JP2002092793A - Information display device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display the information with which a driver can sufficiently cope with even during driving a vehicle. SOLUTION: An arithmetic device of a car navigation ECU 1 gets the information on danger existing in the traveling direction or on the traveling proposed route from DVD-ROM 9 or VICS receiver 13, and determines the importance corresponding to the information on danger positioned in a searching range corresponding to a traveling speed of the vehicle. The information on the danger of highest importance among several pieces of determined importance is displayed on a head-up display 14. Whereby the driver can instantaneously judge the information on danger of high importance.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle information display device for displaying danger information present in front of a vehicle on a head-up display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vehicle information display device,
Attaching a holographic optical element, for example, to the inner surface of the front window, and projecting a warning display such as the vehicle speed or the engine speed of the own vehicle obtained from various sensors for the holographic optical element, or remaining fuel, 2. Description of the Related Art A head-up display has been proposed in which a vehicle ahead or a surrounding obstacle is detected by a laser radar or the like, and its position and distance are projected on a holographic optical element. With such a configuration, the driver can acquire various types of information using the head-up display while looking ahead, so that the driver can concentrate on driving.

[0003]

However, by displaying the position and distance of the preceding vehicle and obstacles located around the vehicle on the head-up display, the safety of the own vehicle or dangerous objects around the own vehicle can be improved. However, the possible range is only a few tens of meters at the maximum, and the time between the recognition of danger and the response in the running state of the vehicle is limited to a few seconds to at most a dozen seconds Problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle information display device capable of displaying information that a driver can sufficiently cope with even while the vehicle is running. Is to do.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the danger information obtaining means obtains the danger information, the search means determines whether or not the danger information is present in the traveling direction or the scheduled travel route of the vehicle and the predetermined search is performed. The danger information with a higher notification priority is searched from among the danger information located in the range. Then, the output means displays the high-priority danger information searched by the search means on the head-up display in the form of a graphic. Thereby, the driver can obtain in advance the danger existing in the traveling direction of the vehicle or the planned traveling route, and can surely deal with it. In this case, the danger information displayed on the head-up display is displayed together with the distance information indicating the distance to the danger information, so that the driver can appropriately cope with the danger.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the display area of the head-up display is small, it is possible to reliably inform the driver of danger information.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the higher the vehicle speed, the shorter the time required for the driver to deal with the danger. Therefore, the search means sets the danger as the vehicle speed determined by the vehicle speed determination means increases. Expand the range of information search. Thus, the driver can cope with the danger even during high-speed traveling.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the assigning means assigns importance to the danger information. At this time, the higher the importance of the danger information, the higher the notification priority is usually,
When the distance to dangerous information having a large notification priority is extremely large, the dangerous information having a low importance but a short distance may be more important. Therefore, the search means displays the danger information having the largest value obtained by dividing the importance of the danger information assigned by the allocation means to the danger information located in the search range by the distance from the current position to the danger information on the head-up display. I do. Thereby, the notification priority of the danger information can be determined in consideration of the distance to the danger information,
Danger information can be appropriately notified to the driver.

According to the invention of claim 5, since the map information including the danger information can be read from the storage medium by the reading device, the danger information can be obtained without using any special means.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the danger information acquiring means receives traffic information, traffic congestion information, and the like from the VICS receiver, so that fluid danger information can be acquired.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a car navigation head-up display will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows an electric configuration of the car navigation ECU. 1, the car navigation ECU 1 is supplied with power by connecting a power supply 3 to a battery through an accessory switch 2. The car navigation ECU 1 is mainly composed of an arithmetic unit (corresponding to a search unit, an output unit, a vehicle speed determination unit, an assignment unit) 4. The arithmetic unit 4 mainly includes a CPU (not shown), and is connected to a storage device 5 such as a ROM and a RAM and a display device 6 via an external bus.

The ROM of the storage device 5 stores a car navigation program, and the RAM temporarily stores temporary data, map information, and the like when the program is executed. The display device 6 outputs a video signal to a display 7 installed on the instrument panel. A map including the current position is displayed on the display 7 in accordance with the video signal, or a map including a destination or a registered point. Is displayed.

A DVD drive (corresponding to danger information acquisition means) 8 reads data from a DVD-ROM 9 and supplies it to the arithmetic unit 4, but can also read data from a CD-ROM. The DVD-ROM 9 includes, in addition to map information such as various types of map drawing data and map matching data, a facility name database in which facility names are arranged in alphabetical order, for example. Specific information (facility name, genre name indicating classification of occupation, etc., facility position data (radio-latitude data), etc.)
Various data are stored, such as a facility database covering all of the above, and a phone number database indicating the correspondence between phone numbers and facilities.

The gyro 10 is a car navigation EC.
It is built in U1, detects the turning angle of the vehicle, and gives it to the arithmetic unit 4 through the gyro interface. The vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed sensor 11 is provided to the arithmetic unit 4 through a signal interface. Arithmetic unit 4
Can estimate the relative moving distance and direction of the vehicle based on the signal from the gyro 10 and the vehicle speed signal.

A GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna 12 receives a received signal from a GPS satellite and
It is given to the arithmetic unit 4 through the PS interface. The arithmetic unit 4 estimates the current position based on a signal from the GPS antenna 12 and map matching with a road position on the map. In this case, when a signal from a GPS satellite is not received, such as when the vehicle is passing through a tunnel, the current position of the vehicle is estimated based on a signal from the gyro 10 and a vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed sensor 11.

VICS (Vehicle Information and Comm)
unication System) Receiver (equivalent to danger information acquisition means)
Reference numeral 13 receives an information signal from an optical / radio wave beacon installed near a road or an information signal by FM multiplex broadcasting, and gives it to the arithmetic unit 4. The VICS information includes traffic information and traffic congestion information. The arithmetic unit 4 displays construction or traffic congestion existing in the traveling direction of the vehicle based on the VICS information, and resets a detour route during route guidance. The modem 14 coordinates communication between the arithmetic device and the external device through the modem interface.

Here, the head-up display 14
The holographic optical element is attached to the inner surface of a windshield, and various information on the state of the vehicle is projected from the projector to the holographic optical element, so that the holographic optical element is displayed to the driver. In this case, the holographic optical element strongly reflects light of a specific wavelength from the projector, so that the driver can surely visually recognize various kinds of information with the head-up display 14, and the holographic optical element has a wavelength other than the specific wavelength. The driver can confirm the front field of view through the holographic optical element because the driver has a transparent property with respect to the visible light.

On the other hand, when a destination is input from a remote controller (not shown), the arithmetic unit 4 automatically selects an optimal route from the current position to the destination to set a guidance route and display the route on the display 7. . As a method for automatically setting such a guidance route, the Dijkstra method is used.

The arithmetic unit 4 has, in addition to the arithmetic function as the above-described car navigation, a danger information such as a pedestrian crossing obtained from the DVD-ROM 9 or a traffic obtained from the VICS receiver 13 as described later. Among the danger information such as accidents, danger information existing in the traveling direction or scheduled route of the vehicle is searched, and the danger information with the highest information rank among the searched danger information is displayed on the head-up display 14. This display function is a feature of the present invention.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. FIG. 2 shows a main operation related to the present invention among the operations of the arithmetic unit 4. In FIG. 2, the arithmetic unit 4 first estimates the current position (S10). That is, in FIG. 3 showing the operation of estimating the current position, the current position is estimated based on the position information from the GPS antenna (S1).
01), map information including the current position is obtained from the DVD-ROM 9 (S102), and a correct current position is estimated using map matching or the like based on the information (S102).
103).

Subsequently, the process returns to the main operation to execute a search for peripheral information (S20). In this search for peripheral information, D
The map information around the current position stored in the VD-ROM 9 is searched, and information such as a temporary stop, an intersection, or a junction from an alley is searched.
Collect fixed danger information to warn the driver.

Subsequently, a search for real-time information is executed (S30). In this real-time information search, VI
From the CS receiver 13, fluid information that changes in real time, such as road construction, accidents, traffic closures, and traffic jams, is collected.

Subsequently, the vehicle operation status is confirmed (S40). That is, in FIG. 4 showing the operation of confirming the vehicle operation state, after confirming that the parking brake is turned off (S401: NO), based on the current position information and the traffic congestion information from the VICS receiver 13, the current If it is determined that the traveling road is not a congested road (S4
02: NO), it is determined that the vehicle is in the normal running state (S403). The currently running road is a congested road (S402: YES) and the vehicle is traveling at low speed (S405:
YES), it is determined that the vehicle is in a traffic jam traveling state (S40)
6) If the vehicle is not traveling at low speed even on a congested road (S405: NO), it is determined that the vehicle is traveling normally (S403).

The low-speed running state refers to a state in which it is possible to determine that the vehicle is running on the basis of a position signal from the GPS antenna 12, although the accurate vehicle speed cannot be obtained based on the vehicle speed signal because of the low speed. ing. When the parking brake is on (S401: YE
S), it is determined that the vehicle is stopped (S404).

Subsequently, returning to the main operation, the information retrieval on the road is executed (S50). That is, in FIG. 5 showing the operation of the information search on the road, when the route guidance is being performed (S5
01: YES), among the danger information obtained by the search for the surrounding information, danger information located on the scheduled traveling route is searched (S).
504). When route guidance is not being performed (S501:
NO), the danger information of the traveling direction is searched (S502).
In this case, the search range changes according to the speed of the vehicle. For example, in the case of a normal traveling state in which the speed of the vehicle is 60 km, in order to display danger information that the driver has to respond within 60 seconds, the search range is within 1 km. You will search for a range. If the low-speed traveling is defined as 10 km or less, when the vehicle speed is 10 km or less, the range within 166 m is searched. Then, the various danger information searched in accordance with the speed of the vehicle is ranked (S503).

Although not shown in FIG. 5, if the vehicle is stopped while the route is not being guided, the search is not performed. This is because, when a route is not set, the traveling direction when starting traveling next is undecided.

Here, the ranking of the danger information will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that four pieces of danger information exist on a road that is a traveling direction or a planned traveling route of a vehicle. That is, a signal exists at a point 100 m from the current position, a pedestrian crossing exists at a point 200 m, and 3
Assume that a construction site exists at a point of 00 m, and an accident has occurred at a point of 400 m. In this case, the signal and the pedestrian crossing are fixed danger information acquired from the DVD-ROM 9, and the construction site and the accident are fluid danger information acquired from the VICS receiver 13.

The arithmetic unit 4 assigns the following importance according to the danger information searched as described above. Importance 5: Danger information that hinders safe driving of the vehicle, such as accidents with traffic restrictions, falling rocks, and flooding. Importance level 4 is danger information that may hinder safe traveling of the vehicle, and corresponds to, for example, the possibility of traffic restriction due to rainfall or snowfall, lane regulation associated with construction, and the like. Importance level 3 ... General traffic restrictions, such as traffic lights, level crossings, and pedestrian crossings. Importance level 2 ... Danger information that becomes blind spots depending on the road shape or building and requires special attention, and corresponds to, for example, a sharp curve, a pedestrian crossing after a sharp curve, a railroad crossing, a signal, and a construction. Importance level 1 ... Minor danger information, such as construction without traffic restrictions, traffic congestion, and the like.

As described above, as the ranking for the importance assigned according to the danger information, in the case of importance 5, this information is set to the highest rank unconditionally. In the case of importance levels 1 to 4, the notification rank is set in order from the largest comparison value obtained by dividing the importance level by the distance. However, when the same notification rank is obtained, the one with a short distance is selected.

That is, in the case of FIG. 6, since the information on the accident has the importance level 5, the highest notification rank is set unconditionally. Since the construction information is of importance 1 and the distance is 300 m, the comparison value is 1/100 and the pedestrian crossing is of importance 3
And the distance is 200 m, the comparison value is 3/20
0, since the signal is of importance 3 and the distance is 100 m,
The comparison value is 3/100. Therefore, the notification rank is as follows: accident, signal, pedestrian crossing, construction.

Then, the process returns to the main operation to display the danger information (S60). In the display of the danger information, the danger information of the highest rank ranked in the information search on the road is displayed on the head-up display 14 together with the distance as a graphic. That is, in the example shown in FIG.
If the search range is less than 1 km while the vehicle is running for km, the information of the accident having the highest rank is displayed on the head-up display 14 as a graphic along with the distance as shown in FIG. When the vehicle is traveling at a low speed of 10 km or less, the search range is 166.
If the distance is less than m, signal information is displayed on the head-up display 14 together with the distance as a graphic, as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the driver instantly provides appropriate danger information corresponding to the importance and the distance among the danger information located in the traveling direction or the planned traveling route based on the danger information displayed graphically on the head-up display 14. Can be obtained.

According to such an embodiment, when the danger information is displayed on the head-up display 14 having a small display area, the danger information having the highest notification rank is displayed on the head-up display 14 as a graphic along with the distance. With this configuration, it is possible to appropriately and instantaneously notify the driver of danger information having a high notification rank. Therefore, the driver can obtain the danger information in advance, so that the driver can obtain the danger information as compared with the related art in which only the position and distance of the preceding vehicle or an obstacle located around the vehicle are displayed. Can be handled with a margin.

In this case, as the speed of the vehicle increases, the search range of the danger information is expanded, so that the danger information existing in the traveling direction or the planned traveling route can be appropriately notified to the driver.

[0035] In addition, the degree of importance is added to the danger information located in the search range, and the added importance is divided by the distance from the current position to the position of the danger information to obtain a notification rank. Because big danger information is displayed on the head-up display 14,
It is possible to provide the driver with appropriate danger information in consideration of the importance and the distance.

In addition, the most important danger information is notified to the driver prior to the danger information of other ranks. Therefore, the danger information of extremely high priority such as an accident is displayed at the current position. Even if the distance from the vehicle is large, the driver can be properly notified.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows. A plurality of danger information may be displayed on the head-up display 14 in the descending order of the notification rank. Instead of displaying the distance to the danger information itself on the head-up display 14, a graphic that changes according to the distance may be displayed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of a car navigation ECU according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a main operation of the arithmetic unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation of estimating a current position of the arithmetic unit;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation of confirming an operation state of a computing device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an information retrieval operation on a road by the arithmetic unit;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between danger information and importance.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an accident display on a head-up display.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a signal display of a head-up display.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is an ECU car navigation, 4 is an arithmetic unit (search means, output means, vehicle speed judgment means, assignment means), 8 is a DVD
A drive (danger information acquisition unit), 13 is a VICS receiver (danger information acquisition unit), and 14 is a head-up display.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A head-up display provided on a front window; danger information acquisition means for acquiring danger information; and danger information acquired by the danger information acquisition means, which is present in a traveling direction or a planned traveling route of a vehicle. A search unit for searching for danger information located in a predetermined search range; and, among the danger information searched by the search unit, danger information having a higher notification priority together with distance information indicating a distance from the current position to the danger information. An information display device for a vehicle, comprising: output means for displaying on a head-up display. 2. The vehicle information display device according to claim 1, wherein the output unit displays the danger information in a graphic form on the head-up display. 3. A vehicle speed judging means for judging a vehicle speed, wherein said searching means expands a danger information search range as the vehicle speed judged by said vehicle speed judging means increases. Or the information display device for a vehicle according to 2. 4. An allocating means for allocating importance to danger information obtained by said danger information obtaining means, wherein said search means is configured to assign importance of danger information allocated by said allocation means to danger information located in a search range. The vehicle information display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the danger information having the largest value obtained by dividing the degree by the distance from the current position to the danger information is determined to have the highest notification priority. apparatus. 5. The vehicle information display device according to claim 1, wherein the danger information acquisition unit is a reading device that reads map information including danger information from a storage medium. 6. The vehicle information display device according to claim 1, wherein the danger information acquisition unit is a VICS receiver that receives traffic information, congestion information, and the like.