vehicle

Abstract

To provide a user-friendly display system and vehicle for the occupants. [Solution] The display system 1 includes a projection device 30 installed inside a vehicle V and capable of projecting images into the vehicle, a sensor 50 installed in the vehicle V that detects the state of the vehicle or the occupant H of the vehicle V, and a control unit 40 that receives signals from the sensor 50 and controls the projection device 30. The control unit 40 changes the projection state of the projection device 30 based on the signals from the sensor 50. By automatically changing the projection state of the projection device 30, the occupant H is not required to operate the projection device 30, and the usability of the projection device 30 is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a display system and a vehicle, and particularly to a display system and a vehicle including a projection device linked to the state of a seat inside the vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a technique of projecting an image onto the inner wall of a vehicle by a projection device (projector) provided inside the vehicle to display an image inside the vehicle is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a projection device mounted on a vehicle that projects an image onto the inner wall of the passenger compartment (rear glass).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since the projection device described in Patent Document 1 is not linked with other systems inside the vehicle (for example, a door opening / closing system), when using a system inside the vehicle during image projection (for example, opening the door to go out), it is necessary to manually stop the projection device, which was not very user-friendly for passengers. Therefore, for example, a display system that is linked with other systems inside the vehicle and is user-friendly has been desired.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a display system and a vehicle that are user-friendly for passengers.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The above problems are solved by the display system and vehicle equipped with the display system according to the present invention, which comprises a projection device installed inside the vehicle and capable of projecting an image inside the vehicle, a sensor installed in the vehicle for detecting the state of the vehicle or the occupants of the vehicle, and a control unit that receives a signal from the sensor and controls the projection device, wherein the control unit changes the projection state of the projection device based on the signal from the sensor.

[0007] The display system of the present invention can change the projection state of the projection device based on signals from sensors installed in the vehicle, thereby providing a user-friendly display system for the occupants.

[0008] In the above configuration, the sensor is a door sensor that detects the open / closed state of the vehicle's door, and the control unit may stop projection by the projection device when the door sensor detects that the door is open. When the door sensor detects that a vehicle door has been opened, the projection device automatically stops, eliminating the need for occupants to operate the projection device and improving its usability.

[0009] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the sensor is a window sensor that detects the open or closed state of the vehicle's window or roof window, and the control unit may stop projection by the projection device when the window sensor detects that the window or roof window is open. When the window sensor detects that a window or roof window is open, the projection device automatically stops, eliminating the need for occupants to operate the projection device and improving its usability.

[0010] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the sensor is an incoming call sensor that detects incoming calls on the occupant's mobile phone, and the control unit may stop projection from the projection device when the incoming call sensor detects an incoming call on the mobile phone. When the incoming call sensor detects an incoming call on a mobile phone, the projection device automatically stops, eliminating the need for crew members to operate the projection device and improving its usability.

[0011] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the sensor is a seating sensor that detects the seated state of the occupant, and the control unit may stop the projection of the projection device when the seating sensor detects that the occupant has left the seat. When the seating sensor detects that an occupant has left their seat, the projection device automatically stops, eliminating the need for the occupant to operate the projection device and improving its usability.

[0012] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the sensor is an illuminance sensor that measures the illuminance inside the vehicle, and the control unit may correct the image projected by the projection device based on the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor. By measuring the illumination inside the vehicle and automatically correcting the image based on that illumination, the need for occupants to operate the projection device is eliminated, improving the usability of the projection device.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the vehicle may be equipped with an illumination adjustment mechanism that adjusts the illumination inside the vehicle based on the illumination measured by the illumination sensor, and the control unit may correct the image projected by the projection device based on the adjusted illumination measured by the illumination sensor. The illumination adjustment mechanism allows the interior lighting to be adjusted to a brightness suitable for projected images, improving the usability of the projection device.

[0014] Furthermore, in the above configuration, the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle capable of automatic driving, and is equipped with a mode switching unit that switches between manual driving mode and autonomous driving mode. The control unit may enable operation of the projection device when the vehicle switches to autonomous driving mode by the mode switching unit, and disable operation of the projection device or stop projection from the projection device when the vehicle switches to manual driving mode. Switching between manual and automatic operation modes allows the operator to control the projection device, reducing the effort required for crew members to operate the device and improving its usability.

[0015] Furthermore, in the above configuration, a seat state changing mechanism is provided to change the state of the seat in which the occupant is seated, and the control unit may prompt the use of the projection device when the seat back of the seat is tilted backward beyond a predetermined angle by the seat state changing mechanism. The seat position change mechanism prompts the use of the projection device when the seatback is tilted backward, saving the occupant the trouble of operating the projection device and improving its usability. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the display system of the present invention and the vehicle equipped with the display system, the projection state of the projection device can be changed based on signals from sensors provided in the vehicle, thereby providing a user-friendly display system for the occupants. Furthermore, in this invention, when the sensor is a door sensor, the projection of the projection device automatically stops when the door sensor detects that the vehicle door has been opened. This eliminates the need for the occupant to operate the projection device, improving the usability of the projection device. Furthermore, when the sensor is a window sensor, the projection device automatically stops when the window sensor detects that a window or roof window has been opened, thus saving the occupant the trouble of operating the projection device and improving its usability. Furthermore, in this invention, when the sensor is an incoming call sensor that detects incoming calls on the occupant's mobile phone, the projection of the projection device is automatically stopped when the incoming call sensor detects an incoming call on the mobile phone. This eliminates the need for the occupant to operate the projection device, improving the usability of the projection device. Furthermore, in this invention, when the sensor is a seating sensor, the projection of the projection device is automatically stopped when the seating sensor detects that the occupant has left their seat. This eliminates the need for the occupant to operate the projection device, improving the usability of the projection device. In addition, when the sensor in the present invention is an illuminance sensor, by measuring the illuminance inside the vehicle and automatically correcting the video based on the illuminance, the labor of the occupant operating the projection device can be saved, and the usability of the projection device is improved. In addition, by adjusting the illuminance inside the vehicle with an illuminance adjustment mechanism, the illuminance inside the vehicle can be adjusted to an appropriate brightness for the projected video, and the usability of the projection device is improved. In addition, when the vehicle in the present invention is an autonomous driving vehicle capable of autonomous driving, by switching between the manual driving mode and the autonomous driving mode, the availability of operating the projection device can be switched, the labor of the occupant operating the projection device can be saved, and the usability of the projection device is improved. In addition, when the seat back is reclined by a seat state change mechanism, the use of the projection device is promoted, so that the labor of the occupant operating the projection device can be saved, and the usability of the projection device is improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] It is a side view schematically showing the display system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a top view schematically showing the display system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing the ECU and the controlled objects of the ECU. [Figure 4] It is a flowchart showing the control content of the projector by the door sensor. [Figure 5] It is a flowchart showing the control content of the projector by the illuminance sensor. [Figure 6] It is a flowchart showing the control content of the projector when the driving mode is switched. [Figure 7] It is a flowchart showing the control content of the projector based on the seat state. [Figure 8] It is a side view schematically showing a display system for projecting video on a vehicle seat in a tandem arrangement. [Figure 9] It is a side view schematically showing a display system for projecting video on a tailgate. [Figure 10]This is a schematic plan view illustrating a display system that projects images onto screens positioned to bridge the gap between the left and right seats of a vehicle. [Figure 11] This is a schematic plan view illustrating a display system that projects images onto a screen placed between the left and right seats of a vehicle. [Figure 12] This is a schematic side view illustrating other examples of projector mounting and storage locations. [Figure 13] This is a schematic top view showing other examples of mounting and storage locations for the ECU and projector. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat with control levers attached. [Figure 15] This is a schematic top view illustrating an armrest that can rotate left and right. [Figure 16] This is a diagram showing a storage compartment in a door. [Figure 17] This is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat equipped with an air outlet and a moisture outlet. [Figure 18] This is a perspective view showing a headrest to which VR goggles can be detachably attached. [Figure 19] This diagram shows the interior of a vehicle, with support members for occupants provided between the door and the vehicle seat. [Figure 20] This is a top view of a vehicle seat with a swivelable headrest. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] Hereinafter, a vehicle display system and a vehicle having the display system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 13. The embodiments described below are merely examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit it. In other words, the shape, dimensions, arrangement, etc., of the components described below can be changed or improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and of course, equivalents thereof are included in the present invention.

[0019] This embodiment relates to a display system and a vehicle equipped with the display system, comprising: a projection device installed inside a vehicle and capable of projecting images inside the vehicle; a sensor installed in the vehicle for detecting the state of the vehicle or its occupants; and a control unit that receives signals from the sensor and controls the projection device, wherein the control unit changes the projection state of the projection device based on signals from the sensor.

[0020] As an example of a vehicle, we will describe a configuration example of vehicle V, which is a four-wheeled electric vehicle (EV). Vehicle V may be not only a four-wheeled electric vehicle, but also an engine-powered vehicle, a hybrid vehicle equipped with both a motor and an engine for propulsion, or a vehicle equipped with a battery and a fuel cell as a power source. In the following explanation, "front-rear direction" refers to the front-rear direction as viewed from the perspective of the occupant H (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the seated person) of the vehicle V and the vehicle seat S, as shown in Figure 1, and is the direction that coincides with the direction of travel of the vehicle V. "Seat width direction" or "vehicle width direction" refers to the lateral width direction of the vehicle V and the vehicle seat S, as shown in Figure 2, and is the direction that coincides with the left-right direction as viewed from the occupant H of the vehicle seat S. "Up-down direction" refers to the up-down direction of the vehicle V, and is the direction that coincides with the vertical direction when the vehicle V is traveling on a horizontal plane. Furthermore, when simply referred to as "outside," it refers to the side closer to the outside when moving outward from the center of the vehicle V, and when referred to as "inside," it refers to the side closer to the center when moving from the outside of the vehicle V towards the center. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the shape, position, and orientation of each part of the vehicle seat S installed in the vehicle V described below will be explained assuming the vehicle seat S is in a seated position.

[0021] The configuration of vehicle V and display system 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. <Vehicle V> As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle V is equipped with a vehicle door D defining the passenger compartment 2, a roof 3, and a floor F, on which a front seat S1 and a rear seat S2 are mounted. Both the front seat S1 and the rear seat S2 are vehicle seats S on which an occupant H can sit. In the following description, the focus will be on the rear seat S2 located at the rear of the vehicle, but since the front seat S1 located at the front has a similar configuration, it may be simply referred to as a vehicle seat S when there is no need to distinguish between them.

[0022] The vehicle door D is equipped with an openable and closable window W. A sunshade 60 is also provided on the interior side of the window W to block out external light. By raising and lowering the sunshade 60, the brightness (illuminance) inside the vehicle compartment 2 can be adjusted. In other words, the sunshade 60 functions as an illumination adjustment mechanism to control the illuminance inside the vehicle compartment 2. The window W can be opened and closed manually or automatically. When the sunshade 60 can be opened and closed automatically, it is controlled by the vehicle's ECU 40, which will be described later.

[0023] Furthermore, the roof 3 is equipped with an openable and closable roof window W2, which can be opened to allow outside light into the passenger compartment 2. The roof window W2 is equipped with a roof sunshade 61. The roof sunshade 61, like the sunshade 60 of the window W, is also an illumination adjustment mechanism, and by covering the roof window W2 with the roof sunshade 61, outside light can be blocked and the illumination inside the passenger compartment 2 can be adjusted. The roof sunshade 61 can also be opened and closed manually or automatically. When the roof sunshade 61 can be opened and closed automatically, the roof sunshade 61 is controlled by the in-vehicle ECU 40, which will be described later.

[0024] Furthermore, vehicle V is an autonomous vehicle capable of automatic driving and is equipped with a mode switching unit 62 that switches between a manual driving mode in which the vehicle can be driven manually and an autonomous driving mode in which the vehicle can be driven automatically. Switching of the driving mode by the mode switching unit 62 is performed, for example, by an occupant H pressing a mode switching button. When the driving mode is switched, a signal is sent to the ECU 40, which will be described later.

[0025] <Display System 1> As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the display system 1 consists of a projector 30, which is a projection device; a sensor 50, which detects the state of the vehicle V or occupant H; and an ECU 40 (Electronic Control Unit), which is a control unit. The ECU 40 is connected to the projector 30 and sensor 50 by wire or wireless connection and transmits and receives signals. The ECU 40 can also control the projector 30, for example, by projecting an image onto the projector 30 or stopping the projection. It can also correct the brightness and color of the image projected by the projector 30.

[0026] <Projector 30> The projector 30 is a device that projects an image 31 onto a wall inside the car, for example, the back of the seat back 10 of the front seat S1, using the back of the seat back 10 as the projection surface. The projector 30 is mounted on a center console 5 located to the side of the vehicle seat S. The projector 30 can change the position and angle of the projected image by changing the orientation of the lens. In addition, the main body of the projector 30 is attached to a projector movable mechanism 32, which allows the vertical and horizontal angles of the projector 30's main body relative to the vehicle V to be changed. The projector 30 is controlled by the ECU 40, but a projector operation switch 34 is also provided for operation, and the occupant H can directly operate the projector 30 using the projector operation switch 34.

[0027] Additionally, speaker 8 is located on the side of the headrest 13. Speaker 8 allows music to be played in sync with the image projected by the projector 30. Speaker 8 is also connected to the ECU 40 and can emit warning sounds and voice messages in addition to music. The location of speaker 8 is not limited to the headrest 13; it may also be located on the inner wall of the vehicle door D or on the roof 3.

[0028] <Sensor 50> Vehicle V is equipped with sensors 50 for detecting the state of vehicle V or occupant H, including a door sensor 51, a window sensor 52, an incoming call sensor 53, a seat sensor 54, and an illuminance sensor 55. Vehicle V may also be equipped with an in-vehicle camera 6 and an in-vehicle monitor 7, as shown in Figure 1. The in-vehicle camera 6 and the in-vehicle monitor 7 may also function as sensors 50 for detecting the state of vehicle V or occupant H.

[0029] The door sensor 51 is located near the vehicle door D and detects the open / closed state of the vehicle door D. The window sensor 52 is located on the window W and the roof window W2 and detects the open / closed state of either the window W or the roof window W2. When the vehicle door D, window W, or roof window W2 is opened, the door sensor 51 and the window sensor 52 transmit a signal to the ECU 40 indicating that it has been opened. Furthermore, the window sensor 52 is connected to both the sunshade 60 and the roof sunshade 61, and transmits the open / closed state of the sunshade 60 and the roof sunshade 61 to the ECU 40.

[0030] The incoming call sensor 53 wirelessly connects to the occupant H's mobile phone or smartphone (hereinafter referred to as "mobile terminal, etc.") and transmits an incoming call signal to the ECU 40 when an incoming call is received on the mobile terminal, etc. The incoming call sensor 53 and the mobile terminal, etc. communicate using a WiFi network, Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc., but the ECU 40 may connect directly to the mobile terminal, etc. instead of the incoming call sensor 53 and receive the incoming call signal from the mobile terminal, etc.

[0031] The seating sensor 54 is installed on the seat cushion 11 of the vehicle seat S and detects whether or not an occupant H is seated in the vehicle seat S. The seating sensor 54 detects the pressure applied when occupant H is seated in the vehicle seat S and transmits a signal to the ECU 40 indicating that an occupant is seated if the pressure exceeds a predetermined level.

[0032] The illuminance sensor 55 is a sensor that measures the illuminance of the vehicle interior 2 and is located, for example, on the center console 5 (see Figure 2). The illuminance is constantly measured and the measurement results are transmitted to the ECU 40. Based on the illuminance, the ECU 40 can determine whether the vehicle V is driving in a dark place such as a tunnel or in a bright place with no shade.

[0033] The in-vehicle camera 6 is mounted on the roof 3 and photographs the occupant H seated in the vehicle seat S, and transmits the video of the occupant H to the ECU 40. The ECU 40 may determine whether or not an occupant is seated in the vehicle seat S based on the video received from the in-vehicle camera 6.

[0034] As shown in Figure 1, the in-vehicle monitor 7 is installed on the back of the headrest of the front seat S1. The in-vehicle monitor 7 is a device that displays video information and is configured to be operable by the occupant H via operation buttons or touch input on the screen. The in-vehicle camera 6 and the in-vehicle monitor 7 are included in the sensor 50 that detects the state of the vehicle or occupant.

[0035] <Vehicle Seat S> The vehicle seat S comprises a seat back 10, a seat cushion 11, an ottoman 12, a headrest 13, and a seat support section 19. It also includes a reclining mechanism 15 for tilting the seat back 10 and a tilt mechanism 16 for tilting the seat cushion 11. The seat support section 19 includes a seat slide mechanism 20 for moving the vehicle seat S in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction, and a seat rotation mechanism 24 for rotating the vehicle seat S around a vertical axis.

[0036] The seat back 10 supports the back of the occupant H from the rear and is constructed by supporting a cushioning material on a frame (not shown) and covering the cushioning material with a surface material. Furthermore, the seat back 10 can be moved (more precisely, rotated) to tilt backward relative to the seat cushion 11 by the reclining mechanism 15 described later. The vehicle seat S can be transformed into at least two states by using a reclining mechanism 15, etc., from an upright position with the seat back 10 in an upright position (see Figure 1) to a reclined position with the seat back 10 tilted backward. When the vehicle seat S is in the upright position, the occupant H takes a normal standing position relative to the vehicle seat S (e.g., a driving position). On the other hand, when the vehicle seat S is in the reclined position, the occupant H takes a neutral position relative to the vehicle seat S.

[0037] The seat cushion 11 supports the occupant H's buttocks from below and is constructed by placing a cushioning material on a frame (not shown) and covering the cushioning material with a skin. The rear end of the seat cushion 11 is connected to the lower end of the seat back 10 via an axis extending along the width direction of the seat. Furthermore, the seat cushion 11 according to this embodiment can be rotated so that its front end moves up and down by a tilt mechanism 16 described later.

[0038] The ottoman 12 supports the lower legs of the occupant H from below and is constructed by placing cushioning material on a frame board (not shown) and covering the cushioning material with a skin. The ottoman 12 is supported at the front end of the seat cushion 11 via a pivot axis that extends along the width direction of the seat. In other words, the ottoman 12 is rotatable around the pivot axis.

[0039] The headrest supports the head of the seated occupant H from behind and is constructed by supporting a cushioning material on a frame (not shown) and covering the cushioning material with a skin. The headrest 13 can also be moved up and down relative to the seat back 10 by a headrest movement mechanism (not shown). In other words, in this embodiment, the position in which the occupant H's head is supported can be changed according to the movement of the headrest 13 by the headrest movement mechanism. In addition, a speaker 8 is provided on the side of the headrest 13, which can emit music and voices towards the occupant H.

[0040] The reclining mechanism 15 is a mechanism that moves (rotates) the seat back 10 so that the angle at which the seat back 10 is tilted relative to the vehicle (rear tilt angle α), and is realized, for example, by driving a motor (not shown). When the reclining mechanism 15 operates, the seat back 10 rotates around the shaft member that connects the seat back 10 and the seat cushion 11. The motor provided in the reclining mechanism 15 is equipped with a Hall IC, and a pulse is output each time the motor rotates. The pulse is received by the ECU 40, and the ECU 40 can measure the rear tilt angle α of the seat back 10 from the received pulse.

[0041] The tilt mechanism 16 is a mechanism that moves (rotates) the seat cushion 11 so that the front end of the seat cushion 11 moves up and down, and is configured, for example, by a jack-type electric lift mechanism. When the tilt mechanism 16 operates, the front end of the seat cushion 11 rotates relative to the rear end of the seat cushion 11. A Hall IC is provided in the motor that drives the tilt mechanism 16, and a pulse is output each time the motor rotates. The output pulse is received by the ECU 40, which makes it possible to measure the angle at which the seat cushion 11 is tilted relative to the vehicle floor F.

[0042] The seat support section 19 is a device that supports the vehicle seat S from below and is attached to the lower part of the seat cushion 11. Specifically, the seat support section 19 is constructed by covering a frame member that connects the vehicle seat S with the seat slide mechanism 20 and the seat rotation mechanism 24 with a cover member. Furthermore, the ECU 40, which acts as a control unit for controlling the various mechanisms of the vehicle seat S, such as the projector 30, the in-car camera 6, the sensor 50, and the sunshade 60, is housed inside the seat support section 19. Of course, the ECU 40 is not limited to the seat support section 19; it may also be housed inside the seat back 10, the seat cushion 11, etc., or it may be attached externally to the vehicle seat S.

[0043] The seat slide mechanism 20 is a mechanism for sliding the vehicle seat S in the front-rear and left-right directions relative to the vehicle floor F. The seat slide mechanism 20 includes an upper rail 21, a lower rail 22, and a slide motor for sliding the upper rail 21 relative to the lower rail 22. A Hall IC is also attached to the slide motor, and a pulse is output each time the motor rotates.

[0044] The upper rail 21 is fixed to the vehicle seat S via the seat support portion 19, and the lower rail 22 is fixed to the vehicle floor F. By operating the sliding motor described above and sliding the upper rail 21 forward, backward or left, and right relative to the lower rail 22, the vehicle seat S, i.e., the seat back 10, seat cushion 11, headrest 13, and ottoman 12, can be moved together forward, backward or left, and right relative to the vehicle floor F.

[0045] The seat rotation mechanism 24 is a mechanism for rotating the vehicle seat S around a vertical axis relative to the vehicle floor F. The seat rotation mechanism 24 is equipped with a seat rotation motor. A Hall IC is also attached to the seat rotation motor, and a pulse is output each time the motor rotates. The pulse is received by the ECU 40, which allows the rotation angle of the vehicle seat S with respect to the direction of vehicle movement to be measured.

[0046] Furthermore, the vehicle seat S is equipped with an operation switch 25. The operation switch 25 is located on the side of the seat cushion 11 of the vehicle seat S and is an operation unit for instructing the posture change of the vehicle seat S. For example, the operation switch 25 may include a first switch for changing the vehicle seat S from an upright position to a reclined position, and a second switch for changing the vehicle seat S from a reclined position to an upright position.

[0047] <ecu40> As shown in Figure 3, the ECU 40 is connected to a plurality of sensors 50 installed inside the vehicle, and receives signals, measurement results, etc., from each of the sensors 50. The ECU 40 is connected to devices installed inside the vehicle, such as the in-car camera 6, in-car monitor 7, speaker 8, sunshade 60, roof sunshade 61, and mode switching unit 62, and is capable of controlling the operation of each device.

[0048] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the ECU 40 is a control unit that controls the reclining mechanism 15, tilt mechanism 16, seat slide mechanism 20, seat rotation mechanism 24, and projector 30, and is connected to each mechanism by wire or wireless. The ECU 40 can also receive pulses from the motors provided in the reclining mechanism 15, tilt mechanism 16, seat slide mechanism 20, and seat rotation mechanism 24, and calculate the rotation angle, movement amount, etc.

[0049] As shown in Figure 3, the ECU 40 includes a processor 41, memory 42, and input / output interface 43. The processor 41 is a central processing unit that performs various arithmetic operations based on programs and data stored in the memory 42 and signals received from each device connected via the input / output interface 43, as well as controlling each part of the display system 1. The memory 42 is, for example, a semiconductor memory, which stores various programs and data and also functions as the work memory for the processor 41. The input / output interface 43 communicates with the reclining mechanism 15, tilt mechanism 16, seat slide mechanism 20, seat rotation mechanism 24, projector 30, operation switch 25, sensor 50, and in-vehicle devices (in-vehicle camera 6, in-vehicle monitor 7, etc.).

[0050] <Control processing for projector 30> Next, the control process of the projector 30, which is linked to the sensor 50 or device installed on the vehicle V, will be explained using the flowcharts shown in Figures 4 to 7.

[0051] <Projection stop processing in conjunction with the device> Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the control process of the projector 30 in conjunction with the vehicle door D. At the start of this control process, it is assumed that the projector 30 is projecting an image onto the projection surface inside the vehicle.

[0052] The ECU 40 receives a signal from the door sensor 51 indicating the open / closed state of the vehicle door D (step S101: signal reception process). Next, the ECU 40 determines whether the vehicle door D is in the open state based on the received signal (step S102: state determination process). If it determines that the vehicle door D is not in the open state (No in step S102), the ECU 40 continues projecting the image onto the projector 30 (step S103: projection continuation process). If it determines that the vehicle door D is in the open state (Yes in step S102), the ECU 40 stops projecting from the projector 30 (step S104: projection stop process).

[0053] Thus, if it is determined that the vehicle door D is open, projection by the projector 30 is automatically stopped. In other words, when the door is opened to allow occupant H to get in or out of the vehicle, the image automatically stops, eliminating the need for occupant H to manually stop the projector 30 and improving the usability of the projector 30.

[0054] Although the flowchart in Figure 4 describes the control of the vehicle door D using the door sensor 51, the same applies when using the window sensor 52. If the window sensor 52 detects the opening of window W or roof window W2, and the ECU 40 determines, based on the received signal, that window W or roof window W2 has been opened, the ECU 40 will also stop projecting with the projector 30. Since the video automatically stops when occupant H opens the window W, occupant H is saved the trouble of stopping the projector 30, thereby improving the usability of the projector 30.

[0055] Furthermore, the projection by the projector 30 may be automatically stopped when the in-vehicle monitor 7 is started by occupant H. That is, when the ECU 40 receives a signal from the in-vehicle monitor 7 indicating that it is accepting an operation, and the ECU 40 determines that the in-vehicle monitor 7 has been started to be used, the projection by the projector 30 is stopped. Since the image stops automatically when occupant H uses the in-vehicle monitor 7, the occupant is saved the trouble of stopping the projector 30, and the usability of the projector 30 is improved.

[0056] Furthermore, the projector 30 may automatically stop displaying the image when a call comes in on a mobile device owned by crew member H. That is, the ECU 40 receives a signal from the incoming call sensor 53, and when the ECU 40 determines that there is an incoming call on the mobile device, it stops projecting the image from the projector 30. Since the image automatically stops when a call comes in on crew member H's mobile phone or smartphone, the crew member is saved the trouble of stopping the projector 30, and the usability of the projector 30 is improved.

[0057] The projector 30 may automatically stop displaying the image when occupant H is not seated in the vehicle seat S, for example, when seated occupant H stands up from the vehicle seat S. That is, the ECU 40 receives a signal from the seating sensor 54 and, when the ECU 40 determines that no one is seated in the vehicle seat S, stops projecting the image from the projector 30. In addition, instead of using the signal from the seating sensor 54 to determine whether or not occupant H is sitting in the vehicle seat S, the determination may be made based on the video footage received from the in-vehicle camera 6. Since the video automatically stops when occupant H is not seated in the vehicle seat S, occupant H is saved the trouble of stopping the projector 30, thereby improving the usability of the projector 30.

[0058] <Image correction processing based on illumination> Using Figure 5, the control process (image correction process) of the projector 30 in conjunction with the illuminance sensor 55 will be explained. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the image correction process based on illuminance. At the start of this image correction process, the projector 30 is assumed to be projecting an image onto the screen inside the vehicle. The illuminance sensor 55 is assumed to be constantly measuring the brightness (illuminance) inside and outside the vehicle and transmitting the measurement results to the ECU 40.

[0059] The ECU 40 receives illuminance measurement results (illuminance information) from the illuminance sensor 55 (Step S201: Illuminance reception process). Next, the ECU 40 determines whether there has been a significant change since the last received illuminance information (Step S202: Illuminance change measurement process). If it is determined that there has been no change in illuminance, or that the change is smaller than a predetermined value (Step S202: No), the ECU 40 continues projection by the projector 30 without correcting the image (Step S203).

[0060] If there is a significant change in the interior illumination (Step S202: Yes), the ECU40 adjusts the interior illumination (Step S204: Illumination adjustment process). The interior illumination can be adjusted using the illumination adjustment mechanism, either the sunshade 60 or the roof sunshade 61. For example, when entering a tunnel and the interior becomes dark, the sunshade 60 can be lowered to let in outside light. Conversely, when exiting a tunnel and the interior becomes bright, the sunshade 60 can be raised to block out outside light. The interior illumination can also be adjusted by operating the roof sunshade 61 to let in or block out outside light.

[0061] After adjusting the interior illumination, the ECU40 appropriately corrects the brightness and color of the image to match the adjusted interior illumination, ensuring that there is no change from the image before the change in interior illumination occurred (Step S205: Image correction processing). Since the image from projector 30 is adjusted to match the illumination level inside the vehicle, occupant H is saved the trouble of operating projector 30 to adjust the image, thus improving the usability of projector 30.

[0062] If vehicle V is not equipped with a sunshade 60 or the like that can be controlled by the ECU 40, the illumination adjustment process in step S204 may be omitted. In this case, when there is a change in illumination, the ECU 40 controls the projector 30 to correct the image so that the brightness and color of the image do not change, in accordance with the illumination inside the vehicle compartment 2.

[0063] Furthermore, during projection, the brightness (illumination) inside the vehicle may be limited by using an illumination adjustment mechanism to sufficiently block out light from windows, etc., and by limiting the number of interior lights. Furthermore, the projection surface is set to avoid the direction of sunlight to make the image easier to see. For example, by setting the projection surface perpendicular to the direction of sunlight, the image from projector 30 can be made easier to see. If multiple projectors 30 are provided, the projector 30 to be used may be selected according to the direction of sunlight.

[0064] <Control processing during mode switching> Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the control process of the projector 30 in conjunction with the mode switching unit 62. At the start of this control process, the vehicle V is operating in automatic driving mode and projecting an image using the projector 30. When occupant H wants to switch the vehicle V from automatic driving mode to manual driving mode, H presses the mode switching button to instruct the mode switching unit 62 to switch to manual driving mode.

[0065] The ECU 40 receives driving mode information indicating the driving mode from the mode switching unit 62 (Step S301: Signal reception processing). Next, the ECU 40 determines the driving mode based on the received information (Step S302: Driving mode determination processing).

[0066] If the operating mode is automatic operation mode (step S302: No), the ECU 40 enables operation of the projector 30 or starts projecting an image from the projector 30 (step S303: projection start process). If the operating mode is manual operation mode (step S302: Yes), the ECU 40 disables operation of the projector 30 or stops projecting an image from the projector 30 (step S304: projection stop process). When switching to manual driving mode, if an image is being projected, an announcement "The image will be stopped" may be made to the occupant H (Step S305: Announcement notification process). Since the above process is performed when switching modes, occupant H is saved the trouble of changing or operating the settings of the projector 30, thereby improving the usability of the projector 30.

[0067] <Control processing when sheet state is changed> Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the control process for changing the seat shape of the projector 30 in conjunction with the seat state changing mechanism 14 of the vehicle seat S. While seated in the vehicle seat in an upright position, occupant H presses the operation switch 25 to activate the reclining mechanism 15 of the seat state change mechanism 14, thereby reclining the seat back 10 until the backward tilt angle α is greater than or equal to a predetermined angle.

[0068] The ECU 40 receives information about the backward tilt angle α of the seat back 10 from the reclining mechanism 15 (step S401: signal reception step). Specifically, the ECU 40 determines the backward tilt angle α of the seat back 10 by receiving pulses from the motor of the reclining mechanism 15 and measuring the rotational speed.

[0069] Next, the ECU 40 determines whether the vehicle seat S is in relaxation mode or not (step S402: mode determination process). The relaxed mode is a state in which the seat back 10 is tilted far back. The ECU 40 stores the rearward tilt angle α of the seat back 10 that corresponds to the relaxed mode as a predetermined angle β. When the occupant H tilts the seat back 10 backward using the operation switch 25 and the rearward tilt angle α becomes less than or equal to the predetermined angle β, the ECU 40 determines that the seat state of the vehicle seat S is the relaxed mode.

[0070] If the vehicle seat S is not in relaxation mode (step S402: No), return to step S401 and obtain the reclining angle α of the seat back 10. If the vehicle seat S is in relaxation mode (step S402: Yes), the ECU 40 prompts occupant H to use the projector 30 (step S403: Projector use suggestion process). When prompting use, for example, the ECU 40 may notify occupant H by voice using the speaker 8, saying, "Do you want to start the video?" Alternatively, the announcement may be notified by displaying the announcement as text on the in-vehicle monitor 7.

[0071] The ECU 40 determines whether occupant H wishes to use the projector 30 (step S404: projector usage confirmation process). In this case, occupant H may communicate their wishes to the ECU 40 by voice, and the ECU 40 will determine whether or not they wish to use the system based on the message received via voice recognition. Occupant H may also communicate their wishes using the touch input on the in-vehicle monitor 7 or the operation switches 25. If it is determined that occupant H wishes to use the projector 30 (step S404: Yes), the ECU 40 starts using the projector 30 and projects an image onto the screen in theater mode (step S405: image start step). If crew member H does not wish to use projector 30 (step S404: No), do nothing and terminate the process.

[0072] By setting the vehicle seat S to relaxation mode, the projection of the image starts automatically, eliminating the need to operate the projector 30 and improving its usability. Although the control process shown in Figure 7 describes the case where the state of the vehicle seat S is changed by the reclining mechanism 15, it may also be applied when the state of the vehicle seat S is changed by other seat state changing mechanisms 14, namely the tilt mechanism 16, the seat slide mechanism 20, or the seat rotation mechanism 24, not just the reclining mechanism 15. For example, if the vehicle seat S is rotated to face backward by the seat rotation mechanism 24, it may be determined that the seat has been changed to relaxation mode, and the occupant H may be prompted to use the projector 30.

[0073] Furthermore, the projector 30 may be configured to automatically optimize the projection surface it displays according to the state of the sheet changed by the sheet state changing unit. For example, the position and angle of the projection plane may be changed according to the angle of the vehicle seat S, i.e., the backward tilt angle α of the seat back 10, the inclination angle of the seat cushion 11, the amount of rotation of the vehicle seat, etc.

[0074] Furthermore, the position and size of the projection surface may be controlled according to the position of the vehicle seat S. That is, if the occupant H is seated in the front seat S1, the front windshield is used as the projection surface, and if the occupant H is seated in the rear seat S2, the back of the front seat S1 is used as the projection surface. Furthermore, the sound generated may be controlled according to the position of the vehicle's seat S. For example, in the driver's seat, both video and audio may be restricted so that they cannot be heard. In the passenger seat, only the audio may be restricted and only the video may be displayed. In the rear seats, both video and audio may be played.

[0075] Furthermore, if the vehicle seat S is rotated by the seat rotation mechanism 24 by a predetermined value or more (for example, from 90 degrees to 180 degrees or more), the operating projector 30 may be changed. For example, if the passenger seat is rotated 180 degrees, the projector 30 that was facing the front of the vehicle V stops, and the projector 30 that projects towards the rear of the vehicle V starts projecting. When switching projectors 30 in this case, it is advisable to set a predetermined lap time to prevent the image from being interrupted.

[0076] <Operating Projector 30> In the display system 1, the projector 30 can be operated by an operation switch 25 provided on the vehicle seat S, but the means of operating the projector 30 are not limited to this. The projector 30 may be operable using a mobile device or the like of crew member H. By connecting the mobile device or the like to the projector 30 via a wired or wireless connection, crew member H can operate the projector 30 using their mobile device. Alternatively, the in-vehicle camera 6 can detect the movements of the occupant H, allowing the occupant to operate the projector 30 with their gestures. Specifically, the ECU 40 analyzes the movements of the occupant H based on the video captured by the in-vehicle camera 6, determines whether or not it matches a predetermined action, and if it matches, executes the corresponding operation on the projector 30.

[0077] <Projecting images onto roof 3> In the display system 1 shown in Figure 1, the projector 30 projected an image onto the back of the seatback 10 of the front seat S1, which is the front seat. However, the projection surface is not limited to this, and the image may be projected onto another wall surface.

[0078] For example, the image may be projected onto a roof sunshade 61 installed on the roof window W2, as shown in Figure 8 with projector 30. In this case, the roof sunshade 61 may be configured to tilt during projection so that the image is easily visible to the occupant H. Alternatively, instead of projecting onto the roof sunshade 61, the image may be projected onto a roll screen installed on the roof 3. When projecting and viewing the image onto the roll screen, it is preferable that the vehicle seat S be in a flat position.

[0079] When the vehicle seat S is in a flat position, occupant H will lie down with their head facing forward and view the roof image. In this case, the in-vehicle camera 6 may detect the direction of occupant H's head and automatically adjust the position and orientation of the projected image to match the direction of occupant H's head.

[0080] <Projecting images onto the tandem seat> Figure 8 shows another example of the projection destination of the projector 30. The front seat S1A of the vehicle V shown in Figure 8 is a seat that can be arranged in a tandem configuration. That is, the front seat S1A can be configured such that the seat back 10 is folded forward and the seat itself is flipped up forward. The image from the projector 30 can then be projected onto the back of the seat cushion 11 of the tandem-arranged front seat S1A. Compared to the image projection destination shown in Figure 1, a greater distance can be secured from the projector 30 to the screen, allowing for the display of a larger image.

[0081] <Image projection onto tailgate 65> Figure 9 shows another example of the projection destination of the projector 30. The projector 30A shown in Figure 9 is mounted on the headrest 13. By turning the projection direction of the projector 30C toward the rear, the image can be projected toward the tailgate 65 of the vehicle V. The rear seat S2 shown in Figure 9 is facing forward, but the rear seat S2 may be rotated using the seat rotation mechanism 24 so that it faces the rear of the vehicle V. In this case, the projection direction of the projector 30 may be automatically changed to match the orientation of the rear seat S2. The height of the projector 30C may also be adjusted by making the headrest 13 movable up and down. The projector 30 may also be stored inside the headrest 13.

[0082] A roll screen may be provided as a screen 66 on the upper or side of the tailgate 65, and the image from the projector 30A may be projected onto the extended roll screen. Furthermore, by projecting images onto the tailgate window from the inside outwards, it is possible to notify following vehicles of information. Information to be notified to following vehicles may include, for example, "There is a child on board" or "Sudden change in health." Advertisements reflecting the preferences of the following driver may also be displayed. If connected to a network via communication, personalized advertisements may be displayed via the network.

[0083] <Screen layout> The screen 66 installed inside the vehicle may be an electronically controlled glass shade that becomes opaque when power is applied. Since it can be made opaque only when projecting, it does not obstruct the view when no image is being projected. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10, the screen 66A may be positioned to bridge the gap between the front seats S1 located on the left and right sides. This allows the image from the projector 30B to be projected over a larger area. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 11, the screen 66B may be positioned between the left and right seats, bridging the front and rear seats S1 and S2, which are located one behind the other. In this case, projectors 30C and 30D are installed on the left and right sides of the vehicle (including the doors), and images are projected onto the front and back surfaces of the screen 66B, respectively. The images projected by projectors 30C and 30D may be the same image or different images.

[0084] <Coordination with crew member H> In the vehicle seat S, the state of the occupant H (such as level of alertness and physical condition) may be measured by biosensors mounted on the seat back 10 and seat cushion 11, and the projector 30 may be controlled according to the measured state. For example, if crew member H's level of alertness falls below a predetermined value (e.g., if they are feeling drowsy), the operation of the projector 30 is restricted. For example, the volume may be lowered or the projection of images may be stopped. Additionally, when the crew is resting (vacation mode selected), the projection will either be interrupted or changed to a video that can relieve eye strain. Furthermore, projection may be restricted or prohibited if the vehicle's vibration or gravitational acceleration exceeds a predetermined value.

[0085] <Placement and storage of Projector 30> In the vehicle V shown in Figure 1, the projector 30 was located on the center console 5, but the position of the projector 30 is not limited to this, and it may also be installed on the roof 3, as shown in the projector 30E in Figure 12. In this case, it would be desirable for the projector 30E to be able to move back and forth. For example, rails could be provided on the roof 3 to allow the projector 30E to slide back and forth. The projector 30 may be configured to move in conjunction with the forward and backward movement of the vehicle seat S. Alternatively, the projector 30 may be configured to move after a predetermined time has elapsed following the movement of the vehicle seat S.

[0086] Furthermore, if the projection surface from the projector 30 is the back surface of the seat back 10 of the front seat S1, the visibility of the image may be improved by changing the backward tilt angle α of the seat back (for example, tilting it forward). Alternatively, projector 30F, as shown in Figure 12, may be placed on the floor F. Furthermore, the projector 30 mounted on the roof 3 should be stored inside the roof 3. Similarly, the projector 30 mounted on the floor F should be stored inside the floor F.

[0087] The projector 30, which is located on the center console 5, should be housed within the center console 5 as shown by the dotted line in Figure 13. It is preferable that it be housed on the side closest to the ECU 40 located within the seat.

[0088] <Control based on charging state> If vehicle V is an electric vehicle (EV), it is preferable to restrict the operation of the projector 30 when the vehicle V's charge level is below a predetermined value. For example, if the vehicle V's charge level is below a predetermined value, the operation time should be shortened or operation should be prohibited. If the vehicle's charge level (battery level) is below a first predetermined value (for example, the remaining charge is 20% or less), the operating time of the projector 30 is set to within a predetermined time (for example, within 10 minutes). Furthermore, if the charge level is below a second predetermined value which is even smaller than the first predetermined value (for example, if the remaining charge is 10% or less), the operation of the projector will be restricted, for example, completely prohibited, or prohibited except for alarms.

[0089] <Other controls> The operating status of multiple projectors may be controlled based on the driving conditions and the number of passengers. Furthermore, if an abnormality in the vehicle V is detected, it is preferable to restrict or prohibit the operation of the projector 30. For example, when an abnormality in the battery, the vehicle seat S, the projector, or the projection surface is detected, the operation of the projector and projection surface should be restricted or prohibited. Furthermore, if an abnormality in an occupant is detected by a biosensor or the like, it is advisable to restrict or prohibit the operation of the projector 30 and the projection surface.

[0090] In the above embodiment, a display system 1 used in a vehicle V was described as a specific example, but the display system of the present invention is not particularly limited and can be installed in trains, buses, etc., and can also be used in airplanes, ships, etc.

[0091] <<Second Embodiment>> The configuration of a vehicle seat and interior components according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments and examples described below are merely examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention and do not limit it. That is, the present invention can be modified and improved without departing from its spirit, and of course, equivalents thereof are included in the present invention.

[0092] In the following, we will describe a vehicle seat installed in a vehicle as an example of a vehicle seat, and explain its configuration. However, the present invention is not limited to vehicle seats installed in ground-running vehicles with wheels, such as automobiles and trains, but can also be applied to seats installed in aircraft, ships, and other vehicles that move on surfaces other than the ground.

[0093] Furthermore, in the following explanation, "front-to-back direction" refers to the front-to-back direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the direction of travel when the vehicle is in motion. Also, "seat width direction" refers to the width direction of the vehicle seat (in other words, the width direction of the seat itself), which coincides with the left-to-right direction as seen from the perspective of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat. Also, "up-down direction" refers to the up-and-down direction of the vehicle seat, which coincides with the vertical direction when the vehicle is traveling on a horizontal plane.

[0094] Furthermore, "outside of the vehicle" and "window side" in the seat width direction refer to the side closer to the outside of the vehicle (more simply, the side closer to the nearest door or window), while "inside of the vehicle" and "inside of the interior" refer to the side closer to the inside of the vehicle (more simply, the side further away from the nearest door). Unless otherwise specified, the following descriptions of the shape, position, and orientation of each part of the vehicle seat will be based on the assumption that the vehicle seat is in a seated position.

[0095] <First Example> Figure 14 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat S100 according to the first embodiment of the second embodiment. The vehicle seat S100 is positioned on the vehicle floor that defines the bottom of the passenger compartment and is a seat on which the vehicle occupants sit. The vehicle seat S100 is used as a front seat corresponding to the front seats of the vehicle, but is not limited to this and can also be used as a rear seat.

[0096] As shown in Figure 14, the vehicle seat S100 comprises a seat back 101, a seat cushion 102, and a headrest 103. The seat back 101 is the backrest portion that supports the back of the occupant. The seat cushion 102 is the seat portion that supports the occupant's buttocks. The headrest 103 is the portion that supports the occupant's head.

[0097] Furthermore, armrests 104 are provided on both sides of the seat back 101. The armrests 104 support the seatsewer's arms and extend forward from both sides of the seat back 101. The armrests 104 are attached to the seat back 101 so as to be rotatable around the seat width direction (left-right direction), and can be rotated up and down to be stored as needed. As will be described later, the armrests 104 and the seat back 101 are connected by a hinge (not shown), and can also be rotated around the up and down direction (see Figure 15). Therefore, it is also possible to move the tips of the armrests 104 so as to be pulled inward into the seat.

[0098] Furthermore, it is equipped with a reclining mechanism 107 that supports the seat back 101 relative to the seat cushion 102 in an angle-adjustable manner. The reclining mechanism 107 allows the seat back 101 to be rotatably mounted so as to tilt in the front-to-back direction relative to the seat cushion 102.

[0099] Inside the seat back 101 is a seat back frame (not shown) which forms the skeleton of the seat back 101. Inside the seat cushion 102 is also a seat cushion frame (not shown) which forms the skeleton of the seat cushion 102. A pad and a cushion trim cover (cushion cover) are provided around the seat cushion frame and seat back frame. The pad is a urethane base material molded by foam molding using, for example, urethane foam, and the cushion trim cover is made of a surface material such as cloth, synthetic leather, or genuine leather.

[0100] <Operating lever> The vehicle seat S100 is equipped with an operating lever 110 at the tip of the armrest 104. The operating lever 110 is connected to the ECU that controls the vehicle, and the occupant can use the operating lever 110 to steer the vehicle, operate the accelerator and brakes.

[0101] The control lever 110 can be tilted forward, backward, left, and right. For example, the occupant can move the vehicle forward by tilting the control lever 110 forward, that is, the vehicle will travel forward. At this time, the speed can be changed by tilting the control lever 110; for example, tilting the control lever 110 far forward increases the forward speed, allowing the vehicle to travel faster. On the other hand, tilting the control lever 110 backward can move the vehicle backward. Tilting the control lever 110 far backward increases the reverse speed. Furthermore, the occupants can change the direction of travel of the vehicle by tilting the control lever 110 left or right. The vehicle can also be operated using other methods.

[0102] If the vehicle is equipped with a steering wheel (not shown), it is preferable that the system be configured so that either the operation using the operating lever 110 or the operation using the steering wheel takes precedence. It is sufficient for the preferred operation method to be determined by the settings, but it is also preferable to indicate which method of operation is available by retracting one of the levers.

[0103] For example, when using the control lever 110, the steering wheel can be retracted into the instrument panel so that the vehicle can be operated using only the control lever 110. By retracting the steering wheel, it becomes clear that the steering wheel and the control lever 110 cannot be used simultaneously, thereby preventing accidental operation by the steering wheel when using the control lever 110.

[0104] In normal use of the steering wheel, the operating lever 110 is preferably housed in a lever storage compartment 111 formed in the armrest 104. Depending on the state of the vehicle seat, the occupant can raise the operating lever 110 from the lever storage compartment 111 in the armrest 104 to make it operable. For example, when the vehicle seat S100 moves to its furthest rearward position within its sliding range, and the occupant's hands can no longer reach the steering wheel, the operation switches to that of the control lever 110. At this time, the control lever 110 may automatically rise to become operational. Alternatively, the occupant may manually raise the control lever 110, thereby enabling operation using the control lever 110.

[0105] The switch from steering wheel operation to operation using the control lever 110 may be performed when the vehicle seat S100 is rotated so that the occupant faces backward. When the vehicle seat S100 rotates, the occupant's hands can no longer reach the steering wheel. Instead, operation using the control lever 110 becomes possible.

[0106] Furthermore, when the seat back 101 of the vehicle seat S100 is tilted far back, the operation can be switched to that of the control lever 110. When the seat back 101 is tilted, the occupant will no longer be able to reach the steering wheel, so it is convenient to be able to operate the vehicle by switching to operation of the control lever 100.

[0107] Furthermore, in the event of an emergency where the vehicle stops, it may be possible to operate the vehicle using the control lever 110. In particular, in situations where the steering becomes inoperable due to an accident, being able to switch to operation using the control lever 110 may allow the vehicle to be moved.

[0108] Furthermore, if a danger is detected by a sensor mounted on the vehicle and emergency manual operation becomes necessary, the operating lever 110 may be made available for operation. For example, if a person suddenly jumps out in front of the vehicle using radar or the like, the vehicle can avoid the obstacle by operating the operating lever 110.

[0109] Furthermore, the control lever 110 may extend as a backup steering wheel during autonomous driving. By making the control lever 110 operable only when the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, for example, the occupant can easily give instructions to the vehicle during autonomous driving, such as the direction of driving.

[0110] The operating lever 110 may be detachably mounted from the armrest 104. The detached operating lever 110 may be attached to another seat or interior component (e.g., a door or instrument panel). The vehicle body may also be operated in this state. By making the operating lever 110 detachable, the vehicle body can be operated in appropriate situations.

[0111] The operating lever 110 may be provided on both the left and right armrests 104, or it may be provided on only one of the armrests 104.

[0112] The control lever 110 can also be applied to vehicles without a steering wheel. In this case, when driving manually, the control lever 110 is always extended upright from the armrest 104. When the vehicle enters automatic driving mode, the control lever 110 may be retracted into the armrest 104. Furthermore, when the vehicle is in manual driving mode, the control may be configured to prevent the operating lever 110 from being stored in the armrest 104. Also, when the vehicle is in manual driving mode, the control may be configured to prevent the armrest 104 from being rotated vertically and stored. Additionally, the control may be configured to prevent the operating lever 110 from being removed. By implementing such control in manual driving mode, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from becoming inoperable due to malfunction.

[0113] Furthermore, it is preferable that the operating lever 110 be stored in the lever storage section 111 of the armrest 104 at the same time as the armrest 104 is rotated and stored. By storing the operating lever 110, it is ensured that it does not inconvenience passengers sitting in the rear seats.

[0114] Furthermore, the armrest 104 may be configured to extend and retract in the front-to-back direction. In automatic driving mode, the armrest 104 is of normal length, but in manual driving mode, the armrest 104 may be configured to extend forward. As shown in Figure 14, the operating lever 110 is located at the tip of the armrest 104, so positioning the operating lever 110 further forward makes it easier to operate.

[0115] Furthermore, the armrest 104 may be provided so as to be rotatable about its axis in the vertical direction, as shown in Figure 15. By making the armrest 104 movable in the left-right direction (seat width direction), the operating lever 110 can be positioned in a position that is easy for the occupant to operate, that is, in a position preferred by the occupant.

[0116] Furthermore, if the vehicle seat S100 is rotated to face backward, the operation of the control lever 110 may be reversed. For example, if the control lever 110 is moved forward, the vehicle will move backward. By reversing the lever operation, the occupant can operate the vehicle intuitively.

[0117] Furthermore, if a vehicle abnormality is detected or if the tires slip, the system may be controlled to disable vehicle operation using the control lever 110. In this case, only steering operation will be possible.

[0118] Furthermore, if a sudden input load is applied to the operating lever 110, the operation of the operating lever 110 may be stopped. For example, the operating lever 110 is monitored by a camera inside the vehicle, and it is determined whether the load applied to the operating lever 110 is due to an operation related to driving or a malfunction, and the lever operation is controlled accordingly. For example, if the operating lever 110 is simply touched by an arm, the operation is not performed, thus preventing erroneous operation by determining whether the input is unintended by the seated person or not.

[0119] Furthermore, by linking with a seating sensor, the system may identify whether the person sitting is a child or an adult, and if the person sitting is a child, it may be controlled so that the operating lever 110 does not operate.

[0120] <Second Example> Next, a second embodiment of the second embodiment will be described using Figure 16. Figure 16 is a view of the vehicle door D200 according to the second embodiment from the interior side, showing the storage compartment 210 provided in the vehicle door D200.

[0121] In autonomous vehicles, the vehicle seats may be rotated to face the rear. Therefore, as shown in Figure 14, armrests may be provided on the sides of the vehicle seats to support the occupant's arms regardless of the direction they face. In this case, since the armrests cannot be provided on the vehicle doors, there has been a desire to make effective use of the space where armrests were conventionally located.

[0122] In the second embodiment, the vehicle door D200 does not have an armrest, but instead has a storage compartment 210 with a lid 211. The storage compartment 210 is provided as a recess on the interior side of the vehicle door D200 and can store the occupant's bag or smartphone, etc.

[0123] The storage compartment 210 is provided with a lid 211 that closes the opening of the storage compartment 210. The lid 211 can slide in the direction of the double arrow C in Figure 16 to close the opening of the storage compartment 210. In addition to a sliding structure, the movable mechanism of the lid 211 can be a bellows-type retractable structure, a roll screen-type retractable structure, or a folding retractable structure. The lid 211 is not limited to these structures and may be opened and closed by other movable mechanisms. Furthermore, by making the lid 211 motor-driven and slidable, it may be possible to create a structure that can be automatically opened and closed by the occupant's touch operation.

[0124] Furthermore, a handle 216 for manual opening and closing is provided on the outer surface (indoor side) of the lid 211. A display 212 may also be provided on the outer surface of the lid 211. For example, the display 212 may show whether or not luggage is stored in the storage compartment 210.

[0125] The storage compartment 210 may be detachably attached to the vehicle door D200. By removing the storage compartment 210, it can be washed thoroughly, for example.

[0126] Alternatively, an infrared sensor 214 may be provided inside the storage compartment 210 to detect the presence or absence of items inside the storage compartment 210 and notify the occupants of the presence or absence of items. Light, sound, voice, vibration, etc., may be used for notification. A display 212 provided on the lid 211 may be used for notification. Alternatively, the presence or absence of items may be notified to a communication device such as a smartphone carried by the occupants. By making notification possible, it is possible to reduce the likelihood of luggage being left behind. A pressure sensor may be provided instead of the infrared sensor 214 to detect the presence or absence of items.

[0127] Furthermore, the vehicle door D100 may be equipped with a sensor to detect the open / closed state of the cover 211. The sensor detects the open / closed state of the cover 211, and when the cover 211 is open, the vehicle door D200 is controlled not to open. If the vehicle door D200 is a sliding type, it is controlled not to slide. This control prevents the cover 211 from interfering with the vehicle when the vehicle door D200 slides. The vehicle door D200 may be manually operated or electrically operated.

[0128] The interior of the storage compartment 210 is equipped with a partition plate 215. The partition plate 215 also serves as a side impact protector to protect the contents inside the storage compartment 210 from side impacts.

[0129] <Third Example> Next, the vehicle door D300, which is a third embodiment of the second embodiment, will be described using Figures 17 and 18. In recent years, people have come to enjoy music and videos while traveling, and there has been a growing demand for improved entertainment in the in-car space.

[0130] As shown in Figure 17, the vehicle door D300 of the third embodiment is provided with an air outlet 310 and a moisture outlet 311. The air outlet 310 and the water outlet 311 are connected to a pump (not shown) located inside the vehicle. The pump is controlled by the vehicle's ECU and is configured to spray air and water from the air outlet 310 and the water outlet 311 towards the occupants in sync with the video or music playing inside the vehicle. The air outlet 310 and the moisture outlet 311 are located above the armrest of the vehicle door D300, but may also be located below it. In addition, although not shown in the figures, they may also be located on the instrument panel, pillars, roof, and floor, in addition to the vehicle door D300. By spraying air or water in sync with the video or music, occupants can enjoy the video or music more, enhancing the entertainment value within the vehicle.

[0131] The air outlet 310 and the moisture outlet 311 may be provided on the vehicle seat S300 as shown in Figure 17. The vehicle seat S300 comprises a seat back 301, a seat cushion 302, and a headrest 303. The seat back 301 is the backrest portion that supports the back of the occupant. The seat cushion 302 is the seat portion that supports the buttocks of the occupant. The headrest 303 is the portion that supports the occupant's head. The air outlet 310 and moisture outlet 311 are provided on the shoulder portion of the seat back 301, but this is just one example, and they may also be provided on the ridge portion of the seat cushion 302 or on the headrest 303.

[0132] The air outlet 310 and the moisture outlet 311 may be linked to the seating sensor of the vehicle seat S200, and controlled to blow out air or moisture when an occupant is detected to be seated. Furthermore, a biosensor may be installed in the vehicle seat S300 to measure the occupant's heart rate or pulse, and the air outlet 310 and moisture outlet 311 may be operated in accordance with the occupant's mental state. For example, wind may be blown towards the occupant when the occupant's level of fear is at its maximum. The level of fear the occupant feels can be estimated, for example, from the occupant's heart rate acquired by the biosensor.

[0133] Furthermore, by controlling the air blowers and moisture blowers installed in each door of the vehicle, the air blowers and moisture blowers may be activated in a synchronized manner for multiple occupants inside the vehicle. In this case, it may be possible to connect multiple vehicles via communication and control the air blowers and moisture blowers in each vehicle to enable multiple occupants to have the same experience.

[0134] The video may be displayed on a screen inside the vehicle using a projector installed inside the vehicle. Alternatively, it may be displayed on an LCD monitor inside the vehicle. In addition, occupants may view the video by wearing VR (Virtual Reality) goggles 312. The VR goggles 312 may be detachably attached to the headrest 303, as shown in Figure 18. The headrest 303 is provided with a connector for charging the VR goggles 312, and the VR goggles 312 can be charged by connecting them to the connector. Power to the VR goggles 312 may be supplied using wireless power transfer. When using wireless power transfer, for example, a transmitter may be provided on the headrest 303 and a receiver may be provided on the VR goggles 312.

[0135] When not in use, the VR goggles 312 can be attached to the top of the headrest 303, as shown in Figure 18. The VR goggles 312 may be configured to be attached not only to the top of the headrest 303, but also to the sides, rear, bottom, etc. Alternatively, a storage recess for the VR goggles 312 may be formed inside the headrest 303, allowing the goggles to be stored in the storage recess when not in use. A cover may also be provided to close the opening of the storage recess.

[0136] Additionally, a 3D hologram image of the person watching the video or other content could be projected from the vehicle seat S300, creating an atmosphere of enjoying the video together. Furthermore, as a way to utilize VR / AR images and holographic images, map information and tourist information may be displayed in the vehicle's interior space. In this case, information or images of the destination may be displayed in real time.

[0137] <Fourth Example> Next, the vehicle seat S400, which is the fourth embodiment of the second embodiment, will be described using Figures 19 and 20. While driving, occupants sitting in the passenger seat or rear seat may sleep or otherwise rest in the vehicle seat, but conventional headrests have difficulty supporting the occupant's head in a relaxed or sleeping state. Furthermore, in recent years, with the advent of autonomous driving and other technologies, there has been a demand for a function in the driver's seat, etc., that supports the occupant's head in a relaxed or sleeping state.

[0138] In the fourth embodiment, the vehicle seat S400, a support member 410 extends outward from the side of the vehicle seat S400 and is fixed inside the vehicle body. Specifically, as shown in Figure 19, the support member 410, which is a net, can be fixed to the side of the seat back 401 and to the upper inner wall of the vehicle door D400, and installed so as to span across them. The occupant can relax or fall asleep by leaning against the spanned support member 410.

[0139] The support member 410 may be housed inside the vehicle seat S400. Alternatively, it may be attached to the outer surface of the vehicle seat S400. Furthermore, the support member 410 may be detachably attached to the vehicle seat S400. In addition, the part to which the support member 410 is attached may be not only the side of the vehicle seat S400, but also the rear or top of the vehicle seat S400.

[0140] The support member 410 is not limited to a net-like structure as shown in Figure 19, but may also be a cloth-like or bag-like structure. Furthermore, the fixing portion 411 for securing the support member 410 may be provided not only on the upper inner wall portion of the vehicle door D400, but also on the pillar or the door frame. The fixing portion 411 may also be composed of a hook-shaped engaging member.

[0141] Furthermore, support for the seated person's head may be made possible by the headrest 403 rotating as indicated by the double arrows E and F in Figure 20. The headrest 403 may be moved manually, or it may be configured to move automatically.

[0142] Furthermore, the part that supports the occupant is not limited to the headrest 403; the ridge of the seat back 401 or seat cushion 402 may move inward to sandwich the occupant. Alternatively, the ridge may slide upward to support the occupant's head instead of the headrest 403.

[0143] Furthermore, a sensor may be installed in the vehicle seat S400 to acquire biometric information such as the occupant's heart rate or pulse, and if it is determined that the occupant is asleep, the seat belt may be automatically fastened to support the occupant. By providing stronger support to a sleeping occupant, it is possible to suppress the occupant's movement when a sudden load is applied.

[0144] Furthermore, the support member 410 and the headrest 403 may also be equipped with a vibration function. When the vehicle arrives at its destination, the support member 410 or the headrest 403 may vibrate to wake up a sleeping passenger who was leaning against it. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0145] <First Embodiment> V Vehicle S Vehicle Seat S1 Front Seats S2 Rear Seat D Vehicle Door W Window W2 Roof Window F Body Floor H Crew 1 Display System 2 Cabin 3 Roof 5 Center Console 6. In-car camera 7. In-car monitor 8 speakers 10 Seatback 11 Seat Cushions 12 Ottoman 13 Headrest 14. Seat state change mechanism 15. Reclining mechanism 16 Tilt mechanism 19. Seat support section 20. Seat slide mechanism 21 Upper Rail 22 Lower Rail 24-seat rotation mechanism 25 Operating switches 30, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E Projectors (projection devices) 31 Video 32 Projector Movable Mechanism 34 Projector control switches 40 ECU 41. Processor (Control Unit) 42. Memory (storage unit) 43 Input / Output Interfaces 50 sensors 51 Door Sensor 52 Window Sensor 53 Incoming call sensor 54. Seat occupancy sensor 55 Illuminance Sensor 60 Sunshade (with brightness adjustment mechanism) 61. Roof sunshade (with brightness adjustment mechanism) 62 Mode switching section 65 Tailgate 66, 66A, 66B screens α Posterior tilt angle <Second Embodiment> S100 Vehicle Seat 101 Seatback 102 Seat Cushion 103 Headrest 104 Armrest 107 Reclining mechanism 110 Operating lever 111 Lever storage section D200 Vehicle Door 210 Storage compartment 211 Lid 212 displays 214 Infrared Sensor 215 Partition Plate 216 Handholds S300 Vehicle Seat D300 Vehicle Door 301 Seatback 302 Seat Cushion 303 Headrest 310 Air outlet 311 Moisture outlet 312 VR goggles S400 Vehicle Seat D400 Vehicle Door 401 Seatback 402 Seat Cushion 403 Headrest 410 Support member 411 Fixed part

Claims

1. A projection device installed inside the vehicle and capable of projecting images into the vehicle, A sensor provided in the vehicle for detecting the state of the vehicle or the occupants of the vehicle, The system includes a control unit that receives a signal from the sensor and controls the projection device, The display system is characterized in that the control unit changes the projection state of the projection device based on the signal from the sensor.

2. The aforementioned sensor is a door sensor that detects the open / closed state of the vehicle's door, The display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit stops projection by the projection device when the door sensor detects that the door has been opened.

3. The aforementioned sensor is a window sensor that detects the open or closed state of the vehicle's window or roof window. The display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit stops projection by the projection device when the window sensor detects that the window or the roof window has been opened.

4. The aforementioned sensor is an incoming call sensor that detects incoming calls on the occupant's mobile phone, The display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit stops projection of the projection device when the incoming call sensor detects an incoming call on the mobile phone.

5. The aforementioned sensor is a seating sensor that detects the seated state of the occupant, The display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit stops projection by the projection device when the seating sensor detects that the occupant has moved out of the seat.

6. The aforementioned sensor is an illuminance sensor that measures the illuminance inside the vehicle. The display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit corrects the image projected by the projection device based on the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor.

7. The vehicle is equipped with an illumination adjustment mechanism that adjusts the illumination inside the vehicle based on the illumination measured by the illumination sensor. The display system according to claim 6, characterized in that the control unit corrects the image projected by the projection device based on the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor after adjustment.

8. The aforementioned vehicle is an autonomous vehicle capable of automatic driving, and is equipped with a mode switching unit that switches between manual driving mode and automatic driving mode. The display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit enables operation of the projection device when the vehicle switches to the automatic driving mode by the mode switching unit, and disables operation of the projection device or stops projection by the projection device when the vehicle switches to the manual driving mode.

9. The system includes a seat state changing mechanism that changes the state of the seat in which the occupant is seated, The display system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit prompts the use of the projection device when the seat back of the seat is tilted backward beyond a predetermined angle by the seat state changing mechanism.

10. A vehicle characterized by comprising the display system described in claim 1.

Images