JP2011121544A - Display device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device for a vehicle for performing display for enabling an occupant of the vehicle to be recognized as a three-dimensional image, by sufficiently reproducing a texture and a three-dimensional feeling possessed by an actual instrument, in the display device for the vehicle for displaying an image of a virtual instrument. <P>SOLUTION: The virtual instrument is arranged in a virtual space, and the virtual light is irradiated from a virtual light source, and the reflected light and a shadow are formed in a frame part of the instrument, and an image of viewing it from a virtual view point is displayed on the display device of the vehicle. In that case, a position of the virtual light source is moved (or moved in response to the lapse of time, and moved at random) in response to a vehicle speed and an engine speed of the vehicle, and thereby, the reflected light and the shadow of an instrument surface are changed, and reality and the three-dimensional feeling of the image are improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle display device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in a display device for an automobile, a display device is configured with a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and an image of a virtual meter (instrument) created by computer graphics technology is displayed on the screen. Cases are increasing. In that case, various meters such as speedometers, tachometers, water temperature gauges, fuel fuel gauges, etc. can be displayed together on a single screen. There are many advantages such as ease of use and high degree of freedom of design change.

  For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for expressing glossiness with a ring image, which is a frame portion of a meter, and automatically changing the portion indicated by the pointer to a luminance that is easy to visually recognize.

JP 2004-157434 A

  However, there is a problem that the display of the virtual meter image is easy to see in a plane, and even using Patent Document 1, the texture and stereoscopic effect of the real meter cannot be sufficiently reproduced. Accordingly, it is desired to develop a meter image that improves realism and is recognized as a stereoscopic image by a vehicle occupant.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is a vehicle display device that displays an image of a virtual instrument, and can sufficiently reproduce the texture and stereoscopic effect of a real instrument. Another object of the present invention is to provide a display device for a vehicle that can perform a display recognized as a stereoscopic image by a vehicle occupant.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  In order to achieve the above object, a display device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a display unit arranged in a vehicle interior of a vehicle, and a virtual three-dimensional instrument that displays a measurement value obtained by a measurement unit equipped in the vehicle. A display control unit that controls the display unit to display the image of the image, the display control unit configured to set a position of the virtual light source and the virtual viewpoint in the virtual space, and the setting unit Image processing means for forming an image obtained by viewing the virtual three-dimensional instrument that has received virtual light emitted from the virtual light source whose position is set by the virtual viewpoint, and the setting means includes: The position of the virtual light source is moved so that reflected light and shadow in the virtual three-dimensional instrument change.

  Thus, in the vehicle display device according to the present invention, the reflected light and the shadow in the image of the virtual display are changed by moving the virtual light source when displaying the virtual instrument. The instrument display can be visually recognized so that the occupant of the vehicle has a real and three-dimensional effect due to the objective effect.

  Further, the virtual three-dimensional instrument may have a frame portion at the periphery thereof, and reflected light and shadow at the frame portion may be changed by movement of the virtual light source by the setting means.

  As a result, in the virtual instrument, the reflected light and shadow of the frame part are caused by virtual light from the moving virtual light source. It is possible to effectively impress the three-dimensional effect.

  Further, the surface shape of the frame portion may include a curved surface that bulges toward the virtual viewpoint.

  The effect is that the reflected light and shadow move on the surface of the frame by irradiating the virtual light from the moving virtual light source to the frame that has a curved surface that expands toward the virtual viewpoint. Therefore, the realism and three-dimensional appearance of the instrument display are further improved.

  The virtual three-dimensional meter is an analog meter having a scale portion arranged in an arc shape in an annular frame portion, and a pointer portion that swings to point to the scale portion, The scale part and the pointer part in the virtual three-dimensional instrument are three-dimensionally formed, and the shadow formed on the scale part and the pointer part is a virtual part that forms reflected light and shadow on the frame part. It may be a fixed virtual light source different from the light source.

  Thereby, the virtual instrument is an analog instrument, and the shading of the scale part and the pointer part is caused by the light from the fixed light source separately from the frame part, so that the calculation load of image processing can be reduced.

  Further, the scale part and the pointer part in the virtual three-dimensional instrument are three-dimensionally formed, and the shadow formed on the scale part and the pointer part also forms reflected light and shadow on the frame part. The shadow may be the same as the virtual light source to be formed and formed by the virtual light source moved by the setting means.

  As in this case, the shading of the scale and the pointer is caused by the virtual light from the moving virtual light source as well as the frame, so that the shadow of the frame, scale and pointer can be unified and the reflected light can be unified. This improves the realism and three-dimensional appearance of the instrument display.

  The setting unit may move the position of the virtual light source in accordance with a measurement value obtained by the measurement unit of the vehicle.

  As a result, the position of the virtual light source is moved according to the measurement value from the vehicle measurement means, so that the reflected light and shadow on the virtual instrument move according to the measurement value from the measurement means, and the real display of the instrument display to the occupant It is possible to effectively impress the three-dimensional effect.

  The measured value is a vehicle speed or an engine speed of the vehicle, and a correspondence relationship between a numerical value of the vehicle speed or the engine speed and the position of the virtual light source is determined in advance, and the setting unit is configured to transmit the virtual light source according to the correspondence relationship The position may be moved.

  As a result, the position of the virtual light source is moved according to the vehicle speed or the engine speed of the vehicle. Therefore, when the reflected light or shadow on the virtual instrument moves according to the vehicle speed or the engine speed, and the driving state further fluctuates. With visual effects such as sudden changes in reflected light and shadows, it is possible to effectively impress the occupant with the realism and stereoscopic effect of the instrument display.

  Further, the setting means may periodically move the position of the virtual light source as time passes.

  As a result, the reflected light and shadow on the virtual instrument move with time, so the reflected light and shadow always change, so that the occupant can be effectively impressed with the realism and stereoscopic effect of the instrument display. it can.

  The setting means may move the position of the virtual light source at random.

  As a result, the reflected light and the shadow always change at random, so that the occupant can be effectively impressed with the realism and stereoscopic effect of the instrument display.

The block diagram of the display apparatus for vehicles in the Example of this invention. The figure which shows virtual space. The figure which shows a display example. The flowchart of a display control process.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a device configuration in Example 1 of a vehicle display device 1 (display device) according to the present invention. The display device 1 is installed in, for example, an automobile vehicle. FIG. 1 shows a case where the display device is a combination meter that displays a combination of vehicle speed, engine speed, and the like.

  The display device 1 includes a combination meter 2 and a body ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 3, and both devices are connected by in-vehicle communication 4 so that information can be exchanged. The in-vehicle communication 4 may be, for example, CAN (Controller Area Network) communication.

  The combination meter 2 includes a CPU 21 that executes various calculations and information processing for image processing to be described later, a RAM 22 that is a temporary storage unit as a work area thereof, a ROM 23 that stores various information, a body ECU 3 and the like in the vehicle. Assume that an interface unit 20 (I / F) for communication with other parts is provided. Note that the ROM includes an EEPROM capable of erasing and rewriting stored contents.

  The combination meter 2 further includes a drawing LSI 24, a graphic memory 25, an LCD 26 (liquid crystal display), and a backlight module 27. An image is formed on the graphic memory 25 by the drawing LSI 24, the image is transmitted to the LCD 26, and light is emitted from the back side by the backlight module 27, so that the user can visually recognize the image. The LCD 26 may be installed, for example, in the front of the driver's seat of the vehicle instrument panel. Although FIG. 1 shows the case where the LCD 26 is used, a self-luminous display such as a plasma display or an EL display may be used.

  The body ECU 3 (ECU) is connected to a vehicle speed sensor 30, an engine speed sensor 31, a remaining fuel sensor 32, and a water temperature sensor 33. The vehicle speed sensor 30 includes a rotation detection unit such as a known rotary encoder, and is installed, for example, in the vicinity of the wheel mounting unit to detect the rotation of the wheel and send it to the ECU 3 as a pulse signal. In ECU3, the rotation speed of the wheel is converted into the speed of the vehicle.

  The engine speed sensor 31 measures the engine speed (per unit time). Specifically, the engine speed sensor 31 is, for example, a crank angle sensor that measures the rotation angle of a crank connected from the engine, and the detected value is sent to the ECU 3 to calculate the engine speed. The remaining fuel sensor 32 detects the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank of the vehicle. The water temperature sensor 33 detects the temperature of engine cooling water.

  Under the above configuration, the display device 1 executes display related to the traveling state of the vehicle. Specifically, using a computer graphics technique, a virtual three-dimensional instrument (hereinafter referred to as a virtual instrument) is formed in a virtual space, and an image obtained by viewing it from a virtual viewpoint is displayed on the LCD 26. Examples thereof are shown in FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a virtual space, a virtual instrument arranged inside the virtual space, a virtual viewpoint, and the like. FIG. 3 shows a display example on the LCD 26.

  First, FIG. 2 will be described. The virtual space 100 is formed in the combination meter, specifically on the RAM 22, and virtual instruments 101, 102, 103, 104, a virtual viewpoint 106, and a virtual light source 105 are set in the same space. Their relative positional relationship is set by the CPU 21.

  The virtual instruments 101, 102, 103, 104 are composed of a water temperature meter 101, a tachometer 102 (rotometer, engine rpm meter), a speed meter 103, and a fuel fuel gauge 104 in this order from the left side (on the left side on the LCD 26). Yes. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, these four virtual instruments are all circular analog type instruments, and all of them are rotated (swinged) with the scale portion 111 arranged in an arc shape to obtain measurement values. And a pointer portion 112 arranged to point. In addition, an annular frame portion 110 (ring) is formed on all peripheral edges of the circular virtual instruments 101, 102, 103, and 104.

  The engine speed meter 102 and the speed meter 103, the water temperature meter 101, and the fuel remaining amount meter 104 are respectively the same size and are arranged symmetrically. The water temperature meter 101 and the fuel remaining amount meter 104 are relatively smaller in area than the engine speed meter 102 and the speedometer 103 and are disposed relatively far from the virtual viewpoint 106.

  A part of the water temperature meter 101 on the right side of the figure is hidden behind the engine speed meter 102, and a part of the fuel gas gauge 104 on the left side of the figure is hidden behind the speedometer 103, so that the whole is arranged compactly. Has been. The shape of the ring 110 of the virtual instruments 101, 102, 103, 104 is a donut shape, and has a curved surface that bulges toward the virtual viewpoint 106 when viewed from the virtual viewpoint 106 side.

  As described above, the virtual instruments 101, 102, 103, and 104 are configured as a three-dimensional (three-dimensional), and receive a virtual light from the virtual light source 105 to form a reflection portion or a shadow portion on the surface thereof. In the example of FIG. 3, the surfaces of the rings 110 of the virtual instruments 101, 102, 103, and 104 are set so that light is reflected in a metallic manner, and in the image displayed on the LCD 26, the surface of the ring 110 is metallic. Gloss is formed.

  In the present invention, the position of the virtual light source is moved in the virtual space so that the reflected light and shadow on the images of the virtual instruments 101, 102, 103, and 104 change. The processing procedure is shown in FIG. The processing procedure in FIG. 4 may be programmed and stored in, for example, the ROM 23 and automatically executed by the CPU 21 and the drawing LSI 24.

  In the processing procedure of the figure, first, in step S10, the CPU 21 acquires some measurement value of the vehicle. As an example of the measured value, the vehicle speed measured by the vehicle speed sensor 30 or the engine speed (rotation speed) measured by the engine speed sensor 31 may be used.

  Next, in S20, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the measurement value acquired in S10 has changed from the previously acquired measurement value. If the measurement value has changed (S20: YES), the CPU 21 proceeds to S30. If not (S20: NO), the CPU 21 returns to S10 and repeats the same processing until the measurement value changes.

  Next, in S30, the CPU 21 sets the position of the virtual light source 105 (light) in accordance with the measurement value acquired in S10. At this time, the position of the virtual light source 105 is also changed by changing the measurement value. For example, when the virtual light source 105 is moved according to the measured value as the vehicle speed (number of rotations), a movement path of the virtual light source is determined in advance in the virtual space 100, and the point on the movement path and the vehicle speed ( The virtual light source 105 may be moved continuously (smoothly) on the moving path as the vehicle speed (number of rotations) continuously changes. At that time, the virtual light source 105 may move in proportion to the vehicle speed.

  The measured value may be both the vehicle speed and the rotation speed. In this case, a plane in which the virtual light source 105 moves in the virtual space 100 is determined in advance, and coordinate axes (vertical axis and horizontal axis) indicating the vehicle speed and the rotational speed are determined on the moving plane, respectively. As it changes continuously, the virtual light source 105 is continuously moved (smoothly) on the plane. In any case, the moving range of the virtual light source 105 may be limited to a region closer to the virtual viewpoint 106 than the virtual instruments 101, 102, 103, 104. In calculation, the virtual light source 105 may be a point light source.

  In step S <b> 40, the drawing LSI 24 forms a meter image viewed from the virtual viewpoint 106. Of the meter image formation, the ring 110 image formation is suitable for the present invention in pursuit of realism if it is performed as follows using a shading method in the field of computer graphics.

  First, the ring 110 (the side viewed from the virtual viewpoint 106) is divided into a large number of minute polygons in advance. Then, the luminance value in each polygon is calculated from the lighting model of the phone. In the phone lighting model, the luminance of the object surface is the sum of diffuse reflection light, specular reflection light, and ambient light. Diffuse reflected light is proportional to the cosine of the incident angle of light from the light source (therefore, the smaller the incident angle, that is, the closer the perpendicular incidence is, the greater the intensity of the reflected light), and the light is diffused equally in all directions.

  The specular reflected light is proportional to the cosine of the cosine of the angle between the line-of-sight direction and the regular reflection direction (the direction of the reflection angle that is the same as the incident angle). Therefore, the greater the deviation between the incident angle and the viewing direction angle, the smaller the intensity of the specular reflection light. Ambient light is reflected by air or the like, and has a constant value regardless of the incident direction of light or the angle of the line of sight.

  The image of the scale unit 111 is stored in advance in the ROM 23, for example. In the image of the scale part, both the scale and the number are formed in three dimensions, and the shadow is not the shadow by the virtual light source 105 but, for example, light from a fixed light source located obliquely upward as viewed from the virtual viewpoint 106. It is drawn as a shadow to be formed. Then, an image of the pointer part 112 whose position is adjusted according to the measurement value is added to the image of the scale part.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when an image of the pointer part 112 is added, if the pointer part 112 moves below the character of the scale part 111 (the side farther from the virtual viewpoint), the character is visually recognized. It does not cause any trouble. The turning angle of the pointer unit 112 is adjusted so as to indicate the correct scale according to the measurement value obtained in S10. The shadow of the pointer portion 112 varies depending on the rotation angle of the pointer portion 112, but the light source may be a fixed light source that is the same as the light source for the scale portion 111, for example.

  The drawing LSI 24 forms an image viewed from the virtual viewpoint 106 of the ring 110, the scale unit 111, and the pointer unit 112 described above for each of the virtual instruments 101, 102, 103, and 104 on the graphic memory 25, They are then combined to form the overall meter image.

  For the image of the ring 110, a more realistic image can be formed by calculating the reflected light for each of the three primary colors (R (red), G (green), and B (blue)) and combining them. Furthermore, in order to express metallic luster, it becomes more realistic by adding the gloss value corresponding to the metal material assumed as the material of the ring 110 to the value of each color of the diffuse reflected light.

  Finally, in S50, the drawing LSI 24 displays the meter image formed in S40 on the LCD 26. A display example is shown in FIG. 3A and 3B are meter images when the position of the virtual light source 105 is different, and it can be confirmed that the shadow and reflected light are different. The above is the processing procedure of FIG. The processing procedure of FIG. 4 may be repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle while the vehicle is being driven (ignition is on).

  In the above embodiment, the shading between the scale portion 111 and the pointer portion 112 is caused by a fixed virtual light source that is different from the shadow in the ring 110. This suppresses an excessive calculation load in image processing, but the shading of the scale unit 111 and the pointer unit 112 may be caused by the same moving light source as the shadow of the ring 110. In this case, since a sense of unity occurs in the shadows of the ring 110, the scale portion 111, and the pointer portion 112, the realism of the meter image is improved.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the position of the virtual light source 105 was moved according to the measured value, you may move the position of the virtual light source 105 periodically according to progress of time. In this case, a closed movement path (that is, no end point) may be set in advance, and the virtual light source 105 may be moved around the path at a predetermined speed.

  Further, the position of the virtual light source 105 may be moved randomly. In this case, for example, the CPU 21 may generate random numbers from time to time, thereby determining the moving direction of the virtual light source 105 at each time point, and repeating the minute movement accordingly.

  In the above example, the virtual instrument is a speedometer, a tachometer, a water temperature gauge, and a fuel fuel gauge. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and may be changed to other meters equipped in the vehicle such as a power meter.

  In the present invention, there is no limitation on the type (ie, analog type or digital type) or shape of the virtual instrument. In the above example, the analog meter is composed of the arc-shaped scale portion 111 and the rotating pointer portion 112. However, the analog meter may be composed of a linearly arranged scale portion and a pointer portion that moves in parallel. . Moreover, it is good also as a bar graph-shaped meter which does not use a pointer part. Even in such a case, a frame portion may be provided so as to surround the periphery of the meter, and the reflected light and shadow of the frame portion may be formed by a virtual light source that moves in the same manner as the ring 110 in the above example.

  In the above example, an analog meter is used, but a digital meter may be used (or a digital meter may be included among a plurality of meters). In that case, for example, a digital meter may be provided with a frame portion, and the reflected light and shadow of that portion may be formed by a virtual light source that moves in the same manner as the ring 110 in the above example. The numerical display portion of the digital meter may be a three-dimensional figure, and the shadow may be a fixed virtual light source, similar to the scale unit 111.

  In the above description, the frame portion of the meter has a ring shape, but in the present invention, this shape can be changed without limitation to other shapes such as an ellipse or a polygon (such as a quadrangle). However, in this case as well, it is preferable to include a curved surface on the surface of the frame portion, since the shadow and reflected light by the moving virtual light source can be remarkably changed and the realism can be effectively improved.

  In the above embodiment, the procedure of S30 and the CPU 21 or the drawing LSI 24 constitute a display control unit and setting means. The procedure of S40 and the CPU 21 or the drawing LSI 24 constitute a display control unit and image processing means.

1 Vehicle display device 21 CPU
24 Drawing LSI
26 LCD (display unit)
30 Vehicle speed sensor (measuring means)
31 Engine speed sensor (measuring means)
32 Fuel level sensor (measuring means)
33 Water temperature sensor (measuring means)
100 Virtual space 101, 102, 103, 014 Virtual instrument 105 Virtual light source 106 Virtual viewpoint 110 Ring (frame part)
111 Scale section 112 Pointer section

Claims (9)

A display unit disposed in a vehicle cabin;
A display control unit that controls the display unit to display an image of a virtual three-dimensional instrument that displays a measurement value obtained by a measurement unit installed in the vehicle;
The display control unit
Setting means for setting the position of the virtual light source and the virtual viewpoint in the virtual space;
Image processing means for forming an image when the virtual three-dimensional instrument that has received virtual light emitted from a virtual light source whose position is set by the setting means is viewed from the virtual viewpoint; and
The vehicular display device, wherein the setting means moves the position of the virtual light source so that reflected light and shadow in the virtual three-dimensional instrument change. The virtual three-dimensional instrument has a frame portion on its periphery,
The vehicular display device according to claim 1, wherein reflected light and shadow at the frame portion change due to movement of a virtual light source by the setting means.   The vehicle display device according to claim 2, wherein a surface shape of the frame portion includes a curved surface that bulges toward the virtual viewpoint. The virtual three-dimensional meter is an analog meter having a scale part arranged in an arc shape in the annular frame part, and a pointer part that swings to point to the scale part,
The scale part and the pointer part in the virtual three-dimensional instrument are formed in three dimensions,
4. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the shadow formed on the scale portion and the pointer portion is a fixed virtual light source different from a virtual light source that forms reflected light and shadow on the frame portion. 5. Display device. The scale part and the pointer part in the virtual three-dimensional instrument are three-dimensionally formed,
3. The shadow formed on the scale part and the pointer part is also the same as the virtual light source that forms reflected light and shadow on the frame part, and is formed by a virtual light source that is moved by the setting means. Or the display apparatus for vehicles as described in 3.   6. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit moves the position of the virtual light source in accordance with a measurement value obtained by the measurement unit of the vehicle. The measured value is a vehicle speed or an engine speed of the vehicle,
Correspondence between the numerical value of vehicle speed or engine speed and the position of the virtual light source is determined in advance,
The vehicle display device according to claim 6, wherein the setting unit moves the position of the virtual light source according to the correspondence relationship.   The vehicular display device according to claim 6, wherein the setting means periodically moves the position of the virtual light source as time passes.   The vehicle display device according to claim 6, wherein the setting unit moves the position of the virtual light source at random.