Vehicle meter system

Abstract

This invention provides a vehicle meter system that can suppress reflections of the meter onto the side glass when viewing the side mirrors. [Solution] The vehicle meter system is a vehicle meter system mounted in a vehicle, comprising a display on which meters are displayed, a camera positioned facing the display to photograph a driver seated in the driver's seat, and a control device to which the display and the camera are electrically connected, wherein the control device determines whether the driver is looking at the vehicle's side mirrors based on the image of the driver taken by the camera, and if it determines that the driver is looking at the side mirrors, it reduces the brightness of a predetermined area of ​​the display.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle meter system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses that it is necessary for the display not to reflect the image shown on the display so as not to interfere with the driver's driving with respect to the side glass.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a vehicle display device including a reflected luminance estimation unit that estimates the reflected luminance for estimating the area where reflection occurs on the display surface of the display, and a luminance control unit that executes luminance control of the reflected area based on the reflected luminance.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the vehicle display device disclosed in Patent Document 2, since the reflection of a part of the scenery in the vehicle interior on the display surface of the display is defined as "reflection", it does not solve the reflection on the side glass.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, at least one embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a vehicle meter system capable of suppressing the reflection of the display on the door glass when the driver is looking at the side mirror.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A vehicle meter system according to at least one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle meter system mounted in a vehicle, comprising: a display on which meters are displayed; a camera positioned facing the display to photograph a driver seated in the driver's seat; and a control device to which the display and the camera are electrically connected, wherein the control device determines whether the driver is looking at the vehicle's side mirrors based on the image of the driver captured by the camera, and if it determines that the driver is looking at the side mirrors, it reduces the brightness of a predetermined area of ​​the display.

[0008] According to the above configuration, when the system detects that the driver is looking at the side mirrors, the brightness of a predetermined area of ​​the display decreases. If the area whose brightness is reduced is the area reflected in the door glass, then the brightness of the area of ​​the display reflected in the door glass decreases when the driver is looking at the side mirrors. This suppresses the reflection of the display onto the door glass when the driver is looking at the side mirrors. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the reflection of the display on the door glass when the driver is looking at the side mirror. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the interior of a vehicle. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram illustrating the control configuration of a vehicle meter system. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a flowchart that schematically shows the control details of the meter system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc., of the components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are merely illustrative examples.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle meter system 1 according to this embodiment is a vehicle meter system mounted on a vehicle 100, and comprises a display 11 on which meters are displayed, a camera 13 positioned facing the display 11 to photograph a driver seated in a driver's seat 110, and a control unit (ECU) 15 to which the display 11 and the camera 13 are electrically connected.

[0013] The display 11, which shows the meters, is located in front of the steering wheel 120 and is covered by an instrument panel center visor 130 to prevent sunlight from entering the display 11. The display 11 is made up of an LCD panel, and when the power mode of the power switch 140 is turned on, the instruments are displayed. The brightness (luminance) of the display 11 is adjusted by a switch located in the driver's seat. When adjusting the brightness of the display 11, the brightness level is displayed on the display 11, and the brightness of the display 11 set by this switch becomes the default value (original brightness).

[0014] The camera 13 is installed, for example, on the instrument panel center visor 130, but is not limited to this. The camera 13 is also installed together with a light source 17 that illuminates the driver. The light source 17 is, for example, an infrared LED, and is installed together with the camera 13 on the instrument panel center visor 130, but is not limited to this.

[0015] The control device 15 consists of a processor comprising an arithmetic unit, registers and peripherals for storing instructions and information, memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), and an input interface. The control device 15 receives video of the driver captured by the camera 13 and monitors the driver's behavior. The control device 15 determines from the monitoring results whether the driver is looking at the side mirror 150 of the vehicle 100. For example, the control device 15 analyzes the driver's behavior from the video based on an algorithm for motion analysis and determines whether the driver is looking at the side mirror 150 of the vehicle 100. If it determines that the driver is looking at the side mirror 150, it reduces the brightness of a predetermined area on the display 11. The area whose brightness is reduced is the area reflected in the door glass 160, but it may be the entire display area.

[0016] Furthermore, the control device 15 may be configured to receive input when the vehicle 100 is reversed. When the vehicle 100 is reversed, the control device 15 may reduce the brightness of a predetermined area of ​​the display 11. Note that the reverse operation is the operation of moving the shift lever 170 to the R position.

[0017] Furthermore, the control device 15 may be configured to receive input when the vehicle 100's headlights are turned on. When the vehicle 100's headlights are turned on, the control device 15 may reduce the brightness of a predetermined area on the display 11. Note that the vehicle's headlights are turned on when the light switch 180 is ON, and when the headlights are automatically turned on.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, in the vehicle meter system 1 according to the embodiment, when the control device 15 determines that the driver is looking at the side mirror 150 (step S11: Yes), the brightness of a predetermined area of the display 11, that is, the area reflected in the door glass 160, is reduced (step S12). Even when the control device 15 determines that the driver is not looking at the side mirror 150 (step S11: No), if a reverse operation is input (step S13: Yes), that is, when the shift lever 170 is in the R position, the brightness of a predetermined area of the display 11, that is, the area reflected in the door glass 160, is reduced (step S12). Even when the control device 15 determines that the driver is not looking at the side mirror 150 (step S11: No) and a reverse operation is not input (step S13: No), if the headlight is turned on (step S14: Yes), the brightness of a predetermined area of the display 11, that is, the area reflected in the door glass 160, is reduced (step S12).

[0019] When the control device 15 determines that the driver is not looking at the side mirror 150 (step S11: No), and neither a reverse operation nor the headlight being turned on is input (step S13: No, step S14: No), and if the brightness of the reflection area has been reduced, the brightness of the predetermined area is returned to the original brightness (set value) (step S15). These steps are repeated hereinafter.

[0020] According to the vehicle meter system 1 according to the embodiment, when it is determined that the driver is looking at the side mirror 150, the brightness of a predetermined area of the display 11 is reduced. Therefore, if the area where the brightness is reduced is the area reflected in the door glass 160, the brightness of the area of the display 11 reflected in the door glass 160 is reduced when the driver is looking at the side mirror 150. Thereby, the reflection of the display 11 on the door glass 160 when the driver is looking at the side mirror 150 can be suppressed.

[0021] Also, even when the control device 15 determines that the driver is not looking at the side mirror 150, if a reverse operation is input, the luminance of a predetermined area of the display 11 decreases. Therefore, if the area where the luminance is decreased is set to an area that is reflected on the door glass 160, it is possible to suppress the reflection of the display 11 on the door glass 160 when the driver is performing a reverse operation.

[0022] Also, even when the control device 15 determines that the driver is not looking at the side mirror 150 and a reverse operation is not input, if the headlight is turned on, the luminance of a predetermined area of the display 11 decreases. Therefore, if the area where the luminance is decreased is set to an area that is reflected on the door glass 160, it is possible to suppress the reflection of the display 11 on the door glass 160 during night driving or tunnel driving.

[0023] Also, when the control device 15 determines that the driver is not looking at the side mirror 150, neither a reverse operation nor the headlight is turned on, and the luminance of the reflection area is decreased, the luminance of the predetermined area is returned to the original luminance (set value). Therefore, when there is no risk of reflection, the brightness (luminance) of the display 11 can be returned to the specified value (original value) set by the driver.

[0024] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes forms obtained by modifying the above-described embodiments and forms obtained by appropriately combining these forms.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0025] 1 Vehicle meter system 11 Display 13 Camera 15 Control device (ECU) 17 Light source 100 Vehicle 110 Driver's seat 120 Steering wheel 130 Instrument panel center visor 140 Power Switch 150 Side Mirror 160 Door Glass 170 Shift lever 180 Light Switch

Claims

1. A vehicle meter system installed in a vehicle, A display that shows the meters, A camera positioned facing the aforementioned display to photograph the driver seated in the driver's seat, A control device to which the display and the camera are electrically connected, Equipped with, The control device is Based on the video of the driver captured by the camera, it is determined whether or not the driver is looking at the vehicle's side mirrors. When the driver determines that it is looking at the side mirror, the brightness of a predetermined area of ​​the display is reduced. Vehicle meter system.

2. The control device receives input indicating that the vehicle is being reversed. The control device reduces the brightness of the predetermined area when the reverse operation is input. The vehicle meter system according to claim 1.

3. The control device receives input indicating that the vehicle's headlights are turned on. The control device, when the headlights are turned on, reduces the brightness of the predetermined area. A vehicle meter system according to claim 1 or 2.

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