Head-up display device

The head-up display device enhances visual engagement by transitioning from non-normal to normal images on a tilted display surface, addressing the monotonous presentation of conventional devices and creating a dynamic visual experience.

JP7780707B2Active Publication Date: 2025-12-05NIPPON SEIKI CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2022009774
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-01-26
Publication Date
2025-12-05
Estimated Expiration
2042-01-26

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional head-up display devices that project images along a tilted display surface relative to the vertical direction result in monotonous visual presentations with insufficient visual effect.

Method used

A head-up display device that projects images onto a display surface inclined forward with respect to the vehicle's vertical direction, allowing for the display of both normal and non-normal images, where non-normal images are initially displayed with a predetermined outline and transition to normal images through animation, enhancing visual engagement.

Benefits of technology

The device provides a creative and visually engaging display experience by transitioning from non-normal to normal images, imparting a sense of depth and dynamic visual effect.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To provide a head-up display apparatus which can obtain a visual performance effect.SOLUTION: There is provided a head-up display apparatus which is mounted on a vehicle 1, which displays an image as a virtual image V on a display surface A set on the front side of a windshield 3 by projecting display light L expressing the image onto the windshield 3, includes a control unit 21 which performs display control of the image, in which the display surface A is set so as to be inclined forward relative to the vehicle vertical direction, any of a regular image P1 and an irregular image P2 different in the display mode from the regular image P1 can be displayed as the image on the display surface A, and the control unit 21 performs display control of the image so as to display the irregular image P2 on the display surface A before displaying the regular image P1 surrounded by a contour line L1 on the display surface A.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a head-up display device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional head-up display device that projects display light representing an image toward a translucent member such as a vehicle windshield, thereby displaying the image as a virtual image on a display surface set in front of the translucent member. This display surface can be set to tilt forward with respect to the vertical direction of the viewer (user) viewing the image. In this case, the image has contour lines formed on the top, bottom, left, and right, and is a regular image that is the image that is originally intended to be displayed. Because the image is surrounded by the contour lines, it is displayed in an upright position along the vertical direction when viewed from the viewer's side. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-51231 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, simply displaying a normal image along the vertical direction on a display surface that is tilted forward relative to the vertical direction, as in Patent Document 1, results in a commonplace, monotonous display presentation, and there is a problem in that the visual presentation effect is insufficient.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to address the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a head-up display device that can provide a visual effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a head-up display device that is mounted on a vehicle and projects display light representing an image onto a translucent member to display the image as a virtual image on a display surface set in front of the translucent member, the head-up display device including: a control unit that controls display of the image; The display surface is set to be inclined forward with respect to the up-down direction of the vehicle, and the display surface is configured to be able to display, as the image, either a normal image or a non-normal image having a display mode different from that of the normal image, and the control unit performs display control of the image so as to display the non-normal image on the display surface before displaying the normal image surrounded by a predetermined outline portion on the display surface. The irregular image is displayed at either a first location on the display surface that is on the upper side in the vertical direction of the vehicle or a second location on the display surface that is on the lower side of the first location, and the control unit controls the display of the image to display the irregular image at either the first location or the second location based on the state of a viewer viewing the image. It is characterized by:

[0007] In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the non-normal image is a preview image that notifies in advance that the normal image will be displayed on the display surface.

[0008] In the invention, the display area of ​​the non-regular image is smaller than the display area of ​​the regular image.

[0011] The present invention is also characterized in that the control unit controls the display of the image so as to switch the non-regular image displayed in the first location or the second location to the regular image by an animation operation.

[0012] The present invention is also characterized in that the control unit switches the irregular image displayed at the first location to the regular image by a first animation action in which a lower contour line of the contour part extends at least downward, and switches the irregular image displayed at the second location to the regular image by a second animation action different from the first animation action in which an upper contour line of the contour part extends at least upward.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the irregular image is displayed at least at any one of a first location on the display surface that is above the vehicle in a vertical direction, a second location on the display surface that is below the first location, and a third location on the display surface that is below the second location, and the control unit switches the irregular image displayed at the first location to the regular image by a first animation action in which a lower contour line of the contour portion expands downward, switches the irregular image displayed at the second location to the regular image by a second animation action in which an upper contour line of the contour portion expands upward and the lower contour line expands downward, and switches the irregular image displayed at the third location to the regular image by a third animation action in which an upper contour line of the contour portion expands upward.

[0014] In addition, the present invention is characterized in that the control unit controls the display of the image to display the irregular image in the first location in a state where the hue of the irregular image is different from the hue of the regular image, the luminance of the irregular image is different from the luminance of the regular image, or the display width of the irregular image in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction is narrower than the display width of the regular image in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a head-up display device that can achieve the desired object and provide a visual effect. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle display system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 3 is an external view of a main part of the interior of the vehicle when the light-transmitting member is viewed from the viewer's side according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining a display mode of the head-up display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4]5A and 5B are diagrams showing a switching state of a content image displayed on a virtual image display unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a virtual image display unit according to a first modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a virtual image display unit according to a second modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a virtual image display unit according to a third modified example of the embodiment. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing animations for switching an irregular image to a regular image in the same embodiment. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing animations for switching an irregular image to a regular image in the same embodiment. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing animations for switching an irregular image to a regular image in the same embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicular display system K according to this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 1, and includes a display device 100 and a vehicle information processing unit 200.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, the display device 100 includes a head-up display device 10 and a control device 20. The display device 100 not only displays information about the vehicle 1 (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle information") but also information other than the vehicle information in an integrated manner. Note that the vehicle information includes not only information about the vehicle 1 itself but also information outside the vehicle 1 related to the operation of the vehicle 1. Note that in the following description, the head-up display device 10 will be referred to as HUD 10.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the HUD 10 is provided inside the dashboard 2 and projects display light L that displays an image toward the windshield 3, which is a light-transmitting member. The display light L reflected by the windshield 3 travels toward the user 4 (mainly the driver of the vehicle 1). By placing the viewpoint within the eyebox E, the user 4 can visually recognize the image displayed by the display light L as a virtual image V in front of the windshield 3. In other words, the HUD 10 displays the virtual image V (image) in front of the windshield 3. This allows the user 4, who is the viewer viewing the virtual image V, to visually recognize the virtual image V superimposed on the scenery.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3 , the HUD 10 is set in front of the windshield 3 and displays a virtual image V (image) on a display surface A that is set at a forward tilt relative to the vertical direction (the same direction as the vertical direction of the vehicle 1) relative to the user 4. The display surface A corresponds to the LCD display surface of the LCD 11 described below and is the displayable area for the virtual image V. The display surface A has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from its normal direction. For example, one end of the display surface A that is closest to the vehicle 1 is set at a position approximately 5 m from the vehicle 1, and the other end that is farthest from the vehicle 1 is set at a position approximately 10 m from the vehicle 1. The display surface A and the eye box E are set in advance based on the size of the LCD display surface of the LCD 11, various mirrors provided in the HUD 10, and an optical system formed by the windshield 3.

[0022] 1, the HUD 10 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 11, a light source 12 (backlight) that illuminates the LCD 11 from behind, and a reflector (not shown). For example, the LCD 11 is a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) type, and the light source 12 is composed of an LED (Light Emitting Diode).

[0023] Under the control of the control device 20, the HUD 10 generates display light L by displaying an image on the LCD 11 illuminated by the light source 12. The generated display light L is reflected by a reflecting unit and then emitted toward the windshield 3. The reflecting unit is composed of, for example, two mirrors: a folding mirror and a concave mirror. The folding mirror folds the display light L emitted from the LCD 11 and directs it toward the concave mirror. The concave mirror reflects the display light L from the folding mirror toward the windshield 3 while magnifying it. As a result, the virtual image V viewed by the user 4 is an enlarged version of the image displayed on the LCD display surface of the LCD 11. The number of mirrors constituting the reflecting unit can be changed as desired depending on the design.

[0024] In the HUD 10, by tilting the LCD display surface of the LCD 11, the display surface A can be set at an angle as described above. Note that the display device that emits the display light L is not limited to the LCD 11. The display device may also use an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes), a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device), an LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon), or the like. Even in such a case, the display surface A can be set at an angle as described above by tilting the device display surface of the display device (the screen in the case of using a DMD or LCOS). Furthermore, the tilt angle of the device display surface or screen of the display device may be adjustable by an actuator, so that the tilt angle of the display surface A can be adjusted as needed.

[0025] 3, any portion between the display surface A where the virtual image V is formed and the eye box E is defined as the virtual image display unit 10a. This is because the virtual image V is displayed when the user 4 focuses their line of sight on the virtual image display unit 10a. Note that hereinafter, the display of the virtual image V by the HUD 10 may be referred to as "displaying an image (virtual image V) on the virtual image display unit 10a."

[0026] 1, the control device 20 includes a control unit 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23. The control device 20 also includes a drive circuit and an input / output circuit for communicating with various systems in the vehicle 1, as components not shown.

[0027] The control unit 21 controls the image display operation of the HUD 10 and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a GDC (Graphics Display Controller) that executes image processing in cooperation with the CPU. The GDC is composed of, for example, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), etc. The configurations of the control device 20 and the control unit 21 are arbitrary as long as they fulfill the functions described below.

[0028] The ROM 22 is configured by, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a flash memory, etc. The ROM 22 stores in advance fixed data such as an operating program for image display control and image part data.

[0029] The RAM 23 is configured by, for example, an SRAM (Static RAM), a DRAM (Dynamic RAM), etc. The ROM 22 and the RAM 23 may be built into the control unit 21.

[0030] The CPU of the control unit 21 cooperates with the GDC to perform display control of the virtual image display unit 10a based on various image data stored in the ROM 22. The GDC determines the control content of the display operation of the virtual image display unit 10a based on a display control command from the CPU. The GDC reads image part data required to configure one screen to be displayed on the virtual image display unit 10a from the ROM 22 and transfers it to the RAM 23. The GDC also uses the RAM 23 to create one screen's worth of picture data based on the image part data and various image data received via communication from outside the display device 100. Then, once the GDC has completed one screen's worth of picture data in the RAM 23, it transfers it to the virtual image display unit 10a in accordance with the image update timing. As a result, the image is displayed on the virtual image display unit 10a.

[0031] Specifically, the image (virtual image V) displayed on the virtual image display unit 10a (display surface A) is configured to include a first content image C1 and a second content image C2 (see FIG. 4). A layer is assigned to each image constituting the virtual image V in advance, and the control unit 21 that controls the display of the images can individually control the display of the images arranged on each layer when superimposing and drawing the images. The layer assigned to either the first content image C1 or the second content image C2 can be determined to be higher as long as it does not impede the visibility of the virtual image V.

[0032] 4, the first content image C1 is displayed on the left side of a virtual line Z that divides the virtual image V displayed on the display surface A into approximately equal parts on the left and right. The first content image C1 can be, for example, a measurement quantity related to the vehicle 1 (vehicle speed, engine RPM, etc.), route guidance information, road guidance information (for example, an image simulating a road sign), etc.

[0033] The second content image C2 is displayed on the right side of a virtual line Z that divides the virtual image V displayed on the display surface A into approximately equal left and right parts in FIG. 4. The second content image C2 can be an image for informing the driver of a warning object located ahead of the vehicle 1. The second content image C2 here is configured to be able to display either a normal image P1, which is the image that is originally (finally) desired to be displayed, or a non-normal image P2, which has a display mode different from that of the normal image P1. In other words, the virtual image display unit 10a (display surface A) is configured to be able to display, as an image (second content image C2), either a normal image P1 or a non-normal image P2 that is a part of the normal image P1.

[0034] 1, the control unit 21 communicates with other components (e.g., the vehicle information processing unit 200) within the vehicle 1. For this communication, a communication method such as CAN (Controller Area Network), Ethernet, MOST, or LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) can be applied.

[0035] The vehicle information processing unit 200 is configured to include an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that analyzes information about the vehicle 1 itself and controls the operation of each part of the vehicle 1, a surrounding information acquisition unit that acquires information about the surroundings (outside) of the vehicle 1, a forward object detection unit that detects objects in front of the vehicle 1, a car navigation device, etc.

[0036] The surrounding information acquisition unit is composed of various modules that enable communication between the vehicle 1 and a wireless network (V2N: Vehicle To Cellular Network), communication between the vehicle 1 and other vehicles (V2V: Vehicle To Vehicle), communication between the vehicle 1 and pedestrians (V2P: Vehicle To Pedestrian), and communication between the vehicle 1 and roadside infrastructure (V2I: Vehicle To Roadside Infrastructure). In other words, the surrounding information acquisition unit enables communication between the vehicle 1 and the outside of the vehicle 1 by V2X (Vehicle To Everything).

[0037] The forward object detection unit is composed of, for example, a stereo camera that captures the scenery in front of vehicle 1, a ranging sensor consisting of LIDAR (Laser Imaging Detection And Ranging) that measures the distance from vehicle 1 to an object located in front of vehicle 1, a sonar, ultrasonic sensor, millimeter wave radar, etc. that detects an object located in front of vehicle 1.

[0038] The car navigation device has a GPS controller that calculates the position of the vehicle 1 based on GPS (Global Positioning System) signals received from artificial satellites, etc., and a storage unit that stores map data. Based on the position information from the GPS controller, the car navigation device reads map data for the vicinity of the current position from the storage unit and determines a guide route to the destination set by the user 4. The car navigation device outputs route guidance information regarding the current position of the vehicle 1 and the determined guide route to the control unit 21.

[0039] For example, the control unit 21 can display a first content image C1 for notifying the aforementioned measurement amount based on information from the ECU. Also, the control unit 21 can display a first content image C1 for notifying the aforementioned route guidance information or road guidance information based on information from the surrounding information acquisition unit or the car navigation device. In this example, it is assumed that route guidance information is applied as the first content image C1 as shown in FIG. 4. Also, the control unit 21 can display a second content image C2 for notifying the aforementioned warning object ahead based on information from the forward object detection unit.

[0040] Hereinafter, a display example of the second content image C2 displayed in the display area of ​​the virtual image display unit 10a (display surface A) when the vehicle 1 is traveling on a highway will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Here, in FIG. 4, reference symbol T1 denotes a first display area that is located at the top (farthest from the user 4) of the display area of ​​the virtual image display unit 10a (display surface A) where the second content image C2 is displayed. Also, in FIG. 4, reference symbol T2 denotes a second display area that is located slightly below the first display area T1 (slightly closer to the user 4 than the first display area T1) of the display area of ​​the virtual image display unit 10a (display surface A) where the second content image C2 is displayed. Also, in FIG. 4, reference symbol T3 denotes a third display area that is located slightly below the second display area T2 (closest to the user 4) of the display area of ​​the virtual image display unit 10a (display surface A) where the second content image C2 is displayed. The first display area T1 corresponds to a first portion of the display surface A described in the claims below.

[0041] Based on information from the forward object detection unit, the control unit 21 controls the display of an image so that a non-regular image P2, which is an image for notifying a driver of a warning object ahead, is displayed in the first display area T1. The non-regular image P2 is an initial state image (notice image) for notifying the driver that a normal image P1 will be displayed on the virtual image display unit 10a (display surface A) as shown in Fig. 4(a), and here shows an example in which an attention drawing mark is applied to draw attention.

[0042] Additionally, a substantially rectangular frame-shaped contour line L2 is displayed around the non-regular image P2 so as to surround the non-regular image P2 on all four sides. The contour line L2 is composed of an upper contour line L2a, a lower contour line L2b, a left contour line L2c, and a right contour line L2d. Furthermore, the non-regular image P2 surrounded by the contour line L2 in this manner appears as if it is standing along the vertical direction of the vehicle 1 when viewed from the user 4 side.

[0043] Then, when a predetermined time (e.g., several seconds) has elapsed since the non-regular image P2 was displayed in the first display area T1, the control unit 21 controls the image display so that the normal image P1, which is the image originally intended to be displayed, is displayed in the first display area T1, the second display area T2, and the third display area T3 instead of the non-regular image P2. In other words, the control unit 21 controls the image display so that the non-regular image P2 is displayed on the virtual image display unit 10a (display surface A) before the normal image P1 is displayed on the virtual image display unit 10a (display surface A).

[0044] The normal image P1 here is composed of the above-mentioned attention-calling mark and attention-calling text display, and warns that another vehicle is about to change lanes ahead of the vehicle 1. The attention-calling mark and attention-calling text display are displayed side by side one above the other. For example, in the example of Fig. 4, the attention-calling text display "CAUTION" is displayed below the attention-calling mark.

[0045] A substantially rectangular outline L1 is displayed around the normal image P1, surrounding it on all four sides. The outline L1 is composed of an upper outline L1a, a lower outline L1b, a left outline L1c, and a right outline L1d, and corresponds to a predetermined boundary described in the claims below. The normal image P1, surrounded by the outline L1, appears to be standing vertically along the vehicle 1 when viewed from the user 4. Considering the size of the normal image P1 including the outline L1 and the size of the irregular image P2 including the outline L2, the size (display area) of the irregular image P2 is smaller than the size (display area) of the normal image P1. Furthermore, in this case, the width of the irregular image P2 along the upper outline L2a and the lower outline L2b is equal to the width of the normal image P1 along the upper outline L1a and the lower outline L1b.

[0046] As described above, in this embodiment, the display surface A is set at a forward tilt relative to the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the display surface A is configured to be able to display either a normal image P1 or a non-normal image P2 having a display mode different from that of the normal image P1, and the control unit 21 controls the display of the image so that the non-normal image P2 is displayed on the display surface A before the normal image P1 surrounded by the contour line L1 is displayed on the display surface A.

[0047] Therefore, since the normal image P1, which is the image that is originally intended to be displayed, is displayed (preview display) after a predetermined time has elapsed since the non-normal image P2 is displayed on the display surface A, there is an advantage that a creative approach can be taken when displaying an image on the display surface A, and a visual dramatic effect can be obtained. Furthermore, there is an advantage that the non-normal image P2 and the normal image P1 are displayed in stages on the display surface A, which can impart a sense of distance to the displayed information and can realize an expression that makes use of the sense of depth of the virtual image display unit 10a.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and drawings, and modifications (including the omission of components) can be made as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

[0049] For example, in the above-described embodiment, when the vehicle 1 is traveling on a highway, the non-regular image P2 is displayed in the first location, the first display area T1. However, taking into account the state of the vehicle, the non-regular image P2 may be displayed in the second display area T2 or the third display area T3 instead of the first display area T1.

[0050] Specifically, for example, as a first modified example of the present embodiment, when the vehicle 1 is traveling in an urban area, the non-regular image P2 may be displayed in the second display area T2 as shown in Fig. 5. Even in this case, the display will be switched to the state of Fig. 4(b) after a predetermined time (several seconds) has elapsed since the non-regular image P2 was displayed in the second display area T2.

[0051] Furthermore, as a second modified example of this embodiment, when the vehicle 1 is traveling in a residential area as shown in FIG. 6, the non-regular image P2 may be displayed in the third display area T3. Even in this case, the display will switch to the state shown in FIG. 4(b) after a predetermined time (several seconds) has elapsed since the non-regular image P2 was displayed in the third display area T3. In short, the non-regular image P2 may be displayed in either the first display area T1 on the display surface A, which is located above the vehicle in the vertical direction, or the second display area T2 (or the third display area T3), which is located below the first display area T1. The second display area T2 or the third display area T3 corresponds to the second location on the display surface A described in the claims below.

[0052] In the above-described embodiment and the first and second modified examples, the control unit 21 controls the image display so that the normal image P1 is displayed on the virtual image display unit 10a (display surface A) after a predetermined time has elapsed since the non-normal image P2 was displayed in one of the display areas T1 to T3. However, the display switching from the non-normal image P2 to the normal image P1 may be performed by an animation operation (not shown). That is, in this case, the control unit 21 controls the image display so as to switch the non-normal image P2 displayed in one of the display areas T1 to T3 to the normal image P1 by the animation operation. For example, an example of the animation operation may be a dynamic operation in which the lengths of the left contour line L2c and the right contour line L2d of the non-normal image P2 gradually increase over time, eventually reaching the lengths of the left contour line L1c and the right contour line L1d of the normal image P1.

[0053] In the above-described embodiment and the first and second modified examples, the control unit 21 controls the display of the image to display the irregular image P2 in one of the display areas T1 to T3 based on the state of the vehicle 1. However, the irregular image P2 may be displayed in one of the display areas T1 to T3 based on the state of the user 4 (such as the line of sight of the user 4) rather than the state of the vehicle 1. Furthermore, the state of the vehicle 1 is not limited to the vehicle state of the vehicle 1 traveling on a highway, in an urban area, or in a residential area, as described above. For example, the state of the vehicle 1 here also includes the traveling speed of the vehicle 1 and the state of other vehicles traveling around (for example, behind) the vehicle 1.

[0054] In the above-described embodiment, the width dimension of the irregular image P2 along the upper contour line L2a and the lower contour line L2b is equal to the width dimension of the irregular image P1 along the upper contour line L1a and the lower contour line L1b. However, as a third modification of this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 7, the display width Y2 of the irregular image P2 along the upper contour line L2a and the lower contour line L2b may be made shorter than the display width Y1 of the irregular image P1 along the upper contour line L1a and the lower contour line L1b, thereby giving the irregular image P2 a sense of depth. In other words, in this case, the control unit 21 controls the display of the irregular image P2 in the first display area T1 such that the display width Y2 of the irregular image P2 along the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction is narrower than the display width Y1 of the regular image P1 along the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction.

[0055] In the above-described embodiment, the hue of the non-regular image P2 (background part of the non-regular image P2) surrounded by the contour line L2 may be lighter than the hue of the regular image P1 (background part of the regular image P1) surrounded by the contour line L1, thereby giving the non-regular image P2 a sense of depth. That is, in this case, the control unit 21 controls the image display so that the non-regular image P2 is displayed in the first display area T1 in a state in which the hue of the non-regular image P2 is different from the hue of the regular image P1. Furthermore, brightness may be applied instead of hue. For example, the brightness of the non-regular image P2 (background part of the non-regular image P2) surrounded by the contour line L2 may be lower than the brightness of the regular image P1 (background part of the regular image P1) surrounded by the contour line L1, thereby giving the non-regular image P2 a sense of depth. That is, at this time, the control unit 21 performs image display control so that the non-regular image P2 is displayed in the first display area T1 in a state where the luminance of the non-regular image P2 is different from the luminance of the regular image P1.

[0056] In the above-described embodiment, the irregular image P2 is surrounded by an upper contour line L2a, a lower contour line L2b, a left contour line L2c, and a right contour line L2d, and the regular image P1 is surrounded by an upper contour line L1a, a lower contour line L1b, a left contour line L1c, and a right contour line L1d. However, for example, the irregular image P2 may be surrounded by a contour line L2 in which the left contour line L2c and the right contour line L2d are partially interrupted, or the regular image P1 may be surrounded by a contour line L1 in which the left contour line L1c and the right contour line L1d are partially interrupted.

[0057] In addition, the manner of the animation operation in which the non-regular image P2 switches to the regular image P1 may be changed depending on the position where the non-regular image P2 is placed. Specifically, the small-sized non-regular image P2 changes into the large-sized regular image P1 by moving part of the outline L2 in a predetermined deformation direction M.

[0058] The non-regular image P2 is displayed at least at one of a first location T1 on the display surface A, which is on the upper side in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1, a second location T2 on the display surface A, which is below the first location T1, and a third location T3 on the display surface A, which is below the second location T2. ​​The control unit 21 switches the non-regular image P2 displayed at the first location T1 to the regular image P1 by a first animation operation in which the lower contour line L2b of the contour portion L2 expands downward M1 (an example of the deformation direction M), as shown in Fig. 8. Furthermore, the control unit 21 switches the non-regular image P2 displayed at the second location T2 to the regular image P1 by a second animation operation in which the upper contour line L2a of the contour portion L2 expands upward M2a (an example of the deformation direction M) and the lower contour line L2b expands downward M2b (an example of the deformation direction M), as shown in Fig. 9. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10, the control unit 21 switches the non-regular image P2 displayed at the third location T3 to a regular image by a third animation operation in which the upper contour line L2a of the contour portion L2 expands upward M3 (an example of the deformation direction M).

[0059] Note that any of the first location T1, the second location T2, and the second location T3 may be omitted. That is, the control unit 21 switches the irregular image P2 displayed in the first location (T1 or T2) to the regular image P1 by a first animation operation (the change direction M is downward M1 when T1, and upward M2a and downward M2b when T2) in which the lower contour line L2 of the contour portion L2 extends at least downward, and switches the irregular image P2 displayed in the second location (T2 or T3 when T1 is omitted, and T3 when T2 is omitted) to the regular image P1 by a second animation operation (the change direction M is upward M3 when T3, and upward M2a and downward M2b when T2) different from the first animation operation in which the upper contour line L2a of the contour portion L2 extends at least upward. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1 vehicle 2. Dashboard 3. Windshield (translucent material) 4. User (viewer) 10 Head-up display device (HUD) 20 Control device 21 Control Unit 100 display device 200 Vehicle information processing unit A Display surface C1 First content image C2 Secondary content image L display light L1 Boundary line (predetermined boundary) L2 border P1 Regular Image P2 Non-official image T1 First display area (first location) T2 Second display area (second location) T3 Third display area (second location) V Virtual Image

Claims

1. A head-up display device is mounted on a vehicle and projects display light representing an image onto a translucent member to display the image as a virtual image on a display surface set in front of the translucent member, a control unit that controls display of the image, the display surface is set to be inclined forward with respect to the up-down direction of the vehicle, The display surface is configured to be able to display, as the image, either a regular image or a non-regular image having a display mode different from that of the regular image, the control unit controls the display of the image so as to display the irregular image on the display surface before displaying the regular image surrounded by a predetermined outline portion on the display surface; The irregular image is displayed at either a first location on the display surface that is an upper side in the vertical direction of the vehicle or a second location on the display surface that is lower than the first location, The control unit controls the display of the image so that the irregular image is displayed in either the first location or the second location based on the state of a viewer viewing the image.

2. 2. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein the irregular image is a preview image that notifies the user in advance that the regular image will be displayed on the display screen.

3. 3. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein a display area of ​​the non-regular image is smaller than a display area of ​​the regular image.

4. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the display of the image so as to switch the non-regular image displayed in the first location or the second location to the regular image by an animation operation.

5. 5. The head-up display device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit switches the irregular image displayed at the first location to the regular image by a first animation operation in which a lower contour line of the contour portion extends at least downward, and switches the irregular image displayed at the second location to the regular image by a second animation operation different from the first animation operation in which an upper contour line of the contour portion extends at least upward.

6. The irregular image is displayed at any one of the first location, the second location, and a third location on the display surface that is below the second location, 2. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit switches the irregular image displayed at the first location to the regular image by a first animation action in which a lower contour line of the contour portion expands downward, switches the irregular image displayed at the second location to the regular image by a second animation action in which an upper contour line of the contour portion expands upward and the lower contour line expands downward, and switches the irregular image displayed at the third location to the regular image by a third animation action in which an upper contour line of the contour portion expands upward.

7. 2. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the display of the image so that the irregular image is displayed in the first location in a state in which the hue of the irregular image is different from the hue of the regular image, the luminance of the irregular image is different from the luminance of the regular image, or the display width of the irregular image in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction is narrower than the display width of the regular image in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction.

Citation Information

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