JP3890597B2 - Vehicle information providing device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information providing device for a vehicle , and more particularly to an information providing device for a vehicle that supports driving of a vehicle by providing a driver with route information related to a travel route on which the vehicle should travel.

  2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle information providing device (car navigation device) that supports driving of a vehicle by providing a travel route that the vehicle should travel to a destination set for a vehicle occupant and related route information is known (patent) Reference 1).

  In this conventional vehicle information providing apparatus, the travel route and related route information are displayed on a monitor screen arranged in the vicinity of the center console, thereby supporting the driving of the vehicle.

  In this conventional vehicle information providing device, a vehicle occupant (driver) can check the traveling route displayed on the monitor screen, related route information, and the like, and then look forward through the windshield. It is necessary to look at actual roads, buildings, signs, etc., and match them with the information on the monitor screen to determine the actual route to travel and the intersection to bend. For this reason, there are cases where it is inconvenient, for example, that the travel route is wrong or the intersection is passed while the intersection to be bent is determined. In addition, the driver needs to remove the line of sight from the front in order to view the monitor screen, which increases the movement of the line of sight and causes a problem in safety.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-101653

  On the other hand, when a plurality of vehicles head for a certain destination, the leading vehicle may guide the route as a leading vehicle, and the following vehicle may follow the leading vehicle. In such a case, the driver of the following vehicle does not need to judge the road to be traveled by comparing the information on the monitor screen with the actual driving environment, and it is also necessary to remove the line of sight from the front. This is convenient for the driver.

  Therefore, the present inventors, when guiding the travel route by the vehicle information providing device, instead of the actual leading vehicle described above, lead by a virtual image as if the leading vehicle is actually running ahead. It has been found that if the vehicle can be seen several meters ahead of the vehicle through the windshield, the movement of the line of sight can be reduced and the same driver convenience can be obtained.

  However, if the vehicle information providing device simply displays the leading vehicle in the virtual image in front of the host vehicle, the virtual image can be obtained without considering the actual road condition, for example, the presence or absence of an obstacle or a red signal. The leading vehicle is displayed, and the driver follows the leading vehicle with a virtual image safely and safely. A new problem arises that we cannot go.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such a new problem, and since the driver's line of sight movement is small, the safety is improved and the driving route that the driver should follow from the image of the virtual leading vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle information providing apparatus that can reliably recognize a vehicle without a sense of incongruity.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle information providing apparatus that can drive a vehicle with substantially the same feeling as when a driver travels on a travel route that should follow an actual leading vehicle. .

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle information providing apparatus for setting a travel route on which a vehicle should travel and guiding the route, and a driver visually recognizes an image of a virtual leading vehicle equipped with a brake lamp. A leading vehicle display means for displaying in the actual scenery corresponding to the travel route, a determination means for determining whether or not the brake lamp should be turned on in the image of the virtual leading vehicle based on a predetermined condition, and this determination Lighting means for lighting the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle when it is determined by the means that the lighting of the brake lamp is necessary, and display of lighting of the brake lamp in the virtual leading vehicle image based on a predetermined condition Display timing changing means for changing the timing, and the judging means detects an obstacle in front of the vehicle that may collide with the vehicle. When the yellow signal or red signal is detected, when the curve is detected, or when the proximity of the preceding vehicle of the vehicle is detected, it is determined that the lighting of the brake lamp is necessary, and the display timing changing means When a driver can recognize an obstacle, a yellow light, a red light, a curve, and / or a preceding vehicle without being hidden by the virtual leading vehicle, it is more difficult than when the driver is hidden by the virtual leading vehicle and cannot be recognized. The display timing of lighting of the brake lamp in the image is delayed .
In the present invention configured as described above, when the vehicle travels while being guided along a travel route on which the vehicle should travel, a real scene where the driver is visually recognizing an image of a virtual leading vehicle equipped with a brake lamp. Since the driver displays the driving route in correspondence with the driving route, the driver only needs to follow the virtual leading vehicle and drive the vehicle. The person's gaze movement is reduced and safety is improved. Further, according to the present invention, when the lighting display means determines that it is necessary to turn on the brake lamp, the brake lamp is turned on in the image of the virtual leading vehicle. Therefore, the driver should decelerate forward of the vehicle. It can be easily recognized that the situation exists. More specifically, when an obstacle that may cause the vehicle to collide is detected in front of the vehicle, the brake lamp is turned on, so that the operator starts to decelerate easily. A collision with an obstacle in front of the vehicle can be avoided, and when a yellow or red signal is detected, the brake lamp is turned on, so that the driver starts to decelerate. It is possible to stop in front of a traffic light with a red light, and when the curve is detected, the brake lamp is turned on, so that the driver starts to decelerate, so that the driver enters the curve at a safe speed. When the proximity of the preceding vehicle to the vehicle is detected, the brake lamp is turned on, whereby the driver starts to decelerate, so that the collision with the preceding vehicle can be avoided easily and reliably. . As a result, in the present invention, it is possible to recognize when the brake should be stepped on or when there is a situation where the brake needs to be stepped forward. Therefore, according to the present invention, by displaying an image of a virtual leading vehicle provided with a brake lamp in an actual landscape, it is possible to drive the vehicle with the same sensation as actually following the leading vehicle. Therefore, it is convenient for the driver. Further, according to the present invention, when the display timing changing means can recognize the obstacle, the yellow signal, the red signal, the curve and / or the preceding vehicle without being hidden by the virtual leading vehicle, Since the display timing of the lighting of the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle is delayed than when it is hidden and cannot be recognized, the driver can determine when to decelerate himself when an obstacle etc. can be recognized. Deceleration operation can be performed at the timing.

In the present invention, preferably, the display timing changing means delays the display timing of lighting of the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle when the vehicle traveling speed is lower than the predetermined traveling speed.
According to the present invention configured as described above, when the traveling speed of the vehicle is lower than the predetermined traveling speed, the deceleration operation may be delayed. Therefore, the display timing of the lighting of the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle is set. Even if the delay is made, the driver can perform a deceleration operation at an appropriate timing.

In this invention, Preferably, a display timing change means delays the display timing of lighting of the brake lamp in the image of a virtual leading vehicle when the vehicle is in a deceleration state.
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the vehicle is already in the deceleration state, the driver can perform the deceleration operation at an appropriate timing even if the display timing of the lighting of the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle is delayed. Can be done.

In the present invention, preferably, the lighting display means turns on the brake lamp when the brake lamp lighting determination means determines that the lighting of the brake lamp is necessary, and the leading vehicle display means displays the virtual leading vehicle on the vehicle. An image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed so as to approach further.
According to the present invention configured as described above, when it is determined that the brake lamp needs to be turned on, the brake lamp is turned on and an image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed so that the virtual leading vehicle further approaches the vehicle. Therefore, the driver can easily and surely recognize that the deceleration operation is necessary.

In the present invention, preferably, the lighting display means changes the lighting mode of the brake lamp in accordance with the risk level of the road condition ahead of the vehicle , and lights the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the brake lamp is turned on in the image of the virtual leading vehicle by changing the lighting form of the brake lamp according to the degree of danger of the road situation ahead of the vehicle . Deceleration operation corresponding to the situation can be performed.

The present invention preferably further includes alarm means for notifying the driver of the factor that the determination means determines to be necessary when it is determined by the determination means that the brake lamp needs to be turned on.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the driver can know the factor that requires deceleration, and can appropriately decelerate according to the factor.

According to the vehicle information providing apparatus of the present invention, since the driver's line-of-sight movement is small, the safety is improved and the driver can surely recognize the travel route that the driver should travel from the image of the virtual leading vehicle. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to drive the vehicle with almost the same feeling as when the driver travels along a traveling route that should follow the actual leading vehicle.

Hereinafter, a vehicle information providing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a vehicle information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment displays an image of a virtual leading vehicle instead of an actual leading vehicle, and provides route information regarding a traveling route to be traveled to the driver so as to support driving of the vehicle. It is a thing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle information providing device mounted on a vehicle. This vehicle information providing device 1 is route information related to a travel route to be traveled to a destination set by a driver. Is provided with a CPU 2 that achieves a navigation function, which is a basic function for supporting driving of the vehicle, and other functions described later.

  The vehicle information providing device 1 further includes a DVD-ROM 4 for storing main map information and building information, an HDD storage device 6 for storing detailed map information and information related to images of virtual leading vehicles, and map information. A monitor screen 8 for displaying various information and an operation switch 10 for setting a destination are provided.

  The HDD storage device 6 stores a destination set by the driver, data related to the travel route, data related to the driving characteristics of the driver, data related to the traveling performance of the host vehicle, and the like. Furthermore, the image data for virtual display including the image of the virtual leading vehicle for displaying in the actual scenery visually recognized by the driver is included.

The vehicular information providing apparatus 1 includes a transmission / reception apparatus 12, and the transmission / reception apparatus 12 transmits various types of information including the latest map information, detailed local road information, and information related to virtual leading vehicle images to the outside of the vehicle. Transmission / reception is possible from an information center (not shown) via the Internet or the like. Information obtained by the transmission / reception device 32 is stored in the HDD storage device 34.
The vehicle information providing apparatus 1 further includes a GPS receiver 14, a vehicle speed sensor 16, and a gyro sensor 18 for detecting the current position of the vehicle.

  The vehicle information providing apparatus 1 further detects the position and line of sight of the driver's eyes, and based on these, displays an image of the virtual leading vehicle in the actual landscape visually recognized by the driver. A camera 20, a virtual image display device 22, and a CCD camera 24 are provided.

  The eye camera 20 is for detecting the position of the occupant's pupil, the direction of the line of sight, the distance to the visual recognition object, and the like by photographing the occupant's pupil and the like. Various techniques such as EOG (P-EOG) method, corneal reflection method, first and fourth Purkinje image detection methods, contact lens method, search coil method, infrared fundus camera method, and the like are applied.

  The virtual image display device 22, together with the CPU 2, uses a method such as a hologram in the actual scenery that the driver is viewing through the windshield based on the position of the driver's pupil and the current position and orientation of the vehicle. Thus, an image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed so that the driver can recognize as if the virtual leading vehicle is traveling several to several tens of meters ahead of the host vehicle.

  The CCD camera 24 is attached to the upper part of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle, captures the scenery in front of the vehicle, and from the image data of the scenery, another preceding vehicle that travels in front of the vehicle and the blinker of the preceding vehicle. Blinking and lighting of brake lamps, parked vehicles, various obstacles on the route, curve conditions, lanes, traffic lights, intersections, road signs, road signs, pedestrians, brightness outside the vehicle, fog conditions, visibility conditions, etc. The weather conditions including can be detected.

  The vehicle information providing device 1 further includes a laser radar device 26 and a road surface μ sensor 28. The laser radar device 26 is attached to the front end portion of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle, and detects a preceding vehicle, an obstacle on the road, and the like, and detects a relative distance and a relative speed between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle. Is. The road surface μ sensor 28 detects a road surface state or a road surface friction coefficient.

The vehicle information providing device 1 further includes a voice interaction device 30. The voice interaction device 30 includes a speaker 30a and a microphone 30b, provides voice information to the driver, and accepts voice instructions from the driver. Further, an alarm can be given by the speaker 30a.
The vehicular information providing apparatus 1 further includes an alarm device 32 for issuing an alarm to the driver when the host vehicle needs to decelerate (brake operation or the like).

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the periphery of the driver's seat of the vehicle on which the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment is mounted. As shown in FIG. 2, a speaker 30a and a microphone 30b, which are voice interaction devices 30, are attached to an A-pillar 34 near the driver's seat.

  The operation switch 10 is provided on the instrument panel 36, and the monitor screen 8 is attached in the vicinity of the operation switch 10. The eye camera 20 is incorporated in the room mirror 38. The transmission / reception device 12 is attached between the driver seat 40 and the passenger seat 42. Furthermore, the virtual image display device 22 is attached to the upper part of the instrument panel 36, and as described above, displays the virtual leading vehicle image 46 by a method such as a hologram, and the driver images the virtual leading vehicle. 46, the virtual leading vehicle 46 can be recognized as if it is traveling several to several tens of meters ahead of the vehicle.

Next, the basic operation of the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic control flow of the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, S indicates a step.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment, in S1,
Make initial settings. This initial setting is performed by the driver operating the operation switch 10 in accordance with the display on the monitor screen 8. Details of the initial setting will be described later.

  Next, in S2, the destination is set, and in S3, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S4, a travel route to be traveled from the current location to the destination is set based on the map data in the DVD-ROM 4 and the HDD storage device 6. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S5, and route guidance is performed so that the vehicle can travel on the travel route that the vehicle should travel.

  Next, the initial setting by the vehicle information providing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing a monitor screen at the time of initial setting by the vehicle information providing apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, in the initial setting, first, a screen of initial setting (1) for performing verification / registration related to visual acuity is displayed on the monitor screen 8. By selecting the item "Verification of visual acuity and verification of visual recognition level", a screen (not shown) for inspecting visual acuity / moving body visual acuity, etc. is displayed, and the visual acuity of the user is inspected by this inspection screen. The result is recorded in the HDD storage device 6 as data relating to the user's visual acuity and the like.

  Next, when the item “eye position registration” is selected, the position of the pupil of the driver seated in the driver's seat is calculated from the image data photographed by the eye camera 20 and stored in the HDD storage device 6. The position of the driver's eyes may be estimated from the position of the driver's seat and the angle of the rearview mirror.

Next, the initial setting (2) screen is displayed on the monitor screen 8 as shown in FIG. On the initial setting (2) screen, the driving level of the driver, the running performance (vehicle level) of the vehicle (own vehicle), the necessity of displaying an image of the virtual leading vehicle, and the like are set.
Specifically, first, in the “driving level” section, the driver selects his / her driving level from driving levels set in five stages. In the “vehicle level” section, the acceleration performance, deceleration performance, and turning performance of the vehicle (own vehicle) are selected from five levels. In either case, the larger the number, the higher the level.

  Next, “ON” or “OFF” is selected in the “virtual leading vehicle display” section to set whether or not to display an image of the virtual leading vehicle. In the case of “OFF”, the driving route is not guided by the image of the virtual leading vehicle. On the other hand, when “ON” is selected, the driving route is guided by the virtual leading vehicle. Here, when “ON” is selected, the type of the virtual lead vehicle can be arbitrarily selected from “Open car”, “Sedan”, “Dog”, and “Other” according to the driver's preference. It can be done. As described above, “dog” other than the car can be selected as the virtual leading car.

  Furthermore, in the “other settings”, it is possible to perform the setting of the “sound guidance combined use” section. When this “use of voice guidance” is set to ON, for example, when turning right or left, the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed to turn right, and voice guidance “turn right” is executed.

Here, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an actual scenery that the driver recognizes through the front window glass of the vehicle (own vehicle), and FIG. 7 shows the driver through the front window glass of the vehicle according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the scenery containing the image of the virtual leading vehicle to see.
In the present embodiment, when “ON” is selected in the “virtual leading vehicle display” section and “sedan” is selected as the virtual leading vehicle, actually, as shown in FIG. Only the preceding vehicle 48 and the pedestrian 50 are present in front of the host vehicle through the front window glass 44 of the vehicle. According to the vehicle information providing apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. The virtual leading vehicle 46 is virtually displayed in the scenery of the actual preceding vehicle 48 and the pedestrian 50 recognized by the vehicle as if traveling a few meters ahead of the vehicle (own vehicle).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the image of the virtual leading vehicle 46 also includes a brake lamp 52 and a blinker 54. As a result, the brake lamp 52 is turned on when the virtual leading vehicle 46 is decelerated, and the blinker 54 is blinked when turning right or left.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the image of the virtual leading vehicle 46 is displayed in the actual landscape recognized by the driver, and the route on which the image of the virtual leading vehicle 46 is displayed should be driven by the vehicle. Since the driving route is the same as that set in advance and the brake lamp 52 and the blinker 54 are also displayed, the driver recognizes the virtual leading vehicle 46 as if it were an actual leading vehicle. By following the virtual leading vehicle 46 and driving, route guidance is performed as a result, and it is possible to travel on the travel route to be reached and arrive at the destination.

  It is also possible to select a “dog” other than the car as the virtual lead vehicle. In this case, the dog is displayed as if it is running in front of the host vehicle, and the “dog” is decelerated. When turning right or left, a display that performs the same function as a brake lamp or turn signal is made to be recognized by the driver.

  In the present embodiment, when the vehicle (own vehicle) is in a state where it should decelerate or when there is a situation where deceleration is required ahead, the vehicle is instructed to the driver by turning on the brake lamp of the virtual leading vehicle. It informs that it is in the state etc. which should decelerate. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control flow for notifying the driver that the vehicle (own vehicle) is in a state to be decelerated by turning on the brake lamp of the virtual leading vehicle. In FIG. 8, S indicates each step.

Referring to FIG. 8, first, in S11, various states are detected. Specifically, the CCD camera 24 recognizes an image of road conditions ahead of the vehicle, and the laser radar device 26 detects a relative distance and a relative speed with respect to an obstacle or a preceding vehicle. Further, the traveling speed and acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle (own vehicle) are detected.
Next, in S12, an obstacle ahead of the vehicle is detected from the road condition recognized in S11. Here, the obstacle refers to an object that may become an obstacle in traveling when the vehicle travels along a traveling route, and includes a pedestrian crossing a road, a construction site, a parked vehicle, and the like.

  If an obstacle is detected, the process proceeds to S13, and the possibility of collision between the obstacle and the vehicle (own vehicle) is determined. Here, the case where there is a possibility of collision means that there is a possibility of collision when the host vehicle travels in the current traveling direction at the current speed and acceleration. In addition, there is a case in which the vehicle is quite close to the obstacle even if it does not collide, and the vehicle passes through the obstacle. Since the virtual leading vehicle is displayed as if it is traveling several to several tens of meters ahead of the host vehicle, the possibility of collision with an obstacle is determined based on the virtual position of the virtual leading vehicle. You may do it.

  When no obstacle is detected in S12 and when it is determined in S13 that there is no possibility of collision with the obstacle, the process proceeds to S14, and it is detected whether there is a yellow signal or a red signal ahead. When a yellow signal or a red signal is detected, the process proceeds to S15, and whether or not the distance from the own vehicle (or the virtual position of the virtual leading vehicle) to the traffic light that lights the yellow signal and the red signal is within a predetermined distance. judge. The predetermined distance is set to a distance that is considered necessary to start deceleration in order for the host vehicle to safely stop by the traffic light or the stop line. Here, the determination in S15 is performed based on the image recognized in S11. At this time, the distance from the vehicle to the traffic signal is determined from the size of the traffic signal. In addition, you may make it calculate the distance from the own vehicle to a traffic signal or a stop line based on map data.

  When the yellow signal or the red signal is not detected in S14, and when it is determined that the distance is not within the predetermined distance in S15, the process proceeds to S16, and it is detected whether there is a curve ahead of the vehicle. When the curve is detected, the process proceeds to S17, and it is determined whether or not the distance from the own vehicle (or the virtual position of the virtual leading vehicle) to the curve is within a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is set according to the radius of curvature of the curve. When the radius of curvature of the curve is small, by setting the predetermined distance large, the host vehicle can start deceleration from an appropriate distance before the curve. . Here, the presence of the curve and the distance from the host vehicle to the curve are detected from the map data and the white line indicating the driving lane on the road in the image recognized in S11, a guardrail, or the like.

  When the curve is not detected in S16 and when it is determined that the distance is not within the predetermined distance in S17, the process proceeds to S18, and the proximity of the preceding vehicle is detected. Here, “proximity of the preceding vehicle” means that the relative distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle is, for example, a state in which the preceding vehicle decelerates and the host vehicle (or virtual leading vehicle) is approaching the preceding vehicle. It means that it is decreasing. When the proximity of the preceding vehicle is detected, the process proceeds to S19, and it is determined whether or not the distance from the own vehicle (or the virtual position of the virtual leading vehicle) to the preceding vehicle is within a predetermined distance.

The predetermined distance is set according to the magnitude of the relative speed between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle. If the relative speed is large, the predetermined distance is set to be large enough to prevent the host vehicle from colliding with the preceding vehicle. On the other hand, when the relative speed is small, the predetermined distance is set small.
Here, the detection of the preceding vehicle and the distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle are detected by the relative distance and the relative speed detected by the laser radar device 26 after detecting the preceding vehicle from the image recognized in S11. ing.

  When the proximity of the preceding vehicle is not detected in S18, and when it is determined that the distance is not within the predetermined distance in S19, the process proceeds to S20 so that the image of the virtual leading vehicle becomes a normal running state in which the brake lamp is not turned on. (Refer to FIG. 2).

  Next, when it is determined in S13 that there is a possibility of collision with an obstacle, when it is determined in S15 that the yellow signal or red signal is within the predetermined distance, it is determined in S17 that the curve is within the predetermined distance. Or when it is determined in S19 that the preceding vehicle in close proximity is within the predetermined distance, it is a situation where the host vehicle should decelerate or decelerate ahead, so the virtual leading vehicle It is necessary to make the driver of the own vehicle recognize such a situation by turning on the brake lamp.

  Therefore, first, the process proceeds to S21 to determine whether or not the host vehicle is in a decelerating state. When it is determined in S21 that the host vehicle is in a decelerating state, the vehicle is already decelerating, and thus the process proceeds to S22, and the display timing of lighting of the virtual lamp of the virtual leading vehicle is delayed by a predetermined time.

  Next, it progresses to S23 and it is determined whether the traveling speed of the own vehicle is lower than predetermined traveling speed. If it is determined that the traveling speed of the host vehicle is lower than the predetermined traveling speed, the timing for decelerating the host vehicle may be delayed. Therefore, the process proceeds to S24, and the display timing of lighting of the virtual lamp of the virtual leading vehicle is set for a predetermined time. Just delay.

  Next, it progresses to S25 and it determines whether a driver | operator can visually recognize a detection target, ie, an obstruction, a yellow signal, a red signal, a curve, or a preceding vehicle. Here, “visible” includes a case where a part of the detection target is hidden behind the virtual leading vehicle, but the driver can recognize what the detection target is. If it is possible to visually recognize the detection target, it is considered that the driver can determine the timing at which the host vehicle decelerates and the necessary deceleration, so the process proceeds to S26, and the display timing of the lighting of the virtual leading vehicle's buke lamp is set. Delay for a predetermined time.

Next, the process proceeds to S27, where an image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed so that the virtual leading vehicle 46 comes close to the host vehicle and the brake lamp 52 of the virtual leading vehicle 46 is lit as shown in FIG.
Here, the brake lamp is lit in a different manner depending on the risk of road conditions ahead. For example, when the road condition is low, which can stop with a red light even if slowing down slowly, keep it in a normal lighting state, for example, “high road condition,” where a pedestrian jumps out. In this case, the lighting area is large and the lighting is bright. By changing the display form in this way, the driver can know the degree of danger of the road condition.

Next, the process proceeds to S28, in which the factors that caused the brake lamp to turn on, that is, the possibility of collision with an obstacle, the presence of a yellow or red signal, the presence of a curve, and the proximity of a preceding vehicle are displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the factor display 56 that the existence of the curve is a factor is displayed as an image.
For example, if there is an obstacle that the driver cannot see, the driver can see that there is an obstacle ahead by looking at this display. It can decelerate appropriately according to.

  Furthermore, it progresses to S29, and when an obstacle and a preceding vehicle exist, the image of a virtual leading vehicle is displayed so that a virtual leading vehicle may avoid them. For example, when there is an obstacle in front of the vehicle, an image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed so that the virtual leading vehicle moves sideways so as to avoid the obstacle. As described above, the virtual leading vehicle avoids the obstacle, so that the vehicle driver can easily and reliably avoid the obstacle by following the virtual leading vehicle.

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating a vehicle information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the circumference | surroundings of the driver's seat of the vehicle by which the information provision apparatus for vehicles by this embodiment is mounted. It is a flowchart which shows the basic control flow of the information provision apparatus for vehicles by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows initial setting (1) which is a monitor screen at the time of initial setting by the vehicle information provision apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows initial setting (2) which is a monitor screen at the time of initial setting by the vehicle information provision apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the actual scenery which a driver | operator recognizes through the front window glass of a vehicle (own vehicle). It is a figure which shows the scenery containing the image of the virtual leading vehicle which the driver | operator by this embodiment sees through the front window glass of a vehicle. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow when notifying a driver | operator by lighting of the brake lamp of a virtual leading vehicle that the vehicle (own vehicle) by this embodiment should be decelerated. It is a figure which shows the existence of the scenery and curve containing the image of the virtual leading vehicle which is lighting the brake lamp which the driver | operator by this embodiment looks through the front window glass of a vehicle.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vehicle Information Providing Device 2 CPU
4 DVD-ROM
6 HDD storage device 8 monitor screen 10 operation switch 12 transmission / reception device 14 GPS receiver 16 vehicle speed sensor 18 gyro sensor 20 eye camera 22 virtual image display device 24 CCD camera 26 laser radar device 28 road surface μ sensor 30 voice interactive device 32 alarm device 44 Front window 46 Virtual leading vehicle 48 Leading vehicle 50 Pedestrian 52 Brake lamp 54 Turn signal 56 Factor display

Claims (6)

An information providing device for a vehicle that guides a route by setting a travel route on which the vehicle should travel,
A leading vehicle display means for displaying an image of a virtual leading vehicle with a brake lamp in correspondence with the travel route in an actual scenery that the driver is viewing;
Based on a predetermined condition, determination means for determining whether or not the brake lamp needs to be turned on in the image of the virtual leading vehicle,
When the determination means determines that the lighting of the brake lamp is necessary, a lighting display means for lighting the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle,
Display timing changing means for changing a display timing of lighting of the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle based on a predetermined condition,
The determination means may detect when an obstacle that may cause a collision of the vehicle is detected in front of the vehicle, when a yellow signal or a red signal is detected, when a curve is detected, or when a preceding vehicle of the vehicle is detected. When proximity is detected, it is determined that lighting of the brake lamp is necessary,
When the driver can recognize the obstacle, the yellow signal, the red signal, the curve, and / or the preceding vehicle without being hidden by the virtual leading vehicle, the display timing changing means A vehicular information providing apparatus that delays the display timing of lighting of the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle from when it is hidden and cannot be recognized . The display timing changing means, when the traveling speed of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined traveling speed, vehicle information providing device according to claim 1 for delaying a display timing of lighting of the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle. The display timing changing means, the vehicle when is in the decelerating state, vehicle information providing device according to claim 1 for delaying a display timing of lighting of the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle. The lighting display means turns on the brake lamp when the determination means determines that it is necessary to turn on the brake lamp, and the leading vehicle display means makes the virtual leading vehicle closer to the vehicle. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein an image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed. Said lighting display means, depending on the risk of road condition in front of the vehicle, any one of claims 1 to 4 by changing the lighting mode of the brake lights to light the brake lamp in the image of the virtual leading vehicle 1 The vehicle information providing device according to Item. Furthermore, when the lighting of the brake lamp is determined to be the principal by the determining means, according to any one of claims 1 to 5 having an alarm means for informing the source that the determination means determines that a main driver Vehicle information providing device.

Images