JP2012025346A - Display device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To respectively simplify and shorten operation and time needed for displaying desired content, and to secure reliability.SOLUTION: In a menu display mode, an active display region 441 and non-active display region 442, which are arranged in a lateral direction, are set in a display screen 44, and the positional relationship of the regions 441 and 442 are replaced for every input of alteration request of display modes. Also, in the menu display mode, active button images 2b1, displayed in the active display region 441 and permitting selection, and non-active button images 2b2, displayed in the non-active display region 442 and forbidding selection, are set for every replacement of regions as menu button images for displaying content. Furthermore, in the menu display mode, the display position of a warning image 2d displayed upon condition formation of warning to be emitted is set in a position superposed on the active button images 2b1 in the active display region 441.

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle that includes a display screen that is mounted on a vehicle and displays an image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicular display device that executes a menu display mode so as to display a plurality of menu button images selected to display predetermined content in a horizontal direction on a display screen is known. For example, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, a plurality of menu button images respectively corresponding to a plurality of search contents to be displayed for destination search are displayed as shown in FIG. Are displayed side by side in the horizontal direction of the display screen.

  Conventionally, there has been known a vehicle display device that displays a warning image for issuing a predetermined warning together with other images. For example, in the apparatus of Patent Document 2, when a warning condition for issuing a warning is established, a warning image for notifying the content of the warning by characters as disclosed in FIG. 2 of the same document is displayed.

JP 2002-229700 A JP 2009-40281 A

  In recent years, increasing the size of the display screen for the purpose of increasing the amount of information provided by the display has become widespread, and as one example, a horizontally long display screen can be mounted on a vehicle. It is considered. Therefore, when a plurality of menu button images are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction on the horizontally long screen and displayed dynamically as in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, it is possible to switch from one menu display to as many content displays as possible. The operation until the user reaches the desired content display can be simplified. On the other hand, since the number of button images displayed at the same time increases, the user takes time to select a menu button image corresponding to a desired content image.

  Therefore, the present inventors set the active display area and the inactive display area arranged in the horizontal direction on the display screen, and displays a menu button image that permits selection in the former area, while prohibiting selection. A configuration for displaying an image in the latter area has been studied. According to this examination configuration, it is possible to quickly find and select a menu button image that is allowed to be selected by being displayed in a specific active display area, so that the user can reach a desired content display. The time until can be shortened. Also, by enabling the positional relationship between the active display area and the inactive display area in the horizontal direction of the screen to be switched, even a menu button image displayed as an inactive button image can be changed to an active button image that is permitted to be selected. Can change. According to this, the effect of simplifying the operation until the user arrives at the desired content display is not greatly hindered.

  However, when the display of the warning image as in the device of Patent Document 2 is adopted in the above-described examination configuration of the present inventors, if the warning image is displayed in the inactive display area, the warning image is displayed as the user. Is easily overlooked. Such ease of overlooking the warning image is undesirable because it leads to a decrease in the reliability of the vehicle display device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to simplify and shorten the operation and time required for the user to display desired content, and to display the vehicle. This is to ensure the reliability of the device.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a menu display mode including a horizontally long display screen mounted on a vehicle, wherein a plurality of menu button images selected for displaying predetermined content are displayed side by side in the horizontal direction of the display screen. The vehicle display device that displays a warning image for issuing a predetermined warning together with the menu button image, and an input means for inputting a change request for changing the display mode of the menu display mode by a user operation In the menu display mode, the active display area and the inactive display area arranged in the horizontal direction are set on the display screen, and the active display area in the horizontal direction of the display screen each time a display mode change request is input to the input means. In the menu display mode, the area setting means for switching the positional relationship between the display area and the inactive display area An active button image as a menu button image that is displayed in the active display area and allows selection, and an inactive button image as a menu button image that is displayed in the inactive display area and prohibited from being selected is an area by the area setting means. The menu display setting means that is set for each replacement, and the display position of the warning image that is displayed when a warning condition for issuing a predetermined warning is satisfied in the menu display mode, among the active display areas set by the area setting means A warning display setting unit to be set is provided at a position to be superimposed on the active button image.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of menu button images displayed side by side in the horizontal display screen in the menu display mode can be selected in order to display predetermined contents. As a result, since it is possible to switch from one menu display to as many content displays as possible, the operation until the user arrives at a desired content display among these content displays can be simplified. However, there is a concern that the ease of searching for and selecting a menu button image corresponding to the desired content decreases as the number of menu button images displayed increases in the horizontal direction of the display screen.

  Therefore, in the menu display mode, the display screen is set so that the active display area and the inactive display area are arranged in the horizontal direction, and a menu button image that permits selection is displayed in the former area, while a menu that prohibits selection is displayed. A button image is displayed in the latter area. As a result, since the active button image as the menu button image displayed in the specific active display area and in the selection-permitted state can be quickly found and selected, the user can reach the desired content display. The time until can be shortened. At the same time, in the menu display mode, the positional relationship between the active display area and the inactive display area in the horizontal direction of the display screen can be switched every time a display mode change request is input. As a result, even a menu button image that is in a selection-prohibited state by being displayed as an inactive button image can be changed to an active button image that is permitted to be selected, so that the user can reach a desired content display. The simplification effect of the operations up to is not greatly hindered.

  In addition, in the menu display mode, the display position of the warning image that is displayed when a warning condition for issuing a predetermined warning is established is set at a location that is superimposed on the active button image in the active display area. Thereby, even if the active display area is replaced every time the display mode is changed, in the active display area after the replacement, the warning image superimposed and displayed on the active button image of the selection target being watched by the user is Some users are less likely to be overlooked.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention described above, the operation and time required for the user to display desired content can be simplified and shortened, respectively, and the vehicle is difficult to overlook the warning image. As a result, the reliability of the display device can be ensured.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the menu display mode, the menu display setting means displays a plurality of active button images side by side in the active display area set by the area setting means, and displays a warning in the menu display mode. The setting means displays a warning image across a plurality of active button images arranged in the active display area set by the area setting means.

  In the menu display mode of the present invention, a warning image is displayed in a superimposed manner across a plurality of active button images that are displayed side by side in the horizontal direction of the active display area and are easily watched. Is easily watched. According to this, it is possible to avoid the oversight of the warning image by the user and to enhance the reliability ensuring effect for the vehicle display device.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, a selection request for selecting the menu button image is input to the input means by a user operation, and the warning condition is a rejection of the selection request for the active button image in the menu display mode. This is a condition for issuing a warning.

  In the menu display mode of the present invention, when a warning condition for issuing a refusal warning in response to a request for selecting an active button image as a gaze destination among menu button images is satisfied, the warning image is superimposed on the active button image. Thus, a warning can be surely given to the user. According to this, even if the selection of the menu button in the menu display mode is rejected, for example, when the vehicle is traveling, the refusal warning is not easily overlooked by the user. The securing effect of can be enhanced.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the menu display mode, the menu display setting means displays the active button image in a size larger than the inactive button image.

  In the menu display mode of the present invention, even if the display area is switched every time the display mode is changed, the active button image in the active display area after the replacement is the inactive button image in the inactive display area after the replacement. Is displayed larger than. As a result, the user can easily select and search for the active button image having high visibility without moving, so that the time until the user reaches the desired content display can be reduced. it can. At the same time, in the menu display mode, a warning image is superimposed and displayed on the active button image that has been easily watched by the enlarged display. It is possible to increase the effect of ensuring the above. In order to increase the display size of the button image, for example, the number of pixels in the horizontal direction of the button image may be increased, or the number of pixels in the vertical direction of the button image may be increased. The number may be increased.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the menu display mode, the menu display setting means displays the active button image with higher saturation than the inactive button image.

  In the menu display mode of the present invention, even if the display area is switched every time the display mode is changed, the active button image in the active display area after the replacement is the inactive button image in the inactive display area after the replacement. Rather, it is displayed in high brightness saturation. As a result, the user can easily select and search for the active button image having high visibility without moving, so that the time until the user reaches the desired content display can be reduced. it can. At the same time, in the menu display mode, a warning image is superimposed on the active button image that has become easy to be watched due to a display with high saturation, so that the warning image is overlooked by the user and displayed for the vehicle. It is possible to enhance the effect of ensuring the reliability of the device. Note that “high brightness” means a state in which at least one of brightness and saturation is high.

1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display of the image with the display apparatus for vehicles by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display of the image with the display apparatus for vehicles by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display of the image with the display apparatus for vehicles by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display of the image with the display apparatus for vehicles by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display of the image with the display apparatus for vehicles by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display of the image with the display apparatus for vehicles by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display of the image with the display apparatus for vehicles by one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow implemented with the display apparatus for vehicles by one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of a vehicle display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle display device 100 provides various vehicle information to a vehicle occupant as a “user” by displaying an image 2 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 on the display screen 44, for example. In the following, the vehicle display device 100 is applied to the left-hand drive vehicle 10 in which the driver's seat 10b is disposed on the left side in the traveling direction and the passenger seat 10c is disposed on the right side in the traveling direction, as shown in FIG. An example will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle display device 100 connected to a global controller area network (CAN) 80 and a local CAN 81 in a vehicle 10 includes an operation device 20, a navigation control device 30, and a liquid crystal display device 40.

  The global CAN 80 and the local CAN 81 are in-vehicle network systems that realize transmission of vehicle information between various devices mounted on the vehicle 10 according to a predetermined protocol. The global CAN 80 and the local CAN 81 are constructed by connecting various devices to a bus composed of two communication lines. In addition to the navigation control device 30, the global CAN 80 controls a vehicle control device 82 that controls the vehicle 10 in an integrated manner, an engine control device 84 that controls an internal combustion engine mounted on the vehicle 10, and air conditioning in the passenger compartment 10 a. The air conditioner control device 86 that performs the sound and the sound device 88 that outputs voice and music are connected to the passenger compartment 10a. On the other hand, the operating device 20 and the navigation control device 30 are connected to the local CAN 81.

  The operation device 20 serving as an input interface is installed in the center console 10d located between the driver's seat 10b and the passenger seat 10c in the passenger compartment 10a shown in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the operation device 20 includes a pointing device 21 and a plurality of operation buttons 22 and 23.

  The pointing device 21 is an operation knob that protrudes from the center console 10d (see FIG. 9), and is provided so as to be movable in the front-rear and left-right directions in the vehicle interior 10a. When the pointing device 21 is operated by an occupant, a movement request for moving the display position of the pointer image 2a (see FIGS. 2 to 7) displayed on the display screen 44 is input, and the request is navigated through the local CAN 81. Acquired by the control device 30. Thereby, in this embodiment, the display position of the pointer image 2a on the display screen 44 moves up, down, left, and right by moving the position of the pointing device 21 back and forth and right and left by the occupant operation.

  The operation buttons 22 and 23 are push-type buttons arranged in the vicinity of the pointing device 21 in the center console 10d (see FIG. 9), and are provided so as to be pressed downward in the passenger compartment 10a. Here, when the menu operation button 22 is operated by an occupant, an interrupt request for forcibly changing the display mode of the display screen 44 to the display mode of the main menu (see FIG. 3) is input, and the request passes through the local CAN 81. Acquired by the navigation control device 30. On the other hand, when the selection operation button 23 is operated by the occupant in a state where the pointer image 2a overlaps the button image 2b (see FIGS. 2 to 7), a selection request for selecting the button image 2b is input, The request is acquired by the navigation control device 30 through the local CAN 81. Thereby, in the present embodiment, a predetermined process corresponding to the button image 2b selected by the occupant operation of the selection operation button 23 is executed.

  The navigation control device 30 is installed in an instrument panel 10e located in front of the driver's seat 10b and the passenger seat 10c in the passenger compartment 10a shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the navigation control device 30 includes a reception unit 31, an orientation measurement unit 32, a map information storage unit 33, an audio unit 34, a control unit 35, and a drawing unit 36.

  The receiving unit 31 includes, for example, a receiving antenna for a global positioning system (GPS), receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite, and outputs position information of the vehicle 10 to the control unit 35. The azimuth measuring unit 32 includes, for example, a gyroscope and the like, measures azimuth information that is the traveling direction of the vehicle 10, and outputs the azimuth information to the control unit 35. The map information storage unit 33 includes, for example, a hard disk drive, an optical disk drive, a flash memory, and the like, and outputs map information stored in advance to the control unit 35. The audio unit 34 includes a playback device that can read music information stored in advance on an optical disc, for example, and instructs the audio device 88 to play back the music information through the control unit 35 and the global CAN 80.

  The control unit 35 includes, for example, a microcomputer and is connected to each of the CANs 80 and 81 via a predetermined communication interface (not shown). The control unit 35 acquires various vehicle information from the control devices 82, 84, 86 and the like through the global CAN 80, and acquires various requests from the operation device 20 through the local CAN 81. Based on the acquisition information through the global CAN 80, the acquisition request through the local CAN 81, and the acquisition information from the other units 31 to 33, the control unit 35 outputs the image 2 and sound output to support the driving of the vehicle 10. Determine sequentially. Then, the control unit 35 instructs the drawing unit 36 to generate the determined image 2 and instructs the acoustic device 88 to output the determined sound through the global CAN 80.

  The drawing unit 36 includes, for example, an IC chip for image processing, and is connected to the liquid crystal display device 40 via a predetermined video output interface (not shown). The drawing unit 36 uses the map information acquired from the map information storage unit 33 and the image data stored in the image memory (not shown) to generate the image 2 in accordance with the command from the control unit 35. Then, the drawing unit 36 sequentially outputs the generated image 2 as a video signal to the liquid crystal display device 40 by an output method such as Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS).

  The liquid crystal display device 40, which is a display device, is installed in a central portion on the center line C between the driver's seat 10b and the passenger seat 10c in the instrument panel 10e in the passenger compartment 10a shown in FIG. Has been. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device 40 includes a liquid crystal panel 41 and a backlight 42.

  The liquid crystal panel 41 is formed of, for example, a color TFT in which a plurality of liquid crystal pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, and forms a display screen 44 (see FIG. 9) whose front side faces the seats 10b and 10c. Here, in particular, the display screen 44 of the present embodiment has a horizontal pixel number Xs that substantially matches the horizontal direction of the vehicle 10 on the horizontal plane, and a vertical pixel number Ys that substantially matches the vertical direction of the vehicle 10. It is a horizontally long screen (see FIGS. 4 to 7) set in large numbers. The backlight 42 includes, for example, an LED and a reflector, and illuminates the display screen 44 of the liquid crystal panel 41 from the back side by emitting light. With this configuration, the liquid crystal display device 40 drives the constituent pixels of the display screen 44 based on the video signal output from the drawing unit 36, and turns on the backlight 42 to cause the screen 44 of the liquid crystal panel 41 to emit light. Thus, the image 2 is displayed in the passenger compartment 10a.

  An example of the image 2 displayed on the display screen 44 with the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 shows a display example of the image 2 when the navigation display mode that supports the driving of the vehicle 10 is set as the display mode of the display screen 44. In this navigation display mode, an image 2 is displayed in which a pointer image 2a and a plurality of button images 2b are superimposed on a map image 2c indicating information such as the current position of the vehicle, the traveling direction, and the required time to the destination. The Here, regarding the button image 2b in the navigation display mode, when a selection request is input by operating the selection operation button 23 in a state where the pointer images 2a overlap as shown in FIG. 2, the button image 2b is associated with the selection image 2b. Changes or switching to the display mode (for example, display change to detailed map or wide area map, display change to destination re-search, etc.) is executed.

  FIG. 3 shows a display example of the image 2 when the main menu display mode is set by the interrupt request corresponding to the operation of the menu operation button 22 as the display mode of the display screen 44. In this main menu display mode, an image 2 in which a plurality of button images 2b are arranged at equal intervals in the horizontal direction of the display screen 44 and the pointer image 2a is superimposed is displayed. Here, the button image 2b in the main display mode is associated with the selection image 2b when a selection request is input by operating the selection operation button 23 in a state where the pointer images 2a overlap as shown in FIG. Display switching to the sub menu (for example, display switching to destination setting, air conditioner setting, audio setting, etc.) is executed. That is, in this embodiment, the selection request for the button image 2b in the main menu display mode is input as a switching request for switching the main menu display mode to the submenu display mode.

  4 to 7 show display examples of the image 2 when the submenu display mode for setting the destination is set as the display mode of the display screen 44. FIG. In this submenu display mode, two display areas 441 and 442 arranged in the horizontal direction of the display screen 44 are set on the screen 44. Specifically, the active display area 441 is an area in which a button image 2b that is associated with a predetermined content in advance and is allowed to be selected is an active button image 2b1, and a plurality of them are displayed side by side in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, the inactive display area 442 is an area in which a plurality of button images 2b that are associated with predetermined content in advance and prohibited from being selected are displayed as inactive button images 2b2 and arranged in the horizontal direction. 4-7, the outer periphery of each area | region 441,442 is virtually shown with the dashed-two dotted line.

  Here, in particular, in the display screen 44 (see FIG. 9) of the present embodiment arranged on the center line C between the driver's seat 10b and the passenger seat 10c in the passenger compartment 10a, the submenu display is changed from the main menu display mode. Immediately after switching to the mode, the display areas 441 and 442 are initialized as shown in FIG. That is, on the display screen 44, the active display area 441 is on the side closer to the lateral driver's seat 10b (left side in the left-hand drive vehicle 10), and the side far from the lateral driver's seat 10b (right side in the left-hand drive vehicle 10). ), The inactive display area 442 is initially set. In addition to the initial setting of the display areas 441 and 442, in the present embodiment, the display position of the pointer image 2a superimposed on the image 2 is initialized to a predetermined position in the active display area 441. .

  In particular, in this embodiment, every time the display position of the pointer image 2 a is moved from the active display area 441 to the inactive display area 442 by the operation of the pointing device 21, the positional relationship between the display areas 441 and 442 is Swap in direction. That is, when the pointer image 2a moves from the initial setting state of FIG. 4 to the inactive display area 442 as shown by a one-dot chain line, the side closer to the driver's seat 10b in the horizontal direction of the display screen 44 as shown in FIG. The left side) is changed to the inactive display area 442, and the side far from the driver's seat 10b (the right side in the case of the left-hand drive vehicle 10) is changed to the active display area 441. Conversely, when the pointer image 2a moves to the inactive display area 442 as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line from the area replacement state in FIG. 5, the positional relationship between the display areas 441 and 442 is returned to the initial setting state as shown in FIG. As described above, in the present embodiment, the movement request for moving the display position of the pointer image 2a from the active display area 441 to the inactive display area 442 changes the display mode of the submenu display mode by switching the display areas 441 and 442. It is input as a request.

  Now, before and after the replacement of the display areas 441 and 442, the arrangement order of the button images 2b in the horizontal direction of the display screen 44 is maintained, so that the mutual relationship between the active button image 2b1 and the inactive button image 2b2 is also achieved. Will be replaced. That is, the button image 2b that is the inactive button image 2b2 in the initial setting state of FIG. 4 is changed to the active button image 2b1 and can be selected when the region replacement state of FIG. Conversely, when the button image 2b that is the active button image 2b1 in the region replacement state of FIG. 5 is in the initial setting state of FIG. 4, it is returned to the inactive button image 2b2 and cannot be selected.

  Thus, in the submenu display mode in which the button images 2b1 and 2b2 are assigned to the display areas 441 and 442, each active button image 2b1 has a larger size than each inactive button image 2b2 as shown in FIGS. It is displayed with a higher saturation than each inactive button image 2b2. Here, in the present embodiment, the display size of each active button image 2b1 is set to each inactive by increasing the number of pixels of each active button image 2b1 in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction compared to each inactive button image 2b2. It is larger than the button image 2b2. Further, in the present embodiment, the contents individually associated with each button image 2b as a display target are displayed by characters in the large active button image 2b1, and in the small inactive button image 2b2. Is hidden.

  At the same time, in the submenu display mode, the active display area 441 is set to have a larger area than the inactive display area 442 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and button images corresponding to the respective horizontal areas of the display areas 441 and 442 are respectively provided. 2b1 and 2b2 are arranged and displayed at equal intervals by the same number. Specifically, on the display screen 44 of Xs dots in the horizontal direction and Ys dots in the vertical direction, the active display area 441 is a pixel area of X1 (where X1 <Xs) dots in the horizontal direction and Ys dots in the vertical direction. The inactive display area 442 is set to a pixel area of X2 (where X2 <Xs−X1) dots in the horizontal direction and Ys dots in the vertical direction. Therefore, in the initial setting state of FIG. 4, an active display area 441 of X1 dots × Ys dots is secured on the side closer to the driver's seat 10b, whereas in the area replacement state of FIG. 5, an active display area of X1 dots × Ys dots 441 is secured on the side far from the driver's seat 10b.

  For the active button image 2b1 in the submenu display mode, when a selection request is input by operating the selection operation button 23 with the pointer image 2a overlapping as shown in FIG. 4, the content corresponding to the selection image 2b1 is displayed. The display is switched to (for example, display switching to a destination search by name or name with 50 sounds, a destination search by address, a destination search by telephone number, etc.). Here, in the initial setting state of FIG. 4, the contents associated with each active button image 2b1 and capable of being displayed by selection include the contents associated with each inactive button image 2b2 (that is, the area of FIG. 5). A content that has a higher display priority than a content that can be displayed by selection in association with each active button image 2b1 in the replacement state is employed.

  Further, in the submenu display mode, when a warning condition for issuing a predetermined warning is satisfied, the warning is assigned to the active display area 441 set by the initial setting of the display areas 441 and 442 or every time the replacement is performed, for example, as shown in FIG. A warning image 2d to be issued as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. That is, the warning image 2d on the display screen 44 is displayed in the active display area 441 set near the driver's seat 10b in the initial setting state of FIG. 6, while far from the driver's seat 10b in the area replacement state of FIG. Will be displayed in the active display area 441 set in the above.

  Specifically, the display position of the warning image 2d is set at a position where it overlaps the active button image 2b1 in the active display area 441, particularly in the present embodiment, all the active button images 2b1 arranged in the horizontal direction of the area 441. It is set so as to straddle. The warning conditions that trigger the display of the warning image 2d and the contents of the display are set as appropriate according to one or more warning contents that need to be issued to the passenger in the passenger compartment 10a. . For example, in this embodiment, while the vehicle 10 is traveling, the warning condition is that the vehicle 10 is in a traveling state in order to issue a refusal warning in response to a request for selecting the active button image 2b1 by operating the selection operation button 23. The warning image 2d having the contents as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is displayed. That is, switching to content display is prohibited while the vehicle 10 is traveling, so when the warning condition is satisfied, the content “This menu cannot be operated at present” is displayed. A warning image 2d that is notified by characters is displayed. In addition to the warning conditions for issuing a rejection warning for such a selection request, for example, warnings for various system abnormalities such as the air conditioner control device 86, the audio device 88, the audio unit 34, the ETC device, etc., the passenger in the passenger compartment 10a To issue warnings for abnormal battery level in mobile phones and portable audio devices brought in by the Internet, warnings (notifications) for the operation of such various systems, and warnings (notifications) for information acquisition such as emergency information, e-mails, tolls, etc. Warning conditions may be employed, and in that case, a warning image 2d having contents suitable for the employment conditions can be displayed.

  For the warning image 2d displayed as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in this embodiment, when a predetermined time elapses after the warning condition is satisfied, or when the pointing device 21 or the selection operation button 23 of the operation device 20 is operated. Is supposed to be erased. When the warning image 2d is deleted, the display state in the submenu display mode returns to the state shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 immediately before the warning condition is satisfied.

  FIG. 8 shows a display example of the image 2 when the content display mode for the purpose of searching for a destination with 50 sounds is set as the display mode of the display screen 44. In this content menu display mode, a large number of button images 2b are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions of the display screen 44, and an input window 2e is arranged at the top of the screen 44, and an image 2 on which the pointer image 2a is superimposed is displayed. Here, the button image 2b in the content display mode is associated with the selection image 2b when a selection request is input by operating the selection operation button 23 in a state where the pointer images 2a overlap as shown in FIG. Processing (for example, character input processing to the input window 2e, search keyword determination processing, etc.) is executed.

  Next, a control flow from main menu display to sub-menu display to content display will be described with reference to FIG. This control flow is executed by the control unit 35 in response to an interrupt request corresponding to the operation of the menu operation button 22 in the navigation display mode or the like when the ACC power source of the vehicle 10 is turned on. Be started.

  In step S101 of the control flow, the display mode of the display screen 44 is switched to the main menu display mode, and the image 2 as shown in FIG. In a succeeding step S102, it is determined whether or not a selection request corresponding to the operation of the selection operation button 23 is input in a state where the pointer image 2a overlaps any one of the button images 2b. This step S102 is repeatedly executed while the selection request is not confirmed, and when the selection request is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S103 assuming that a switching request for switching to the submenu display mode is input.

  In step S103, the display mode of the display screen 44 is switched from the main menu display mode to the submenu display mode corresponding to the selected image 2b in step S102, and for example, the image 2 in the initial setting state as shown in FIG. 44. As a result, the large active button image 2b1 is displayed in the active display area 441 close to the driver's seat 10b, and the small inactive button image 2b2 is displayed in the inactive display area 442 far from the driver's seat 10b, and the next step S104. To go to.

  In step S104, it is determined whether or not a selection request corresponding to the operation of the selection operation button 23 is input in a state where the pointer image 2a overlaps with any active button image 2b1. As a result, if the selection request is not confirmed, the process proceeds to step S105 to determine whether one of the warning conditions is satisfied.

  When it is confirmed in step S105 that the warning condition is satisfied, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, after executing step S106 in which the warning image 2d is superimposed on the active button image 2b1 in the current active display area 441, step S107 is executed. Proceed to On the other hand, if the establishment of the warning condition is not confirmed in step S105, step S106 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S107.

  In step S107, it is determined whether or not the display position of the pointer image 2a has moved from the active display area 441 to the inactive display area 442 in accordance with the operation of the pointing device 21. When the movement is confirmed in step S107, it is assumed that a display mode change request has been input, and the positional relationship between the display areas 441 and 442 and the mutual relationship between the button images 2b1 and 2b2 are switched as shown in FIGS. After executing Step S108, the process returns to Step S104. On the other hand, if the movement is not confirmed in step S107, step S108 is skipped and the process returns to step S104.

  While the submenu display mode is continued in this way, when the selection request for the active button image 2b1 is confirmed in step S104, the process proceeds to step S109. In S109, the display mode of the display screen 44 is switched to the content display mode corresponding to the selected image 2b1, and the image 2 as shown in FIG. After this, although not shown, processing corresponding to selection of the button image 2b in the content display mode is executed.

  As described above, in the display device 100, a plurality of button images 2b displayed side by side in the horizontal display screen 44 in the submenu display mode can be selected in order to display predetermined contents. As a result, it is possible to switch from one submenu display to as many content displays as possible, so that the operation until the occupant reaches the desired content display among these content displays can be simplified. However, the ease with which the occupant searches for and selects the button image 2b corresponding to the desired content may be reduced as the number of button images 2b displayed in the horizontal direction of the display screen 44 increases. .

  Therefore, in response to the switching request, in the display device 100, the active display area 441 and the inactive display area 442 are initially set to different areas on the side close to and far from the driver's seat 10b in the horizontal direction, and each area 441 is set. , 442, the display size of the button image 2b is adjusted. As a result, among the button images 2b, the active button image 2b1 that is permitted to be selected in the large area region 441 near the driver's seat 10b is disabled in the small area region 442 that is far from the driver's seat 10b. It is displayed larger and with higher light saturation. Here, particularly in the initial setting state of the submenu display mode, the content corresponding to the button image 2b to be the active button image 2b1 has a display priority higher than the content corresponding to the button image 2b to be the inactive button image 2b2. It is expensive. Accordingly, the occupant can quickly display the high-brightness active button image 2b1 that has been enlarged and displayed in the large area 441 near the driver's seat 10b by associating with the desired content having a high display priority without moving. It can be easily searched and selected.

  Further, in the submenu display mode of the display device 100, when a display mode change request is input after the initial setting, the positional relationship between the active display area 441 and the inactive display area 442 is in the horizontal direction of the display screen 44. Replaced. At this time, the active button image 2b1 and the inactive button image 2b2 are interchanged with each other in the holding state of the arrangement order in the horizontal direction, so that the button image 2b2 displayed in the inactive display area 442 is displayed. The button image 2b1 displayed in the active display area 441 can be changed. That is, even if the button image 2b is temporarily displayed as the inactive button image 2b2 by the initial setting, the button image 2b can be changed to the selectable active button image 2b1, so that the occupant reaches the desired content display. The effect of reducing the number of operations up to is not greatly hindered. Moreover, even after such replacement, the positional relationship between the display areas 441 and 442 and the mutual relationship between the button images 2b1 and 2b2 are switched each time a further change request is made, so that the correspondence according to the passenger preference and the driving situation of the vehicle 10 can be made. Is possible. In addition, the occupant inputs the request for moving the pointer image 2a as a request to change the display mode by operating the pointing device 21 at each replacement, thereby activating the button image 2b2 in the inactive display area 442 serving as the movement destination. It can be easily selected by switching to the button image 2b1.

  According to the display device 100 as described above, not only the operation required for the occupant to display the desired content can be simplified, but also the time required for the content display can be easily selected for the active button image 2b1. Can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to provide the display device 100 with high user friendliness.

  In addition, when a predetermined warning condition is satisfied in the submenu display mode of the display device 100, a plurality of active button images 2b1 that are easily watched by being enlarged and displayed with high brightness in the region 441 are displayed. The warning image 2d is superimposed and displayed across all. As a result, even if the area 441 is replaced every time the display mode is changed, the warning image 2d in the area 441 after the replacement is hardly overlooked by an occupant. In particular, in this embodiment, the warning image 2d is superimposed on the image 2b1 while the vehicle 10 is issuing a refusal warning for the selection request for the active button image 2b1 to be a gaze destination. The refusal can be reliably communicated to the passengers. As described above, according to the display device 100, the warning image 2d for issuing a warning to the passenger in the passenger compartment 10a for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the vehicle 10 is avoided as the display device 100 by avoiding oversight by the passenger. It is possible to ensure high reliability.

  In the embodiment described so far, the submenu display mode corresponds to the “menu display mode” recited in the claims, and among the button images 2b, the active button image 2b1 and the inactive button image 2b2 are claimed. This corresponds to the “menu button image” described in the range. The operation device 20 corresponds to the “input unit” described in the claims, and the control unit 35 that executes steps S103, S107, and S108 of the control flow corresponds to the “region setting unit” described in the claims. Correspondingly, the control unit 35 that executes steps S103 and S108 of the control flow corresponds to “menu display setting means” recited in the claims, and the control unit 35 that executes steps S105 and S106 of the control flow is claimed. This corresponds to the “warning display setting means” described in the above section.

(Other embodiments)
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not construed as being limited to the embodiment, and can be applied to various embodiments without departing from the gist of the present invention. it can.

  Specifically, as the pointing device 21, a joystick that inputs a movement request of the pointer image 2a by an operation of tilting a lever, or a touch pad (for example, a liquid crystal panel) that inputs a movement request of the pointer image 2a by an operation of tracing a planar sensor. 41), a dial mechanism that inputs a movement request for the pointer image 2a by turning a cylindrical dial, or the like may be used. Further, as long as the device can control the display of the image 2 on the display screen 44, a vehicle meter control device or the like may be used instead of the navigation control device 30, for example. Furthermore, as long as the device has the display screen 44, for example, a plasma display device or an organic EL display device may be used instead of the liquid crystal display device 40.

  In the submenu display mode of the above embodiment, the display size of the active button image 2b1 is increased by increasing the number of pixels of the active button image 2b1 in either one of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction compared to the inactive button image 2b2. May be larger than the inactive button image 2b2. In the submenu display mode, the active button image 2b1 may be displayed in the same size as the inactive button image 2b2, or the active button image 2b1 may be displayed in a smaller size than the inactive button image 2b2. . Furthermore, in the submenu display mode, the active button image 2b1 may be displayed with the same brightness as the inactive button image 2b2, or the active button image 2b1 may be displayed with a lower brightness than the inactive button image 2b2. May be. Furthermore, in the submenu display mode, the contents individually associated with each button image 2b as a display target are displayed not only in the large active button image 2b1, but also in the small inactive button image 2b2. In this case, characters may be displayed. In addition, in the submenu display mode, the content associated with each button image 2b (2b1, 2b2) may be set regardless of the display priority, or other than the content shown in FIGS. Of course.

  In the sub-menu display mode of the above embodiment, the display screen 44 is divided into two in the horizontal direction to form the display areas 441 and 442, so that the number of pixels (dot number) X1 in the horizontal direction of the active display area 441 is non- The sum of the horizontal pixel count X2 of the active display area 442 may be made to coincide with the horizontal pixel count Xs of the screen 44. In the sub menu display mode, the number of pixels in the active display area 441 is increased in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, or in the vertical direction only, compared to the inactive display area 442. The area may be larger than the inactive display region 442. Further, in the sub menu display mode, the active display area 441 may be set to the same area as the inactive display area 442, or the active display area 441 may be set to an area smaller than the inactive display area 442. . Furthermore, in the submenu display mode, the button image 2b (2b1, 2b2) may be displayed in an array in a part of the horizontal direction in at least one of the display areas 441, 442.

  In the submenu display mode of the above embodiment, in the initial setting state, the inactive display area 442 is provided on the side close to the driver's seat 10b in the horizontal direction of the display screen 44 (left side in the case of the left-hand drive vehicle 10) in the initial setting state. Further, the active display area 441 may be set on the side far from the driver's seat 10b (on the right side in the case of the left-hand drive vehicle 10). Further, the display mode change request for exchanging the positional relationship between the display areas 441 and 442 and the mutual relationship between the button images 2b1 and 2b2 may be realized by a request other than the movement request of the pointer image 2a by the operation of the pointing device 21. . Furthermore, when an interrupt request corresponding to the operation of the menu operation button 22 is input, the submenu display mode may be directly executed without executing the main menu display mode of the above embodiment. That is, step S101 may be skipped in the control flow. Furthermore, according to the submenu display mode, also in the main menu display mode, an active display area 441 and an inactive display area 442 are set as the “menu display mode” described in the claims, and each of these displays is set. The button image 2b may be allocated to the areas 441 and 442.

  In the submenu display mode of the above embodiment, the warning image 2d only needs to be superimposed and displayed on at least one image 2b1 among the active button images 2b1 displayed in the active display area 441. Further, in the submenu display mode, a plurality of warning images 2d may be superimposed on the active button image 2b1 in the active display area 441 at the same time. Further, the warning image 2d displayed in the submenu display mode is not limited to the notification of the warning content by characters as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example, the warning content shown in FIG. You may notify.

  The present invention may be applied to a right-hand drive vehicle, or may be applied to a vehicle in which the display screen 44 is arranged outside the center line C between the driver's seat 10b and the passenger seat 10c in the passenger compartment 10a. Also good. In the case of application to a right-hand drive vehicle as in the former case, the “right and left” relationship is reversed from that in the above embodiment. Further, in the latter case, in the case of application to a vehicle in which the display screen 44 is off the center line C in the passenger compartment 10a, the screen 44 is displayed as long as the side closer to the driver's seat 10b and the side far from the driver's seat 10b are generated. It may be arranged at an arbitrary position.

2 images, 2a pointer image, 2b button image, 2b1 active button image (menu button image), 2b2 inactive button image (menu button image), 2c map image, 2d warning image, 2e input window, 10 vehicle, 10a vehicle compartment 10b Driver seat, 10c Passenger seat, 10d Center console, 10e Instrument panel, 20 Operation device (input means), 21 Pointing device, 22 Menu operation button, 23 Selection operation button, 30 Navigation control device, 31 Receiver, 32 orientation measurement unit, 33 map information storage unit, 34 audio unit, 35 control unit (area setting unit / menu display setting unit / warning display setting unit), 36 drawing unit, 40 liquid crystal display device, 41 liquid crystal panel, 42 backlight 44 display screen, 80 global CAN, 81 local CAN, 82 vehicle control device, 84 engine control device, 86 air conditioner control device, 88 sound device, 100 vehicle display device, 441 active display region, 441a array region, 442 inactive display Area, C center line

Claims (5)

In a menu display mode that includes a horizontally long display screen mounted on a vehicle and displays a plurality of menu button images selected to display predetermined content in the horizontal direction of the display screen, for issuing a predetermined warning A vehicle display device that displays a warning image together with the menu button images,
An input means for inputting a change request for changing the display mode of the menu display mode by a user operation;
In the menu display mode, an active display area and an inactive display area arranged in the horizontal direction are set on the display screen, and each time the display mode change request is input to the input means, Area setting means for switching the positional relationship between the active display area and the inactive display area;
In the menu display mode, an active button image as the menu button image that is displayed in the active display region and permits selection, and an inactive as the menu button image that is displayed in the inactive display region and prohibits selection. Menu display setting means for setting a button image for each area replacement by the area setting means;
In the menu display mode, the display position of the warning image displayed when the warning condition for issuing the predetermined warning is satisfied is superimposed on the active button image in the active display area set by the area setting means. A warning display setting means to be set at the location;
A vehicle display device comprising: In the menu display mode, the menu display setting means displays a plurality of the active button images side by side in the active display area set by the area setting means,
The warning display setting means in the menu display mode displays the warning image across a plurality of the active button images arranged in the active display area set by the area setting means. The vehicle display device according to 1. A selection request for selecting the menu button image is input to the input means by a user operation,
3. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the warning condition is a condition for issuing a refusal warning for the selection request for the active button image in the menu display mode.   4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in the menu display mode, the menu display setting unit displays the active button image in a size larger than the inactive button image. Display device.   5. The menu display setting unit displays the active button image at a higher saturation than the inactive button image in the menu display mode. 6. Vehicle display device.