JP2001150977A - Display for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display for a vehicle capable of displaying a situation in front of the vehicle favourably by an infra-red image, and capable of changing a display mode properly in response to a traveling condition. SOLUTION: When an auto-position (low speed display OFF-mode) is selected by a mode selecting switch (S1, S3), a vehicle speed V of an own vehicle is compared with a prescribed speed VD (S5), display of the infra-red image is suppressed in V<VD (S7), and an ordinary size of display is conducted in V>=VD (S6). The ordinary size of display is also conducted when an ON-mode is selected all the time by the mode selecting switch.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device of a vehicle for notifying an occupant of the vehicle of a state of an obstacle or the like present around the vehicle by displaying the display. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an apparatus which takes an image of the surroundings of a vehicle using an infrared imaging device and displays the taken image in front of a driver's seat.
JP-A-6-247184 or JP-A-10-2
No. 30,805 and the like. According to these devices, even if the headlights are turned on, even in a situation around the vehicle (for example, at night, in dense fog, or the like) where it is difficult for the driver to recognize due to human visual characteristics, there is an obstacle that actually exists. The driver can easily grasp the existence of an object (a heat source that can be an obstacle such as a human or an animal), and can effectively support the driving operation.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional device, a display for displaying an infrared image is generally provided at a position in front of a driver's seat so that the driver can easily see the display. The display of the infrared image on the display
Regardless of the running state of the vehicle, it is always displayed in the same display mode, so that it is expected that it will be a burden on the driver's vision.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device for a vehicle that displays a situation ahead of the vehicle in an excellent manner by using an infrared image, and that appropriately changes its display mode according to a running state.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle display device according to the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, an image pickup device is provided in a vehicle and uses infrared light to image the front of the vehicle, and a display device displays an infrared image picked up by the image pickup device in front of a driver's seat of the vehicle. A vehicle display device, wherein a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed of the vehicle, and when the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means is lower than a predetermined speed,
A display control unit for suppressing display of an infrared image picked up by the image pickup device (for example, stopping display) as compared with when the vehicle speed is higher than the predetermined speed.

In a case where the vehicle further includes a driving environment detecting means for detecting a driving environment of the vehicle, for example, by using an operation state of a fog lamp or a wiper, or information obtained by a road-vehicle communication device, the display control means When the traveling environment detecting means detects that the vehicle is traveling in a traveling environment with poor visibility,
It is preferable to include a regulation means for regulating the display suppression control.

A first operation mode (including display stop and / or constant display of the infrared image) for inhibiting the display suppression control of the infrared image by the display control means, and the display suppression control (the vehicle speed). It is preferable to further include a mode changeover switch capable of setting a second operation mode to be executed only when the vehicle speed detected by the detection means is lower than the predetermined vehicle speed.

[0009] Further, as another configuration of the display device of the vehicle which achieves the above-mentioned object, there are provided an imaging device which is provided in the vehicle and captures an image of the front of the vehicle using infrared rays, and a red image captured by the imaging device. A display device for a vehicle, comprising: a display for displaying an outside image in front of a driver's seat of the vehicle, wherein the shift range detection unit detects a shift range of a selected transmission, and the shift range detection unit detects the shift range. A display control unit may be provided that suppresses display of an infrared image captured by the imaging device when the selected shift range is not the forward travel range.

[0010]

According to the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a display device for a vehicle which displays a situation in front of the vehicle with an infrared image and changes the display mode appropriately in accordance with a running state. .

That is, according to the first and fifth aspects of the present invention, the display of the infrared image is automatically changed in accordance with the traveling speed, and the driver is automatically operated in the traveling state where the necessity of the infrared image is low. Since the display is suppressed (for example, the display is stopped: Claim 2), the visual burden on the driver can be reduced, and the driver's vision can be properly supported.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, for example, when a running environment in which an infrared image is required is detected based on the operating state of a fog lamp or a wiper, or information obtained by a road-vehicle communication device, Since the suppression of the display of the infrared image is restricted, it is possible to easily grasp the situation in front of the vehicle in the traveling environment.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the operation mode can be adjusted according to the driver's preference, and the convenience is improved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a vehicle display device according to the present invention will be described in detail as an embodiment of a display device mounted on an automobile, which is a typical vehicle, with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of a vehicle equipped with a display device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, reference numeral 2 denotes a vehicle 100.
Is an imaging device such as an infrared camera that takes an image of the front of the camera using infrared rays. 3A and 3B are display devices (displays) such as a liquid crystal display or a head-up display for displaying an image (hereinafter, an infrared image) captured by the imaging device 2. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the display device 3 </ b> A is located in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle 100 and can easily see a display image without performing a large line-of-sight movement when the driver stares ahead ( The display device 3B is disposed near the center position of the dashboard, and the display device 3B
Is located on the center console, which is closer to the outer part of the line of sight (field of view) when the driver gazes ahead in comparison with the arrangement position. That is, the display device 3A is disposed at a high position where the visibility is better for the driver than the display device 3B.

The image pickup device 2 has, for example, an image pickup range shown in FIG. 3, and shows an example of a display screen in front of the vehicle which is picked up by the image pickup device and displayed on the display device 3A and / or the display device 3B. It is shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a display example of an infrared image displayed on the display device. FIG. 4A shows an infrared image taken by the image pickup device 2 covering the entire display area of the display device. It is an example of the case where it is displayed using (hereinafter, normal display)
FIGS. 4B and 4C show an example in which reduced display is performed as a specific example of the suppression of the display mode in the display control process described later.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 7 denotes various information obtained from a road around the vehicle 100 (transmission / reception facilities provided on the road) (for example, an obstacle (a stopped vehicle, Scattered cargo), the vehicle is traveling in a traveling environment with poor visibility such as dense fog, snow, heavy rain, or a traveling path environment at a position just before the traveling environment, or a predetermined distance between the preceding vehicle and the preceding vehicle. A road-vehicle communication device for receiving information on a follow-up traveling state such as whether the vehicle is traveling in a platoon while maintaining a distance. 8 is a vehicle 10
This is a vehicle speed sensor that detects the own vehicle speed of 0. Reference numeral 9 denotes an inhibitor switch that allows the driver to select a desired shift range. Reference numeral 10 denotes a transmission control device that controls the automatic transmission 11 according to the selected state of the inhibitor switch 9.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a fog lamp switch that can be set by the driver to turn on and off the fog lamp 12. Reference numeral 5 denotes a wiper switch capable of setting start, stop, operation speed, and the like of a wiper (not shown). Reference numeral 6 denotes a mode changeover switch that allows the driver to set an operation mode of a display suppression operation described later. The position (operation mode) that can be set includes an off position for stopping display of an infrared image, and an infrared image. There is an on-position that is always displayed, and an auto-position where the display of the infrared image is automatically turned on and off only when the traveling state of the host vehicle is in a predetermined state. Here, as the display state of the predetermined state and the infrared image, for example, when the vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined speed, or when the shift range of the automatic transmission 11 is not the forward travel range, the display of the infrared image is turned off. When the vehicle speed is higher than the predetermined speed and the shift range is the forward traveling range, the display of the infrared image may be turned on (details will be described later).

The display control device 1 controls whether or not to suppress the display of the infrared image by the imaging device 2 on the display device 3A and / or 3B based on the state of each block described above. The control processing by the display control device 1 is executed by the CPU 101 according to software stored in the ROM 103 or the like in advance while using the RAM 102 as a work area.

Next, in this embodiment, the display control device 1
A specific display suppressing operation performed by the device will be described. This display suppression operation is performed to reduce the visual burden on the driver when the driver does not need to display the infrared image.

As a display suppression operation applicable to a display control process described later, the following specific operation can be mentioned.

(1) While the normal display is performed on the display devices 3A and / or 3B as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the display is red as illustrated in FIGS. 4B and 4C. A reduced display for reducing the display area of the outside image is performed. That is, the conversion may be performed according to an expression (converted video signal) = (input video signal luminance) × (reduction ratio) (where the reduction ratio is a predetermined value).

(2) FIG. 4A shows the display devices 3A and 3B.
The display of the infrared image on the display device 3A provided at a position with good visibility is stopped, and the visibility is not good as compared with the display device 3A. The infrared image is displayed only on the display device 3B provided at the position.

(3) While normal display is performed on the display devices 3A and / or 3B as illustrated in FIG. 4A, as shown in FIG. 5, the density value of the entire display image is set to a predetermined value. The display luminance is reduced by reducing the ratio. That is, (converted video signal luminance) = (input video signal luminance)
What is necessary is just to convert by the formula of x (1-reduction rate) (however, a reduction rate is a predetermined value).

(4) While the normal display is performed on the display devices 3A and / or 3B as illustrated in FIG. 4A, as shown in FIG. By reducing the concentration at a predetermined rate,
The display contrast of the entire display image is reduced.

(5) While the normal display is performed on the display devices 3A and / or 3B as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the display is stopped.

Next, a specific display control process performed by the display control device 1 to include any of the above-described display suppression operations will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a display control process performed by the display device of the vehicle according to the first embodiment, wherein the CPU operates while the ignition key switch of the host vehicle is on.
The procedure of the software executed by 101 will be described.

In FIG. 3, steps S1 and S
2: It is determined whether or not the operation state of the mode changeover switch 6 is in the off position (step S1). If the determination is NO (if not in the off position), the process proceeds to step S3, and YES (off position) In the case of, since there is no need to display an infrared image, the display device 3A
And the display of the infrared image for 3B is stopped (step S
2) Return.

Step S3: Mode switch 6
Is determined to be in the low vehicle speed display off mode (the above-described auto position), and YES in this determination.
In the case of (the mode), the process proceeds to step S4, and in the case of NO (when the mode is not the mode), the process proceeds to step S6 because it can be determined that the switch is set to the always-on position.

Steps S4 and S5: The vehicle speed V of the own vehicle is detected based on the vehicle speed signal output from the vehicle speed sensor 8 (Step S4), and it is determined whether or not the detected vehicle speed V is lower than a predetermined vehicle speed VD. If the determination is YES (V <VD), the process proceeds to step S7, and if the determination is NO (V ≧ VD), the process proceeds to step S6.

Step S6: In this step, since it is determined that the driver needs the infrared image, at least the display of the infrared image on the display device 3A is displayed as a normal display illustrated in FIG. 4A. And return.

Step S7: In this step, any one of the above-described display suppression operations is executed to reduce the visual burden on the driver, and the routine returns.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the auto position is selected by the mode selection switch 6, the display is suppressed when the vehicle speed V of the own vehicle is lower than the predetermined speed VD, and when the vehicle speed is high, the normal display is performed. Done. As a result, the situation in front of the vehicle can be satisfactorily displayed by the infrared image, and the display mode can be appropriately changed according to the traveling state, so that the visual burden on the driver can be reduced and the driver's vision can be improved. We can provide accurate support.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment based on the vehicle display device according to the first embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will not be described repeatedly, and the description will focus on the characteristic portions of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, when the auto position is selected by the mode selection switch 6, display control is performed by adding the own vehicle speed and the traveling environment of the own vehicle to the judgment factors.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a display control process by the display device of the vehicle according to the second embodiment, wherein the CPU operates while the ignition key switch of the host vehicle is on.
The procedure of the software executed by 101 will be described.

In the drawing, the difference from the flow chart of FIG. 7 in the first embodiment is that, when it is determined in step S15 that the own vehicle speed is lower than the predetermined speed VD, the driving environment in which the own vehicle has poor visibility. The difference is that a step S17 for determining whether the vehicle is traveling is performed, and the display suppression operation is executed only when it is determined that the visibility is poor in this determination.

Here, as a specific method for judging whether or not the vehicle is in a traveling environment with poor visibility, the traveling environment in which the fog lamp 12 is lit is a vehicle with poor visibility in which stormy weather such as dense fog or snow is assumed. A method of estimating the driving environment based on the operation state of the fog light switch 4. When the operating speed (operating cycle) of the wiper is high, the driving environment is assumed to be stormy such as heavy rain and has poor visibility. ,
A method of estimating the traveling environment based on the operation state of the wiper switch 5 may be used. In addition, from the information received by the road-to-vehicle communication device 7, it is determined that the vehicle is traveling in a traveling environment with poor visibility such as dense fog, snow, heavy rain, or traveling in a position in front of the traveling environment. Is also good.

According to this embodiment as well, the situation in front of the vehicle can be favorably displayed by an infrared image, and the display mode can be appropriately changed according to the traveling state, and the visual burden on the driver can be increased. And the driver's vision can be properly supported.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment based on the display device of the vehicle according to the above-described first embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment will not be described repeatedly, and the description will focus on the characteristic portions of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, display control is performed in which the operating state of the inhibitor switch 9 is added to the determination factor as the running state of the host vehicle.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a display control process performed by the display device of the vehicle according to the third embodiment, wherein the CPU operates while the ignition key switch of the host vehicle is on.
The procedure of the software executed by 101 will be described.

In the figure, step S21, step S22: It is determined whether or not the operation state of the mode changeover switch 6 is in the off position (step S21). When the determination is NO (when not in the off position), Proceeds to step S23, and when YES (off position), there is no need to display the infrared image, so that the display of the infrared image on the display devices 3A and 3B is stopped (step S22), and the process returns.

Step S23: It is determined whether or not the operation state of the mode changeover switch 6 is the non-forward running range display off mode (the above-described auto position). If the determination is YES (the relevant mode), the process proceeds to step S24. If NO (NO in this mode), it can be determined that the always-on position has been selected, and the process proceeds to step S26.

Steps S24 and S25: The selected state of the inhibitor switch 9 is detected (step S2).
4) It is determined whether or not the detected state is the forward travel range (step S25). If the determination is YES (the forward travel range), the process proceeds to step S27.
If NO (the traveling range is not the forward traveling range), the process proceeds to step S26. Here, in addition to the D (drive) range, the forward travel range includes an S range, an L range, and a shift up / shift of a predetermined number of gears according to a simple operation of a driver as in a manual transmission vehicle. Includes an M range for selecting a downshift mode.

Step S26: Similar to step S6 in the first embodiment, normal display of an infrared image is performed, and the routine returns.

Step S27: Similar to step S6 in the first embodiment, one of the above-described display suppression operations is executed, and the process returns.

According to this embodiment, when the auto position is selected by the mode selection switch 6, the normal display of the infrared image is performed only when the inhibitor switch 9 is in the forward traveling range. This allows
The situation in front of the vehicle is favorably displayed by the infrared image, and the display mode can be appropriately changed according to the traveling state, thereby reducing the visual burden on the driver,
The driver's vision can be properly supported.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment based on the display device of the vehicle according to the above-described first to third embodiments will be described. In the following description, the same components as those in the above-described embodiments will not be described repeatedly, and will be described focusing on the characteristic portions of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, as the traveling state of the host vehicle, display control is performed in which the operation state of the vehicle speed sensor 8, the selection state of the inhibitor switch 9, and the traveling environment are added to the judgment factors.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a display control process performed by the display device of the vehicle according to the fourth embodiment. The display control process is executed when the ignition key switch of the host vehicle is on.
The procedure of software executed by U101 is shown.

In the figure, steps S31 to S33: Step S1 in the first embodiment (FIG. 7)
From step S3.

Step S34: The vehicle speed V of the own vehicle is detected based on the vehicle speed signal output from the vehicle speed sensor 8, and the selected state of the inhibitor switch 9 is detected.

Step S35: It is determined whether or not the state detected in step S34 is the forward running range. If the determination is YES (the forward running range), the process proceeds to step S36, and if NO (the forward running range is not determined). If not, the process proceeds to step S38. Here, in addition to the D (drive) range, the forward travel range includes an S range, an L range, and a shift up / shift of a predetermined number of gears according to a simple operation of a driver as in a manual transmission vehicle. Includes an M range for selecting a downshift mode.

Step S36: It is determined whether or not the vehicle speed V detected in step S34 is lower than a predetermined vehicle speed VD. If the determination is YES (V <VD), step S38 is performed.
The process proceeds to step S37 when NO (V ≧ VD).

Step S38: Second Embodiment (FIG. 8)
As in step S17, it is determined whether the vehicle is traveling in a traveling environment with low visibility. If it is determined in this determination that the vehicle is traveling in a traveling environment with low visibility, the process proceeds to step S37, and When it is determined that the sex is not particularly bad, the process proceeds to step S39.

Step S37: Similar to step S6 in the first embodiment, normal display of an infrared image is performed, and the routine returns.

Step S39: Similar to step S6 in the first embodiment, one of the above-described display suppression operations is executed, and the process returns.

According to this embodiment, when the automatic position is selected by the mode selection switch 6, the operation state of the vehicle speed sensor 8, the selection state of the inhibitor switch 9, and the driving environment are determined as optimum factors. With the simple display control, the situation in front of the vehicle can be satisfactorily displayed by the infrared image, and the display mode can be appropriately changed according to the traveling state, so that the visual burden on the driver can be reduced, and the driver's visual burden can be reduced. Visual support can be provided accurately.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the display device 3A or 3B is configured to display an infrared image captured by the imaging device 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The reflected light of the emitted infrared light may be captured by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera, and the captured image may be displayed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a vehicle equipped with a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an imaging range of an imaging device of the display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an infrared image displayed on a display device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a general method for reducing the luminance of a display image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a general method for reducing the contrast of a display image.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a display control process performed by the display device of the vehicle according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a display control process by a display device of a vehicle according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a display control process by the display device of the vehicle according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a display control process by a display device of a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: display control device, 2: imaging device, 3A, 3B: display device, 4: fog lamp switch, 5: wiper switch, 6: mode changeover switch, 7: road-vehicle communication device, 8: vehicle speed sensor, 9: inhibitor switch , 10: transmission control device, 11: automatic transmission, 12: fog lamp (headlight), 100: vehicle, 101: CPU, 102: RAM, 103: ROM,

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Okuda 3-1 Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Mazda Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroki Uemura 3-1 Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Mazda (72) Inventor Hidekazu Sasaki 3-1 Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Pref. Mazda F-term (reference) 3D044 BA14 BA22 BA27 BB01 BC25 BD01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus provided in a vehicle, the image pickup apparatus taking an image of the front of the vehicle using infrared rays, and a display for displaying an infrared image picked up by the image pickup apparatus in front of a driver's seat of the vehicle. A vehicle display device, comprising: a vehicle speed detecting unit that detects a vehicle speed of the vehicle; and when the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting unit is lower than a predetermined speed, the vehicle speed is higher than the predetermined speed. A display device for a vehicle, comprising: a display control unit configured to suppress display of an infrared image captured by an imaging device. 2. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein when the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection device is lower than the predetermined vehicle speed, the display control device stops displaying the infrared image captured by the imaging device. Item 4. A display device for a vehicle according to Item 1. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a traveling environment detecting unit configured to detect a traveling environment of the vehicle, wherein the display control unit is configured to detect that the vehicle is traveling in a traveling environment with low visibility by the traveling environment detecting unit. 2. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a regulation unit that regulates the display suppression control when the detection is detected. 4. A mode changeover switch capable of setting a first operation mode for inhibiting display suppression control by the display control means and a second operation mode for executing the display suppression control. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein 5. An image pickup apparatus provided in a vehicle and taking an image of the front of the vehicle using infrared rays, and a display for displaying an infrared image taken by the image pickup apparatus in front of a driver's seat of the vehicle. A shift range detecting means for detecting a shift range of a selected transmission, wherein the shift range detected by the shift range detecting means is not a forward travel range; A display device for a vehicle, comprising: display control means for suppressing display of a captured infrared image.