JP6623910B2 - Display device for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle.

  Patent Literature 1 discloses an in-vehicle apparatus provided with a display unit attached to a front windshield and notifying various people to people around a vehicle. When the display unit is driven, the display content of the display unit becomes visible from outside the vehicle.

JP-A-2015-174541

  By the way, in the configuration in which various information to be notified to the people around the vehicle during the automatic driving of the vehicle is displayed in a transparent window, the display is provided in the field of view of the occupant in the vehicle cabin, so that the occupant may feel troublesome. is there. In other words, there is room for improvement in suppressing the occupant from feeling annoying during automatic driving of the vehicle.

  In consideration of the above facts, the present invention conveys information about the vehicle to the target object during automatic driving of the vehicle and allows the occupant to compare the various information to be notified to the target object around the vehicle in a transparent window. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device for a vehicle, which can suppress the user from feeling troublesome.

The vehicle display device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a transparent window provided in a vehicle capable of automatic driving, and a light provided in a vehicle interior side of the window to control light transmitted through the window. A light control member that switches between a transparent state and an opaque state of the window by illuminating, and a display unit that is provided outside the vehicle compartment or on the window relative to the window and displays information indicating a state of the vehicle in the window, detecting means for detecting the window facing the object, the automatic driving state of the vehicle, when the object is detected by the detection means, the light control member of only the target side in the vehicle dimming to the window and an opaque state, and said the display unit have the line control to display the information on the vehicle exterior side of the window, the target object by said detecting means When not detected, and a control means for the light control member dimming to perform control of the window and the transparent state of the object side in the vehicle.

  In the vehicle display device according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the automatic driving state of the vehicle, when the detection unit detects a target object (a person, another vehicle, or the like) facing the window, the control unit operates. The light control member is controlled to make the window opaque. Further, the control means controls the display means to display information outside the vehicle compartment of the window. The information includes, for example, information on the driving state of the vehicle such as “during automatic driving”.

  The dimming member is provided on the vehicle interior side of the window, and the display means is provided on the vehicle interior side of the window. For this reason, even if the dimming member makes the window opaque, the information can be displayed outside the vehicle cabin by the display means. Further, when the occupant in the vehicle interior views the window, the window is opaque and the information is displayed outside the vehicle interior of the window, so that the occupant does not visually recognize the information of the window. As a result, compared to a configuration in which various information to be notified to the target object around the vehicle is displayed in a transparent window, the information of the vehicle is transmitted to the target object during automatic driving of the vehicle and the occupant feels less troublesome can do.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the vehicle information is transmitted to the target object during the automatic driving of the vehicle and the occupant is compared with the configuration in which various information to be notified to the target object around the vehicle is displayed in the transparent window. Has an excellent effect that the user can be prevented from feeling annoying.

It is an explanatory view showing the composition of the display for vehicles provided in the vehicle concerning this embodiment. It is an explanatory view showing the state where information is displayed on the front windshield glass by the display device for a vehicle according to the present embodiment. It is an explanatory view showing the state where the information displayed on the front windshield glass by the display device for vehicles concerning this embodiment is recognized by the person in front of the vehicle. (A) It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the information displayed on the side windshield glass by the vehicle display apparatus which concerns on the 1st modification of this embodiment is recognized by the person by the side of a vehicle. (B) It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the information displayed on the rear windshield glass by the vehicle display apparatus which concerns on the 2nd modification of this embodiment is recognized by the person behind the vehicle.

  The vehicle display device 20 according to the present embodiment will be described. In addition, the arrow FR appropriately shown in each figure indicates the front of the vehicle (the traveling direction), the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, the arrow RR indicates the rear of the vehicle, and the arrow W indicates the width direction of the vehicle. I have. Hereinafter, when simply described using the directions of front and rear, up and down, and left and right, unless otherwise specified, the front and rear of the vehicle, the up and down of the vehicle up and down, and the left and right of the vehicle width direction when facing the traveling direction are shown. Shall be.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 includes, for example, a vehicle body 12 having a vehicle compartment 13, an instrument panel 14, a steering device 16, a seat 18, and a vehicle display device 20. I have. The driver P (occupant) seated on the seat 18 is indicated by a dummy. The line of sight of the driver P is indicated by a dashed arrow K. Hereinafter, the inside of the cabin 13 is referred to as the inside of the cabin, and the outside of the cabin 13 is referred to as the outside.

  The vehicle display device 20 includes, for example, a front windshield glass 22, a light control member 24, a voltage application unit 26, a HUD device 28, a display unit 32, a detection unit 34, a switch 36, and a control unit. 40. HUD is an abbreviation for Head-Up Display. The display unit 32 is an example of a display unit. The detecting unit 34 is an example of a detecting unit. The control unit 40 is an example of a control unit.

<Front windshield glass>
The front windshield glass 22 is provided in front of the vehicle 10 on the vehicle interior side. The driver P seated in the vehicle interior toward the vehicle front side can visually recognize the scenery ahead of the vehicle through the front windshield glass 22. Further, as an example, the front windshield glass 22 includes a light transmitting glass 42 disposed on the vehicle interior side and a light transmitting glass 44 disposed on the vehicle exterior side of the light transmitting glass 42 in the vehicle front-rear direction. And laminated glass. The light transmitting glass 44 is an example of a window.

  The light transmitting glass 42 and the light transmitting glass 44 are transparent glasses. The transparent state in the present embodiment refers to, for example, a state in which the transmittance of light having a wavelength in the visible range is 80% or more. The opaque state refers to, for example, a state in which the transmittance of light having a wavelength in the visible region is lower than 80%. The light transmittance is a ratio of the amount of transmitted light to the amount of light incident on the member.

<Light control member>
The light control member 24 is formed of, for example, a liquid crystal sheet. The light control member 24 is provided between the light transmitting glass 42 and the light transmitting glass 44. In other words, the light control member 24 is provided closer to the vehicle interior than the light transmitting glass 44. Further, the dimming member 24 is provided in a region excluding a peripheral portion of the front windshield glass 22 when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction.

  The light control member 24 has a property of transmitting light by aligning liquid crystal molecules when a voltage is applied. The dimming member 24 has a property of diffusing light by arranging liquid crystal molecules irregularly when no voltage is applied. In other words, the light control member 24 can control the light transmitted through the light transmission glass 44 to switch between the transparent state and the opaque state of the light transmission glass 44.

<Voltage application section>
The voltage applying unit 26 is electrically connected to the dimming member 24 via a wiring (not shown). Further, the voltage application unit 26 starts application of a voltage to the light control member 24 or stops application of a voltage to the light control member 24 according to a command from the control unit 40 described later. The value of the voltage applied to the light control member 24 is set in advance so that the transparent state and the opaque state of the light control member 24 (light transmitting glass 44) are switched.

<HUD device>
The HUD device 28 is provided on the instrument panel 14 provided on the vehicle front side in the vehicle interior. The instrument panel 14 has an opening (not shown) that opens upward from the vehicle. Further, the HUD device 28 displays information on the light transmitting glass 42 by projecting information on a part of the light transmitting glass 42 through an opening (not shown) of the instrument panel 14.

  The display content projected on the light transmitting glass 42 by the HUD device 28 can be displayed so as to be superimposed on a scene of a real space in front of the vehicle. That is, the display content projected on the light transmitting glass 42 is visible to the driver P. An example of the information projected by the HUD device 28 includes a traveling speed of the vehicle 10, a shift position, and the like.

<Display unit>
The display unit 32 is provided outside the light transmitting glass 44 of the vehicle body 12 in the cabin. The front side of the vehicle body 12 is covered with an engine hood (not shown). The engine hood (not shown) has an opening (not shown) that opens toward the light transmitting glass 44. The display unit 32 displays information on the light transmitting glass 44 by projecting information on a part of the light transmitting glass 44 through an opening of an engine hood (not shown).

  The display content projected on the outside of the cabin of the light transmitting glass 44 by the display unit 32 is visible from around the vehicle 10 when the light transmitting glass 44 is made opaque by the light control member 24. . That is, the display content projected on the light transmitting glass 44 can be visually recognized from an object around the vehicle 10. Examples of the object include a person M such as a pedestrian (see FIG. 3) and an oncoming vehicle occupant. The information projected (displayed) by the display unit 32 includes, for example, the driving state of the vehicle 10 such as “autonomous driving”, “go straight”, “stop”, “back”, etc. There are messages and symbols to be shown.

<Detector>
The detection unit 34 constitutes a part of a surrounding situation acquisition unit (not shown) that acquires information indicating the situation of the surrounding environment of the vehicle 10. The surrounding situation acquisition unit is configured to include, for example, a GPS device, an in-vehicle communication device, a rear camera, a side camera, a navigation system, and the like, in addition to the detection unit 34. GPS is an abbreviation for Global Positioning System.

  In addition, the detection unit 34 includes, for example, at least one of a millimeter wave radar and an ultrasonic sonar, and other vehicles outside the cabin of the vehicle 10 (around), a person M (see FIG. 3), a store, an obstacle, and the like. The position and the moving speed of the object are detected. The detection range of the object (including the target object) by the detection unit 34 also includes a range in which the driver P is blind from the side of the vehicle 10. The detection unit 34 is electrically connected to a control unit 40, which will be described later, and the information around the vehicle 10 detected by the detection unit 34 is sent to the control unit 40.

<Switch>
The switch 36 is electrically connected to a control unit 40 described later. The switch 36 is turned on when pressed once to indicate the ON state, and turned off when pressed again in the ON state to indicate the OFF state. When the switch 36 is in the ON state, the control unit 40 turns on the automatic operation mode. In the OFF state of the switch 36, the automatic operation mode in the control unit 40 is OFF (the manual operation mode is ON). The manual driving state of the vehicle 10 means a driving state in which the driver P operates the steering device 16. The automatic driving state of the vehicle 10 means driving performed by an automatic driving program set in the control unit 40.

<Control unit>
The control unit 40 is electrically connected to the steering device 16, a brake ECU (Electronic Control Unit) not shown, and the like. Then, when the control unit 40 is switched to the automatic driving state by the switch 36, the driving of the vehicle 10 without the driver P operating the steering device 16 is performed based on the surrounding information detected by the detection unit 34 or the like. Is configured to be controlled. In other words, the vehicle 10 is a vehicle capable of performing advanced driving support including automatic driving control. Thus, in the vehicle 10, as an example, the driver P (occupant) operates the switch 36 to switch between the manual driving state and the automatic driving state.

  The method for switching between the manual driving state and the automatic driving state is not limited to the method in which the driver P operates the switch 36. For example, a method using an interactive vehicle agent (a switch based on voice recognition) or a method for automatically switching based on an automatic driving program set in the control unit 40 in advance may be used.

  Further, the control unit 40 is electrically connected to the voltage application unit 26, the HUD device 28, and the display unit 32. Then, in the automatic driving state of the vehicle 10, when the detection unit 34 detects the target object, the control unit 40 controls the dimming member 24 to make the light transmitting glass 44 opaque. Specifically, the application of the voltage from the voltage application unit 26 to the light control member 24 is stopped. Further, the control unit 40 controls the display unit 32 to display information on the driving state of the vehicle 10 on the light transmission glass 44 in the opaque state of the light transmission glass 44.

  In addition, the control unit 40 causes the voltage application unit 26 to apply a voltage to the dimming member 24 when the switch 36 is switched to the manual operation state. Further, the control unit 40 controls the HUD device 28 to display various information on the light transmitting glass 42.

[Action and effect]
Next, functions and effects of the vehicle display device 20 of the present embodiment will be described.

  In the vehicle 10 shown in FIG. 1, in the manual driving state, a voltage is applied from the voltage application unit 26 to the light control member 24 according to a command from the control unit 40, so that the light transmitting glass 42 and the light transmitting glass 44 are brought into the transparent state. Become. Thereby, the driver P can visually recognize the outside of the cabin of the vehicle 10 through the light transmitting glass 42 and the light transmitting glass 44. In the manual operation state, the HUD device 28 operates according to a command from the control unit 40, and information such as a traveling speed and a shift position of a shift lever (not shown) is displayed on the light transmitting glass 42. Then, the driver P visually recognizes such information.

  When the driver P presses the switch 36, the vehicle 10 switches to the automatic driving state. In the automatic driving state, the control unit 40 controls the accelerator amount, the brake amount, and the steering amount based on the information on the surroundings of the vehicle 10 and the own vehicle information obtained from the detection unit 34 and the like so that the vehicle 10 runs automatically. Control the angle etc.

  In the automatic driving state of the vehicle 10, for example, when the detection unit 34 detects a person M in front of the vehicle 10 (see FIG. 3), the control unit 40 issues a command from the voltage application unit 26 to the dimming member 24. Is stopped. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, the light transmitting glass 44 becomes opaque when viewed from the vehicle interior side. Further, in the opaque state of the light transmitting glass 44, the display unit 32 displays (projects) information on the light transmitting glass 44 according to a command from the control unit 40. The displayed information is information on the driving state of the vehicle 10, such as "automatic driving", "go straight", "stop", etc., as described above.

  Here, the dimming member 24 is provided on the vehicle interior side with respect to the light transmitting glass 44, and the display unit 32 is provided on the vehicle interior side with respect to the light transmitting glass 44. For this reason, in the vehicle 10, information can be displayed on the light transmission glass 44 by the display unit 32 even when the light control member 24 makes the light transmission glass 44 opaque. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, information on the driving state of the vehicle 10 (for example, information in an area IF indicated by a dashed line) can be transmitted to the person M.

  Further, in the vehicle 10 shown in FIG. 2, when the driver P looks at the light transmitting glass 42 and the light transmitting glass 44, the light transmitting glass 44 is in an opaque state. For this reason, the driver P on the vehicle cabin side does not need to visually recognize the information displayed on the light transmitting glass 44, and therefore, the driver P is not required to display information on the light transmitting glass 44 in a transparent state. It is possible to suppress annoying feeling.

  Subsequently, when the detection unit 34 does not detect the target body, as an example, a voltage is applied from the voltage application unit 26 to the light control member 24 according to a command from the control unit 40. As a result, the light control member 24 (light transmitting glass 44) becomes transparent, so that the driver P can visually recognize the scenery outside the vehicle compartment of the vehicle 10 during automatic driving. In the automatic driving state, the opaque state of the light transmitting glass 44 may be maintained even when the detection unit 34 does not detect the target object.

  When the driver P presses the switch 36, the vehicle 10 switches from the automatic driving state to the manual driving state. In the manual operation state, as described above, by operating the HUD device 28, information such as a traveling speed and a shift position of a shift lever (not shown) is displayed on the light transmitting glass 42. The display of information by the HUD device 28 may be stopped by operating a switch (not shown).

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

<First Modification>
In the vehicle 10, a portion where the vehicle display device 20 is provided to display various information is not limited to the front windshield glass 22, but may be a side windshield glass 52 as shown in FIG. . The side windshield glass 52 has the same configuration as the front windshield glass 22 (see FIG. 2), and has a configuration in which two light transmitting glasses are combined. A light control member 24 (see FIG. 2) is provided between the two light transmitting glasses.

  The display unit 32 is provided on the door outer panel 54, and displays information on the light transmitting glass on the side windshield glass 52 outside the vehicle compartment. Here, in the automatic driving state of the vehicle 10, when the detection unit 34 (see FIG. 1) detects the person M, the side windshield glass 52 is set to an opaque state, and the light outside the vehicle compartment in the side windshield glass 52. Information is displayed on the transmission glass. Although FIG. 4A shows a state in which the vehicle display device 20 is provided on the left side windshield glass 52, the vehicle display device 20 may be provided on the right side windshield glass 56. .

<Second modification>
In the vehicle 10, a portion where the vehicle display device 20 is provided to display various information may be a rear windshield glass 62 as illustrated in FIG. 4B. The rear windshield glass 62 has the same configuration as the front windshield glass 22 (see FIG. 1), and has a configuration in which two light transmitting glasses are combined. A light control member 24 (see FIG. 1) is provided between the two light transmitting glasses.

  The display unit 32 is provided on the vehicle body 12 (see FIG. 1) near the front end of the luggage door 64 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and displays information toward the light transmitting glass outside the vehicle compartment in the rear windshield glass 62. It has become. Here, in the automatic driving state of the vehicle 10 (backing state), when the detection unit 34 detects the person M, the rear windshield glass 62 is set to an opaque state, and the rear windshield glass 62 is outside the vehicle compartment. The information is displayed on the light transmitting glass.

<Other modifications>
In the vehicle 10, the vehicle display device 20 may be provided on at least one of the front windshield glass 22, the side windshield glasses 52 and 56, and the rear windshield glass 62. For example, the vehicle display device 20 may be provided on all of the front windshield glass 22, the side windshield glasses 52 and 56, and the rear windshield glass 62, and all the windshield glasses may be opaque in the automatic driving state. . In order to make all the windshield glasses opaque, the interior lights may be turned on.

  In each windshield glass, the area in which information is displayed by the display unit 32 is not limited to a part of the area made opaque by the light control member 24, and may be the entire area made opaque. The information displayed by the display unit 32 may be a still image or a moving image.

  In the vehicle 10, the HUD device 28 is removed, and in the manual operation state (the transparent state of the windshield glass), the display unit 32 displays information such as the traveling speed and the shift position of the shift lever (not shown) on the windshield glass inside the vehicle. It may be displayed.

  When each windshield glass is in an opaque state and information is displayed on the display unit 32, the HUD device 28 is operated to display information such as a traveling speed and a shift position of a shift lever (not shown) on the light transmitting glass 42. You may.

  The target object is not limited to the person M, and may be an occupant (driver) of an oncoming vehicle of the vehicle 10.

  The light-transmitting glass 44 may be replaced with a transmission-type display, and information on the operating state of the vehicle 10 may be displayed on the transmission-type display according to a command from the control unit 40. That is, the display means may have a configuration provided in the window. Note that the configuration in which the display means is provided in the window includes not only a configuration in which the display means is provided separately from the window but also an integrated configuration in which the display means also serves as the window.

  As described above, the display device for a vehicle according to the embodiment and each modification of the present invention has been described.However, these embodiments and each modification may be appropriately combined and used without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, it can be implemented in various modes.

Reference Signs List 10 vehicle 13 cabin 20 vehicle display device 24 dimming member 32 display unit (an example of display means)
34 Detecting unit (an example of detecting means)
40 control unit (an example of control means)
44 Light transmission glass (example of window)
M people (example of target object)

Claims (1)

A transparent window provided in a vehicle that can be automatically driven,
A dimming member that is provided closer to the vehicle interior than the window and switches between a transparent state and an opaque state of the window by dimming light passing through the window;
Display means provided outside the vehicle compartment or in the window relative to the window, and displaying information indicating the state of the vehicle in the window,
Detecting means for detecting an object facing the window;
In automatic operation state of the vehicle, when the object is detected by the detecting means, wherein the object side only the light adjusting member dimming to the the vehicle and an opaque state the window, and the display There line control to display the information on the vehicle exterior side of the window by means, when the target object is not detected by said detecting means, said target side only the light adjusting member dimming to the in the vehicle window Control means for performing control to make the transparent state ,
A display device for a vehicle, comprising:

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