JP2016068735A - View adjustment device of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To switch a state that a wide feeling in a cabin can be obtained and a state that outfield perceptibility can be improved.SOLUTION: A pillar trim 20 at a driver's seat (inside face of a front pillar 10 facing the inside of the cabin) is changeable in a color between a light color and a dark color, and a color of the pillar trim 20 is changeably controlled. By coloring the pillar trim 20 to the light color, there arises a state which is favorable in obtaining a wide feeling, and by coloring the pillar trim into the dark color, the state becomes favorable in terms of the improvement of outfield perceptibility. It is preferable to change the color of the pillar trim 20 to the dark color when an operation load at traveling at a curve, for example, is large while normally keeping the color at the light color.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle visibility adjusting device.

  The automobile has a structure in which front pillars are disposed on the left and right ends of the front window glass. In general, the front pillar is inclined so as to gradually be positioned rearward as it goes upward and gradually to the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

  Of the pair of left and right front pillars, the front pillar on the driver's seat side, in particular, becomes an obstacle for the driver to visually observe the outside world and causes a blind spot. Patent Document 1 discloses that the front pillar is made as thin as possible to reduce the blind spot.

JP 2006-182092 A

  By the way, not only when the driver gazes forward through the front window glass, but also in a state where he / she tries to look diagonally forward outside the front pillar on the driver's seat side (state through the side window glass). Will occur. This state of looking obliquely forward is often seen, for example, during a turn that turns toward the driver's seat. When viewing this diagonally forward, the front pillar is positioned between the inner outside world perceived through the front window glass and the outside world perceived through the side window glass.

  As described above, when trying to look obliquely forward, the front pillar enters the driver's field of view, and the presence of the front pillar entering this field of view not only causes a blind spot, but also an area that is not a blind spot. It often happens that the perception of the outside world when it is viewed is disturbed. In particular, since the outside world (scenery) and the front pillar are mixed in the driver's field of view, the distinguishability between the front pillar portion and the outside world tends to deteriorate.

  In particular, recently, light colors (light colors) such as white and beige are often used as the interior color of vehicles to improve spaciousness (openness). The color of the inner surface facing the passenger compartment is often light. Thus, when the inner surface of the front pillar is light, a driver who looks at the front diagonally looks as if at least a part of the front pillar (especially both ends in the vehicle width direction) is the outside itself. (At least a part of the front pillar is perceived as if it is dissolved in the outside world), which is not preferable in terms of improving the perception of the outside world.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a vehicle visual field adjustment device capable of switching between a state of obtaining a sense of spaciousness in a vehicle interior and a state of improving external visibility. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, basically, the recognition result of the outside world in a state where the front pillar enters the field of view greatly differs depending on the color of the front pillar entering the driver's field of view. Is based. In other words, the front pillar entered the field of view when the color of the inner surface of the front pillar was set to a dark color, which is not preferable for obtaining a spacious feeling, rather than a light color that is preferable for obtaining a spacious feeling. On the basis of the knowledge that the distinction from the outside can sometimes be sufficiently improved, the color of the inner surface of the front pillar is changed and controlled between a light color and a dark color.

Specifically, the following solution is adopted in the present invention. That is, as described in claim 1,
The inner surface of the driver's front pillar facing the passenger compartment can be changed between light and dark colors.
Control means for changing and controlling the color of the inner surface of the front pillar;
It is like that. According to the above-described solution, the color of the inner surface of the front pillar is changed and controlled between a bright color preferable for obtaining a spacious feeling and a dark color preferable for improving the external perception, thereby obtaining a spacious feeling. And a state that can improve the cognition of the outside world.

A preferred mode based on the above solution is as described in claim 2 and the following claims. That is,
Driving load determination means for determining that the driving load of the driver is large,
The control unit controls the color of the inner surface of the front pillar so that it is normally a light color, while controlling the color to be dark when the driving load is determined by the driving load determination unit.
(Corresponding to claim 2). In this case, when the driving load is large, it is preferable to improve the external recognition and reduce the driving load.

  The driving load determination means determines that the driving load is large during a turn (corresponding to claim 3). In this case, it is preferable for reducing the burden on the driver by increasing the external visibility in a state where both the outside and inside fields of view enter the front pillar.

A manual switch for manually selecting whether the inner color of the front pillar is light or dark,
The control means controls the color of the inner surface of the front pillar to be a color selected by the manual switch;
(Corresponding to claim 4). In this case, depending on the driver's preference, a state where priority is given to spaciousness and a state where priority is given to external recognition can be arbitrarily selected.

The surface facing the vehicle interior side of the front pillar is composed of a trim material,
The trim material can be changed in color between light and dark colors.
(Corresponding to claim 5). In this case, the color can be changed using a trim material that constitutes a substantial interior surface (inner surface) of the front pillar.

The trim material is transparent or translucent and is formed to transmit light;
On the back surface of the trim material, an electric display film capable of changing color between a light color and a dark color is disposed.
(Corresponding to claim 5). In this case, the color can be changed using an electric display film. In addition, since the electric display film is covered from the vehicle interior side by the trim material, it is preferable in terms of protection of the electric display film.

  The inner surface of the trim material is covered with an electric display film that can change color between a light color and a dark color (corresponding to claim 6). In this case, the color can be changed without being affected by the material of the trim material or the like because the electric display film directly faces the vehicle interior.

  The inner surface of the front pillar can be changed between a bright color and a dark color by illumination from an illumination source provided in the vicinity of the front pillar (corresponding to claim 7). In this case, the existing front pillar structure can be used effectively, so that the color can be changed.

  Of the pair of left and right front pillars arranged so as to sandwich the front window glass from the vehicle width direction, the color-changeable front pillar is only the front pillar on the driver's seat side. 8). In this case, since it is the front pillar on the driver's seat side of the pair of left and right front pillars that easily enters the driver's field of view and easily disturbs the outside world recognition, by changing the color to only one front pillar, This is preferable in terms of simplification of structure and cost reduction.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to switch between a state in which a feeling of spaciousness in the vehicle interior is obtained and a state in which external recognition can be improved.

The simplified side view which shows the front part of the vehicle to which this invention was applied. The figure which looked at the vehicle to which this invention was applied from the driver's seat side, and shows the case where the front pillar of a driver's seat side is light color. The figure which looked at the vehicle to which the present invention was applied from the driver's seat side, and shows the case where the front pillar on the driver's seat side is dark. Sectional drawing which shows the front pillar by the side of a driver's seat with the trim material. The figure which shows a mode when turning the right corner with a driving simulator with a fixed viewpoint and an index. The figure which shows a mode when a parameter | index changes from the state of FIG. The figure which shows the difference in the reaction time of a driver | operator by the difference in the color of the inner surface of a front pillar. The figure which shows the difference in a driver | operator's brain wave by the difference in the color of the inner surface of a front pillar. The block diagram which shows the example of a control system of this invention. The flowchart which shows the example of control of this invention. The figure which shows the simulation apparatus for performing the experiment regarding external world recognition. The top view which shows the state which mounted | wore the passenger | crew's head with the mounting tool for an electroencephalogram measurement. FIG. 11 is a left side view of FIG. 10.

  In FIG. 1, a vehicle V is a right-hand drive vehicle, and a driver seated in the driver's seat 1 is indicated by a symbol J. In FIG. 2 in which the front is viewed from the driver's seat 1 side, 2 is a steering handle, 3 is a front window glass, 4 is a right side (driver side) side door, and 5 is a side window glass provided on the right side door 4. , 6 is a right door mirror, 7 is a roof, and 8 is an instrument panel. The right front pillar 10 is positioned between the front window glass 3 and the side window glass 5, that is, at a position where the right side edge of the front window glass 3 is continuous. 1 and 2, the front pillar on the passenger seat side is not shown.

  As will be described later, the inner surface of the front pillar 10 (the surface facing the passenger compartment) can be changed in color between a light color and a dark color, and FIG. 2 shows a case where the color is light. As the bright color, white, beige, light blue, light green, and the like are conceivable. In the embodiment, white is used. FIG. 3 shows a case where the inner surface of the front pillar 10 is dark. In FIG. 3, the dark color is shown with fine dots, but in reality, it is not a dot but a uniform dark color as a whole. As the dark color, black, dark gray, and the like are conceivable, and in the embodiment, black is used.

  FIG. 4 shows a specific example of the structure of the front pillar 10 whose inner surface can be changed in color. In FIG. 4, 11 is a pillar inner, 12 is a pillar outer, and 13 is a pillar rain. The pillar inner 11 and the pillar outer 12 form a closed cross-sectional structure and are reinforced by the pillar rain 13. A pillar trim (trim material) 20 is disposed on the side of the interior of the pillar inner 11 so as to cover the pillar inner 11. In FIG. 4, 31 is a molding, 32 is a glass run channel, 33 is a door sash, 34 is a weather strip, and 35 is an adhesive.

  The front pillar 10 including the pillar trim 20 is inclined so as to be gradually located rearward and inward in the vehicle width direction as it goes upward. That is, the front pillar 10, that is, the pillar trim 20 is set to be inclined so as to gradually approach the occupant J (its head) as it goes upward.

  The pillar trim 20 is formed of a synthetic resin so as to be transparent or translucent. An electrical display film 21 for color change is attached to the back surface of the pillar trim 20 (the surface opposite to the vehicle interior) along the back surface. In order to energize the electric display film 21, a cord 22 is disposed between the pillar trim 20 and the pillar inner 11, and the cord 22 is connected to the electrode 21 a of the electric display film 21.

  The electric display film 21 uses, for example, a commercially available liquid crystal film, and can be changed in color at least between light and dark colors by switching the input electric signal. . Since the pillar trim 20 is transparent or translucent and can transmit light, when the electric display film 21 is light-colored, the pillar trim 20 (that is, the front pillar 10) is visually recognized by the driver. . Similarly, when the electric display film 21 is dark, the pillar trim 20 (that is, the front pillar 10) is visually recognized by the driver as a dark color.

  When the pillar trim 20 is light, it is preferable for obtaining a spacious feeling in the vehicle interior. In addition, when the pillar trim 20 is dark, it is preferable for enhancing the recognition of the outside world. In addition, the point that the external color recognition is enhanced in the dark color than in the bright color will be described in detail later.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 show the case where the color of the inner surface of the front pillar 10 (pillar trim 20) is bright, and the vehicle is driven when driving on a curved road that turns to the right by a driving simulator (driving simulator) described later. The external environment (scenery) as seen from the person. That is, a white line on the right side indicating a curved road area that turns to the right side is indicated by reference numeral 51, and a white line on the left side is indicated by reference numeral 52. The illustrated curved road corresponds to a case where the radius of curvature is 30 m and the traveling speed is 70 km / h.

  FIG. 5 shows that a fixed viewpoint α (light cross shape in the embodiment) is always displayed near the front pillar 10 on the left side in the vicinity of the front pillar 10 and an indicator β (dark color in the embodiment) on the right side near the front pillar. (Cross shape) is displayed. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the cross-shaped index β is changed to a dark ◯ -shaped index γ. In the simulation device described later, when the driver (subject) perceives that the index has been switched from β to γ, the pedal is switched from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal, The brain wave of the driver at that time was detected.

  For the test subjects A to D who are drivers, the response of pedal change when the color of the pillar trim 20 (the color of the inner surface of the front pillar 10) is light, respectively, when switching from the above-mentioned index β to γ. Each time was measured over 100 times. The average value of the 100 measurement results is shown in FIG. As is clear from FIG. 7, it is easily understood that the darker color of the pillar trim 20 has a shorter reaction time and improved external recognition.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of brain wave data (brain wave data at the top of a head) of a subject among the subjects A to D before and after the pedal change using the simulation device. In FIG. 8, the time 0 is the time when the index β is switched to γ. As can be seen from FIG. 8, immediately after the time 0, it is understood that the color of the pillar trim 20 reacts faster and more strongly than the case of the dark color (Black) than the light color (White). Is done. In other words, it is confirmed from the electroencephalogram data that the external perception of the driver is improved in the dark color than in the bright color.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of a control system for switching the color of the pillar trim 20 between a dark color and a light color. In FIG. 9, U is a controller (control unit) configured using a microcomputer. The controller U receives information from the navigation device S1 (particularly road conditions when the vehicle is currently traveling), a vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed sensor S2, and a steering angle signal from the steering angle sensor S3.

  The controller U also receives a signal from a manual switch S4 that is manually operated by the driver J. The manual switch S4 is for selecting whether the color of the pillar trim 20 is light or dark. In addition to the manual mode for selecting any one color, the auto mode for automatically selecting the color. Can be selected. Specifically, when a bright color is selected in the manual mode, the controller U controls the electric display film 21 to be a bright color. When the dark color is selected in the manual mode, the controller U performs control so that the electric display film 21 becomes a dark color.

  An example of color change control when the auto mode is selected by the manual switch S4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the following description, Q indicates a step. First, in Q1, signals from various sensors S1 to S3 are input. Thereafter, in Q2, it is determined whether it is currently daytime. Whether or not it is daytime can be determined by a conventionally known appropriate method such as whether or not a headlight or a small light is lit (in FIG. , Omitted as an input signal to the controller U).

  After Q2, in Q3, it is determined whether the driving load is large. This Q3 is determined, for example, when the vehicle is traveling on a curved road having a radius of curvature smaller than a predetermined value, particularly when the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. can do. Whether there is a curved road as described above can be determined based on the navigation device S1, the current steering angle, and the like. In addition to this, when the driving load is large, for example, when the lateral G is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (for example, 0.3 G or more) set in advance, or the vehicle speed is set to a predetermined value (for example, 80 km / h) or higher. It can be set as appropriate.

  If YES in Q3, the color of the pillar trim 20 is dark in Q4. When NO is determined in Q2 or NO in Q3, the color of the pillar trim 20 is set to light in Q5. Note that the determination of Q2 takes into account that the lighter pillar trim 20 is less easily distinguished from the bright outside world in the daytime.

  Next, an example of a simulation apparatus that performs the data acquisition of FIGS. 7 and 8 and the index presentation shown in FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in FIG. 11, DS is a driving simulator. The driving simulator DS includes a screen 103 disposed in front of a driver's seat of a vehicle V (in the embodiment, an actual vehicle), a projector 104 as a projecting unit for projecting various images on the screen 103, Have

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a driver J as a subject is equipped with a headgear HG equipped with a large number of electroencephalogram sensors 106. In the embodiment, a total of 16 electroencephalogram sensors 106 are dispersedly arranged, but the number of electroencephalogram sensors 106 may be larger or smaller (connection codes of the electroencephalogram sensors 106 are not shown). FIG. 13 shows the driver J wearing the headgear HG as viewed from the side. FIG. 13 shows a state in which the eye mark recorder 108 is mounted in the vicinity of the eyeball of the driver J.

  In FIG. 11 again, DU is a controller configured using a microcomputer. The controller DU is connected to road information storage means 111, vehicle information storage means 112, travel information storage means 113, and target presentation means 104. In addition, a reaction switch (sensor) 115 for detecting the operation timing and operation amount of the operation system of the steering handle 2, the accelerator pedal, and the brake pedal (both pedals are not shown) is provided, and a fixation point α displayed on the screen 103 is provided. And a target sensor 116 for detecting the position of the index β or γ, the display start timing, and the display end timing.

  The storage means built in the controller DU stores information for various displays such as a forward landscape projected on the screen 103 via the projector 104. Information stored in the controller DU includes information on roads in particular. The information on the road is stored separately for straight roads and curved roads (curves) for, for example, highways, winding roads, city roads, and the like. Are stored separately. An appropriate image selected from the stored information is projected (displayed) on the screen 103 by the projector 104 (an example of this projection situation is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). As described above, the controller DU has the forward scenery command means. However, when the amount of stored information relating to these is large, the controller DU is separately stored in a large-capacity storage means such as a hard disk, and the controller U reads from there. Thus, information regarding the forward scenery or the like may be output to the projector 4.

  Information relating to the road projected onto the screen 103 is measured and stored by the road information storage unit 111 that also functions as a measurement function. When the driver J performs a simulated driving operation on the road projected on the screen 103 while operating the steering handle 2 or the like, information on the vehicle position, vehicle speed, acceleration, direction, etc. at that time, It is measured and stored by the vehicle information storage means 112 that also functions as a measurement function. Similarly, when performing a simulated traveling operation, the operation amount and operation timing of the steering wheel 2, the operation amount and operation timing of the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal, and the like are stored in the traveling information storage means 113 that also functions as a measurement function. Measured and memorized. The contents stored in the vehicle information storage unit 112 and the signal from the reaction switch 115 are input to the operation measurement unit 120 and stored in the operation data storage unit 121 as being associated with each other as operation data.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the target presentation unit 104 instructs the screen 103 to display the target β or γ at an appropriate timing in addition to the fixed viewpoint α. α and targets β and γ are displayed on the screen 103 by the projector 104. The optotype presenting means 104 instructs the display start timing, display end timing, display position, display color, and the like of the optotype together. Then, the targets β and γ projected on the screen 103 are output to the display target measuring unit 122 by the target sensor 116 including the display start timing, instruction end timing, and the like, and the target data storage means. 123 is stored.

  Based on the storage data of the motion data storage means 121 and the target data storage means 123 by the motion data processing unit 124, the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal, which is performed when the target β is switched to γ, is performed. The time required for stepping on the pedal, that is, the reaction time is processed in a state associated with the data stored in the operation data storage unit 121, and the processing result is stored in the reaction time storage unit 125.

  The detection result of the electroencephalogram sensor 106 is measured as an electroencephalogram by the electroencephalogram measurement unit 126, and the measurement result is stored in the electroencephalogram data processing unit 127. Based on the storage contents of the electroencephalogram data storage means 127 and the storage contents of the optotype data storage means 123, the electroencephalogram data processing unit 128 performs processing for associating the information about the targets β and γ with the electroencephalogram data. The processing result is stored in the electroencephalogram data related information storage unit 129 (at least the change in brain potential immediately before switching from the target β to γ is stored). Of course, each measured or stored data is synchronized with each other (having temporal correlation) with reference to the switching start time from the target β to γ.

  The data obtained by the simulation as described above are shown in FIGS. In FIG. 8, among the data obtained from a large number of electroencephalogram sensors 106, the data is the data by the electroencephalogram sensor 106 disposed on the top of the head, which is the most important.

  Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and can be appropriately changed within the scope described in the scope of claims. For example, the invention includes the following cases. . The front pillar 10 on the passenger seat side is, for example, a light (or dark) fixed color. However, the front pillar 10 on the passenger seat side may be changed between a light color and a dark color. Good.

  The color of the inner surface of the front pillar 10 may be changed by, for example, disposing the electric display film 21 on the surface on the vehicle interior side of the pillar trim 20 (in this case, the electric display film 21 is provided in the vehicle). Or the electric display film 21 may be embedded in the pillar trim 21 (a part of the pillar trim that is closer to the vehicle interior than the embedded electric display film 21 is transparent). Or just translucent.) In order to change the color of the pillar trim 20, for example, an appropriate method is used such as illumination by an illumination source 40 (see FIG. 2) that is disposed on the instrument panel 8 and is irradiated toward the pillar trim 20. Can also be done.

  When the driving load is large, one of a plurality of conditions, such as when driving on a highway or when driving on a winding road, or any of a plurality of conditions is satisfied. Sometimes it can be. In addition, a method of determining the magnitude of the driving load, such as setting when the driver's fatigue is large (for example, determining the driver's fatigue status using the detection value of the eye mark recorder 108) as the driving load is large. As such, an appropriate one can be used.

  According to the present invention, by changing the color of the inner surface of the front pillar, it is possible to appropriately obtain a sense of spaciousness and an improvement in external perception.

1: Driver's seat 2: Steering handle 3: Front window glass 4: Side door 5: Side window glass 6: Door mirror 7: Roof 8: Instrument panel 10: Front pillar 20: Pillar trim (trim material)
21: Electric display film (for color change)
40: Illumination source (for color change)

Claims (9)

The inner surface of the driver's front pillar facing the passenger compartment can be changed between light and dark colors.
Control means for changing and controlling the color of the inner surface of the front pillar;
A visual field adjustment device for a vehicle. In claim 1,
Driving load determination means for determining that the driving load of the driver is large,
The control unit controls the color of the inner surface of the front pillar so that it is normally a light color, while controlling the color to be dark when the driving load is determined by the driving load determination unit.
A visual field adjustment device for a vehicle. In claim 2,
The vehicle visibility adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the driving load determining means determines that the driving load is large during a turn. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
A manual switch for manually selecting whether the inner color of the front pillar is light or dark,
The control means controls the color of the inner surface of the front pillar to be a color selected by the manual switch;
A visual field adjustment device for a vehicle. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4,
The surface facing the vehicle interior side of the front pillar is composed of a trim material,
The trim material can be changed in color between light and dark colors.
A visual field adjustment device for a vehicle. In claim 5,
The trim material is transparent or translucent and is formed to transmit light;
On the back surface of the trim material, an electric display film capable of changing color between a light color and a dark color is disposed.
A visual field adjustment device for a vehicle. In claim 5,
The vehicular field of view adjustment apparatus, wherein an inner surface of the trim material is covered with an electric display film capable of changing a color between a light color and a dark color. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4,
The vehicle field of view adjustment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the front pillar is changeable between a light color and a dark color by illumination from an illumination source provided in the vicinity of the front pillar. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 7,
Of the pair of left and right front pillars arranged so as to sandwich the front window glass from the vehicle width direction, the color-changeable front pillar is only the driver side pillar.
A visual field adjustment device for a vehicle.

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