CN115071746A - Control device and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a control device and a vehicle, which prompt a driver of the vehicle to recognize the surrounding environment of the vehicle under the condition that an object possibly contacting with the vehicle exists. A control device for controlling a report to an occupant in a vehicle includes: a display unit that displays information to an occupant; a vibration unit that gives a notification based on vibration to an occupant; a detection unit that detects an object present around the vehicle; and a notification control unit that, when the object is detected by the detection unit during a period in which information is displayed by the display unit, restricts display by the display unit and performs notification by the vibration unit.

Description

Control device and vehicle

Technical Field

The invention relates to a control device and a vehicle.

Background

As a technique for assisting driving of a driver, a technique has been proposed in which information for assisting driving of a driver is reported using a front windshield of a vehicle as a head-up display (HUD). Patent document 1 discloses vibrating a steering wheel when displaying on a HUD.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2020 and 001538

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

Here, a plurality of pieces of information may be displayed on the HUD at the same time, and the driver may take time to understand each of the plurality of pieces of information. Therefore, when an object at risk of contact, such as a pedestrian, is present around the vehicle, the driver may concentrate on the information displayed by the HUD and delay the reaction.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a technique for prompting a driver of a vehicle to recognize the surrounding environment of the vehicle when there is an object that may come into contact with the vehicle.

Means for solving the problems

According to the present invention, there is provided a control device for controlling a report to an occupant in a vehicle,

the control device has:

a display unit that displays information to an occupant;

a vibration unit that gives a notification based on vibration to an occupant;

a detection unit that detects an object present around the vehicle; and

and a notification control unit that restricts display by the display unit and performs notification by the vibration unit when the object is detected by the detection unit during a period in which information is displayed by the display unit.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle,

the vehicle is provided with:

a display unit that displays information to an occupant;

a vibration unit that gives a notification based on vibration to an occupant;

a detection unit that detects an object present around the vehicle; and

and a control unit that controls, when the object is detected by the detection unit during a period in which information is displayed by the display unit, display of the display unit to be restricted and notification by the vibration unit to be performed.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for prompting a driver of a vehicle to recognize a surrounding environment of the vehicle when there is an object that may come into contact with the vehicle.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle and a control device.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the control device of fig. 1.

Fig. 3A to 3D are views showing a positional relationship between a vehicle and an object at risk of contact, and fig. 3E to 3H are views showing states of the vibration element and the head-up display in each of fig. 3A to 3D.

Fig. 4A is a plan view of the vehicle and the object, fig. 4B is a diagram showing the amplitude of vibration of the vibration element, and fig. 4C is a diagram showing the luminance of the HUD.

Fig. 5 is a structural view of the steering wheel.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the interior of the vehicle.

Description of the reference numerals

1: a vehicle; 2: a control unit; 20: an ECU; 32 a: a vibrating element; 32 b: a vibrating element; 94: a head-up display.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the plurality of features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. The same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

< first embodiment >

(hardware constitution)

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which controls a vehicle 1. Fig. 1 shows an outline of a vehicle 1 in a plan view and a side view. As an example, the vehicle 1 is a sedan-type four-wheeled passenger vehicle.

The control device of fig. 1 comprises a control unit 2. The control unit 2 includes a plurality of ECUs 20 to 29 that are communicably connected via an in-vehicle network. Each ECU includes a processor typified by a CPU, a storage device such as a semiconductor memory, an interface with an external device, and the like. The storage device stores a program executed by the processor, data used by the processor in processing, and the like. Each ECU may be provided with a plurality of processors, storage devices, interfaces, and the like.

Hereinafter, functions and the like of the ECUs 20 to 29 will be described. The number of ECUs and the functions to be assigned to the ECUs may be appropriately designed, or may be further refined or integrated than in the present embodiment.

The ECU20 functions as a report controller that controls a report to be made by at least one of the ECU21 and the ECU28 based on a detection result from the ECU 23. An example of the report control by the ECU20 will be described later. In addition, in one example, the ECU20 executes control related to automatic driving of the vehicle 1. In the automatic driving, at least one of steering and acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle 1 may be automatically controlled.

The ECU21 controls the electric power steering device 3. The electric power steering apparatus 3 includes a mechanism for steering the front wheels in accordance with a driving operation (steering operation) of the steering wheel 31 by the driver. The electric power steering apparatus 3 includes a motor that generates a driving force for assisting a steering operation or automatically steering front wheels, a sensor that detects a steering angle, and the like. When the driving state of the vehicle 1 is the automatic driving, the ECU21 automatically controls the electric power steering device 3 and controls the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 in accordance with an instruction from the ECU 20. The ECU21 controls the vibration elements 32a and 32b provided in the grip portion of the steering wheel 31. The vibration elements 32a and 32b (sometimes collectively referred to as the vibration elements 32) function as a vibration notification unit for notifying the driver of occurrence of an event to be noticed by the driver by vibration. The number of the vibrating elements may be one, or three or more.

The ECU22 and the ECU23 perform control of the detection units 41 to 45 that detect the surrounding conditions of the vehicle and information processing of the detection results. The detection means 41 is a camera (hereinafter, may be referred to as a camera 41) that captures an image of the front of the vehicle 1, and in the present embodiment, is attached to the vehicle interior side of the front window at the front roof portion of the vehicle 1. By analyzing the image captured by the camera 41, the outline of the target object and the lane lines (white lines, etc.) on the road can be extracted.

The Detection unit 42 is a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR: optical radar) (hereinafter, may be referred to as an optical radar 42) and detects a target object around the vehicle 1 or measures a distance to the target object. In the present embodiment, five optical radars 42 are provided, one at each corner of the front portion of the vehicle 1, one at the center of the rear portion, and one at each side of the rear portion. The detection means 43 is a millimeter wave radar (hereinafter, may be referred to as a radar 43) and detects a target object around the vehicle 1 or measures a distance to the target object. In the case of the present embodiment, five radars 43 are provided, one at the center of the front portion of the vehicle 1, one at each corner of the front portion, and one at each corner of the rear portion. The detection means 44 is a camera (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a rear camera 44) that captures an image of the rear of the vehicle 1, and in the present embodiment, is attached to at least one of a rear door, a rear pillar, and a vehicle cabin of the vehicle 1. The detection means 45 is a camera (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a side camera 45) that captures an image of the side of the vehicle 1, and in the present embodiment, is attached to at least one of a side mirror and a vehicle cabin of the vehicle 1.

The ECU22 controls one of the cameras 41 and the optical radars 42 and performs information processing of detection results. The ECU23 controls the other camera 41 and each radar 43 and performs information processing of the detection results. By providing two sets of devices for detecting the surrounding conditions of the vehicle, the reliability of the detection result can be improved, and by providing different types of detection means such as a camera, an optical radar, and a radar, the surrounding environment of the vehicle can be analyzed in various ways. Further, the ECU23 performs control of the rear camera 44 and information processing of the detection result.

The ECU24 performs control of the gyro sensor 5, the GPS sensor 24b, and the communication device 24c and information processing of the detection result or the communication result. The gyro sensor 5 detects a rotational motion of the vehicle 1. The course of the vehicle 1 can be determined based on the detection result of the gyro sensor 5, the wheel speed, and the like. The GPS sensor 24b detects the current position of the vehicle 1. The communication device 24c wirelessly communicates with a server that provides map information and traffic information, and acquires these pieces of information. The ECU24 can access the database 24a of map information constructed in the storage device, and the ECU24 performs a route search from the current location to the destination, and the like.

The ECU25 includes a communication device 25a for vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The communication device 25a performs wireless communication with other vehicles in the vicinity, and performs information exchange between the vehicles.

The ECU26 controls the power unit 6. The power plant 6 is a mechanism that outputs a driving force for rotating the driving wheels of the vehicle 1, and includes, for example, an engine and a transmission. The ECU26 controls the output of the engine in accordance with, for example, the driver's driving operation (accelerator operation or accelerator operation) detected by an operation detection sensor 7A provided on the accelerator pedal 7A, or switches the shift stage of the transmission based on information such as the vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor 7 c. When the driving state of the vehicle 1 is the automatic driving, the ECU26 automatically controls the power unit 6 and controls acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle 1 in accordance with an instruction from the ECU 20.

The ECU27 controls lighting devices (headlamps, tail lamps, etc.) including a direction indicator 8 (turn signal lamp). In the case of the example of fig. 1, the direction indicator 8 is provided at the front, the door mirror, and the rear of the vehicle 1. The ECU27 controls the side lamps (the side sill lamp 51, the front wheel lamp 52, and the rear wheel lamp 53). The side light 51, the front wheel light 52, and the rear wheel light 53 are illumination devices that are lit in a different color from the illumination device including the direction indicator 8, and are LEDs that are lit in blue in one example.

The ECU28 controls the input/output device 9. The input/output device 9 outputs information of the driver and receives input of information from the driver. The voice output device 91 reports information to the driver by voice. The display device 92 reports information to the driver through display of an image. The display device 92 is disposed on the front surface of the driver's seat, for example, and constitutes an instrument panel or the like. Further, voice and display are shown here by way of example, but information may be reported by vibration or light. Further, a plurality of voice, display, vibration, or light may be combined to report information. Further, it is also possible to make the combination different or to make the reporting manner different according to the level of information to be reported (e.g., the degree of urgency). The display device 94 is, for example, a head-up display (HUD) provided on a front windshield of the vehicle 1. The input device 93 is a switch group that is disposed at a position where the driver can operate and instructs the vehicle 1, and may include a voice input device.

The ECU29 controls the brake device 10 and a parking brake (not shown). The brake device 10 is, for example, a disc brake device, is provided to each wheel of the vehicle 1, and decelerates or stops the vehicle 1 by applying resistance to rotation of the wheel. The ECU29 controls the operation of the brake device 10, for example, in accordance with the driving operation (braking operation) of the driver detected by an operation detection sensor 7B provided on the brake pedal 7B. When the driving state of the vehicle 1 is the automatic driving, the ECU29 automatically controls the brake device 10 in accordance with an instruction from the ECU20, and controls deceleration and stop of the vehicle 1. The brake device 10 and the parking brake can be operated to maintain the stopped state of the vehicle 1. In addition, when the transmission of the power unit 6 includes the parking lock mechanism, the parking lock mechanism may be operated to maintain the stopped state of the vehicle 1.

Next, the structure of the steering wheel 31 will be described with reference to fig. 5. A portion of the steering wheel 31 that is gripped by the driver to steer the vehicle 1 is a gripping portion 501. The vibration elements 32a and 32b are disposed inside the grip 501. In fig. 5, the grip portion 501 is disposed at the upper left and right portions and is gripped by the driver. In one example, the vibration elements may be disposed at a plurality of locations inside the steering wheel 31, such as at the lower left and right portions, the left and right portions, and the like. Thus, when the driver grips the steering wheel 31 for steering, if one of the vibration elements 32a or 32b is vibrated, the driver can sense which of the right and left vibration elements is vibrated by the vibration transmitted to the gripped hand. In one example, the vibration element 32 can control the amplitude, intensity, and on/off of the vibration by the ECU 21. This makes it possible to notify the driver of predetermined information in various vibration patterns or to prompt the driver to pay attention.

Next, the structure of the HUD94 will be described with reference to fig. 6. The HUD94 can display arbitrary information such as a direction of travel indicator 601, a speed of travel indicator 602, and the like. For example, the current time, the remaining amount of fuel, and the like may be displayed. Thus, the ECU28 can display information for assisting the driver's driving so that the driver can easily confirm the information. The HUD94 according to the present embodiment can control at least one of on/off of display, size, color tone, and brightness of display.

< control example >

A control example of the control unit 2 will be explained. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the ECU20 for controlling notification to the driver. The processing of fig. 2 is executed at prescribed time intervals during the running of the vehicle 1.

In S201, the ECU20 acquires the detection results of the detection units 41 to 45. For example, the ECU20 may perform image recognition on the image acquired by the camera 41 to detect the presence of a pedestrian, a traffic participant such as a bicycle or a vehicle, a road structure such as a guardrail or a utility pole, or the like (hereinafter, also referred to as an object). Further, the distance or the direction from the vehicle 1 to the object may be detected by the detection unit 42 or the detection unit 43. The orientation from the vehicle 1 to the object may be, for example, a relative angle of the object with respect to the front of the vehicle 1, or a relative angle of the object with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle 1. The ECU20 may detect the presence of a pedestrian, a traffic participant such as a bicycle or a vehicle, a road structure such as a guardrail or a utility pole (hereinafter also referred to as an object) by recognizing the images acquired by the rear camera 44 and the side cameras 45.

In S202, the ECU20 determines whether there is a risk of contact in front of the vehicle. For example, it may be determined that there is a risk of contact when the object is detected. Alternatively, the object may be detected, and it may be determined that there is a contact risk when the distance to the detected object is within a predetermined distance range. Alternatively, the object may be detected, and it may be determined that there is a risk of contact when the detected object is within a range of a predetermined angle with respect to the orientation of the vehicle 1.

If the ECU20 determines that there is no risk of contact (no in S202), the vibration element 32 is not vibrated in S206, the HUD display is maintained, and the processing of fig. 2 is ended.

On the other hand, if the ECU20 determines that there is a risk of contact (yes in S202), the ECU20 advances the process to S203 to determine the relative position of the detected object with respect to the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the ECU20 determines whether the object is positioned at a narrow front angle or at a wide front angle, which is the outer side of the narrow front angle, with respect to the vehicle 1. The front narrow angle is a range of 45 degrees to the left and right in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1, and the front wide angle is a range of 90 degrees to the left and right in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1. In one example, the narrow front angle and the wide front angle may be in the range of 45 degrees and 90 degrees to the left and right, respectively, with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle 1. In this case, the ECU20 may detect the steering angle of the steering wheel 31 and determine the value obtained by adding the steering angle to the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 as the traveling direction of the vehicle 1.

If it is determined that the detected object is located at the front narrow angle of the vehicle (the front narrow angle in S203), the ECU20 advances the process to S204 to control the ECU21 so as to vibrate the vibration elements 32a and 32b, and to restrict the display of the HUD94 via the ECU 28.

For example, in S204, the ECU20 may control the ECU28 in such a manner as to turn off the display of the HUD 94. Alternatively, in S204, the ECU20 may control the ECU28 so as to reduce the brightness of the HUD 94. Alternatively, in S204, the ECU20 may control the ECU28 so that a part of the items displayed on the HUD94 is not displayed. Thus, even when information is displayed on the HUD94, when an object is present in front of the vehicle 1, the vibration element 32 can urge the driver to notice it, and the display of the HUD94 can be turned off to avoid the driver from paying attention to the HUD94, thereby urging the driver to recognize the surrounding environment of the vehicle.

Human tactile-based information is transferred faster than visual-based information. In addition, since it takes time to understand each piece of information in a state where a plurality of pieces of information are displayed on the HUD94, when the risk of contact is high, the driver is prompted to pay attention by vibration, and thus the immediate response corresponding to the object can be improved.

If it is determined that the detected object is located outside the narrow front angle of the vehicle, i.e., inside the wide front angle (wide front angle in S203), the ECU20 advances the process to S205 to vibrate the vibration element 32 corresponding to the direction of the object, but the display of the HUD94 is not limited. Thus, when the risk of contact is low as compared with the case where the object is located at a narrow front angle, the driver can be prompted to pay attention to the vehicle without being hindered from traveling. Further, by vibrating the vibration element 32a or 32b corresponding to the direction of the object, the direction in which the object is present can be indicated to the driver. When the detected object is positioned on the left side and the right side of the wide front angle, the ECU20 may vibrate both of the vibration elements 32.

With reference to fig. 3A to 3H, an example will be described in which ECU20 controls display in accordance with the position of the object with respect to vehicle 1.

When the object 301 is present at the narrow front corner of the vehicle 1 as shown in fig. 3A, the vibration elements 32a and 32b are vibrated and the display of the HUD94 is turned off as shown in fig. 3E. When the object 302 is present on the left side outside the range of the narrow front angle of the vehicle 1, i.e., in the range of the wide front angle, as shown in fig. 3B, only the left-side vibrating element 32B is vibrated and the display of the HUD94 is maintained, as shown in fig. 3F. As shown in fig. 3C, when the object 303 is present on the right side outside the range of the narrow front angle of the vehicle 1, that is, in the range of the wide front angle, only the right-side vibration element 32a is vibrated as shown in fig. 3G, and the display of the HUD94 is maintained. When the object 304 and the object 305 are present on both sides outside the range of the narrow front angle of the vehicle 1, that is, in the range of the wide front angle, as shown in fig. 3D, the vibration elements 32a and 32b on both sides vibrate, and the display of the HUD94 is maintained, as shown in fig. 3H. Further, as shown in fig. 3E to 3H, when the object is detected within the range of the front narrow angle, the amplitude of the vibration element 32 can be increased as compared with the case where the object is detected outside the range of the front narrow angle, that is, within the range of the front wide angle. Alternatively, when the ECU20 detects the object in the narrow forward angle range, the vibration cycle of the vibration element 32 may be shortened or the vibration time may be lengthened as compared to the case where the object is detected outside the narrow forward angle range, i.e., in the wide forward angle range. Thus, the driver can recognize whether the ECU20 detects the object in the narrow front angle range as shown in fig. 3A or the ECU20 detects the object in the wide front angle range, which is outside the narrow front angle range, as shown in fig. 3D.

This enables appropriate notification control according to the position of the object detected at a wide angle in front of the vehicle 1.

< other examples >

In the processing example shown in fig. 2, a control example of control for notifying the direction of the detected object with respect to the vehicle 1 is described. In one example, the notification may be controlled in accordance with the distance to the object, in addition to the direction of the detected object with respect to the vehicle 1.

For example, the ECU20 may perform control so as to increase the amplitude of the vibration element 32 as the distance to the object becomes shorter. Alternatively, the ECU20 may control the HUD94 to have a lower brightness as the distance to the object becomes shorter.

In the present embodiment, a control example of the vibration element 32 and the HUD94 in a case where the vehicle 1 approaches the object 401 located at the front narrow angle of the vehicle 1 as shown in fig. 4A will be described.

Fig. 4B shows a change in the amplitude of the vibration element 32 in a situation where the vehicle 1 approaches a traffic participant forward. As shown in fig. 4B, the ECU20 increases the amplitude of the vibration element 32 as the vehicle 1 approaches the forward traffic participant. Therefore, the possibility that the driver notices the vibration becomes high. In addition, the driver can grasp the degree of approach of the traffic participant ahead, that is, the urgency of the driver's response, from the amplitude of the vibration. In the example of fig. 4B, as the vehicle 1 approaches the forward traffic participant, the vibration is switched on and off in a short time. Thus, even when the driver does not notice a change in the amplitude of the vibration, the ECU20 can notify the driver of the urgency of response by the change in the vibration cycle.

Further, the mode of switching on and off of the vibration can be arbitrarily set. For example, the ECU20 may control the vibration element 32 so that the time during which the vibration element 32 vibrates increases as the vehicle 1 approaches the forward traffic participant, or so that the ratio of the on/off period of the vibration changes.

Further, the ECU20 may increase the amount of increase in the amplitude of vibration when the object is located within the range of the front narrow angle of the vehicle 1, as compared to when the object is located outside the range of the front narrow angle of the vehicle 1, that is, within the range of the front wide angle. Thus, when there is an object having a high contact risk, the level of the contact risk can be clearly indicated.

Fig. 4C shows a change in the luminance of the HUD94 in a situation where the vehicle 1 approaches a forward traffic participant. As shown in fig. 4C, the ECU20 may gradually decrease the brightness so as to gradually close the display of the HUD94 as the vehicle 1 approaches the forward traffic participant. Thus, the ECU20 can prompt the forward traffic participants to confirm the surrounding environment without causing excessive stress to the driver due to the instantaneous disappearance of the display of the HUD 94.

The ECU20 may also perform control so as to reduce the display of the HUD 94. For example, the ECU20 may control the HUD94 so that the number of items displayed on the HUD94 decreases as the forward traffic participants of the vehicle 1 approach. In the description using the example of fig. 6, the indicator 602 of the travel speed may be turned off when the distance between the vehicle 1 and the traffic participant is, for example, 20m or less, and the indicator 601 of the travel route may be turned off when the distance between the vehicle 1 and the traffic participant is, for example, 15m or less. This allows the information displayed on the HUD94 to be displayed continuously until the risk of contact exceeds the threshold value, depending on the importance of the information.

< other embodiment >

In one example, the ECU20 may control the notification based on only the distance to the object, not the direction of the object. For example, the ECU20 may limit the display of the HUD94 by vibrating the vibration element 32 when the distance to the object is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. The closer the object is to the vehicle 1, the higher the risk of contact, and thus the driver can be prompted to notice.

In the present embodiment, the case where the display of the HUD94 is limited when the object at risk of contact is detected is described, but in one example, the display of at least one of the navigation panel NV and the display device 92 shown in fig. 6 may be limited.

< summary of the embodiments >

1. The control device (2) of the above embodiment controls a report for an occupant in a vehicle (1),

the control device has:

a display unit (94) that displays information to an occupant;

a vibration unit (32) that notifies the occupant of vibration;

a detection unit that detects an object present around the vehicle; and

and a notification control unit that restricts display by the display unit and performs notification by the vibration unit when the object is detected by the detection unit during a period in which information is displayed by the display unit.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a technique for prompting the driver of the vehicle to recognize the surrounding environment of the vehicle when there is an object that is likely to come into contact with the vehicle.

2. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

the display unit includes a head-up display.

This can prompt the driver to recognize the surrounding environment of the vehicle by limiting the display of the head-up display that the driver is likely to pay attention to.

3. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

the vibration unit includes a plurality of vibration elements provided to a steering wheel (31) of the vehicle.

Thus, the driver can determine which vibration element has vibrated, and the amount of information to be notified to the driver can be increased.

4. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

the detection unit detects an orientation of the object with respect to the vehicle,

the report control means restricts display by the display means and causes the plurality of vibration elements to vibrate when it is determined that the orientation of the object is within a range of a predetermined angle including a traveling direction of the vehicle.

Thus, when an object having a high collision risk is detected, the driver can be prompted to recognize the surrounding environment of the vehicle.

5. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

the report control means is configured to, when it is determined that the detected orientation of the object is outside a range of a predetermined angle, cause the vibration element corresponding to the orientation of the plurality of vibration elements to vibrate without limiting the display means.

Thus, when an object having a relatively low collision risk is detected, it is possible to prompt recognition of the surrounding environment of the vehicle by vibration while displaying driving assistance information.

6. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

the report control means causes the plurality of vibration elements to vibrate when the detection means detects a plurality of objects outside the range of the predetermined angle.

Thus, when a plurality of objects are present and it is difficult for the driver to determine the vibration direction, the presence of the risk of contact is notified, and the driver can be prompted to recognize the surrounding environment of the vehicle.

7. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

the report control means causes the vibration means to notify, when it is determined that the orientation of the object is within a range of a predetermined angle, a larger amplitude of vibration than when it is determined that the orientation of the object is outside the range of the predetermined angle.

This makes it possible to appropriately notify the user of the contact risk.

8. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

the detection means measures a distance from the vehicle to the object,

the report control means controls the vibration means such that the amplitude of vibration increases as the distance to the object becomes shorter.

This makes it possible to notify the degree of urgency of the emergency as the distance to the object is shorter. In addition, when the risk of contact is relatively low, the presence of the object can be notified without giving undue stress to the driver.

9. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

the report control means controls the vibration means such that an increase in amplitude of vibration when the orientation of the object is determined to be within a predetermined angular range is larger than an increase in amplitude of vibration when the orientation of the object is determined to be outside the predetermined angular range.

This makes it possible to more clearly notify the degree of increase in the contact risk.

10. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

the detection means measures a distance from the vehicle to the object,

the report control means restricts display by the display means and performs notification by the vibration means when the distance of the detected object is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

Thus, when the distance to the object is equal to or less than a certain value, the driver of the vehicle can be prompted to recognize the surrounding environment of the vehicle.

11. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

the report control means controls the vibration means such that the amplitude of vibration increases as the distance to the object decreases.

This makes it possible to notify the degree of urgency of the object, since the degree of urgency is higher as the distance to the object is shorter. In addition, when the risk of contact is relatively low, the presence of the object can be notified without giving undue stress to the driver.

12. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

the report control unit limits display of the display unit by reducing brightness of the display unit.

This can prompt the driver of the vehicle to recognize the surrounding environment of the vehicle.

13. In the control device (2) of the above embodiment,

when the object is detected based on the detection result of the detection means during a period in which a plurality of pieces of information are displayed on the display means, the report control means limits the display on the display means by reducing the number of pieces of information displayed on the display means.

This reduces the load on the driver of the vehicle in processing the displayed information, and can prompt the driver of the vehicle to recognize the surrounding environment of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle (1) of the above embodiment includes:

a display unit (94) that displays information;

a vibration unit (32) that performs notification based on vibration;

detection means (41-45) for detecting an object present around the vehicle; and

and a control means (2) that, when the object is detected based on the detection result of the detection means during the period in which the display means is displaying, controls the display means so as to restrict the display and also to perform notification based on the vibration means.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a technique for prompting the driver of the vehicle to recognize the surrounding environment of the vehicle when there is an object that is likely to come into contact with the vehicle.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. A control device for controlling a report to an occupant in a vehicle,

the control device has:

a display unit that displays information to an occupant;

a vibration unit that gives a notification based on vibration to an occupant;

a detection unit that detects an object present around the vehicle; and

and a notification control unit that restricts display by the display unit and performs notification by the vibration unit when the object is detected by the detection unit during a period in which information is displayed by the display unit.

2. The control device according to claim 1,

the display unit includes a head-up display.

3. The control device according to claim 1,

the vibration unit includes a plurality of vibration elements provided to a steering wheel of the vehicle.

4. The control device according to claim 3,

the detection unit detects an orientation of the object with respect to the vehicle,

the report control means restricts display by the display means and causes the plurality of vibration elements to vibrate when it is determined that the orientation of the object is within a range of a predetermined angle including a traveling direction of the vehicle.

5. The control device according to claim 4,

the report control means is configured to, when it is determined that the detected orientation of the object is outside a range of a predetermined angle, cause the vibration element corresponding to the orientation of the plurality of vibration elements to vibrate without limiting the display means.

6. The control device according to claim 5,

the report control means causes the plurality of vibration elements to vibrate when the detection means detects a plurality of objects outside the range of the predetermined angle.

7. The control device according to claim 5,

the report control means causes the vibration means to notify, when it is determined that the orientation of the object is within a predetermined angular range, a larger amplitude than when it is determined that the orientation of the object is outside the predetermined angular range.

8. The control device according to claim 5,

the detection means detects a distance from the vehicle to the object,

the report control means controls the vibration means such that the amplitude of vibration increases as the distance to the object becomes shorter.

9. The control device according to claim 8,

the report control means controls the vibration means such that the amount of increase in amplitude when the azimuth is determined to be within a predetermined angular range is greater than the amount of increase in amplitude when the azimuth of the detected object is determined to be outside the predetermined angular range.

10. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

the detection means measures a distance from the vehicle to the object,

the report control means restricts display by the display means and performs notification by the vibration means when the distance of the detected object is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

11. The control device according to claim 10,

the report control means controls the vibration means such that the amplitude increases as the distance to the object decreases.

12. The control device according to claim 1,

the report control unit limits display of the display unit by reducing brightness of the display unit.

13. The control device according to claim 1,

when the object is detected based on the detection result of the detection means during a period in which a plurality of pieces of information are displayed on the display means, the report control means limits the display on the display means by reducing the number of pieces of information displayed on the display means.

14. A vehicle, characterized in that,

the vehicle is provided with:

a display unit that displays information to an occupant;

a vibration unit that gives a notification based on vibration to an occupant;

a detection unit that detects an object present around the vehicle; and

and a control unit that controls, when the object is detected by the detection unit during a period in which information is displayed by the display unit, display of the display unit to be restricted and notification by the vibration unit to be performed.

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