JP2009113616A - Automatic display switching device and automatic display switching method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress movement of a driver's line of sight during driving to the minimum. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic display switching device is provided with a main display device 3 arranged near a front visual field of the driver, a sub-display device 15, i.e., a separate body from the main display device 3, and a computer control device 60 for determining whether or not it is in the specified circumstance that a display content of the sub-display device 15 should be referred. A control part 41 and a CPU circuit 39 switch the display content between the main display device 3 and the sub-display device 15 when it is determined that it is specified status by the computer control device 60. Thus, movement of the driver's line of sight during driving is suppressed to the minimum and the driver can safely perform driving. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic display switching device and an automatic display switching method for switching display contents of a plurality of display devices.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there is a vehicle surroundings monitoring device that displays a video on a single monitor by switching cameras according to the traveling state and surroundings of the vehicle (see Patent Document 1). In this vehicle periphery monitoring device, for example, six video cameras are switched by the switching means, and one selected video is displayed on the display device.

  On the other hand, the vehicle status signal of the predetermined detection means is input to the microcomputer of the predetermined control means, and the switching means is controlled so that an optimal image is selected according to the traveling status and the surrounding status of the vehicle. In this case, the name and obstacle information of the switched video camera are combined with the video and displayed.

JP 11-220726 A

  In the above prior art, although the camera can be switched according to the driving situation of the vehicle and the surrounding situation and the video can be displayed on one monitor, each video cannot be referred independently. Since the driver is positioned so as not to obstruct the driver's front view, the driver cannot refer to the monitor unless the line of sight is moved out of the front view.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention includes the above-described problem as an example.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a main display device disposed in the vicinity of the front view of the driver of the vehicle and a sub display device not disposed in the vicinity of the front view of the driver. Determining means for determining whether or not the driver should refer to the display content of the sub-display device, and the main display device when the determining device determines that the specific situation is And control means for switching display contents between the display device and the sub display device.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 6 is separate from the main display device disposed in the vicinity of the front view of the driver of the vehicle and is disposed in the vicinity of the front view of the driver. A determination step for determining whether or not the driver should refer to the display content of the sub-display device, and the main display device when the determination step determines that the specific state is And a control step of switching display contents with the sub display device.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a part of a vehicle 100 in the vehicle according to the first embodiment. The vehicle 100 includes an automatic display switching device described later.
The vehicle 100 includes left and right seats 6 a and 6 b, a side brake 7, a handle 4, a main display device 3, a device panel 21, and a dashboard 9 in the vehicle.

  The equipment panel 21 includes a sub display device 15 and an electronic control device 25. The sub display device 15 has a function as a display device of a car navigation device or a television receiver, for example. On the other hand, the electronic control unit 25 visually displays, for example, various display parts and makes the touch panel unit 10 detect the contact state by bringing it into contact with the operation surface of the touch panel unit 10 (corresponding to the operation detection unit). It has a configuration. As the touch panel unit 10, for example, a so-called capacitance type touch panel can be adopted.

  The left and right seats 6a and 6b are seats for the driver and passengers to sit on. The handle 4 is an operation member that is operated by the driver for driving. The side brake 7 is a kind of braking device for fixing the vehicle to a place so that the vehicle does not move any more when the vehicle is stopped. The main display device 3 is a display device that displays the speed, engine speed, water temperature, and the like of the vehicle 100. The main display device 3 is a display device configured to display the above-described speed, engine speed, water temperature, and the like by, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence display. The dashboard 9 represents a member in front of the passenger seat side among the left and right seats 6a and 6b.

  That is, the vehicle 100 includes, for example, a plurality of display devices, and includes, for example, two display devices in the present embodiment. The main display device 3 is a display device arranged in the vicinity of the driver's front view. The forward field of view represents a field of view in which the driver can move his / her line of sight without disturbing safe driving during driving. The sub display device 15 is a display device that is separate from the main display unit 3 and is not located in the vicinity of the driver's front view. That is, the sub display device 15 is disposed at a position where the driver needs to move his / her line of sight to visually recognize the display contents during driving, for example.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration example of the automatic display switching device.
The vehicle 100 includes an automatic display switching device and a vehicle control device 33 having the following configuration. The automatic display switching device includes a main display device 3, a sub display device 15, a control unit 34, a computer control device 60, and a navigation device 50. The automatic display switching device includes at least the main display device 3, the sub display device 15, the computer control device 60, a CPU circuit 39, a video signal generation circuit 40, a control unit 41, and a display processing unit 45, which will be described later. Is included.

  The control unit 34 controls display contents of the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15. The control unit 34 will be described later. On the other hand, the navigation device 50 controls the display contents of the sub display device 15 and the main display unit 3. The navigation device 50 has a function of searching for a route from the current position to the set destination and guiding the route according to the search result using the display content of the sub display device 15. The navigation device 50 is connected to a GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna 32. The GPS antenna 32 is an antenna for receiving satellite signals from GPS satellites that orbit the earth.

  The vehicle control device 33 outputs a gear signal to the control unit 34 based on information on the transmission gear in the vehicle 100. The vehicle control device 33 includes, for example, a vehicle sensor, measures the vehicle speed based on the travel distance of the vehicle 100 per unit time, and outputs a speed signal related to the vehicle speed to the control unit 34 and the navigation device 50. The vehicle control device 33 outputs an engine speed signal related to the engine speed related to the vehicle 100 to the control unit 34.

  The control unit 34 includes an interface circuit 38, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) circuit 39, and a video signal generation circuit 40.

  The interface circuit 38 is an interface for receiving a gear signal, a speed signal, and an engine speed signal from the vehicle control device 33. The CPU circuit 39 controls the entire control unit 34, and controls the video signal generation circuit 40 based on, for example, a gear signal input via the interface circuit 38.

  The video signal generation circuit 40 generates video signals for displaying the speed and the engine speed as display contents on the main display device 3 based on the speed signal and the engine speed signal, etc., under the control of the CPU circuit 39. And output to the main display device 3. The video signal generation circuit 40 controls the display content of the sub display device 15 under the control of the CPU circuit 39.

  The navigation device 50 has a route search function for searching for a route from the current position measured to a desired destination, and a route guidance function for guiding a route as a search result.

  Specifically, the navigation device 50 includes a GPS reception processing unit 43, a gyro sensor 44, an operation unit 46, a map reading unit 42, a control unit 41, and a display processing unit 45.

  The GPS reception processing unit 43 corresponds to a positioning unit, and functions to measure the current position based on a pseudo distance based on satellite signals received from at least three satellites periodically using the GPS antenna 32 under the control of the control unit 41, for example. Have The GPS reception processing unit 43 updates the current position every time a new current position is measured.

  The gyro sensor 44 is a device that detects, for example, the amount of change in angle per second, that is, the angular velocity. The operation unit 46 is an operation means for operating the navigation device 50. The operation unit 46 is a kind of operation tool for inputting a desired destination. The map reading unit 42 has a function of reading map information from, for example, a disk device incorporating a disk medium that stores map information. This map information includes, for example, information on nodes and links.

  The control unit 41 has a function of controlling the entire navigation device 50. Specifically, the control unit 41 has a route search function for searching for a route from the current position measured by the GPS reception processing unit 43 to a desired destination set by the operation unit 46 (in search means). Equivalent). In addition, the control unit 41 has a route guidance function that guides according to the route searched by the route search function (corresponding to guidance means).

  The display processing unit 45 has a function of causing the sub display device 15 to display an image such as a map, characters, and graphics under the control of the control unit 41. For example, the display processing unit 45 displays an image in which a route to be guided by the above-described route guidance function is superimposed on a map near the current position. The display processing unit 45 has a function of displaying display contents to be displayed on the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15 described above, for example, under the control of the control unit 41.

  The computer control device 60 described above corresponds to determination means, and determines whether or not the driver is in a specific situation in which the display content of the sub display device 15 should be referred to. The computer control device 60 determines whether or not the driver should refer to the display content of the sub display device 15 according to the traveling state of the vehicle as such a specific situation.

  Further, the computer control device 60 has a function of controlling the display content of the main display device 3 by controlling the control unit 34 and controlling the display content of the sub display device 15 by controlling the navigation device 50.

  In the present embodiment, the computer control device 60 needs to refer the display content of the sub display device 15 to the driver based on the guidance content by the route guidance function from the navigation device 50 as such a specific situation. In this case, display contents are switched between the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15. As such a case, for example, a case where the guidance content should be turned right or left can be cited.

  Further, the computer control device 60 is triggered by the sub display device 15 and the main display device 3 when the fixed time has passed since the display content was switched between the sub display device 15 and the main display device 3. Controls to restore the display contents. Note that this fixed time is measured by interlocking a timer (not shown).

  The control unit 34 is configured as described above. Next, an operation example of the control unit 34 will be briefly described. In the control unit 34, the CPU circuit 39 receives the engine speed signal and the speed signal from the vehicle control device 33 via the interface circuit 38.

  The CPU circuit 39 controls the video signal generation circuit 40 to generate a video signal to be displayed on the main display device 3. The control unit 34 acquires a speed signal from a vehicle sensor (not shown) of the vehicle control device 33 and acquires an engine speed signal from a sensor (not shown) provided on the wheel, for example.

  When receiving a command from the computer control device 60, the CPU circuit 39 controls the video signal generation circuit 40 to generate a video signal to be displayed on the sub display device 15. In other words, the video signal generation circuit 40 changes the video signal generated based on the command from the CPU circuit 39 for the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15, and each video signal is assigned to the corresponding main display device 3 and the sub display device 15. This is supplied to the display device 15. Note that when the video signal for the sub display device 15 is generated, the control unit 34 supplies the video signal to the sub display device 15 via the signal line 40b, and does not supply the video signal from the signal line 40a. On the other hand, when the video signal for the main display device 3 is generated, the control unit 34 supplies the video signal to the main display device 3 through the signal line 40a and does not supply the video signal from the signal line 40b.

  On the other hand, the operation example of the navigation device 50 will be briefly described. First, the control unit 41 controls the display processing unit 45 to display map information and the like on the sub display device 15. The control unit 41 receives the GPS satellite signal from the GPS reception processing unit 43 and acquires the current position of the vehicle indicated by the latitude and longitude. Further, the navigation device 50 calculates a route to the destination set by the operation unit 46. The navigation device 50 controls the display processing unit 45 to display map information including the current position and the route on the sub display device 15.

  The map reading unit 42 includes, for example, a hard disk and a hard disk drive that store map information including an enlarged guide map relating to an intersection. The map reading unit 42 reads out necessary map information based on a command from the control unit 41 and supplies it to the display processing unit 45.

  When receiving a command from the computer control device 60, the control unit 41 controls the display processing unit 45 to display map information or the like on the main display device 3 or the sub display device 15. When the guidance route is drawn, the control unit 41 supplies the computer control device 60 with information on the guidance route and the current position.

  When the information about the guidance route and the current position arrives, the computer control device 60 issues a command for switching the display contents of the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15 to the CPU circuit 39 and the control unit 41. The CPU circuit 39 and the control unit 41 switch the display by controlling the video signal generation circuit 40 and the display processing unit 45 in accordance with the commands.

  The automatic display switching device mounted on the vehicle 100 is one configuration example as described above. Next, an example of the automatic display switching method according to the one configuration example will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. This automatic display switching method includes processing of the control unit 41, processing of the computer control device 60, and processing of the CPU circuit 39.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the control unit 41. This flowchart corresponds to a control step and represents an example of steps executed by the navigation device 50. This control step represents a procedure for switching display contents between the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15 when it is determined in the determination step described later that the situation is a specific situation.

  First, examples of display contents of the main display device 3 include a speed display unit 15e, a gear display unit 15f, and an engine speed display unit 15g as shown in FIG. The display content shown in FIG. 6 includes, from left to right, a speed display unit 15e regarding the current speed, a gear display unit 15f indicating the currently used gear, and an engine speed display unit 15g indicating the current engine speed. They are arranged (hereinafter referred to as “meter screen”).

  Next, in step S <b> 1, the control unit 41 in the navigation device 50 controls the GPS reception processing unit 43 and acquires the current position based on the satellite signal received by the GPS antenna 32. Next, in step S2, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the destination is set by operating the operation unit 46 by the driver. The control unit 41 waits until a desired destination is set, and executes step S3 when the desired destination is set.

  In step S3, the control unit 41 searches for a route from the current position to the destination using the route search function described above, and sets a guide route as a search result using the route guide function described above. To start guidance.

  Next, in step S4, the control unit 41 controls the map reading unit 42 to read map information around the current position. Further, in step S4, the control unit 41 controls the display processing unit 45 to display it on the sub display device 15 together with the guidance route and the current position.

  Examples of display contents of the sub display device 15 include map information 15a, a current location 15b, a destination 15c, and a guidance route 15d as shown in FIG. The display content shown in FIG. 7 represents a guide route 15d from the current location 15b to the destination 15d superimposed on the map information 15a (hereinafter referred to as “navigation screen”).

  Next, in step S <b> 5, the control unit 41 supplies the guidance route and the current position to the computer control device 60. Next, in step S6, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the current position measured by the GPS reception processing unit 43 has been updated. The control unit 41 waits until the current position is updated, and executes step S7 when the current position is updated.

  Next, in step S <b> 7, the control unit 41 supplies the updated current position to the computer control device 60 and updates the display on the sub display device 15. Next, in step S <b> 8, the control unit 41 determines whether there is a display switching command from the computer control device 60. When there is no such command, the control unit 41 executes step S12 described later, and when there is such a command, the control unit 41 executes the following step S9.

  In step S9, the control unit 41 controls the map reading unit 42 to read information related to the enlarged guide map. And the control part 41 controls the display process part 45, and displays the intersection enlarged view or map regarding the present position as shown in FIG.

  At the same time, the CPU circuit 39 controls the video signal generation circuit 40 when the display switching command is received from the computer control device 60 and changes the display content of the sub display device 15. Specifically, examples of display contents of the sub display device 15 include a speed display unit 15h and an engine speed display unit 15i as shown in FIG. In the speed display portion 15h, information on the speed to be displayed on the speed display portion 15e described above is simply displayed by a digital display method. On the other hand, on the engine speed display unit 15i, information on the speed to be displayed on the engine speed display unit 15g described above is simply displayed by a digital display method.

  Next, in step S <b> 10, the control unit 41 determines whether there is another display switching command from the computer control device 60. The control unit 41 executes the above-described step S9 when there is no such command, and executes the above-described step S11 when there is such a command.

  In step S11, the control unit 41 controls the map reading unit 42 to read map information around the current position. Further, the control unit 41 controls the display processing unit 45 to display the map information on the sub display device 15. Next, in step S12, the control unit 41 determines whether or not it has arrived at the set destination. If it has not arrived, the control unit 41 returns to step S6 and executes the process. To do.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the computer control device 60. This flowchart corresponds to a determination step. In this determination step, the display content of the sub display device 15 that is separate from the main display device 3 disposed in the vicinity of the driver's front view and not disposed in the vicinity of the driver's front view is displayed to the driver. It is determined whether or not a specific situation should be referred to.

  First, in step S21, the computer control device 60 determines whether or not the guidance route and the current position have been supplied from the control unit 41 described above. The computer control device 60 waits until these supplies are present, and executes step S22 if these supplies are present.

  In step S22, each time the current position is updated as described above, the computer control device 60 receives the updated current position. Next, in step S23, the computer control device 60 determines whether or not the current position is a predetermined distance before the guidance point, for example, 300 m before, and if the current position is not 300 m before the guidance position, for example, the above-described step. Return to S22 and execute. On the other hand, when the current position is 300 m before the guidance position, the computer control device 60 executes step S24.

  In step S24, the computer control device 60 supplies a command for switching the display to the CPU circuit 39 and the control unit 41. Next, in step S25, the computer control device 60 determines whether or not the current position of the vehicle has passed the guidance point, waits until it passes this guidance point, and executes step S26 when it passes this guidance point. This guidance point represents an intermediate point on the guidance route to the destination.

  In step S <b> 26, the computer control device 60 supplies a command for switching the display to the CPU circuit 39 and the control unit 41. Next, in step S27, the computer control device 60 determines whether or not the computer control device 60 has arrived at the destination. If it has not arrived, the processing returns to step S22 described above and is executed. In that case, step S28 is executed. In step S28, the computer control device 60 clears the guidance route and the current position, and the process ends.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the CPU circuit 39. This flowchart corresponds to a control step and represents an example of steps executed by the control unit 34 including the CPU circuit 39. This control step represents a procedure for switching display contents between the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15 when it is determined in the above-described determination step that the specific state is set.

  In step S31, the CPU circuit 39 determines whether or not various signals such as a gear signal have been supplied. When the various signals are not supplied, the process ends. On the other hand, when the various signals are supplied, the next step S32 is executed. Execute.

  In step S32, the CPU circuit 39 controls the video signal generation circuit 40 to generate a video signal for the main display device 3. Next, in step S33, the CPU circuit 39 outputs the generated video signal for the main display device 3. Then, the display content of the main display device 3 is changed based on this video signal.

  Next, in step S <b> 34, the CPU circuit 39 determines whether there is a command to switch the display from the computer control device 60. When there is no such command, the CPU circuit 39 returns to and executes step S31, while when this command is received, executes the next step S35.

  Next, in step S <b> 36, the CPU circuit 39 outputs the generated video signal for the sub display device 15 to the sub display device 15. Then, the display content corresponding to the video signal is displayed on the sub display device 15.

  Next, in step S37, the CPU circuit 39 determines whether or not there has been a display switching command again from the computer control device 60. If this command is received, the process returns to step S31 described above and is executed. If not, return to Step S35 and execute.

  In the automatic display switching device in the above embodiment, the main display device 3 disposed in the vicinity of the front view of the driver of the vehicle, the sub display device 15 not disposed in the vicinity of the front view of the driver, and the driving Determining means 60 for determining whether or not the display content of the sub display device 15 should be referred to by a person (corresponding to a computer control device), and the determination means 60 determines that the specific situation is present Control means 39, 40, 41, 45 for switching display contents between the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15 (corresponding to a CPU circuit, a video signal generation circuit, a control unit and a display processing unit), Have The vicinity in the driver's front field of view includes the front field of view and the vicinity in the front field of view so that the driver's line of sight can be visually recognized without being extremely moved.

  In the automatic display switching method in the above embodiment, the sub display device 15 is separate from the main display device 3 disposed in the vicinity of the vehicle driver's front view and is not disposed in the vicinity of the driver's front view. A determination step for determining whether or not the display content is to be referred to by the driver, and when it is determined in the determination step that the specific state is present, the main display device 3 and the sub display And a control step of switching display contents with the device 15.

  If it carries out like these, when it will be in the specific situation which a driver should refer to the sub display device 15 during a driving | operation, respectively, instead of displaying the display content which a driver should refer to the sub display device 15, a main display It will be displayed on the device 3. That is, instead of the driver moving his / her line of sight to the sub display unit 15 in order to refer to the display content, the display content itself moves from the sub display unit 15 to the main display device 3. Here, since the main display unit 3 is disposed in the vicinity of the driver's front field of view, the main display unit 3 is disposed at a position that is easily visible to the driver even during driving.

  Therefore, the driver can refer to the display content of the main display unit 3 by slight line-of-sight movement instead of moving the line of sight during driving and referencing the display content of the sub display unit 15. For this reason, the driver can drive safely by minimizing the movement of the driver's line of sight during driving. The forward field of view represents a range in which the driver can move the line of sight without hindering safe driving during driving. A plurality of sub display devices 15 may exist.

  In the automatic display switching device in the embodiment, in addition to the above-described configuration, the determination unit 60 further displays the sub display device 15 to the driver according to the traveling state of the vehicle 100 as the specific state. Determine whether the content should be referenced.

  In the automatic display switching method according to the embodiment, in addition to the steps described above, in the determination step, the display content of the sub display device 15 is displayed to the driver according to the travel status of the vehicle 100 as the specific status. It is determined whether or not to be referred to.

  In this way, since the display content originally displayed on the sub display device 15 according to the driving situation is displayed on the main display device 3, the driver can This display content can be visually recognized by the main display device 3 arranged in the vicinity of the front field of view without largely moving from the front field of view.

  In the automatic display switching device in the above embodiment, in addition to the above-described configuration, the control means 39 and 41 (corresponding to a CPU circuit and a control unit) further include a positioning means 43 (GPS reception processing unit) that measures the current position. ), A search means 41 (corresponding to a control unit) for searching for a route from the current position measured by the positioning means 43 to a desired destination, and the sub route according to the route searched by the search means 41. Based on the guidance contents received from the navigation device 50 including guidance means 41 for guidance using the display device 15 (corresponding to the control unit), the determination means 60 informs the driver of the sub-display device 15. When it is determined that the display content needs to be referred to (such as “turn right at the next intersection”), the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15 In switches the display contents.

  In the automatic display switching method according to the above embodiment, in addition to the steps described above, in the control step, guidance is performed using the sub display device 15 according to a route searched from the current position measured to a desired destination. When it is determined in the determination step that the driver needs to refer to the display content of the sub display device 15 based on the guidance content received from the navigation device, the main display device 3 and the sub display The display content is switched with the display device 15.

  If it does in this way, even if a driver | operator has the guidance content by the navigation apparatus 50 during a driving | operation, it is not necessary to refer to the sub-display apparatus 15, and the main display arrange | positioned in a driver | operator's front view, respectively. The device 3 may be referred to. For this reason, the movement of the driver's line of sight can be minimized, and the driver can be driven safely.

  In the automatic display switching device in the embodiment, in addition to the above-described configuration, the control means 39 and 41 (corresponding to a CPU circuit and a control unit) are provided between the sub display device 15 and the main display device 3. The display contents of the sub display device 15 and the main display device 3 are restored to the original when a certain time has passed since the display contents were switched between them.

  In the automatic display switching method according to the embodiment, in addition to the steps described above, in the control step, a certain time has elapsed since the display content was switched between the sub display device 15 and the main display device 3. In response to this, the display contents of the sub display device 15 and the main display device 3 are restored.

  In this way, the driver can confirm the display content to be referred to on the main display device 3 even when the display content of the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15 is switched over for a certain period of time. The safe driving can be continued while referring to the main display device 3 switched to the original display content.

Second Embodiment
The automatic display switching device according to the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the first embodiment and performs substantially the same operation. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the same configurations and operations are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 to 9 in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. In the following description, different points are mainly described. .

  The automatic display switching device in the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a touch panel unit 10 corresponding to an example of an operation detection unit is used instead of the navigation device 50 in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the display contents of the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15 may be switched using the touch panel unit 10 together with the navigation device 50.

  The touch panel unit 10 has a function of detecting a contact state when a driver's hand is touched and detecting that the driver is about to operate. In addition, this touch panel part 10 may be a form which detects that it is going to operate by detecting heat, such as the driver's finger, instead of detecting such a contact state.

  As a result of detection by the touch panel unit 10, the control unit 41 displays, as an example of the specific situation described above, between the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15, for example, when the driver operates or is about to operate. The contents are switched. Specifically, when the driver's hand is extended to the touch panel unit 10, for example, the control unit 41 displays the display contents that should have been originally displayed on the sub display device 15 on the main display device 3, for example, a CCD camera (not shown). Control is performed so as to display the video imaged by the imaging means.

  According to such a configuration, when the driver operates or tries to operate the touch panel unit 10 based on the display content of the sub display device 15 during driving, the touch panel unit 10 outputs an operation signal to the computer control device 60. To do. Then, the computer control device 60 controls the control unit 34 and the like so as to switch the display contents of the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15. Then, in the specific example, an image from the CCD camera that should have been originally displayed on the sub display device 15 is displayed on the main display device 3 located in the vicinity of the front view for the driver.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the computer control device 60.
In step S <b> 41, the computer control device 60 determines whether or not there is a command to switch the display from the touch panel unit 10. The computer control device 60 waits until such a command is issued, and executes the next step S42 when such a command is received.

  In step S42, the computer control device 60 controls the control unit 34 and the navigation device 50, and determines whether or not the control unit 34 or the like is displaying the above-described enlarged guide map on the main display unit 3. The computer control device 60 executes step S43 when the enlarged guide view is displayed on the main display unit 3 as described above. In step S43, the computer control device 60 outputs a command for switching the display to the main display unit 3.

  On the other hand, the computer control device 60 controls the control unit 34 and the like, and when the control unit 34 and the like do not display such a guide enlarged view on the main display unit 3, step S44 is executed. In step S44, the computer control device 60 supplies a command for switching the display to the CPU circuit 39 and the control unit 41, and the process ends. Note that the computer control device 60 may supply a command for switching the display only to the CPU circuit 39 of the control unit 34 to switch the display contents of the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15.

  In this way, when it is determined that it is not preferable for the driver to refer to the display content of the sub display device 15 during driving, the driver himself / herself displays the display content with the intention of the main display device 3. The amount of movement of the line of sight that should be moved when referring to the display content is reduced, and safe driving can be performed.

  In addition to the above-described configuration, the automatic display switching device in the embodiment further includes an operation detection unit 10 that detects an operation by the driver corresponding to the display content of the sub display device 15, and the control unit 39 , 40, 41, 45 (corresponding to a CPU circuit, a video signal generation circuit, a control unit, and a display processing unit) when the driver operates or is operated as the specific situation as a result of detection by the operation detection unit 10. In this case, the display content is switched between the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15.

  In the automatic display switching method according to the embodiment, in addition to the steps described above, in the control step, the operation by the driver corresponding to the display content of the sub display device 15 is detected, and as the specific situation, When the driver operates or is about to operate, the display content is switched between the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15.

  If it does in this way, as a result of the detection by the touch panel part 10, it tried to refer to the display contents of the sub-display device 15 changed when the driver performed a predetermined operation during driving or as a result of trying to operate. In this case, the driver only needs to refer to the display content of the main display device 3, and does not need to refer to the display content of the sub display device 15. Therefore, the movement of the driver's line of sight during driving can be minimized, and the driver can perform safe driving.

  In the automatic display switching device in the embodiment, in addition to the above-described configuration, the control means 39 and 41 (corresponding to a CPU circuit and a control unit) are provided between the sub display device 15 and the main display device 3. The display contents of the sub display device 15 and the main display device 3 are restored to the original when a certain time has passed since the display contents were switched between them.

  In the automatic display switching method according to the embodiment, in addition to the steps described above, in the control step, a certain time has elapsed since the display content was switched between the sub display device 15 and the main display device 3. In response to this, the display contents of the sub display device 15 and the main display device 3 are restored.

  In this way, the driver can confirm the display content to be referred to on the main display device 3 even when the display content of the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15 is switched over for a certain period of time. The safe driving can be continued while referring to the main display device 3 switched to the original display content.

In addition, this embodiment is not restricted above, A various deformation | transformation is possible. Hereinafter, such modifications will be described in order.
In the embodiment described above, the processing of the computer control device 60 may be executed instead by the control unit 41 of the navigation device 50 described above, and the computer control device 60 may be omitted from the configuration of the automatic display switching device.

  In the above-described embodiment, the display content is switched as described above when the computer control device 60 determines that the specific situation is described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the display content is manually changed by the driver. You may enable it to switch.

  Specifically, in the automatic display switching device described above, for example, an operation unit 70 can be provided on the handle 4 (steering) as shown in FIG. The operation unit 70 is connected to a computer control device 60 as shown in FIG. The computer control device 60 switches display contents between the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15 by switching control substantially similar to that in the above embodiment, triggered by the operation of the operation unit 70.

  In the second embodiment, the display contents of the main display device 3 and the sub display device 15 are switched when triggered by the driver's operation or operation by the touch panel unit 10 as an example of the operation detection unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other operation detection means may be used.

It is a perspective view which shows the example of a structure of a part in the vehicle of the vehicle in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structural example of an automatic display switching apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of a control part. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of a computer control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of CPU circuit. It is an example of a screen which shows the display content of the main display apparatus in a normal state. It is an example of a screen which shows the display contents of the sub display device in a normal state. It is an example of a screen which shows the display contents of the main display apparatus in a specific situation. It is an example of a screen which shows the display contents of the main display apparatus in a specific situation. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process sequence of a computer control apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

3 Main display device (equivalent to main display device or one of multiple display devices)
15 Sub display device (sub display device, equivalent to the other of multiple display devices)
39 CPU circuit (equivalent to control means)
40 Video signal generation circuit (equivalent to control means)
41 Control unit (equivalent to control means, search means, guidance means)
43 GPS reception processing unit (equivalent to positioning means)
45 Display processing unit (equivalent to control means)
60 Computer control device (equivalent to judging means)
70 Operation unit

Claims (10)

A main display device arranged in the vicinity of the front view of the driver of the vehicle;
A sub-display device not disposed in the vicinity of the driver's front view; and
A judging means for judging whether or not the driver is in a specific situation to refer to the display content of the sub-display device;
Control means for switching display contents between the main display device and the sub display device when the determination means determines that the specific situation is present;
An automatic display switching device characterized by comprising: The automatic display switching device according to claim 1,
The determination means includes
An automatic display switching device, characterized in that, as the specific situation, it is determined whether or not the driver should refer to the display content of the sub display device according to the running situation of the vehicle. The automatic display switching device according to claim 2,
The control means includes
Positioning means for positioning the current position, search means for searching for a route from the current position measured by the positioning means to a desired destination, and using the sub display device according to the route searched by the search means When the determination means determines that the driver needs to refer to the display content of the sub display device based on the guidance content received from the navigation device provided with the guidance device, the main display An automatic display switching device characterized in that display contents are switched between a device and the sub display device. The automatic display switching device according to claim 1,
Operation detecting means for detecting an operation by the driver corresponding to the display content of the sub display device;
The control means includes
As a result of detection by the operation detection means, when the driver operates or is about to operate as the specific situation, the display content is switched between the main display device and the sub display device. Display switching device. The automatic display switching device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The control means includes
The display contents of the sub display device and the main display device are restored to the original state when a predetermined time has elapsed since the display content was switched between the sub display device and the main display device. Automatic display switching device. A specific situation in which the driver is referred to the display content of the sub display device that is separate from the main display device disposed in the vicinity of the front view of the driver of the vehicle and is not disposed in the vicinity of the front view of the driver. A determination step for determining whether or not
A control step of switching display contents between the main display device and the sub display device when it is determined in the determination step that the specific situation is;
An automatic display switching method characterized by comprising: The automatic display switching method according to claim 6,
In the determination step,
An automatic display switching method, characterized in that, as the specific situation, it is determined whether or not the driver should refer to the display content of the sub display device in accordance with a running situation of the vehicle. The automatic display switching method according to claim 7,
In the control step,
Based on the guidance contents received from the navigation device that guides using the sub display device according to the route searched from the measured current position to the desired destination, the sub display to the driver in the determination step An automatic display switching method characterized by switching display content between the main display device and the sub display device when it is determined that the display content of the device needs to be referred to. The automatic display switching method according to claim 6,
In the control step,
As a result of detecting the operation by the driver corresponding to the display content of the sub display device, when the driver operates or is about to operate as the specific situation, the main display device and the sub display device Automatic display switching method characterized by switching display contents between the two. The automatic display switching method according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
In the control step,
The display contents of the sub display device and the main display device are restored to the original state when a predetermined time has elapsed since the display content was switched between the sub display device and the main display device. Automatic display switching method.

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