Head-up display device and display method

Abstract

The present invention provides a head-up display device and display method that can improve the visibility of the display. [Solution] The head-up display device mounted on the vehicle comprises a display device that displays a virtual image V on the road surface on which the vehicle is traveling, and a control unit that controls the display of the display device. The control unit displays a road surface superimposed display B1 that overlaps the road surface and a vertical display B2 that is in contact with the road surface superimposed display B1 and is erected relative to the road surface superimposed display B1 as a virtual image V that prompts the vehicle to change direction.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] The head-up display device described in Patent Document 1 displays content superimposed on a road surface in a three-dimensional display mode and content displayed at a position floating from the road surface in a two-dimensional display mode (see FIGS. 12 and 13 of Patent Document 1, etc.).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, as viewed by the viewer, the content in the three-dimensional display mode appears to be compressed in the vertical direction and difficult to see as it gets farther away, and the content in the two-dimensional display mode appears to be floating from the road surface, making it difficult to perceive the distance from the host vehicle. Therefore, there was room for improvement from the viewpoint of visibility.

[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 and a display method capable of improving the visibility of display.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, a head-up display device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is a head-up display device mounted on a vehicle, a display device that displays a three-dimensional display image on a road surface on which the vehicle travels, The device comprises a control unit for controlling the display of the display device, The control unit displays, as the display image prompting a change in the direction of travel of the vehicle, a road surface superimposed display that overlaps the road surface, and a vertical display that is in contact with the road surface superimposed display and is erected relative to the road surface superimposed display.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the method of representation relating to the second aspect of this disclosure is: A method for displaying a three-dimensional image on a road surface on which a vehicle travels, using a display device that displays a three-dimensional image, The display image that prompts the vehicle to change direction of travel includes a road surface superimposed display that overlaps the road surface, and an elevation display that is in contact with the road surface superimposed display and erected relative to the road surface superimposed display. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this disclosure, the visibility of the display can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle equipped with a head-up display device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle traveling on a road as viewed from above according to the same embodiment, and a route guidance display by a head-up display device. [Figure 3] This is a magnified view of a portion of Figure 2. [Figure 4] This figure shows the route guidance display as seen by the viewer according to the same embodiment. [Figure 5A] This figure shows a scene from the animation of the route guidance display as seen by the viewer according to the same embodiment. [Figure 5B] This figure shows a scene from the animation of the route guidance display as seen by the viewer according to the same embodiment. [Figure 5C] This figure shows a scene from the animation of the route guidance display as seen by the viewer according to the same embodiment. [Figure 6]This figure shows a route guidance display consisting only of an elevation view from the perspective of the viewer, relating to a comparative example. [Figure 7] This figure shows a route guidance display consisting only of road surface overlay markings as seen from the perspective of a viewer, relating to a comparative example. [Figure 8] This figure shows a modified version of the route guidance display as seen by a viewer. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] A head-up display device according to one embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the head-up display device 100 is installed in the dashboard of the vehicle 200. The head-up display device 100 emits display light L representing an image toward the windshield 201, which is the windshield of the vehicle 200. The display light L is reflected by the windshield 201 and reaches the viewer 1 (mainly the driver of the vehicle 200). As a result, a virtual image V as a three-dimensional display image is displayed superimposed on the scenery in front of the vehicle 200 as seen by the viewer 1.

[0011] The head-up display device 100 comprises a display device 10, a folding mirror 20, a concave mirror 30, a control unit 50, and a housing 60.

[0012] The housing 60 is made of a non-transparent resin or metal and is a hollow, substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The housing 60 has an opening at a position opposite the windshield 201. The housing 60 is provided with a window portion 62 that closes the opening. The window portion 62 is made of a translucent resin such as acrylic that transmits display light L. The housing 60 houses the display device 10, a concave mirror 30, a folded mirror 20, and a control unit 50.

[0013] The folded mirror 20 and the concave mirror 30 constitute an optical relay that guides the display light L from the display device 10 to the windshield 201. The folding mirror 20 reflects the display light L from the display device 10 toward the concave mirror 30. The folding mirror 20 is a plane mirror. Note that the folding mirror 20 is not limited to a plane mirror and may be a free-form surface mirror. The concave mirror 30 reflects the display light L from the folding mirror 20 while expanding it toward the windshield 201.

[0014] The display device 10 generates the display light L for displaying the virtual image V and emits the generated display light L toward the folding mirror 20. The display device 10 is configured to display a three-dimensional image by the display light L. The display device 10 uses a light field display. This light field display is also called a raycasting display or an integral photography display. As long as the display device 10 can display a three-dimensional image by the display light L, it is not limited to this example and may be a volumetric display using a vibrating screen or a rotating screen, a parallax-type three-dimensional display, or other autostereoscopic three-dimensional displays. Furthermore, it is not limited to this autostereoscopic three-dimensional display and may be a stereoscopic three-dimensional display.

[0015] The control unit 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GDC (Graphics Display Controller), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The control unit 50 acquires the captured data A1 of the front of the vehicle 200 captured by an in-vehicle camera (not shown) and acquires the car navigation data A2 including the route guidance of the vehicle 200 from the car navigation system.

[0016] The control unit 50 displays various vehicle information such as vehicle speed display, sign display, and route guidance displays D1, D2, D3 as the virtual image V. The control unit 50 receives car navigation data A2 and displays route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 (see Figure 4, etc.) indicating the vehicle 200's route, superimposing them onto the actual scenery (the scenery in front of the vehicle 200) based on the captured data A1.

[0017] As shown in Figure 2, each of the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 prompts the vehicle 200 to change lanes, specifically, prompting it to change lanes to the left lane when traveling in the right lane of a two-lane road R. Each of the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 is displayed on the lane in which the vehicle 200 is traveling (the right lane in the example in Figure 2) and is arranged in the direction of travel of the vehicle 200 (upwards in Figure 2).

[0018] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each route guidance display D1, D2, and D3 includes a road surface overlay display B1 and an elevation display B2. The road surface superimposed marking B1 and the elevation marking B2 have the same meaning and indicate the direction to which vehicle 200 will change direction.

[0019] The road surface superimposed marking B1 is superimposed on the road surface so as to the driver's perspective that it follows the road surface. The road surface superimposed marking B1 is an arrow that points diagonally to the direction of travel of the vehicle 200 on the road surface. Specifically, the road surface superimposed marking B1 is an arrow that slopes in a direction that approaches the lane change destination LC (left side in the example of Figure 2) as the vehicle 200 moves in the direction of travel. As shown in Figure 4, the road surface superimposed indicator B1 comprises a shaft Sf and an arrowhead Ah. The shaft Sf forms a rectangle extending in the direction indicated by the road surface superimposed indicator B1. The arrowhead Ah is located at the end of the shaft Sf closer to the lane change destination LC and forms a triangle.

[0020] The vertical display B2 is erected in a direction intersecting the road surface, in this example, in a direction approximately perpendicular to the road surface, and faces the driver. The vertical display B2 consists of an arrowhead Aj with an approximately "<" shape and no shaft Sf, and for example, it consists of two arrowheads Aj as a chevron arrow. The arrowheads Aj are oriented diagonally with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle 200, and specifically, they are positioned to tilt so as the vehicle 200 moves in the direction of travel it approaches the lane change destination LC (left side in the example of Figure 2).

[0021] The lower end of the vertical display B2 (the end facing the road surface) is located at the edge of the shaft Sf of the road surface superimposed display B1, specifically at the far end of the shaft Sf (the end facing the direction of travel of the vehicle 200), and is the end furthest from the arrowhead Ah. The road surface superimposed display B1 and the vertical display B2 are located adjacent to each other when viewed from above. The road surface superimposed display B1 and the vertical display B2 intersect each other at right angles and are arranged in a roughly L-shape when viewed from the direction in which the arrow on the road surface superimposed display B1 is pointing.

[0022] Each of the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 will be played back as an animation, as will be described later. Here, we will explain the positional relationship when each of the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 is displayed simultaneously, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Of the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3, route guidance display D1 is located closest to the driver and furthest from the lane change destination LC. Of the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3, route guidance display D3 is located furthest (towards the back) from the driver and closest to the lane change destination LC. Of the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3, route guidance display D2 is located between route guidance displays D1 and D3 in both the direction of travel of the vehicle 200 and in the left-right direction from the driver's perspective.

[0023] Each of the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 is positioned separately from each other in the direction of travel of vehicle 200. The road surface superimposed display B1 for each route guidance display D1, D2, and D3 is displayed with a gap Sk so that it does not overlap from the driver's perspective in the left-right direction. Therefore, the road surface superimposed display B1 does not overlap, improving the visibility of route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3.

[0024] In Figure 6, which shows a comparative example, only the elevation display B2 is shown as the route guidance display. In this case, the elevation display B2 appears to be floating above the road surface, making it difficult to judge the distance to the vehicle. Furthermore, in Figure 7, which shows a comparative example, only the road surface superimposed display B1 is displayed as route guidance. In this case, the road surface superimposed display B1 located farther away from the driver (towards the rear) is obscured, reducing visibility. In this embodiment, the road surface superimposed display B1 and the elevation display B2 are combined. Therefore, since the elevation display B2 is displayed together with the road surface superimposed display B1, the elevation display B2 appears to float above the road surface and is difficult to see, making it easier to understand the distance to the vehicle. In addition, even if the road surface superimposed display B1 is obscured, the guidance content can still be easily understood by the elevation display B2.

[0025] Each of the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 is played back as an animation. Specifically, in the order of Figure 5A → Figure 5B → Figure 5C, the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 are displayed as animations moving on the vehicle 200's driving lane towards the lane change destination LC. In this animation, first, as shown in Figure 5A, the route guidance display D3 is displayed in front of the driver and far from the lane change destination LC in the driver's left and right directions. This route guidance display D3 moves in the direction of movement C1. The direction of movement C1 is a direction in which the display slopes closer to the lane change destination LC as the vehicle 200 moves in the direction of travel.

[0026] After the route guidance display D3 moves in this manner, as shown in Figure 5B, another route guidance display D2 is displayed at the position where route guidance display D3 was initially located (at the timing shown in Figure 5A), that is, in front of the driver and farther from the lane change destination LC in the driver's left and right directions. Route guidance displays D2 and D3 move together in the direction of movement C2. The direction of movement C2 is a direction in which the vehicle 200 moves in the direction of travel, and is inclined to move closer to the lane change destination LC.

[0027] After route guidance indicators D2 and D3 move in this manner, as shown in Figure 5C, another route guidance indicator D1 is displayed at the position where route guidance indicator D3 was initially located (at the timing shown in Figure 5A), that is, in front of the driver and farther from the lane change destination LC in the driver's left and right directions. These route guidance indicators D1, D2, and D3 move together in the direction of movement C3. The direction of movement C3 is a direction that slopes so as the vehicle 200 moves in the direction of travel, it approaches the lane change destination LC. As route guidance indicators D1, D2, and D3 move, route guidance indicator D3 is erased. For example, route guidance indicator D3 is erased at a position that overlaps with the center line CL of road R. After that, this erased route guidance indicator D3 is displayed at the position where route guidance indicator D3 was initially located (at the timing shown in Figure 5A). As described above, as shown in the movement directions C1, C2, and C3 in Figure 3, the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 can be animated to guide the vehicle 200 towards the lane change destination LC, thereby encouraging a lane change.

[0028] Next, the display modes of the head-up display device 100 will be described. When the control unit 50 determines, based on the car navigation data A2, that the vehicle 200 is traveling in the right lane and needs to change lanes to the left lane, it displays the animation described above. The control unit 50 repeatedly executes the animation described above until the vehicle 200 crosses the center line CL. When the control unit 50 determines that the vehicle 200 has crossed the center line CL, it terminates the animation described above.

[0029] (effect) According to the embodiment described above, the following effects are achieved. (1) The head-up display device 100 mounted on the vehicle 200 includes a display device 10 that displays a virtual image V, which is an example of a three-dimensional display image, on the road surface on which the vehicle 200 travels, and a control unit 50 that controls the display of the display device 10. The control unit 50 displays a road surface superimposed display B1 that overlaps the road surface and a vertical display B2 that is in contact with the road surface superimposed display B1 and stands upright relative to the road surface superimposed display B1 as a virtual image V that prompts the vehicle 200 to change its direction of travel. With this configuration, the road surface superimposed display B1 makes the elevation display B2 appear to float above the road surface and difficult to see, making it easier to judge the distance to the vehicle. Furthermore, even if the road surface superimposed display B1 is obscured, the guidance content remains easy to understand thanks to the elevation display B2. These factors improve the visibility of the virtual image V.

[0030] (2) The road surface superimposed marking B1 and the elevation marking B2 have the same meaning and are markings that indicate the direction to which the vehicle 200 will change direction. With this configuration, the road surface superimposed display B1 and the elevation display B2 have the same meaning. Therefore, even if the visibility of either the road surface superimposed display B1 or the elevation display B2 is low, the other can reliably convey the display content to the viewer.

[0031] (3) The road surface superimposed marking B1 and the elevation marking B2 are arranged to intersect in a roughly L-shape. This configuration improves the visibility of the virtual image V.

[0032] (4) The control unit 50 displays the road surface superimposed display B1 and the elevation display B2 as an animation that moves toward the destination of the change in the direction of travel of the vehicle 200. This configuration improves the visibility of the virtual image V.

[0033] (modified version) However, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and drawings described above. Modifications (including the deletion of components) may be made as appropriate, provided that they do not alter the essence of this disclosure.

[0034] In the above embodiment, the road surface superimposed display B1 and the vertical display B2 were displays indicating the destination of the change in direction of travel for the vehicle 200. However, either the road surface superimposed display B1 or the vertical display B2 may be a display that encourages a change in direction of travel by restricting the vehicle 200 from going straight. For example, as shown in Figure 8, the vertical display B2a of each route guidance display D1, D2, and D3 is a sign that encourages a lane change by restricting the vehicle 200 from going straight. In this example, the vertical display B2a is a sign indicating a road closure, and is a red sign with an "X" inside a circle. The vertical display B2a may be any other sign that restricts the vehicle 200 from going straight, such as a sign with an "!" inside a triangle.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 were displays prompting lane changes, but they may also be displays prompting right turns or left turns. In this case, the road surface superimposed display B1 and the elevation display B2 may be composed of arrows pointing in the direction corresponding to a right turn or left turn. In the above embodiment, the orientation of the vertical display B2 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the vertical display B2 may extend along the left-right direction as viewed from the driver. Furthermore, although the road surface superimposed marking B1 and the elevation marking B2 were perpendicular in a roughly L-shape, they may also intersect at a non-perpendicular angle (acute or obtuse angle). In this case, the elevation marking B2 may be displayed tilted towards the foreground or background. The connection position of the elevation display B2 to the road surface superimposed display B1 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the elevation display B2 may be positioned on top of the road surface superimposed display B1. The road surface overlay indicator B1 and the elevation indicator B2 may be arrows of the same shape. That is, the elevation indicator B2 may be an arrow of the same shape as the road surface overlay indicator B1, and conversely, the road surface overlay indicator B1 may be an arrow of the same shape as the elevation indicator B2. Furthermore, the road surface superimposed display B1 and the elevation display B2 may also be indicators that show direction other than arrows.

[0036] In the animation, the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 may move in the opposite direction to the movement directions C1, C2, and C3 in the above embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, namely C1', C2', and C3'. The movement directions C1', C2', and C3' are directions that move away from the lane change destination LC as the driver moves towards the driver. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 may be displayed as still images rather than animations.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the folded mirror 20 may be omitted, and the display light L from the display device 10 may be directly radiated to the concave mirror 30. Furthermore, the concave mirror 30 may be omitted, and the display light L from the display device 10 may be directly radiated to the windshield 201. In the above embodiment, the head-up display device 100 projected the display light L onto the windshield 201, but it is not limited to the windshield 201; the display light L may also be projected onto a combiner composed of a plate-shaped half-mirror, a hologram element, or the like. In the above embodiment, the vehicle 200 is an autonomously driven vehicle, and route guidance displays D1, D2, and D3 may be displayed to inform the occupants of the movement of the vehicle 200 during autonomous driving.

[0038] The road surface superimposed marking B1 and the elevation marking B2 were intended to prompt a change in the direction of travel of a vehicle. However, either the road surface superimposed marking B1 or the elevation marking B2 may be a marking other than one that prompts a change in the direction of travel of a vehicle. For example, one of them may be a marking of the legal speed limit, distance to a right or left turn, flashing of turn lights, or following distance, and the road surface superimposed marking B1 may represent the shadow of the elevation marking B2. This modified example discloses, for example, the technical concept described in Appendix 1 below. (Note 1) A head-up display device installed in a vehicle, A display device that displays a three-dimensional image, The device comprises a control unit for controlling the display of the display device, The control unit displays, as the display image, a road surface superimposed display that overlaps the road surface, and a vertical display that is in contact with the road surface superimposed display and erected relative to the road surface superimposed display. Head-up display device. The configuration in Patent Document 1 has the problem that the elevation display appears to float above the road surface. With the above configuration, by adding a road surface superimposed display to the elevation display, the elevation display is less likely to appear to float above the road surface. Therefore, this problem can be solved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1…Sighted person 10…Display device 20...Folding mirror 30…Concave mirror 50…Control Unit 60...casing, 62...window section 100... Head-up display device 200...Vehicle, 201...Windshield L...Display light, V...Virtual image, D1, D2, D3...Route guidance display, B1...Road surface superimposed display, B2, B2a...Elevation display, Ah, Aj...Arrowhead, Sf...Shaft, C1, C1', C2, C2', C3, C3'...Direction of movement, Sk...Gap A1…Shooting data, A2…Car navigation data, R…Road, LC…Lane change destination, CL…Center line

Claims

1. A head-up display device installed in a vehicle, A display device that displays a three-dimensional image on the road surface on which the vehicle is traveling, The device comprises a control unit for controlling the display of the display device, The control unit displays, as the display image prompting a change in the direction of travel of the vehicle, a road surface superimposed display that overlaps the road surface, and a vertical display that is in contact with the road surface superimposed display and erected relative to the road surface superimposed display. Head-up display device.

2. The aforementioned road surface overlay markings and elevation markings have the same meaning and indicate the direction to which the vehicle's direction of travel will change. The head-up display device according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned road surface overlay markings and the aforementioned elevation markings are arranged to intersect in a roughly L-shape. The head-up display device according to claim 1.

4. The control unit displays the road surface superimposed display and the elevation display as an animation that moves toward the destination of the change in the direction of travel of the vehicle. A head-up display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A method for displaying a three-dimensional image on a road surface on which a vehicle travels, using a display device that displays a three-dimensional image, The display image that prompts the vehicle to change direction of travel includes a road surface superimposed display that overlaps the road surface, and a vertical display that is in contact with the road surface superimposed display and erected relative to the road surface superimposed display. Display method.

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