JP2012247369A - Projection device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a projection device for a vehicle which can improve visibility of a route guidance image while suppressing the driver's eye movement.SOLUTION: A projection device for a vehicle comprises: a navigation system which searches for a current location of an own vehicle 10 and a route from the current location to a set destination; and projection means 15 which projects a route guidance image A guiding the own vehicle 10 to a branching direction on a road surface L in front of the own vehicle 10 on the basis of route information obtained by the navigation system, when the own vehicle 10 gets close enough to a branch point on the route so that a driver can visually recognize the route guidance image A on the road surface L.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle projection apparatus.

As a driving support technique, a vehicle projection device in which a projector is mounted on a vehicle is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In the vehicle projection device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a moving body (for example, a pedestrian) is present in the discrimination area, a warning image is directly projected on the road surface, thereby alerting the pedestrian. To ensure the safety of pedestrians.

JP 2008-7079 A

  However, the above-described conventional vehicle projection apparatus projects an image targeting a surrounding moving body such as a pedestrian, and is not intended for an occupant such as a driver of the own vehicle. It was.

  Here, in a navigation system that is one of the driving assistance technologies, the driver needs to drive while visually confirming the route guidance image displayed on the monitor. In this case, particularly on complex branch roads, it may be necessary to perform collation work such as repeatedly looking back at the actual travel path and the route guidance image displayed on the monitor.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle projection device that can improve the visibility of a route guidance image while suppressing the movement of the driver's line of sight.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a route for searching for a current position of the host vehicle (for example, the host vehicle 10 in the embodiment) and a route from the current position to the set destination. When the search means (for example, the navigation system 13 in the embodiment) and the host vehicle approach a branch point on the route to the extent that an occupant can visually recognize, based on the route information searched by the route search means, Projection means (for example, projection means 15 in the embodiment) for projecting a route guidance image (for example, route guidance image A in the embodiment) for guiding the host vehicle in the branch direction on a road surface in front of the own vehicle; It is characterized by having.

  In the invention described in claim 2, the route guidance image is bent with respect to the straight traveling instruction section (for example, the straight traveling instruction section A1 in the embodiment) extending along the straight traveling direction of the host vehicle and the straight traveling instruction section. A branch instruction section (for example, a branch instruction section A2 in the embodiment) extending along the branch direction, and the projecting means projects the tip of the straight travel instruction section in accordance with the branch point. It is characterized by that.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the projection means projects so that the length of the rectilinear advance instruction portion becomes shorter as the remaining distance from the current position to the branch point becomes shorter. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the projecting means projects so that the length of the branch instruction section increases as the remaining distance from the current position to the branch point decreases. .

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the projection means projects so that the width of the branch instruction section becomes wider as the remaining distance from the current position to the branch point becomes shorter.

  The invention described in claim 6 is characterized in that the projecting means projects so that the width of the straight traveling instructing section becomes wider as the traveling speed of the host vehicle becomes slower.

  The invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that the projection means is configured to change a projection angle with respect to the road surface.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing unit that photographs the periphery of the host vehicle, and the projection range of the projecting unit is adjusted based on a photographing result photographed by the photographing unit.

  In the invention described in claim 9, the projection unit prohibits projection when an obstacle or a preceding vehicle is detected within a projection range in front of the host vehicle based on the imaging result of the imaging unit. Features.

  The invention described in claim 10 is characterized in that the projection start time of the projection means when the headlamp of the host vehicle is turned on is set earlier than when the headlamp is turned off.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to check the monitor of the navigation system by traveling while confirming the route guidance image projected on the road surface, etc. without removing the line of sight from the traveling direction of the host vehicle. The route to the destination can be confirmed without having to change the focus of the eyes.
Furthermore, since the route guidance image is directly projected onto the road surface, there is little deviation between the route guidance image and the actual road surface when viewed from the driver, and the route guidance image can be recognized accurately and promptly.
Therefore, the visibility of the route guidance image can be improved while suppressing the movement of the driver's line of sight.
In addition, since the route guidance image is directly projected on the road surface, not only the driver of the host vehicle but also moving bodies around the host vehicle (for example, pedestrians existing in front of the host vehicle) are traveling directions of the host vehicle. Can be recognized, so that it can also serve to call attention to surrounding moving objects.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is easy to determine the branch point to be actually branched by projecting the front end of the straight-ahead instruction unit according to the branch point.

  According to the invention described in claims 3 to 6, by changing the length and width of the route guidance image according to the traveling state of the host vehicle, such as the remaining distance to the branch point and the traveling speed of the host vehicle, Perspective (depth) can be given to the route guidance image. Therefore, the visibility of the route guidance image can be further improved.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the projection range of the route guidance image approaches the host vehicle as the projection means is tilted downward. In this case, assuming that the output of the projector is constant, the luminance with respect to the output of the projector can be improved as compared with the case where the projection range is far. Therefore, for example, the visibility of the route guidance image can be improved as the distance to the branch point is approached by bringing the projection position of the projector closer as the remaining distance to the branch point becomes closer.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the route guidance image can be projected to the optimum range regardless of the surrounding situation by adjusting the projection range based on the photographing result photographed by the photographing means.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when an obstacle or a forward vehicle exists in the projection range of the projection unit, the route guidance image has an effect on the occupant or the like of the forward vehicle by prohibiting the projection by the projection unit. There is no effect.

  According to the invention described in claim 10, the visibility can be maintained even when the headlamp is turned on.

It is a side view of the own vehicle in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of a projection means. It is a block diagram of ECU. It is a flowchart which shows the image projection process by ECU. It is the figure which looked ahead of the own vehicle from the vehicle interior, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows a route guidance image. It is the figure which looked ahead of the own vehicle from the vehicle interior, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows a route guidance image. It is the figure which looked ahead of the own vehicle from the vehicle interior, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows a route guidance image. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 1, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows a route guidance image.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of the host vehicle 10, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the vehicle projection device 11. In the following description, directions such as front, rear, left and right are the same as those in the vehicle unless otherwise specified.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle projection device 11 of the present embodiment includes a vehicle speed sensor 12, a navigation system (route search means) 13, an outside camera 14, the vehicle speed sensor 12, the navigation system 13, and Projection means 15 for projecting a route guidance image A for guiding the host vehicle 10 on the road surface L in front of the host vehicle 10 based on a detection result by the outside camera 14, a battery 16 for supplying power to the projection means 15, and an axle And a generator 17.

The vehicle speed sensor 12 is for detecting the traveling speed of the host vehicle 10, and the detection result of the traveling speed is input to an ECU 21 described later of the projection unit 15.
The navigation system 13 is for guiding the host vehicle 10 by searching for the current position of the host vehicle 10 and a route from the current position to the destination, and includes a current position detection unit (not shown) and a map data storage unit. And a navigation processing unit.

The current position detection unit receives a positioning signal such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal using an artificial satellite, and detects the current position of the host vehicle 10.
The map data storage unit is configured by recording map data on a computer-readable storage medium such as a magnetic disk device such as a hard disk device or an optical disk device such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. As the map data, for example, road data such as the position and shape of roads and intersections are stored.
The navigation processing unit searches for a travel route of the host vehicle 10 based on the current position detected by the current position detection unit, the destination input to the navigation system 13 and the map data read from the map data storage unit. To do.

  The vehicle exterior camera 14 captures the periphery of the host vehicle 10, and the captured image is output to the ECU 21 of the projection unit 15.

  Here, the projection means 15 includes a projector 22 that projects the route guidance image A on the road surface L, a motor 23 that changes the projection angle of the projector 22 with respect to the road surface L, the vehicle speed sensor 12, the navigation system 13, and the outside of the vehicle. The projector 22 and the ECU 21 that comprehensively controls the motor 23 based on the detection results of the camera 14 are provided. The projection means 15 is supplied with electric power from the battery 16 and the axle generator 17.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the ECU 21.
As shown in FIG. 3, the ECU 21 mainly includes a projection determination unit 31, a projection angle calculation unit 32, and an image generation unit 33.
The projection determining unit 31 determines whether or not to start projecting the route guidance image A by the projector 22 based on the information input from the navigation system 13 described above (route information, the remaining distance from the current position to the branch point, etc.). Determine whether. Specifically, the projection determination unit 31 determines that when the remaining arrival distance to the branch point calculated by the navigation system 13 is within a predetermined distance (when the host vehicle 10 has approached the branch point to the extent that an occupant can visually recognize it). The determination result is output to the image generation unit 33.
Further, the projection determination unit 31 determines whether the vehicle ahead or the obstacle is within the projection range of the projector 22 in front of the host vehicle 10 (the range between the projection position of the host vehicle 10 and the projector 22) based on the photographing result by the camera 14 outside the vehicle. When it is determined that there is no object or the like, the determination result is output to the image generation unit 33.

  The projection angle calculation unit 32 calculates the projection angle of the projector 22 with respect to the road surface L based on the remaining distance from the current position of the host vehicle 10 to the branch point, the traveling speed, the photographing result by the outside camera 14, and the like. By outputting the calculation result toward the motor 23, the projection position of the route guidance image A is adjusted. Specifically, the projection angle calculation unit 32 tilts the projector 22 downward as the remaining reach distance becomes shorter or the traveling speed becomes slower, and the projection position of the route guidance image A is directed to the host vehicle 10. Control to approach.

  Based on the information input from the navigation system 13 described above, the image generation unit 33 selects a basic image of the route guidance image A projected by the projector 22 from a memory unit (not shown) and inputs it to the projector 22. Note that the route guidance image A projected by the projector 22 according to the present embodiment includes, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a straight traveling instruction unit A1 extending toward the branch point along the straight traveling direction of the host vehicle 10, and a straight traveling at the branch point. It is the arrow image which has the branch instruction | indication part A2 which bends with respect to instruction | indication part A1, and extends along a branch direction. In the memory unit described above, each basic image of the route guidance image A for guiding a right turn (left turn) or a branch of the host vehicle 10 at an intersection such as a crossroad or a T-shaped road is stored.

  The image generation unit 33 also selects the route selected from the above-described memory unit based on the traveling state of the host vehicle 10, specifically, the remaining reach distance from the current position to the branch point, and the traveling speed of the host vehicle 10. The length and width of the basic image of the guide image A are adjusted. Specifically, the image generation unit 33 shortens the length of the straight-ahead instruction unit A1 as it approaches the branch point while keeping the tip of the straight-ahead instruction unit A1 at the branch point, while reducing the length of the branch instruction unit A2. Control to be long and thick. Moreover, the image generation part 33 is controlled so that the width | variety of the rectilinear advance instruction | indication part A1 is made wide as the traveling speed of the own vehicle 10 becomes slow.

The projector 22 projects the route guidance image A generated by the image generation unit 33 of the ECU 21 described above onto the road surface L, and is mounted on the center of the front side of the host vehicle 10 in the vehicle width direction. .
The motor 23 is connected to the projector 22 and tilts the projector 22 with respect to the road surface L so as to have a desired projection angle based on the calculation result of the projection angle calculation unit 32 described above.

(Function)
Next, image projection processing by the ECU 21 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. In addition, in the following description, the case where the own vehicle 10 turns right at a branch point (intersection) will be described.
First, in step S <b> 1, the ECU 21 acquires various types of information from the navigation system 13, the vehicle speed sensor 12, and the outside camera 14.

Next, in step S <b> 2, the projection determination unit 31 determines whether the remaining arrival distance to the branch point calculated by the navigation system 13 is within a predetermined distance.
If the determination result in step S2 is “NO” (longer than the predetermined distance), it is determined that the host vehicle 10 is not approaching the branch point, and the determination in step S2 is repeated.
On the other hand, if the determination result in step S2 is “YES” (within a predetermined distance), it is determined that the host vehicle 10 has approached the branch point to the extent that the occupant can visually recognize, and the process proceeds to step S3.

Further, in step S3, the projection determination unit 31 determines whether there is a forward vehicle or an obstacle within the projection range of the projector 22 based on the result of photographing by the outside camera 14.
If the determination result in step S3 is “YES”, it is determined that there is a vehicle ahead or an obstacle in the projection range of the projector 22, and the projection by the projector 22 is prohibited. In this case, the flow of step S3 described above is repeated.
On the other hand, if the determination result in step S3 is “NO”, it is determined that there is no preceding vehicle or obstacle in the projection range of the projector 22, and the process proceeds to step S4.

  Next, the route guidance image A is projected from the projector 22 in step S4. Specifically, a route guidance image is generated by the image generation unit 33 based on the traveling state of the host vehicle 10 such as information input from the navigation system 13, a traveling speed input from the vehicle speed sensor 12, and a photographing result by the outside camera 14. A is generated, and the projection angle calculation unit 32 calculates the projection angle of the projector 22. Then, based on the calculation result of the projection angle calculation unit 32, the route guidance image A generated by the image generation unit 33 is transferred from the projector 22 to the road surface L in a state where the motor 23 tilts the projector 22 to a desired projection angle. Projected towards.

FIGS. 5-7 is the figure which looked at the front of the own vehicle from the vehicle interior, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows the route guidance image A. FIG.
Here, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the projector 22 projects an arrow image having a straight advance instruction unit A1 and a branch instruction unit A2. In this case, the image generation unit 33 first selects a basic image of the route guidance image A projected by the projector 22 from a memory unit (not shown) based on information input from the navigation system 13. Thereafter, the length and width of the route guidance image A are deformed based on the traveling state of the host vehicle 10 described above.
Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the image generation unit 33 increases the length of the straight traveling instruction unit A1 as the host vehicle 10 approaches the branching point with the front end of the straight traveling instruction unit A1 aligned with the branch point. While shortening the length, the length of the branch instruction section A2 is increased and thickened. Moreover, the image generation part 33 is controlled so that the width | variety of the rectilinear advance instruction | indication part A1 is made wide as the traveling speed of the own vehicle 10 becomes slow. In other words, the width of the straight-ahead instruction unit A1 becomes wider as the vehicle decelerates toward the branch point. The image generation unit 31 continues to generate the route guidance image A based on the traveling state of the host vehicle 10 until the host vehicle 10 completes the branching at the branch point.

FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 1 and is an explanatory diagram showing a route guidance image.
Further, in step S <b> 4, the projection angle calculation unit 32 continues to calculate the projection angle with respect to the road surface L of the projector 22 based on the traveling state of the host vehicle 10, and adjusts the projection position of the projector 22. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the projection angle calculation unit 32 tilts the projector 22 downward and sets the projection position to the host vehicle 10 as the remaining distance to the branch point is closer or the traveling speed is slower. Move closer.

  Thus, the image projection process by the ECU 21 is completed. While the vehicle is traveling with the destination set in the navigation system 13, the above-described flow is repeated.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the host vehicle 10 approaches the branch point to the extent that the occupant can visually recognize, the host vehicle 10 is guided in the branch direction based on the route information searched by the navigation system 13. The route guidance image A is configured to have a projection unit 15 that projects the route guidance image A onto the road surface L in front of the host vehicle 10.
According to this configuration, while traveling while confirming the route guidance image A projected on the road surface L, such as confirming the monitor of the navigation system 13, the line of sight is not removed from the traveling direction of the host vehicle 10, and You can check the route to your destination without having to change your eye focus.
Furthermore, since the route guidance image A is projected directly onto the road surface L, there is little deviation between the route guidance image A and the actual road surface L when viewed from the driver, and the route guidance image A can be recognized accurately and promptly.
Therefore, the visibility of the route guidance image A can be improved while suppressing the movement of the driver's line of sight.
Further, since the route guidance image A is directly projected on the road surface L, not only the driver of the host vehicle 10 but also moving bodies around the host vehicle 10 (for example, pedestrians existing in front of the host vehicle 10). The traveling direction of the host vehicle 10 can be confirmed. For this reason, it is possible to fulfill the function of calling attention to surrounding moving objects.

In addition, by projecting the front end of the straight-ahead instruction unit A1 according to the branch point, it is easy to determine the branch point to be actually branched.
Furthermore, by changing the length and width of the route guidance image A according to the traveling state of the host vehicle 10, the route guidance image A can have a sense of perspective (depth). Therefore, the visibility of the route guidance image A can be further improved.

Further, by bringing the projection position of the projector 22 closer as the remaining arrival distance to the branch point becomes closer, the luminance with respect to the output of the projector 22 is improved and the visibility is further improved as compared with the case where the projection position of the projector 22 is far. Can be improved.
Furthermore, by adjusting the projection position based on the image result captured by the camera 14 outside the vehicle, the route guidance image A can be projected at the optimum position regardless of the surrounding situation. Further, when there is a forward vehicle or an obstacle between the own vehicle 10 and the projection position of the projector 22, the projection by the projector 22 is prohibited, so that the route guidance image A is displayed to the passengers of the forward vehicle. There is no effect.

The axle generator 17 of the present embodiment can supply power corresponding to the rotational force of the axle to the projection means 15 (projector 22), and can supply high power as the traveling speed increases. The brightness of the route guidance image A of the projection means 15 (projector 22) may be increased with the increase of the traveling speed using electric power. By doing so, it is possible to supply power for increasing the luminance to the projector 22 without using the battery 16.
Further, in the projector 22 that is normally arranged with the projection direction directed downward, the projection angle with respect to the road surface L of the projector 22 is controlled to be tilted upward using the electric power generated by the axle generator 17. Also good. By doing so, it is also possible to supply power for directing the projector 22 upward without using the battery 16.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes those in which various modifications are made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In other words, the configuration described in the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and can be changed as appropriate.
For example, the route guidance image A projected by the projector is not limited to a single color, and may be projected in a plurality of colors. In this case, an external sensor or the like that detects the surrounding situation of the host vehicle 10 is provided, and a route guidance image is projected in a color that is most easily recognized according to the state of the road surface L, the road surface color that varies depending on the time, weather, etc. It doesn't matter.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the route guidance image A is projected based on the route information of the navigation system 13 has been described. However, a speed or the like may be projected.
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the projector 22 is mounted in the center in the vehicle width direction has been described. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and the projector 22 may be mounted on the driver seat side in the vehicle width direction.
Further, the predetermined distance at which the projection of the route guidance image A is started may be set in advance, or may be set freely by the passenger himself / herself. In this case, when the headlamp is turned on at night or the like, it is preferable to set the projection start timing earlier (distant) than when the headlamp is turned off. Thereby, even when the headlamp is turned on, the visibility can be maintained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case of turning right at an intersection (branch point) has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be used for route guidance at various branch points such as a T-junction or a five-way intersection. .

In the above-described embodiment, the case where an arrow image is used for the route guidance image A has been described. However, the image is not limited to the arrow image as long as the driver can recognize the branch direction.
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the projection position of the host vehicle 10 is changed by changing the projection angle of the projector 22 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the route guidance image A is within the projection range of the projector 22. May be moved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Own vehicle 13 ... Navigation system (route search means) 15 ... Projection means A ... Route guidance image A1 ... Straight ahead instruction | indication part A2 ... Branch instruction | indication part

Claims (10)

Route search means for searching for a current position of the host vehicle and a route from the current position to the set destination;
A route guidance image for guiding the host vehicle in the branch direction based on the route information searched by the route search means when the host vehicle approaches a branch point on the route to a level where a passenger can visually recognize it. Projecting means for projecting onto the road surface ahead of the host vehicle. The route guidance image is an arrow image having a straight traveling instruction portion that extends along a straight traveling direction of the host vehicle, and a branch instruction portion that is bent with respect to the straight traveling instruction portion and extends along a branch direction,
The vehicle projection device according to claim 1, wherein the projecting unit projects the tip of the straight-ahead instruction unit according to the branch point.   The vehicle projection device according to claim 2, wherein the projection unit projects so that the length of the straight-ahead instruction unit becomes shorter as the remaining distance from the current position to the branch point becomes shorter. .   4. The projection unit according to claim 2, wherein the projection unit projects the branch instruction unit so that the length of the branch instruction unit increases as a remaining distance from the current position to the branch point decreases. Projector for vehicle.   5. The projection unit according to claim 2, wherein the projecting unit projects the branch instruction unit so that the width of the branch instruction unit becomes wider as a remaining arrival distance from the current position to the branch point becomes shorter. The vehicle projection device according to claim 1.   The vehicle according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the projecting means projects so that the width of the straight-ahead instruction unit becomes wider as the traveling speed of the host vehicle becomes slower. Projector.   The vehicular projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection unit is configured to be able to change a projection angle with respect to the road surface. A photographing means for photographing the periphery of the host vehicle;
8. The vehicle projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a projection range of the projection unit is adjusted based on a photographing result photographed by the photographing unit. 9.   9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the projection unit prohibits projection when an obstacle or a preceding vehicle is detected within a projection range in front of the host vehicle based on the photographing result of the photographing unit. Projector.   The projection start time of the projection means when the headlamp of the host vehicle is turned on is set earlier than when the headlamp is turned off. The vehicle projection device described.

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