JP2004017699A - On-vehicle image displaying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To show image information on a display monitor to the person sitting on the front passenger seat without the wasteful inhibition of the displaying of image information even if image information reducing the carefulness of the driver required for driving during driving is displayed on the monitor without showing it to the driver. <P>SOLUTION: This device is provided with a display monitor turning mechanism (oscillation allowing mechanism) 34 capable of changing manually the direction of the display monitor 20 between the direction allowing the driver (and the front passenger) can see the monitor 20 and the direction allowing the person on the seat next to the driver seat to see the monitor 20 without showing it to the driver. In this device, while a brake sensor 46 is detecting a state that a parking brake is not applied, the direction of the display monitor 20 is detected in the modes other than a car navigation mode, and only while the display monitor 20 cannot be seen from the driver seat and can be seen from the front passenger seat, image displaying by the display monitor 20 is permitted, and image displaying is prohibited in other case. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an on-vehicle image display device, particularly a display monitor, a car navigation device for displaying car navigation information on the display monitor, a device for displaying information other than car navigation information on the display monitor, and a parking brake. The present invention relates to an in-vehicle image display device having at least a brake sensor for detecting whether or not the vehicle is on, and having a navigation mode for displaying an image of navigation information on the display monitor, and one or more modes for displaying an image other than the navigation information. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various types of automobiles have been designed to display car navigation information on a single display monitor, display a video of a television broadcast, or display a video of a video software recorded on a recording medium such as a DVD by a user operation. There is an increasing tendency to equip a multifunctional in-vehicle image display device capable of displaying audio software or displaying video information related to music of audio software when the music is played from a speaker in an automobile. The equipment of the in-vehicle image display device may be an optional equipment, but there are many cases of a standard equipment, and the number thereof is increasing.
[0003]
By the way, a problem with such an in-vehicle image display device is that it is extremely dangerous if the driver loses his or her attention to the image displayed on the display monitor while driving. Is more likely to occur.
Therefore, there is provided an in-vehicle image display device having a function of forcibly prohibiting display of an image on a display monitor in a mode other than the car navigation mode during traveling. Note that the display on the display monitor is permitted in the car navigation mode in order to enable driving while obtaining car navigation information.
[0004]
Such an in-vehicle image display device specifically includes a detection signal output from a sensor for detecting whether a parking brake is applied and a signal indicating a state of a switch (button) for setting a car navigation mode. Accordingly, the image display on the display monitor is allowed or forcibly prohibited.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the above-described conventional in-vehicle image display device, if the display of an image on the display monitor is prohibited in a mode other than the car navigation mode during traveling, even a person other than the driver in the passenger seat sees the image. There was a problem that the irrationality of not being able to do it occurred.
Certainly, the display of information other than car navigation information is harmful to drivers who are driving because it is a major factor in reducing the attention required for safe driving, but it can be said that it is harmful to those who are not driving It's nothing harmful to you. Nevertheless, prohibiting the image display on the display monitor at least insignificantly suppresses the image display function of the in-vehicle image display device, and many functions of the in-vehicle in-vehicle image display device are unjustified. The opportunity to exhibit is narrowed.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and even when unnecessary image information is displayed on the display monitor while the driver is traveling, without prohibiting the display. Another object of the present invention is to make it invisible to a driver and visible from a person sitting in a passenger seat.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the vehicle-mounted image display device according to the first aspect, the direction of the display monitor is manually changed between a direction in which the display can be viewed from the driver's seat (and both the passenger's seat) and a direction in which the display monitor can be viewed from the passenger's seat without being viewed from the driver's seat. It has a display monitor rotation mechanism that can be changed, and when a detection result indicating that the parking brake is not applied is generated from the brake sensor, the direction of the display monitor is detected in a mode other than the car navigation mode, and it is viewed from the driver's seat. The image display by the display monitor is allowed only when the user can view the image from the passenger seat, and the image display is prohibited in other cases.
[0008]
Therefore, according to the in-vehicle image display device of the first aspect, when the parking brake is not applied and the mode other than the car navigation mode is set, the direction of the display monitor is detected, and the direction of the display monitor is not viewed from the driver's seat but viewed from the passenger seat. Since the image display by the display monitor is permitted only when the driver is in the right direction, there is no possibility that the driver may be distracted by the display image on the display monitor in a mode other than the car navigation mode. Therefore, driving safety can be expected.
[0009]
When the display monitor is oriented so that it cannot be seen from the driver's seat and can be seen from the front passenger seat, the display image is not prohibited, so that the passenger in the front passenger seat can see the display image on the display monitor. Also, even if the display monitor is visible from the driver's seat and the display of the display image is prohibited, if the direction is manually changed from the driver's seat to the direction visible from the passenger seat, Since the image display can be allowed, the passenger in the passenger seat can view the display image on the display monitor. Of course, at this time, since the display monitor cannot be viewed from the driver's seat, the driver is not distracted by the display image on the display monitor.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image display apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the direction of the display monitor can be automatically changed between a direction that can be seen from the driver's seat and a direction that can be seen from the passenger seat without being seen from the driver's seat. When the vehicle is in a mode other than the car navigation mode when the brake sensor detects that the parking brake is not applied, the display monitor rotation mechanism cannot be seen from the driver's seat but from the passenger seat. When the detection result that the parking brake is applied is generated from the brake sensor, or when the detection result that the parking brake is not applied is generated in the car navigation mode, the above display is performed. The monitor rotation mechanism should be controlled so that the display monitor can be viewed from both the driver's seat and the passenger's seat. It is characterized in.
[0011]
Therefore, according to the in-vehicle image display device of claim 2, when the parking brake is not applied and in a mode other than the car navigation mode, the display monitor rotating mechanism cannot be seen from the driver's seat and cannot be seen from the front passenger seat. Since it is controlled so that it can be seen, there is no risk that the driver will be distracted by the display image on the display monitor in a mode other than the car navigation mode, and driving safety can be expected, and The passenger in the passenger seat is not prevented from seeing the display image on the display monitor.
When the detection result that the parking brake is applied from the brake sensor is generated, or when the detection result that the parking brake is not applied is generated in the car navigation mode, the display monitor rotating mechanism is moved from the driver's seat to the display monitor rotation mechanism. The display monitor can be viewed from both the passenger seat and the passenger seat.If there is no danger of the driver's attention being lost by the display, the display image on the display monitor can be viewed from both the driver's seat and the passenger seat. it can.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The embodiment of the present invention can be basically divided into two forms, one of which is capable of manually rotating the direction of a display monitor, and the other is a display. The direction of the monitor can be automatically rotated.
The one that allows the display monitor to be manually rotated is described above only in the direction other than the car navigation mode when the parking brake is not applied and when the driver can see from the driver's seat and from the passenger seat. Allows image display on the display monitor. When the driver can view the image from the driver's seat, the image display on the display monitor is prohibited.However, if the direction is manually changed to a direction that cannot be viewed from the driver's seat, the image display is naturally allowed. Can see the display image.
[0013]
Also, when the display monitor can be automatically rotated, when the driver should not be able to see the display monitor, instead of prohibiting image display on the display monitor, the display monitor is driven in the same direction. It is made invisible from the driver's seat by making it invisible from the seat.
[0014]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to illustrated embodiments.
(1. First embodiment)
1 (A), (B-1), (B-2) and FIG. 2 show a first embodiment of an in-vehicle image display device according to the present invention, wherein (A) shows a circuit of the in-vehicle image display device. (B-1) and (B-2) are plan views showing directions of a display monitor with respect to a driver's seat and a passenger seat. (B-2) shows the direction in which the display monitor cannot be seen from the driver's seat but can be seen from the passenger's seat. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle-mounted image display device.
[0015]
A control unit 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and controls the entire vehicle-mounted image display device. A tuner 4 receives a television broadcast, an AM broadcast, an FM broadcast, and the like. Reference numeral 6 denotes a video interface for processing a video signal from the tuner 4. An audio interface 8 processes an audio signal from the tuner 4.
[0016]
Reference numeral 10 denotes a GPS receiver, 12 denotes a GPS reception signal processing interface, 14 denotes a traffic information receiver, 16 denotes a traffic information reception signal processing interface, and 18 denotes an image signal of an image to be displayed on a display monitor (20) described below. An image signal synthesizing circuit for synthesizing, 20 is a display monitor, 22 is its display screen, and 24 is an operation unit provided on the lower side of the display screen 22 and is composed of a plurality of switches and buttons. There are a car navigation switch 24a operated when the car navigation mode is set, and a power switch 24b for turning on / off the power of the vehicle-mounted image display device. Reference numeral 26 denotes an interface for processing a signal from the operation unit 24.
[0017]
Reference numeral 28 denotes an information reading unit that detachably receives a recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) 30 and reads information stored in the recording medium, 32 denotes an interface that processes information read from the information reading unit 28, Numeral 34 denotes a swing allowance mechanism for allowing the display monitor 20 to swing manually, and 36 denotes an angle sensor for detecting the direction of the display monitor 20. When the output signal of the angle sensor 36 is processed, the display monitor 20 turns the driver's seat. It is possible to determine whether the direction is visible from the passenger seat (see FIG. 1 (B-2)) without being viewed from above or is the direction (see FIG. 1 (B-1)) which is visible from both the driver's seat and the passenger seat. It has become.
[0018]
Reference numeral 40 denotes a voice synthesizing circuit for synthesizing a voice signal of a voice generated by a speaker in the vehicle body. The circuit 40 includes, for example, a D / A converter for converting a digital signal into an analog signal. 42R and 42L are amplifiers for amplifying the audio signal output from the audio synthesis circuit 40, and 44R and 44L are speakers for converting the audio signal amplified by the amplifiers 42R and 42L into audio.
Reference numeral 46 denotes a brake sensor which detects whether a parking brake is being applied or not (during traveling).
[0019]
Next, the operation of the vehicle-mounted image display device will be described with reference to FIG.
(1) "Parking brake?"
First, it is detected whether or not the parking brake is being applied. This detection is performed by taking in the output of the brake sensor 46 shown in FIG.
[0020]
(2) "Normal operation"
When the result of the determination in step (1) is Yes, that is, when the parking brake is being applied, the normal operation is performed. That is, irrespective of whether the mode is the car navigation mode or the other mode, the original operation of the in-vehicle image display device is performed without any restriction such as prohibition of display on the display monitor 20.
(3) "Power off?"
Next, it is determined whether the power has been turned off periodically (for example, every few seconds or every few minutes). If the determination result is No, that is, if the power has not been turned off, step (1) When the determination result is Yes, that is, when the power is turned off, the flow ends. Note that whether or not the power has been turned off can be determined by detecting the state of the power switch 24b in FIG.
[0021]
(4) "Car navigation mode?"
If the result of the determination in step (1) is No, that is, if the vehicle is not in the parking brake state (this is regarded as running), it is determined whether or not the vehicle is in the car navigation mode. This determination is made by detecting the state of the car navigation switch 24a of the operation unit 24 of the display monitor 20. If the result of the determination is Yes, that is, if the vehicle is in the car navigation mode, the process proceeds to step (2), and the normal operation is performed.
The reason why the normal operation is performed in the car navigation mode and the display of the image on the display monitor 20 is not prohibited is to allow the driver to drive while checking the car navigation information.
[0022]
(5) "Direction that can be seen from the driver's seat?"
If the determination result in step (4) is No, whether the display monitor 20 is in the direction in which the display monitor 20 can be viewed from the passenger seat but not from the driver's seat [the state shown in FIG. 1)). This determination can be made by processing the output of the angle sensor 36.
When the determination result is No, that is, when the display monitor 20 is in the state shown in FIG. 1B-2, the process proceeds to step (2). In this case, the display monitor 20 is oriented so as not to be seen from the driver's seat, so that it is not necessary to prohibit image display. Therefore, a normal operation is performed.
[0023]
(6) "Image display prohibition"
If the determination result of step (5) is Yes, that is, if the display monitor 20 is in the state shown in FIG. 1 (B-1), image display is prohibited. Thereafter, the process returns to step (1).
As described above, when the display monitor 20 is in the state shown in FIG. 1 (B-1), the display of the image is prohibited, and the image is not displayed in the direction in which the driver can view the screen 22. There is no danger that the driver may lose his attention due to the displayed image and drive dangerously.
[0024]
In this case, for example, when a person in the passenger seat manually rotates the display monitor 20 from the direction shown in (B-1) of FIG. 1 to the direction shown in (B-2) of FIG. 1, the steps are ( The procedure proceeds in the order of 1) → (4) → (5), and the determination result is No in step (5). Therefore, the procedure proceeds to step (2), and the normal operation is performed. Accordingly, the prohibition of the image display is released. As a result, a person in the passenger seat can display an image on the display monitor 20 and see it even in a mode other than the car navigation mode.
Nevertheless, since the screen 22 of the display monitor 20 cannot be seen from the driver's seat, there is no risk that the driver will be distracted by the image displayed on the screen 22.
[0025]
(2. Second embodiment)
3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the in-vehicle image display device according to the present invention. FIG. 3A is a circuit block diagram schematically showing the circuit configuration of the in-vehicle image display device. ) And (B-2) are plan views showing the directions of the display monitor with respect to the driver's seat and the passenger seat. (B-1) is the direction in which the display monitor can be seen from both the driver's seat and the passenger seat. ) Indicates that the display monitor cannot be seen from the driver's seat but can be seen from the passenger seat. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle-mounted image display device.
[0026]
The circuit configuration of the second embodiment of the in-vehicle image display device of the present invention shown in FIG. 3A is different from the circuit configuration of the first embodiment of the in-vehicle image display device of the present invention shown in FIG. The difference is that the direction of the display monitor 20 can be automatically controlled by the swing mechanism 25a, but the other points are common, and the common points have already been described in the description of the first embodiment. Since the explanation has been completed, the explanation is omitted.
[0027]
Reference numeral 35a denotes a oscillating mechanism, which incorporates a motor (not shown). The motor is driven by a drive signal from an interface 35b, and the direction of the display monitor 20 is extended to the direction shown in FIG. It can be changed between the directions shown in B-2).
[0028]
Next, the operation of the vehicle-mounted image display device will be described with reference to FIG.
(11) "Parking brake?"
First, it is detected whether or not the parking brake is being applied. This detection is performed by taking in the output of the brake sensor 46.
(12) "Car navigation mode?"
If the result of the determination in step (11) is No, that is, if the vehicle is not in the parking brake state (this is regarded as traveling), it is determined whether or not the vehicle is in the car navigation mode. This determination is made by detecting the state of the car navigation switch 24a of the operation unit 24 of the display monitor 20.
[0029]
(13) "Control so that you can see from both seats"
If the result of the determination in step (11) is Yes, that is, if the parking brake is being applied, or if the result of the determination in step (12) is Yes, that is, if the vehicle is in the car navigation mode, the neck is connected via the interface 25b. By transmitting a drive signal to the vibration mechanism 25a, the drive of the display monitor 20 is controlled so as to be visible from both the driver's seat and the passenger's seat as shown in FIG. 3 (B-1).
[0030]
(14) "Control so that you can see only from the passenger seat"
When the determination result in step (12) is No, that is, in a mode other than the car navigation mode, the display monitor 20 can be viewed from the passenger seat as shown in FIG. The direction of the display monitor 20 is drive-controlled by the oscillating mechanism 25a so that the direction cannot be obtained.
(15) “Normal operation”
When the control in step (14) or (15) is completed, or when a certain control is started, the original operation of the on-vehicle image display device is performed without any restriction such as prohibiting display on the display monitor 20 or the like.
[0031]
(16) "Power off?"
Next, it is determined whether the power has been turned off periodically (for example, every few seconds or every few minutes). If the determination result is No, that is, if the power has not been turned off, step (1) When the determination result is Yes, that is, when the power is turned off, the flow ends. Note that whether or not the power has been turned off can be determined by detecting the state of the power switch 24b in FIG.
[0032]
According to such an in-vehicle image display device (second embodiment), the vehicle can be viewed from both the driver's seat and the passenger's seat when the parking brake is being applied, or in the car navigation mode while the parking brake is being applied. Thus, when the vehicle is not in the parking brake and in the car navigation mode, the vehicle can be viewed from the passenger seat but not from the driver seat. Therefore, it is possible to allow the driver to visually recognize the image displayed on the display monitor 20 by the original function of the vehicle-mounted image display device without causing the driver to lose his attention to an unnecessary image. . In addition, when the brake sensor 46 detects that the parking brake is applied, or when the detection result that the parking brake is not applied is in the car navigation mode, the oscillating mechanism 34 is moved from the driver's seat. The display monitor 20 is driven so that the display monitor 20 can be viewed from both the driver's seat and the passenger's seat. Images can be viewed.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
According to the vehicle-mounted image display device of the first aspect, when the parking brake is not applied, and in a mode other than the car navigation mode, the direction of the display monitor is detected, and the direction can be viewed from the passenger seat without being viewed from the driver's seat. Only in the case of, the image display by the display monitor is permitted, so that there is no possibility that the driver may be distracted by the display image on the display monitor in a mode other than the car navigation mode. Therefore, driving safety can be expected.
[0034]
When the display monitor is oriented so that it cannot be seen from the driver's seat and can be seen from the front passenger seat, the display image is not prohibited, so that the passenger in the front passenger seat can see the display image on the display monitor. Even if the display monitor is visible from the driver's seat and the display of the display image is prohibited, if the direction is changed from the driver's seat to the front passenger's seat, the image display is allowed. In this state, the passenger in the passenger seat can view the display image on the display monitor.
[0035]
According to the vehicle-mounted image display device of the second aspect, when the parking brake is not applied and in a mode other than the car navigation mode, the display monitor rotation mechanism cannot be viewed from the driver's seat and the front passenger's seat. Since it is controlled so that it can be seen from the direction, there is no risk of the driver being distracted by the display image on the display monitor in a mode other than the car navigation mode, and it is possible to expect driving safety, and In addition, there is no possibility that the passenger in the passenger seat is prevented from seeing the display image on the display monitor.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2B show a first embodiment of an in-vehicle image display device according to the present invention, and FIG. 1A is a circuit configuration of the in-vehicle image display device; (B-1) and (B-2) are plan views showing directions of a display monitor with respect to a driver's seat and a passenger seat, and (B-1) is a display block in which a display monitor is a driver's seat and a passenger seat. (B-2) shows the direction in which the display monitor cannot be seen from the driver's seat but can be seen from the passenger seat.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the first embodiment.
3 (A), (B-1) and (B-2) show a second embodiment of the vehicle-mounted image display device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 (A) is a circuit configuration of the vehicle-mounted image display device. (B-1) and (B-2) are plan views showing directions of a display monitor with respect to a driver's seat and a passenger seat, and (B-1) is a display block in which a display monitor is a driver's seat and a passenger seat. (B-2) shows the direction in which the display monitor cannot be seen from the driver's seat but can be seen from the passenger seat.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 ... Control unit, 4, 6 ... Device other than car navigation device,
10, 12, 14, 16 ... car navigation device,
20: display monitor, 22: screen, 24: operation unit,
24a: Car navigation switch, 24b: Power switch,
28: external information reading unit, 30: recording medium,
34 ··· Display monitor rotation mechanism (oscillation allowance mechanism)
35a: display monitor rotation mechanism (oscillation mechanism), 36: angle sensor,
46 ... Brake sensor.

Claims (2)

A display monitor, a car navigation device that displays car navigation information on the display monitor, a device that displays information other than car navigation information on the display monitor, and a brake sensor that detects whether a parking brake is applied. A navigation mode for displaying an image of navigation information on the display monitor, and an in-vehicle image display device having one or more modes for displaying images other than the navigation information,
A display monitor rotation mechanism that can manually change the orientation of the display monitor between a direction that can be seen from the driver's seat and a direction that can be seen from the passenger seat without being seen from the driver's seat,
When the detection result that the parking brake is not applied from the brake sensor is generated, in the mode other than the car navigation mode, the direction of the display monitor is detected, and when the direction is not visible from the driver's seat but is visible from the passenger seat. An on-vehicle image display device, wherein image display by the display monitor is allowed, and image display is prohibited at other times. A display monitor, a car navigation device that displays car navigation information on the display monitor, and a navigation mode that includes at least a brake sensor that detects whether a parking brake is applied, and displays an image of navigation information on the display monitor. A vehicle-mounted image display device having one or more modes for displaying images other than navigation information,
A display monitor rotation mechanism that can change the direction of the display monitor between a direction that can be seen from the driver's seat and a direction that can be seen from the passenger seat without being seen from the driver's seat,
When a detection result indicating that the parking brake is not applied from the brake sensor is generated, and in a mode other than the car navigation mode, the display monitor rotating mechanism is oriented so that it can be seen from the driver's seat and not from the driver's seat. Control and so on
When the detection result that the parking brake is applied from the brake sensor is generated, or when the detection result that the parking brake is not applied is generated in the car navigation mode, the display monitor rotation mechanism is moved from the driver's seat to the assistant. An in-vehicle image display device, which is controlled so that it can be viewed from a seat.

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