Vehicle display device

Abstract

To alter a virtual image position without having discomfort.SOLUTION: A display device for a vehicle comprises a display unit 10, a reflector 20 which reflects a display light from the display unit toward an eye box EB, and a control device 30 which sets the eye box corresponding to a detected eye point EP as the set eye box EB0 of a virtual image display object, and changes a direction of travel of the display light from the display unit according to the set eye box and displays a virtual image to a virtual image display position corresponding to the set eye box. When the eye point moves to another eye box different from the set eye box and stops, if the lapse time tp at a stop state of the eye point is shorter than a determination time td, the control device does not set the eye box corresponding to the eye point after stop as the new set eye point, and when the lapse time reaches determination time, sets the eye box corresponding to the eye point after stop as the new set eye box.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle display device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, vehicles are equipped with a vehicle display device that displays virtual images of information provided to passengers in the vehicle interior. This vehicle display device is a so-called head-up display device including a display unit that emits display light related to display information, a reflecting member that reflects the display light emitted from the display unit, and a reflector that reflects the reflected light from the reflecting member to the passenger's eye point, and visually presents display information corresponding to the display light as a virtual image to the passenger. Further, this vehicle display device includes a motor that rotationally drives the reflecting member, and by rotationally driving the reflecting member within a rotation region (displayable rotation region) where a virtual image based on the display light can be displayed, the virtual image display position can be changed. This type of vehicle display device is disclosed in, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 below.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Incidentally, in this vehicle display device, a plurality of eye boxes indicating the range of eye points where a virtual image can be visually recognized are set. Even if the eye point moves within a certain eye box, the virtual image is displayed at the virtual image display position corresponding to this eye box. On the other hand, in this vehicle display device, when the eye point moves to another eye box, the virtual image is displayed at the virtual image display position corresponding to the new eye box. For this reason, in a conventional vehicle display device, for example, when the eye point moves across a plurality of eye boxes, or when the eye point moves to another eye box immediately after switching the eye box along with the movement of the eye point, each time the eye box is switched, the change of the virtual image display position is repeated. As a result, the virtual image makes a jerky and snaggy movement while repeating the movement and stop of the virtual image display position.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle display device capable of changing the virtual image display position without a sense of incongruity.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention includes a display unit that emits display information to be visually recognized as a virtual image by an occupant in a vehicle interior as display light, a reflector that reflects the display light emitted from the display unit toward an ashtray that is a range of an eye point at which the occupant can visually recognize the virtual image, a control device that sets the ashtray corresponding to the detected eye point as a set ashtray for virtual image display, changes the traveling direction of the display light emitted from the display unit according to the set ashtray, and displays a virtual image at a virtual image display position corresponding to the set ashtray. The control device, when the eye point moves to and stops at another ashtray different from the set ashtray, if the elapsed time in the stopped state of this eye point is shorter than the determination time, does not switch the ashtray corresponding to the eye point after this stop to a new set ashtray, and when the elapsed time reaches the determination time, determines that the eye point position is determined at the eye point after this stop, and sets the ashtray corresponding to the eye point at this determined eye point position as a new set ashtray While setting and changing the emission angle of the display light from the display unit to an angle corresponding to the set eyeglass case, if the current set eyeglass case is switched to another set eyeglass case during the process, after finishing the operation of changing the emission angle of the display light from the display unit that is being executed, the emission angle of the display light from the display unit is changed to an angle corresponding to the set eyeglass case after the switching. It is characterized by this.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] In the vehicle display device according to the present invention, each time the eye point moves to another ashtray different from the current set ashtray, the change in the virtual image display position is not repeated. When the eye point that has moved to another ashtray different from the current set ashtray stops at that location for a predetermined time (determination time), the set ashtray is switched, and a virtual image is displayed at the virtual image display position corresponding to this new set ashtray. Therefore, in this vehicle display device, the jerky movement of the virtual image with jerks while repeating the movement and stop of the virtual image display position is suppressed, and the change in the virtual image display position becomes smooth without annoyance. Therefore, this vehicle display device can change the virtual image display position without giving a sense of discomfort to the occupant.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the vehicle display device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0010] [Embodiment] One embodiment of the vehicle display device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0011] Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 indicates a vehicle display device according to an embodiment. This vehicle display device 1 is a so-called head-up display device that virtually displays information provided to passengers in the vehicle interior (such as an automobile).

[0012] The vehicle display device 1 includes a display unit 10 that emits display information to be visually recognized by a passenger in the vehicle interior as display light, and a reflector 20 that reflects the display light emitted from the display unit 10 toward an inbox EB that is a range of an eye point EP at which the passenger can visually recognize the virtual image (FIG. 1). In this example, three inboxes EB are prepared as the inbox EB: a first inbox EB1, a second inbox EB2, and a third inbox EB3 arranged from below the vehicle upward. Further, the vehicle display device 1 includes a control device 30 that controls the display unit 10 (FIG. 1).

[0013] This vehicle display device 1 includes a housing 41 that houses a display unit 10 inwardly, and a transparent cover 42 that closes an opening of the housing 41 (FIG. 1). And in this vehicle display device 1, the display unit 10 is housed in an instrument panel Pi in the vehicle interior with the cover 42 exposed (FIG. 1). In this vehicle display device 1, when allowing an occupant to visually recognize a virtual image of display light emitted from the display unit 10, the display light is made to be emitted from the cover 42 to the outside of the housing 41 and projected onto a reflector 20 existing ahead thereof.

[0014] The display unit 10 may be of any form and configuration as long as it can emit display information as display light toward the reflector 20. This exemplary display unit 10 includes at least a display device 11 that emits display light of display information (FIG. 1). Although not shown, this display device 11 includes a light source as a backlight and a display that displays display information. In this display device 11, light is emitted from the light source toward the display, and display light of display information corresponding to the incident light from the light source is emitted from the display.

[0015] For example, the display is configured to allow the emitted light of the light source to be incident from the back surface and emit display light corresponding to the incident light from the back surface from the front surface. For example, as this display, a light transmissive TFT liquid crystal (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) or the like is used. This display displays, for example, image information such as characters, numbers, and graphics as display information. The control device 30 is provided with a display light control unit 31 that controls this display to perform display control of the display information (FIG. 1).

[0016] This display unit 10 includes at least one reflecting member that reflects the display light emitted from the display device 11. By rotating one reflecting member, the emission angle of the display light emitted toward the reflector 20 is changed. In the display unit 10 shown here, it includes one rotatable reflecting member (hereinafter referred to as "movable reflecting member") 12 (Fig. 1). And this display unit 10 includes a motor 13a as a driving source, and includes a driving unit 13 that rotationally drives the movable reflecting member 12 around the axis by the output torque of this motor 13a (Fig. 1). This display unit 10 emits display light from the display device 11 toward the movable reflecting member 12, and reflects the display light from the display device 11 projected on this movable reflecting member 12 toward the reflector 20.

[0017] The movable reflecting member 12 has a reflecting surface 12a that reflects the display light emitted from the display device 11 toward the reflector 20 (Fig. 1). For example, an enlarging mirror that enlarges and reflects the display light emitted from the display device 11 is used for this movable reflecting member 12. As this movable reflecting member 12, for example, an aspherical (free-form surface) mirror is used.

[0018] This movable reflecting member 12 has a rotation axis 14 with the vehicle width direction as the axis direction (Fig. 1). By rotating this movable reflecting member 12 around the axis of the rotation axis 14, the incident angle of the display light emitted from the display device 11 to the reflecting surface 12a is changed, and the emission angle of the display light reflected from this reflecting surface 12a toward the reflector 20 is changed. And by changing the emission angle of the display light directed toward the reflector 20 of this movable reflecting member 12, the imaging position (display position) of the virtual image related to the display light is changed in the vehicle vertical direction.

[0019] The driving unit 13 responsible for the rotation of this movable reflecting member 12 includes, for example, a power transmission mechanism (not shown) that transmits the output torque of the previous motor 13a to the rotation axis 14. The power transmission mechanism is composed of, for example, a gear group. A stepping motor is used for the motor 13a shown here.

[0020] The reflector 20 has a reflecting surface 20a that reflects the display light reflected by the movable reflecting member 12 to the eye box EB corresponding to the eye point EP (Fig. 1). The reflector 20 shown here is formed as a half mirror that reflects the reflected light from the movable reflecting member 12 to the eye box EB corresponding to the eye point EP with its reflecting surface 20a and emits the light from outside the vehicle to the occupant side. For example, this reflector 20 is formed in a plate shape along the curved surface shape of the front windshield Wf and is sealed together with an intermediate film in the front windshield Wf of the laminated glass. Also, this reflector 20 may be formed in a plate shape along the curved surface shape of the front windshield Wf and attached to the wall surface on the vehicle interior side of the front windshield Wf with an adhesive. Further, this reflector 20 may be a combiner that covers the front windshield Wf from the vehicle interior side.

[0021] In this vehicle display device 1, basically, an eye box EB (the first eye box EB1 in the example of Fig. 1) corresponding to the detected eye point EP is set, and a virtual image is displayed at the virtual image display position corresponding to this set eye box EB. Therefore, the control device 30 is provided with an eye box setting unit 32 that sets the eye box EB corresponding to the detected eye point EP as the set eye box EB0 for the virtual image display target, and a display position control unit 33 that changes the traveling direction of the display light emitted from the display unit 10 according to the set eye box EB0 and displays a virtual image at the virtual image display position corresponding to this set eye box EB0 (Fig. 1).

[0022] The eyeglass box setting unit 32 obtains information on the current eye point EP based on the detection signal of an eye point detection unit 51 (FIG. 1) capable of detecting the eye point EP of an occupant. As the eye point detection unit 51, for example, an imaging device capable of photographing the position of the occupant's eyes is used. The eyeglass box setting unit 32 detects, for example, the positions of both eyes from the image information of the imaging device, and detects the position of the bridge of the nose calculated based on the positions of both eyes as the position of the eye point EP. Then, the eyeglass box setting unit 32 selects an eyeglass box EB corresponding to the detected eye point EP from among a plurality of eyeglass boxes EB (here, the first eyeglass box EB1, the second eyeglass box EB2, and the third eyeglass box EB3), and sets this as the set eyeglass box EB0. Here, the vehicle display device 1 may include the eye point detection unit 51 itself, or may use the detection signal of the eye point detection unit 51 provided in the vehicle.

[0023] The display position control unit 33 controls the drive unit 13 to rotationally drive the movable reflection member 12, and controls the virtual image display position by changing the traveling direction of the reflected light of the display light on the movable reflection member 12. Specifically, the display position control unit 33 controls the drive unit 13 to rotationally drive the movable reflection member 12 to a position where the emitted light from the display unit 10 reflected by the reflector 20 (that is, the reflected light of the movable reflection member 12) travels toward the set eyeglass box EB0, thereby displaying a virtual image at the virtual image display position corresponding to the set eyeglass box EB0.

[0024] Here, when the eyeglass box setting unit 32 starts to detect the position of the eye point EP based on the detection signal of the eye point detection unit 51, as shown in FIG. 2, it determines whether or not the detected eye point EP has moved to another eyeglass box EB different from the current set eyeglass box EB0 (step ST1).

[0025] For example, the inbox setting unit 32 shown here detects the position of the eye point EP at a predetermined sampling period based on the detection signal of the eye point detection unit 51. In this vehicle display device 1, the correspondence between the position of the eye point EP and the inbox EB is prepared in advance as map data or the like. Therefore, in step ST1, the inbox setting unit 32 calculates the inbox EB corresponding to the detected position of the eye point EP, compares this inbox EB with the current set inbox EB0, and determines whether the inbox EB corresponding to the detected eye point EP is different from the current set inbox EB0.

[0026] Figure 3 has the sampling time ts(n) on the horizontal axis, and on the vertical axis, the detected value Pep of the position of the eye point EP, the difference Pep between the latest value Pep(n) and the previous value Pep(n - 1) of the detected value Pep diff are represented (n = 0, 1, 2, 3, ···). In the example shown in this Figure 3, the first inbox EB1 is set as the current set inbox EB0. In the example of the eye point EP in this Figure 3, it moves above the vehicle within the first inbox EB1 between the sampling times ts(1) and ts(2), and moves below the vehicle within the first inbox EB1 between the sampling times ts(2) and ts(3). Also, in the example of the eye point EP in this Figure 3, it moves from the first inbox EB1 to the second inbox EB2 between the sampling times ts(3) and ts(4).

[0027] Therefore, in the example shown in this Figure 3, the inbox setting unit 32 determines that the inbox EB corresponding to the detected eye point EP is the same as the current set inbox EB0 between the sampling times ts(1) and ts(3). On the other hand, in the example shown in this Figure 3, the inbox setting unit 32 determines that at the sampling time ts(4), the inbox EB corresponding to the detected eye point EP is a different inbox EB (the second inbox EB2) from the current set inbox EB0 (the first inbox EB1).

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, if it is determined in step ST1 that the inbox EB corresponding to the detected eye point EP is the same as the current set inbox EB0 and the eye point EP has not moved to another inbox EB different from the current set inbox EB0, this step ST1 is repeated.

[0029] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, if it is determined in step ST1 that the inbox EB corresponding to the detected eye point EP is another inbox EB different from the current set inbox EB0 and the eye point EP has moved to another inbox EB different from the current set inbox EB0, it is determined whether or not the movement of this eye point EP has stopped (step ST2).

[0030] Each time the eye box setting unit 32 detects the position of the eye point EP at a predetermined sampling period, the difference Pep between the latest value Pep(n) and the previous value Pep(n - 1) of the detected value Pep diff is calculated (FIG. 3). In step ST2, the eye box setting unit 32 determines that there has been no movement of the eye point EP if the difference Pep diff is "0", and determines that there has been movement of the eye point EP if the difference Pep diff is other than "0". In the example shown in FIG. 3, the eye box setting unit 32 determines that there has been no movement of the eye point EP because the difference Pep diff becomes "0" at the sampling times ts(13) and ts(16). On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the eye box setting unit 32 determines that there has been movement of the eye point EP each time the position of the eye point EP is detected because the difference Pep diff does not become "0" from the sampling time ts(1) to ts(12).

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, when the eye box setting unit 32 determines in step ST2 that the eye point EP is moving and its movement has not stopped, it returns to step ST1. If the eye box EB corresponding to the eye point EP detected in the next sampling period remains the same as the eye box EB calculated in the previous step ST1 in this step ST1 when the eye box setting unit 32 returns to step ST1, since the eye point EP has moved to another eye box EB different from the current set eye box EB0, it proceeds to step ST2. In the example shown in FIG. 3, it corresponds to the sampling time ts(5). Also, if the eye box EB corresponding to the eye point EP detected in the next sampling period is different from both the eye box EB calculated in the previous step ST1 and the current set eye box EB0 in this step ST1 when the eye box setting unit 32 returns to step ST1, since the eye point EP has moved to another eye box EB different from the current set eye box EB0, it proceeds to step ST2. In the example shown in FIG. 3, it corresponds to the sampling time ts(6). On the other hand, if the eye box EB corresponding to the eye point EP detected in the next sampling period is the same as the current set eye box EB0 (that is, when the eye point EP has returned to the current set eye box EB0) in this step ST1 when the eye box setting unit 32 returns to this step ST1, this step ST1 is repeated.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, when the eye box setting unit 32 determines in step ST2 that there is no movement of the eye point EP and its movement has stopped (that is, when the eye point EP has moved from the current set eye box EB0 to another eye box EB and stopped), it starts counting the elapsed time tp in the stopped state of this eye point EP (step ST3). Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the eye box setting unit 32 determines the presence or absence of movement of the eye point EP (step ST4). This determination in step ST4 is made in the same manner as described in the previous step ST2.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, when it is determined in step ST4 that there has been movement of the eye point EP, the counting of the elapsed time tp is canceled (step ST5), and the process returns to step ST1. In the example of FIG. 3, this corresponds to the sampling time ts(14). After returning to step ST1, this eye box setting unit 32 performs the same process as in the previous example for step ST1.

[0034] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when it is determined in step ST4 that there has been no movement of the eye point EP, the eye box setting unit 32 determines whether the elapsed time tp has reached the determination time td (tp = td?) (step ST6). That is, when it is determined in step ST4 that there has been no movement of the eye point EP, this eye box setting unit 32 determines whether the stopped state of this eye point EP has continued until the determination time td. The determination time td is a threshold value for discriminating between the case where the eye point EP that has moved and stopped at a different eye box EB from the current set eye box EB0 immediately moves to yet another different eye box EB, and the case where the eye point EP stops at the eye box EB after stopping, and a multiple of the sampling period is set. In the example of FIG. 3, the sampling time ts(n) for three periods is set as the determination time td.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, when it is determined in step ST6 that the elapsed time tp is shorter than the determination time td and the elapsed time tp has not reached the determination time td, the process returns to step ST4. In the example of FIG. 3, this corresponds to the time from the sampling time ts(17) to ts(18).

[0036] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when it is determined in step ST6 that the elapsed time tp has reached the determination time td, the iBox setting unit 32 determines that the iPoint position has been determined at the iPoint EP after the stop (step ST7). In the example shown in FIG. 3, this corresponds to the sampling time ts(19). Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the iBox setting unit 32 sets the iBox EB corresponding to the determined iPoint EP at the iPoint position as a new set iBox EB0 (step ST8), and ends this set iBox switching process.

[0037] Based on the set iBox EB0 thus set, the display position control unit 33 rotationally drives the movable reflecting member 12 to the rotational drive position corresponding to this set iBox EB0. FIG. 4 shows the motor rotation control process when the set iBox EB0 is switched.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, when there is a switch of the set iBox EB0 (step ST11), the display position control unit 33 controls the drive unit 13 and starts the rotation control of the motor 13a to rotationally drive the movable reflecting member 12 to the rotational drive position corresponding to the new set iBox EB0 (step ST12).

[0039] FIG. 5 has the sampling time ts(n) on the horizontal axis, and on the vertical axis, the detected value Pep of the position of the iPoint EP, and the difference Pep between the latest value Pep(n) and the previous value Pep(n - 1) of the detected value Pep diffand a control command for the motor 13a (n = 0, 1, 2, 3, ···). In the example of FIG. 5, the first eye box EB1 is set as the current set eye box EB0. The eye point EP in the example of FIG. 5 moves from the first eye box EB1 to the second eye box EB2 between the sampling times ts(1) and ts(2). In the example of FIG. 5, since the switching of the set eye box EB0 is not performed until the sampling time ts(6), the motor 13a remains stopped. Then, in the example of FIG. 5, at the sampling time ts(6), the eye box setting unit 32 determines that the eye point position is determined at the eye point EP after the stop, and sets the eye box EB (the second eye box EB2) corresponding to the eye point EP at the determined eye point position as the new set eye box EB0. For this reason, in the example of FIG. 5, the control of the drive unit 13 is started at the sampling time ts(6), and the motor 13a starts to rotate. Then, in the example of FIG. 5, thereafter, at the sampling time ts(17), since the movable reflecting member 12 has finished moving to the rotational drive position corresponding to the set eye box EB0 after the switching, the control of the drive unit 13 is terminated at this time, and the motor 13a is stopped.

[0040] Here, during the rotation control of the motor 13a, the occupant does not always move the eye point EP to another eye box EB different from the current set eye box EB0. For this reason, in the vehicle display device 1, when the moved eye point EP stays in place for a predetermined time (determination time td), and the movable reflecting member 12 has not reached the required rotational drive position during the predetermined time (determination time td), a switch to another set eye box EB0 is made during the rotation control of the motor 13a. In the example of FIG. 5, the eye point EP moves from the second eye box EB2 to the third eye box EB3 between the sampling times ts(8) and ts(9). Then, in the example of FIG. 5, at the sampling time ts(13), the eye box setting unit 32 sets the third eye box EB3 as the new set eye box EB0.

[0041] Therefore, when the display position control unit 33 switches the current set inbox EB0 to another set inbox EB0 during the rotation control of the motor 13a, it continues the rotation control of the motor 13a that is being executed. That is, when the display position control unit 33 is in the middle of changing the emission angle of the display light from the display unit 10 to an angle corresponding to the set inbox EB0 and switches the current set inbox EB0 to another set inbox EB0, it continues the operation of changing the emission angle of the display light from the display unit 10 that is being executed.

[0042] And when the display position control unit 33 switches the current set inbox EB0 to another set inbox EB0 during the rotation control of the motor 13a, after finishing the rotation control of the motor 13a that is being executed, it executes the rotation control of the motor 13a corresponding to the set inbox EB0 after the switching. That is, when the display position control unit 33 is in the middle of changing the emission angle of the display light from the display unit 10 to an angle corresponding to the set inbox EB0 and switches the current set inbox EB0 to another set inbox EB0, after finishing the operation of changing the emission angle of the display light from the display unit 10 that is being executed, it changes the emission angle of the display light from the display unit 10 to an angle corresponding to the set inbox EB0 after the switching.

[0043] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, after starting the rotation control of the motor 13a, the display position control unit 33 determines whether there has been a switch to another set inbox EB0 (a set inbox EB0 different from the current one) (step ST13). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the display position control unit 33 determines that there has been no switch to another set inbox EB0 different from the current set inbox EB0 during the sampling times ts(7) to ts(12) of the eye point EP, and determines that there has been a switch to another set inbox EB0 different from the current set inbox EB0 at the sampling time ts(13).

[0044] When the display position control unit 33 determines in step ST13 that there has been no switching to another setting inbox EB0 different from the current setting inbox EB0, it determines whether the rotation control of the motor 13a has ended (step ST14).

[0045] When the display position control unit 33 determines in step ST14 that the rotation control of the motor 13a has not ended, it returns to step ST13, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0046] On the other hand, when the display position control unit 33 determines in step ST14 that the rotation control of the motor 13a has ended, as shown in FIG. 4, since the rotation control of the motor 13a corresponding to the current setting inbox EB0 has ended without switching to another setting inbox EB0 different from the current setting inbox EB0, this motor rotation control process is terminated.

[0047] Also, when the display position control unit 33 determines in step ST13 that there has been a switching to another setting inbox EB0 different from the current setting inbox EB0, it determines whether the rotation control of the motor 13a has ended (step ST15), as shown in FIG. 4.

[0048] When the display position control unit 33 determines in step ST15 that the rotation control of the motor 13a has not ended, as shown in FIG. 4, it further determines whether there has been a switching to yet another setting inbox EB0 (step ST16).

[0049] When the display position control unit 33 determines in step ST16 that there has been no switching to yet another setting inbox EB0, it returns to step ST15, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0050] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when it is determined in step ST16 that there is a switch to yet another setting inbox EB0, the display position control unit 33 determines whether or not the switch to the setting inbox EB0 is a switch to the setting inbox EB0 at the start of motor rotation control (step ST17).

[0051] As shown in FIG. 4, when it is determined in step ST17 that the display position control unit 33 is a switch to the setting inbox EB0 at the start of motor rotation control, the process proceeds to step ST14.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, when it is determined in step ST17 that the display position control unit 33 is not a switch to the setting inbox EB0 at the start of motor rotation control, the process returns to step ST15.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, when it is determined in step ST15 that the rotation control of the motor 13a has ended, since a switch to another setting inbox EB0 has been made, the process returns to step ST12, and the drive unit 13 is controlled to rotationally drive the movable reflecting member 12 to the rotational drive position corresponding to the new setting inbox EB0 after the switch. Again, the rotation control of the motor 13a is started, and this motor rotation control process is continued until it is determined in step ST14 that the rotation control of the motor 13a has ended.

[0054] In the example of FIG. 5, since there is no change from the setting inbox EB0 switched at the sampling time ts(13), after the rotation control of the motor 13a is completed at the sampling time ts(17), at the sampling time ts(18), the rotation control of the motor 13a is started again to rotationally drive the movable reflecting member 12 to the rotational drive position corresponding to the setting inbox EB0 after the switch.

[0055] As described above, when the eye point EP moves from the set eye box EB0 to another eye box EB and stops, if the elapsed time tp in the stopped state of this eye point EP is shorter than the determination time td, the eye box EB corresponding to the eye point EP after this stop is not switched as the new set eye box EB0. On the other hand, when the eye point EP moves from the set eye box EB0 to another eye box EB and stops, when the elapsed time tp reaches the determination time td, it is determined that the eye point position is determined at the eye point EP after the stop, and the eye box EB corresponding to the eye point EP at this determined eye point position is set as the new set eye box EB0. Then, based on the new set eye box EB0, the display position control unit 33 rotationally drives the movable reflecting member 12 to the rotational drive position corresponding to this set eye box EB0. That is, each time the eye point EP moves to another eye box EB different from the current set eye box EB0 in this vehicle display device 1, the change of the virtual image display position is not repeated. When the eye point EP that has moved to another eye box EB different from the current set eye box EB0 stops at that position for a predetermined time (determination time td), the set eye box EB0 is switched, and a virtual image is displayed at the virtual image display position corresponding to this new set eye box EB0. Therefore, in this vehicle display device 1, the jerky movement of the virtual image with a catch is suppressed while repeating the movement and stop of the virtual image display position, and the change of the virtual image display position becomes smooth without annoyance. Thus, this vehicle display device 1 can change the virtual image display position without causing discomfort to the occupant. For example, when the vehicle crosses a step and the eye point EP moves instantaneously and immediately returns to its original position, this vehicle display device 1 does not change the virtual image display position associated with the switching of the eye box EB, so stable virtual image display is possible from the perspective of the visibility of the virtual image for the occupant.

[0056] Here, the occupant may frequently move the eye point EP more often during vehicle stoppage than during vehicle travel. For this reason, in order to reduce the annoyance associated with the change in the virtual image display position during stoppage, it is desirable that the control device 30 permits the switching of the set instrument box EB0 during vehicle travel and prohibits the switching of the set instrument box EB0 during stoppage.

Explanation of Signs

[0057] 1 Vehicle display device 10 Display unit 20 Reflector 30 Control device 32 Instrument box setting unit 33 Display position control unit 51 Eye point detection unit EB Instrument box EB0 Set instrument box EP Eye point td Determination time tp Elapsed time

Claims

1. A display unit that emits display information to be visually recognized as a virtual image by an occupant in a vehicle interior as display light; A reflector that reflects the display light emitted from the display unit toward an eyebox that is a range of an eye point at which the occupant can visually recognize the virtual image; A control device that sets the eyebox corresponding to the detected eye point as a set eyebox for virtual image display, changes the traveling direction of the display light emitted from the display unit according to the set eyebox, and displays a virtual image at a virtual image display position corresponding to the set eyebox; Comprising: When the eye point moves to and stops at another eyebox different from the set eyebox, if the elapsed time in the stopped state of this eye point is shorter than the determination time, the control device does not switch the eyebox corresponding to the eye point after this stop to a new set eyebox. When the elapsed time reaches the determination time, it is determined that the eye point position is determined at the eye point after this stop, and the eyebox corresponding to the eye point at this determined eye point position is set as a new set eyebox. The control device is characterized in that, when switching the current set eyebox to another set eyebox during the process of changing the emission angle of the display light from the display unit to an angle corresponding to the set eyebox, after finishing the operation of changing the emission angle of the display light from the display unit being executed, the emission angle of the display light from the display unit is changed to an angle corresponding to the set eyebox after the switching. A vehicle control device.

2. The vehicle control device according to claim 1, wherein the control device permits switching of the set eyebox during vehicle travel and prohibits switching of the set eyebox during parking.

Images