JP4697400B2 - Vehicle display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle display device that displays a running road shape on a display means.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a head-up display device that displays a virtual image by projecting light emitted from a display unit (display unit) onto a vehicle windshield (projection member) as a display image is known as a vehicle display device (for example, See Patent Document 1 below). The display unit is, for example, a housing in which a display made of a liquid crystal display or the like and a reflecting mirror that reflects the display image emitted from the display are housed in a dashboard of a vehicle. Is. The display image projected by the display unit is reflected toward the driver's viewpoint by the windshield, and the virtual image is displayed. According to this configuration, it is possible to display various information such as vehicle information such as vehicle speed and engine speed and navigation information on the windshield as the virtual image.
JP 11-310055 A

Moreover, what displays the shape of the front runway seen from the viewpoint of a vehicle driver in the above-mentioned display apparatus for vehicles is known (for example, refer patent document 2 below). According to such a display device for a vehicle, the driver can display the runway shape displayed even when it is difficult to see the actual runway shape due to weather conditions, a curve of the runway, surrounding vehicles, buildings, and the like. From this, the actual shape of the runway can be grasped.
JP 2000-211142 A

However, in the vehicle display device described in Patent Document 2, although it is possible to effectively express the road shape such as the curve curve and the road width, the road shape is not three-dimensionally expressed as a display image. There was a problem that the difference in elevation of the runway was difficult to understand. In order to solve this problem, the applicant of the present application disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-306559, a display means for displaying a running road shape based on map information composed of three-dimensional information stored in a map information storage means, Position detecting means for detecting a current position; and control means for displaying on the display means a road shape on the front side of the vehicle based on the current position data of the vehicle detected by the position detecting means and the map information; Has been proposed. By the way, when the vehicle travels on the road that is shaded on a mountain road or the like at low temperatures after snowfall using such a vehicle display device in winter, the road may be frozen. Since the tires of the vehicle are likely to slip, the risk of a slip accident is increased, and there remains room for further improvement as a function to assist the driver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle display device that can support a safe driving operation for a driver in order to cope with the above-described problems.

The present invention relates to a display means for displaying a runway shape based on map information consisting of three-dimensional information stored in a map information storage means, a position detection means for detecting the current position of a vehicle, and detected by the position detection means. Control means for causing the display means to display a traveling road shape on the front side of the vehicle based on the current position data of the vehicle and the map information, and a display device for the vehicle on the front side of the vehicle. comprising imaging means for imaging a scene, and a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature around the vehicle at least, on the map information contains gradient data indicating gradients of road, the control means, wherein dark the display color according to the gradient with the display color of the road shape and up slope of the runway when displaying the road shape as the downward slope of the runway to the different increase In addition, in the runway shape to be displayed on the display unit based on the imaging data by the imaging unit and the temperature data detected by the temperature detection unit, a portion that is likely to freeze is a color different from the display color. It is displayed by.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the control means blinks and displays the portion that may be frozen in a color different from the display color.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the initial objective can be achieved and the display apparatus for vehicles which can support a safe driving operation with respect to a driver | operator can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an example in which the vehicle display device of the present invention is applied to a vehicle head-up display device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a display unit, which is disposed in the dashboard of the vehicle A. The display image L projected by the display unit 1 is reflected in the direction of the viewpoint D of the driver by the windshield W that has been subjected to the combiner process, and is displayed as a virtual image V. The driver can observe the virtual image V superimposed on the landscape. In addition, the vehicle A is equipped with an image pickup means C for picking up an outside scene (outside the vehicle) through the windshield W.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a display (display means), and the display 2 comprises a TFT type liquid crystal display element and a backlight means. Reference numeral 3 denotes a circuit board, and the display 2 is mounted on the circuit board 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a reflecting mirror. The reflecting mirror 4 reflects the display image L emitted from the display 2 toward the windshield W. The reflecting surface 4a of the reflecting mirror 4 is concave, and the display image L from the display 2 can be enlarged and projected onto the windshield W. Reference numeral 5 denotes a holding member that holds the reflecting mirror 4, and the reflecting mirror 4 is bonded to the holding member 5 with a double-sided adhesive tape or the like. The display 2 is not limited to the configuration including the liquid crystal display element, and may be configured to include an organic EL panel that is a self-luminous display element, for example.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a housing made of a light-shielding synthetic resin formed in a substantially box shape, for example, and the display 2, the circuit board 3, the reflecting mirror 4 and the like are accommodated in the housing 6. Further, the housing 6 is provided with an opening 6a that opens an upper portion (front glass W side) of the position where the reflecting mirror 4 is disposed. The housing 6 is provided with a translucent cover 7 made of a translucent synthetic resin material (for example, acrylic resin) so as to close the opening 6a. The light-shielding cover 7 is formed in a substantially curved shape, and allows the display image L to pass to the windshield W side. In FIG. 1, 6 b is a light shielding wall extending toward the cavity of the housing 6, and this light shielding wall 6 b is a phenomenon in which external light such as sunlight is incident on the display 2 and the virtual image V becomes difficult to see ( It has a function to prevent washout).

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the vehicle head-up display device. The vehicle head-up display device is mounted on a vehicle A, and includes a speed sensor (vehicle speed detection means) 10, a GPS (Global Positioning System) device 11, a gyro sensor 12, a storage medium (map information storage means) 13, The operation unit 14, the imaging unit C, the temperature sensor (temperature detection unit) 15, the control unit 16, the display drive circuit 17, and the display 2 are mainly configured.

  The speed sensor 10 is for detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle A, and outputs a signal corresponding to the vehicle speed to the control means 16.

  The GPS device 11 is a device for obtaining the latitude and longitude of the vehicle position (the current position of the vehicle A), and includes GPS reception antennas and amplification circuits, and is position information from an artificial satellite received by the reception antenna. A signal obtained by amplifying the transmission radio wave as a high frequency signal is output to the control means 16.

  The gyro sensor 12 is for detecting the vehicle body direction (traveling direction) of the vehicle A, and outputs a signal corresponding to the direction change of the vehicle A to the control means 16.

The storage medium 13 is configured by a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard disk, or the like, and stores digital map data (map information) composed of map data and three-dimensional coordinate information (three-dimensional information) for indicating the shape of the runway. The digital map data is used when a drawing process (to be described later) by the control means 16 is performed. The digital map data includes runway shape data indicating the shape of the runway, height data indicating the height of the runway at a predetermined position, tilt data indicating the right and left (width direction) slope of the runway, and before and after the runway. Gradient data indicating an inclination (gradient) in the (longitudinal direction), curvature data indicating the curvature of the running road, and the like .

  The operation means 14 has a plurality of operation units such as a selection switch and a determination switch, and displays a display form or display setting of a runway shape image (drawing processing of each three-dimensional coordinate information of the runway) described later. It is for switching. In addition, as the display setting, the driver can select display or non-display of the road shape image, or display each setting value when the road shape image is displayed by operating the operation unit 14. The contents displayed by the device 2 can be arbitrarily set.

  The imaging means C can be a camera having a CCD or CMOS imaging device or a night vision camera, and is provided so as to be able to capture the front side of the vehicle A. Output. In this case, the imaging means C is disposed in the vehicle A between the windshield W and the driver, and the front side region (field-of-view range region) of the vehicle A that can be viewed by the driver and the field-of-view range. A region outside the visual field range that is difficult for the driver to visually observe, which is ahead of the region, is provided so as to be able to image. Note that the imaging means C can be attached not to the inside of the vehicle A but outside the vehicle A, for example, at the front end side of the vehicle A.

  The temperature sensor 15 can be applied to a thermistor, a thermocouple, or the like, and detects a temperature outside (ambient) the vehicle A, and outputs a signal corresponding to the temperature to the control means 16. The temperature sensor 15 is disposed at a location that is not affected by heat generated from the engine or the like in the vehicle A. In the case of the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 15 is disposed on the roof of the vehicle A.

  As the control means 16, a microcomputer can be applied, a ROM storing a program for processing operation, a RAM for temporarily storing calculation values, an EEPROM for storing various preset values, and the program being executed. It is mainly composed of a CPU and an input / output interface circuit. The input / output interface circuit is electrically connected to a speed sensor 10, a GPS device 11, a gyro sensor 12, a storage medium 13, an operation unit 14, an imaging unit C, a temperature sensor 15, and a display drive circuit 17 to be described later. It is a circuit for making a relationship. The control means 16 is a display drive to be described later based on the input from each mechanism (speed sensor 10, GPS device 11, gyro sensor 12, storage medium 13, operation means 14, imaging means C, temperature sensor 15) and the program. A control signal is output to the circuit 17 to prompt a desired display on the display 2.

  The display drive circuit 17 is a circuit for supplying a display signal to the display device 2 and is configured by an IC or an LSI. The display drive circuit 17 drives and controls the display 2 so as to perform a predetermined display based on a signal from the control means 16.

  The display 2 includes a TFT liquid crystal display element and backlight means, and is driven and controlled by the display drive circuit 17 so as to emit a display image L. The display device 2 projects a desired display form such as the runway shape image on the windshield W as a display image L by the display drive circuit 17.

  With the above configuration, the control unit 16 calculates the vehicle position coordinates and the vehicle direction based on the signal of the position detection unit 18 including the speed sensor 10, the GPS device 11, and the gyro sensor 12. The running path shape corresponding to the side (traveling direction side) can be displayed on the display device 2 via the display drive circuit 17 based on the digital map data stored in the storage medium 13. Further, the control means 16 receives the image data relating to the scenery in front of the vehicle by the image pickup means C and the temperature data from the temperature sensor 15, performs a predetermined calculation process by the program, and freezes the runway shape. It is possible to display on the display device 2 via the display drive circuit 17 as a warning display portion a portion of the road where there is a risk of such a road (a road surface described later).

  Next, drawing of the display image L by the control means 16 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 shows processing by the control means 16. FIG. 5 shows an example of a display screen that is projected and displayed on the surface of the windshield W by the display unit 1 with the traveling road shape on the front side (traveling direction side) of the vehicle A as a display image L.

  The control means 16 receives the signal from the position detection means 18 and the imaging information from the imaging means C (step S1). At this time, the control unit 16 extracts and reads the image in the field-of-view range region and the image in the region outside the field-of-view range in the imaging information from the imaging unit C.

  Next, the control means 16 calculates the vehicle position coordinates and the traveling direction of the vehicle A based on the signal from the position detection means 18 input in step S1 (step S2). In this case, the control means 16 calculates vehicle position coordinates by the GPS device 11, the speed sensor 10, and the gyro sensor 12. For example, the control means 16 can calculate the vehicle position coordinates of the vehicle A by mapping the position data of the vehicle A that changes with time and the map data using the GPS device 11. Further, the control means 16 determines the traveling direction (movement width) of the vehicle A and the inclination direction of the vehicle body based on signals from the speed sensor 10 and the gyro sensor 12.

  Next, the control means 16 sets viewpoint coordinates according to the vehicle position coordinates, and sets the display direction based on the traveling direction of the vehicle A (step S3). In this case, the viewpoint coordinates are set, for example, at a position 15 meters higher than the vehicle position coordinates, and the display direction is set in the same direction as the traveling direction of the vehicle A.

  Next, the control means 16 performs the drawing process of the running road shape by calculating the three-dimensional coordinate information selected based on the viewpoint coordinates and the display direction in the digital map data stored in the storage medium 13 (step S4). ). In this case, for example, three-dimensional coordinate information within 800 meters is calculated on the display direction side from the viewpoint coordinates, and a drawing process is performed so that the runway shape is displayed. Further, the control means 16 captures the imaging data corresponding to the above-described runway shape within 800 meters and the temperature data from the temperature sensor 15 among the images in the visual field range and the outside area extracted from the imaging information in step S1. Based on the above, predetermined calculation processing is performed by the program (step S5), a portion (running road portion) that may be frozen is estimated, and drawing processing is performed so that the running road portion is displayed in red. In addition, the runway part said here means the individual runway surface mentioned later set according to the grade of the runway, for example, the brightness of the said imaging data corresponding to the predetermined said runway surface is high When the road surface is in a state where almost all of the road surface is covered with snow and the temperature value based on the temperature data is a predetermined temperature or lower (for example, 0 degrees or lower), the predetermined road surface may be frozen. This road surface is displayed in red as the warning display section.

  Further, the control means 16 outputs to the display drive circuit 17 a signal that prompts the display device 2 to display the drawn runway shape and the runway portion that may be frozen as a runway shape image (step S6).

  By repeating the process described above, the shape of the runway based on the viewpoint coordinates and the three-dimensional coordinate information updated each time the vehicle A travels and the runway portion that may freeze may be displayed on the windshield W as a display image L. Can be projected. For example, a road shape R including a road surface R51, which will be described later, which is a freezing estimation area as shown in FIG.

  Here, the control means 16 can display the runway shape R in the display color set according to the grade of the gradient when performing the drawing process in step S4. For example, in the runway shape R, the downward slope portion R1 is displayed in yellow, and the greater the slope is, the darker yellow is displayed. Further, the upward gradient portion R2 is displayed in blue, and the larger the gradient is, the darker blue is displayed. In this case, the control means 16 passes through a predetermined position (predetermined longitude / latitude) of the digital map data and is not related to the contour (shoulder line) R3 of the track shape R (in the width direction of the track shape R in FIG. 5). Line) is displayed as the auxiliary line R4. The control means 16 extracts gradient data for each road surface R5 between the auxiliary lines R4, and draws a road shape R formed by coloring a display color corresponding to the degree of the gradient for each road surface R5. Further, in this case, the control means 16 draws the running road shape R by coloring the running road surface R5 portion having almost no gradient in white, and causes the display 2 to project and display it. As described above, the control means 16 is configured to display each running road surface R5 in a display color that is usually yellow, blue shades or white according to the degree of the gradient. In FIG. 5, when it is estimated that the road surface R51 that is the downward slope portion R1 is a portion that may be frozen, the warning is displayed in red instead of yellow.

  Accordingly, by visually recognizing the display color of the runway shape R and the degree of shading thereof, the driver can instantly grasp whether the runway is uphill or downhill, or the degree of gradient. At the same time, the driver highlights the runway portion (runway surface R51) in the runway shape R in a color different from the display color. It is possible to instantly know that there is a slippery road surface, which makes it possible to prevent slip accidents that are particularly likely to occur on road surfaces corresponding to the positions of mountain roads and bridges or on shady road surfaces. A highly safe head-up display device for a vehicle can be provided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the control means 16 receives the imaging data from the imaging means C and the temperature data from the temperature sensor 15, and detects a portion where the vehicle may slip due to road surface freezing in the road shape R. For example, the control means 16 receives signals from inter-vehicle communication information, road traffic information (VICS information), near-miss information, etc., and almost all of the predetermined running road surface R5 is controlled. When it is estimated that is covered with snow (pressed snow state), the running road surface R5 corresponding to the compressed snow state may be displayed in red as a portion (running road surface R51) that may be slipped. Good.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the control means 16 performs control for highlighting a portion where the vehicle may slip due to road surface freezing in the road shape R. For example, the control means 16 may perform inter-vehicle communication information or the like. When it is estimated that almost all of the predetermined road surface R5 is in a puddle state or in a state where fuel such as gasoline or light oil adheres, the corresponding puddle portion or fuel adhering portion corresponds. The predetermined running road surface R5 may be displayed in red as a portion (running road surface R51) that may be slipped.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the runway portion (running road surface R51) that may be frozen is colored and displayed in red as a warning display portion. For example, the runway portion (runway surface R51) that may freeze ) May be displayed blinking in red. Thus, by displaying the running road surface R51 in a blinking manner, it is possible to more reliably notify the driver of the running road location that may freeze in the traveling direction of the vehicle A.

  In the present embodiment, the display image L from the display device 2 is projected onto the windshield W. However, the projection member in the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a windshield of a vehicle. You may project the display image from a display device on the combiner arrange | positioned on the surface or the dashboard of a vehicle.

  Further, instead of the above-described head-up display system, a display unit made of, for example, an organic EL panel or a liquid crystal panel may be adopted, and the driver may directly view the display on the display unit.

  Note that instead of the storage medium 13 of each of the embodiments described above, for example, a server provided outside the vehicle as a storage medium may be applied, and digital map data stored in the server may be downloaded as appropriate by wireless communication.

It is sectional drawing of the display unit of the head-up display apparatus for vehicles by embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the head-up display apparatus for vehicles by the embodiment. It is a block diagram of the head up display device for vehicles by the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the process sequence of the head-up display apparatus for vehicles by the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the display image of the head-up display apparatus for vehicles by the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

2 Display (display means)
13 Storage medium (map information storage means)
16 Control means 18 Position detection means A Vehicle L Display image R Road shape R3 Road shoulder line R4 Auxiliary line R5, R51 Road surface

Claims (2)

Display means for displaying the road shape based on the map information consisting of the three-dimensional information stored in the map information storage means, position detection means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, and the vehicle detected by the position detection means. Control means for displaying on the display means the shape of the road ahead of the vehicle based on current position data and the map information, and a vehicle display device comprising:
An image pickup means for picking up a scene in front of the vehicle; and a temperature detection means for detecting a temperature around the vehicle;
The map information includes gradient data indicating the gradient of the runway,
The control means makes the display color of the runway shape different between the ascending slope of the running road and the descending slope of the running road when the running road shape is displayed, and the display color becomes darker as the gradient increases. In addition, in the runway shape to be displayed on the display unit based on the imaging data by the imaging unit and the temperature data detected by the temperature detection unit, a portion that is likely to freeze is a color different from the display color. The display apparatus for vehicles characterized by displaying by. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the control means causes the portion that is likely to freeze to blink in a color different from the display color.

Images