FR3085888A1 - MOTORIZED SUN VISOR AND SCREEN WITH CONTEXTUAL DISPLAY, FOR A VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

A sun visor (PS) is fitted to a roof (TV) of a vehicle (V) comprising a camera (CO) acquiring images of the environment at the rear and a driving assistance device (DAC) controlling its driving in an automated driving phase. This sun visor (PS) comprises: - an opaque screen (EO) secured to the roof (TV) and comprising a display screen (EA) displaying at least the acquired environmental images, - an electric motor (ME) secured at the roof (TV) and driving in rotation the opaque screen (EO) between a stored position and a position of use, and - a computer (CA2) which, when the vehicle (V) is in a reverse phase, controls the drive in rotation to the position of use and the display of the acquired environment images and / or thumbnails representative of function commands (s) accessible (s) in the vehicle (V) and / or information depending on the context in which the vehicle is being driven (V).

Description

MOTORIZED SUN VISOR WITH CONTEXTUAL DISPLAY FOR A VEHICLE

The invention relates to vehicles which include a roof partially delimiting a passenger compartment, and more precisely the sun visors intended to be secured to the internal face of such a roof.

Certain vehicles defined above, and generally of the automobile type, comprise a roof delimiting in part a passenger compartment intended to house at least one driver and comprising an internal face to which is secured a sun visor provided with a display screen. This display screen is responsible for displaying environmental images acquired in a rear part of the vehicle by an observation camera and supplied by a parking assistance device. Such an arrangement, which is described in particular in document US Pat. No. 9,457,642, prevents the driver from having to turn around when performing a reverse maneuver, which is uncomfortable, sometimes painful, and not at all ergonomic. In addition, it also allows the driver to observe the environment in front of his vehicle.

A main drawback of such an arrangement lies in the fact that in order to be able to observe the images of the rear environment the driver must first think of manually placing the sun visor in a position of use (with good orientation), which is not a spontaneous operation, especially in the absence of sun. In addition, at the end of the reverse maneuvers and in the absence of the sun, the driver must manually replace the sun visor in a stowed (or upright) position, otherwise the sun visor may hinder him when he goes leave with your vehicle. In addition, when the vehicle also includes a driving assistance device responsible for controlling his driving in place of the driver in the automated driving phases, and at the same time the sun visor is in a position of use , the display screen of the latter unnecessarily displays environmental images of the rear part, which is unnecessary and can be a nuisance for the driver who is temporarily passive.

The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation.

To this end, it notably offers a sun visor, on the one hand, intended to equip a vehicle comprising a roof partially delimiting a passenger compartment intended to accommodate at least one driver, a camera acquiring images of the environment in a rear part of the vehicle and a driving assistance device controlling his driving instead of the driver in an automated driving phase, and, on the other hand, comprising an opaque screen intended to be secured to an internal face of the roof and comprising a screen display capable of displaying at least these acquired environment images.

This sun visor is characterized by the fact that it also includes:

an electric motor intended to be secured to the internal face of the roof and to rotate the opaque screen between a stored position and at least one position of use in which the display screen is oriented towards the driver, and

- a computer which, when the vehicle is in reverse gear, controls the rotational drive to a position of use and the display of the acquired environment images and / or thumbnails representative of accessible function (s) in the vehicle and / or information depending on the context in which the vehicle is being driven.

Thanks to the invention, the driver no longer has to place the lens hood himself in a position of use when he wants to observe at least the images of the rear environment while he is performing reverse maneuvers, and the display offered to it on the visor display screen is now contextual.

The sun visor according to the invention may include other characteristics which can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- in the presence of a driving context in which the vehicle is in a manual driving phase, its computer can control the display of the acquired environmental images and of information defining the distances separating a rear end of the vehicle from objects detected in the acquired environment images and / or an optimal trajectory to follow to park the vehicle;

- its display screen can be of the touch type. In this case, in the presence of a driving context in which the vehicle is in an automated driving phase, its computer can control the display of thumbnails representative of function commands accessible in the vehicle, and, when a driver's finger touches a thumbnail displayed on the display screen, can trigger the realization of the command of the function represented by this thumbnail;

> when a communication equipment associated with the driver is on board the vehicle, its computer can control the display on the display screen of thumbnails representative of telematic function commands provided by this communication equipment, and, when a driver's finger touches a thumbnail displayed on the display screen, can order this communication equipment to perform the control of the function represented by this thumbnail;

• when the carrying out of a telematic function command induces at least two other possible telematic function commands, its computer can control the display of other thumbnails representative of each of these other telematic function commands, and, when a finger the driver touches one of these other thumbnails displayed on the display screen, can order the on-board communication equipment to carry out the control of the function represented by this thumbnail;

> its computer can control that the opaque screen is maintained in its operating position as long as the driver has not stopped using the telematic functions via the display screen;

- The electric motor can be arranged so as to place the opaque screen in several positions of use differing in their angular orientations from its stored position. In this case, its computer can control the placement of the opaque screen in a position of use which is a function of a position of the driver's eyes in the passenger compartment;

- its computer can control the replacement of the opaque screen in its stowed position when vehicle V has been immobilized for a period greater than a predefined threshold.

The invention also provides a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising a roof partially delimiting a passenger compartment intended to house at least one driver, a camera acquiring images of the environment in a rear part, a device for assisting in the driving controlling his driving instead of the driver in an automated driving phase, and at least one sun visor of the type presented above.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically and functionally illustrates, in a top view, an example of a motor vehicle comprising an embodiment of a sun visor according to the invention placed in a stowed position,

FIG. 2 schematically and functionally illustrates, in a top view, an example of a motor vehicle comprising an exemplary embodiment of a sun visor according to the invention placed in a position of use,

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates, in a front view in the passenger compartment of the vehicle of FIG. 1, the sun visor placed in its stowed position, and

- Figure 4 schematically illustrates, in a front view in the passenger compartment of the vehicle of Figure 2, the sun visor placed in its position of use.

The object of the invention is in particular to propose a sun visor PS intended to be secured at least partially to an internal face of a TV roof (or pavilion) of a vehicle V with partially automated driving, and to provide contextual display for the driver of this vehicle V.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of nonlimiting example, that vehicle V is of the automobile type. It is for example a car, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any type of vehicle comprising a roof (or roof) partially delimiting a passenger compartment intended to accommodate at least one driver. Thus, it relates to land vehicles, boats and aircraft.

The term “vehicle with partially automated (or autonomous) driving” is understood here to mean a vehicle which can be driven by its driver during a manual driving phase or in an automated manner by a driving assistance device (and therefore without the intervention of its driver). on the steering wheel and pedals) during an automated (or autonomous) driving phase.

There is schematically shown in Figures 1 and 2 an example of a vehicle (here automobile) V comprising a roof (or roof) TV, partially defining a passenger compartment H intended to accommodate at least one driver and to which is partially secured an example of a barrier -sun PS according to the invention, and a DAC driving assistance device.

It will be understood that the sun visor PS is associated with the driver's seat (placed behind the steering wheel of vehicle V, here located in the front left part of the passenger compartment H) and intended to be used by the driver when the latter is seated on this driver's seat.

In the example illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 and 2 only the driver's seat is associated with a sun visor PS according to the invention. The passenger seat (here located in the right front part of the passenger compartment H) is also associated with a sun visor (not shown) but which need not be identical to the PS sun visor according to the invention ( although this is possible).

The DAC driving assistance device is responsible for controlling the driving of vehicle V in place of its driver during the automated (or autonomous) driving phases. This DAC driving assistance device can, for example, be of the ADAS ("Advanced Driver Assistance System") type.

It will be noted that the vehicle V has at least three driving contexts, namely a driving context in which it is temporarily in a forward phase, a driving context in which it is temporarily in a reverse phase, and a driving context in which he is temporarily in an automated (or autonomous) driving phase.

It will also be noted that for the invention to be able to be implemented, the vehicle V must also include at least one CO camera responsible for acquiring images of the environment in its rear part. For example, and as illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, this CO camera can supply its acquired environment images to a computer CA1 of a parking aid device (possibly automated). This computer CA1 is responsible for controlling the display, on at least one display screen on board the vehicle V, of images of the environment acquired by the camera CO and of parking assistance information, such as for example distances separating a rear end of the vehicle V from objects that it has detected in these acquired environmental images and / or an optimal trajectory to be followed for parking the vehicle V. This display screen on board the vehicle V can, for example , be part of a central handset which is installed in or on the dashboard of vehicle V. In addition, the CO camera can possibly be part of this parking assistance device, just as it could possibly be part of the barrier. PS sunshade according to the invention.

In the example illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, the camera CO is fixedly fixed to a central upper part of the internal face of a rear window LA of the vehicle V. But it could be fixedly fixed to a rear tailgate of the vehicle V or a rear part of the vehicle body or rear bumper (or bumper) V.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a sun visor PS according to the invention comprises an electric motor ME, an opaque screen EO, a display screen EA, and at least one computer CA2.

The opaque screen EO is intended to be secured to an internal face of the TV roof of the vehicle V and comprises on a rear face FR the display screen EA. The term “rear face” is understood here to mean a face which is oriented either towards the TV roof when the opaque screen EO is placed in a stored position (and therefore not used - see FIGS. 1 and 3), or towards the conductor when the The opaque EO screen is placed in a position of use (see Figures 2 and 4). This rear face FR is opposite to a front face FV which is oriented either towards the floor of the vehicle V when the opaque screen EO is placed in a stowed position (and therefore not used), or towards the windshield PB of the vehicle V when the opaque screen EO is placed in a position of use.

The display screen EA is arranged so as to display the images of the environment acquired by the camera CO and / or thumbnails representative of commands of function (s) which is (are) accessible (s) in the vehicle V and / or information by order of the CA2 computer. We will come back to these functions later.

Note that this EA display screen may possibly be of the touch type.

The ME electric motor is intended to be secured to the internal face of the TV roof and to rotate the opaque screen EO between the stowed position (illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3) and at least one position of use (illustrated in Figures 2 and 4) in which the display screen EA is oriented towards the driver.

This ME electric motor is electrically powered by the power supply network of vehicle V.

The computer CA2 is arranged, when the vehicle V is in a reverse phase, so as to control, on the one hand, the rotation drive of the opaque screen EO (by the electric motor ME) up to a position of use and, on the other hand, the display by the display screen EA of the acquired environment images and / or of thumbnails representative of function commands (s) accessible in the vehicle V and / or information depending on the context in which the vehicle is being driven.

In other words, when the vehicle V is in a reverse gear phase (for example detected by the current position of its gear lever or by its current direction of movement), the computer CA2 will trigger the placement of the opaque screen EO in a position of use (possibly angularly predefined) and the display by the display screen EA of images of the environment and / or of thumbnails and / or information according to the context of driving vehicle V.

Thus, the driver no longer has to place his own PS sun visor in a position of use in order to be able to observe at least the images of the rear environment when performing reverse maneuvers, and henceforth the display that is proposed to it on the EA display screen of the PS lens hood is contextual.

In the example illustrated without limitation in FIGS. 1 and 2, the computer CA2 is installed in the engine compartment of the vehicle V and not in a side door PL. But it could be installed in the EO opaque screen or in the trim of the internal face of the TV roof or in a possible ceiling fixture secured to the internal face of the TV roof. It will be noted that this computer CA2 can possibly perform at least one other function within the vehicle V.

For example, in the presence of a driving context in which the vehicle V is in a manual driving phase (in reverse), the computer CA2 can control the display of the environmental images acquired by the camera CO and of information defining the distances separating a rear end of the vehicle V from objects detected in the acquired environmental images and / or an optimal trajectory to be followed for parking the vehicle V. This rear end may, for example, be the bumper (or shield) rear.

It will be understood that this information is here determined by the parking aid computer CA1 and transmitted to the computer CA2, possibly via a communication network of the vehicle V (possibly of the multiplexed type). But in the absence of this computer CA1, it is the computer CA2 which is responsible for determining them from at least the environmental images acquired by the CO camera. Furthermore, in the presence of the parking aid computer CA1, the acquired environmental images can, for example, be transmitted to the computer CA2 by the computer CA1, possibly via the aforementioned communication network. As a variant, the acquired environment images can, for example, be transmitted to the computer CA2 by the camera CO, possibly via the aforementioned communication network.

With this option, the EA display screen is used to display substantially the same as what is (or should be) displayed by the display screen (for example from the central handset) which is usually used by the parking aid. This advantageously allows the driver to continue to observe the environment in front of his vehicle V, without having to turn his head towards the central instrument panel.

Also for example, when the display screen EA is of the tactile type and when there is a driving context in which the vehicle V is in an automated driving phase (in reverse), the computer CA2 can control the display of thumbnails that are representative of function commands that are (are) accessible in vehicle V. In this case, when a driver's finger touches a thumbnail that is displayed on the display screen EA, the computer CA2 can trigger the realization of the command of the function which is represented by this thumbnail.

In other words, in the last context mentioned above, it is not the environmental images that are displayed, which could hinder the driver who is temporarily passive and therefore not involved in the reverse gear maneuver in progress, but commands function (s) to avoid this driver having to move something other than one of his arms to select one of these commands.

It will be noted that in the presence of the last option, when a communication equipment EC is associated with the driver and is on board the vehicle V, the computer CA2 can control the display on the display screen EA of representative thumbnails telematic function commands which are provided by this EC communication equipment. In this case, when a driver's finger touches a thumbnail which is displayed on the display screen EA, the computer CA2 can order this communication equipment EC to carry out the control of the function which is represented by this thumbnail.

The EC communication equipment can, for example, be a smart mobile phone (or “smartphone”) or an electronic tablet which the driver uses and which he has temporarily placed in the vehicle V. As a variant, the equipment for communication EC can, for example, be a communication module MC which is permanently installed in vehicle V, which can establish communications by waves with a wireless network, and which has been previously configured by the driver to access (and control) its telematics applications.

Telematics applications can be chosen from at least one telephone voicemail, one electronic messaging (emails (or "e-mails")), one short message box (or SMS / MMS), and at least one social network.

It will also be noted that in the presence of the last option, when the carrying out of a telematic function command induces at least two other possible telematic function commands, the computer CA2 can control the display of other thumbnails which are representative of each of these other telematics function commands. In this case, when a driver's finger touches one of these other thumbnails displayed on the display screen EA, the computer CA2 can order the communication equipment EC to carry out the command of the function which is represented by this thumbnail.

It will also be noted that in the presence of the last option, the computer CA2 can control the maintenance of the opaque screen EO in its position of use as long as the driver has not stopped using the telematic functions via the screen d 'EA display. In other words, as long as a session for using a telematics function has not been voluntarily closed (or closed) by the driver, by selecting a thumbnail representing the closing command, the computer CA2 continues control the display of the thumbnails of commands for telematic functions.

It will also be noted that the electric motor ME can be arranged so as to place the opaque screen EO in several positions of use differing in their angular orientations relative to the stored position. In this case, the computer CA2 can be arranged so as to control the placement of the opaque screen EO in a position of use which is a function of the position of the driver's eyes in the passenger compartment H. This option requires that the vehicle V includes in its passenger compartment H another camera observing at least the driver's head (and for example located in the interior central mirror), and another computer capable of determining the position of the driver's eyes in the passenger compartment H (and in particular the height at which they are placed). In this case, the computer CA2 determines the orientation angle of the opaque screen EO as a function of the height at which the driver's eyes are placed.

In the absence of this last option, the computer CA2 controls the placement of the opaque screen EO in a position of use which is predefined.

It will also be noted that the computer CA2 can be arranged so as to control the replacement of the opaque screen EO in its stowed position when the vehicle V has been immobilized for a period which is greater than a predefined threshold. For example, this threshold can be between two and ten seconds. In fact, it is considered here that at the expiration of a period equal to this threshold after the immobilization of vehicle V, the latter (V) is parked and therefore its driver no longer needs environmental images of the rear part. Therefore, the EO opaque screen can be stored.

This last option saves the driver from having to put the opaque EO screen back into its stowed position (via an ME electric motor control unit).

It will also be noted that the computer CA2 can be configured so as not to control the placement of the opaque screen EO in a position of use when there is no passenger detected in the driver's seat.

It will also be noted that in FIGS. 1 and 2 the processing (or calculation) and control means of the sun visor PS are very schematically and functionally illustrated by the only computer CA2. This computer CA2 can comprise at least one digital signal processor (or DSP (Digital Signal Processor)), possibly associated with a random access memory to store instructions for the implementation by this processor of a computer program (or software (or still “software”)) or routines allowing to drive the electric motor ME to place the opaque screen EO and to control the contextual display of the display screen EA. Furthermore, the processing (or calculation) and control means of the sun visor PS may comprise a box comprising integrated (or printed) circuits, connected by wired or non-wired connections. The term integrated circuit (or printed circuit) means any type of device capable of performing at least one electrical or electronic operation. In addition, this PS sun visor can optionally include a plurality of processors, at least a mass memory, an input interface, and an output interface for the transmission of piloting and control commands.

Claims (10)

1. Sun visor (PS) for a vehicle (V) comprising a roof (TV) partially defining a passenger compartment (H) intended to accommodate at least one driver, a camera (CO) acquiring images of the environment in a part rear of said vehicle (V) and a driving assistance device (DAC) controlling his driving in place of said driver in an automated driving phase, said sun visor (PS) comprising an opaque screen (EO) intended to be secured to an internal face of said roof (TV) and comprising a display screen (EA) capable of displaying at least said acquired environmental images, characterized in that it further comprises i) an electric motor (ME) intended to be secured to said inner face of the roof (TV) and to rotate said opaque screen (EO) between a stored position and at least one position of use in which said display screen (EA) is oriented towards said conductor, and ii) a calculator ( CA2) which, when said vehicle (V) is in a reverse phase, controls said rotational drive to a position of use and the display of said acquired environment images and / or thumbnails representative of commands of accessible function (s) in said vehicle (V) and / or of information as a function of a driving context in progress of said vehicle (V). 2. Sun visor according to claim 1, characterized in that in the presence of a driving context in which said vehicle (V) is in a manual driving phase, said computer (CA2) controls the display of said images d 'acquired environment and information defining distances separating a rear end of said vehicle (V) from objects detected in said acquired environment images and / or an optimal trajectory to be followed in order to park said vehicle (V). 3. Sun visor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said display screen (EA) is of tactile type, and in that in the presence of a driving context in which said vehicle (V) is in an automated driving phase, said computer (CA2) controls the display of thumbnails representative of function commands (s) accessible in said vehicle (V), and, when a finger of said driver touches a displayed thumbnail on said display screen (EA), triggers the realization of the command of the function represented by this thumbnail. 4. Sun visor according to claim 3, characterized in that when a communication equipment (EC) associated with said driver is on board in said vehicle (V), said computer (CA2) controls the display on said display screen (EA) of thumbnails representing commands of telematic functions provided by said communication equipment (EC), and, when a finger of said driver touches a thumbnail displayed on said display screen (EA), orders to said communication equipment ( EC) to control the function represented by this thumbnail. 5. Sun visor according to claim 4, characterized in that when the carrying out of a telematic function command induces at least two other possible telematic function commands, said computer (CA2) controls the display of other thumbnails representative of each of these other telematic function commands, and, when a finger of said driver touches one of these other thumbnails displayed on said display screen (EA), orders said communication equipment (EC) to carry out the command of the function represented by this thumbnail. 6. Sun visor according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said computer (CA2) controls a maintenance of said opaque screen (EO) in said position of use as said driver has not stopped use said telematic functions via said display screen (EA). 7. Sun visor according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said electric motor (ME) is arranged so as to place said opaque screen (EO) in several positions of use differing in their angular orientations relative to at said stowed position, and in that said computer (CA2) controls the placement of said opaque screen (EO) in a position of use which is a function of a position of the eyes of said driver in said passenger compartment (H). 8. Sun visor according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said computer (CA2) controls the replacement of said opaque screen (EO) in said stored position when said vehicle (V) has been immobilized for a period greater than a predefined threshold. 9. Vehicle (V) comprising a roof (TV) partially delimiting a passenger compartment (H) intended to accommodate at least one driver, a camera (CO) acquiring images of the environment in a rear part of said vehicle (V) and a driving assistance device (DAC) controlling his driving instead of said driver in an automated driving phase, characterized in that it comprises at least one sun visor (PS) according to one of the preceding claims, secured at least partially to an internal face of said roof (TV). 10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.