Display control device

Abstract

The display control device of the present disclosure can allow a driver to grasp a lane in which traveling is recommended.SOLUTION: The display control device includes a display control unit configured to display, on a display unit provided around a driver's seat of a host vehicle, a host vehicle image simulating the host vehicle and a lane image simulating a lane in which the host vehicle can travel, and display a first region including the lane image indicating a recommended lane in which traveling of the host vehicle is recommended among the lanes and a second region including the lane image indicating the lane other than the recommended lane in different modes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle control device that can perform automatic driving that gives a sense of security to the occupants. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7048398 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, an image of the vehicle itself and an image of the surroundings of the vehicle are displayed on a display unit (see FIG. 8 of Patent Document 1). However, conventional navigation systems have not been able to adequately present recommended driving lanes.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a display control device that allows a driver to know the lane in which driving is recommended. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The display control device described in claim 1 is provided with a display control unit that displays, on a display unit provided around the driver's seat of the vehicle, an image of the vehicle that imitates the vehicle and lane images that imitate lanes in which the vehicle can travel, and that displays, in different modes, a first area that includes lane images that indicate recommended lanes in which the vehicle is recommended to travel, and a second area that includes lane images that indicate lanes other than the recommended lanes.

[0007] The display control device according to claim 1 can make a driver aware of the lane in which it is recommended to drive.

[0008] The display control device according to claim 2 is the display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays a route image showing the driving route of the host vehicle, the route image being changed and displayed based on the driving mode of the host vehicle. According to the display control device according to claim 3, the display control device allows the user to grasp the lanes and routes recommended for driving according to the driving mode.

[0009] The display control device according to claim 3 is the display control device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays images of other vehicles simulating other vehicles on the lanes in the first area and the second area, and changes the appearance of the images of other vehicles depending on the amount of congestion information for each lane. The display control device according to claim 3 allows the user to know which lanes are recommended for driving depending on the congestion.

[0010] The display control device according to claim 4 is the display control device according to claim 3, wherein the display control unit displays the other vehicle image in the first area and the other vehicle image in the second area in different modes. According to the display control device according to claim 4, it is possible to make the user understand the lane in which it is recommended to travel based on the difference in the mode of the other vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the technology of the present disclosure, it is possible to control the display mode of lanes in which driving is recommended. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a vehicle. [Figure 2] 10 is a first display example displayed on the monitor. [Figure 3] 10 is a second display example displayed on the monitor. [Figure 4] 10 is a third example of a display displayed on the monitor. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a specification process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The vehicle 10 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a vehicle 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle 10 includes a meter ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 20. The vehicle 10 is an example of a "vehicle" in the present disclosure, and the meter ECU 20 is an example of a "display control device" in the present disclosure.

[0015] The meter ECU 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, a storage 24, an in-vehicle communication I / F (Interface) 25, an input / output I / F 26, and a wireless communication I / F 27. The CPU 21, the ROM 22, the RAM 23, the storage 24, the in-vehicle communication I / F 25, the input / output I / F 26, and the wireless communication I / F 27 are connected to each other via an internal bus 28 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0016] The CPU 21 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each part. That is, the CPU 21 reads programs from the ROM 22 or the storage 24 and executes the programs using the RAM 23 as a work area. The CPU 21 controls each of the above components and performs various arithmetic processing in accordance with the programs recorded in the ROM 22 or the storage 24.

[0017] The ROM 22 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 23 serves as a working area for temporarily storing programs or data.

[0018] The storage 24 is configured with a storage device such as an eMMC (embedded multi media card) or a UFS (universal flash storage), and stores various programs and various data. A display control program 24A is stored in the storage 24. The display control program 24A is a program for causing the CPU 21 to execute specific processing (see FIG. 2), which will be described later.

[0019] The in-vehicle communication I / F 25 is an interface for connecting to another ECU 30. This interface uses a communication standard based on the CAN protocol. The in-vehicle communication I / F 25 is connected to an external bus 29. Although not shown, in addition to the ECU 30, multiple ECUs are provided for each function of the vehicle 10. The ECU 30 of this embodiment has a function that can determine a recommended lane and a recommended route.

[0020] The input / output I / F 26 is an interface for communicating with an in-vehicle device 40 mounted on the vehicle 10 .

[0021] The on-vehicle devices 40 are various devices mounted on the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 includes a sensor group 42 and a monitor 44 as examples of the on-vehicle devices 40.

[0022] The sensor group 42 includes sensors for detecting the state of the vehicle 10 and the situation around the vehicle 10, such as a 3D-LiDAR, a millimeter wave sensor, an infrared sensor, a blinker sensor, an accelerator position sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a steering angle sensor, an angular velocity sensor, a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor, an illuminance sensor, a gyro sensor, and an acceleration sensor, as well as a plurality of cameras for capturing images around the vehicle 10. The sensor group 42 outputs the detection results of each sensor and the captured images by each camera to the meter ECU 20, the ECU 30, etc.

[0023] The monitor 44 is provided on a meter panel located in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle 10, and is a meter display for displaying operation suggestions related to functions of the vehicle 10 and images explaining the functions. The monitor 44 is an example of a "display unit" in the present disclosure. The monitor 44 is not limited to being provided on a meter panel in front of the driver's seat, and may be provided in any location around the driver's seat.

[0024] The wireless communication I / F 27 is a wireless communication module for communicating with external devices, and uses communication standards such as 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0025] The CPU 21 of the meter ECU 20 has, as functional components, an acquisition unit 21A and a display control unit 21B. Each functional component is realized by the CPU 21 reading and executing a display control program 24A stored in the storage 24.

[0026] The acquisition unit 21A acquires various types of information. For example, the acquisition unit 21A acquires, as the various types of information, peripheral information about the periphery of the vehicle 10 that can be detected by the vehicle 10. The peripheral information includes detection results by each sensor constituting the sensor group 42, captured images by each camera, and the like.

[0027] The display control unit 21B performs display control related to the display on the monitor 44. For example, as the display control, the display control unit 21B displays, in the display area X of the monitor 44, a host vehicle image 10A showing the vehicle 10 as seen from a virtual viewpoint and a lane image 62 simulating lanes in which the host vehicle can travel, based on the surrounding information acquired by the acquisition unit 21A (see FIG. 2, etc.). The virtual viewpoint is set in a three-dimensional virtual space with the position of the host vehicle image 10A as the origin, and is defined by viewpoint coordinates and a viewpoint angle (orientation) in the virtual space. As an example, the virtual viewpoint is a viewpoint seen at a specific viewpoint angle from specific viewpoint coordinates above the host vehicle image 10A in the virtual space.

[0028] The ECU 30 uses navigation to determine a recommended lane for the host vehicle based on road conditions, including location information of vehicles around the host vehicle, lane information, and congestion information.

[0029] The ECU 30 determines a recommended route according to the driving mode through driving navigation. The driving modes include, for example, default mode, sport mode, eco mode, etc. The default mode is a mode for driving on roads such as normal city streets. The sport mode is a mode for driving on roads such as winding roads, and steering operation, acceleration / deceleration, etc. are controlled more swiftly than in normal mode. The eco mode is a mode for driving the vehicle 10 while reducing fuel consumption (including electricity consumption), and steering operation, acceleration / deceleration, etc. are controlled to reduce fuel consumption.

[0030] Furthermore, the display control unit 21B displays the first area including the lane image showing the recommended lane and the second area including the lane image showing lanes other than the recommended lane in different modes.

[0031] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a first display example displayed on the monitor. As shown in Fig. 2, a host vehicle image 10A showing the vehicle 10 is displayed. In addition, in an area X, a lane image 62 showing the lane the vehicle 10 is traveling in and a white line image 63 showing the white lines dividing the lane are displayed as surrounding images showing the surrounding conditions. In addition, above the lane image 62, an image 64 showing vehicle speed information of the vehicle 10 and an image 65 showing the gearshift position of the vehicle 10 are displayed.

[0032] Here, the lane image 62 is displayed in different display modes, with a first region 62A of the recommended lane and a second region 62B other than the recommended lane. The first region 62A, drawn with diagonal lines, is displayed brighter than the second region. The display mode may be differentiated not only by brightness but also by color scheme, shading, pattern, etc. While the example in FIG. 2 illustrates a case where the recommended lane is in an equal range to the first region 62A, this is not limiting, and a portion of the first region 62A may be depicted as the recommended lane. Furthermore, the first region 62A and the second region 62B may include, in addition to lane images, marking images that are images that schematically show other road markings and obstacle images. Therefore, the images included in these regions may be displayed in different display modes for each region.

[0033] Furthermore, the display control unit 21B draws a route image showing a different recommended route depending on the driving mode. The route image is displayed while changing based on the driving mode of the vehicle.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second display example displayed on the monitor. In FIG. 3, (M1) shows the route image 66 when the driving mode is the default mode, and (M2) shows the route image 66 when the driving mode is the sport mode. Furthermore, the vehicle image 10A in the sport mode is drawn brighter than in the default mode. In the sport mode, the vehicle is controlled to accelerate, so the route image 66 is displayed as a route extending forward, anticipating acceleration, rather than the default route image 66. This allows the driver to grasp the degree of acceleration according to the driving mode. Furthermore, the drawing of the road surface of the lane image 62 may be changed depending on the driving mode. For example, in the eco mode, an arrow pointing in the opposite direction to the direction of travel may be drawn superimposed on the lane image 62 to indicate that the control is slower than normal. Furthermore, in the sport mode, an arrow pointing in the direction of travel may be drawn superimposed on the lane image 62 to indicate that the control is easier to accelerate than normal.

[0035] Furthermore, the display control unit 21B displays other vehicle images 11A that resemble other vehicles on the lanes in the first area 62A and the second area 62B, and changes the manner in which the other vehicle images 11A are displayed depending on the amount of congestion information for each lane. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a third display example displayed on the monitor. Furthermore, the other vehicle image 11A in the first area 62A and the other vehicle image 11A in the second area 62B are displayed in different manners. For example, the other vehicle image 11A in the first area 62A is displayed so as to blink. Furthermore, the brightness, shape, etc. may be different.

[0036] (Flow of Control) 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the identification process executed by the meter ECU 20. The CPU 21 reads the display control program 24A from the storage 24, loads it into the RAM 23, and executes it, thereby performing the identification process. As an example, the identification process is automatically and repeatedly performed at regular intervals.

[0037] In step S10, the CPU 21 acquires surrounding information that can be detected by the vehicle 10. Then, the CPU 51 proceeds to step S12.

[0038] In step S12, the ECU 30 determines, based on the road conditions, a recommended lane in which the host vehicle is to travel, from among the lanes, using the navigation system.

[0039] In step S14, the ECU 30 determines a recommended route according to the driving mode by using the driving navigation.

[0040] In step S16, the CPU 21 displays various images according to the recommended lane and recommended route on the monitor 44. The various images include the host vehicle image 10A, the lane image 62, and the route image 66 showing the recommended route.

[0041] As described above, in the meter ECU 20 (display control device), the CPU 21 displays various images according to the recommended lane and the recommended route. In this way, the meter ECU 20 allows the user to know the lane in which it is recommended to travel.

[0042] The recommended lane and recommended route may also be changed depending on the positions of the vehicle and other vehicles and road conditions. For example, if there is a police motorcycle around the vehicle, the recommended lane and recommended route may be determined so that the vehicle can avoid the motorcycle without changing lanes. Furthermore, if the vehicle is in an intersection, the recommended route may be determined so that the vehicle can accelerate and exit the intersection.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the monitor 44, which is a meter display, is an example of a "display unit" of the present disclosure, but the "display unit" is not limited to a meter display. For example, the "display unit" may be another display such as a center display or a head-up display (HUD). Furthermore, the "display unit" may be a combination of multiple displays such as a meter display and a center display.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the meter ECU 20 executes the specific processing shown in Fig. 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the specific processing may be executed by the meter ECU 20 in cooperation with another ECU.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the specific process executed by the CPU 21 after reading the software (program) may be executed by various processors other than a CPU. Examples of such processors include programmable logic devices (PLDs) (such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)) whose circuit configuration can be changed after fabrication, and dedicated electrical circuits such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) that are processors with circuit configurations specifically designed to execute specific processes. The specific process may be executed by one of these processors, or by a combination of two or more processors of the same or different types (e.g., multiple FPGAs, or a combination of a CPU and an FPGA). The hardware structure of these processors is, more specifically, an electrical circuit that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor devices.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the display control program 24A is pre-stored (installed) in the storage 24, but this is not limiting. The display control program 24A 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. The display control program 24A may also be downloaded from an external device via a network. The technology disclosed herein may also be applied to programs and program products. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 10 vehicles 10A Vehicle image 11A Other vehicle images 20 Meter ECU (display control unit) 21B Display control unit 44 Monitor (display) 62A First area 62B Second area

Claims

1. a display control unit that causes a display unit provided around a driver's seat of the vehicle to display an image of the vehicle that imitates the vehicle and lane images that imitate lanes in which the vehicle can travel, and that causes a first area including the lane images that indicate recommended lanes in which the vehicle is recommended to travel, and a second area including the lane images that indicate lanes other than the recommended lanes, in different modes, Display control device.

2. the display control unit displays a route image indicating a travel route of the host vehicle, the route image being changed based on a travel mode of the host vehicle; The display control device according to claim 1 .

3. the display control unit displays other vehicle images simulating other vehicles on the lanes in the first area and the second area, and changes the manner of the other vehicle images to be displayed depending on the amount of congestion information for each lane. The display control device according to claim 1 .

4. the display control unit displays the other vehicle image in the first area and the other vehicle image in the second area in different modes, The display control device according to claim 3 .

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