower portion of the display area in the vertical direction, and the driving information is displayed along a boundary between the upper portion and the lower portion of the display area in the vertical direction, When the predetermined driving support function is operated, the drive information is hidden, and a second display image including a symbol indicating the predetermined driving support function and information indicating an operating state of the predetermined driving support function is displayed in an upper portion of the display area in the vertical direction and above the first display image. A vehicle display control method, in which a computer executes a process including the steps of:

7. On the computer, When an image is displayed in a display area by a display unit installed in a vehicle that is driven by a drive source, When a predetermined driving assistance function provided in the vehicle is not operating, driving information indicating the driving state of the driving source is displayed in an upper portion of the display area in the vertical direction, a first display image including information corresponding to the driving state of the vehicle is displayed in a lower portion of the display area in the vertical direction, and the driving information is displayed along a boundary between the upper portion and the lower portion of the display area in the vertical direction, When the predetermined driving support function is operated, the drive information is hidden, and a second display image including a symbol indicating the predetermined driving support function and information indicating an operating state of the predetermined driving support function is displayed in an upper portion of the display area in the vertical direction and above the first display image. A display control program for a vehicle for executing a process including the above.

Images