Head-up display device

Abstract

The present invention provides a head-up display device that can display information in a manner that facilitates users in making appropriate situational judgments. [Solution] The head-up display device displays an image 5 to the user on a virtual surface set in front of the vehicle's windshield, under the control of the control unit. The control unit can divide the area of ​​the image 5 displayed on the virtual surface into a first display area 6 and a second display area 7 which is visible to the user below the first display area 6 and displays a different type of information than the information displayed in the first display area 6. When the control unit simultaneously displays navigation information acquired from the navigation system and driver assistance information acquired from the driver assistance system in the area of ​​the image 5, it displays the navigation information in the first display area 6 and the driver assistance information in the second display area 7.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a head-up display device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a head-up display device that projects display light representing an image onto a windshield of a vehicle and allows a user, who is mainly a driver of the vehicle, to visually recognize the image in front of the windshield.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In this type of device, since an image is displayed superimposed on the actual scene viewed through the windshield, depending on the display mode of the information in the image, information that should be displayed far away as perceived by the user may be displayed near the user, or information that should be displayed near as perceived by the user may be displayed far away from the user, which may cause confusion when the user makes a situation judgment.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a head-up display device that can display information in a manner that makes it easy for a user to make an appropriate situation judgment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, the head-up display device according to the present disclosure is A head-up display device that projects display light representing an image onto the windshield of a vehicle, thereby displaying the image to the user on a virtual surface set in front of the windshield, The display unit that emits the aforementioned display light, The system includes a control unit that controls the image by controlling the operation of the display unit, and is capable of communicating with a navigation system and a driver assistance system installed in the vehicle, respectively. The control unit, The area of ​​the image displayed on the virtual surface can be divided into a first display area and a second display area that is visible to the user below the first display area and displays a different type of information than the information displayed in the first display area. When simultaneously displaying navigation information acquired from the navigation system and driver assistance information acquired from the driver assistance system in the area of ​​the aforementioned image, the navigation information is displayed in the first display area and the driver assistance information is displayed in the second display area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, information can be displayed in a manner that makes it easier for users to make appropriate judgments about the situation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A diagram showing how a head-up display device according to one embodiment of this disclosure is mounted on a vehicle. [Figure 2] Block diagram of a head-up display device and various systems according to the above embodiment. [Figure 3] A diagram showing an example of an image displayed by the head-up display device according to the same embodiment as described above. [Figure 4] A flowchart of the display mode change process according to the same embodiment as above. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of changing the appearance of an image according to the display appearance change process according to the above embodiment. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of changing the appearance of an image according to the display appearance change process according to the above embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of changing the appearance of an image according to the display appearance change process according to the above embodiment. [Figure 8] This figure shows an example of changing the appearance of an image according to the display appearance change process according to the above embodiment. [Figure 9] This figure shows an example of changing the appearance of an image according to the display appearance change process according to the above embodiment. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example of changing the appearance of an image according to the display appearance change process according to the above embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] One embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the head-up display device 10 (hereinafter also referred to as the HUD device 10) is installed, for example, in the dashboard 2 of the vehicle 1. The HUD device 10 projects a display light L representing an image onto the windshield 3 of the vehicle 1, thereby displaying the image to the user 4 (mainly the driver of the vehicle 1) on a virtual surface A set in front of the windshield 3. The user 4 can see the virtual image V of the image represented by the display light L by positioning their viewpoint within the eye box E.

[0011] Virtual plane A is set to be tilted forward with respect to the vertical direction of vehicle 1. In Figure 1, Up, Dd, Fd, and Bd, indicated with arrows, represent the up, down, front, and rear directions of vehicle 1, respectively. For example, one end of virtual plane A closest to vehicle 1 is set approximately 5m away from vehicle 1, while the other end furthest from vehicle 1 is set approximately 10m away. The size, shape, and position of virtual plane A and eyebox E are determined based on the optical system formed by the HUD device 10 and the windshield 3.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the HUD device 10 includes a display unit 11 and a control unit 12. The control unit 12 is capable of communicating with each of the navigation system 20 and the driving assistance system 30.

[0013] The display unit 11 generates and emits display light L and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, etc. Note that the display unit 11 may be configured using a reflective display device such as a DMD (Digital Micro mirror Device) or an LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon) and a screen. The display light L emitted by the display unit 11 is reflected by one or a plurality of mirrors (not shown) and guided to the windshield 3.

[0014] The control unit 12 is a controller that controls the overall operation of the HUD 10 and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a driving circuit that drives the display unit 11 under the control of the CPU and the GPU. The control unit 12 controls the image represented by the display light L by controlling the operation of the display unit 11. Further, the control unit 12 executes a display mode change process described later according to the information acquired from each of the navigation system 20 and the driving assistance system 30. Various data including a program for executing the display mode change process are stored in the ROM. The control by the control unit 12 specific to the present embodiment will be described later.

[0015] Navigation system 20 is a well-known configuration that uses GPS (Global Positioning System) to identify the position of vehicle 1 and provides route guidance to the destination according to the settings of user 4. Navigation system 20 is mounted or connected to vehicle 1. Here, the navigation system 20 connected to vehicle 1 refers to a configuration in which an information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal carried by user 4 can communicate with control unit 12 by wire or wirelessly, and can be realized by navigation software on the information terminal.

[0016] The driving assistance system 30 is a so-called ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), which is mounted on vehicle 1 and has a well-known configuration for assisting driving. The driving assistance system 30 is roughly composed of a situation analysis unit 31, an operation detection unit 32, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 33.

[0017] The situation analysis unit 31 analyzes the peripheral information of vehicle 1 from various sensors such as a vehicle speed sensor that senses the situation of vehicle 1 (own vehicle situation), and various sensors such as a camera and LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) that sense the external situation of vehicle 1, and outputs a signal indicating the analysis result to the control unit 12 and the ECU 33. In addition, the situation analysis unit 31 may include a module capable of communication such as V2N (Vehicle To cellular Network), V2V (Vehicle To Vehicle), V2P (Vehicle To Pedestrian), V2I (Vehicle To roadside Infrastructure), etc., and collect the peripheral information of vehicle 1. That is, the situation analysis unit 31 may be capable of any communication among V2X (Vehicle To Everything) between vehicle 1 and the outside of vehicle 1.

[0018] The motion detection unit 32 monitors the user 4's actions and outputs signals indicating the monitoring results to the control unit 12 and the ECU 33. The actions monitored by the motion detection unit 32 may include not only instruction operations performed from input devices such as steering switches and touch panels, but also the direction of the user 4's gaze and point of focus, etc., which are identified based on information from cameras, infrared sensors, etc., that monitor the user 4.

[0019] The ECU 33 is configured to control various parts of the vehicle 1 and can control the operation of the vehicle 1 according to information from the situation analysis unit 31 and the motion detection unit 32, respectively. For example, the ECU 33 controls the vehicle 1 to ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) or an automatic driving mode according to information from the motion detection unit 32 according to settings made by the user 4. In this embodiment, the automatic driving mode is, for example, an automatic driving level of "2+", "3", or "4". The ECU 33 also implements safety driving support such as AEB (Autonomous Emergency Braking) and LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System) according to information from the situation analysis unit 31, for example.

[0020] This concludes the explanation of the configuration of the HUD device 10, the navigation system 20, and the driver assistance system 30. Next, an example of an image displayed by the HUD device 10 will be explained with reference to Figure 3.

[0021] Image 5 in Figure 3 is an example of an image displayed on virtual surface A (an image that user 4 perceives as a virtual image V). Since the control of the image displayed on the display unit 11 is synonymous with the control of image 5 that is actually perceived by user 4, the control of image 5 by the control unit 12 will be described below. The control unit 12 can divide the area 5A of image 5 into a first display area 6 and a second display area 7 that is perceived by the user as being below the first display area 6. Different types of information are displayed in the first display area 6 and the second display area 7 under the control of the control unit 12. For user 4, the second display area 7 is perceived as being closer than the first display area 6.

[0022] When the control unit 12 simultaneously displays navigation information acquired from the navigation system 20 and driver assistance information acquired from the driver assistance system 30 in area 5A of image 5, it displays navigation information in the first display area 6 and driver assistance information in the second display area 7. This prevents the driver assistance information, which shows information about the vehicle 1 itself or the area around the vehicle, from being displayed further away from the user 4 than the navigation information, thus preventing the user 4 from becoming confused. Therefore, the HUD device 10 makes it easier for the user 4 to make appropriate situational judgments. Hereinafter, when the control unit 12 displays predetermined information, it refers to displaying that predetermined information in image 5 as an icon, graphic, character, or a combination thereof.

[0023] Here, navigation information that can be obtained from the navigation system 20 and displayed by the control unit 12 includes, for example, destination information, TBT (Turn-by-Turn) information, map information, lane information, etc.

[0024] Destination information is information about the destination set by user 4, such as the distance to the destination and the direction to the destination. TBT information is information that represents the direction of travel at intersections to reach the destination using an arrow icon, and may include the distance to the intersection. In addition, TBT information may not only show the direction of travel at the intersection immediately preceding vehicle 1 (hereinafter referred to as the first intersection), but may also show the direction of travel at the intersection after the first intersection (hereinafter referred to as the second intersection), or it may show the distance from the first intersection to the second intersection, or the distance from vehicle 1 to the second intersection. Map information shows a map of the area around vehicle 1, and if a destination is set, it also includes the driving route to the destination within the map. Lane information shows the lane in which vehicle 1 is traveling, and if a destination is set, it also includes the recommended driving lane to the destination. As will be described later, in the appropriate figures from Figure 5 onwards, specific examples of each piece of information that is displayed are shown as destination information 6a, TBT information 6b, map information 6c, and lane information 6d.

[0025] In addition, examples of driver assistance information that can be obtained from the driver assistance system 30 and displayed by the control unit 12 include surrounding area information, setting information, forward warning information, BSW (Blind Spot Warning) information, lane change information, etc.

[0026] Surrounding information is information that shows the surrounding situation of vehicle 1 in an overhead view along with an icon for vehicle 1. Setting information is information that shows the setting status of the driver assistance system 30, such as the set speed of ACC and whether it is in autonomous driving mode. Forward warning information is information that shows warnings about what is ahead of vehicle 1, such as there being an object that poses a collision risk in front of vehicle 1 or there being a construction site in front of vehicle 1. BSW information is information that shows there is an object that poses a collision risk to the side or rear of vehicle 1. Lane change information is information that shows lane changes made by vehicle 1 while it is in autonomous driving mode. Note that forward warning information and BSW information may be included in surrounding information or may be displayed together with setting information. In addition, lane change information may be included in surrounding information. As will be described later, in the appropriate figures from Figure 5 onwards, specific examples of each type of information that is displayed are shown as surrounding information 7a, setting information 7b, forward warning information 7c, BSW information 7d, and lane change information 7e.

[0027] Furthermore, the control unit 12 changes the proportion occupied by the first display area 6 and the second display area 7 in area 5A of image 5, depending on at least one of the navigation information and the driving assistance information. The proportion occupied by the first display area 6 and the second display area 7 is the size ratio of the first display area 6 and the second display area 7 in a preset area 5A, and is expressed as a percentage, including the case where one of the first display area 6 or the second display area 7 is 0% (i.e., disappears from area 5A of image 5). In this way, by changing the size ratio of the first display area 6 and the second display area 7 as needed, high-priority information can be effectively conveyed to the user 4.

[0028] Furthermore, within region 5A (for example, at the left and right ends of region 5A), fixed display areas for displaying speed limits, etc., may be provided separately from the first display area 6 and the second display area 7. In other words, if the entire region 5A is considered 100% in percentage terms, and the percentage occupied by the first display area 6 in region A is X% and the percentage occupied by the second display area 7 is Y%, then the proportions occupied by the first display area 6 and the second display area 7 will change in the portion of region 5A excluding the fixed display areas, so X + Y does not necessarily have to be 100%.

[0029] Next, an example of the display mode change process executed by the control unit 12 will be described with reference to Figure 4. This process is executed, for example, while the HUD device 10 is running. At the start of the display mode change process, an image 5 in the default mode, having a first display area 6 and a second display area 7 with a default size ratio, is displayed. The default size ratio may be the default size ratio or a size ratio set by the user 4. The default mode may also be the driver assistance priority mode or the navigation priority mode described later.

[0030] (Display mode change process) In the display mode change process, the control unit 12 determines whether a predetermined driver assistance priority condition is met, which indicates a situation where driver assistance information has a high priority (step S1).

[0031] Here, the control unit 12 determines that the driver assistance priority conditions have been met when it identifies, for example, at least one of the following situations (1) to (4) based on various information obtained from the driver assistance system 30. (1) A situation in which an object that poses a collision risk is detected in front of the vehicle. (2) A situation in which an object that poses a collision risk is detected to the side or rear of the vehicle. (3) A situation in which vehicle 1, which is in autonomous driving mode, is about to change lanes. (4) The situation in which the driving authority is about to be transferred from the autonomous driving state to user 4 as the driver.

[0032] If the driver assistance priority condition is met (Step S1; Yes), the control unit 12 sets image 5 to the driver assistance priority mode (Step S2). In the driver assistance priority mode, driver assistance information corresponding to at least one of the identified situations (1) to (4) above is displayed in the second display area 7. In addition, the driver assistance priority mode is a mode in which the size of the second display area 7 is larger than that of the first display area 6 (this also includes a mode in which the first display area 6 does not exist in image 5). When image 5 is changed from the default mode or the navigation priority mode described later to the driver assistance priority mode, the control unit 12 enlarges the second display area 7 to a size greater than the size immediately before the driver assistance priority condition is met, or makes the second display area 7 appear if it did not exist immediately before the driver assistance priority condition is met. At the same time, the control unit 12 shrinks the first display area 6 to a size greater than the size immediately before the driver assistance priority condition is met, or erases it. This change in the size ratio of the first display area 6 and the second display area 7 is performed gradually by animation.

[0033] On the other hand, if the driver assistance priority conditions are not met (Step S1; No), the control unit 12 determines whether or not the predetermined navigation priority conditions are met, as this indicates a situation where navigation information has a high priority (Step S3).

[0034] Here, the control unit 12 determines that the navigation priority condition has been met when it identifies, for example, at least one of the following situations (5) to (7) based on various information obtained from the navigation system 20. (5) A situation in which the road on which Vehicle 1 is traveling has more than the set number of lanes (however, the set number is 2 or more). (6) A situation in which the number of lane changes required for vehicle 1 to reach the recommended driving lane is equal to or greater than the set number (however, the set number is 1 or greater). (7) A situation in which vehicle 1 is required to change direction repeatedly. Specifically, when P1 is the point where vehicle 1 immediately needs to change direction, and P2 is the point where it needs to change direction immediately following P1, the distance from P1 to P2 (i.e., the distance from the first intersection to the second intersection as described above) is less than the predetermined value.

[0035] If the navigation priority condition is met (Step S3; Yes), the control unit 12 sets image 5 to the navigation priority mode (Step S4). In the driver assistance priority mode, navigation information corresponding to at least one of the identified situations (5) to (7) is displayed in the first display area 6. In addition, the navigation priority mode is a mode in which the size of the first display area 6 is larger than that of the second display area 7 (including a mode in which the second display area 7 does not exist in image 5). When image 5 is changed from the default mode or the driver assistance priority mode to the navigation priority mode, the control unit 12 enlarges the first display area 6 to a size greater than that immediately before the navigation priority condition is met, or makes the first display area 6 appear if it did not exist immediately before the navigation priority condition is met. At the same time, the control unit 12 shrinks the second display area 7 to a size greater than that immediately before the navigation priority condition is met, or erases it. This change in the size ratio of the first display area 6 and the second display area 7 is performed gradually by animation.

[0036] If the navigation priority condition is not met (step S3; No), the control unit 12 sets image 5 to the default state (step S5). Even when image 5 is changed from the driver assistance priority state or the navigation state to the default state, the change in the size ratio of the first display area 6 and the second display area 7 is performed gradually by animation. After executing steps S2, S4, or S5, the control unit 12 executes step S1 again.

[0037] Furthermore, if the control unit 12 identifies multiple situations from (1) to (4) simultaneously, it may display driving support information in the second display area 7 to notify the driver of content corresponding to all identified situations, or it may display driving support information in the second display area 7 to notify the driver of content corresponding to the highest priority situation, according to the priority set in advance for each of the situations from (1) to (4).

[0038] Similarly, if the control unit 12 identifies multiple situations from (5) to (7) simultaneously, it may display navigation information in the first display area 6 to notify the user of content corresponding to all identified situations, or it may display navigation information in the first display area 6 to notify the user of content corresponding to the highest priority situation, according to the pre-set priority for each of the situations from (5) to (7).

[0039] Furthermore, in the flowchart shown in Figure 4, a process (hereinafter referred to as the "situation identification process") may be added before step S1 in which the control unit 12 determines whether each of the situations (1) to (7) has been identified. Then, according to the priority set in advance for each of the situations (1) to (7), the control unit 12 may execute a process (step S1) to determine whether the driving assistance priority condition is met, and a process (step S3) to determine whether the navigation priority condition is met, based on the situation with the highest priority among the situations identified in the situation identification process. When the flowchart is configured in this way, the control unit 12 only needs to execute the situation identification process again after executing steps S2, S4, or S5. In this way, when the control unit 12 simultaneously identifies one or more of the situations (1) to (4) and one or more of the situations (5) to (7), it can determine whether the driving assistance priority condition or the navigation priority condition is met, based on the situation with the highest priority, according to the priority set in advance for each of the situations (1) to (7). For example, if the control unit 12 simultaneously identifies both (1) and (5), and the priority of situation (1) is higher than the priority of situation (5), then it can be determined that the driving assistance priority condition has been met. The above describes the display mode change process.

[0040] Next, examples of image 5's appearance change according to the display appearance change process will be explained in order with reference to Figures 5 to 10. Each of Figures 5 to 10 shows an example of image 5's appearance change being performed by animation along a time axis from top to bottom, represented by three images 5: upper, middle, and lower. The upper image shows image 5 before the appearance change, the middle image shows image 5 during the transition, and the lower image shows image 5 after the appearance change. Note that in Figures 5 to 10, the dashed lines extending horizontally within image 5 merely indicate the boundaries between the first display area 6 and the second display area 7, and are not components of image 5.

[0041] (Example of changing to navigation priority mode) Figures 5 to 7 show an example of changing from the upper image 5 in the driver assistance priority mode or default mode to the lower image 5 in the navigation priority mode. In other words, Figures 5 to 7 show the case in the display mode change process where the navigation priority condition is met (step S3; Yes) and image 5 is changed to the navigation priority mode (step S4).

[0042] In the upper image 5 of Figures 5 to 7, (i) TBT information 6b, which shows the direction of travel at an intersection and the distance to the intersection, is displayed in the first display area 6 as navigation information, and (ii) surrounding information 7a of vehicle 1 is displayed in the second display area 7 as driving support information.

[0043] Figure 5 shows the case where, while the upper image 5 is displayed, the control unit 12 identifies the situation described in (5) above (the situation where the number of lanes on the road the vehicle 1 is traveling on is equal to or greater than the set number (however, the set number is 2 or more)) and the navigation priority condition is met. In this case, as shown in the middle image 5, destination information 6a and map information 6c are displayed in place of TBT information 6b in the gradually expanding first display area 6, and the second display area 7 gradually shrinks. Then, after passing through the middle image 5, in the lower image 5, which has been changed to the navigation priority mode, lane information 6d is further displayed in the first display area 6. In addition, in the second display area 7 after shrinking, setting information 7b, which shows the setting status of the driver assistance system 30, is displayed in place of surrounding information 7a. The image showing the setting information 7b is, for example, composed of an icon representing the vehicle 1 with the ACC set speed written on it.

[0044] Figure 6 shows the case when the upper image 5 is displayed, and the control unit 12 identifies the situation described in (6) above (the situation where the number of lane changes required for vehicle 1 to reach the recommended driving lane is equal to or greater than the set number (however, the set number is 1 or more)), and the navigation priority condition is met. In this case, as shown in the middle image 5, destination information 6a, map information 6c, and lane information 6d are displayed in place of TBT information 6b in the gradually expanding first display area 6, and the second display area 7 gradually shrinks. Then, after passing through the middle image 5, in the lower image 5, which shows the change to the navigation priority mode, setting information 7b is displayed in place of surrounding information 7a in the reduced second display area 7.

[0045] Figure 7 shows the case where, while the upper image 5 is displayed, the control unit 12 identifies the situation described in (7) above (the situation in which the vehicle 1 continues to change direction) and the navigation priority condition is met. In this case, as shown in the middle image 5, destination information 6a and map information 6c are displayed in place of TBT information 6b in the gradually expanding first display area 6, and the second display area 7 gradually shrinks. Then, after the middle image 5, in the lower image 5, which shows the change to the navigation priority mode, lane information 6d is further displayed in the first display area 6, and the second display area 7 disappears.

[0046] (Example of changing to a driver assistance priority setting) Figures 8 to 10 show an example of changing from the upper image 5 in the navigation priority mode or default mode to the lower image 5 in the driver assistance priority mode. In other words, Figures 8 to 10 show the case in the display mode change process when the driver assistance priority condition is met (Step S1; Yes) and image 5 is changed to the driver assistance priority mode (Step S2).

[0047] In the upper image 5 of Figures 8 and 9, the first display area 6 displays destination information 6a, map information 6c, and lane information 6d as navigation information, and the second display area 7 is absent.

[0048] Figure 8 shows the case where, while the upper image 5 is displayed, the control unit 12 identifies the situation described in (1) above (a situation in which an object with a collision risk is detected in front of the vehicle) and the driver assistance priority condition is met. In this case, as shown in the middle image 5, a second display area 7 displaying surrounding information 7a appears and gradually expands, while the first display area 6 gradually shrinks. Then, in the lower image 5, which shows the change from the middle image 5 to the driver assistance priority mode, forward warning information 7c is displayed within the surrounding information 7a in the second display area 7. Also, in the first display area 6 after shrinking, TBT information 6b is displayed instead of destination information 6a and map information 6c.

[0049] Figure 9 shows the case where, while the upper image 5 is displayed, the control unit 12 identifies the situation described in (2) above (a situation in which an object with a collision risk is detected to the side or rear of the vehicle) and the driver assistance priority condition is met. In this case, as shown in the middle image 5, a second display area 7 displaying the setting information 7b and BSW information 7d appears and gradually expands, while the first display area 6 gradually shrinks. Then, after passing through the middle image 5, in the lower image 5, which shows the change to the driver assistance priority mode, the setting information 7b and BSW information 7d are clearly displayed in the second display area 7. In addition, the lane information 6d is removed from the first display area 6 after it has been reduced.

[0050] In the upper image 5 of Figure 10, (i) the first display area 6 displays navigation information, including destination information 6a, map information 6c, and lane information 6d, and (ii) the second display area 7 displays setting information 7b as driving assistance information.

[0051] Figure 10 shows the case where, while the upper image 5 is displayed, the control unit 12 identifies the situation described in (3) above (the situation in which the vehicle 1 in autonomous driving mode is about to change lanes) and the driving assistance priority condition is met. In this case, as shown in the middle image 5, as the second display area 7 gradually expands, the display within the second display area 7 switches from setting information 7b to surrounding information 7a, and the first display area 6 gradually shrinks. Then, after the middle image 5, in the lower image 5, which shows the change to the driving assistance priority mode, lane change information 7e indicating a lane change is displayed in the surrounding information 7a within the second display area 7, and the first display area 6 disappears.

[0052] Although not shown in the figures, the control unit 12 may identify the situation described in (4) above (the situation in which the transfer of driving authority from the automated driving state to the user 4 as the driver is about to take place) and, if the driving assistance priority conditions are met, change the driving assistance mode from the upper image 5 in Figure 10 to the lower image 5 in Figure 10, and alert the user 4 by showing an overview of the surrounding area 7a in the first display area 7.

[0053] The present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings described above. Modifications (including the deletion of components) can be made as appropriate without altering the essence of the invention.

[0054] The change from the driver assistance priority mode or the navigation priority mode in Image 5 may be performed in response to user 4 instructions detected by the motion detection unit 32. In addition, arbitrary information (e.g., audio information, air conditioner information, etc.) corresponding to user 4 instructions may be displayed in the first display area 6 or the second display area 7. In particular, in the default mode of Image 5, arbitrary information corresponding to user 4 instructions may be displayed in both the first display area 6 and the second display area 7.

[0055] This invention allows for various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the invention. In other words, the scope of the invention is indicated not by the embodiments, but by the claims. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the equivalent scope of the meaning of the invention are considered to be within the scope of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 1...Vehicle, 2...Dashboard, 3...Windshield, 4...User L...Indicator light, E...Eyebox, V...Virtual image 10…Head-Up Display Device 11...Display unit, 12...Control unit 20…Navigation system 30…Driving assistance systems 31... Situation analysis unit, 32... Motion detection unit, 33... ECU 5...Image, 5A...Area 6…1st display area 6a…Destination information, 6b…TBT information, 6c…Map information, 6d…Lane information 7…Second display area 7a...Surrounding information, 7b...Setting information, 7c...Forward warning information, 7d...BSW information, 7e...Lane change information

Claims

1. A head-up display device that projects display light representing an image onto the windshield of a vehicle, thereby displaying the image to the user on a virtual surface set in front of the windshield, The display unit that emits the aforementioned display light, The system includes a control unit that controls the image by controlling the operation of the display unit, and is capable of communicating with a navigation system and a driver assistance system installed in the vehicle, respectively. The control unit, The area of ​​the image displayed on the virtual surface can be divided into a first display area and a second display area that is visible to the user below the first display area and displays a different type of information than the information displayed in the first display area. When displaying navigation information acquired from the navigation system and driver assistance information acquired from the driver assistance system simultaneously in the area of ​​the aforementioned image, the navigation information is displayed in the first display area and the driver assistance information is displayed in the second display area. Head-up display device.

2. The control unit changes the proportion of the first display area and the second display area within the image region according to at least one of the navigation information and the driving assistance information. The head-up display device according to claim 1.

3. The control unit, when the priority of the driving assistance information is higher than that of the navigation information, and when a predetermined driving assistance priority condition is met, The second display area is enlarged to a size greater than the size immediately before the driving assistance priority condition is met, or, if the second display area was not present immediately before the driving assistance priority condition is met, the second display area is made to appear. The first display area is reduced to a size smaller than the size immediately before the driving assistance priority condition is met, or it is erased. The head-up display device according to claim 2.

4. The control unit, when the navigation information has a higher priority than the driving assistance information, and a predetermined navigation priority condition is met, Enlarge the first display area to a size greater than the size immediately before the navigation priority condition is met, or, if the first display area did not exist immediately before the navigation priority condition is met, make the first display area appear. The second display area is reduced to a size smaller than the size immediately before the navigation priority condition is met, or it is erased. The head-up display device according to claim 2 or 3.

5. When the control unit is displaying map information as navigation information in the first display area, and the driving assistance priority condition is met, and the first display area is reduced to a size smaller than the size immediately before the driving assistance priority condition is met, In the reduced-size first display area, TBT (Turn-by-Turn) information is displayed as navigation information instead of the map information. The head-up display device according to claim 3.

6. The control unit, when the navigation priority condition is met while the vehicle's surrounding information is displayed as the driving assistance information in the second display area, and when the second display area is reduced to a size smaller than the size immediately before the navigation priority condition is met, In the reduced second display area, instead of the surrounding information, setting information indicating the settings status of the driver assistance system is displayed as the driver assistance information. The head-up display device according to claim 4.

Images