Environment information setting device, environment information setting method, environment information setting program, and in-vehicle environment information setting system

Abstract

To contribute to safe driving by improving operability when setting an operation environment to a vehicle or an on-vehicle device or changing the setting.SOLUTION: An environment information setting device 10 for setting operation environment information for a vehicle or an in-vehicle device includes a display unit 12 that is disposed below a cowl and displays an image indicating setting items related to the operation environment information and state settings for each of the setting items to prompt an occupant to make a selection, and a light source that emits light to a light receiver disposed in at least a part of the cowl. And a control unit 15 configured to perform control of displaying an item image related to a setting item and a state image indicating a state setting for the setting item, which are selected by the occupant, on the display unit, and changing and outputting an illumination mode of the illumination unit according to the state setting for the selected setting item.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an environment information setting device that sets operating environment information for a vehicle or an in-vehicle device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technology relating to a vehicle audio processing device that includes a receiving means that receives audio data by wirelessly communicating with an audio device, an audio processing unit that performs predetermined audio processing on the audio data received by the receiving means, a transmitting means that transmits the audio data that has been subjected to the predetermined audio processing by the audio processing unit by wirelessly communicating with an audio notification device that outputs audio, and a vehicle speed sensor that detects the driving state of the vehicle, and the audio processing unit performs audio processing on the audio data received by the receiving means in accordance with the driving state detected by the vehicle speed sensor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 728238 (see paragraphs

[0007] ,

[0017] , and Figure 5). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] According to the technology described in Patent Document 1, the audio processing unit applies audio processing to the audio data received by the receiving means in accordance with the driving state detected by the vehicle speed sensor, and transmits the processed audio data to the audio notification device, thereby providing the advantage that the user can hear the audio that has been processed by the audio notification device, eliminating the need for the user to perform operations to change the audio themselves in accordance with the driving state of the vehicle.

[0005] The technology described in Patent Document 1 can reduce the number of user operations that occur due to changes in the driving state of a vehicle, for example, by automating an operation to increase the volume as the vehicle speed increases. However, when such a voice notification device or display device is used to set (including changing settings) the operating environment held in a vehicle or an in-vehicle device such as a music playback device or a navigation device, the operation must be performed only by voice or while closely watching the content displayed on the display device, which makes the operation cumbersome, and in particular, checking the operation and settings while the vehicle is moving may impede safe driving, so there is room for improvement.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides an environmental information setting device and the like that can improve operability when setting or changing the operating environment of a vehicle or an in-vehicle device, and contribute to safe driving.

[0007] Other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by referring to the following exemplary aspects and best modes, as well as the accompanying drawings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to facilitate an understanding of the outline of the present invention, the following examples are given of embodiments according to the present invention.

[0009] A first aspect according to the present invention is an environmental information setting device that sets operating environment information for a vehicle or an on-board device, the environmental information setting device having: a display unit that is arranged under a cowl that is provided at the front of the vehicle facing an occupant, and that displays setting items related to the operating environment information and images showing status settings for each of the setting items to prompt the occupant to make a selection; an illumination unit that includes a light source that emits light to a light receiver that is arranged in at least a part of the cowl, and that emits the display light from the light source through the light receiver to allow the occupant to view a light image; and a control unit that displays item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images showing the status settings for the setting items on the display unit, and controls the illumination unit to change and output the lighting mode in accordance with the status setting for the selected setting item.

[0010] Here, "environmental information" refers to, for example, information indicating the operating environment necessary for operating a vehicle or an in-vehicle device in response to a user (occupant in this case) request, such as a driving mode like "normal," "sports," or "eco" if the setting target is a "vehicle," or information indicating the screen brightness and volume indicated as "HIGH," "MID," or "LOW" if the setting target is an in-vehicle device such as a music playback device or a navigation device. In this case, the "setting items" are the driving mode, screen brightness, and volume, and the "status setting" is information such as normal, sports, or eco, or "HIGH," "MID," or "LOW" selected by the occupant for the setting item.

[0011] 10 to 13, and the "status image related to the status setting" refers to the image shown in the screen area 122 of the environmental information setting screen 120B, for example, as shown in Fig. 10 to 12. Furthermore, the "control to change the lighting state of the lighting unit" refers to any one of, or a combination of, the following controls performed by the control unit: (1) control to change the lighting color of the light source of the lighting unit; (2) control to change the brightness of the light source of the lighting unit; (3) control to change the lit locations of the lighting area assigned to the cowl; and (4) control to change the blinking cycle of the light source of the lighting unit.

[0012] In a first aspect, an illumination unit that emits display light from a light source through a light receiver to allow an occupant to view a light image is disposed in a cowl that allows the occupant to face forward and focus on the forward field of view while driving the vehicle. The control unit controls the display unit to display item images related to setting items selected by the occupant and status images indicating the status settings for the setting items, and to change and output the illumination mode of the illumination unit according to the status settings for the selected setting items. In this way, the display unit's display of item images related to setting items selected by the occupant and the illumination unit's display of status images indicating the status settings for the setting items are operated in conjunction with each other, and the illumination mode of the illumination unit is changed according to the status settings selected by the occupant and notified to the occupant, thereby improving operability when setting environmental information stored in the vehicle or on-board device. Furthermore, because the illumination unit emits light and the light receiver that allows the occupant to view the light image is disposed at a higher position than the display unit, the occupant can understand the status setting of the operating environment from the illumination mode of the illumination unit without having to shift their line of sight from the cowl when focusing on the front for driving, thereby contributing to safe driving.

[0013] In a second aspect dependent on the first aspect, the control unit may change the illumination mode by controlling a lighting color, brightness, or lighting pattern of the light source in accordance with the state setting consisting of two values.

[0014] In the second mode, the control unit changes the lighting mode by controlling the lighting color, brightness, or lighting pattern of the light source according to a binary state setting, so that the occupant can easily and quickly understand the state setting from the light information.

[0015] In a third aspect dependent on the first or second aspect, the control unit may perform control to notify the status setting by combining the illumination modes for the first area and the second area assigned to the cowl.

[0016] In the third aspect, the control unit controls to notify the status setting by combining the lighting modes for the first and second areas assigned to the cowl, so that a status image indicating a more complex status setting, such as a status setting that selects three or more values ​​or an analog value such as a volume, can be expressed by combining the lighting modes of the lighting unit. This improves operability when setting operating environment information for the vehicle or on-board device, and also contributes to safer driving because the status setting can be grasped without moving the driver's line of sight from the cowl located above the display device.

[0017] In a fourth aspect dependent on the first to third aspects, the device may further include an audio notification unit, and the control unit may transmit information relating to the setting item to the audio notification unit to notify by audio, and may control the lighting unit to change the lighting mode to notify the status setting.

[0018] In the fourth aspect, the control unit transmits information regarding the setting items to the audio notification unit to provide audio notification, and controls the lighting unit to change the lighting mode and notify the status setting, so that the occupant can understand the setting items and status setting without moving their eyes or staring at the setting items displayed on the display unit, which contributes to safe driving.

[0019] In a fifth aspect dependent on the first to fourth aspects, when the setting item changes from a first setting item to a second setting item different from the first setting item, the control unit may control the lighting unit to change the display mode corresponding to a first state setting for the first setting item to a display mode corresponding to a second state setting for the second setting item.

[0020] In the fifth aspect, when the setting item changes from the first setting item to the second setting item, the control unit controls the lighting unit to change from a display mode corresponding to the first state setting for the first setting item to a display mode corresponding to the second state setting for the second setting item. Therefore, even if the setting item changes, the display mode can be continuously changed to a mode corresponding to the state setting for the setting item. Furthermore, the occupant can more easily and quickly understand the change in state setting from the notification of the setting item by the audio notification unit and the change in the lighting mode by the lighting unit without having to stare at the display unit. Furthermore, the setting item and state setting can be understood from the forward field of view visible through the cowl without moving their eyes, which contributes to safe driving.

[0021] In a sixth aspect dependent on the first to fifth aspects, the control unit may perform control such that, when the display unit displays the setting items and the lighting unit outputs a display based on a status setting of the selected setting item, if there is a setting change, the lighting unit changes the lighting mode based on the newly selected status setting and outputs the changed lighting mode.

[0022] In the sixth aspect, when the display unit is displaying setting items and the lighting unit is outputting a display based on the status setting of the selected setting item, if there is a change in the settings, the control unit controls the lighting unit to change and output the lighting mode based on the newly selected status setting.Therefore, once the operating environment (environmental information) is set and maintained in the vehicle or on-board device, the settings of the operating environment can be changed at any time and reflected in the vehicle or on-board device.

[0023] A seventh aspect according to the present invention is an environmental information setting method in which an environmental information setting device sets operating environment information for a vehicle or an on-board device, the method comprising: an illumination unit comprising a light source that emits light to a light receiver that is arranged in at least a part of a cowling provided in front of the vehicle facing the occupant, and the illumination unit having an illumination unit that emits display light from the light source through the light receiver to allow the occupant to view a light image; and a display unit arranged below the cowling, the environmental information setting method comprising the steps of: displaying setting items related to the operating environment information and images indicating status settings for each of the setting items on the display unit to prompt the occupant to make a selection; and displaying item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images indicating the status settings for the setting items on the display unit, and controlling the illumination unit to change and output the lighting mode in accordance with the status setting for the selected setting item.

[0024] In a seventh aspect, the environmental information setting device displays, on a display unit, setting items related to operating environment information for the vehicle or on-board device and images showing status settings for each setting item to prompt the occupant to make a selection, and then displays, on the display unit, item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images showing the status settings for the setting items, and controls the lighting mode of the lighting unit to be changed according to the status setting for the selected setting item. In this way, the display unit can operate in conjunction with the display unit to display item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant, and the lighting mode of the lighting unit can be changed according to the status setting selected by the occupant and notified to the occupant, thereby improving operability when setting the operating environment maintained in the vehicle or on-board device. Furthermore, because the lighting unit emits light and the photoreceptor that visually recognizes the light image is positioned higher than the display unit, the occupant can understand the status setting of the operating environment from the lighting mode of the lighting unit without having to move their line of sight from a state where they are gazing straight ahead through the cowl, thereby contributing to safe driving.

[0025] An eighth aspect according to the present invention is an environmental information setting program for an environmental information setting device that sets operating environment information in a vehicle or an in-vehicle device, the environmental information setting program comprising: a light source that emits light to a light receiver that is arranged in at least a part of a cowling that is provided in front of the vehicle facing an occupant; an illumination unit that emits display light from the light source through the light receiver to allow the occupant to view a light image; a display unit that is arranged below the cowling; and a control unit that has a processor, the environmental information setting program causing the processor to execute the following processes: displaying on the display unit setting items related to the operating environment information and images indicating status settings for each of the setting items to prompt the occupant to make a selection; and displaying on the display unit item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images indicating the status settings for the setting items, and changing the lighting mode of the illumination unit in accordance with the status setting for the selected setting item, and outputting the result.

[0026] In an eighth aspect, the processor of the control unit sequentially reads and executes the environmental information setting program stored in the memory, whereby the environmental information setting device displays, on the display unit, setting items related to operating environment information for the vehicle or on-board device and images showing status settings for each setting item to prompt the occupant to make a selection. The display unit then displays, on the display unit, item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images showing the status settings for the setting items, and controls the device to change the illumination mode of the lighting unit according to the status setting for the selected setting item. In this way, the display unit can operate in conjunction with the display unit to display item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant, and the lighting mode of the lighting unit can be changed based on the status setting selected by the occupant and notified to the occupant, thereby improving operability when setting the operating environment maintained in the vehicle or on-board device. Furthermore, because the lighting unit emits light and the photoreceptor that visually recognizes the light image is positioned higher than the display unit, the occupant can understand the status setting of the operating environment from the lighting mode of the lighting unit without having to move their line of sight from a state where they are gazing straight ahead through the cowl, thereby contributing to safe driving.

[0027] A ninth aspect according to the present invention is an in-vehicle environmental information setting system comprising a vehicle or an in-vehicle device and an environmental information setting device that sets operating environment information for the vehicle or the in-vehicle device, wherein the environmental information setting device is arranged under a cowl that is provided in front of the vehicle facing an occupant, and comprises a display unit that displays setting items related to the operating environment information and images showing status settings for each of the setting items to prompt the occupant to make a selection, an illumination unit that comprises a light source that emits light to a light receiver that is arranged in at least a part of the cowl, and emits the display light from the light source through the light receiver to allow the occupant to view a light image, and a control unit that displays item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images showing the status settings for the setting items on the display unit, and controls the illumination unit to change and output the lighting mode in accordance with the status setting for the selected setting item, and the control unit controls the display unit and the illumination unit to set the operating environment information for the vehicle or the in-vehicle device.

[0028] In a ninth aspect, the environmental information setting device 10 is provided with, in addition to a display unit disposed below the cowl, an illumination unit including a light source that emits light to a light receiver disposed in at least a portion of the cowl, and emitting the display light from the light source via the light receiver to allow the occupant to view a light image, and a control unit that displays, on the display unit, item images related to setting items selected by the occupant and status images indicating status settings for the setting items, and changes and outputs the illumination mode of the illumination unit according to the status setting for the selected setting item, thereby controlling the setting of an operating environment for the vehicle or an in-vehicle device (such as a music playback device or a navigation device). In this way, the display of the item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant by the display unit and the display of the status image of the status setting for the setting item by the illumination unit are operated in conjunction with each other, and the illumination mode of the illumination unit is changed according to the status setting selected by the occupant and notified to the occupant, thereby improving operability when setting the operating environment maintained in the vehicle or in-vehicle device. Furthermore, since the lighting unit emits light and the photoreceptor that makes the light image visible is positioned at a higher position than the display unit, the occupant can understand the status setting of the operating environment from the lighting mode of the lighting unit without having to move their line of sight from the state in which they are gazing straight ahead through the cowl, and therefore it is possible to provide an in-vehicle environmental information setting system that contributes to safe driving.

[0029] Those skilled in the art will easily understand that the exemplified embodiments according to the present invention can be further modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic enlarged view of the vicinity of a steering wheel when an in-vehicle environmental information setting system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a motorcycle. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a mounting structure of an illumination unit included in the environment information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the environmental information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the basic processing operation of the environmental information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing operation for "changing the illumination mode" by the environment information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing operation for "changing the illumination mode" by the environment information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing yet another example of the processing operation for "changing the illumination mode" by the environment information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the basic processing operation when changing settings by the environmental information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the screen configuration of a "normal screen" generated by the environment information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the screen configuration of the "environment information setting screen" generated by the environment information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention and its notification operation. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a second example of the screen configuration of the "environment information setting screen" generated by the environment information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention and its notification operation. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a third example of the screen configuration of the "environment information setting screen" generated by the environment information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention and its notification operation. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a fourth example of the screen configuration of the "environment information setting screen" generated by the environment information setting device according to the embodiment of the present invention and its notification operation. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of an illumination mode of a status setting corresponding to the environment information setting screen of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of an illumination mode of a status setting corresponding to the environment information setting screen of FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of an illumination mode of a status setting corresponding to the environment information setting screen of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The best mode described below is used to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and therefore, those skilled in the art should be aware that the present invention is not unduly limited by the mode described below (hereinafter referred to as the present mode).

[0032] (Configuration of the embodiment) Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic enlarged view of the vicinity of a steering wheel 2 when an in-vehicle environmental information setting system 30 according to this embodiment is applied to a motorcycle as a vehicle 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a cowl 3, which is attached to the front of the vehicle 1 facing the occupant as a windshield, is manufactured by injection molding using a light-transmitting PC material (light-transmitting resin glass) and is a windshield provided to rectify the wind as the motorcycle travels. The cowl 3 controls the wind blowing on the occupant (driver) riding on the motorcycle while ensuring the occupant's forward visibility. Furthermore, an environmental information setting device 10 according to this embodiment is mounted approximately in the center of the steering wheel 2, which extends left and right from the vehicle body, and includes a display unit 12, an input unit 13, a voice notification unit 14, and a control unit 15 (not shown) (see FIG. 2). The environmental information setting device 10 according to this embodiment also includes lighting units 11 arranged in the left and right regions above the cowl 3. Note that reference numeral 4 denotes side mirrors.

[0033] In the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment, the illumination unit 11 includes, for example, a light source 111 that emits light to a light receiver 112 that is arranged in at least a part of the cowl 3, as shown in Fig. 2, and the light receiver 112 is arranged in left and right regions allocated above the cowl 3 so that its directionality can be recognized. The control unit 15 causes the light source 111 to light up in a predetermined color or blink, thereby guiding display light toward the light receiver 112, and the light guided by the light receiver 112 is emitted toward the occupant (driver), allowing the occupant (driver) to view the light image.

[0034] The light source 111 is composed of, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and may be a single light source emitting light of one color tone (emission color), or multiple light sources 111 each emitting light of a different color tone (emission color). The color tone may also be changed by combining light sources 111 of three primary colors. The light receiver 112 may also be formed in a shape that allows the area to be distinguished by integrating it into one without being arranged in separate areas on the left and right sides of the cowl 3.

[0035] The display unit 12 is disposed below the cowl 3 and provided near the rotation center of the steering handle 2 of the motorcycle. The display unit 12 is, for example, a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The display unit 12 displays vehicle information such as vehicle speed and remaining fuel generated by the control unit 15 as a normal screen (see 120A in FIG. 9), and can also display an environmental information setting screen (see 120B in FIGS. 10 to 13) that displays item images showing setting items related to operating environment information for the vehicle 1 and on-board devices, and status images showing status settings for each setting item, prompting the occupant to make a selection.

[0036] The input unit 13 is composed of, for example, a switch capable of inputting up, down, left, and right directions indicated by arrow keys, and transmits an input signal generated by operating the switch to the control unit 15. The input unit 13 is used to select a setting item (item image) of environmental information displayed on the display unit 12, or to select a status setting (status image) corresponding to the setting item. Note that the input unit 13 may transmit to the control unit 15 the voice of the occupant collected via a microphone (not shown) instead of using a switch. In this case, the control unit 15, which will be described later, has a voice recognition function and can control the lighting unit 11, the display unit 12, and the voice notification unit 14 based on the voice information recognized here.

[0037] The audio notification unit 14 is, for example, a headset with a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) function, which is one of the extended specifications of the short-range wireless communication technology Bluetooth (registered trademark) and enables communication with extremely low power, and can notify setting items, etc. by voice. Note that the audio notification unit 14 does not have to be a headset, and may be, for example, a speaker connected to the control unit 15 by wire.

[0038] According to the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment, the illumination unit 11 emits light, and the photoreceptor 112 that visually recognizes the optical image is disposed at a higher position than the display unit 12. Therefore, the illumination unit 11 can emit or blink the light source 111, allowing the occupant (driver) to easily recognize the optical image without moving their line of sight while gazing straight ahead to drive. Note that the illumination unit 11 may not emit the light guided by the photoreceptor 112 toward the occupant, but may instead emit it toward the cowl 3, and the reflected light may be visually recognized by the occupant as a virtual image. Such a technology for visually recognizing reflected light as a virtual image is described in detail, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6435611.

[0039] Please refer to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment. The environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment can set an operating environment (environmental information) for the vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device. Here, "environmental information" refers to environmental information that indicates the operating environment necessary to operate the vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device in response to a request from a user (a passenger in this case), such as a driving mode such as "normal," "sport," or "eco" when the setting target is the vehicle 1, or a screen brightness or volume indicated by "HIGH," "MID," or "LOW" when the setting target is an in-vehicle device such as a music playback device or navigation device (not shown).

[0040] As described above, the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment includes the illumination unit 11, the display unit 12, the input unit 13, the audio notification unit 14, and the control unit 15.

[0041] 2, the illumination unit 11 includes a light source 111 and a light receiver 112. The light receiver 112 is disposed in at least a part of the cowl 3, and display light emitted from the light source 111 is emitted via the light receiver 112, allowing the occupant to visually recognize a light image. The display unit 12 is disposed below the cowl 3, and can display setting items (item images) related to environmental information and status settings (status images) for each setting item to prompt the occupant to make a selection. The occupant can select a setting item or status setting by operating the input unit 13 or by voice input by the occupant.

[0042] The control unit 15 displays on the display unit 12 an item image related to the setting item selected by the occupant and a status image indicating the status setting for the setting item, and performs control to change the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 according to the status setting for the selected setting item. Here, the "setting item" refers to the driving mode when the target of the environmental setting is the vehicle 1, or the screen brightness, sound volume, etc. when the target of the environmental setting is an in-vehicle device, and the "status setting" refers to information for the setting item such as normal, sport, eco, etc. (when the target of the setting is the vehicle 1), or "HIGH", "MID", "LOW", etc. (when the target of the setting is an in-vehicle device).

[0043] Furthermore, the "item image related to the setting item" refers to, for example, an image shown in screen area 121 of environmental information setting screen 120B shown in FIG. 11, and the "status image related to the status setting" refers to an image shown in screen area 122 of environmental information setting screen 120B. Furthermore, the "control to change the lighting state of lighting unit 11" refers to, by control unit 15, for example, any one of the following, or a combination thereof: (1) control to change the lighting color of light source 111 of lighting unit 11; (2) control to change the brightness of light source 111 of lighting unit 11; (3) control to change the lighting locations of lighting areas (first area 11a, second area 11b) assigned to cowl 3; or (4) control to change the blinking cycle of light source 111 of lighting unit 11.

[0044] The control unit 15 can change the illumination mode by controlling the lighting color, brightness, or lighting pattern of the light source 111 according to a state setting consisting of two values, for example (see FIG. 10).

[0045] Furthermore, the control unit 15 can perform control to notify the state setting by combining the illumination modes for the first area 11a and the second area 11b (see FIG. 2) assigned to the cowl 3 (see FIGS. 11 and 12).

[0046] In addition, the control unit 15 can transmit information about the setting items to the voice notification unit 14 to notify by voice, and can perform control to change the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 to notify the status setting (see FIG. 13).

[0047] In addition, when the setting item changes from a first setting item (for example, "CALL" shown in FIG. 10) to a second setting item different from the first setting item (for example, "SMS" shown in FIG. 10), the control unit 15 can control the lighting unit 11 to change from a display mode corresponding to the first state setting for the first setting item to a display mode corresponding to the second state setting for the second setting item.

[0048] In addition, if a setting change occurs while the display unit 12 is displaying setting items and the lighting unit 11 is outputting a display based on the status setting of the selected setting item, the control unit 15 can control the lighting unit 11 to change and output the lighting mode based on the newly selected status setting.

[0049] The control unit 15 is equipped with a processor (CPU: Central Processing Unit) including a memory, and the memory is equipped with storage elements such as RAM (Random Access Memory) to which a program area and a work area are allocated, or ROM (Read Only Memory). The program area is allocated with an environmental information setting program of the present embodiment executed by the processor, and the work area is allocated with and stores setting items, status settings corresponding to each setting item, and an environmental information setting screen 120B (described later) that are generated by the environmental information setting program of the present embodiment.

[0050] (Operation of the embodiment) Please refer to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the basic processing operation of the environmental information setting device 10 according to this embodiment. Below, the operation of the environmental information setting device 10 according to this embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 4.

[0051] 4, the control unit 15 first detects the start-up of the vehicle 1 (step ST11). Here, a vehicle ECU (not shown) detects that an ignition switch (IG) is turned ON (IG-ON) and notifies the control unit 15, thereby enabling the control unit 15 to detect the start-up of the vehicle 1. When the control unit 15 confirms the start-up of the vehicle 1 (step ST11 "YES"), it displays, for example, a normal screen 120A, an example of the screen configuration of which is shown in FIG. 9, on the display unit 12 (step ST12). Here, the normal screen 120A displays vehicle speed information acquired via the vehicle ECU. In addition to the vehicle speed information, a remaining fuel value may also be displayed.

[0052] Next, when the control unit 15 detects an environmental information setting request generated by an environmental setting operation of the input unit 13 by the occupant (for example, a long press of a specific switch, etc.) or a voice input (step ST13 "YES"), the control unit 15 displays an environmental information setting screen 120B (SETTING) including setting items and status settings for each setting item on the display unit 12 (step ST14), for example, as shown in examples of screen configurations in Figures 10 to 12. Note that, on the environmental information setting screen 120B, item images indicating setting items are assigned and displayed in a screen area 121, and status images indicating status settings are assigned and displayed in a screen area 122.

[0053] Next, under the control of the control unit 15, the voice notification unit 14 notifies the selected setting item by voice (step ST15), and at this time, the selected setting item is highlighted (outlined) by a cursor on the display unit 12 (see FIGS. 10 to 13). Then, when the occupant operates the input unit 13 or sets the state of the selected setting item by voice input (step ST16 "YES"), under the control of the control unit 15, the lighting unit 11 changes the lighting mode and outputs (notifies) the result, and a process for "changing lighting mode" is executed (step ST17).

[0054] Here, the state setting for the setting item is expressed, for example, by two values, ON / OFF, as shown on the environmental information setting screen 120B of Fig. 10, or by three values, "HIGH," "MID," and "LOW," as shown on the environmental information setting screen 120B of Fig. 11, or by an analog value such as volume, as shown on the environmental information setting screen 120B of Fig. 12. In this case, the lighting mode is determined by the control unit 15 performing control to change the lighting color of the light source 111 of the lighting unit 11, control to change the brightness of the light source 111 of the lighting unit 11, control to change the lit locations (first area 11a, second area 11b) of the lighting areas assigned to the cowl 3, or control to change the blinking cycle of the light source 111 of the lighting unit 11. Details will be described later using the tables of Figs. 14 to 16.

[0055] For example, as shown on the environmental information setting screen 120B in FIG. 13, when "Smartphone Link" is selected from the setting items, a hierarchical structure appears that expands to the setting items at the lower level, "CALL," "SMS," "MUSIC," "MAP," and "GPS." If the setting items are only displayed and it is not possible to set the status, only the setting items are notified by voice via the voice notification unit 14.

[0056] Next, the control unit 15 checks whether or not a cursor movement operation has been performed on the display unit 12 (step ST18). If a cursor movement operation has been performed (step ST18 "YES"), the display unit 12 returns to the processing of step ST14 and displays the setting items after the cursor movement. On the other hand, if a cursor movement operation has not been performed (step ST18 "NO"), the control unit 15 determines whether or not an end operation has been performed (step ST19). If an end operation has been performed (step ST19 "YES"), the control unit 15 returns the display on the display unit 12 to the normal screen 120A and ends the series of processes (step ST20). If an end operation has not been performed (step ST19 "NO"), the control unit 15 returns to the display of the environmental information setting screen 120B of step ST14 and repeatedly executes the environmental information setting operation of steps ST14 to ST17.

[0057] Here, the detailed processing procedure for the "changing the lighting mode" processing in step ST17 of FIG. 4 will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the environmental information setting screen 120B shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, and the tables shown in FIGS. 14 to 16.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing operation for "changing the lighting mode" by the environment information setting device 10 of this embodiment (when the state setting corresponding to the selected setting item is selected with two values, ON / OFF), FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the screen configuration of the environment information setting screen 120B in that case and its notification operation, and FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the lighting modes in a table.

[0059] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing operation for "changing the lighting mode" by the environment information setting device 10 of this embodiment (when selecting a state setting corresponding to a selected setting item using three values), FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the screen configuration of the environment information setting screen 120B in that case and its notification operation, and FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the lighting modes in a table.

[0060] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing yet another example of the processing operation for "changing the lighting mode" by the environment information setting device 10 of this embodiment (when the state setting corresponding to the selected setting item is selected by analog (volume value)), FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the screen configuration of the environment information setting screen 120B in that case and an example of its notification operation, and FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the lighting mode in a table.

[0061] When the state setting for a setting item is selected as a binary value of ON / OFF, the control unit 15 can express the lighting mode by changing the lighting color, brightness, lighting locations assigned to the cowl 3, and blinking cycle of the lighting unit 11, for example, as shown in the table of FIG. 14.

[0062] In the flowchart of Fig. 5, when the state setting for the setting item displayed on the environmental information setting screen 120B is selected between two values, ON / OFF (step ST161 "YES") and the illumination mode is expressed by changing the lighting color (step ST162 "YES"), for example, as shown in Fig. 14, in the case of ON, the control unit 15 controls the lighting color to be, for example, green (G) and to light up or flash the first area 11a or the second area 11b, or both areas 11a and 11b, of the cowl 3. In addition, in the case of OFF, the control unit 15 controls the lighting color to be, for example, red (R) and to light up or flash the first area 11a or the second area 11b, or both areas 11a and 11b, of the cowl 3 (step ST163).

[0063] On the other hand, when the illumination mode is expressed by a change in brightness (step ST164 "YES") rather than a change in lighting color (step ST162 "NO"), for example, as shown in FIG. 14, when the control unit 15 is ON, the control unit 15 controls the first area 11a or the second area 11b of the cowl 3, or both of the areas 11a and 11b, to light up or flash at a brightness higher than normal. When the control unit 15 is OFF, the control unit 15 controls the first area 11a or the second area 11b assigned to the cowl 3, or both of the areas 11a and 11b, to light up or flash at a brightness lower than that when the control unit 15 is ON (step ST165).

[0064] Furthermore, when the illumination mode is expressed by a change in the lit location (step ST166 "YES") rather than a change in brightness (step ST164 "NO"), the control unit 15 controls only the first region 11a assigned to the left side of the cowl 3 to light up or blink when ON, and controls only the second region 11b assigned to the right side of the cowl 3 to light up or blink when OFF (step 167). Note that the left and right of the lit or blinking locations may be reversed between ON and OFF.

[0065] Furthermore, when the lighting mode is expressed by a change in the blinking cycle (step ST168 "YES") rather than a change in the lighting location (step ST166 "NO"), the control unit 15 controls the first region 11a assigned to the left side of the cowl 3 or the second region 11b assigned to the right side, or both of the regions 11a, 11b, to blink at a relatively fast cycle when ON, and at a relatively slow cycle when OFF (step 169). Note that the blinking cycle may be reversed between when ON and when OFF.

[0066] The change in the lighting state expressed by the binary values ​​of ON / OFF may be realized by combining the control of the lighting color, brightness, lighting location, and blinking cycle described above.

[0067] An example of a screen configuration after the above-described environmental information setting operation is completed is shown in Fig. 10 as an environmental information setting screen 120B (SETTING). Here, the environmental information setting screen 120B is divided into a screen area 121 in which setting items are displayed, and a screen area 122 in which status settings are displayed. On the environmental information setting screen 120B shown in Fig. 10, the setting items selected by the occupant are telephone "CALL," short message "SMS," and music "MUSIC," and the selected setting item (here, "CALL") is highlighted (written in white) by the cursor. The status setting "ON" for the setting item "CALL," the status setting "OFF" for the setting item "SMS," and the status setting "ON" for the setting item "MUSIC" are respectively set as environmental information.

[0068] The setting item selected here is output as voice by the voice notification unit 14, and the ON / OFF state setting by the occupant is notified to the occupant by the lighting unit 11 changing the lighting mode under the control of the control unit 15.

[0069] On the other hand, for example, when the setting items displayed on the environment information setting screen 120B shown in FIG. 11 are selected from three values ​​of “HIGH”, “MID”, and “LOW” (step ST170 “YES” in FIG. 5), the processing procedure for changing the lighting mode follows the flowchart shown in FIG. 6.

[0070] In the flowchart of FIG. 6, when the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 is expressed by a change in lighting color (step ST171 "YES"), for example, as shown in the table of FIG. 15, if the colors corresponding to each of the three values ​​are defined as, for example, red (R) for "HIGH," green (G) for "MID," and blue (B) for "LOW," control is performed to light up or flash the first region 11a assigned to the left side of the cowl 3 or the second region 11b assigned to the right side of the cowl 3, or both of the regions 11a and 11b, in the corresponding color corresponding to the defined three values ​​(step S172).

[0071] Furthermore, when the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 is expressed by a change in brightness (step ST173 "YES") rather than a change in lighting color (step ST171 "NO"), for example, as shown in FIG. 15, if the brightness corresponding to each of the three values ​​is defined as low brightness for "HIGH", medium brightness for "MID", and high brightness for "LOW", then control is performed to light up or blink the first region 11a assigned to the left side of the cowl 3 or the second region 11b assigned to the right side of the cowl 3, or both of the regions 11a and 11b, at the corresponding brightness corresponding to the defined three values ​​(step S174).

[0072] Furthermore, when the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 is expressed by a change in the lighting location (step ST175 "YES") rather than a change in brightness (step ST173 "NO"), for example, as shown in the table in FIG. 15, the lighting locations corresponding to each of the three values ​​can be defined as follows: for "HIGH", only the first region 11a assigned to the left side of the cowl 3 is the lighting location; for "MID", both the first region 11a and the second region 11b are the lighting locations; and for "LOW", only the second region 11b assigned to the right side of the cowl 3 is the lighting location. Then, control is performed to light up or flash the lighting locations corresponding to the defined three values ​​(step S176).

[0073] Furthermore, when the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 is expressed by a change in the blinking cycle (step ST177 "YES") rather than a change in the illuminated location (step ST175 "NO"), for example, as shown in FIG. 15, if the blinking cycle corresponding to each of the three values ​​is defined as a relatively "fast cycle" for "HIGH," a "medium cycle" for "MID," and a relatively "slow cycle" for "LOW," control is performed to blink the first region 11a assigned to the left of the cowl 3, the second region 11b assigned to the right, or both of the regions 11a and 11b, at the cycle corresponding to the defined three values ​​(step S178).

[0074] An example of a screen configuration after the above-described environmental information setting operation is completed is shown in Fig. 11 as an environmental information setting screen 120B (SETTING). On the environmental information setting screen 120B, setting items are displayed in a screen area 121, and status settings are displayed in a screen area 122. In the example shown in Fig. 11, the setting items to be selected are "screen brightness," "message reading speed," and "driving mode" of the vehicle 1, and the setting item being set (here, "screen brightness") is highlighted by the cursor. The status setting "MID" for the setting item "screen brightness," "HIGH" for the setting item "reading speed," and "Sports" for the setting item "driving mode" are each set as environmental information.

[0075] The setting item selected here is output by voice notification unit 14, and the state setting by the occupant to "HIGH", "MID", "LOW" or "Sports", "Normal", or "Eco" is notified to the occupant by lighting unit 11 changing the lighting mode under the control of control unit 15.

[0076] On the other hand, for example, when the setting items displayed on the environment information setting screen 120B shown in FIG. 12 are expressed as analog values ​​such as volume (sound volume) (step ST180 “YES” in FIG. 5), the processing procedure for “changing the lighting mode” follows the flowchart shown in FIG. 7.

[0077] In FIG. 7, when the illumination mode of the illumination unit 11 is expressed by a change in illumination color (step ST181 "YES"), for example, as shown in FIG. 16, the control unit 15 controls to light up or blink the first region 11a assigned to the left region of the cowl 3, the second region 11b assigned to the right region of the cowl 3, or both regions 11a and 11b, in accordance with the illumination ratio of the illumination colors red (R) and green (G) set according to the volume value (step ST182). Specifically, when the volume value is relatively small, the illumination ratio is 100% red (R) and 0% green (G). On the other hand, when the volume value is relatively large, the illumination ratio of red (R) is reduced and the illumination ratio of green (G) is increased according to the volume value. In other words, as the volume value increases, the illumination ratio of red (R) and green (G) changes, and when the volume value is maximum, the illumination ratio is 0% red (R) and 100% green (G). It should be noted that the color may be expressed by a combination of other colors other than red (R) and green (G).

[0078] Furthermore, when the lighting mode is expressed by a change in the brightness of the lighting unit 11 (step ST183 "YES") rather than a change in the lighting color (step ST181 "NO"), the control unit 15 controls, for example, to turn off the lights or lower the brightness when the volume value is small, and to light up or flash the first area 11a assigned to the left side of the cowl 3 or the second area 11b assigned to the right side, or both areas 11a, 11b, with the brightness increasing as the volume value increases (step ST184).

[0079] Furthermore, when the lighting mode is expressed not by a change in brightness (step ST183 "NO") but by a change in the lit area of ​​the lighting unit 11 (step ST185 "YES"), the control unit 15 controls so that only the first area 11a is lit or blinks when the volume value is minimum, and as the volume value increases, the lit area moves from the first area 11a assigned to the left side of the cowl 3 to the second area 11b assigned to the right side, and when the volume value becomes maximum, controls so that only the second area 11b on the right side is lit or blinks (step ST186).

[0080] Furthermore, if the lighting mode is expressed by the lighting unit 11 changing the blinking cycle (step ST187 "YES") rather than by changing the lighting location (step ST185 "NO"), the control unit 15 controls the lighting unit 11 to blink at a relatively slow cycle when the volume value is minimum, and to blink at a faster cycle as the volume value increases (step ST188).

[0081] An example of a screen configuration after the above-described environmental information setting operation is completed is shown in Fig. 12 as an environmental information setting screen 120B (SETTING). On the environmental information setting screen 120B, setting items are displayed in a screen area 121, and status settings are displayed in a screen area 122. In the example shown in Fig. 12, the setting items to be selected are the music volume "Volume" and the "sensing sensitivity" of the sensor mounted on the vehicle 1, and the setting item being set (here, "Volume") is highlighted by the cursor. For both the setting items "Volume" and "sensing sensitivity," the volume or sensing sensitivity is set depending on the position of the cursor that slides between the minimum and maximum values.

[0082] The setting item selected here is output as voice by the voice notification unit 14, and the state setting of the analog value by the occupant is notified to the occupant by the lighting unit 11 changing the lighting mode under the control of the control unit 15.

[0083] As described above, in the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment, the illumination unit 11, which emits display light from the light source 111 via the light receiver 112 to allow the occupant to view a light image, is disposed in the cowl 3 so that the occupant can face forward and focus on the forward field of view while driving the vehicle 1. The control unit 15 displays, on the display unit 12, item images related to setting items selected by the occupant and status images indicating the status settings for the setting items, and controls to change the illumination mode of the illumination unit 11 according to the status setting for the selected setting item. In this way, the display of the item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant by the display unit 12 and the display of the status images indicating the status settings for the setting items by the illumination unit 11 are operated in conjunction with each other, thereby enabling the operating environment (environmental information) to be set for the vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device.

[0084] The environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment can change (change settings) the operating environment once environmental information is set and stored in the vehicle 1 or the in-vehicle device at any timing. Details of this will be described below.

[0085] Please refer to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the basic processing operation when changing settings by the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment. In Fig. 8, the processing of steps ST21 to ST27 corresponds to the processing of steps ST11 to ST17 in Fig. 4, respectively, the processing of step ST29 in Fig. 8 corresponds to step ST18 in Fig. 4, and the processing of steps ST31 to ST32 in Fig. 8 corresponds to steps ST19 to ST20 in Fig. 4, so explanations will be omitted to avoid duplication.

[0086] The flowchart in Fig. 8 differs from the basic processing operation flowchart for setting environmental information shown in Fig. 4 in that a "setting change determination process" (step ST28) is inserted between the "lighting mode change" process (step ST27) and the "cursor movement determination process" (step ST29), and a "process for maintaining the display of the lighting unit" (step ST30) is inserted between the "cursor movement determination process" (step ST29) and the "termination operation determination process" (step ST31). Specifically, under the control of the control unit 15, when the display unit 12 displays setting items (step ST24) and the lighting unit 11 outputs a display based on the status setting of the selected setting item ("YES" in step ST28), the control unit 15 performs control to change the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 based on the newly selected status setting and output the display (steps ST26 and ST27).

[0087] If there is no change in the settings (step ST28 "NO"), the control unit 15 executes a process to maintain the display of the lighting unit 11 without changing the lighting mode (step ST30), and similar to the basic processing operation when setting environmental information shown in FIG. 4, determines whether or not an end operation has been performed (step ST31). If there is no end operation (step ST31 "NO"), the control unit 15 repeatedly executes the processes from step ST24 onwards, and if an end operation is detected (step ST31 "YES"), executes a process to display the normal screen 120A (vehicle speed) on the display unit 12 (step ST32).

[0088] In this way, when the display unit 12 is displaying the setting items and the lighting unit 11 is outputting a display based on the status setting of the selected setting item, if there is a change in the settings, the control unit 15 controls the lighting unit 11 to change and output the lighting mode based on the newly selected status setting.Therefore, once the operating environment (environmental information) is set and maintained in the vehicle 1 or the in-vehicle device, the settings of the operating environment can be changed at any time and reflected in the operating environment of the vehicle 1 or the in-vehicle device not shown.

[0089] (Effects of the embodiment) 1 and 2, the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment is an environmental information setting device 10 that sets operating environment information for a vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device. The environmental information setting device 10 is disposed below the cowl 3 that is provided in front of the vehicle 1 facing the occupant, and includes a display unit 12 that displays setting items related to operating environment information and images indicating status settings for each setting item to prompt the occupant to make a selection, an illumination unit 11 that includes a light source 111 that emits light to a light receiver 112 that is disposed in at least a part of the cowl 3 and that emits the display light from the light source 111 via the light receiver 112 to allow the occupant to view a light image, and a control unit 15 that displays, on the display unit 12, item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images indicating the status settings for the setting items, and controls to change the illumination mode of the illumination unit 11 in accordance with the status setting for the selected setting item.

[0090] According to the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment, the illumination unit 11, which emits display light from a light source 111 via a light receiver 112 to allow the occupant to view a light image, is disposed in the cowl 3 so that the occupant can face forward and focus on the forward field of view while driving the vehicle 1, and the control unit 15 displays, on the display unit 12, item images related to setting items selected by the occupant and status images indicating the status settings for the setting items, and performs control to change the illumination mode of the illumination unit 11 according to the status setting for the selected setting item. In this way, the display unit 12 can be made to display, in conjunction with the display of the item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant, and the illumination mode of the illumination unit 11 can be changed according to the status setting selected by the occupant and notified to the occupant, thereby improving operability when setting the operating environment stored in the vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device. Furthermore, since the lighting unit 11 emits light and the photoreceptor 112 that makes the light image visible is positioned at a higher position than the display unit 12, the occupant can grasp the state setting of the operating environment from the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 without having to move their line of sight from the state in which they are gazing straight ahead through the cowl 3, thereby contributing to safe driving.

[0091] Furthermore, according to the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment, the control unit 15 controls the lighting color, brightness, or lighting pattern of the light source 111 according to the state setting consisting of two values ​​to change the lighting mode, so that the occupant can easily and quickly understand the state setting from the light information.

[0092] Furthermore, according to the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment, the control unit 15 performs control to notify the status setting by combining the lighting modes for the first area 11a and the second area 11b assigned to the cowl 3, so that a status image indicating a more complex status setting, such as a status setting that selects three or more values ​​or an analog value such as a volume, can be expressed by combining the lighting modes of the lighting unit 11. This improves operability when setting operating environment information for the vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device, and also contributes to safe driving because the status setting can be grasped without moving the driver's line of sight from the cowl 3 arranged above the display unit 12.

[0093] Furthermore, according to the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment, the control unit 15 transmits information regarding the setting items to the audio notification unit 14 to provide audio notification, and controls the lighting unit 11 to change the lighting mode and notify the status setting, so that the occupant can understand the setting items and status setting without moving their eyes or staring at the setting items displayed on the display unit 12, which contributes to safe driving.

[0094] Furthermore, according to the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment, when a setting item changes from a first setting item to a second setting item, the control unit 15 controls the lighting unit 11 to change from a display mode corresponding to a first state setting for the first setting item to a display mode corresponding to a second state setting for the second setting item, so that even if a setting item changes, the display mode can be continuously changed to a display mode corresponding to the state setting for the setting item. Furthermore, the occupant can more easily and quickly grasp the change in state setting from the notification of the setting item by the audio notification unit 14 and the change in the lighting mode by the lighting unit 11 without having to gaze at the display unit 12. Furthermore, the occupant can grasp the setting item and state setting from the forward field of view visible through the cowl without moving their line of sight, which contributes to safe driving.

[0095] Furthermore, according to the environmental information setting device 10 of this embodiment, while the display unit 12 displays setting items and the lighting unit 11 outputs a display based on the status setting of the selected setting item, the control unit 15 controls the lighting unit 11 to change and output the lighting mode based on the newly selected status setting if a setting change occurs. Therefore, once the operating environment (environmental information) is set and stored in the vehicle 1 or the in-vehicle device, the setting of the operating environment can be changed at any timing and reflected in the vehicle 1 or the in-vehicle device. Furthermore, when changing the setting, as when setting the environmental information, the display unit 12 displays an item image related to the setting item selected by the occupant and the lighting unit 11 displays a status image of the status setting for the setting item in conjunction with each other. Therefore, the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 is changed depending on the status setting selected by the occupant to change the setting and the occupant is notified of the change. This improves operability when setting the operating environment stored in the vehicle 1 or the in-vehicle device.

[0096] 1 and 2, the environmental information setting method of this embodiment is an environmental information setting method in which an environmental information setting device 10 sets operating environment information for a vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device, the operating environment information setting device 10 including an illumination unit 11 including a light source 111 that emits light to a light receiver 112 that is disposed in at least a part of a cowl 3 that is provided in front of the vehicle 1 facing the occupant, and an illumination unit 11 that emits display light from the light source 111 via the light receiver 112 to cause the occupant to view a light image, and a display unit 12 that is disposed below the cowl. The environmental information setting method includes, for example, the steps of displaying, on the display unit 12, setting items related to operating environment information and images indicating status settings for each of the setting items to prompt the occupant to make a selection (ST13 to ST15), as shown in FIG. 4, and the steps of displaying, on the display unit 12, item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images indicating the status settings for the setting items, and controlling the illumination unit 11 to change the illumination mode in accordance with the status setting for the selected setting item (ST16 to ST17).

[0097] According to the environmental information setting method of this embodiment, the environmental information setting device 10 displays, on the display unit 12, setting items related to operating environment information for the vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device (e.g., the display unit 12, the audio notification unit 14, etc.) and images showing status settings for each of the setting items to prompt the occupant to make a selection, displays, on the display unit 12, item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images showing the status settings for the setting items, and controls the lighting unit 11 to change and output the lighting mode in accordance with the status setting for the selected setting item. In this way, the display unit 12 can operate in conjunction with the display of the item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and the lighting unit 11 to display the status images of the status settings for the setting items, and the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 is changed depending on the status setting selected by the occupant and notified to the occupant, thereby improving operability when setting the operating environment stored in the vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device. Furthermore, since the lighting unit 11 emits light and the photoreceptor 112 that makes the light image visible is positioned at a higher position than the display unit 12, the occupant can grasp the state setting of the operating environment from the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 without having to move their line of sight from the state in which they are gazing straight ahead through the cowl 3, thereby contributing to safe driving.

[0098] The environmental information setting program of this embodiment is an environmental information setting program for an environmental information setting device 10, which includes, for example, a light source 111 that emits light to a photoreceptor 112 that is arranged in at least a part of a cowl 3 that is provided in front of the vehicle 1 facing the occupant, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, an illumination unit 11 that emits display light from the light source 111 through the photoreceptor 112 to allow the occupant to see a light image, a display unit 12 that is arranged below the cowl 3, and a control unit 15 that has a processor, and which sets operating environment information in the vehicle 1 or an on-board device (for example, the display unit 12 and the audio notification unit 14, etc.). The environmental information setting program causes the processor to execute, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a process of displaying on the display unit 12 setting items related to the operating environment information and images showing the status settings for each of the setting items to prompt the occupant to make a selection (steps ST13 to ST15), and a process of displaying on the display unit 12 item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images showing the status settings for the setting items, and changing and outputting the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 according to the status setting for the selected setting item (steps ST16 to ST17).

[0099] According to the environmental information setting program of this embodiment, the processor of the control unit 15 sequentially reads and executes the environmental information setting program stored in the memory, whereby the environmental information setting device 10 displays, on the display unit 12, setting items related to operating environment information for the vehicle 1 or the in-vehicle device and images showing status settings for each setting item to prompt the occupant to make a selection, displays, on the display unit 12, item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images showing the status settings for the setting items, and controls the lighting unit 11 to change and output the lighting mode in accordance with the status setting for the selected setting item. In this way, the display of the item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant by the display unit 12 and the display of the status images of the status settings for the setting items by the lighting unit 11 are operated in conjunction with each other, and the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 is changed depending on the status setting selected by the occupant and notified to the occupant, thereby improving operability when setting the operating environment held in the vehicle 1 or the in-vehicle device. Furthermore, since the lighting unit 11 emits light and the photoreceptor 112 that makes the light image visible is positioned higher than the display unit 12, the occupant can grasp the state setting of the operating environment from the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 without having to move their line of sight from the state in which they are gazing straight ahead through the cowl 3 positioned above the display unit 12, thereby contributing to safe driving.

[0100] The in-vehicle environmental information setting system of this embodiment is, for example, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, an in-vehicle environmental information setting system 30 that includes a vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device (such as a music playback device or a navigation device) and an environmental information setting device 10 that sets operating environment information in the vehicle 1 or the in-vehicle device. In the in-vehicle environmental information setting system 30, the environmental information setting device 10 is arranged below the cowl 3 that is provided in front of the vehicle 1 facing the occupant, and has a display unit 12 that displays setting items related to operating environment information and images showing status settings for each setting item to prompt the occupant to make a selection; an illumination unit 11 that consists of a light source 111 that emits light to a light receiver 112 that is arranged in at least a part of the cowl 3, and emits the display light from the light source 111 through the light receiver 112 to allow the occupant to see the light image; and a control unit 15 that displays item images related to the setting items selected by the occupant and status images showing the status settings for the setting items on the display unit 12, and controls the illumination unit 11 to change and output the lighting mode in accordance with the status setting for the selected setting item, and the control unit 15 controls the display unit 12 and the illumination unit 11 to set operating environment information for the vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device.

[0101] According to the in-vehicle environmental information setting system 30 of this embodiment, the environmental information setting device 10 is provided with, in addition to the display unit 12 arranged below the cowl 3, an illumination unit 11 which comprises a light source 111 which emits light to a light receiver 112 arranged on at least a part of the cowl 3, and which emits the display light from the light source 111 through the light receiver 112 to allow the occupant to see a light image, and a control unit 15 displays, on the display unit 12, item images relating to setting items selected by the occupant and status images indicating the status settings for the setting items, and controls the illumination unit 11 to change and output the lighting mode in accordance with the status setting for the selected setting item, thereby controlling the setting of the operating environment for the vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device (such as a music playback device or a navigation device). In this way, the display of item images related to setting items selected by the occupant by the display unit 12 and the display of status images of status settings for the setting items by the lighting unit 11 are operated in conjunction with each other, and the lighting mode by the lighting unit 11 is changed depending on the status setting selected by the occupant and notified to the occupant, thereby providing an in-vehicle environment information setting system 30 with improved operability when setting the operating environment held in the vehicle 1 or an in-vehicle device. Also, because the lighting unit 11 emits light and the photoreceptor 112 that visually recognizes the light image is positioned higher than the display unit 12, the occupant can understand the status setting of the operating environment from the lighting mode of the lighting unit 11 without having to move their line of sight from the state in front of them through the cowl 3 for driving, and therefore it is possible to provide an in-vehicle environment information setting system 30 that contributes to safe driving.

[0102] The present invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, and those skilled in the art will be able to easily modify the above-described exemplary embodiments to the extent that they fall within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0103] 1 Vehicle (motorcycle), 2 Steering wheel, 3 Cowl, 4 Side mirror, 10 Environmental information setting device, 11 Lighting unit, 11a First area, 11b Second area, 12 Display unit, 13 Input unit, 14 Audio notification unit, 15 Control unit, 30 In-vehicle environmental information setting system, 111 Light source, 112 Light receiver, 120A Normal screen, 120B Environmental information setting screen, 121, 122 Screen areas

Claims

1. An environment information setting device that sets operating environment information for a vehicle or an in-vehicle device, a display unit disposed under a cowl provided at the front of the vehicle facing an occupant, the display unit displaying setting items related to the operating environment information and images showing status settings for each of the setting items to prompt the occupant to make a selection; an illumination unit including a light source that emits light to a light receiver disposed in at least a part of the cowl, and emitting display light from the light source through the light receiver to allow a passenger to visually recognize a light image; an environmental information setting device having a control unit that displays, on the display unit, an item image related to the setting item selected by the occupant and a status image indicating the status setting for the setting item, and that controls the lighting unit to change and output the lighting mode in accordance with the status setting for the selected setting item.

2. The control unit 2. The environmental information setting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting mode is changed by controlling the lighting color, brightness, or lighting pattern of the light source in accordance with the state setting consisting of two values.

3. The control unit The environmental information setting device according to claim 1 , wherein control is performed to notify the state setting by combining the illumination modes for the first area and the second area assigned to the cowl.

4. Further comprising a voice notification unit, The control unit 2. The environmental information setting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit configured to transmit information about the setting items to the voice notification unit to notify the setting items by voice; and a control unit configured to change the lighting mode of the lighting unit to notify the setting items by voice.

5. The control unit 2. The environmental information setting device according to claim 1, wherein, when the setting item changes from a first setting item to a second setting item different from the first setting item, the lighting unit is controlled to change the display mode from the first state setting corresponding to the first setting item to a second state setting corresponding to the second setting item.

6. The control unit 6. The environmental information setting device according to claim 1, wherein, when a setting change occurs while the display unit is displaying the setting items and the lighting unit is outputting a display based on a status setting of the selected setting item, the lighting unit changes the lighting mode of the lighting unit based on the newly selected status setting and outputs the changed lighting mode.

7. An environmental information setting method in which an environmental information setting device including a light source that emits light to a light receiver that is disposed in at least a part of a cowl that is disposed in front of a vehicle facing an occupant, an illumination unit that emits display light from the light source through the light receiver to allow an occupant to visually recognize a light image, and a display unit that is disposed below the cowl, sets operating environmental information in a vehicle or an in-vehicle device, the method comprising: a step of displaying an image indicating setting items related to the operating environment information and status settings for each of the setting items on the display unit to prompt the occupant to make a selection; an item image relating to the setting item selected by the occupant and a status image indicating the status setting for the setting item on the display unit, and a control step of changing and outputting the lighting mode of the lighting unit according to the status setting for the selected setting item.

8. An environmental information setting program for an environmental information setting device that sets operating environment information for a vehicle or an in-vehicle device, the environmental information setting program comprising: a light source that emits light to a light receiver that is disposed in at least a part of a cowl that is disposed in front of a vehicle facing an occupant; an illumination unit that emits display light from the light source through the light receiver to allow an occupant to view an optical image; a display unit that is disposed below the cowl; and a control unit that has a processor, the processor, a process of displaying an image showing setting items related to the operating environment information and status settings for each of the setting items on the display unit to prompt the occupant to make a selection; an environmental information setting program that executes a process of displaying on the display unit an item image related to the setting item selected by the occupant and a status image indicating the status setting for the setting item, and changing and outputting the lighting mode of the lighting unit according to the status setting for the selected setting item.

9. a vehicle or an on-board device; an in-vehicle environment information setting system comprising an environment information setting device that sets operating environment information for the vehicle or the in-vehicle device, The environmental information setting device a display unit disposed under a cowl provided at the front of the vehicle facing an occupant, the display unit displaying setting items related to the operating environment information and images showing status settings for each of the setting items to prompt the occupant to make a selection; an illumination unit including a light source that emits light to a light receiver disposed in at least a part of the cowl, and emitting display light from the light source through the light receiver to allow a passenger to visually recognize a light image; and a control unit that controls the display unit to display an item image related to the setting item selected by the occupant and a status image indicating the status setting for the setting item, and to change and output the lighting mode of the lighting unit according to the status setting for the selected setting item, wherein the control unit controls the display unit and the lighting unit to set the operating environment information for the vehicle or the in-vehicle device.

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