In-vehicle systems, vehicles, information processing devices, information processing methods, and programs

Abstract

Ensure that information is reliably communicated to the driver. [Solution] An in-vehicle system comprising a first display device, a second display device, and an information processing device, wherein the first display device is positioned in front of the steering wheel and on the front side of the vehicle, and the second display device is positioned on both sides of the steering wheel, protruding further rearward than the first display device, and includes a pair of display units having touch panels, and the information processing device has a control unit that, when a predetermined notification to the driver of the vehicle occurs, outputs a predetermined notification to the first display unit, which is at least one of the pair of display units, and when the predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, outputs a first display, which is a display prompting the driver to pay attention to the first display unit, to the first display device in different manners according to the importance of the predetermined notification.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to vehicle technology.

Background Art

[0002] There is a technology for providing information to reduce the burden on a driver who drives an automobile. In relation to this, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses an in-vehicle system in which a display for information provision is arranged near a steering wheel.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] This disclosure aims to surely transmit information to a driver.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] One aspect of this disclosure is An in-vehicle system comprising a first display device, a second display device, and an information processing device, wherein the first display device is positioned in front of the steering wheel and on the front side of the vehicle, and the second display device is positioned on both sides of the steering wheel, protruding further rearward than the first display device, and includes a pair of display units having touch panels, and the information processing device has a control unit that performs the following actions: when a predetermined notification to the driver of the vehicle occurs, outputs the predetermined notification to a first display unit which is at least one of the pair of display units; and when the predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, outputs a first display which is a display prompting the driver to pay attention to the first display unit, in different manners according to the importance of the predetermined notification to the first display device. It is an in-vehicle system.

[0006] One aspect of this disclosure is, An in-vehicle system comprising a first display device, a second display device, and an information processing device, wherein the first display device is positioned in front of the steering wheel and on the front side of the vehicle, the second display device is positioned on both sides of the steering wheel, protruding further rearward than the first display device, and includes a pair of display units having touch panels, and the information processing device has a control unit that performs the following actions: when a predetermined notification to the driver of the vehicle occurs, outputs the predetermined notification to a first display unit which is at least one of the pair of display units; and when the predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, outputs a first display which is a display prompting the driver to pay attention to the first display unit to the first display device. It is an in-vehicle system.

[0007] One aspect of this disclosure is, An information processing device that outputs information to a first display device and a second display device, wherein the first display device is positioned in front of the steering wheel and on the front side of the vehicle, and the second display device is positioned further rearward than the first display device. The steering wheel is positioned on both sides of the steering wheel, protruding from the steering wheel, and includes a pair of display units having touch panels, and has a control unit that performs the following: when a predetermined notification to the driver of the vehicle occurs, the predetermined notification is output to a first display unit which is at least one of the pair of display units; and when the predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, the control unit outputs a first display which is a display prompting the driver to pay attention to the first display unit to the first display device, It is an information processing device.

[0008] One aspect of this disclosure is, An information processing method performed by an information processing device that outputs information to a first display device and a second display device, wherein the first display device is positioned in front of the steering wheel and on the front side of the vehicle, and the second display device is positioned on both sides of the steering wheel, protruding further rearward than the first display device, and includes a pair of display units having touch panels, and includes the steps of: outputting a predetermined notification to a first display unit, which is at least one of the pair of display units, when a predetermined notification occurs for the driver of the vehicle; and outputting a first display, which is a display prompting the driver to pay attention to the first display unit, to the first display device when the predetermined notification is output to the first display unit. It is an information processing method.

[0009] Other embodiments include a vehicle equipped with the above-mentioned in-vehicle system, a program for causing a computer to execute the above-mentioned information processing method, or a computer-readable storage medium that non-temporarily stores the program. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, information can be reliably transmitted to the driver.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] [Figure 1] The figure which showed the inside of the vehicle 1 which concerns on embodiment. [Figure 2] The enlarged view of the steering wheel 4 and its surroundings. [Figure 3] The figure which showed an example of the component of the vehicle 1. [Figure 4] The figure which showed an example of the component of the vehicle ECU10. [Figure 5] The figure which showed the list of the screen output to the outer display. [Figure 6] The figure which showed the example of the screen output to the outer display. [Figure 7] The figure which showed the example of the screen output to the outer display. [Figure 8] The figure which showed the list of the screen output to the inner display. [Figure 9] The figure which showed the example of the screen output to the inner display. [Figure 10] The figure which showed the example of the screen output to the inner display. [Figure 11] The flowchart of the process which HMI control part 1011 performs. [Figure 12] The figure which showed the example of the second data. [Figure 13] The figure which showed the example which outputs the guidance display in the emphasized aspect according to importance. [Figure 14] The figure which showed the example which outputs the guidance display in the position according to importance. [Figure 15] The figure which showed an example of the display device which concerns on a modification.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] In recent years, with the sophistication of automobiles, the displays for providing information are becoming larger, or the number of displays is increasing.

[0013] For example, one proposed method involves placing a large touchscreen display at the front of the vehicle, between the driver's and passenger's seats, to provide a single platform for vehicle operation and information.

[0014] However, with this method, the driver's gaze shifts significantly when operating the vehicle's components or checking the outputted information. For the sake of vehicle driving safety, it is preferable to minimize the driver's gaze shift.

[0015] Generally, a display device such as an LCD is often placed in the area in front of the driver's seat where the instrument panel was traditionally located. By outputting information to this display device, the movement of the driver's eyes can be minimized.

[0016] However, the size of the display device positioned in front of the vehicle is limited, and it may not be possible to display all the information the driver needs. Furthermore, if all this information is output to the same area simultaneously, it can result in a situation where, for example, information necessary for driving the vehicle and supplementary information such as entertainment are mixed together, hindering intuitive information transmission.

[0017] Furthermore, there are challenges in the placement of the input interface for operation.

[0018] For example, there are steering wheels that have cursor keys and push-button switches, allowing for input operations while driving. However, with such input interfaces, the layout of buttons and other elements is fixed, making it difficult to adapt to multiple different objects. For example, while raising or lowering the air conditioner temperature can be done with two physical keys, physical keys cannot directly specify an arbitrary point on a map.

[0019] While a touchscreen interface is a possible configuration, as mentioned earlier, a touchscreen display positioned at the front of the cabin is far from the steering wheel, requiring significant movement of the driver's hands in addition to eye movement.

[0020] To solve these problems, it is preferable to place a display device that allows touch input operation near the steering wheel.

[0021] However, if a display device is located near the steering wheel, the driver may not notice a notification displayed on that device. Therefore, the in-vehicle system of this disclosure solves this problem by outputting a first display to inform the driver of the existence of the notification on a display device located in a place easily visible to the driver, separate from the display device on which the notification was output.

[0022] Furthermore, an in-vehicle system according to one aspect of this disclosure is An in-vehicle system comprising a first display device, a second display device, and an information processing device, wherein the first display device is positioned in front of the steering wheel and on the front side of the vehicle, and the second display device is positioned on both sides of the steering wheel, protruding further rearward than the first display device, and includes a pair of display units having touch panels, and the information processing device has a control unit that, when a predetermined notification to the driver of the vehicle occurs, outputs the predetermined notification to a first display unit which is at least one of the pair of display units, and when the predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, outputs a first display which is a display prompting the driver to pay attention to the first display unit to the first display device.

[0023] The second display device has a pair of display units positioned on either side of the steering wheel. Furthermore, the pair of display units are configured to allow touch operation via a touch panel.

[0024] The first display unit is one of a pair of display units that have a touch panel.

[0025] When a predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, the control unit outputs a first display, which is a different display device from the second display device having the first display unit, to the first display device, which is a different display device from the second display device having the first display unit. The first display is a different display from the notification output to the second display device.

[0026] Since the first display device is positioned in front of the steering wheel, this configuration ensures that information is reliably conveyed to the driver.

[0027] Furthermore, the control unit may acquire first data indicating the importance of the predetermined notification, and based on the first data, output the first display to the first display device in a manner corresponding to the importance of the predetermined notification.

[0028] For example, as described above, an in-vehicle system according to one aspect of the present disclosure outputs a first display on a first display device, such as a meter display, indicating that a notification has been displayed on the second display device, in order to make the driver aware of a notification output on a second display device located near the steering wheel. However, outputting the first display on the first display device may obscure other information that should originally be output on the first display device. However, if the first display is output in a small size so as not to obscure the other information, the driver may not notice the first display.

[0029] Therefore, in an in-vehicle system according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the mode of the first display output to the first display device is determined according to the importance of the notification output to the second display device. For example, when the importance of the notification is relatively high, the first display is output relatively large, and when the importance of the notification is relatively low, the first display is output relatively small.

[0030] As a result, an in-vehicle system according to one aspect of this disclosure can reliably transmit important information to the driver while minimizing the impact on other information that is output at the same time.

[0031] Furthermore, an in-vehicle system according to one aspect of the present disclosure may further include a storage unit that stores second data, which is data relating the first display mode to the importance of the notification.

[0032] Furthermore, the control unit may output the first display in a manner determined based on the second data.

[0033] Furthermore, the second data may be data associated with the first display pattern, where the higher the importance, the more emphasized it is.

[0034] As a result, an in-vehicle system according to one aspect of this disclosure can output high-priority notifications in a manner that is more easily visible to the driver.

[0035] The second data may include data indicating the design of the first display, or data indicating the size and position of the first display on the first display device.

[0036] The first display device is the vehicle's meter display or head-up display. A display would also be acceptable.

[0037] The second data may be data associated with a configuration in which the first display is output more centrally on the meter display when the importance of the notification is higher.

[0038] As a result, an in-vehicle system according to one aspect of this disclosure can output high-priority notifications in a position that is easily visible to the driver.

[0039] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The configurations of the following embodiments are illustrative, and this disclosure is not limited to the configurations of these embodiments.

[0040] (Embodiment) An overview of the vehicle system according to this embodiment will be described. The vehicle system according to this embodiment is configured to include vehicle 1.

[0041] Vehicle 1 will be described with reference to Figure 1.

[0042] Figure 1 shows the interior of vehicle 1. As shown in the figure, the interior of vehicle 1 is equipped with a driver's seat 2 and a passenger seat 3. In this embodiment, vehicle 1 is a right-hand drive vehicle, and the driver's seat 2 is located on the right side of the vehicle.

[0043] A steering wheel 4 is positioned in front of the driver's seat 2. The steering wheel may be circular, or it may be U-shaped (a so-called irregularly shaped steering wheel) as shown in the illustration.

[0044] The steering wheel 4 is connected to the steering system of the vehicle 1 via the steering column. The steering column is covered by a column cover.

[0045] The passenger seat 3 is located to the left of the driver's seat 2, and a center display 24 is positioned midway between the driver's seat 2 and the passenger seat 3, towards the front of the vehicle. The center display 24 displays, for example, supplementary information such as car navigation, or entertainment content such as audio and television.

[0046] A meter display 21 is provided on the front side of the steering wheel 4. The meter display 21 is a full-screen display located in front of the driver's seat 2 and provides various information to the driver of the vehicle 1. The meter display 21 displays information necessary for driving the vehicle, such as vehicle speed, engine speed (if the vehicle 1 has an engine), charge / discharge status (if the vehicle 1 has a drive battery), and mileage. The meter display 21 is an example of the "first display device" in this disclosure.

[0047] A pair of display devices 27 are provided in front of the driver's seat 2 inside the vehicle. The pair of display devices 27 is an example of the "second display device" in this disclosure. The pair of display devices 27 includes touch panel displays positioned on both sides of the steering wheel 4. In this embodiment, the display positioned closer to the inside of the vehicle is referred to as the inner display, and the display positioned closer to the outside of the vehicle is referred to as the outer display. The inner display 22 and the outer display 23 are connected to the instrument panel of the vehicle 1. Either the inner display 22 or the outer display 23 corresponds to the "first display unit" in this disclosure.

[0048] The detailed structures of the inner display 22 and the outer display 23 will be described with reference to Figure 2.

[0049] The inner display 22 and outer display 23 are vertically oriented displays and are connected to a support portion 5, which is a member that supports each display. The support portion 5 has a shape that protrudes in the left-right direction from the steering wheel. The outer display 23 is connected to the right end of the support portion 5 when facing forward of the vehicle, and the inner display 22 is connected to the left end when facing forward of the vehicle. This allows the display surface to be positioned near the grip portion of the steering wheel 4.

[0050] The above explanation is an example where vehicle 1 is a right-hand drive vehicle; if vehicle 1 is a left-hand drive vehicle, the left and right sides will be reversed. That is, the outer display 23 will be connected to the left end of the support part 5 facing the front of the vehicle, and the inner display 22 will be connected to the right end facing the front of the vehicle.

[0051] The support portion 5 may also serve as a column cover that covers the steering column. The support portion 5 extends from the portion through which the steering column passes in both the left-right direction (vehicle width direction), and each of these extends toward the rear of the vehicle, and is shaped to bend along the way so that the angle of the steering wheel with respect to the left-right direction becomes smaller.

[0052] Furthermore, the inner display 22 and the outer display 23 are angled with respect to the left-right direction of the steering wheel, and are positioned so as to tilt toward the steering wheel. That is, the inner display 22 protrudes further to the rear of the vehicle the closer it is to the inside of the vehicle, and the outer display 23 protrudes further to the rear of the vehicle the closer it is to the outside of the vehicle. In this way, the inner display 22 and the outer display 23 are positioned so as to face the driver.

[0053] The area 4R shown by the dashed line in Figure 2 is the part (grip area) where the steering wheel 4 is gripped by the right hand, and the area 4L shown by the dashed line in Figure 2 is the part (grip area) where the steering wheel 4 is gripped by the left hand. By making the support part 5 the shape described above, the positions of the inner display 22 and the outer display 23 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle can be brought closer to the grip area of ​​the steering wheel 4. Therefore, the amount of hand movement when the driver performs a touch operation on the inner display 22 or the outer display 23 while driving can be reduced.

[0054] [System Configuration] Next, we will describe the configuration of each device that makes up the vehicle system of vehicle 1.

[0055] First, let's describe the components of Vehicle 1. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of Vehicle 1. Vehicle 1 consists of a vehicle system, an electrical system, and an input / output system.

[0056] A vehicle system is a system that controls the motion of a vehicle. A vehicle system includes multiple components related to the vehicle's movement.

[0057] An input / output system is a system that provides information to the occupants of a vehicle and receives input from them. An input / output system includes multiple components that perform information input and output.

[0058] An electrical system is a system that controls the electrical components of a vehicle's body. This includes multiple components related to the electrical equipment present in both bodies.

[0059] The components included in each system may include multiple electrical components and an ECU that controls those electrical components.

[0060] The vehicle ECU 10 and the body ECU 30 can be configured as computers having a processor (CPU, GPU, etc.), main memory (RAM, ROM, etc.), and auxiliary memory (EPROM, hard disk drive, removable media, etc.). The auxiliary memory stores an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, etc., and by executing the programs stored therein, various functions (software modules) that match a predetermined purpose, as described later, can be realized. However, some or all of the functions may be realized as hardware modules by hardware circuits such as ASICs and FPGAs.

[0061] The vehicle ECU10 is connected to several components related to the vehicle's operation.

[0062] The GPS unit 11 is a unit for acquiring the location information of vehicle 1. The GPS unit 11 includes a GPS antenna and a positioning module for determining the location information. The GPS antenna is an antenna that receives positioning signals transmitted from positioning satellites (also called GNSS satellites). The positioning module is a module that calculates location information based on the signals received by the GPS antenna.

[0063] The ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System) unit 12 collects tolls for toll roads. This is a unit for receiving data wirelessly. The ETC unit 12 consists of an antenna and a communication module.

[0064] The wireless communication unit 13 includes an antenna and a communication module for wireless communication. The antenna is an antenna element that inputs and outputs wireless signals. In this embodiment, the antenna is suitable for mobile communication (e.g., 3G, 4G, 5G, etc.). The antenna may be configured to include multiple physical antennas. The communication module is a module for performing mobile communication.

[0065] Furthermore, the wireless communication unit 13 may include communication modules other than those for mobile communications. For example, the wireless communication unit 13 may include a Bluetooth® communication module. This makes it possible to establish a wireless connection with a user terminal located inside the vehicle, enabling the provision of services in cooperation with the user terminal (e.g., hands-free calling).

[0066] Sensor group 14 is a collection of multiple sensors for acquiring sensor data used during vehicle operation. Sensors may acquire physical quantities or image data, etc. In this embodiment, examples of sensors include a sensor for detecting vehicle speed (vehicle speed sensor 141) and an image sensor for acquiring images of the area in front of the vehicle (onboard camera 142).

[0067] Furthermore, the vehicle ECU 10 may also be connected to components belonging to the drivetrain system (e.g., engine, motor, battery, transmission, etc.).

[0068] The body ECU30 is connected to multiple electrical components of the vehicle.

[0069] In this embodiment, the electrical components of the vehicle include a car air conditioner, wipers, and headlights. Examples include side mirrors and power seats.

[0070] The air conditioning unit 31 is the car air conditioning system for vehicle 1. The air conditioning unit 31 includes, for example, a cooling unit, a heating unit, a compressor, a condenser, etc. The air conditioning unit 31 may also include a control unit for controlling these components.

[0071] The wiper unit 32 includes a front wiper, a rear wiper, and a motor for driving them.

[0072] The headlight unit 33 includes the headlights of the vehicle 1 and a unit for driving the headlights. The headlights are configured to switch between high beams and low beams, for example. If the headlights of the vehicle 1 are adaptive headlights, the illumination of the light can also be controlled based on commands from the body ECU. The headlight unit 33 may further include taillights, brake lights, turn signals, and / or units for driving these.

[0073] The mirror actuator 34 includes side mirrors positioned on the left and right sides of the vehicle 1, and a drive unit for driving the mirrors. The mirror actuator 34 allows the angle of the side mirrors to be adjusted up, down, left, and right.

[0074] The seat actuator 35 includes a drive unit for adjusting the position of a seat provided in the vehicle 1. The seat actuator 35 allows adjustment of the position, height, angle, etc., of the seat surface and backrest.

[0075] Next, we will describe the devices used for inputting and outputting information.

[0076] In this embodiment, the vehicle 1 has four displays for outputting information: a meter display 21, an inner display 22, an outer display 23, and a center display 24.

[0077] The meter display 21 is a display positioned in front of the driver and outputs information about the vehicle 1. The meter display 21 mainly outputs information about the vehicle's status, such as vehicle speed, engine speed, fuel level, battery level, charge / discharge status, and mileage, but other information may also be output.

[0078] The inner display 22 and outer display 23 are touch-panel displays located on either side of the steering wheel. As mentioned above, the inner display 22 is located towards the center of the vehicle, and the outer display 23 is located on the outside of the vehicle.

[0079] If vehicle 1 is a right-hand drive vehicle, the inner display 22 is positioned on the left side in the direction of travel, and the outer display 23 is positioned on the right side in the direction of travel. If vehicle 1 is a left-hand drive vehicle, the inner display 22 is positioned on the right side in the direction of travel, and the outer display 23 is positioned on the left side in the direction of travel.

[0080] The center display 24 is a display located in the center of the vehicle. The center display 24 is located in the same place where the car navigation system display was previously located. The center display 24 can display, for example, supplementary information such as car navigation, or entertainment content such as audio and television. It will be shown.

[0081] The touch panel 25 is a unit for detecting touch operations performed on the aforementioned displays. In this embodiment, the inner display 22, outer display 23, and center display 24 each have a touch panel 25, allowing for touch operation. The touch panel 25 detects touch operations performed on these displays and transmits the detected information to the vehicle ECU 10.

[0082] The audio unit 26 is a unit that performs input and output of audio information. The audio unit 26 may include, for example, a speaker and a microphone.

[0083] Next, we will explain the detailed configuration of the vehicle ECU10.

[0084] The vehicle ECU 10 is connected to the vehicle system and the drivetrain system, thereby enabling control of vehicle 1. Furthermore, the vehicle ECU 10 has the function of inputting and outputting information through components included in the input / output system, and the function of controlling the electrical system via the body ECU 30, which is responsible for the electrical system.

[0085] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the detailed configuration of the vehicle ECU 10.

[0086] The vehicle ECU 10 is comprised of a control device 101, a storage device 102, and a communication module 103.

[0087] The control device 101 is a calculation unit that realizes various functions of the vehicle ECU 10 by executing a predetermined program. The control device 101 can be realized by a hardware processor such as a CPU. The control device 101 also has RAM, ROM (Read It may be configured to include (Only Memory), cache memory, etc.

[0088] In this embodiment, the control device 101 of the vehicle ECU 10 is configured with six software modules: an HMI control unit 1011, a vehicle control unit 1012, an ADAS control unit 1013, an entertainment control unit 1014, a navigation unit 1015, and an assistant unit 1016. Each software module may be implemented by the control device 101 (CPU, etc.) executing a program stored in a storage device 102, which will be described later. The information processing performed by the software modules is synonymous with the information processing performed by the control device 101 (CPU, etc.).

[0089] The HMI control unit 1011 generates a user interface for controlling various components of the vehicle and provides it to the vehicle occupants via the input / output system. The HMI control unit 1011 also passes information input via the input / output system (for example, commands to implement user-specified controls) to the corresponding software module.

[0090] This makes it possible to control any component of the vehicle through a user interface.

[0091] In the following explanation, commands generated by the user to control the components of Vehicle 1 will be referred to as "user commands." For example, commands to change the air conditioner temperature, commands to change the drive mode, commands to make a phone call, and commands to play music are examples of "user commands."

[0092] Furthermore, the components that a vehicle possesses include electrical equipment such as headlights and wipers. It is also permissible. Furthermore, the components of the vehicle may be an on-board computer, or software modules executed by the on-board computer (e.g., autonomous driving software, navigation software, etc.).

[0093] The HMI control unit 1011 selects the output destination of the user interface from among several displays (meter display 21, inner display 22, outer display 23, center display 24) depending on the type of component being controlled. The specific configuration will be described later.

[0094] The vehicle control unit 1012 controls components of the vehicle system or components of the drive system.

[0095] The vehicle control unit 1012 may control a target component (e.g., a drive motor) based on a command (e.g., an acceleration command) received from another component (e.g., an ADAS control unit 1013, described later), or it may control a target component (e.g., a headlight unit) based on a user command (e.g., a headlight activation command) obtained via the HMI control unit 1011.

[0096] The ADAS control unit 1013 controls the Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems. For example, the ADAS control unit 1013 generates vehicle control commands based on sensor information acquired from the on-board sensors included in the sensor group 14, thereby realizing driver assistance such as cruise control, pre-collision safety, and lane keeping assist. For example, the ADAS control unit 1013 controls the vehicle system and the drive system by transmitting control commands to the vehicle control unit 1012.

[0097] The entertainment control unit 1014 controls the entertainment provided to the vehicle's occupants. Examples of entertainment functions include audio functions and television / radio functions.

[0098] The navigation unit 1015 provides a car navigation function. Based on location information obtained from the GPS unit 11 and traffic information obtained from the wireless communication unit 13, the navigation unit 1015 can generate and provide vehicle route guidance. The navigation unit 1015 may, for example, accept the vehicle's destination and waypoints via the HMI control unit 1011, and output information regarding the generated route.

[0099] Assistant unit 1016 provides information to the vehicle occupants by executing a language model capable of natural language interaction. The language model is, for example, LLM (Large Language Model). This could also be a Model. For example, by running an LLM that has information about the vehicle's occupants, it becomes possible to provide information in natural language. If there are multiple occupants in the vehicle, the assistant unit 1016 may obtain a language model corresponding to each person via the network and run any of the language models.

[0100] The storage device 102 is a means for storing information and is composed of storage media such as RAM, magnetic disks, and flash memory. The storage device 102 stores programs executed by the control device 101, data used by those programs, and so on.

[0101] The communication module 103 is a communication interface for connecting the vehicle ECU 10 to the vehicle network. The communication module 103 is configured to communicate with components of the vehicle 1 via a network such as CAN (Controller Area Network). ru.

[0102] The specific configuration of the vehicle ECU 10 can be appropriately modified, with components omitted, replaced, and added depending on the embodiment. For example, the control device 101 may include multiple hardware processors. The hardware processors may consist of microprocessors, FPGAs, GPUs, etc. Input / output devices other than those exemplified (e.g., optical drives, etc.) may also be added. Furthermore, the vehicle ECU 10 may be composed of multiple computers. In this case, the hardware configurations of each computer may or may not be identical.

[0103] [Interface screen provided by the HMI control unit] Next, the user interface provided by the HMI control unit 1011 will be described.

[0104] The HMI control unit 1011 can generate multiple types of graphical user interface (GUI) screens and output them via the multiple displays mentioned above.

[0105] In this embodiment, the HMI control unit 1011 aggregates information related to vehicle control on the outer display 23 and aggregates and outputs information related to occupant convenience and comfort on the inner display 22. This allows occupants of the vehicle 1 to intuitively recognize whether the desired information is output to the left or right side. Furthermore, the touch panel operating surfaces of the inner display 22 and outer display 23 are positioned near the steering wheel. This minimizes the amount of eye and hand movement required by the vehicle driver.

[0106] The HMI control unit 1011 can switch between multiple types of screens that are output to the outer display 23.

[0107] Figure 5 illustrates the transitions between multiple types of screens output to the outer display 23. As shown, the HMI control unit 1011 can output multiple screens, centered around the main screen 501, to the outer display 23.

[0108] (1) Main screen 501 The main screen 501 is the screen that is normally displayed on the outer display while driving. Figure 6(A) shows an example of the main screen 501. The content displayed on the main screen can be customized by the user.

[0109] (2) Headlight control screen 502 This screen is used to set the illumination status of the headlights of vehicle 1. Figure 7(A) shows an example of the headlight control screen 502.

[0110] The headlight control screen 502 allows the user to select the headlight lighting status (automatic, on, off, small lights, daytime running lights, etc.). The vehicle control unit 1012 generates a user command based on the touch operation acquired via the HMI control unit 1011 and controls the headlight unit 33 by transmitting the user command to the body ECU 30.

[0111] Furthermore, the vehicle control unit 1012 may acquire data indicating the headlight illumination status from the body ECU 30 and reflect the illumination status on the screen via the HMI control unit 1011. For example, the vehicle control unit 1012 may reflect the current headlight illumination status in the vehicle graphic drawn on the screen.

[0112] (3) Wiper control screen 503 This screen is used to set the operating status of the wipers (front and rear) of vehicle 1. Figure 7(B) shows an example of the wiper control screen 503.

[0113] On the wiper control screen 503, the operating state of the wipers (stop, automatic operation, intermittent operation, continuous operation, etc.) can be selected. The vehicle control unit 1012 generates a user command based on the touch operation acquired via the HMI control unit 1011 and controls the wiper unit 32 by transmitting the user command to the body ECU 30.

[0114] Furthermore, the vehicle control unit 1012 may acquire data indicating the wiper's operating status from the body ECU 30 and reflect the operating status on the screen via the HMI control unit 1011. For example, the vehicle control unit 1012 may reflect the current wiper's operating status in the vehicle graphic drawn on the screen.

[0115] (4) Mirror control screen 504 This screen is used to adjust the deployment state and angle of the side mirrors of vehicle 1. Figure 7(C) shows an example of the mirror control screen 504.

[0116] On the mirror control screen 504, the status of the side mirror (folded / unfolded state and angle) can be selected. The vehicle control unit 1012 generates a user command based on the touch operation acquired via the HMI control unit 1011 and controls the mirror actuator 34 by transmitting the user command to the body ECU 30.

[0117] Furthermore, the vehicle control unit 1012 may acquire data indicating the status of the side mirrors from the body ECU 30 and reflect the operating status on the screen via the HMI control unit 1011. For example, the vehicle control unit 1012 may reflect the current extended / retracted state of the side mirrors in the vehicle graphic drawn on the screen.

[0118] (5) Driving position adjustment screen 505 This screen allows you to adjust the position and angle of the seats (seat cushion and backrest) and the steering wheel of vehicle 1.

[0119] The driving position adjustment screen 505 allows users to set the position and angle of the seat and steering wheel. The vehicle control unit 1012 receives touch operations via the HMI control unit 1011, generates user commands based on these operations, and transmits these user commands to the body ECU 30 to control the seat actuator 35 and other components.

[0120] (6) ADAS settings screen 506 This screen displays the operating status of the advanced driver assistance system in vehicle 1 and allows for setting adjustments.

[0121] For example, if the advanced driver assistance system of vehicle 1 includes an auto cruise function, the user of vehicle 1 can set the cruising speed, distance between vehicles, whether or not to follow the vehicle in front, whether or not to use lane tracing, etc., via the ADAS setting screen 506.

[0122] The information included in the ADAS settings screen 506 can be generated by the ADAS control unit 1013.

[0123] (7) Drive mode setting screen 507 This is the screen for setting the drive mode of vehicle 1. Figure 7(D) shows the drive mode setting screen. This figure shows an example of surface 507.

[0124] For example, the user of vehicle 1 can select a mode from several modes, such as normal mode, sport mode, eco mode, and snow mode, via the drive mode setting screen 507. The vehicle control unit 1012 changes the vehicle's drive mode based on this selection.

[0125] (8) Vehicle function setting screen 508 This screen is for using other functions of Vehicle 1. Examples of other functions of Vehicle 1 include opening and closing the electric tailgate and adjusting the suspension.

[0126] (9) Display mode setting screen 509 This screen is for setting the types of information displayed on the meter display 21. For example, if the meter display 21 can display multiple pieces of information other than speed, the user of the vehicle 1 can customize the information displayed on the meter display 21 via the display mode setting screen 509.

[0127] The multiple screens exemplified above can be switched by performing a predetermined operation, such as swiping left or right, on the touch panel provided on the outer display 23.

[0128] Furthermore, the HMI control unit 1011 can display a shortcut screen 510 on the outer display 23 for jumping to each screen. Figure 6(B) shows an example of the shortcut screen 510. The shortcut screen can be accessed, for example, by performing a predetermined operation (for example, swiping from the bottom of the screen upwards) on each screen, including the main screen 501. The shortcut screen 510 has multiple interfaces (for example, buttons) for transitioning to each screen, and by operating these interfaces, the user can move to the desired screen.

[0129] In this way, the HMI control unit 1011 aggregates and outputs information related to vehicle control to the outer display 23.

[0130] Information related to vehicle control typically refers to information related to the vehicle's driving control. Examples of information related to vehicle driving control include information for controlling components belonging to the vehicle system and information for controlling components belonging to the drive system. Furthermore, information for controlling components belonging to the electrical system, such as lights and wipers, which are necessary for the vehicle to drive properly, can also be considered information related to vehicle driving control.

[0131] Furthermore, information related to vehicle control, even if not directly related to vehicle driving control, can be output to the outer display 23. For example, information for controlling the vehicle's electric doors may be output to the outer display 23.

[0132] Similarly, the HMI control unit 1011 can switch the screen output to the inner display 22 to multiple types of screens.

[0133] Figure 8 illustrates the transitions between multiple types of screens output to the inner display 22. As shown, the HMI control unit 1011 can output multiple screens, centered around the main screen 801, to the inner display 22.

[0134] (1) Main screen 801 The main screen 801 is the screen that is normally displayed on the inner display while driving. Figure 9(A) shows an example of the main screen 801. The content displayed on the main screen can be customized by the user.

[0135] (2) Navigation screen 802 This is a screen related to car navigation. Figure 10(A) shows an example of the navigation screen 802. The information contained in the navigation screen 802 is generated by the navigation unit 1015.

[0136] Furthermore, when map information from the car navigation system is displayed on the center display 24, the navigation screen 802 may output supplementary information regarding the vehicle 1's route. Examples of supplementary route information include guidance on the next turn, estimated time of arrival, and remaining distance.

[0137] Furthermore, the navigation screen 802 may include some of the information and user interface displayed on the center display 24.

[0138] For example, frequently used user interfaces such as a button to start directions to home, a button to access bookmarks, and a button to start directions to a charging station can be placed on the navigation screen 802.

[0139] (3) Audio screen 803 This is a screen related to the audio functions of vehicle 1. Figure 10(B) shows an example of the audio screen 803. The information contained in the audio screen 803 is generated by the entertainment control unit 1014. The entertainment control unit 1014 can acquire and play music via a network or media. The audio screen 803 can include information about the music currently being played and an interface for selecting music.

[0140] (4) Air conditioner settings screen 804 This is a screen for controlling the car air conditioner of vehicle 1. Figure 10(C) shows an example of the air conditioner setting screen 804.

[0141] The air conditioning settings screen 804 allows users to set the temperature and airflow of the car's air conditioning system, as well as the air conditioning devices to be operated (steering wheel heater, seat heater, defroster, etc.). The vehicle control unit 1012 generates user commands based on the operations performed on the screen and transmits these user commands to the body ECU 30 to control the air conditioning unit 31 and other components.

[0142] Although the car air conditioner is a vehicle 1 piece of equipment controlled by external commands, it relates to the comfort of the occupants, so the air conditioner setting screen 804 is displayed on the inner display 22, not the outer display 23.

[0143] (5) Phone screen 805 This screen is for wirelessly connecting with the user terminal and making hands-free calls. If the wireless communication unit 13 has a module for wireless communication with the user terminal, it can make (or receive) phone calls from the user terminal via this module.

[0144] (6) AI Partner Screen 806 To interact with a virtual agent (AI partner) capable of natural language dialogue. This is the screen. Figure 10(D) shows an example of the AI ​​partner screen 806. This screen includes a virtual agent character, and the vehicle occupants can obtain information by interacting with this character. The natural language dialogue service is provided by the assistant unit 1016.

[0145] The AI ​​partner screen 806 may include an interface for giving instructions to the agent. If there are multiple occupants in the vehicle, the assistant unit 1016 may be configured to run any agent corresponding to each person. The AI ​​partner screen 806 may also include interfaces for starting and ending interactions with the agent, and interfaces for switching agents.

[0146] The multiple screens exemplified above can be switched by performing a predetermined operation, such as swiping left or right, on the touch panel provided on the inner display 22.

[0147] Furthermore, the HMI control unit 1011 can display a shortcut screen 810 on the inner display 22 for jumping to each screen. Figure 9(B) shows an example of the shortcut screen 810. The shortcut screen can be accessed, for example, by performing a predetermined operation (for example, swiping from the bottom of the screen upwards) on each screen, including the main screen 801. The shortcut screen 810 has multiple interfaces (for example, buttons) for transitioning to each screen, and by operating these interfaces, the user can move to the desired screen.

[0148] In this way, the HMI control unit 1011 aggregates and outputs information regarding the convenience and comfort of the occupants to the inner display 22.

[0149] Furthermore, information about components that are part of the vehicle, such as car air conditioners, but relate to the convenience or comfort of the occupants, may be output to the inner display 22 without being treated as information related to vehicle control.

[0150] Thus, if the information in question falls under both vehicle control information and information regarding occupant convenience (or comfort), the information may be selectively output to either the inner display 22 or the outer display 23 according to predetermined criteria.

[0151] [Interruption display on interface screen] Next, we will explain interrupt display.

[0152] While the vehicle is in motion, various components may generate notifications for the vehicle's occupants. For example, if the vehicle is connected to a user terminal, it may be necessary to notify the occupants of incoming phone calls as needed. Also, if an event occurs while using ADAS functions (for example, a request to hand over from autonomous driving to manual driving), it may be necessary to notify the occupants of this event. When the HMI control unit 1011 receives a request for such a notification (notification request) from a component of the vehicle 1, it displays an interruption via the inner display 22 or outer display 23.

[0153] Furthermore, when the HMI control unit 1011 outputs an interrupt display to the inner display 22 or outer display 23, it outputs a display (first display) to the meter display 21 for the purpose of guiding the driver's gaze to see the interrupt display.

[0154] Figure 11 is a flowchart of the processes performed by the HMI control unit 1011. The processes shown in Figure 11 are executed periodically while the vehicle's main switch is turned on.

[0155] First, in step S10, the HMI control unit 1011 acquires data (hereinafter referred to as "second data") that shows the relationship between the importance of a notification output from the HMI control unit 1011 to the driver and the manner of a first display (hereinafter referred to as "guidance display") which is a display that encourages the driver to pay attention to the notification. For example, the HMI control unit 1011 acquires the second data at least once when the vehicle's main switch is turned on. The second data may be updated periodically. Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of the second data. Table 1000 in Figure 12 shows a table in which the importance of a notification is associated with information about the display manner, such as the display position of the guidance display, the size of the image and font size, text decoration, and whether or not there is animation, as the second data. For example, the second data may be data associated with the manner in which a predetermined graphic content is displayed while moving around on the screen for guidance displays corresponding to notifications of relatively low importance. The predetermined graphic content may be, for example, a string of characters or an image such as an illustration. Furthermore, for example, the second data may be data associated with a mode in which guidance displays corresponding to notifications of relatively high importance, such as notifications to avoid danger, are output across the entire surface of the display device.

[0156] In step S11, the HMI control unit 1011 determines whether or not a notification has been issued to the driver from the in-vehicle system. For example, if the HMI control unit 1011 receives an entertainment-related notification from the vehicle ECU 10, such as a notification requesting the in-vehicle audio system to select the next song to play, it determines that a notification has been issued to the driver from the in-vehicle system. Alternatively, for example, the HMI control unit 1011 may determine that a notification has been issued to the driver from the in-vehicle system if it receives a notification to avoid danger, such as a notification informing the driver of the presence of an obstacle in front of the vehicle. If the HMI control unit 1011 determines that a notification has been issued to the driver from the in-vehicle system, the process proceeds to step S12. If the HMI control unit 1011 determines that no notification has been issued to the driver from the in-vehicle system, the process ends.

[0157] In step S12, the HMI control unit 1011 outputs the notification that it determined occurred in step S11 to either the inner display 22 or the outer display 23. Alternatively, the HMI control unit 1011 may output the notification that it determined occurred in step S11 to the center display 24.

[0158] In step S13, the HMI control unit 1011 obtains data indicating the importance of the notification output to the inner display 22 or outer display 23 in step S12 (hereinafter referred to as "first data") from the source of the notification (for example, the vehicle ECU 10 or body ECU 30). The first data may be data accompanying the notification, or it may be data that associates the content of the notification with the importance of the notification.

[0159] In step S14, the HMI control unit 1011 acquires data indicating the content of the guidance display corresponding to the notification. The guidance display may be an image or a string of characters. That is, the data indicating the content of the guidance display may be image data or text data.

[0160] In step S15, the HMI control unit 1011 determines the mode of the guidance display corresponding to the notification based on the first data and the second data. The second data is data indicating the design of the guidance display, or the size and position of the guidance display on the meter display 21. It may also include data. Below is an example of the display method defined by the second data.

[0161] Figure 13 shows an example of outputting guidance displays in a manner that emphasizes them according to their importance.

[0162] For example, the second data may be data associated with a more emphasized form of guidance display as the importance of the notification increases. In other words, the HMI control unit 1011 may output the guidance display to the meter display 21 in a more emphasized form as the importance of the notification increases.

[0163] Figure 13(a) shows the output mode of the guidance display when the importance level of the notification output by the HMI control unit 1011 to the inner display 22 or outer display 23 is below a predetermined value. For example, as shown in Figure 13(a), when the importance level of the notification output by the HMI control unit 1011 to the inner display 22 or outer display 23 is below a predetermined value, the guidance display is output with the initial font size.

[0164] In contrast, Figure 13(b) shows the output mode of the guidance display when the importance level of the notification output by the HMI control unit 1011 to the inner display 22 or outer display 23 is greater than a predetermined value. For example, as shown in Figure 13(b), when the importance level of the notification output by the HMI control unit 1011 to the inner display 22 or outer display 23 is greater than a predetermined value, the guidance display is output in a font size larger than the initial font size and in an underlined font.

[0165] Figure 14 shows an example of outputting guidance displays at locations corresponding to their importance.

[0166] For example, the second data may be data indicating that the higher the importance of the notification, the more the guidance display is output closer to the center of the meter display 21. In other words, the HMI control unit 1011 may output the guidance display closer to the center of the meter display 21 as the importance of the notification increases. Here, the meter display 21 is a specific example of the first display device.

[0167] Figure 14(a) shows the output mode of the guidance display when the importance level of the notification output by the HMI control unit 1011 to the inner display 22 or outer display 23 is below a predetermined value. For example, as shown in Figure 14(a), when the importance level of the notification output by the HMI control unit 1011 to the inner display 22 or outer display 23 is below a predetermined value, the guidance display is output on the meter display 21 closer to the edge than the predetermined position. The predetermined position may be, for example, located in the area to the right of the central part of the area between the line indicating the center of the meter display 21 and the line indicating the right edge of the meter display 21. Alternatively, the predetermined position may be located in the area to the left of the central part of the area between the line indicating the center of the meter display 21 and the line indicating the left edge of the meter display 21.

[0168] In contrast, Figure 14(b) shows the output mode of the guidance display when the importance of the notification output by the HMI control unit 1011 to the inner display 22 or outer display 23 is greater than a predetermined value. For example, as shown in Figure 14(b), when the importance of the notification output by the HMI control unit 1011 to the inner display 22 or outer display 23 is greater than a predetermined value, the guidance display is output on the meter display 21 closer to the center than a predetermined position. The predetermined position may be, for example, in the area to the left of the central part of the region between the line indicating the center of the meter display 21 and the line indicating the right edge of the meter display 21. The indicator may be located in the area to the right of the central part of the region between the line indicating the center of the display 21 and the line indicating the left edge of the meter display 21. The indicator may also be output across these two regions.

[0169] In step S16, the HMI control unit 1011 outputs an induction display to the meter display 21 in the manner determined in step S15.

[0170] For example, the guidance display may indicate whether a predetermined notification is displayed on the inner display 22 or the outer display 23, or it may be a display showing the same content as the predetermined notification.

[0171] As described above, in this embodiment, when the vehicle ECU 10 has an HMI control unit 1011 that outputs a notification to the driver's handheld display device when a notification is issued to the driver from the in-vehicle system, it also outputs a display (guidance display) that prompts the driver to pay attention to the notification output to the driver's handheld display device to a display device other than the driver's handheld display device (the meter display in front of the driver).

[0172] According to this configuration, the in-vehicle system according to one aspect of this disclosure will be able to reliably transmit information to the driver.

[0173] (Other variations) The embodiments described above are merely examples, and this disclosure may be modified as appropriate without departing from its essence.

[0174] For example, the processes and means described in this disclosure can be freely combined and implemented, as long as no technical inconsistencies arise.

[0175] Furthermore, although the embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the meter display 21, inner display 22, and outer display 23 are independent of each other, each display does not necessarily have to be physically independent.

[0176] For example, as shown in Figure 15, the meter display 21, inner display 22, and outer display 23 may be implemented by a single display 1501. In the example in Figure 15, the display 1501 has three display areas (display sections) indicated by reference numerals 1502, 1503, and 1504. Each of the three display areas is planar, and the space between these display areas is curved.

[0177] In the illustrated example, display area 1502 functions as the inner display 22, and display area 1503 functions as the outer display 23 (for right-hand drive vehicles). Additionally, display area 1504 functions as the meter display 21.

[0178] When the display area 1504 functions as a meter display 21, the aforementioned guidance display may be output to the display area 1504. In addition, the display area 1504 may also output the notification itself to the driver generated by the in-vehicle system.

[0179] The portion connecting display areas 1502 and 1504 (reference numeral 1505), and the portion connecting display areas 1503 and 1504 (reference numeral 1506), are physically curved and prone to distortion; therefore, they are not used as display units in normal configurations.

[0180] However, in that part, the inner display 22 or outer display that outputs the notification An instructive display may be output to encourage the user to focus on the display 23. That is, display areas 1505 and 1506 may be treated as part of the "first display device".

[0181] Furthermore, although the first display device is exemplified as a single display device in this embodiment, the first display device may be a plurality of display devices.

[0182] Furthermore, a process described as being performed by a single device may be divided and executed by multiple devices. Conversely, a process described as being performed by different devices may be executed by a single device. In a computer system, the hardware configuration (server configuration) by which each function is implemented can be flexibly changed.

[0183] The present disclosure can also be realized by supplying a computer program implementing the functions described in the embodiments above to a computer, and having one or more processors in the computer read and execute the program. Such a computer program may be provided to the computer by a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium that can be connected to the computer's system bus, or it may be provided to the computer via a network. Non-temporary computer-readable storage mediums include, for example, any type of disk such as magnetic disks (floppy disks, hard disk drives (HDDs), etc.), optical disks (CD-ROMs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), EPROM, EEPROM, magnetic cards, flash memory, optical cards, and any type of medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0184] 1. Vehicle 10. Vehicle ECU 101... Control device 102...Storage device 103...Communication module 21... Meter display 22. Inner display 23. Outer display 24... Center display 25...Touch panel 26..Audio Unit 30...Body ECU

Claims

1. An in-vehicle system including a first display device, a second display device, and an information processing device, The first display device is It is located in front of the steering wheel and towards the front of the vehicle. The second display device is The first display device is positioned on both sides of the steering wheel, protruding further rearward than the vehicle, and includes a pair of display units having touch panels. The aforementioned information processing device is When a predetermined notification to the vehicle driver occurs, the predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, which is at least one of the pair of display units. When the predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, a first display prompting the user to pay attention to the first display unit is output to the first display device in different forms depending on the importance of the predetermined notification. Having a control unit that performs the following: In-vehicle systems.

2. An in-vehicle system including a first display device, a second display device, and an information processing device, The first display device is It is located in front of the steering wheel and towards the front of the vehicle. The second display device is The first display device is positioned on both sides of the steering wheel, protruding further rearward than the vehicle, and includes a pair of display units having touch panels. The aforementioned information processing device is When a predetermined notification to the vehicle driver occurs, the predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, which is at least one of the pair of display units. When the aforementioned predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, a first display prompting the user to pay attention to the first display unit is output to the first display device. Having a control unit that performs the following: In-vehicle systems.

3. The control unit, Obtain first data indicating the importance of the aforementioned notification, Based on the first data, the first display is output to the first display device in a manner corresponding to the importance of the predetermined notification. The in-vehicle system according to claim 2.

4. The device further includes a storage unit that stores second data, which is data relating the first display mode and the importance of the notification. The in-vehicle system according to claim 3.

5. The control unit outputs the first display in a manner determined based on the second data. The in-vehicle system according to claim 4.

6. The second data is data in which the higher the importance, the more emphasized the first display pattern is associated with it. The in-vehicle system according to claim 5.

7. The second data includes data indicating the design of the first display, or data indicating the size and position of the first display on the first display device. The in-vehicle system according to claim 4.

8. The first display device is the meter display or head-up display of the vehicle. The in-vehicle system according to claim 4.

9. The second data mentioned above is In cases where the importance of the aforementioned notification is higher, the data is associated with a configuration in which the first display is output more centrally on the meter display. The in-vehicle system according to claim 8.

10. A vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. An information processing device that outputs information to a first display device and a second display device, The first display device is It is located in front of the steering wheel and towards the front of the vehicle. The second display device is The first display device is positioned on both sides of the steering wheel, protruding further rearward than the vehicle, and includes a pair of display units having touch panels. When a predetermined notification to the vehicle driver occurs, the predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, which is at least one of the pair of display units. When the aforementioned predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, a first display prompting the user to pay attention to the first display unit is output to the first display device. Having a control unit that performs the following: Information processing device.

12. The control unit, Obtain first data indicating the importance of the aforementioned notification, Based on the first data, the first display is output to the first display device in a manner corresponding to the importance of the predetermined notification. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11.

13. The device further includes a storage unit that stores second data, which is data relating the first display mode and the importance of the notification. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12.

14. The control unit outputs the first display in a manner determined based on the second data. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13.

15. The second data is data in which the higher the importance, the more emphasized the first display pattern is associated with it. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14.

16. The second data includes data indicating the design of the first display, or data indicating the size and position of the first display on the first display device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13.

17. The first display device is the meter display or head-up display of the vehicle. The information processing apparatus according to claim 13.

18. The second data mentioned above is In cases where the importance of the aforementioned notification is higher, the data is associated with a configuration in which the first display is output more centrally on the meter display. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17.

19. An information processing method performed by an information processing device that outputs information to a first display device and a second display device, The first display device is It is located in front of the steering wheel and towards the front of the vehicle. The second display device is The first display device is positioned on both sides of the steering wheel, protruding further rearward than the vehicle, and includes a pair of display units having touch panels. When a predetermined notification to the vehicle driver occurs, the predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, which is at least one of the pair of display units. When the aforementioned predetermined notification is output to the first display unit, the first display device outputs a first display that prompts the user to pay attention to the first display unit; including, Information processing methods.

20. A program for causing a computer to execute the information processing method described in claim 19.

Images