JP4033081B2 - Vehicle display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle display device that displays a stereoscopic image on a head-up display using a parallax between two images.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle head-up display has been proposed as a device that allows a driver to recognize vehicle-related information such as vehicle speed and navigation information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  This apparatus includes a light source, a transmissive liquid crystal panel and a reflecting mirror provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle, and a display unit for image display provided in a front windshield.

In this apparatus, light emitted from a light source is irradiated onto a transmissive liquid crystal panel, and an image displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal panel is projected. The projected image is reflected by the reflecting mirror and formed on the inner surface of the front windshield of the vehicle. Specifically, the reflecting mirror forms an image of the transmissive liquid crystal panel as a virtual image, and forms this virtual image on the inner surface of the front windshield. Thereby, the driver | operator can visually recognize the image displayed on a front windshield.
JP-A-11-23997

  However, the image displayed on the conventional vehicle head-up display is only a two-dimensional planar image. However, in reality, the vehicle is traveling in a three-dimensional space, and the driver is driving with a sense of depth beyond the line of sight. For this reason, in the conventional two-dimensional image display, for example, it is difficult to display the right and left turn arrows of navigation in accordance with a three-dimensional road. Thus, with a head-up display that displays a two-dimensional image, it is difficult to display an image that matches the road, and it is not possible to display the image against the actual road condition or the condition of the preceding vehicle. It was.

  In such a case, if a stereoscopic image can be displayed in accordance with road conditions, that is, if a stereoscopic image that makes the driver feel the depth can be displayed, the road on which the vehicle is traveling According to the situation and the like, it becomes possible to display an image more easily understandable to the driver.

  However, when performing stereoscopic image display in this way, there may arise a problem that the driver cannot visually recognize the stereoscopic image displayed on the head-up display and cannot perform safe driving. In order to avoid such a problem, it is necessary to familiarize the driver with the stereoscopic image before starting the vehicle.

  In view of the above points, the present invention provides a display device for a vehicle that can display a stereoscopic image on a head-up display, and makes the driver accustomed to the stereoscopic image displayed on the head-up display before the vehicle starts. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the first aspect of the present invention, based on vehicle information transmitted from the detection unit (1) for detecting vehicle information for displaying a stereoscopic image on a head-up display, and the detection unit. The control unit (2) for outputting stereoscopic image data to be displayed on the head-up display, the right-eye image display unit (24) for displaying the stereoscopic image data output from the control unit, and the left A display device for a vehicle having a display unit (3) that outputs from the image display unit for eyes (25) and displays a stereoscopic image on a head-up display, wherein the detection unit starts and stops an ignition switch of the vehicle Vehicle start / stop detection means (5) for detecting the vehicle, seat detection means (6) for detecting whether the driver is seated on the seat provided in the passenger compartment, and the seating on the seat. Or a line of sight detection means (7) for detecting the position of the person's line of sight, and when the vehicle start / stop detection means detects the start of the ignition switch, the control section When the driver's sitting is detected, the head-up display provided in the display unit is displayed on the head-up display provided on the display unit based on at least one of the eyes detecting means that the driver's eyes are in the image display direction. It is characterized by displaying images.

  In this way, the right-eye image and the left-eye image are output from the right-eye image display unit (24) and the left-eye image display unit (25), respectively, and the parallax between the two images is used. Thus, a stereoscopic image can be displayed on the head-up display. Accordingly, it is possible to display a three-dimensional image with a depth on the head-up display, such as a navigation display in accordance with the road conditions ahead of the vehicle and a mark of the preceding vehicle to follow.

  Further, in the vehicle display device capable of displaying such a stereoscopic image, when the vehicle start / stop detection means (5) detects the start of the ignition switch, when the seat detection means (6) detects the driver's seat, A stereoscopic image for demonstration is displayed at any timing when the line of sight detection means (7) detects the driver's line of sight. Thereby, the driver can be made accustomed to the stereoscopic image before the vehicle starts. Therefore, the driver can recognize the stereoscopic image displayed on the head-up display while driving the vehicle and can drive.

In the invention according to claim 2, the detection unit includes vehicle speed detection means (8) for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle, and gear position detection means (9) for detecting the position of the shift lever of the gear, The control unit stops displaying the demonstration stereoscopic image when either the vehicle speed detection unit detects the occurrence of the vehicle speed or when the gear position detection unit detects a change in the gear position. It is characterized by becoming.

In this way, the control unit stops displaying the demonstration stereoscopic image when either the vehicle speed is generated or the gear position is changed, that is, when the vehicle is in a traveling state. Thereby, it becomes possible to display a stereoscopic image related to vehicle information such as vehicle speed and navigation information on the head-up display.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the display of the stereoscopic image for demonstration is stopped after a predetermined time after the demonstration stereoscopic image is displayed.

  In this way, the control unit can also stop displaying the demonstration stereoscopic image after a predetermined time, and thereafter display the stereoscopic image indicating vehicle information such as vehicle speed and navigation information on the head-up display. be able to.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle display device according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle display device includes a detection unit 1, a control unit 2, a display unit 3, and a speaker 4.

  The detection unit 1 transmits vehicle information for displaying a stereoscopic image on a head-up display to the control unit 2, and includes a switch, a camera, sensors 5 to 18, and a personal computer 19.

  The switches, cameras, sensors 5 to 18 and personal computer 19 provided in the detection unit 1 will be described below. The ignition switch 5 is a switch for controlling start or stop of the engine. The seat seating sensor 6 monitors whether the driver is seated on a seat provided in the passenger compartment, and outputs a signal when detecting that the driver is seated on the seat. The line-of-sight monitoring camera 7 monitors the position of the line of sight of the driver sitting on the seat in the passenger compartment. The vehicle speed sensor 8 detects the speed of the vehicle, that is, the vehicle speed. The gear position detection sensor 9 detects the position of the gear shift lever.

  The ignition switch 5 is the vehicle start / stop detection means in the present invention, the seat seating sensor 6 is the seating detection means in the present invention, the eye monitoring camera 7 is the eye detection means in the present invention, and the vehicle speed sensor 8 is the vehicle speed detection means in the present invention. The gear position detection sensor 9 corresponds to the gear position detection means in the present invention.

  These signals from the ignition switch 5, the seat seating sensor 6, the eye monitoring camera 7, the vehicle speed sensor 8, and the gear position detection sensor 9 are used to start display of a stereoscopic image for demonstration to familiarize the driver before starting the vehicle. It is used for stopping. Specifically, when any one of the ignition switch 5, the seat seating sensor 6, and the eye monitoring camera 7 is turned on and the signal is transmitted to the control unit 2, the driver is used to get used to the vehicle before starting the vehicle. A stereoscopic image is displayed on the head-up display. In addition, when one of the vehicle speed sensor 8 and the gear position detection sensor 9 is turned on and the signal is transmitted to the control unit 2, the display of the stereoscopic image for making the driver get used to the vehicle stops. ing.

  The solar radiation sensor 10 detects the brightness of the passenger compartment. The light switch 11 displays the headlight of the vehicle. The solar radiation sensor 10 and the lighting switch 11 are used for adjusting the brightness of the stereoscopic image display. For example, when the lighting switch 11 is on, it is considered that the outside is dark, so the stereoscopic image is displayed brightly.

  The navigation system 12 uses a control unit to display a signal for causing the head-up display to display a straight or right / left turn arrow in accordance with a road on which the vehicle is traveling, based on map data recorded on a built-in storage medium such as a DVD. 2 is transmitted. The outside monitoring camera 13 shoots the front of the vehicle by irradiating the front of the vehicle with infrared rays at night. The captured image of the front of the vehicle is displayed on a head-up display. The display setting switch 14 selects display or non-display of a stereoscopic image. The detection sensor 15 is provided in the steering and checks the health condition of the driver. Specifically, when the driver holds the steering wheel, light is emitted from the light source provided in the detection sensor 15 to the driver's hand. Then, when the sensing sensor 15 receives the light reflected from the driver's hand, for example, the driver's pulse is measured, and the measurement result is transmitted to the control unit 2.

  The preceding vehicle follow-up ECU 16 captures the front of the vehicle with a camera provided in the vehicle, and performs a calculation for following the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle. Specifically, the preceding vehicle follow-up ECU 16 detects the preceding vehicle that follows the image in front of the vehicle taken by the camera. Then, the preceding vehicle follow-up ECU 16 performs an operation so that the preceding vehicle and a stereoscopic image having a frame shape, for example, are displayed in an overlapping manner, and transmits a signal of the operation result to the control unit 2. The engine ECU 17 performs vehicle engine control, that is, fuel injection control, ignition timing control, idle speed control, and the like, and transmits a control result signal to the control unit 2. The fuel sensor 18 monitors the fuel remaining in the vehicle.

  The navigation system 12, the outside surveillance camera 13, the detection sensor 15, the preceding vehicle following ECU 16, the engine ECU 17, the fuel sensor 18, and the vehicle speed sensor 8 are connected by these switches, cameras, sensors 8, 12, 13, 15 to 18. It is used to display detected vehicle information on a head-up display.

  The personal computer 19 is an input means for recording a program for displaying a stereoscopic image, stereoscopic image data, and the like in the memory unit 21. The personal computer 19 can be freely detached from the control unit 2.

  The detection unit 1 has such a configuration, and the signals of the switches, cameras, and sensors 5 to 19 of the detection unit 1 described above are transmitted to the input port unit 20 of the control unit 2.

  The control unit 2 controls the display of a stereoscopic image, and includes an input port unit 20, a memory unit 21, a central processing unit 22, and a control output port unit 23.

  The input port unit 20 transmits a signal related to the vehicle information input from the detection unit 1 to the central processing unit 22. Data related to each signal input to the input port unit 20 is also transmitted to and received from the memory unit 21.

  The memory unit 21 displays a program for displaying a stereoscopic image, data of a stereoscopic image displayed on the head-up display during traveling of the vehicle, a program for causing the driver to recognize the stereoscopic image before starting the vehicle, and a stereoscopic image. In addition, data of sound output from the speaker 4 is recorded.

  The contents recorded in the memory unit 21 can be freely rewritten by the personal computer 19 provided in the detection unit 1. Then, the memory unit 21 transmits a program for displaying a stereoscopic image to the central processing unit 22 based on a signal related to the vehicle input from the input port unit 20.

  The central processing unit 22 receives a vehicle-related signal input from the detection unit 1 and a stereoscopic image display program and stereoscopic image data from the memory unit 21, and displays them on the head-up display based on these signals. The stereoscopic image to be made is determined, and the image data is output. The image data output from the central processing unit 22 is transmitted to the control output port unit 23.

  The control output port unit 23 transmits the determination result of the central processing unit 22 to the display unit 3 and the speaker 4. Not only the display unit 3 and the speaker 4 described above, but also other output means can be connected to the control output port unit 23.

  The control unit 2 is configured as described above and is connected to an operation panel (not shown). The driver can freely perform settings such as selecting a stereoscopic image to be displayed on the head-up display by operating the operation panel.

  The display unit 3 displays a stereoscopic image on the head-up display. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a head-up display of the display unit 3. As shown in this figure, the display unit 3 includes a right-eye image display unit 24, a left-eye image display unit 25, and a transmissive screen 26.

  The right-eye and left-eye image display units 24 and 25 display images for the right eye and the left eye. The images output from the image display units 24 and 25 are irradiated on the transmissive screen 26. In the present embodiment, separate right-eye and left-eye image display units 24 and 25 are used, but image display capable of displaying both right-eye and left-eye images with a single image display unit. An apparatus may be used. For example, a projector is used for the right-eye and left-eye image display units 24 and 25.

  The transmissive screen 26 displays the right-eye and left-eye images displayed from the right-eye and left-eye image display units 24 and 25 on the head-up display. FIG. 3 is a lens configuration diagram of the transmissive screen 26. As shown in this figure, the transmission screen 26 includes a prism sheet 28, a Fresnel lens 29, a cylindrical Fresnel lens 30, and a microlens array 31.

  The prism sheet 28 reflects the light emitted from the right-eye and left-eye image display units 24 and 25 in order to display the images from the right-eye and left-eye image display units 24 and 25 on the front windshield 27. It bends the path. The light path is bent by the inclination 28a of the prism sheet 28 shown in FIG.

  The Fresnel lens 29 and the cylindrical Fresnel lens 30 condense light emitted from the prism sheet 28 in the direction of the driver's viewing zone. In the present embodiment, the light emitted from the prism sheet 28 passes through the lens portion 29 a of the Fresnel lens 29 and is condensed by passing through the concavo-convex shape 30 a of the cylindrical Fresnel lens 30.

  The micro lens array 31 spreads and irradiates light that has passed through the Fresnel lens 29 and the cylindrical Fresnel lens 30. This is realized by the micro lens 31a provided in the micro lens array 31 being a convex mirror. Therefore, even if the driver's head moves and the position of the eyes moves, the driver can see the stereoscopic image. The light exiting the microlens array 31 is reflected by the front windshield 27 so that the driver's eyes, that is, the right eye image enters the right eye and the left eye image enters the left eye.

  The transmissive screen 26 is configured to have such a lens configuration, so that the light emitted from the right-eye and left-eye image display units 24 and 25 can be irradiated to the front windshield 27. Note that the transmission screen 26 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3 and may be formed of other lenses.

  The speaker 4 emits sound in accordance with a stereoscopic image displayed on the head-up display. When a stereoscopic image is displayed, a realistic stereoscopic image can be displayed by outputting sound from the speaker 4 provided in the passenger compartment in accordance with the stereoscopic image to be displayed. Can be made easier to recognize.

  The principle of the stereoscopic image display of the vehicle display device having such a configuration will be described. When displaying a stereoscopic image, first, right-eye and left-eye images are output from the right-eye and left-eye image display units 24 and 25, respectively. Those images are projected onto the transmission screen 26 and formed on the transmission screen 26. Then, each image that has passed through the transmission screen 26 is irradiated and reflected on the front windshield 27 and enters both eyes of the driver.

  Specifically, each image formed on the transmissive screen 26 is reflected on the inner surface of the front windshield 27, the right eye image is the driver's right eye, and the left eye image is the driver's right eye. Enter the left eye. For this reason, it seems to the driver that a virtual image of each image is formed at the parallax image position shown in FIG. 2 outside the front windshield 27. And a driver | operator visually recognizes a stereo image in the stereo image visual recognition position shown in FIG. 2 by the parallax of each image in a parallax image position.

  Therefore, the driver can recognize a stereoscopic image in which a depth is felt in the stereoscopic image viewing area. In this way, by using the parallax between the right-eye image and the left-eye image, the driver can visually recognize the image displayed on the head-up display in a three-dimensional manner.

  Note that a two-dimensional image can be displayed by eliminating the parallax between the right-eye image and the left-eye image at the parallax image position.

  Next, the stereoscopic image display process performed by the control unit 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process is executed by a program recorded in the memory unit 21, that is, a demonstration stereoscopic image display program for making the driver accustomed to the stereoscopic image. If display of a stereoscopic image for demonstration before starting the vehicle is not selected by an operation panel (not shown), the stereoscopic image display process is not executed.

  First, the control unit 2 starts a stereoscopic image display process by supplying electric power from a battery provided in the vehicle. In step 100, it is determined whether or not the ignition switch 5 is turned on. Then, in the case of YES, the process proceeds to step 110, and in the case of NO, the control unit 2 ends the process shown in the flowchart.

  In step 110, a stereoscopic image for making the driver familiar with the stereoscopic image is displayed on the head-up display. As a stereoscopic image for demonstration, for example, a sphere flying toward the driver can be considered. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a sphere flying toward the driver. By displaying such a stereoscopic image, the driver can be made accustomed to the stereoscopic image before starting the vehicle. At this time, sound may be emitted from the speaker 4 in accordance with the flying sphere.

  In step 120, it is determined whether or not a vehicle speed has occurred. If YES, the process proceeds to step 130. That is, when the vehicle starts, it is necessary to display a stereoscopic image related to vehicle information such as vehicle speed and navigation information, instead of displaying a stereoscopic image for demonstration displayed on the head-up display. For this reason, if “YES” in this step, the process proceeds to a step 130 to stop the image display for causing the driver to recognize the stereoscopic display. Then, the control unit 2 ends the stereoscopic image display process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 120 that the vehicle speed has not occurred, the process proceeds to step 140. In step 140, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the stereoscopic image was displayed on the head-up display. That is, when the predetermined time has elapsed, it is assumed that the driver has become accustomed to the stereoscopic image. If YES, the process proceeds to step 130. If NO, the process returns to step 120.

  In step 140, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 1 minute has elapsed since the stereoscopic image was displayed on the head-up display. Here, the predetermined time after the stereoscopic image is displayed is a predetermined time, but the time for displaying the stereoscopic image can be freely changed by the driver operating an operation panel (not shown).

  Thus, by displaying a stereoscopic image on the head-up display before the vehicle starts, the driver can visually recognize the stereoscopic image and get used to the stereoscopic image. As a result, information on a normal stereoscopic image displayed on the head-up display during traveling of the vehicle, such as a vehicle speed and navigation information, and a stereoscopic image in the shape of a frame displayed overlapping the preceding vehicle that is following, etc. It can be easily recognized.

  When the flowchart for familiarizing the driver with the stereoscopic image before starting the vehicle is finished, a normal display related to the vehicle, such as vehicle speed and navigation information, is displayed as a stereoscopic image on the head-up display. Yes. Since the driver is accustomed to the stereoscopic image before starting the vehicle, the driver can fully recognize the display of the stereoscopic image while the vehicle is running and drive.

(Other embodiments)
The demonstration stereoscopic image may be a vehicle, a vehicle symbol mark, a schedule, mail, news, or the like. In addition, a drive guide such as traffic jams may be displayed on the head-up display. Such a stereoscopic image can be freely selected by the driver operating an operation panel (not shown).

  In addition, the image display device that displays a stereoscopic image for allowing the driver to recognize a stereoscopic image before starting the vehicle is not limited to the above-described head-up display, and a known stereoscopic image display device may be used.

  The switches, cameras, and sensors 5 to 18 described in the first embodiment are already provided in the vehicle. Further, other signal input means not included in the detection unit 1 of the first embodiment can be connected to the control unit 2 and a stereoscopic image can be displayed based on those signals. .

  In step 100 shown in the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not the ignition switch 5 is turned on. In this step 100, whether or not the driver is seated on the seat, the driver's eyes are imaged. It is also determined whether or not the image forming direction is directed. That is, in step 100, whether the ignition switch 5 is turned on, whether the driver is seated on the seat, or whether the driver's eyes are facing the image forming direction of the image. It is determined based on this.

  In step 120 shown in the first embodiment, it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed has occurred, but it is also determined whether or not the gear is operated. Accordingly, in step 120, it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed has occurred and whether or not the gear has been operated.

It is a block block diagram of the display apparatus for vehicles which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic of the head-up display of the display part shown in FIG. It is a lens block diagram of the transmissive screen shown in FIG. It is a flowchart showing the content of the stereoscopic image display which the control part of FIG. 1 performs. It is the figure which showed an example of the stereo image displayed on the display part shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Detection part, 2 ... Control part, 3 ... Display part, 4 ... Speaker, 20 ... Input port part,
21 ... Memory unit, 22 ... Central processing unit, 23 ... Control output port unit,
24 ... right-eye image display unit, 25 ... left-eye image display unit, 26 ... transparent screen,
27 ... Front windshield.

Claims (3)

A detection unit (1) for detecting vehicle information for displaying a stereoscopic image on a head-up display;
Based on the vehicle information transmitted from the detection unit, a control unit (2) that outputs data of the stereoscopic image to be displayed on the head-up display;
The stereoscopic image data output from the control unit is output from the right-eye image display unit (24) and the left-eye image display unit (25) that perform image display, and the head-up display displays the stereoscopic image. A vehicle display device having a display unit (3) for displaying
The detection unit includes vehicle start / stop detection means (5) for detecting start or stop of an ignition switch of the vehicle, and seating detection means (6) for detecting whether the driver is seated on a seat provided in a passenger compartment. ) And a line of sight detection means (7) for detecting the position of the line of sight of the driver seated on the seat,
When the vehicle start / stop detection means detects the start of an ignition switch, and when the seating detection means detects a driver's seating, the control unit detects that the driver's eye is in the image display direction. A display device for a vehicle, wherein a stereoscopic image for demonstration is displayed on the head-up display provided in the display unit based on at least one when it is detected. The detection unit includes vehicle speed detection means (8) for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle and gear position detection means (9) for detecting the position of a gear shift lever.
The control unit displays a stereoscopic image for demonstration when either the vehicle speed detection unit detects the occurrence of a vehicle speed or when the gear position detection unit detects a change in the position of the gear. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle information is displayed after the vehicle is stopped. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to stop displaying the demonstration stereoscopic image a predetermined time after the demonstration stereoscopic image is displayed. Display device.

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