Vehicle display device

Abstract

To achieve both of a function of drawing notification display when the notification display should be drawn and reduction of inconvenience of drawing the notification display when there is no need to draw the notification display in a display device for vehicle which draws the notification display on a road surface with light.SOLUTION: A vehicle 10 includes a function which draws notification display 20 on a road surface with light. When a shift position of the vehicle 10 is a P range and a switch of turning off drawing is selected, turn-off of drawing of the notification display 20 is permitted. As a different condition, when there is no approaching object in a periphery of the vehicle 10 in a case where the vehicle 10 moves backward and the switch of turning off drawing is selected, turn-off of drawing of the notification display 20 is permitted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle display device mounted on a vehicle and configured to draw a notification display on a road surface with light.

Background Art

[0002] A vehicle display device that draws a notification display (such as characters, figures, etc.) on a road surface with light is known. By drawing a notification display on the road surface, for example, the presence of a vehicle can be notified to other road users (pedestrians, other vehicles, etc.).

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle display device having a function for a driver to turn off the drawing of a notification display.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] According to the vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1, when a driver turns off the drawing of a notification display, the nuisance of the notification display being drawn when it is not necessary (for example, when there is no situation where the notification display needs to be notified to other road users, or when the driver does not want the notification display to be drawn) can be eliminated.

[0006] However, in the vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1, when a driver turns off the drawing of a notification display, the notification display will not be drawn under any circumstances. Therefore, there is a possibility that the merit of mounting the vehicle display device on a vehicle cannot be obtained. For example, in a situation where it is necessary to notify the presence of a vehicle to other road users, the notification cannot be made.

[0007] The purpose of this disclosure is to achieve both the ability to draw notification displays on the road surface using light, when necessary, and the reduction of the inconvenience caused by drawing notification displays when they are not necessary, in a vehicle display device that draws notification displays on the road surface using light. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure is a vehicle display device comprising: a road surface drawing unit mounted on a vehicle and drawing a notification display on the road surface with light; and a control unit that permits the turning off of the drawing when the vehicle's shift position is in the P range and a switch to turn off the drawing is selected, or when the vehicle is reversing and there are no approaching objects around the vehicle and a switch to turn off the drawing is selected.

[0009] When the vehicle's shift lever is in the P (Park) position, or when the vehicle is reversing and there are no approaching objects around the vehicle, the need for a warning display is low, and therefore the need to display the warning display is low. Therefore, by allowing the display to be turned off in either of the above cases, the annoyance of the warning display being displayed when it is not necessary can be reduced. Furthermore, simply selecting the switch to turn off the display does not turn off the warning display. This allows the warning display to be displayed when it is necessary. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The vehicle display device described herein, which displays a notification on the road surface using light, can achieve both the ability to display a notification when necessary and the reduction of the inconvenience caused by displaying a notification when it is not necessary. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This diagram shows the notification displays in the four directions (left, right, and right) when viewed from above the vehicle. [Figure 2]This is the Block Table for Vehicle Display Devices. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a notification display is drawn on the road surface. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which the drawing is turned off according to the first light-off condition. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a notification display is drawn on the road surface. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which the drawing is turned off according to the second light-off condition. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Referring to Figure 1, a vehicle equipped with a vehicle display device according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a view of the vehicle from above. Vehicle 10 is an automobile.

[0013] The front of the vehicle 10 is equipped with a pair of headlights 12R and 12L, and the rear of the vehicle 10 is equipped with a pair of rear combination lamps 14R and 14L.

[0014] The headlight 12R is equipped with a vehicle display device 16FR. The vehicle display device 16FR is a device that projects light onto the road surface in front of the vehicle or onto the road surface to the front right. The headlight 12L is equipped with a vehicle display device 16FL. The vehicle display device 16FL is a device that projects light onto the road surface in front of the vehicle or onto the road surface to the front left.

[0015] The rear combination lamp 14R is equipped with a vehicle display device 16RR. The vehicle display device 16RR is a device that projects light onto the road surface behind the vehicle or onto the road surface to the rear right. The rear combination lamp 14L is equipped with a vehicle display device 16RL. The vehicle display device 16RL is a device that projects light onto the road surface behind the vehicle or onto the road surface to the rear left.

[0016] Hereafter, unless it is necessary to distinguish between the vehicle display devices 16FR, 16FL, 16RR, and 16RL, they will be referred to as "vehicle display device 16".

[0017] The vehicle display device 16 draws the notification display 20 on the road surface by irradiating the road surface with light. The notification display 20 is constituted by, for example, marks 20a, 20b, 20c arranged in a line. The marks 20a, 20b, 20c each have the shape of the tip of an arrow. The shape of each mark shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and each mark may have a shape other than the illustrated shape. Also, the number of marks is merely an example, and the notification display 20 may be constituted by one or a plurality of marks.

[0018] Hereinafter, the configuration of the vehicle display device 16 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle display device 16.

[0019] The vehicle display device 16 includes a road surface drawing unit 22 and a control unit 24. The start switch sensor 26, the shift sensor 28, the brake sensor 30, the steering angle sensor 32, the speed sensor 34, the position information acquisition unit 36, the radar sensor 38, the direction indicator sensor 40, the imaging unit 42, and the drawing off switch 44 are provided on the vehicle 10 and output signals to the control unit 24.

[0020] The road surface drawing unit 22 includes a light source 22a and an optical deflection device 22b, and draws the notification display 20 on the road surface by irradiating the road surface with the light from the light source 22a. The road surface drawing unit 22 can change the brightness, color, shape, irradiation position, and irradiation range of the irradiated light.

[0021] As the light source 22a, for example, a semiconductor light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode), an LD (Laser Diode), an EL (Electro Luminescence) element, a light bulb, a halogen lamp, or an incandescent lamp is used.

[0022] The light deflection device 22b directs the light from the light source 22a out of the vehicle display device 16. As the light deflection device 22b, for example, a DMD (Digital Mirror Device), optical MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems), polygon mirror, or DLP (registered trademark) can be used.

[0023] The road surface drawing unit 22 is configured to swing using a motor or the like. The road surface drawing unit 22 of the vehicle display devices 16FR and 16FL is controlled by the control unit 24 to tilt up, down, left, and right, and can switch the direction of light illumination on the road surface to the front or diagonally front of the vehicle 10. The road surface drawing unit 22 of the vehicle display devices 16RR and 16RL is controlled by the control unit 24 to tilt up, down, left, and right, and can switch the direction of light illumination on the road surface to the rear or diagonally rear of the vehicle 10.

[0024] The control unit 24 controls the drawing of the notification display 20 by the road surface drawing unit 22. For example, the control unit 24 determines whether or not to draw the notification display 20 based on the output from at least one of the following: start switch sensor 26, shift sensor 28, brake sensor 30, steering angle sensor 32, speed sensor 34, position information acquisition unit 36, radar sensor 38, turn signal sensor 40, and imaging unit 42. If drawing is necessary, the control unit 24 causes the road surface drawing unit 22 to draw the notification display 20; if drawing is unnecessary, it does not cause the road surface drawing unit 22 to draw the notification display 20.

[0025] The start switch sensor 26 detects whether the vehicle 10's start switch (e.g., ignition switch or start switch) is on or off, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 24.

[0026] The shift sensor 28 detects whether the position of the vehicle 10's shift lever (shift position) is in the D range (drive range) (forward position), R range (reverse range) (reverse position), or P range (parking range), and outputs the detection result to the control unit 24.

[0027] The brake sensor 30 detects whether the vehicle 10's brakes (e.g., foot brake, hand brake, or automatic brake in an autonomous driving system) are on (braking state) or off (release state), and outputs the detection result to the control unit 24.

[0028] The steering angle sensor 32 detects whether the vehicle 10 is moving straight, turning right, or turning left, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 24. For example, using the steering angle of the steering wheel when the vehicle 10 is moving straight as a reference, the steering angle when turning right is defined as a positive angle, and the steering angle when turning left is defined as a negative angle. The steering angle sensor 32 detects a positive steering angle as the vehicle 10 turning right, and a negative steering angle as the vehicle 10 turning left.

[0029] The speed sensor 34 detects the speed of the vehicle 10 and outputs the detection result to the control unit 24. The speed sensor 34 also detects the acceleration of the vehicle 10 (for example, acceleration G during acceleration and deceleration G during deceleration) and outputs the detection result to the control unit 24.

[0030] The location information acquisition unit 36 ​​acquires the location information of the vehicle 10 using a satellite positioning system such as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) or GPS (Global Positioning System), and outputs that location information to the control unit 24.

[0031] The radar sensor 38 is a microwave radar sensor or a millimeter-wave radar sensor, and for example, it detects objects (other vehicles, people, animals, and other obstacles) located in front of, to the side of, and behind the vehicle 10, and outputs the detection results to the control unit 24.

[0032] The turn signal sensor 40 detects whether the turn signal switch mounted on the vehicle 10 is on or off, and outputs the detection result to the control unit 24.

[0033] The imaging unit 42 includes an in-vehicle camera 42a and an image processing device 42b, and generates images (e.g., moving images or still images) by capturing images with the in-vehicle camera 42a.

[0034] As shown in Figure 1, the on-board camera 42a is, for example, mounted on the upper part of the windshield 18 to photograph the area in front of the vehicle 10. This arrangement is merely an example; the on-board camera 42a may be built into the headlights 12R, 12L, or mounted on the upper surface of the roof of the vehicle 10, the hood, or the door mirrors. Additionally, on-board cameras for photographing the sides of the vehicle 10 and cameras for photographing the rear of the vehicle 10 may be mounted on the upper surface of the roof of the vehicle 10, the hood, or the door mirrors. On-board cameras may also be mounted in the rear combination lamps 14R, 14L.

[0035] The image processing device 42b analyzes the image generated by the on-board camera and outputs the analysis results to the control unit 24. For example, by analyzing the image, the image processing device 42b detects objects (other vehicles, people, animals, signs, and other obstacles) represented in the image and outputs the detection results to the control unit 24.

[0036] The control unit 24 may acquire images generated by road surveillance cameras via a communication path such as the Internet.

[0037] The drawing off switch 44 is a switch for turning off the drawing function of the road surface drawing unit 22. When the drawing off switch 44 is turned on, an instruction is given to turn off the drawing function. The drawing off switch 44 may be a physical switch located inside the vehicle, or it may be a software switch displayed on a screen located inside the vehicle.

[0038] In this embodiment, simply turning on the drawing off switch 44 does not turn off the drawing function of the road surface drawing unit 22. The control unit 24 permits the turning off of the drawing by the road surface drawing unit 22 when either of the first or second off conditions described below is met.

[0039] The first condition for turning off the lights is that the shift position of the vehicle 10 is in the P range and the switch to turn off the drawing by the road surface drawing unit 22 is selected. In other words, if the shift position of the vehicle 10 is in the P range and the switch to turn off the drawing by the road surface drawing unit 22 is selected, the control unit 24 permits the turning off of the drawing by the road surface drawing unit 22. In this case, the control unit 24 outputs a signal to turn off the lights to the road surface drawing unit 22, and the road surface drawing unit 22 turns off the notification display 20. The shift position being in the P range means that the state of the vehicle 10 is in the parking state. The switch to turn off the drawing by the road surface drawing unit 22 is selected means that the drawing off switch 44 is turned on.

[0040] The second condition for turning off the lights is that when the vehicle 10 is reversing, there are no objects approaching the vehicle 10, and the switch to turn off the drawing by the road surface drawing unit 22 is selected. In other words, when the vehicle 10 is reversing, there are no objects approaching the vehicle 10, and the switch to turn off the drawing by the road surface drawing unit 22 is selected, the control unit 24 permits the road surface drawing unit 22 to turn off the lights. As a result, the road surface drawing unit 22 turns off the notification display 20.

[0041] The area surrounding vehicle 10 is defined as the range within a predetermined distance from the position of vehicle 10. The control unit 24 determines whether or not there are approaching objects in the vicinity of vehicle 10 based on the detection results of the radar sensor 38 and the image processing device 42b. Approaching objects include pedestrians, vehicles, etc., that are approaching vehicle 10 in the vicinity of vehicle 10.

[0042] The situations in which the first or second light-off condition is met correspond to situations in which it is not necessary to display the notification display 20. For example, when the shift position is in the P range, the vehicle 10 is stopped, so there is little need to display the notification display 20. Therefore, when the first light-off condition is met, the control unit 24 permits the notification display 20 to turn off. Also, when the vehicle 10 is reversing and there are no approaching objects around the vehicle 10, there is little need to draw a warning, so there is little need to display the notification display 20. Therefore, when the second light-off condition is met, the control unit 24 permits the notification display 20 to turn off.

[0043] If neither the first nor the second light-off condition is met, the control unit 24 causes the road surface drawing unit 22 to draw a notification display when the turn signal switch or hazard switch is pressed, or when the reverse range is selected, etc.

[0044] The control of drawing according to the first light-off condition will be explained below with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a notification display is drawn on the road surface. Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which the drawing is turned off according to the first light-off condition.

[0045] In the example shown in Figure 3, the drawing off switch 44 is turned on. For example, the driver turns on the drawing off switch 44. Also, the shift position is in the D range. Even if the drawing off switch 44 is turned on, if the shift position is in the D range, the first light-off condition is not met. In this case, the control unit 24 does not permit the road surface drawing unit 22 to turn off the drawing.

[0046] For example, the control unit 24 determines whether or not to draw the notification display 20 based on the output from at least one of the following: the start switch sensor 26, the shift sensor 28, the brake sensor 30, the steering angle sensor 32, the speed sensor 34, the position information acquisition unit 36, the radar sensor 38, the turn signal sensor 40, and the imaging unit 42. Based on the result of this determination, the control unit 24 controls the drawing of the notification display 20 by the road surface drawing unit 22. For example, if the driver selects the turn signal switch, hazard switch, or reverse range, the control unit 24 determines that it is necessary to draw the notification display 20 and causes the road surface drawing unit 22 to draw the notification display 20.

[0047] In the example shown in Figure 4, the drawing off switch 44 is turned on, and the shift position is in the P range. Since the first light-off condition is met, the control unit 24 turns off the drawing of the notification display 20 by the road surface drawing unit 22. In the example shown in Figure 4, the hazard lamp 46 is illuminated.

[0048] The control of drawing according to the second light-off condition will be explained below with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which a notification display is drawn on the road surface. Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment in which the drawing is turned off according to the second light-off condition.

[0049] In the example shown in Figure 5, the drawing off switch 44 is turned on, and the vehicle 10 is moving backward. Also, an approaching object (for example, a pedestrian 48 approaching the vehicle 10) is detected in the vicinity of the vehicle 10. In this case, even though the drawing off switch 44 is turned on, the second light-off condition is not met, so the control unit 24 does not permit the road surface drawing unit 22 to turn off the drawing. In the example shown in Figure 5, the control unit 24 determines that it is necessary to draw the notification display 20 and causes the road surface drawing unit 22 to draw the notification display 20.

[0050] In the example shown in Figure 6, the drawing off switch 44 is turned on, and there are no approaching objects around the vehicle 10. Since the second light-off condition is met, the control unit 24 turns off the drawing of the notification display 20 by the road surface drawing unit 22.

[0051] According to the vehicle display device 16 of this embodiment, even when the drawing off switch 44 is turned on, if neither the first off condition nor the second off condition is met, the drawing of the notification display 20 is not permitted to be turned off. Therefore, the notification display 20 can be drawn when it should be drawn, such as when a warning is needed. Also, if either the first off condition or the second off condition is met, the need to draw the notification display 20 is low, so the drawing of the notification display 20 is permitted. This reduces the inconvenience of the notification display 20 being drawn when it is not necessary.

[0052] Vehicle 10 may be a vehicle equipped with autonomous driving technology. Autonomous driving technology includes technologies that assist the driver, technologies that partially automate driving, technologies that conditionally automate driving, or technologies that fully automate driving.

[0053] For example, if the autonomous driving function is turned off (i.e., the driving mode of the vehicle 10 is in non-autonomous driving mode), the notification display 20 is permitted to be turned off if either the first or second deactivation condition is met.

[0054] The control unit 24 can be implemented using hardware resources such as a processor or electronic circuits, and devices such as memory may be used as needed in its implementation. The control unit 24 may also be implemented by a computer. In other words, all or part of the control unit 24 may be implemented through the cooperation of hardware resources such as the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory of a computer, and software (programs) that define the operation of the CPU, etc. As another example, the control unit 24 may be implemented by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0055] 10 Vehicle, 12R, 12L headlights, 14R, 14L rear combination lamps, 16FR, 16FL, 16RR, 16RL vehicle display device, 20 notification display, 22 road surface drawing unit, 24 control unit.

Claims

[Claim 1] A road surface drawing unit mounted on the vehicle that draws notification displays on the road surface using light, A control unit that permits the turning off of the display when either the vehicle's shift position is in the P range and the switch to turn off the display is selected, or when the vehicle is reversing and there are no approaching objects around the vehicle and the switch to turn off the display is selected, A vehicle display device characterized by having the following features.

Images