DE102019008744A1 - Method for controlling the brightness of displays - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling the brightness of displays (31, 32, 33) in a vehicle by means of digital masks, the vehicle having a device (6) for detecting the viewing angle of a person (5) controlling the vehicle. The invention is characterized in that a brightness mask (7) is used, in the center (8) of which the basic brightness of the displays (31, 32, 33) remains unchanged and decreases outwards away from the center (8), the brightness mask ( 7) is shifted on the displays (31, 32, 33) in such a way that the center point (8) coincides with the direction of view of the person (5) controlling the vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling the brightness of displays in a vehicle according to the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1.

The EP 1 231 564 B1 describes the control of digital local image properties via masks. Among other things, the use of brightness masks or correction masks to lighten and darken displays is fundamentally described.

It is noticeable in the accident statistics for motor vehicles that the risk of accidents increases dramatically, especially at night. Although only around 20% of all driving at night takes place on country roads or highways, around 40% of all serious accidents, some of which are fatal, occur there.

In order to increase the safety of a person driving a vehicle, it is therefore helpful if the main visual task of the person driving the vehicle, namely recording the traffic situation and the vehicle environment in the dark, is supported by the best possible exterior lighting. The person driving the vehicle must be affected as little as possible by other visual stimuli in order to be able to concentrate as much as possible on seeing the area around the vehicle.

It is now the case, however, that more and more and ever larger displays are used as display and user interfaces in motor vehicles. It is true that these are typically adapted via an automatic control for the display brightness as a function of the ambient brightness and / or as a function of the vehicle light that is switched on or off. An inversion of the brightness content for what is known as night mode, in contrast to the display of the image content in daytime mode, is also common. Nevertheless, it is obviously very difficult to offer the person driving a vehicle optimal visual conditions, as the statistics cited at the beginning show.

Regarding the further prior art, it can also be pointed out that so-called eye tracking systems, via which the direction of gaze of a person driving the vehicle is determined, belong to the prior art.

The object of the present invention is to specify a method for controlling the brightness of displays in a vehicle by means of digital masks, which method enables improved viewing of the vehicle surroundings and thus greater driving safety at dusk or in darkness.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method having the features in claim 1, and here in particular in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The vehicle, which has a device for detecting the line of sight of a person controlling the vehicle, uses the digital masks known per se to control the brightness of the displays. According to the invention, the method uses a brightness mask, in the center of which the basic brightness of the display remains unchanged and decreases outwards away from the center. According to the invention, this brightness mask is shifted on the display in such a way that the center point of the brightness mask coincides with the direction of view of the person controlling the vehicle.

As long as the person controlling the vehicle is looking in the direction of at least one display, the display is shown in the center of this person's gaze via the brightness mask in such a way that the content there may be important or interesting for the person at that moment. Starting from this point of view of the person on the displays, the brightness will then decrease accordingly in all directions, so that the less relevant areas and contents of the display (s) are increasingly darkened and not the light situation due to the scattered light emanating from them to the detriment of the detection of the environment affect the vehicle.

The method according to the invention uses the so-called sharp visual area of the human field of vision, which is limited to a few degrees. In addition, only symbols and colors further outside can be recognized anyway, then only brightness or outlines further outside, so that no actual information can be detected by the person driving the vehicle from the sections darkened via the brightness mask. This minimizes superfluous visual stimuli and superfluous light in the peripheral field of vision of the person driving the vehicle, thereby supporting the focus on the vehicle environment and the information actually required. Furthermore, the method according to the invention supports the eyes of the person controlling the vehicle in adapting the brightness to the traffic situation, in that the displays emit as little lighting as possible in the vehicle interior. Ultimately, this serves to increase road safety in the dark or at dusk and can be used in the Ideally, help prevent accidents or at least reduce their severity.

According to a very advantageous development of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the brightness mask is formed using numerical values, these being multiplied by the basic brightness of the display, with the value in the center of the brightness mask 1 is arranged, which decreases away from the center point to a residual value at the outer edge of the brightness mask. This allows the digital mask to be implemented easily and efficiently.

According to an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, the residual value can be individually set between 0 and a value less than 1, so that the adaptive brightness adjustment can be fine-tuned again by the person controlling the vehicle. The same applies to the basic brightness, which is the basis for controlling the brightness with the brightness mask in all displays. This basic brightness can also be set individually accordingly. Another very advantageous embodiment of the method also provides that the use of the brightness mask can be deactivated via an individual setting. A person who controls the vehicle can therefore choose whether they want support from the method according to the invention for controlling the brightness of displays via the brightness mask, the brightest point of which is in the center of the field of vision, or whether they want it through an individual setting want to deactivate and use the conventional brightness control associated with the prior art.

According to a further very advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the individual settings, be it for the residual value, the basic brightness and / or the deactivation of the brightness mask, can be made in a menu of the vehicle control so that these can be made easily and at any time by the person controlling the vehicle can. This also enables it to be carried out, for example, while driving, in order to operate with the conventional brightness control in urban areas, for example, since there is typically a high level of lighting here via street lamps and the like, while the advantages of the invention above all over land, on country roads and highways, for example Wear come, so that in these situations the viewing angle-dependent control of the brightness can advantageously be used.

Furthermore, according to a very advantageous embodiment, the value of the basic brightness can still be controlled as a function of the ambient brightness and / or the state of the headlights of the vehicle, as has also been customary so far, so that the method according to the invention with the brightness control via the mask is more or less the usual method is superimposed.

Another extraordinarily favorable embodiment of the method according to the invention then also provides that warning symbols or warning notices are displayed with at least the basic brightness independently of the brightness mask. Warning symbols or warnings, which are correspondingly important for the person driving the vehicle, are not darkened via the brightness mask, but in any case light up at least with the basic brightness or possibly even a higher brightness, so that they are even if they are not in the field of vision of the person driving the vehicle, are visually perceptible in any case and can thus warn the person driving the vehicle in the intended manner.

According to a favorable embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the brightness mask is designed such that the brightness decreases in a logarithmic course starting from the center point towards the edge of the brightness mask. Other courses, for example a linear course, or all other conceivable courses with corresponding arcs, steps or the like would also be conceivable. However, the logarithmic curve offers a simple and efficient way to control the brightness in such a way that the center point and the areas directly surrounding it are sufficiently bright to be able to perceive the necessary information here quickly and easily, and that the brightness then in one for the human sensation decreases pleasantly starting from the center to the edge of the brightness mask.

Further advantageous refinements of the method according to the invention also result from the exemplary embodiment, which is described and explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

• 1 ein schematisch angedeutetes Cockpit eines Fahrzeugs mit einer das Fahrzeug steuernden Person;
• 2 eine schematisch angedeutete Helligkeitsmaske;
• 3 die Helligkeitsverteilung in einer solchen Helligkeitsmaske;
• 4 und 5 zwei beispielhafte Szenarien zur Nutzung der Helligkeitsmaske; und
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung einer Menüsteuerung zur beispielhaften Einstellung der minimalen Resthelligkeit.

Show:

• 1 a schematically indicated cockpit of a vehicle with a person controlling the vehicle;
• 2 a schematically indicated brightness mask;
• 3 the brightness distribution in such a brightness mask;
• 4th and 5 two exemplary scenarios for using the brightness mask; and
• 6th a schematic representation of a menu control for an exemplary setting of the minimum residual brightness.

In the representation of the 1 is a vehicle, not designated in its entirety, with a view from the inside to the outside. A cockpit labeled 1 can be seen behind a windshield labeled 2. Part of the cockpit 1 is thereby through three individual displays 31 , 32 and 33 educated. There is also a steering wheel 4th to recognize, as well as an indicated head of a person controlling the vehicle 5 . In addition, the representation of the 1 A line of sight of the person controlling the vehicle via a dashed line with an arrow 5 drawn. About one in the windshield area 2 facility located above 6th to capture the direction of the person's gaze 5 this viewing direction can be captured in a manner known per se.

Especially when driving at night, it is now important and crucial for vehicle safety that the best possible exterior lighting is provided around the person driving the vehicle 5 to enable the best possible view of the area around the vehicle and of the traffic around it. Furthermore, it is so that the displays 31 , 32 , 33 lead to a relatively high brightness within the vehicle in their capacity as display and user interfaces, which generates superfluous visual stimuli and may impair the view of the surroundings of the vehicle. The displays 31 , 32 , 33 simply switching it off is not an option, however, as this provides information that is relevant to the person 5 may be important, for example in the display 31 the driven speed or in the display 32 as indicated here, a map on which route planning is displayed so that the person controlling the vehicle 5 can easily and efficiently follow the desired and specified route.

For this reason, in addition to the familiar variable basic brightness of the displays 31 , 32 , 33 a brightness mask is provided. This brightness mask, denoted by 7, is shown in FIG 2 indicated schematically. In their focus 8th assigns the brightness mask 7th the highest brightness. This then decreases accordingly towards the edge. Different courses of decreasing brightness are conceivable. The representation in 2 uses a more or less linear course, which was best suited for graphical representation here. Ideal for the application explained below for controlling the brightness of the displays 31 , 32 , 33 is however a course as shown in the illustration of 3 is indicated accordingly. In the centre 8th the highest brightness is present. A basic brightness of the respective display 31 , 32 , 33 is used for this with the value 1 multiplied, so remains unchanged. The further a pixel from the center 8th away, the smaller the value by which it is multiplied, down to the value 0 at the outer edge, so that the point is no longer visible there, but is only displayed in black. This course behaves as in the solid line in the diagram of 3 , which is the numerical values on the y-axis and an angular deviation α from the center point 8th points towards the edge on the x-axis.

The solid curve varies the values from the value 1 in the center over a logarithmic relationship up to the value 0 at a viewing angle which is the outer edge of the brightness mask 7th symbolizes. This value, which is given here as 0, is referred to as the residual brightness. This value can be set, for example, by the person driving the vehicle 5 adjust individually. For example, if this person wants the content of the displays 31 , 32 , 33 basically still shine through if they are far away from the center that has been brightened up to the base brightness 8th then it can adjust this accordingly. Such an individual setting is indicated by the dashed line in the illustration of the 3 indicated accordingly. Purely by way of example, the residual brightness can be around 40% or 0.4 on the y-axis.

In the representations of the 4th and 5 is now purely an example of the use of the brightness mask 7th shown. This is the direction in which the person is looking 5 via the appropriate facility 6th detected. In the representation of the 4th this is for example on the left side of the map representation in the display 32 directed. The middle-point 8th the brightness mask 7th , of which here the one in the area of the displays shown as examples 32 and 33 is shown, then lies exactly in the area on which the gaze of the person 5 is directed so that the content located here can be seen well before the brightness drops accordingly and the other content and for example the display 33 in the representation of the 4th do not shine or no longer shine as strongly. This creates a focus on the center 8th the brightness mask, i.e. its brightest point. In the representation of the 5 the same scenario is shown again, but no longer looking at the display 32 , but on the right edge of the display 33 is directed. The middle-point 8th and thus the point of greatest brightness moves into this area. This allows for the one for the person 5 Illuminate important areas in such a way that the relevant information can be seen here, the overall brightness of all displays 31 , 32 , 33 but together so little What remains is that a distraction by visual stimuli in the peripheral field of vision is minimized accordingly.

In the representation of the 6th Finally, a menu control is shown, which is used to set the display brightness at night. It can be set here whether the display brightness remains homogeneous at a predetermined or individually adjustable base brightness, i.e. ultimately the method known from the prior art is used. If, on the other hand, the person wants a viewing angle-controlled adjustment of the brightness via the brightness mask 7th , then she can select this point accordingly. In the 6th On the right it is then indicated that a further selection is possible for the selection “depending on the viewing angle” in order to set the remaining brightness accordingly, here for example to 40%, ie to the value 0.4 in the diagram of 3 so that the in 3 the dashed value results.

The basic brightness or other parameters and threshold values for controlling the displays can also be set in a comparable manner 31 , 32 , 33 as it is well known and customary. These basic settings can then be made using the brightness mask for the viewing angle-dependent setting 7th overlay in order to achieve the desired brightness distribution, which enables the advantages already mentioned several times with regard to traffic safety when driving in the dark or twilight.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was 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.

Patent literature cited

• EP 1231564 B1 [0002]

Claims (9)

Method for controlling the brightness of displays (31, 32, 33) in a vehicle by means of digital masks, wherein the vehicle has a device (6) for detecting the viewing angle of a person (5) controlling the vehicle, characterized in that a brightness mask (7) is used, in the center (8) of which the basic brightness of the displays (31, 32, 33) remains unchanged and decreases away from the center (8) towards the outside, the brightness mask (7) so on the displays (31, 32, 33) is shifted so that the center point (8) coincides with the direction of view of the person (5) controlling the vehicle. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the brightness mask (7) is formed using numerical values which are multiplied by the base brightness, the value 1 being arranged in the center (8), which value decreases away from the center (8) to a residual value. Procedure according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the residual value can be set individually between 0 and a value less than 1. Procedure according to Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that the basic brightness can be set individually. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , characterized in that the use of the brightness mask (7) can be deactivated via an individual setting. Method according to one of the Claims 3 , 4th or 5 , characterized in that the individual settings can be made via a menu of the vehicle control. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 6th , characterized in that the value of the basic brightness is controlled as a function of the ambient brightness and / or a state of the headlights of the vehicle. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th , characterized in that warning symbols or warnings are displayed independently of the brightness mask (7) at least with the basic brightness. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th , characterized in that the brightness of the brightness mask (7) from the center (8) to its edge follows a logarithmic curve in each radial direction.

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