JP2009018722A - Vehicle-mounted information indicator device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle-mounted information indicator device that facilitates a driver's visibility during operation of the driver and does not prohibit the driver's operation. <P>SOLUTION: The device has an indicated information sensor part 101, a steering angle detector part 102, an indicator control part 103 for controlling in what manner light emitting segments 104 (a to n) are emitted in response to the steering angle and the indicated information, and a plurality of light emitting segments 104 (a to n) for indicating to the driver. The light emitting segments 104 (a to n) are arranged in a circular manner around an axis of a steering wheel and the light emitting segment (LED) placed at the upper-most location as viewed from the driver to cause its indication to be facilitated for the driver and an indication not prohibiting a driver's operation is carried out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle information presentation device, and more particularly to an in-vehicle information presentation technology that conveys information to a driving driver in an easy-to-understand manner.

  A driver who drives a vehicle recognizes information around the vehicle and information displayed in the instrument panel, appropriately determines the situation in the head, and performs a driving operation based on the result. Car navigation systems that have become popular in recent years have made driving more comfortable and efficient, such as displaying a map around the vehicle and providing route guidance to avoid crowded routes.

  However, by using this car navigation system or the like, the driver needs another information processing in addition to the information processing related to the driving itself. For example, a process of understanding the meaning by staring at the information provided by the car navigation system is required. This means that while being distracted by the information provided, danger may come from the surroundings, which may lead to an accident.

  As a method for avoiding such danger and enabling safe driving, it is conceivable to make information presentation to the driver in the vehicle easier to understand. Specifically, Patent Document 1 proposes shortening the driver's line-of-sight movement time and viewing distance.

  In Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the screen is arranged so that the display unit 7a is located substantially in the plane of the steering 4 to display navigation information, thereby reducing the amount of viewpoint movement and shortening the viewing distance. Is disclosed.

JP-A-7-205682

  However, in the conventional configuration, as the viewing distance becomes shorter, strict focus adjustment is necessary to see a map image displayed in detail, and it takes a long time to understand for a driver with low focus adjustment ability. Had the problem of becoming.

  In addition, since the image is always displayed near the center of the field of view, there is a problem that the image may become conscious even when the image display is not necessary, and the driver may be distracted and may not be able to concentrate on driving. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an in-vehicle information presentation device capable of presenting information that is easy for a driver to understand and does not hinder driving.

  The in-vehicle information presentation device according to the present invention is an in-vehicle information presentation device that presents information to a driver, and when a presentation target detection unit that detects the presence of a presentation target and a presentation target are detected, A presentation control unit that controls a presentation method to the driver in accordance with the presentation target, and at least one of the steering control unit that is embedded in a position where the driver can visually recognize and emits light based on a command from the presentation control unit A light emitting unit.

  According to the present invention, the driver is presented only when there is an object to be presented, and it is understood that the driver is presenting information instantaneously and can concentrate on driving without distraction. The effect is produced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the in-vehicle information presentation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the light emitting units 104 (a to n) are arranged on the steering so that the driver can visually recognize them. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the light emitting units 104 (a to n) are arranged in a circular shape centered on the steering axis as viewed from the driver. The light emitting units 104 (a to n) are an assembly of LEDs (light emitting diodes) that can emit different colors such as red, blue, yellow, and green.

  The in-vehicle information presentation device shown in FIG. 1 detects a steering angle of a steering, and a notification information detection unit 101 that detects the presence of information (hereinafter referred to as “notification information”) that should be notified to the driver around the vehicle or inside the vehicle. A steering angle detection unit 102 that performs the control, and a presentation control unit 103 that controls how the light emitting unit 104 (an) emits light according to the notification information from the type and the steering angle of the notification information, and a presentation control unit A plurality of light emitting units 104 (a to n) that presents to the driver by emitting light based on a command from 103.

  Next, FIG. 2 shows a flowchart representing the operation of the in-vehicle information presentation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As a specific example, a case where another vehicle approaches the left side of the host vehicle will be described with reference to FIG.

  Although not included in the configuration of the present invention, the host vehicle is provided with a car navigation system and is displayed on the screen of the car navigation system when an event related to driving such as a warning of surrounding danger occurs. Shall be.

  The notification information detection unit 101 continues to check whether the notification information exists (S201). The notification information detection unit 101 detects a warning (notification information) output from the car navigation system. Here, a specific example of determination whether to output the notification information performed by the car navigation system will be described. Assume that another vehicle is traveling in the left lane of the lane in which the host vehicle is traveling, and the other vehicle gradually crosses the lane and approaches the direction of the host vehicle. At this time, if the distance between the other vehicle and the host vehicle is within a predetermined value, the car navigation system determines that it is dangerous and outputs a warning. As a method for detecting the approach of the side, a detection method using a laser or a general detection method using a camera image can be considered. In this way, it is determined whether it is dangerous, that is, whether the car navigation system outputs communication information.

  When the distance between the other vehicle and the host vehicle is some distance away, it is not determined to be particularly dangerous, and the notification information is not output. Therefore, the notification information detection unit 101 does not particularly move to the next operation (No in S201). On the other hand, if the distance between the other vehicle and the host vehicle is within a predetermined value and the other vehicle approaches and is determined to be dangerous, a warning for danger is displayed on the display of the car navigation system.

  At this time, the notification information detection unit 101 detects the output of the warning on the display of the car navigation system (Yes in S201), and acquires the type of the notification information (S202). For example, here, the type of display of the car navigation system is acquired as the notification information type.

  The steering angle detector 102 always detects the rotation angle of the steering and acquires the steering angle (S203). The presentation control unit 103 determines a presentation method based on the notification information type acquired in S202 and the steering angle acquired in S203 (S204), and is the highest in the light emitting units 104 (a to n) when viewed from the driver. The LED located is caused to emit light (S205). When the steering angle is rotated 30 degrees to the right of the reference, the LED at a position of −30 degrees from the reference is caused to emit light. For example, when red is associated with the display of the car navigation system that is the notification information type, the light emitting units 104 (a to n) emit light in red. When the notification information is detected by the notification information detection unit 101 (Yes in S201), the notification information type acquisition and the steering angle acquisition may be performed at the same timing, or the steering angle acquisition may be performed first. You may go to

  Here, in the present embodiment, the display of the car navigation system is taken up as a device for displaying the notification information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other display devices in the vehicle may be used. For example, there are an instrument panel, a display screen on the center console, a head-up display, a room mirror that also serves as a display device, a side mirror, and the like.

  Moreover, you may display on display apparatuses, such as a mobile telephone, connected via the network. If the correspondence between the display device and the light emission color is determined in advance, the driver can see which display device should be viewed by looking at the light emission color of the LED.

  In addition, although the notification information is information displayed on the display device in the vehicle, the notification information is not limited to this and can be assigned to an area around the own vehicle. For example, even if the vehicle does not have a display device by assigning colors corresponding to the four areas of the front, right side, left side, and rear, and presenting when dangerous events occur in each area, The driver can know in which area around the host vehicle a dangerous event has occurred by looking at the color of light emitted from the LED.

  In addition, the LED that emits light is the uppermost LED as viewed from the driver. However, if the uppermost LED is included, not only one LED but also a plurality of surrounding LEDs may emit light.

  Also, in the present embodiment, the case where one piece of notification information occurs has been described, but even when a plurality of pieces of notification information occur, the second presentation information should be presented simultaneously beside the first notification information. It is possible to cope with. Further, by emitting light by combining different LEDs in the vicinity, it is possible to emit light as an intermediate color when viewed from the driver.

  Further, in this embodiment, the notification information type is set only by the type of the display device and the presentation method is determined. However, as the notification information type, the importance level of the presentation target is further set, and the specific importance level is set. In the case of a presentation target, by blinking the LED and setting a blinking interval according to the importance, it is possible to inform the driver of the importance of the presentation target as well as the type of the display device.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the in-vehicle information presentation device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the light emitting units 304 (a to n) are arranged on the steering so that the driver can visually recognize them. Specifically, the light emitting units 304 (a to n) are arranged in a circle centered on the steering axis when viewed from the driver. The light emitting units 304 (a to n) are an assembly of LEDs that can emit different colors such as red, blue, yellow, and green.

  3 includes a notification information detection unit 301 that detects notification information around the vehicle, a steering angle detection unit 302 that detects the steering angle of the steering, and the type and steering angle of the notification information. A presentation control unit 303 that controls how the light emitting units 304 (a to n) emit light according to the notification information, and a plurality of units that present to the driver by emitting light based on instructions from the presentation control unit 303 And a light emitting unit 304 (a to n). In the present embodiment, the content of the notification information type detected by the notification information detection unit 301 and the control content of the presentation control unit 303 are different from those in the first embodiment.

  Next, FIG. 4 shows a flowchart representing the operation of the in-vehicle information presentation device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As a specific example, a case where the host vehicle turns right at an intersection will be described with reference to FIG.

  The notification information detection unit 301 continues to check whether the notification information exists (S401). The notification information detection unit 301 detects notification information output from an in-vehicle device that receives notification information from the outside. For example, it is assumed that when another vehicle approaches the blind spot of a right turn vehicle existing in the oncoming lane when the host vehicle turns right at an intersection. In such a situation, as a method of detecting the moving object in the blind spot, the vehicle-mounted device receives the danger information detected from the camera image installed at the intersection by the vehicle-mounted device using the road-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-vehicle communication. A method for determining a dangerous object and outputting notification information, or a method for receiving information determined as a dangerous object from a camera image installed at an intersection using a vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-vehicle communication and outputting it as notification information And so on. By these methods, it is determined whether it is dangerous, that is, whether the in-vehicle device outputs communication information.

When there is no information judged to be dangerous, the notification information detection unit 301 does not move to the next operation (No in S401). On the other hand, when the communication information is detected (Yes in S401), the notification information detection unit 301 acquires the content of the notification information (S402).
For example, here, the notification information includes at least the relative orientation with the host vehicle. The steering angle detection unit 302 always detects the rotation angle of the steering and acquires the steering angle (S403).

The presentation control unit 303 determines a presentation method based on the notification information acquired in S402 and the steering angle acquired in S403 (S404), and causes the light emitting units 304 (a to n) to emit light (S405). The direction in which the LED to emit light is a relative direction viewed from above, with the center of the steering shaft as the vehicle position.
When the steering angle is rotated 30 degrees to the right of the reference, it is possible to present by excluding the influence of the rotation angle of the steering at that time by causing the LED at −30 degrees from the reference to emit light. . When the notification information is detected by the notification information detection unit 301 (Yes in S401), the acquisition of the notification information type and the acquisition of the steering angle may be performed at the same timing, or the acquisition of the steering angle is performed first. You may go to

  Further, for example, when the relative distance is known as the notification information, by associating the emission color of the LED corresponding to the distance range in advance, the driver can not only detect the direction of presence of the dangerous object but also the distance at the same time. I understand. Moreover, it is not necessary for the LED to emit light to be only the LED closest to the relative direction in which the dangerous object exists, and a plurality of surrounding LEDs may emit light.

  Moreover, although the present Example demonstrated the case where one notification information was detected, even when a plurality of notification information is detected, the second presentation information is simultaneously presented next to the first notification information. It is possible to cope with. It is also possible to display the first danger and the second danger in different colors. Further, by emitting light by combining different LEDs in the vicinity, it is possible to emit light as an intermediate color when viewed from the driver.

  In this embodiment, the presentation method is determined based on the relative direction and the relative distance to the dangerous object. However, the danger level is set for the dangerous object, and in the case of an object with a specific risk level, By blinking the LED and setting a blinking interval according to the degree of danger, it is possible to inform the driver of the degree of danger as well as the relative direction and distance of the dangerous object.

  In this embodiment, the position where the LED of the light emitting unit emits light is set as a relative position. However, the position of the hand on the steering wheel is detected using a thermal sensor or a pressure sensor, and the LED at a position avoiding the position of the hand is used. It is also possible to emit light.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the notification information is detected, the LED in the direction of the dangerous object is merely emitted, but before the LED in the direction of the dangerous object is emitted, the uppermost portion viewed from the driver once. It is also possible to know in advance that presentation to the light emitting unit is started by causing the LED to emit light.

  The in-vehicle information presentation device according to the present invention is useful as a device for easily recognizing an event that is not noticed by the driver during driving so as not to obstruct driving.

Configuration diagram of in-vehicle information presentation device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The flowchart showing operation | movement of the vehicle-mounted information presentation apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Configuration diagram of in-vehicle information presentation device in Embodiment 2 of the present invention The flowchart showing operation | movement of the vehicle-mounted information presentation apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the light emission part on the steering in embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the conventional vehicle-mounted information presentation apparatus

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Notification information detection part 102 Steering angle detection part 103 Presentation control part 104 Light emission part 301 Notification information detection part 302 Steering angle detection part 303 Presentation control part 304 Light emission part

Claims (18)

An in-vehicle information presentation device for presenting information to a driver,
A presentation object detection unit for detecting the presence of the presentation object;
A presentation control unit that controls a presentation method to the driver according to the presentation object when the presentation object is detected;
An on-vehicle information presentation device comprising: one or more light emitting units that are embedded in a position on a steering wheel where a driver can visually recognize and emit light based on a command from the presentation control unit. The light emitting unit includes a plurality of light emitters arranged at equal intervals and in a circular shape,
The in-vehicle information presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the presentation control unit is configured to cause a light emitter located at an upper portion of a circumference of the plurality of light emitters to emit light when a presentation object is detected. . The presentation target detection unit is a notification information detection unit that detects the presence of information to be notified to the driver around the vehicle or inside the vehicle;
A steering angle detector for detecting the steering angle of the steering,
The said presentation control part contains what light-emits the light-emitting body located in the upper part of the circumference in these light-emitting bodies irrespective of the steering angle of a steering, when a presentation target object is detected. 2. The in-vehicle information presentation device according to 2.   The in-vehicle information presentation device according to claim 3, wherein the presentation control unit includes a unit that causes a light emitter positioned at an angle for canceling a steering angle of a steering to emit light from a reference position on a circumference of the plurality of light emitters. .   The in-vehicle information presentation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the presentation control unit includes a unit that causes the light emitting unit to emit light in a color corresponding to each information type according to the information type of the presentation information.   The in-vehicle information presentation device according to claim 5, wherein the light emitting unit includes a plurality of light emitters that emit different colors. It has a display device that displays information on the driver,
The notification information detection unit identifies a display device on which a predetermined warning is displayed,
The in-vehicle information presentation device according to claim 5, wherein the presentation control unit includes a unit that causes the light emitting unit to emit light in a color corresponding to a display device on which a predetermined warning is displayed.   The in-vehicle information presentation device according to claim 7, wherein the display device includes a car navigation system and a display of an instrument panel.   The in-vehicle information presentation device according to claim 7, wherein the display device includes a display of a mobile phone. The steering is circular;
The in-vehicle information presentation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of light emitters include ones arranged on a circumference of the steering. The presentation target detection unit detects the presence direction of the presentation target around the vehicle,
The light emitting unit includes a plurality of light emitters embedded in a circle at equal intervals at a position on the steering wheel that can be visually recognized by the driver,
The presenting control unit is an in-vehicle information presentation device that, when a presentation object is detected, causes a light emitter embedded in a position corresponding to the direction in which the presentation object exists to emit light.   The presenting control unit includes a unit that causes a light emitter on the steering to emit light corresponding to the direction in which the presenting object is present as seen from the own vehicle position when the own vehicle position is the center position of the steering. The in-vehicle information presentation device described. The presentation target detection unit includes a notification information detection unit that detects a direction in which the presentation target exists,
A steering angle detector for detecting the steering angle of the steering,
The in-vehicle information presentation device according to claim 11, wherein the presentation control unit includes a unit that causes a light emitting unit located at an angle to cancel a steering angle of a steering to emit light from a reference position on a circumference of the plurality of light emitters. . The notification information detection unit detects a relative distance of the presentation object,
The in-vehicle information presentation device according to claim 13, wherein the presentation control unit includes a unit that causes the light emitter to emit light in a different color according to a relative distance of the presentation object when the presentation object is detected.   The in-vehicle information presentation device according to claim 14, wherein the presentation control unit includes a unit that causes the light emitter to blink at different time intervals according to a relative distance of the presentation object when the presentation object is detected. .   The in-vehicle information presentation device according to claim 13, wherein the notification information detection unit includes one that acquires notification information around the vehicle via road-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-vehicle communication. A sensor that detects the position of the driver's hand on the steering wheel
The in-vehicle information presentation apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the presentation control unit includes a unit that causes a light emitter located at a position other than the position of the driver's hand detected by the sensor to emit light.   The in-vehicle information presentation device according to claim 17, wherein the sensor includes a thermal sensor and a pressure sensor.

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