DE102013221526A1 - A control device for a vehicle, display device and method for operating a display device in a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a control device (18, 41) for a vehicle (1) with an interface to a unit (18, 44) for determining a driver's attention of the vehicle (1) with respect to at least one display device (2, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 30) in the vehicle (1) characterized by an interface to a display device (2, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 30) for switching the display device (2, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 30) in an observation state in a detected attention of the driver to the respective display device (2, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 30) and for switching the display device (2, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 30) in a non-observation state in an undetected attention of the driver to the respective display device (2, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 30).

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to a control device for a vehicle according to the preamble of the main claim. From the DE 100 39 795 A1 A method for warning a driver of a vehicle is already known. Here, the output of warnings is issued depending on the attention of the driver. In order to avoid giving warnings of critical situations to a driver already detected by the driver, the driver's attention is detected and the warning of the critical situation is output depending on the attention of the driver. By means of a camera, it is possible to set a driver's attention to the driver's line of sight.

Disclosure of the invention

Advantages of the invention

The control device according to the invention with the features of the main claim has the advantage that it is determined whether a display is observed by the driver, and that the display is then switched depending on whether it is observed between an observation state and a non-observation state. For this purpose, the attention of the driver with respect to a respective display device in a vehicle is determined. In the observation state, the driver can be presented consuming and detailed information.

However, if it is determined that a driver is not watching the display, it is possible according to the invention to provide a non-observation state. In the non-observation state, the display can be done with reduced effort. With reduced attention, the display will generally be located only in the periphery of a field of view of the user or outside his field of vision. If the display is located in an edge region of the field of view, then a simplified representation due to the reduced absorption capacity of the eye in an edge region of the field of view may possibly still be perceived. By a simplified representation thus the recognizability of information can be improved. In particular, however, the power consumption of a display device can be reduced by a simplified representation in the non-observation state. Thus, the recording power of the display device can be reduced overall. Furthermore, this also reduces heating of the display device. This makes it possible to reduce additional cooling costs for operation of the display device.

The measures listed in the dependent claims advantageous refinements and improvements of the main claim control device are possible. It is particularly advantageous to provide a display device in a vehicle, which is connected to a control device according to the invention. A control can be provided independently of each other for different display devices. This makes it particularly well adapted to the attention of the driver, so that certain display devices are operated in an observation state, while other display devices are operated in the vehicle in the non-observed state.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to provide a memory unit in which the operating data for the observation state and the non-observation state are stored. This makes it possible in a simple manner to read the different operating parameters and to provide the display device available. It is thus also possible to supplement another display device in the vehicle, in which the corresponding operating data for the observation state and the non-observation state are stored in a separate memory unit.

It is also advantageous to adapt lighting of a display when switching from the observation state to the non-observation state. This is particularly advantageous for displays in which a backlight is provided, for. B. liquid crystal displays. When backlighting a loss of light is particularly high, so that when switching to a non-observation state with a reduced backlight relatively much energy required for the operation of the backlighting device can be saved.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to provide in the display a representation of vehicle information or information related to the environment of the vehicle. If a driver observes a display, the necessary information can be displayed to the driver in a simple manner by switching to the observation state.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to adapt a rate of image renewal of a computing unit for generating an image with respect to the observation state and the non-observation state. If a driver does not observe an ad, the rate of image renewal can be reduced. On the one hand, therefore, when controlling the screen, but also in the calculation of the images necessary for this purpose, the computing power required for the calculation and thus the power consumption are reduced.

Corresponding advantages also result for a method according to the invention for operating a display device in a vehicle, in which, depending on a driver's attention, he switches from an observation state into a non-observation state and back again.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to not switch immediately to the non-observation state upon detection of change of attention of a driver, particularly in reduction of attention with respect to a particular display. On the one hand, e.g. a short-term looking away of the driver thus not ensure that the display immediately goes into the non-observer state and the driver may be irritated thereby, if he returns his attention after a short time back to the display. Furthermore, it is also possible that, in the event of a possible misdetection of a driver's attention, this leads to the fact that, unexpectedly or possibly only for a short time, he is switched to a non-observation state.

It is also advantageous to determine the presence of other people in the vehicle, such as a person of a passenger. Certain displays in the vehicle, which may also be of interest to a passenger or other passengers in the vehicle, in this case will not be switched to the non-observation state, even if a low attention of the driver to this display is found.

Brief description of the drawings

Show it

1 a schematic representation of a motor vehicle with a control device according to the invention and a display device according to the invention,

2 an embodiment of a display device according to the invention,

3 a schematic representation of an operation of a control device and display device according to the invention,

4 An exemplary embodiment of a method sequence of a method according to the invention for operating a display device in a vehicle.

Embodiments of the invention

The present invention can be used in particular for motor vehicles in road traffic. Here, both information of the driver on states of the vehicle, as well as information of the driver about the vehicle environment is beneficial. For this purpose, one or more display devices may be arranged in the vehicle.

In the 1 is schematically a motor vehicle 1 shown having a plurality of display devices. A first display device 2 is arranged in front of the driver of the vehicle. The display device 2 has a display field 4 for example, which is embodied as a liquid crystal display device. In the display field 4 are for example a scale display 3 or display fields 5 intended. Other information such as text output, symbol representations or map displays can also be displayed. The information is from a computing unit 6 the display device 2 provided. Information about the states of the motor vehicle 1 or about the environment of the motor vehicle 1 calls the display device 2 preferably via a data bus 7 from. To the data bus 7 is for example a control and evaluation 8th connected via another data bus 9 accesses sensors in the vehicle. These sensors measure, for example, the distance to vehicles in the vicinity of the vehicle or evaluate the state of the engine or the movement of the motor vehicle 1 out. In addition or as an alternative to the display device 2 can in the vehicle 1 a projection display 10 be provided in the case of a computing device 11 an image to be projected is determined, for example, on a projection surface in the vehicle 1 , a so-called combiner, or is projected into the windshield of the motor vehicle.

Further, in the vehicle, a display device 12 be provided, which is arranged in the center console of the vehicle or in the vehicle center in the instrument panel. In the display device 12 is for example a map field 13 for displaying a current position of the vehicle in a road map. Furthermore, in the display device 12 Also represented by a dual-view representation of a first image for a driver and a second, different image for a passenger. These images are via a computing device 14 the display device 12 generated. The ads 10 . 12 are preferably also on the data bus 7 connected.

In order to indicate obstacles in the surroundings of the vehicle, an indication is, for example, in the area of a left-hand exterior mirror 15 , in the area of a right outside mirror an indication 16 and / or in the area of a rearview mirror an indication 17 intended. For example, by a bar graph, or by a representation of distance values or by a displayed camera image can be pointed to obstacles in the vicinity of the vehicle. But obstacles can also be with an outward camera in the other display devices 2 . 10 . 12 being represented.

Preference is also given to the data bus 7 an evaluation device 18 connected, which evaluates a driver's attention. In a first embodiment, the evaluation device 18 with a camera device 19 connected, watching the driver. The camera device 19 can for example capture a line of sight of the driver. The camera device is watching for this 19 the driver determines a position of the eyes and a viewing direction through an image analysis, and thus can determine a direction in which the driver looks. This direction can be assigned to a vector positioned three-dimensionally in space, which describes the center of the viewing direction. A solid angle area arranged around this vector can then be assigned to the driver as an area of high attention. The rest of the solid angle area receives a low attention. Information about the attention of the driver is thus provided by the evaluation device 18 made available.

In a first embodiment, the evaluation device can now 18 decide which of the various displays in the vehicle are in an area associated with a high level of driver attention. For example, the display devices are assigned a high level of driver's attention, which are within the field of vision of the driver, who are therefore, for example, in a predefined solid angle range around a driver's line of sight vector.

In one embodiment, the evaluation device can now 18 determine which display devices in the vehicle, the driver observed and to which an observation state is assigned accordingly. The remaining displays are assigned a non-observation status. In a further embodiment, it is also possible for this decision to be made by a computing device of one of the remaining displays in the vehicle, for example by the arithmetic unit 6 the display device 2 ,

In a further embodiment, the operation of an input unit 20 evaluated. Serves the driver controls 21 the input unit 20 that relate to a menu item in one of the display units in the vehicle, the display device in which the respective menu item is displayed, a high attention can be assigned. It is thus assigned to this display the observation state.

In one embodiment, it may be specified in the respective display units which operating parameters are assigned to the display units in the observation state and in a non-observation state. In a further embodiment, but also a control device 22 be provided to the data bus 7 connected. From the controller 22 For example, the respective parameters for the operation of the display in the observation state and in the non-observation state can be retrieved.

In a first embodiment, it is possible to switch between an observation state and a non-observation state for each display, respectively digitally. However, it is also possible that different intermediate states are defined. The intermediate states may, for example, depend on the driver's attention, for example, whether the display is fully in view, in the lateral field of view or outside the field of vision of the driver. Further, however, even in the case where a high attention is now given to a display after a high time, various states between the observation state and the non-observation state may be stepped in accordance with a predetermined timing.

In a further embodiment, to the data bus 7 Also be connected to a sensor through which a presence of one or more other people except the driver is detected in the vehicle. This can be, for example, a seat occupancy sensor which detects which seats in the vehicle are occupied. For example, if a presence of a passenger detected, so remains visible to the passenger display 12 always in an observation state, regardless of a line of sight of the driver. A corresponding control can also take place when using a dual-view display, not shown in the figure. If there is no passenger in the vehicle, then the display device 12 For example, in the event that the driver focuses on the road ahead of the vehicle without looking at the displays in the center console, operated in a non-observer state.

In the 2 an embodiment of a display device according to the invention is shown. As an example, a display device 30 chosen in front of a driver of a vehicle. The display device 30 has a matrix display 31 , For example, a liquid crystal display device. The matrix display 31 is through a lighting unit 32 , which is preferably designed as a backlight unit illuminated. The backlight device is provided by a computing unit 33 driven. The brightness is preferably selected as a function of an ambient brightness. It is particularly easy to switch between a daytime operation and a postoperative operation. Furthermore, the brightness can also be adjusted by a user. In one embodiment, in this case, greater brightness values of the illumination unit 32 for an observation state against a non-observation state, for example, a double brightness. In one embodiment, different values for both the observation state and the non-observation state are provided for a daytime operation and a nighttime operation, respectively. An arithmetic unit 34 determines the image information in the matrix display 31 is pictured. The arithmetic unit controls this 33 a graphics processor 35 on, which is the matrix display 31 controls. In one embodiment, this is in a memory 36 stored image information in the matrix display 31 shown.

In a first embodiment, the displayed image contents differ in the observation state and the non-observation state. In the non-observation state, simplified, that is, less-refined symbols or larger fonts are displayed in relation to the observation state. Furthermore, it is also possible to omit 3D effects that allow a more plastic readability in the non-observation state. Furthermore, the color depth can be reduced, d. H. in the non-observation state, fewer colors are displayed than in the observation state.

In a further embodiment, it is additionally or alternatively also possible that the image refresh rate with which an image representation in the matrix display 31 by means of the graphics processing unit 35 is regularly renewed, depending on the observation state and the non-observation state is selected. Thus, for example, it is possible to renew the image displayed in the matrix display in the non-observation state only once per second, while otherwise an image representation at least 30 times per second. The corresponding parameters for the observation state and the non-observation state are related to the arithmetic unit 33 preferably from a memory 37 in which the respective parameters are stored non-volatile.

In a first embodiment, the display device 30 by means of the arithmetic unit 33 Check by yourself whether to switch to an observation state or to a non-observation state. You can also do this via a connection to the data bus 7 be communicated. In the simplest case, the information about a one-bit information can be done. The data bus 7 For example, it is implemented as a CAN data bus. The information may be the display device 30 via an evaluation device 38 over the data bus 7 be communicated.

In the 3 is a schematic sequence of a control of a display device according to the invention shown with a control device according to the invention. The camera 40 watches the driver of a vehicle. She directed video data or video meta-data, which has already been pre-evaluated, to a controller 41 Next, which evaluates a driver's attention. The control device 41 recorded via an input 42 also optionally vehicle parameters and is also in an embodiment also capable of an output 43 Issue warning signals, for example, if it is determined that the driver is sleeping. In particular, a focus of attention of the driver, such as a driver's line of sight, is set. In a simple evaluation, it is possible to differentiate between the states that the driver's gaze is directed to the surroundings in front of the vehicle, ie that the driver pays attention to road traffic. In another state of attention can be noted that the driver does not pay attention or not fully on the road. In this case, attention of the driver to the gauges is assumed. Furthermore, the driver's direction of sight can also be determined in a targeted manner on one or more of the display instruments present in the vehicle. The evaluation can also be carried out in such a way that a provision of an observation and a non-observation state is performed only for a part of the display instruments installed in the vehicle. The attention information is sent to an evaluation device 44 which decides which of the display devices are to be operated in an observation state and in a non-observation state, respectively. This information is sent to the display devices 45 each forwarded. The display devices 45 then switch to the respective state.

In the 4 an inventive process flow is shown. The method comes with an initialization step 50 began. In an evaluation step 51 it is determined in which direction the driver looks. For one and optionally several display devices is in a subsequent decision step 52 checks if the driver is looking at an ad. If this is not the case and this is first detected, so becomes the evaluation step 51 in one embodiment, in a hysteresis step 53 Branched back. Only when the decision step 52 is reached again and it is determined for a predetermined time, for example five seconds, that the driver of a display is not paying attention, becomes a switching step 54 branched, by means of which is switched from the observation state of an indication in the non-observation state of the display. Thereafter, the process is in an end step 55 terminated and after a predetermined period of time, for example 10s repeated. If necessary, then after the decision step 52 again through the switching step 54 switched back to the observation state. If consistent attention corresponding to previously determined attention is in the decision step 52 is determined, there is no switching and the process is the final step 56 completed.

In one embodiment, when starting the vehicle, first, for all the displays, an operation in an observation state regardless of a driver's line of vision for a prescribed period of time may be established.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10039795 A1 [0001]

Claims (10)

Control device ( 18 . 41 ) for a vehicle ( 1 ) with an interface to a unit ( 18 . 44 ) for determining a driver's attention of the vehicle ( 1 ) with respect to at least one display device ( 2 . 10 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 30 ) in the vehicle ( 1 ) characterized by an interface to a display device ( 2 . 10 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 30 ) for switching the display device ( 2 . 10 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 30 ) in an observation state upon a detected attention of the driver to the respective display device (FIG. 2 . 10 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 30 ) and for switching the display device ( 2 . 10 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 30 ) in a non-observer state with an undetected attention of the driver to the respective display device ( 2 . 10 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 30 ). Display device ( 2 . 10 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 30 ) for connection to a control device ( 18 . 41 ) according to claim 1. Display device according to claim 2, characterized by a control device ( 22 ) for storing operating data of the display device ( 2 . 10 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 ) for the observation state and the non-observation state. Display device according to one of claims 2-3, characterized by a lighting unit ( 32 ) for changing the illumination of a display ( 31 ) of the display device ( 30 ) depending on an existence of the observation state and the non-observation state. Display device according to one of claims 2-4 with a display ( 31 ) to display vehicle information or information related to the environment of the vehicle. Display device according to Claim 5, characterized by a computing unit ( 6 . 33 . 35 ) for controlling the image generation, wherein a image renewal rate of the arithmetic unit ( 6 . 33 . 35 ) is determined depending on an existence of the observation state and the non-observation state. Method for operating a display device ( 2 . 10 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 30 ) in a vehicle ( 1 ), wherein attention of a driver of the vehicle with respect to at least one display device ( 2 . 10 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 30 ) is determined in the vehicle and wherein the display device ( 2 . 10 . 12 . 15 . 16 . 17 . 30 ) is switched to an observation state or to a non-observation state depending on a detected attention of the driver to the respective display device. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that in the non-observed state compared to the observation state, an illumination ( 31 ) of the display or a refresh rate of the display is reduced. Method according to one of claims 7-8, characterized in that upon detection of a change of attention of the driver to a display, a changeover from the observation state to a non-observation state with a predetermined time delay takes place. Method according to one of claims 7-9, characterized in that the presence of further persons in the vehicle is determined and a changeover from an observation state to a non-observation state for a display unit is inhibited if the presence of other persons in the vehicle is detected.

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