Passenger monitoring device and vehicle display device

Abstract

To provide an occupant monitoring device which can reduce annoyance felt by an occupant due to infrared light reflected by a reflective translucent member.SOLUTION: A head-up display device 1 comprises: an infrared light emission unit 12 for emitting infrared light L2 toward a front windshield 3 which is provided to a vehicle 2 and through which an actual view is transmitted; a camera 13 for imaging a driver D of the vehicle 2 by the infrared light L2 which is reflected by the front windshield 3; and a housing 6 which houses the infrared light emission unit 12 and the camera 13. The infrared light emission unit 12 is provided to the housing 6 in such a manner that a reflection position R of the infrared light L2 on the front windshield 3 overlaps with a bonnet 17 of the vehicle 2 when viewed from the viewpoint position of the driver D.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an occupant monitoring device and a vehicle display device that irradiate infrared light to an occupant of a vehicle to capture an image of the behavior of the occupant. [Background technology]

[0002] A head-up display device (vehicle display device) generates and displays a virtual image using display light reflected by a reflective translucent member, which is superimposed on a real scene (the scenery in front of the vehicle) that passes through a reflective translucent member such as the vehicle's front windshield or combiner, and contributes to safe and comfortable vehicle operation by providing the information desired by the occupant, such as the driver, through a virtual image while minimizing the movement of the driver's line of sight.

[0003] In addition, some head-up display devices are equipped with a monitoring system (occupant monitoring device) that captures images of occupants by shining infrared light reflected by a reflective and translucent member onto them, and uses the captured images to understand the behavior of the occupants, such as looking away or falling asleep.

[0004] For example, the head-up display device described in Patent Document 1 forms a display image by reflecting visible light emitted from a display means toward the driver using a combiner member, and further comprises an infrared irradiating means for irradiating infrared rays toward the driver, a mirror member for reflecting the visible light emitted from the display means toward the combiner member and transmitting the infrared rays reflected by the driver and the combiner member, a plurality of imaging means for sensing the infrared rays that transmit through the mirror member and capturing images of the driver from different directions, and an image processing means for calculating the position of the driver's eyes based on images captured by the imaging means, making it possible to accurately calculate the position of the driver's eyes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-126984 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when an occupant monitoring device captures an image of an occupant using infrared light, the infrared light source may be reflected by the reflective translucent member in a dark environment outside the vehicle, such as at night, and may be visually recognized by the occupant as a red ball (point light source). This so-called "ball appearance" can be a problem in that it annoys the occupant.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide an occupant monitoring device and a vehicle display device that can reduce the annoyance felt by occupants due to infrared light reflected by a reflective translucent member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the occupant monitoring device of the present invention comprises an infrared light irradiating means for irradiating infrared light onto a reflective translucent member provided in a vehicle and through which a real scene passes, an imaging means for imaging an occupant of the vehicle using the infrared light reflected by the reflective translucent member, and a housing for accommodating the infrared light irradiating means and the imaging means, wherein the infrared light irradiating means is provided in the housing so that the reflection position of the infrared light on the reflective translucent member overlaps with the bonnet of the vehicle when viewed from the viewpoint of the occupant or another occupant of the vehicle.

[0009] Here, the occupant's viewpoint position is a position assumed to be the viewpoint (eye position) of one of the vehicle's occupants, and can be a position included in a certain spatial area determined based on the occupant's seat position and physique.

[0010] Furthermore, the vehicle display device of the present invention includes a display light projection means that projects display light onto a reflective translucent member that is provided in a vehicle and through which a real scene passes, and generates a virtual image using the display light reflected by the reflective translucent member and displays it superimposed on the real scene, an infrared light irradiating means that irradiates infrared light onto the reflective translucent member, an imaging means that images an occupant of the vehicle using the infrared light reflected by the reflective translucent member, and a housing that accommodates the display light projection means, the infrared light irradiating means, and the imaging means, and the infrared light irradiating means is provided in the housing such that, when viewed from the viewpoint of the occupant or another occupant of the vehicle, a reflection position of the infrared light on the reflective translucent member overlaps with a bonnet of the vehicle.

[0011] The viewpoint position may be within an eyebox of a driver seated in a driver's seat of the vehicle. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the annoyance felt by occupants due to infrared light reflected by a reflective translucent member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a vehicle provided with a head-up display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of the head-up display device of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the head-up display device of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the appearance of the head-up display device of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] 1 and 2, a head-up display device (HUD) 1 according to this embodiment is provided inside an instrument panel 4 below a windshield 3 of a vehicle 2, and projects display light L1, which is visible light, onto a part of the windshield 3. The display light L1 is reflected by the windshield 3 to generate a virtual image V, which is superimposed on an actual scene transmitted through the windshield 3 and is visually recognized by a driver D seated in a driver's seat (not shown) behind a steering wheel 5.

[0016] The HUD 1 also functions as an occupant monitoring device that monitors the state of the driver D, and captures an image of the driver D by irradiating the driver D with infrared light L2.

[0017] In detail, the HUD 1 is covered by a housing 6 molded from a black ABS resin or the like to prevent external light from entering, and is partitioned from the outside, and an opening 8 is formed in the housing 6 to which a transparent cover glass 7 made of polycarbonate or the like is attached. Inside the housing 6, a display unit 9, a plane mirror 10, a concave mirror 11, an infrared light irradiation unit 12, and a camera 13 are held and housed.

[0018] 2, the cover glass 7 is a quadrilateral plate curved convexly downward, and a light-shielding portion 14 that blocks visible light is provided along the entire periphery (periphery of the four sides). The light-shielding portion 14 is formed by forming a black printed layer on a transparent base material such as polycarbonate.

[0019] The display unit 9 is provided with a display 15 consisting of a light source, a liquid crystal panel, etc., and projects and displays image light (display light L1) which is visible light from the display 15. The plane mirror 10 is made by depositing a metal such as aluminum or a dielectric multilayer film on glass molded to have a flat surface, and simply reflects visible light. The concave mirror 11 is made by depositing a metal such as aluminum on resin such as polycarbonate molded to have a concave surface, and magnifies and reflects visible light.

[0020] 3, the infrared light irradiation unit 12 is provided on the housing 6 below the cover glass 7 and at the center side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 2 so as to face the light blocking unit 14. An infrared light transmitting section 16 that transmits infrared light is provided at a portion of the light blocking unit 14 that faces the infrared light irradiation unit 12 (the infrared light transmitting section 16 portion of the light blocking unit 14 is made of a black printed layer that blocks visible light and transmits infrared light, and the other portion is made of a black printed layer that blocks visible light and infrared light). The infrared light irradiation unit 12 irradiates infrared light (near-infrared light) L2 emitted by a light source (point light source) made of a light-emitting diode (LED) through the infrared light transmitting section 16 toward the front windshield 3.

[0021] In this case, the infrared light irradiation unit 12 is provided in the housing 6 so that, as viewed from the viewpoint position of the driver D, the reflection position R of the infrared light L2 on the front windshield 3 (the position where the optical axis of the light source of the infrared light irradiation unit 12 intersects with the front windshield 3) overlaps with the bonnet 17 of the vehicle 2. That is, when the driver D looks at the front edge of the visible area of ​​the bonnet 17 (the driver D can see the area of ​​the bonnet 17 behind the front edge due to the upwardly convex curved shape of the bonnet 17, but cannot see the area of ​​the bonnet 17 in front of the front edge), if the driver D's look-down angle (depression angle) is θ1, the LED light source of the infrared light irradiation unit 12 is disposed so that the look-down angle when the driver D looks down on the reflection position R is θ1 or more. The bonnet 17 is configured as a part (specific part) of the vehicle 2 installed in front of the front windshield 3.

[0022] The viewpoint of driver D can be any point within eye box 18 designed for driver D. When driver D looks down at the front edge of the visible area of ​​bonnet 17, the point within eye box 18 at which the look-down angle is shallowest (smallest) is point P, which is at the bottom and rearmost part within eye box 18. Therefore, if the look-down angle when looking at the front edge of the visible area of ​​bonnet 17 from the position of point P is θ2, then by positioning the LED light source of infrared light irradiation unit 12 so that the look-down angle of reflection position R is θ2 or more, reflection position R will overlap with the area of ​​bonnet 17 wherever driver D's viewpoint is within eye box 18.

[0023] On the other hand, the camera 13 is provided in the housing 6 below the cover glass 7, facing the infrared light transmitting section 16, toward the center of the vehicle 2 in the vehicle width direction and in front of the infrared light irradiation unit 12, and is equipped with an imaging element sensitive to the infrared light L2 in the wavelength band irradiated from the infrared irradiation unit 12, and a lens that can transmit the infrared light L2 and form an image on the imaging element, thereby capturing near-infrared images.

[0024] In the present embodiment, although detailed illustration is omitted here, the housing 6 has a pair of peripheral walls that are substantially perpendicular (intersect) with the vehicle width direction, and the infrared light irradiation unit 12 and the camera 13 are provided in a space in the housing 6 that is slightly inside one peripheral wall (one peripheral wall) of the pair of peripheral walls that is located closer to an imaginary center line that divides the vehicle into two equal parts left and right. The housing 6 here has four peripheral walls, and the two peripheral walls that are substantially aligned with the vehicle width direction shown in Fig. 2 are configured as upright walls that connect the respective ends of the pair of peripheral walls.

[0025] In the HUD 1, display light L1 from a display unit 9 is reflected by a plane mirror 10, then is magnified and reflected by a concave mirror 11, passes through a transparent central portion 17 surrounded by a light-shielding portion 14 of a cover glass 7, and is projected onto the windshield 3. The display light L1 projected onto the windshield 3 is magnified and reflected toward the driver D, generating a virtual image V which is superimposed on the real view passing through the windshield 3 and displayed to the driver D.

[0026] In contrast, the infrared light L2 from the infrared light irradiation unit 12 passes through the infrared light transmitting portion 16 of the light blocking portion 14 of the cover glass 7, is projected onto the front windshield 3, and is reflected by the front windshield 3 toward the driver D to irradiate the driver D. Then, when reflected by the driver D, part of the infrared light L2 follows the reverse path, passes through the infrared light transmitting portion 16, and is incident on the camera 13, whereby the driver D is imaged. This imaging is performed periodically or irregularly while the virtual image V is being displayed, and the driver D is monitored based on the captured image.

[0027] The HUD 1 according to the present embodiment includes an infrared light irradiation unit 12 that is provided on a vehicle 2 and that irradiates infrared light L2 onto a front windshield 3 through which an actual scene passes, a camera 13 that images a driver D of the vehicle 2 using the infrared light L2 reflected by the front windshield 3, and a housing 6 that accommodates the infrared light irradiation unit 12 and the camera 13. The infrared light irradiation unit 12 is arranged such that, as viewed from the viewpoint position of the driver D, a reflection position R of the infrared light L2 on the front windshield 3 overlaps with a bonnet 17 of the vehicle 2. As described above, since the infrared light irradiation unit 12 is provided (contained) in the housing 6, even if the light source of the infrared light irradiation unit 12 is reflected on the front windshield 3 in a dark environment outside the vehicle and is seen by the driver D as a red ball if the background is dark, the red ball will overlap with the bonnet 17 and will not overlap with the scenery in front of the vehicle 2 that the driver D is gazing at, or the outside scene (scenery other than the bonnet 17 of the vehicle), thereby reducing annoyance to the driver D caused by the infrared light L2 reflected by the front windshield 3.

[0028] In particular, assuming that the driver D's viewpoint is at any point within the eye box 18, and the look-down angle when looking at the front edge of the visible area of ​​the bonnet 17 from point P, which is the lowest and rearmost point within the eye box 18, is θ2, if the LED light source of the infrared light irradiation unit 12 is positioned so that the look-down angle of the reflection position R is θ2 or greater, then regardless of where the driver D's viewpoint is within the eye box 18, the reflection position R will overlap with the area of ​​the bonnet 17, and the annoyance felt by the driver D by the infrared light L2 reflected by the front windshield 3 can be reduced.

[0029] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above, and may be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0030] For example, in the above embodiment, the front windshield of the vehicle is used as the reflective light-transmitting member, but instead of the front windshield, a combiner or the like may be used as the reflective light-transmitting member.

[0031] In addition, the infrared light irradiation unit 12 may be provided in the housing 6 so that the reflection position R of the infrared light L2 on the front windshield 3 overlaps with the hood 17 of the vehicle 2 when viewed from the viewpoint of other occupants sitting in the passenger seat or back seat, etc., that are not the subject of imaging by the camera 13, rather than the driver D sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle 2, thereby reducing annoyance to the other occupants.

[0032] Furthermore, the viewpoint position of the occupant, which is the reference for determining whether the reflection position R overlaps with the bonnet 17, does not necessarily have to be set inside the eye box 18, and may be set outside the eye box 18. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 Head-up display device (passenger monitoring device, vehicle display device) 2 Vehicles 3. Front windshield (reflective and translucent material) 6 Housing 9 Display unit (display light projection means) 12 Infrared light irradiation unit (infrared light irradiation means) 13 Camera (imaging means) 17 Bonnet 18 Eye Box D Driver (passenger) L1 display light L2 infrared light R reflection position V Virtual Image

Claims

1. an infrared light irradiating means for irradiating infrared light onto a reflective translucent member provided in the vehicle through which the actual scene passes; an imaging means for imaging an occupant of the vehicle using infrared light reflected by the reflective light-transmitting member; a housing that houses the infrared light irradiating means and the imaging means, An occupant monitoring device characterized in that the infrared light irradiating means is provided in the housing so that the reflection position of the infrared light in the reflective translucent member overlaps with the bonnet of the vehicle when viewed from the viewpoint of the occupant or another occupant of the vehicle.

2. a display light projection means for projecting display light onto a reflective translucent member provided in the vehicle, through which a real scene passes, and generating a virtual image by the display light reflected by the reflective translucent member, and displaying the virtual image superimposed on the real scene; an infrared light irradiating means for irradiating the reflective light-transmitting member with infrared light; an imaging means for imaging an occupant of the vehicle using infrared light reflected by the reflective light-transmitting member; a housing that houses the display light projection means, the infrared light irradiation means, and the imaging means, The infrared light irradiating means is provided on the housing so that a reflection position of the infrared light in the reflective translucent member overlaps with a bonnet of the vehicle when viewed from the viewpoint of the occupant or another occupant of the vehicle.

3. 3. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the viewpoint position is within an eye box of a driver seated in a driver's seat of the vehicle.

4. An occupant monitoring device as described in claim 1 or a vehicle display device as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the housing is provided with a cover glass, the cover glass is provided with a shading portion that blocks visible light, and the shading portion is provided with an infrared light transmitting portion.

Images