JP2013078964A - Display device and display method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device and a display method which can show a driver an advancing direction to an instructed point even if the size of an irradiation region is limited.SOLUTION: A setting part sets the instructed point to be shown the driver. A determination part determines whether an indication image to show the instructed point can be displayed within a display region when a vehicle accesses the instructed point. A generation part generates the indication image moving toward the instructed point when it can be displayed. When the instructed point can not be displayed, the generation part generates an incidental image to make the drive recognize a position which may be indicated by the indication image outside the display region.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a display device and a display method.

A display device installed in an automobile, which generates an index image indicating a traveling direction to an instruction point to be instructed to a driver (observer), and superimposes it on a forward landscape that the driver is viewing. ,
A display device (for example, a head-up display) that displays an index image toward the driver's eyes
There is.

In such a display device, the driver observes the index image superimposed on the front scenery being viewed by irradiating the light flux of the index image toward the windshield of the automobile.

However, in such a display device, since the size of the irradiation area of the windshield that can irradiate the luminous flux of the index image is limited, the driver may not be able to indicate the traveling direction to the indicated point. There is a problem.

JP 2005-215879 A JP 2010-76524 A JP-A-10-293264

The problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a display device and a display method capable of showing the driver the direction of travel to the designated point even when the size of the irradiation area is limited.

In order to solve the above problems, a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is equipped on a vehicle,
A display device that displays an image in a display area provided in the vehicle, and includes a setting unit, a determination unit, and a generation unit.

The setting unit sets an instruction point to be instructed to the driver. The determination unit determines whether or not an indicator image that should indicate the indicated point can be displayed in the display area when the vehicle approaches the indicated point. The generation unit generates the index image that moves toward the designated point if it can be displayed, and if it is not possible, the generation unit is an incidental image that is attached to the index image, The incidental image for causing the driver to recognize a position that the index image would indicate outside the display area is generated.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a display device 1 according to a first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of the display device 1. Explanatory drawing of calculation of the length W of the incidental image 30 by the calculation part 114. FIG. An example figure showing index picture 10 and incidental picture 30. Explanatory drawing of calculation of the length W of the incidental image 30 by the calculation part 114. FIG. FIG. 3 is an example diagram showing an index image 10, an accompanying image 30, and an accompanying image 40.

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

In the present specification and drawings, the same elements as those described above with reference to the previous drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

(First embodiment)
The display device 1 irradiates the windshield 21 of the vehicle 20 with the light beam 5 including the index image 10. The windshield 21 is provided with a region AB (display region) capable of reflecting at least a part of the light beam 5, and the display device 1 irradiates the light beam 5 toward the region AB. The display device 1 displays the light by controlling the irradiation direction of the light beam 5 so that the reflected light from the region AB reaches the eye 101 (either one eye or both eyes) of the driver (observer) 100. As a result, the driver 10
0 can recognize the index image 10 as an image superimposed on the scenery ahead of the windshield 21.

The display device 1 starts displaying the index image 10 when the distance to a point (hereinafter referred to as “designated point”) designated to the driver 100 is within a predetermined distance (hereinafter referred to as “start point”). The designated point is a scene that prompts the driver 100 for guidance or attention, for example, an intersection that needs to make a right turn or a left turn.

The display device 1 sequentially generates the index images 10 so that the driver 100 recognizes that the index image 10 proceeds from the display start point to the instruction point from the start point to the instruction point. indicate.

Conventionally, the position where the index image 10 indicating the designated point should be irradiated exceeds the area outside the area AB, and the index image 10 cannot actually be displayed in some cases.

In such a case, the display device 1 includes the auxiliary image 30 attached to the index image 10 in the area AB.
Generate and irradiate. For example, the display device 1 displays the shadow of the index image 10 as an example of the auxiliary image 30 at a position on the driver 100 side (rear) with respect to the index image 10 and a position below the index image 10 (for example, May be displayed on the road surface).

At this time, the driver image 100 cannot visually recognize the index image 10 outside the area AB, but can visually recognize the auxiliary image 30 within the area AB. The position where the index image 10 may show is not
Can be recognized.

Thereby, even if it is a case where the size of area | region AB which can be irradiated with the light beam 5 is limited, the advancing direction to an indication point can be shown to a driver | operator.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display device 1 includes a processing unit 11 and a display unit 13. Processing unit 11
Includes a setting unit 111, a first determination unit 112, a second determination unit 113, a calculation unit 114, a generation unit 115, a control unit 116, and a storage unit 51.

  The storage unit 51 stores map information (for example, a road map).

When a destination is specified by the driver 100, the setting unit 111 reads map information from the storage unit 51 and sets a route to the destination. The setting unit 111 sets at least one designated point where the index image 10 in the route is to be displayed.

The first determination unit 112 holds the position information of the set designated point, and determines whether or not the vehicle 20 has approached the designated point from the current position of the vehicle 20. The 1st determination part 112 may acquire the present position of the vehicle 20 from the position measurement means (for example, GPS) which is not shown in figure.

The second determination unit 113 acquires the viewpoint position from the detection device 15 (camera, sensor, or the like) for detecting the position (viewpoint position) of the eye 101 of the driver 100.

The second determination unit 113 determines whether or not the index image 10 indicating the designated point enters the area AB when observed from the acquired viewpoint position. For example, the second determination unit 113 determines whether or not the indicated point to be indicated by the index 10 is farther than the farthest point (farthest point b) on the route where the index 10 can be indicated in the area AB. judge.

When it is determined that the index image 10 that should indicate the designated point falls within the area AB, the generation unit 115
Sequentially generates the index images 10 at each time when moving to the designated point c.

When it is determined that the index image 10 that should indicate the designated point does not fall within the area AB, the calculation unit 1
Reference numeral 14 denotes the designated point c, the farthest point b, the closest point (nearest point a) on the route where the index 10 can be designated in the area AB, and the length of the direction in which the designated image 10 is set in advance. Based on the length D, the length W in the traveling direction of the accompanying image 30 is calculated. The designated point c, the farthest point b, and the nearest point a may be indicated by coordinates based on the position of the driver 100, for example.

The generation unit 115 sequentially generates a portion of the index image 10 (for example, the index image 10 with a missing tip) and the accompanying image 30 that can be displayed in the area AB so as to move toward the designated point.

The control unit 116 controls the display unit 13 so that the display unit 13 displays the generated instruction image 10 and the accompanying image 30.

The setting unit 111, the first determination unit 112, the second determination unit 113, the calculation unit 114, the generation unit 115, and the control unit 116 are realized by a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory used by the CPU. May be. The storage unit 51 may be realized by a memory or an auxiliary storage device used by the CPU.

  The processing unit 11 has been described above.

Based on the control of the control unit 116, the display unit 13 displays the light beam 5 including the index image 10 in the region A.
The light beam 5 is irradiated toward B, and the light beam 5 is displayed toward the eyes 101 of the driver 100. A combiner corresponding to the area AB may be provided between the windshield 21 and the display unit 13. The windshield 21 reflects the light beam 5 toward the eyes 101 of the driver 100.

The display unit 13 includes a light source 131, a limiting unit 132, a diffusion unit 133, an image forming unit 134, a first lens 135, an opening 136, a second lens 137, and a reflection plate 138. .

When the focal length of the first lens 135 is f1, and the focal length of the second lens 137 is f2, the opening 136 is a distance from the first lens 135 to f1 and a distance from the second lens 137 to f2. It is installed in the position.

The light beam 5 emitted from the light source 131 enters the image forming unit 134 including the diffusing unit 133 in a state where the traveling direction is limited by the limiting unit 132. The light beam 5 can be diffused and uniformly incident on the image forming unit 134 by the diffusion unit 133. The image forming unit 134 has a luminous flux 5
Is partially transmitted or blocked to form a light beam 5 having the shape of the index image 10.

The light beam 5 that has passed through the image forming unit 134 passes through the first lens 135, the opening 136, and the second lens 137. The light beam 5 enters the reflecting plate 138 in a state where the divergence angle (the angle at which the light beam 5 spreads) is controlled. The reflector 138 reflects the light beam 5 toward the windshield 21.

Since the image forming unit 134 is located closer to the light source 131 than the opening 136, the opening 136
As compared with the case where is located on the light source 131 side of the image forming unit 134, the transmittance of the light beam 5 passing through the image forming unit 134 can be increased. Therefore, the power consumption of the light source 131 can be suppressed.

As the light source 131, a light emitting diode, a high-pressure mercury lamp, a halogen lamp, a laser, or the like is used. The limiting unit 132 is a tapered light guide, the diffusion unit 133 is a diffusion filter or a diffusion plate, and the image forming unit 134 is a liquid crystal display, a digital mirror device, or the like.

  The configuration of the display device 1 has been described above.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the display device 1.

When the destination is specified by the driver 100, the setting unit 111 reads map information from the storage unit 51, sets a route to the destination, and displays at least one instruction to display the index image 10 in the route. A point is set (S101).

The first determination unit 112 determines whether or not the vehicle 20 has approached the indicated point from the current position of the vehicle 20 (S102).

When observing from the viewpoint position of the driver 100, the second determination unit 113 determines whether or not the index image 10 indicating the indicated point falls within the area AB (S103). For example, the second determination unit 11
3 may determine whether or not the indicated point c and the farthest point b to be indicated by the index 10 satisfy Expression 1.

When it is determined that the index image 10 falls within the area AB (step S104: YES), the generation unit 115 generates the index image 10 indicating the designated point c (S105).

When it is determined that the index image 10 does not enter the area AB (step S104: NO),
The calculation unit 114 calculates the length W in the traveling direction of the accompanying image 30 based on the designated point c, the farthest point b, the nearest point a, and the length D in the traveling direction of the designated image 10 (S105). ).

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of calculation of the length W of the incidental image 30 by the calculation unit 114. As shown in FIG. 3, the viewpoint position E of the driver 100 is set as the origin, and the x-axis is set on the road surface ahead of the driver 100 (the traveling direction of the vehicle 20).

Here, the point where the straight line connecting the viewpoint position E and the point B of the area AB intersects the x axis is the nearest point a. The farthest point b is a point where a straight line connecting the viewpoint position E and the point A of the area AB intersects the x axis. The point that the driver 100 recognizes as indicated by the index image 10 is the indicated point c (in this example, the tip of the arrow). The designated point c also means the designated point. At this time, the calculation unit 114 may calculate the length W of the incidental image 30 using Equation 2.

That is, the calculation unit 114 calculates the length W of the incident image 30 so that the front end of the incident image 30 is within the region AB.

The generation unit 115 sequentially generates a portion of the index image 10 and the accompanying image 30 that can be displayed in the area AB (S106).

The control unit 116 causes the display unit 13 to sequentially display the generated instruction image 10 (when step S104 is YES), or a part of the instruction image 10 and the accompanying image 30 (when step S104 is NO). The display unit 13 is controlled (S107), and the process ends.

FIG. 4 is an example diagram showing the index image 10 and the accompanying image 30 that are sequentially generated. As shown in FIG. 4, the index image 10 and the auxiliary image 30 that move every time (for example, t = 0, t = 1, t = 2) are sequentially generated by the above-described processing, so that the luminous flux 5 Irradiable area A
Even if the size of B is limited, the traveling direction to the designated point can be shown to the driver.

  The processing of the display device 1 has been described above.

In the present embodiment, the example of the shadow of the index image 10 has been described as the auxiliary image 30, but is not limited thereto. For example, an image that moves with the movement of the index image 10 and has lower saturation and lightness than the index image 10 may be displayed as the auxiliary image 30.

Alternatively, an image obtained by reducing the luminance of the index image 10 may be used as the incidental image 30. Alternatively, an effect such as blur may be used. When the incidental image 30 is a shadow, the calculation unit 114 may calculate the length W of the incidental image 30 according to the distance to the designated point c. For example, the designated point c
If the distance to is far, the length W of the incidental image 30 is increased in the range of Equation 2, and if the distance to the designated point c is short, the length W of the incidental image 30 is calculated to be shorter in the range of Equation 2. May be. Thereby, it is possible to control the time for which the incidental image 30 is displayed. Alternatively, if the incidental image 30 proceeds in the same direction as the index image 10, the incidental image 3 is reduced by reducing the speed of the incidental image 30 or increasing the distance between the index image 10 and the incidental image 30.
You may control the time when 0 is displayed. It should be noted that when the road surface changes or when the vehicle 20
However, the same applies when the vehicle is running on a curve.

According to this embodiment, even if the size of the irradiation area is limited, the traveling direction to the designated point can be shown to the driver.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle 20 that is an automobile has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the display device 1 can be used for a vehicle that is operated by a driver, such as an airplane or a train.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment is different from the previous embodiment in that the calculation unit 114 further generates a tunnel-shaped incident image 40 through which the index image 10 passes. Thereby, the index image 10
Can be prevented from suddenly disappearing and being observed by the driver 100 when it exceeds the region AB. The incidental image 40 may be an image that represents a partition having a width in the traveling direction and a height from the road surface.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of calculation of the length L of the incidental image 30 by the calculation unit 114 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the width of the auxiliary image 40 is W ′, the height of the auxiliary image 40 from the road surface (x-axis) is h, and the thickness of the auxiliary image 40 in the height direction is h ′. Let E be the height from the road surface. Note that the calculation unit 114 may acquire the viewpoint position E from the detection device 15 and calculate the height H of the viewpoint position E.

When the vertex R overlaps the upper side of the region AB, the relationship between the width W ′ and the thickness h ′ of the incident image 40 is as follows: the height h of the incident image 40, the height H of the viewpoint position E, and the farthest position Using b, it is represented by Equation 3.

If either h ′ or W ′ is set, the position of the vertex R of the incidental image 40 can be determined. The calculation unit 114 determines the position of the vertex R and sets the maximum width U of the index image 10. The calculation unit 114 may calculate the length L of the auxiliary image 30 by using the length L of the index image 30 using Equation 4.

Note that the calculation unit 114 preferably determines the position of the vertex R so as to overlap the upper side of the region AB.

The generation unit 115 generates the accompanying image 40 and moves toward the index image 10 of the portion that can be displayed in the area AB (for example, the index image 10 with the tip missing), and the accompanying image 30 and the designated point. Generate sequentially.

FIG. 6 is an example diagram illustrating the accompanying image 40, the index image 10 and the accompanying image 30 that are sequentially generated. As shown in FIG. 6, according to the present embodiment, the auxiliary image 40 and every time (for example, t
= 0, t = 1, t = 2), the index image 10 and the accompanying image 30 are sequentially generated, so that even when the size of the area AB that can be irradiated with the light beam 5 is limited, The direction of travel to the designated point can be shown to the driver. Further, when the index image 10 exceeds the area AB, it can be prevented that the index image 10 suddenly disappears and is observed by the driver 100.

As mentioned above, according to embodiment mentioned above, even if it is a case where the size of an irradiation field is restricted, the advancing direction to an indication point can be shown to a driver.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, these embodiments are shown as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display apparatus 5 Light beam 10 Index image 11 Processing part 13 Display part 15 Detection apparatus 16 Detection sensor 20 Vehicle 21 Windshield 30,40 Attached image 100 Observer 101 Eye 111 Setting part 112 First determination part 113 Second determination part 114 Calculation Unit 115 generation unit 116 control unit 131 light source 132 limiting unit 133 diffusion unit 134 image forming unit 135 first lens 136 opening 137 second lens 138 reflector

Claims (6)

A display device that is mounted on a vehicle and displays an image on a display area provided on the vehicle,
A setting unit for setting an instruction point to be instructed to the driver;
A determination unit that determines whether or not it is possible to display an index image that should indicate the indicated point in the display area when the vehicle approaches the indicated point;
When it is possible to display, the index image that moves toward the indicated point is generated, and when it is not possible to display, it is an incidental image that accompanies the index image and is outside the display area. And a generation unit that generates the incidental image for allowing the driver to recognize the position that the index image would indicate. When it is not possible to display the index image in the display area, the auxiliary image is based on the size of the display area, the distance to the designated point, and the predetermined length of the index image. A calculation unit for calculating the length of
The display device according to claim 1. The calculation unit further calculates the length of the incidental image based on the distance to the designated point.
The display device according to claim 2. The generation unit generates the incidental image representing a shadow of the index image;
The display device according to claim 1. The generation unit generates the incidental image of a tunnel shape through which the index image passes,
The display device according to claim 1. A display method of a display device that is mounted on a vehicle and displays an image in a display area provided on the vehicle,
Set the point to be directed to the driver,
When the vehicle approaches the designated point, it is determined whether or not it is possible to display an indicator image that should indicate the designated point in the display area;
When it is possible to display, the index image that moves toward the indicated point is generated, and when it is not possible to display, it is an incidental image that accompanies the index image and is outside the display area. Generating the incidental image for allowing the driver to recognize the position that the index image would have indicated in
Display method.

Images