JP2006146362A - Display device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device for a vehicle, assisting a safe driving operation by performing a display based on a state of a preceding vehicle and a travelling lane shape. <P>SOLUTION: The device comprises an other vehicle information extraction means 16 extracting information of the preceding vehicle; a control means 18 computing a travelling lane position C suitable for own vehicle to pass the preceding vehicle, by considering information acquired from the extraction means 16 and a travelling lane shape R computed on the basis of digital map data composed of three-dimensional information stored in a storage medium 14; and a display unit 2 displaying the shape R, and the position C computed by the control means 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle display device that displays a running road shape on a display means.

  When driving a car, in a region where the shape of the track is well known, the driver can safely pass through after decelerating a sharp curve or a freezing road surface in advance. In unfamiliar areas, this prediction cannot be made, so it is not only forced to drive at a lower speed than necessary, but also driving with confidence is not possible.

In view of this, a vehicle display device that displays a front running road shape viewed from the viewpoint of the vehicle driver on a monitor mounted on the vehicle is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). According to such a display device for a vehicle, the driver can display the runway shape displayed even when it is difficult to see the actual runway shape due to the influence of weather conditions, a curve of the runway, surrounding vehicles, buildings, and the like. From this, the actual shape of the runway can be grasped.
JP 2000-211142 A

  However, even if the vehicle is equipped with such a vehicle display device, if there is a preceding vehicle that travels on the same lane as the host vehicle at a lower speed than necessary, whether or not the preceding vehicle can be overtaken. It was a troublesome task because it was necessary to carefully judge whether or not it was safe on the road with good visibility, taking into account surrounding vehicles and conditions of the road. Further, since the driver has to perform the driving operation while maintaining this state until it is determined that the driver can pass the vehicle, in some cases, the driver is forced to perform troublesome work for a long time.

  Also, even when overtaking the preceding vehicle, it is a cumbersome work because it is necessary to perform driving operations while judging various things such as the presence or absence of vehicles traveling around the host vehicle, the shape of the track, and the track condition. It was. Therefore, even in the above-described vehicle display device, there is room for improvement as a function for supporting the driver.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is made by paying attention to the above-described problems, and a vehicle display device that can support a safe driving operation by performing display based on the state of the preceding vehicle, the shape of the running path, or the like. It is to provide.

  The vehicle display device according to the present invention is stored in the preceding vehicle information extracting means for extracting information on the preceding vehicle, the information obtained by the preceding vehicle information extracting means and the map information storing means, as described in claim 1. Control means for calculating a travel position suitable for the host vehicle to pass the preceding vehicle in consideration of the travel path shape calculated based on the map information including the three-dimensional information, the travel path shape, and the control means Display means for displaying the running road position calculated by the above-mentioned (1).

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular display device according to the first aspect, the preceding vehicle information extracting means extracts information on the preceding vehicle using an inter-vehicle communication system. It is characterized by.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular display device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the display device for a vehicle according to the first aspect further includes a travel path information extracting unit that receives the travel path information on which the host vehicle travels using wireless communication. In consideration of the road information from the road information extraction means, the road position suitable for the host vehicle to pass the preceding vehicle is calculated.

  Further, as described in claim 4, in the vehicle display device according to claim 1, the display means displays on a windshield of the host vehicle or a combiner provided between the windshield and the driver. It comprises a head-up display that projects and displays an image.

  The vehicle display device of the present invention can support a safe driving operation by providing a display based on the state of the preceding vehicle, the road shape, and the like regarding the vehicle display device that displays the road shape on the display means.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the vehicle display device of the present invention is applied to a vehicle head-up display device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a display unit, which is provided in the dashboard of the host vehicle A. The display image L projected by the display unit 1 is reflected in the direction of the driver's viewpoint B by the windshield W subjected to the combiner process, and is displayed as a virtual image V. The driver can observe the virtual image V superimposed on the landscape.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a display (display means), and the display 2 comprises a TFT type liquid crystal display element and a backlight means. Reference numeral 3 denotes a circuit board, and the display 2 is mounted on the circuit board 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a reflecting mirror. The reflecting mirror 4 reflects the display image L emitted from the display 2 toward the windshield W. The reflecting surface 4a of the reflecting mirror 4 is concave, and the display image L from the display 2 can be enlarged and projected onto the windshield W. Reference numeral 5 denotes a holding member, and the reflecting mirror 4 is bonded to the holding member 5 with a double-sided adhesive tape. The display 2 is not limited to the configuration including the liquid crystal display element, and may be configured to include an organic EL display panel, for example.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a housing. The housing 6 accommodates the display 2, the circuit board 3, the reflecting mirror 4, and the like. The housing 6 is provided with a translucent cover 7 through which the display image L passes. The translucent cover 7 is made of a translucent resin such as acrylic and has a curved shape. The housing 6 is provided with a light shielding wall 6a to prevent a phenomenon (washout) in which external light such as sunlight is incident on the display 2 and the virtual image V becomes difficult to see.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the vehicle head-up display device. The vehicle head-up display device is mounted on the host vehicle A, and includes a position detection unit 13 including a speed sensor 10, a GPS (Global Positioning System) device 11, a gyro sensor 12, a storage medium (map information storage unit) 14, The operation unit 15, other vehicle information extraction unit (preceding vehicle information extraction unit) 16, runway information extraction unit 17, control unit 18, display drive circuit 19, and display 2 are mainly configured.

  The speed sensor 10 is attached to the transmission of the host vehicle A, for example, generates a predetermined number of pulse signals per one rotation of the speedometer pinion, and outputs the pulse signal to the control means 18. The control means 18 calculates the traveling speed of the host vehicle A by detecting the number of pulses or the pulse period output from the speed sensor 10 and counts the number of pulses. Calculate the mileage.

  The GPS device 11 is a receiver that receives a GPS signal radiated from an artificial satellite, and detects the current position and traveling direction of the host vehicle A based on the received GPS signal. A GPS reception antenna and an amplification circuit are provided, and a signal obtained by amplifying a transmission radio wave as position information from an artificial satellite received by the reception antenna as a high frequency signal is output to the control means 18.

  The gyro sensor 12 detects the turning angular velocity of the host vehicle A and outputs it to the control means 18. The control means 18 calculates the turning angle of the host vehicle A based on the turning angular velocity detected by the gyro sensor 12, and further calculates the traveling direction of the own vehicle A by integrating the turning angle. Note that the traveling direction of the host vehicle A calculated based on the output of the gyro sensor 12 can be corrected in a timely manner based on the accurate traveling direction of the host vehicle A detected by the GPS device 11.

  The storage medium 14 is constituted by a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard disk, or the like, and stores digital map data (map information) composed of map data and three-dimensional coordinate information (three-dimensional information) for indicating the shape of the runway. The digital map data is used when a drawing process (to be described later) by the control means 18 is performed. The digital map data includes a road shape data indicating the shape of the road, height data indicating the height, inclination data indicating a right and left (width direction) inclination of the road, and a front and rear (longitudinal direction) inclination of the road. Gradient data indicating (gradient), curvature data indicating the curvature of the road, and the like are provided for each predetermined position (predetermined longitude / latitude) of the road. The control means 18 counts the output pulse signal of the speed sensor 10 to detect the travel distance of the host vehicle A, detects the traveling direction of the host vehicle A based on the turning angular velocity of the gyro sensor 12, and determines the travel distance and travel. A travel locus is calculated based on the direction. Then, the control means 18 compares the travel locus with the road map data read from the storage medium 14 and performs map matching to calculate the estimated position of the host vehicle A.

  The operation means 15 has a plurality of switches such as a selection key and a determination key, and switches the display form or display setting of a road shape image (drawing processing of each three-dimensional coordinate information of the road) described later. Is. Further, the driver can select display or non-display of the runway shape image as the display setting, or display each setting value when displaying the runway shape image by operating the operation unit 15. The display content of the device 2 can be arbitrarily set.

  In this case, the other vehicle information extracting means 16 receives the traveling speed information of the vehicle traveling around the host vehicle A such as the preceding vehicle or the oncoming vehicle by using the inter-vehicle communication system (wireless communication system). Obtainable. Further, the other vehicle information extraction means 16 outputs information obtained through the vehicle-to-vehicle communication to the control means 18. In addition, although the method using inter-vehicle communication was shown as a method for obtaining the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle, a distance sensor is provided on the front side of the own vehicle A to change the inter-vehicle distance between the own vehicle A and the preceding vehicle ( Based on the relative speed) and the traveling speed of the host vehicle A, the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle can also be obtained.

  The runway information extraction means 17 can receive information related to the runway state such as traffic congestion and traffic restrictions by a road-to-vehicle communication system using a beacon installed on the road. The road information extracting unit 17 outputs information obtained through the road-vehicle communication system to the control unit 18.

  The control means 18 can be applied with a microcomputer, a ROM storing a processing operation program, a RAM temporarily storing calculation values, an EEPROM storing various preset values, and executing the program. This is mainly composed of a CPU for performing the above and an input / output interface circuit. The input / output interface circuit is connected to the speed sensor 10, the GPS device 11, the gyro sensor 12, the storage medium 14, the operation means 15, the other vehicle information extraction means 16, the runway information extraction means 17, the display drive circuit 19 described later, and the like. Each of these is a circuit for establishing an electrical connection relationship. The control means 18 outputs a control signal based on the input from each mechanism (10 to 17) and the program, and prompts the display 2 through the display drive circuit 19 for a desired display.

  The display drive circuit 19 is a circuit for supplying a display signal to the display 2 and is configured by an IC or LSI. The display driving circuit 19 drives and controls the display device 2 so as to perform a predetermined display based on a signal from the control means 18.

  The display 2 includes a TFT liquid crystal display element and backlight means, and is driven and controlled by the display drive circuit 19 so as to emit a display image L. The display device 2 projects a desired display form such as a road shape image onto the windshield W as a display image L by the display drive circuit 19.

  With the above configuration, the control means 18 calculates the vehicle position coordinates (current position) and the direction of the host vehicle A based on signals from the position detection means 13 including the speed sensor 10, the GPS device 11, and the gyro sensor 12. The road shape corresponding to the front side (traveling direction side) of the vehicle position coordinates can be rendered and displayed on the display 2 based on the digital map data stored in the storage medium 14.

  Next, drawing of the display image L by the control means 18 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 shows processing by the control means 18. FIG. 5 shows an example of a display screen that is projected and displayed on the windshield surface by the display unit 1 with the traveling road shape on the front side (traveling direction side) of the host vehicle A as the display image L.

  The control means 18 calculates the vehicle position coordinates and the traveling direction of the host vehicle A based on the signal from the position detection means 13 (step S1). In this case, the control means 18 calculates vehicle position coordinates by the GPS device 11, the speed sensor 10, and the gyro sensor 12. For example, the control means 18 can calculate the vehicle position coordinates and the traveling direction of the host vehicle A by obtaining the trajectory of the host vehicle A that changes with time using the GPS device 11. Further, the control means 18 can calculate the vehicle position coordinates and the traveling direction from the movement width of the host vehicle A and the vehicle body direction based on signals from the speed sensor 10 and the gyro sensor 12.

  Next, the control means 18 sets viewpoint coordinates according to the vehicle position coordinates, and sets a display direction based on the traveling direction of the host vehicle A (step S2). In this case, the viewpoint coordinates are set to a position 15 meters higher than the vehicle position coordinates, and the display direction is set to the same direction as the traveling direction of the host vehicle A.

  Further, the control means 18 performs a drawing process on the road shape by calculating three-dimensional coordinate information selected based on the viewpoint coordinates and the display direction in the digital map data stored in the storage medium 14 (step S3). ). In this case, three-dimensional coordinate information within one kilometer from the viewpoint coordinates to the display direction side is calculated, and rendering processing is performed so that the display image L is displayed.

  Next, the control means 18 calculates a track position suitable for overtaking in the track shape drawing process calculated in step S3. In this case, the control means 18 extracts the traveling speed of the own vehicle A, the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle, the inter-vehicle distance, and the like obtained by the other vehicle information extracting means 16 and the sensor mounted on the own vehicle A, and When the traveling speed is slower than the prescribed speed of the traveling path, a distance necessary for the own vehicle A to pass the preceding vehicle is calculated (step S4).

  In addition, the control means 18 calculates the lane shape calculated in step S3, the curvature of the lane is not too large, the lane width is large to some extent, the change in the lane gradient is small, there are no intersections or traffic lights, and the lane shape is calculated in step S4. A track position that can secure a distance necessary for overtaking the preceding vehicle is searched (step S5). Therefore, the control means 18 can search how many meters ahead there is a road position that seems to have good visibility.

  Further, the control means 18 extracts information such as traffic restrictions due to traffic jams, accidents, construction, snowfall, freezing, etc. on the road position searched in the process of step S5 by the road information extraction means 17. In order to pass the preceding vehicle, it is determined whether there is a risk that can be determined based on the information (step S6). At this time, the control means 18 can obtain such information by the inter-vehicle communication system, can obtain the presence / absence information of the vehicle in the oncoming vehicle or the overtaking lane, and can also determine the presence / absence of the risk in consideration of these. .

  When it is determined that there is no danger in the process of step S6, the control means 18 prompts the runway shape drawn in step S3 to be displayed on the display 2 as an image together with the runway position. Is output to the display drive circuit 19 (step S7).

  By repeating the above-described processing, in order to pass the runway shape and the preceding vehicle based on the viewpoint coordinates, the three-dimensional coordinate information, and the traveling speed of the own vehicle A and the preceding vehicle that are updated each time the own vehicle A travels. Can be projected on the windshield W as a display image L.

  For example, a road position C for overtaking the preceding vehicle and a display F indicating the display contents and the distance to the road position can be projected and displayed on the windshield W together with the road shape R as shown in FIG. Note that the lane position C for overtaking the preceding vehicle shown in FIG. 5 is displayed or blinked in a color different from the lane shape R, thereby alerting the driver. Further, the runway position C for overtaking the preceding vehicle may be other than the shape shown in FIG. For example, a display composed of characters, symbols, and marks may be used.

  Such a vehicle head-up display device includes other vehicle information extraction means 16 for extracting information on the preceding vehicle, information obtained by the other vehicle information extraction means 17 and three-dimensional information stored in the storage medium 14. The control means 18 for calculating the runway position C suitable for the host vehicle to pass the preceding vehicle in consideration of the runway shape R calculated based on the runway shape R, the runway calculated by the runway shape R and the control means 18 And a display 2 for displaying the position C.

  Therefore, the driver can confirm in advance the position of the road that is suitable for overtaking by the display on the display device 2, so that the driver can operate the vehicle in a mentally calm state. In addition, the driver does not have to perform an operation for determining whether or not the vehicle can be overtaken on the road that is not suitable for overtaking that can be determined in advance by the above-described processing, and thus the driver can concentrate on performing safe driving. it can. Therefore, the above-described vehicle head-up display device is a vehicle display device that can support a safe driving operation.

  Further, the other vehicle information extracting means 16 can perform the risk determination based on newer and more information by extracting the information on the preceding vehicle using the inter-vehicle communication system, and driving. It becomes a display device for vehicles which can support safer driving operation for a person.

  The vehicle A includes a road information extraction unit 17 that receives the road information on which the vehicle A travels using wireless communication, and the control unit 18 considers the road information from the road information extraction unit 17 and the vehicle A A vehicle display device capable of determining a risk based on more information by calculating a suitable road position for overtaking the preceding vehicle and supporting a safer driving operation for the driver. It becomes.

  In addition, the display 2 includes a head-up display device that projects and displays the display image L on the windshield W of the host vehicle A, so that the driver can confirm the display with a small line of sight movement during the driving operation. In addition to being able to do this, the sense of seeing the display of the runway shape matches the actual driving sensation, so the support effect for the driver increases.

  In step S4, when calculating the distance required for the own vehicle A to pass the preceding vehicle, the calculation is based on the traveling speed of the own vehicle A, the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle, and the inter-vehicle distance. In addition to this, the calculation can be performed in consideration of the vehicle state such as the grip force between the tire and the road surface, the weight of the own vehicle, and the acceleration performance.

  In the above-described embodiment, the display image L from the display device 2 is projected onto the windshield W, but the projection member in the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the display image from the display device may be projected onto a combiner provided on the windshield surface of the host vehicle or on the dashboard. Further, instead of the above-described head-up display system, for example, a display unit composed of an organic EL panel or a liquid crystal panel may be adopted, and the driver may directly view the display on the display unit.

  Further, instead of the storage medium 14 composed of a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM as in the above-described embodiment, for example, a server provided outside the vehicle is applied as a storage medium (map information storage means), and the wireless communication is used to Digital map data stored in the server can be downloaded as appropriate.

Sectional drawing of the display means of the head-up display apparatus for vehicles which is embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram of the head up display device for vehicles which is an embodiment same as the above. The block diagram of a head up display device for vehicles same as the above. The figure which shows the process sequence of the head-up display apparatus for vehicles same as the above. The figure which shows the display image of the head up display apparatus for vehicles same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

2 Display (display means)
13 Position detection means 14 Storage medium (map information storage means)
16 Other vehicle information extraction means (preceding vehicle information extraction means)
17 lane information extraction means 18 control means A own vehicle C position R suitable for overtaking lane shape

Claims (4)

Preceding vehicle information extracting means for extracting information on the preceding vehicle;
In order for the own vehicle to pass the preceding vehicle in consideration of the information obtained by the preceding vehicle information extracting means and the runway shape calculated based on the map information composed of the three-dimensional information stored in the map information storage means Control means for calculating a suitable runway position;
Display means for displaying the runway shape and the runway position calculated by the control means;
A vehicle display device comprising:   The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the preceding vehicle information extracting unit extracts information on the preceding vehicle using an inter-vehicle communication system. Comprising road information extracting means for receiving the road information on which the vehicle travels using wireless communication;
The said control means calculates the runway position suitable for the said own vehicle to pass the said preceding vehicle in consideration of the said runway information from the said runway information extraction means. Vehicle display device. The said display means consists of a head-up display which projects and displays a display image on the windshield of the said own vehicle or the combiner provided between a windshield and a driver | operator. Vehicle display device.

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