Display method and display system

Abstract

A controller (50) displays information on a display (20) fixed to a central portion of a steering wheel (1) that steers a steered wheel of a vehicle. The controller (50) determines whether or not the driver is gripping the steering wheel (1). When it is determined that the driver is not gripping the steering wheel (1), the controller (50) displays the information in a state in which the information does not rotate in association with the rotation angle of the steering wheel (1).

Description

Display method and display system

[0001] The present invention relates to a display method and a display system.

[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses a vehicle control device that can determine whether a driver can manually drive a vehicle while the vehicle is in automatic driving mode. The vehicle control device includes a liquid crystal monitor and a control unit. If the driver's grip position of the grip part does not change after a predetermined time has elapsed, a display provided on the steering wheel instructs the driver to make a contact action with the steering wheel within a specified time.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-040587

[0004] However, when the steering wheel rotates, the display also rotates, which can make it difficult for the driver to see the information displayed on the display depending on the driver's driving conditions.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a display method and a display system that can display information in an optimal manner according to the driving situation of the driver.

[0006] A display method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method of displaying information on a display provided on a steering wheel, and when the driver is not holding the steering wheel, the information is displayed in a state that does not rotate in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering wheel.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, information can be displayed in an optimal manner according to the driving situation of the driver.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a display system according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of information displayed on a display. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a display method. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating information displayed in a fixed coordinate system when the steering wheel is in a neutral position. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating information displayed in a fixed coordinate system when the steering wheel has been rotated from the neutral position. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating information displayed in a rotating coordinate system when the steering wheel is in a neutral position. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating information displayed in a rotating coordinate system when the steering wheel has been rotated from the neutral position. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the state of the driver's hands gripping the steering wheel. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating learning of a dead zone area. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating switching from an interlocking display mode to a fixed display mode. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating switching from an interlocking display mode to a fixed display mode. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating switching from an interlocking display mode to a fixed display mode. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display mode related to a parking assistance function. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a display mode related to a parking assistance function.

[0009] A steering wheel 1 mounted on a vehicle will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The steering wheel 1 is an operating unit for steering the steered wheels, and is gripped by the driver.

[0010] The steering wheel 1 is provided in the driver's seat of the vehicle and is positioned opposite the seat on which the driver sits. The steering wheel 1 is connected to a steering shaft (not shown) and is configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis 1a (steering shaft). When the driver turns the steering wheel 1, the driver's operating force is transmitted to the steered wheels via the steering mechanism. The steering mechanism may be of a type in which the steering wheel 1 is mechanically connected to a drive mechanism that drives the steered wheels, or of a steer-by-wire type in which the drive mechanism and the steering wheel 1 are mechanically separated.

[0011] The steering wheel 1 includes a wheel body 2, a boss portion 3, and a display 20.

[0012] The wheel body 2 is an annular member that is gripped by the driver. The wheel body 2 is arranged concentrically around the rotation axis 1a. The boss portion 3 is connected to the steering shaft. An airbag module is attached to the boss portion 3. The boss portion 3 also functions as a horn switch that the driver presses to sound the horn.

[0013] The display 20 is a display device that displays information necessary for the driver's driving operation. The display 20 has an annular shape and is arranged concentrically around the rotation axis 1a. The display 20 is arranged in a range inside the steering wheel 1 and outside the boss portion 3. The display 20 is integrated with the wheel body 2 and the boss portion 3, and the wheel body 2, display 20, and boss portion 3 rotate together.

[0014] The display 20 is a transparent display that transmits external light while displaying information. An instrument panel is provided behind the steering wheel 1 as seen from the driver, and an instrument unit 100 is provided on the instrument panel. The instrument unit 100 includes instruments such as a speedometer, a tachometer, and a fuel gauge, as well as various warning lights. The driver can view the instrument unit 100 behind the steering wheel 1 through the transparent display 20. Note that the instrument unit 100 is depicted in a simplified form in FIG. 1 .

[0015] The display 20 is a touch panel display equipped with a touch panel through which a user inputs operational instructions. The touch panel detects a touch position on the display 20. The touch panel is, for example, of a capacitance type, but is not limited to this and may be of another type such as a resistive film type.

[0016] The vehicle according to this embodiment has a driving assistance function. The driving assistance function is a function in which a higher-level system (hereinafter referred to as the "assistance system") automatically executes one or more vehicle controls from among a plurality of vehicle controls, such as steering control, braking force control, driving force control, and shift control, thereby assisting the driver in driving operations. The driving assistance function may also be referred to as an automated driving function depending on the level of assistance. The driving assistance function according to this embodiment is a driving assistance function that assists the vehicle in staying within the lane of the road. When the driving assistance function (driving assistance function) is activated and steering control is performed by the assistance system, the driver can take his or her hands off the steering wheel 1. Furthermore, when steering control is performed by the assistance system, the steering wheel 1 also rotates in accordance with the rotation angle of the steered wheels, even if the driver does not operate the steering wheel 1.

[0017] The display system 10 according to this embodiment is composed of the display 20 described above and a controller 50. The controller 50 is composed of a computer having a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, and various interfaces. The CPU reads various computer programs stored in the memory and executes various instructions contained in the programs. By executing the programs, the CPU functions as various information processing circuits. The controller 50 realizes the functions of each information processing circuit using software, but it is also possible to realize those functions using dedicated hardware.

[0018] Various types of information are input to the controller 50. The steering grip signal Ss is a signal indicating the position of the wheel body 2 gripped by the driver. The steering grip signal Ss not only indicates the position when the driver grips the wheel body 2, but also indicates that the driver is gripping the wheel body 2. The steering grip signal Ss is output from a sensor such as a pressure sensor that detects the pressure acting on the wheel body 2 or a capacitance sensor that detects contact with the wheel body 2. The touch signal St is a signal that indicates the touch position on the display 20. The touch signal St is output from the touch panel of the display 20. The steering angle signal Sθ is a signal that indicates the steering angle of the steering wheel 1. The steering angle signal Sθ is output from a sensor that detects the rotation angle of the steering shaft. The driving assistance signal Sp is a signal that indicates whether or not a driving assistance function is operating. The driving assistance signal Sp is output from an assistance system that controls the driving assistance function.

[0019] In this embodiment, the controller 50 displays information on the display 20. The information displayed on the display 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, a reference line 2a shown by a dashed line on the wheel body 2 indicates a reference position on the wheel body 2. The reference line 2a is located directly above the steering wheel 1 when it is in the neutral position (the position shown in FIG. 2). Similarly, a reference line 3a shown by a dashed line on the boss portion 3 indicates a reference position on the boss portion 3. The reference line 3a is located in the vertical direction when the steering wheel 1 is in the neutral position (the position shown in FIG. 2). That is, FIG. 2 shows how information is displayed when the steering wheel 1 is in the neutral position.

[0020] The controller 50 displays the operation information Ic and the notification information Ii on the display 20 .

[0021] The operation information Ic includes one or more pieces of information for the driver to give an operation instruction. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the operation information Ic includes first operation information Ica, second operation information Icb, third operation information Icc, fourth operation information Icd, fifth operation information Ice, and sixth operation information Icf. Each of the operation information Ica, Icb, Icc, Icd, Ice, and Icf includes a symbol, character, or icon indicating each operation.

[0022] The first operation information Ica is information for controlling the volume of a speaker installed in the vehicle, the second operation information Icb is information for performing an operation to return to the previous screen, and the third operation information Icc is information for performing an operation to answer an incoming call and an operation to end a call.

[0023] The fourth operation information Icd is information for changing the set vehicle speed in the driving assistance function, or for resetting the set vehicle speed to the speed before the constant speed control function was cancelled after the constant speed control function was cancelled. The fifth operation information Ice is information for turning the driving assistance function on and off.

[0024] The sixth operation information Icf is information for operating a turn signal. The sixth operation information Icf is displayed on the left and right sides of the rotation axis of the steering wheel 1.

[0025] The notification information Ii is information for notifying the driver of various information. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the notification information Ii is exemplified by information for notifying the driver of information related to the driving assistance function. Specifically, the notification information Ii includes an icon indicating that the driver can release his / her hands from the steering wheel 1, an icon indicating whether a preceding vehicle has been detected, and text indicating the set speed for the driving assistance function.

[0026] The operation information Ic displayed on the display 20 is not limited to the above information, but may include information for operating various devices mounted on the vehicle. The notification information Ii is not limited to the above information, but may include other information related to the driving assistance function. The notification information Ii may include information notifying information related to the vehicle other than the driving assistance function. Furthermore, the content of the operation information Ic and the notification information Ii is dynamically changed depending on the state of the vehicle and the driving situation.

[0027] 3, a display method according to this embodiment, specifically, a method for displaying information on the display 20, will be described. The flowchart shown in FIG.

[0028] In step S10, the controller 50 determines whether the driver is gripping the steering wheel 1. Specifically, the controller 50 refers to the driving assistance signal Sp to determine whether the driving assistance function is in operation. If the driving assistance function is in operation, the controller 50 refers to the steering grip signal Ss to determine whether the driver is gripping the steering wheel 1.

[0029] If the driver is not gripping the steering wheel 1, a negative determination is made in step S10, and the process proceeds to step S11. On the other hand, if the driver is gripping the steering wheel 1, an affirmative determination is made in step S10, and the process proceeds to step S12.

[0030] In step S11, the controller 50 selects the fixed display mode. The fixed display mode is one of the display modes for displaying information on the display 20. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the fixed display mode is a display mode in which information is displayed in a fixed coordinate system X1Y1, in which the coordinate system is fixed regardless of the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1 (i.e., the display 20). A fixed coordinate system means that it does not move regardless of the rotation of the steering wheel 1, and is synonymous with being fixed with respect to the vehicle body. The fixed coordinate system X1Y1 is defined by an X1 axis and a Y1 axis that are orthogonal to each other on a plane including the display 20. The origin of the fixed coordinate system X1Y1 coincides with the rotation axis 1a of the steering wheel 1.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, when the steering wheel 1 is in the neutral position, the reference line 2a of the wheel body 2 and the reference line 3a of the boss portion 3 coincide with the Y1 axis. When the fixed display mode is selected, the controller 50 displays operation information Ic at a predetermined coordinate position according to the fixed coordinate system X1Y1. When the fixed display mode is selected, the driving assistance function is activated, so in the examples shown in Figures 4 and 5, notification information Ii related to the driving assistance function is also displayed on the display 20. Like the operation information Ic, the controller 50 displays the notification information Ii at a predetermined coordinate position according to the fixed coordinate system X1Y1.

[0032] The fixed coordinate system X1Y1 is fixed regardless of the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1. As shown in Fig. 5 , even if the steering wheel 1 is rotated from the neutral position due to steering of the steered wheels by the driving assistance function, the controller 50 maintains the fixed coordinate system X1Y1 in an unrotated state (immobile state) and displays the operation information Ic and the notification information Ii in this fixed coordinate system X1Y1. Therefore, regardless of the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1, the controller 50 displays the operation information Ic and the notification information Ii in the display state (position and orientation) when the steering wheel 1 is in the neutral position. If the same type of operation information Ic and notification information Ii is continuously displayed, the positions and orientations of the operation information Ic and the notification information Ii do not change even if the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1 changes.

[0033] In this way, in the fixed display mode, the operation information Ic and the notification information Ii are displayed in a state that does not rotate according to the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1. The display state of the operation information Ic and the notification information Ii as seen by the driver remains the same regardless of the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1, so the driver can easily visually recognize the operation information Ic and the notification information Ii. In addition, the position of the operation information Ic, i.e., the position of the touch operation, is maintained regardless of the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1, so the driver can easily operate the operation information Ic.

[0034] In step S12, the controller 50 selects the linked display mode. The linked display mode is one of the display modes for displaying information on the display 20. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the linked display mode is a display mode for displaying information in a rotating coordinate system X2Y2 in which the coordinate system rotates in synchronization with the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1. The rotating coordinate system X2Y2 is defined by an X2 axis and a Y2 axis that are orthogonal to each other on a plane including the display 20. The origin of the rotating coordinate system X2Y2 coincides with the rotation axis 1a (not shown) of the steering wheel 1. In the linked display mode, the controller 50 can recognize the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1 by referring to the steering angle signal Sθ.

[0035] As shown in Figure 6, when the steering wheel 1 is in the neutral position, the reference line 2a of the wheel body 2 and the reference line 3a of the boss portion 3 coincide with the Y2 axis. The controller 50 displays the operation information Ic at a predetermined coordinate position in accordance with the rotating coordinate system X2Y2. As described above, when the linked display mode is used, the driving assistance function is not operating. The controller 50 does not display the notification information Ii related to the driving assistance function.

[0036] The rotating coordinate system X2Y2 rotates in synchronization with the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1. As shown in Fig. 7 , when the driver rotates the steering wheel 1 from the neutral position, the controller 50 rotates the rotating coordinate system X2Y2 about the origin in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1, and displays the operation information Ic in the rotated rotating coordinate system X2Y2. That is, the controller 50 performs coordinate transformation in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1, thereby rotating the operation information Ic about the rotation axis 1a by the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1 and displaying it. When the same type of operation information Ic is continuously displayed, the position and orientation of the operation information Ic change in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1.

[0037] In this way, in the linked display mode, the operation information Ic is displayed in a rotated state in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1. When the driver is gripping the steering wheel 1, the position of the driver's hand 200 also moves in accordance with the rotation of the steering wheel 1. At this time, since the operation information Ic rotates in accordance with the movement of the driver's hand 200, the driver does not feel uncomfortable even when the operation information Ic is rotating, and it is easy for the driver to guess the position at which the information is displayed. Therefore, the driver can properly visually recognize the operation information Ic. In addition, since the relative positional relationship between the operation information Ic and the driver's hand 200 is maintained, the driver can operate the operation information Ic on the display 20 without looking at the steering wheel 1.

[0038] 6 and 7 show a form in which notification information Ii related to the driving assistance function is not displayed. However, the controller 50 may display necessary information as notification information Ii. In this case, the display of the notification information Ii is controlled in the same manner as the above-mentioned operation information Ic.

[0039] Drivers hold the steering wheel 1 in various ways. As shown in Figure 8, some drivers hold the steering wheel 1 so that their fingers hang over the display 20. This can cause the driver's fingers to rest on the operation information Ic, resulting in an operation that the driver does not intend. Therefore, the controller 50 learns how the driver holds the steering wheel 1 and performs processing to suppress erroneous operation.

[0040] In step S13 of Fig. 3, the controller 50 learns the grip position based on the steering grip signal Ss and the touch signal St. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 9, the controller 50 detects a grip area Rh of the wheel body 2 held by the driver and a contact area Ra where the driver is touching the touch panel of the display 20. Then, the controller 50 associates the grip area Rh with the contact area Ra and stores the association in a storage area such as a memory.

[0041] In step S14, the controller 50 sets a dead zone on the display 20 where touch operations are invalid. Specifically, the controller 50 recognizes the driver's current grip position relative to the wheel body 2 based on the steering grip signal Ss. The controller 50 then refers to the storage area and reads out the contact area Ra associated with the current grip position. The controller 50 sets the contact area Ra as a dead zone where touch operations are invalid.

[0042] The driving assistance function assumed in this embodiment is a driving assistance function. This driving assistance function has multiple assistance levels, for example, five levels. In level 1 driving assistance, either driving force and braking force control or steering control is performed by the assistance system, thereby automating either accelerator and brake operation or steering operation. Examples of level 1 driving assistance functions include ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) and lane keep assist. ACC is a function that performs constant speed driving at a set speed set by the driver and follows a preceding vehicle while maintaining a predetermined distance from the preceding vehicle. Lane keep assist is a function that assists in maintaining the vehicle in its lane. In level 1 driving assistance, the driver must hold the steering wheel 1 with his / her hands 200. In level 2 driving assistance, both driving force and braking force control and steering control are performed by the assistance system, thereby automating both accelerator and brake operation and steering operation. In level 2 driving assistance, the driver can take his / her hands 200 off the steering wheel 1.

[0043] In level 3 driving assistance, the assistance system takes over all driving operations in limited areas where specific driving environment conditions are met. However, if there is a risk that the assistance system will not function properly while driving assistance is in operation, the driver must still perform driving operations. In level 3 driving assistance, the driver can take their hands 200 off the steering wheel 1 and can take their eyes off the road, etc. In level 4 driving assistance, the assistance system takes over all driving operations in limited areas where specific driving environment conditions are met. In level 5 driving assistance, the assistance system takes over all driving operations. In driving assistance from level 4 onwards, the driver can not only take their hands 200 off the steering wheel 1, but also does not need to think about driving operations.

[0044] In such driving assistance functions, the driver can take his / her hands off the steering wheel 1 at driving assistance level 2 or higher. The controller 50 basically selects the fixed display mode when the driver is not gripping the steering wheel 1, but may switch the information display mode depending on the assistance level of the driving assistance function. Specifically, when a driving assistance function of level 1 is activated, the controller 50 selects the interlocking display mode regardless of whether the driver is gripping the steering wheel 1. On the other hand, when a driving assistance function of level 2 or higher is activated and the driver is not gripping the steering wheel 1, the controller 50 selects the fixed display mode. In this way, the controller 50 may display information in the fixed display mode on the condition that the driving assistance function is level 2 or higher, i.e., driving assistance in which the driver can take his / her hands 200 off the steering wheel 1.

[0045] The level of the driving assistance function is dynamically switched depending on the driving environment, etc. Hereinafter, switching of the display mode will be described using an example in which the driving assistance function is switched from level 1 to level 2. As shown in FIG. 10 , when the driving assistance function is at level 1, the controller 50 displays the operation information Ic in the linked display mode. When the driving assistance function is switched from level 1 to level 2 and the driver releases his or her hands from the steering wheel 1, the controller 50 switches the display mode as follows. First, the controller 50 disables touch operations on the display 20 for a certain period of time. At this time, as shown in FIG. 11 , to indicate that operations on the operation information Ic are disabled, the controller 50 displays the operation information Ic in a display mode different from the normal display mode, for example, grayed out. Then, the controller 50 switches the display mode from the linked display mode to the fixed display mode. As shown in FIG. 12 , the controller 50 enables touch operations on the display 20 and returns the operation information Ic from grayed out to the normal display mode.

[0046] The above description has been given with reference to an example of a situation in which the display mode is switched from the linked display mode to the fixed display mode. However, the above method can also be applied when the display mode is switched from the fixed display mode to the linked display mode. That is, when the display mode is switched from the fixed display mode to the linked display mode, the controller 50 disables touch operations on the display 20 for a certain period of time (transition from FIG. 12 to FIG. 11). Then, after the display mode is switched from the fixed display mode to the linked display mode, the controller 50 enables touch operations on the display 20 (FIG. 10).

[0047] The driving assistance function may be any function that assists the driver in driving, and is not limited to a cruise assistance function. For example, the driving assistance function may be a parking assistance function that assists the driver in parking the vehicle. In this case, similar to the process shown in FIG. 3 , the controller 50 determines whether the parking assistance function is activated. If the parking assistance function is activated and the driver is not gripping the steering wheel 1, the controller 50 selects the fixed display mode. On the other hand, if the parking assistance function is not activated and the driver is gripping the steering wheel 1, the controller 50 selects the linked display mode.

[0048] In such a parking assistance function, the controller 50 basically selects a fixed display mode when the driver is not gripping the steering wheel 1, but may switch the display mode depending on the assistance process performed by the parking assistance function. Specifically, the assistance process performed by the parking assistance function includes a parking position search state, a standby state before parking starts, a driving state during parking control execution, a temporary suspension state of parking control, and a parking completion state. The parking position search state is a state in which the driver performs a driving operation to search for a parking position (a parking position). The standby state before parking starts is a state in which the driver performs a driving operation and stops the vehicle in front of a parking position. The driving state during parking control execution is a state in which the assistance system automatically performs any of driving force control, braking force control, steering control, and shift control, thereby driving the vehicle toward a parking position. The temporary suspension state of parking control is a state in which parking control is temporarily suspended. The parking completion state is a state in which the vehicle has completed parking in the parking position. During these assistance processes, the driver can take his / her hands 200 off the steering wheel 1 while the vehicle is running and while the parking control is being executed and while the parking control is temporarily suspended.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 13 , the controller 50 displays information in the linked display mode when the assistance process of the parking assistance function is in a parking position search state. Similarly, the controller 50 displays information in the linked display mode when the assistance process of the parking assistance function is in a standby state before parking starts. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14 , the controller 50 displays information in the fixed display mode when the assistance process of the parking assistance function is in a driving state during parking control execution and the driver is not gripping the steering wheel 1. Similarly, the controller 50 displays information in the fixed display mode when the assistance process of the parking assistance function is in a temporarily suspended state during parking control and the driver is not gripping the steering wheel 1. Then, when the assistance process of the parking assistance function has reached a parking completion state, the controller 50 displays information in the linked display mode. In this way, the controller 50 may display information in the fixed display mode under the condition that the driver is in a state during the parking assistance function in which he or she can release his or her hands 200 from the steering wheel 1.

[0050] When switching the display mode from the linked display mode to the fixed display mode, or when switching the information display mode from the fixed display mode to the linked display mode, as described above, the controller 50 may disable touch operations on the display 20 for a certain period of time.

[0051] As described above, in the display method according to this embodiment, the controller 50 determines whether or not the driver is gripping the steering wheel 1. If the controller 50 determines that the driver is not gripping the steering wheel 1, the information is displayed in a state that does not rotate in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1.

[0052] According to this method, the position and orientation of the information are maintained regardless of the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1. Since the information is displayed in a manner appropriate for the driving situation in which the driver is not gripping the steering wheel 1, the driver can efficiently recognize the information.

[0053] In this embodiment, when the controller 50 determines that the driver is gripping the steering wheel 1 , the controller 50 displays the information in a rotated state in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1 .

[0054] When the driver is holding the steering wheel 1, the information rotates in accordance with the movement of the driver's hands operating the steering wheel 1, making it easy to guess the position and orientation of the displayed information. Since the information is displayed in a manner appropriate to the driving situation of the driver, who is holding the steering wheel 1, the driver can efficiently recognize the information.

[0055] In this embodiment, the display 20 is a touch panel display that can be touched by the driver, and the information is operation information Ic that the driver uses to give operational instructions.

[0056] According to this embodiment, when it is determined that the driver is not gripping the steering wheel 1, the position and orientation of the information are maintained regardless of the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1. Therefore, regardless of the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1, the position and orientation of the operation information Ic, i.e., the position and range of the touch operation, remain the same, allowing the driver to easily operate the operation information Ic.

[0057] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, when it is determined that the driver is gripping the steering wheel 1, the position and orientation of the information are changed in synchronization with the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1. In this case, the relative positional relationship between the operation information Ic and the driver's hands is maintained, so the driver can easily operate the operation information Ic on the display 20 without looking at the steering wheel 1.

[0058] In this embodiment, the display 20 is a transparent display, so that vehicle elements behind the display 20, such as the instrument unit 100, can be seen through the display 20.

[0059] However, the display 20 may be a non-transparent display. In this case, it is preferable that the controller 50 uses the display 20 to display blind spot information indicating vehicle elements in the driver's blind spot. The vehicle elements in the blind spot are, for example, information about the instrument unit 100, and the blind spot information is information indicating the instrument unit 100 and displaying the status of the instruments provided in the instrument unit 100 in real time. This prevents the instrument unit 100 from being hidden by the display 20. Furthermore, when such a non-transparent display is used, it is possible to omit the actual instrument unit 100 by displaying information about the instrument unit 100.

[0060] The controller 50 preferably displays the blind spot information in an area above the center of the steering wheel 1 so as to match the actual appearance of the driver. Furthermore, the blind spot information represents vehicle elements whose positions are fixed in the vehicle. Therefore, the controller 50 preferably displays the blind spot information in a state that does not rotate in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1, regardless of whether the driver is gripping the steering wheel 1. In addition, the controller 50 preferably displays the blind spot information in a layer that is closer to the background than the operation information Ic. In this case, the controller 50 preferably masks the blind spot information with the operation information Ic in an area where the blind spot information and the operation information Ic overlap.

[0061] This method makes it possible to reproduce the same appearance as a conventional steering wheel that is not provided with a display 20. This makes it possible to provide a steering wheel 1 that does not feel strange to the driver.

[0062] In this embodiment, the operation information Ic includes sixth operation information Icf for operating turn signals, which are displayed on the left and right sides of the rotation axis of the steering wheel 1. The sixth operation information Icf is also displayed on the left and right sides corresponding to the left and right turn signals. This makes it easier for the driver to visually recognize whether the left and right sixth operation information Icf is information for operating the right or left turn signal. In addition, the driver can operate the left and right sixth operation information Icf with their right and left hands, respectively, thereby improving operability.

[0063] In this embodiment, the operation information Ic includes text. According to the method of this embodiment, when it is determined that the driver is not gripping the steering wheel 1, the information is displayed with the position and orientation fixed. Therefore, even if the steering wheel 1 is rotated, the text is always displayed horizontally, making it easier for the driver to read the text.

[0064] In this embodiment, the controller 50 determines whether the driver is gripping the steering wheel 1 on the condition that a driving assistance function is in operation that allows the driver to take his / her hands off the steering wheel 1. According to this method, the execution of the driving assistance function puts the driver in a situation where he / she can safely take his / her hands off the steering wheel 1, and therefore the effect of the above-described display mode can be fully obtained.

[0065] In this embodiment, the controller 50 learns how the driver grips the steering wheel 1 and sets a dead zone in which touch operations are disabled based on the learning results. This method allows the dead zone to be set taking into account the individual habits or characteristics of the driver, thereby effectively suppressing erroneous operations by the driver.

[0066] From the viewpoint of preventing driver's erroneous operation, the manner in which the driver grips the steering wheel 1 may be learned, and the position and size of the operation information Ic may be changed based on the learning results so as to avoid the contact area Ra.

[0067] In this embodiment, the display 20 has an annular shape and is arranged concentrically with the rotation axis 1a of the steering wheel 1. According to this method, even when the steering wheel 1 is rotated in response to steering, information can be displayed in the same position regardless of the rotation angle of the steering wheel 1.

[0068] In this embodiment, the annular display 20 is disposed around the boss portion 3. However, the display 20 may be a circular display disposed concentrically with the rotation axis 1 a of the steering wheel 1 so that the entire inside of the wheel body 2 is the display 20.

[0069] Also included in this embodiment is a display system 10 including a display 20 provided on a steering wheel 1 that steers the vehicle's wheels, and a controller 50 that controls the information displayed on the display 20. The controller 50 performs the above-described display method. This display system displays information in an appropriate manner depending on the driver's driving situation, allowing the driver to efficiently recognize the information.

[0070] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the descriptions and drawings that form part of this disclosure should not be understood to limit the present invention. Various alternative embodiments, examples, and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0071] 1: Steering wheel, 2: Wheel body, 3: Boss portion, 10: Display system, 20: Display, 50: Controller, 100: Instrument unit, 200: Hand, Ic: Operation information, Ii: Notification information

Claims

1. A display method for displaying information on a display fixed to the center of a steering wheel that steers the wheels of a vehicle, the method determining whether or not the driver is gripping the steering wheel, and if it is determined that the driver is not gripping the steering wheel, displaying the information in a state that does not rotate in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering wheel.

2. The display method according to claim 1, wherein, when it is determined that the driver is gripping the steering wheel, the information is displayed in a state rotated in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering wheel.

3. The display method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display is a touch panel display that can be touch-operated by the driver, and the information is operation information for the driver to give an operation instruction.

4. The display method according to claim 3, wherein the display is a transparent display or a non-transparent display, and when the display is a non-transparent display, the display displays blind spot information indicating vehicle elements that are in the driver's blind spot.

5. The display method according to claim 4, wherein the blind spot information is displayed in a state that does not rotate with the rotation angle of the steering wheel, regardless of whether the driver is gripping the steering wheel or not.

6. A display method according to claim 5, wherein the blind spot information and the operation information are displayed on different layers, and the blind spot information is displayed on a layer that is closer to the background than the operation information, so that in areas where the blind spot information and the operation information overlap, the blind spot information is masked by the operation information.

7. A display method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the operation information includes information for operating a turn signal, which is displayed on the left and right sides of the rotation axis of the steering wheel.

8. A display method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the operation information includes characters.

9. A display method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which determines whether the driver is gripping the steering wheel, on the condition that a driving assistance function that allows the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel is in operation.

10. A display method according to any one of claims 3 to 8, further comprising: learning how the driver grips the steering wheel; and setting a dead zone in which the touch operation is treated as invalid based on the learning result.

11. A display method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the display has a circular or annular shape and is arranged inside the steering wheel concentrically with the axis of rotation of the steering wheel.

12. A display system comprising: a display fixed to the center of a steering wheel that steers the steering wheels of a vehicle; and a controller that displays information on the display, wherein the controller determines whether or not the driver is gripping the steering wheel, and if it determines that the driver is not gripping the steering wheel, displays the information in a state that does not rotate in accordance with the rotation angle of the steering wheel.

Images