Vehicle Surround-View Display With Restricted Front Viewpoints
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image display systems for mobile bodies, it is difficult for users to determine whether an object is on the left or right side of the mobile body in actual space when the virtual viewpoint image moves along a trajectory, as the orientation can be confusing.
Innovation Solution
An image display system with a control device that generates and displays virtual viewpoint images and reversed rearward images, restricting the display of the virtual viewpoint image when the mobile body is moving forward to prevent confusion about the object's position, and switching to a reversed rearward image when the shift range changes to improve visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the virtual viewpoint image is displayed allowing the virtual viewpoint to move freely along the trajectory, then the user can view the mobile body and surrounding objects from multiple angles, but it becomes difficult for the user to understand whether the object is on the left side or the right side of the mobile body in actual space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the trajectory have different display properties. Specifically, the trajectory is divided into a first section (where viewpoint restriction is applied) and a second section (where free movement is allowed). This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by preserving spatial position information in the first section while maintaining viewing angle flexibility in the second section.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the trajectory into distinct sections with different characteristics. The trajectory is divided into a first section extending from the front of the mobile body to a first position, and a second section from the first position to a second position. This segmentation allows the system to apply viewpoint restricting control in the first section while allowing free movement in the second section, thus resolving the contradiction between viewing flexibility and spatial position understanding.
2Reliability
If the display switches between virtual viewpoint image and reversed rearward image, then the visibility of surrounding objects is improved, but the position of objects may appear to move from left side to right side causing user confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the display control adaptive to the mobile body's movement state. The control device dynamically switches between viewpoint restricting control and normal display based on whether the mobile body is moving forward or backward. When moving forward, the virtual viewpoint image is restricted; when moving backward, the reversed rearward image is displayed. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining object position consistency within each movement state while improving overall visibility.
3Loss of information
If the virtual viewpoint image is restricted when moving forward, then the user can easily understand object position, but the viewing flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the trajectory into a first section (front to first position) and a second section (first position to second position). Viewpoint restricting control is applied only in the first section when moving forward, while the second section allows free viewpoint movement. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by preserving spatial position information where needed (first section) while maintaining viewing angle flexibility where safe (second section).
Data Source
AI summary
An image display system includes: an external environment information acquiring device configured to acquire external environment information around a mobile body; a display device configured to display the external environment information; and a control device configured to control a display of the external environment information on the display device, wherein the control device is configured to generate a virtual viewpoint image in which the mobile body and an object around the mobile body are viewed from a virtual viewpoint, cause the display device to display the virtual viewpoint image, move the virtual viewpoint along a trajectory set around the mobile body, set a restricted section in the trajectory such that the restricted section is arranged in front of the mobile body in a plan view, and execute viewpoint restricting control to restrict a display of the virtual viewpoint image from the virtual viewpoint in the restricted section.