JP6793480B2 - Information display device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information display device.

Various information is provided to the driver of the vehicle. For this information presentation, information presentation using a meter panel, information display using a head-up display, information presentation using a display of a navigation device, and the like are performed. In order to improve the visibility of the driver with respect to the presented information, Patent Document 1 describes the information display position in consideration of the fact that the focal length when gazing at the information display surface is changed according to the vehicle speed. What changes according to the vehicle speed is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-168230

By the way, in order to improve the visibility of the information displayed on the information display surface, it is desired to improve not only the gaze point (central view) by the driver but also the visibility of the surroundings thereof. However, in Patent Document 1, although the visibility of the driver at the gazing point can be improved, the visibility around the gazing point cannot be improved.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information display device capable of improving visibility around a gazing point by a driver.

In order to achieve the above object, the following solution method is adopted in the present invention. That is, as described in claim 1,
It is an information display device that displays information on the information display surface set in front of the driver.
Equipped with a rotation detecting means for directly or indirectly detecting the rotational movement of the driver's eyeball,
According to the rotational motion detected by the rotational detection means, the inclination angle of the information display surface in the front-rear direction is changed to be the inclination angle formed by the holopter surface formed with respect to the driver .
I am doing it.

According to the above solution method, when the driver makes a rotational movement in the eyeball while the gazing point is visually recognized by both eyes, the inclination of the information display surface when the visibility around the gazing point is improved. The angle will be changed. Then, in the present invention, the inclination angle of the information display surface is changed to be the inclination angle formed by the holopter surface configured for the driver according to the rotational movement, so that the visibility around the gazing point is improved. Can be done.

A preferred embodiment based on the above-mentioned solution method is as described in claim 2 and below. That is,
The information display surface is tilted at a reference tilt angle that is previously raised forward in the side view.
The reference tilt angle is the tilt angle formed by the holopter surface configured for the driver when rotation is not occurring in both eyes in the lateral view.
(Corresponding to claim 2). In this case, since the horopter surface is a surface that is perceived to be equidistant from the driver, it is extremely preferable for improving the visibility of the information display surface at the reference inclination angle, and the inclination angle is increased by rotation. It is also preferable in terms of improving visibility when is changed.
The rotation detecting means is an eye camera that captures the driver's eyeball (corresponding to claim 3 ). In this case, the eye camera can accurately detect the rotational movement.

Further equipped with a storage means that memorizes the relationship between the vehicle speed and the rotational momentum.
The rotation detecting means detects the rotational momentum by collating the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means with the storage means.
(Corresponding to claim 4 ). In this case, the rotational momentum can be detected (estimated) by effectively using the vehicle speed detecting means generally mounted on the vehicle.

When the rotational movement detected by the rotational detection means is external rotation for both eyes, the inclination angle of the information display surface is increased (corresponding to claim 5 ). In this case, it is possible to improve the visibility around the gazing point when both eyes are externally rotated.

When the rotational movement detected by the rotational detection means is internal rotation for both eyes, the inclination angle of the information display surface is reduced (corresponding to claim 6 ). In this case, it is possible to improve the visibility around the gazing point when both eyes are internally rotated.

When the rotational movement detected by the rotational detection means is external rotation for one eye and internal rotation for the other eye, and the external rotation amount is larger than the internal rotation amount, the information display surface is tilted. The angle is increased (corresponding to claim 7 ). In this case, when the amount of external rotation of one eye is larger than the amount of internal rotation of the other eye, the visibility around the gazing point can be improved.

When the rotational movement detected by the rotational detection means is external rotation for one eye and internal rotation for the other eye, and the internal rotation amount is larger than the external rotation amount, the information display surface is tilted. The angle is reduced (corresponding to claim 8 ). In this case, when the amount of internal rotation of the other eye is larger than the amount of external rotation of one eye, the visibility around the gazing point can be improved.

The amount of change in the tilt angle of the information display surface is increased as the amount of rotation is larger (corresponding to claim 9 ). In this case, the visibility around the gazing point can be improved more effectively.

The inclination angle of the information display surface is increased as the difference between the external rotation amount and the internal rotation amount increases (corresponding to claim 10 ). In this case, the visibility around the gazing point can be improved more effectively.

The information display surface is set as a display surface displayed by the head-up display (corresponding to claim 11 ). In this case, it is possible to improve the visibility around the gazing point on the information display surface by the head-up display.

The information display surface is set as the display surface of the meter panel (corresponding to claim 12). In this case, it is possible to improve the visibility of the meter panel around the gazing point.

The meter panel has a plurality of types of display surfaces and has a plurality of types of display surfaces.
By changing the tilt angle of the meter panel, the tilt angles of the plurality of types of display surfaces are changed at the same time.
(Corresponding to claim 13). In this case, by changing the tilt angle of the meter panel, it is possible to change the tilt angle of all of the multiple types of display surfaces equipped on the meter panel at the same time, and the visibility around the gazing point for all of the multiple types of display surfaces. It can be improved.

The information display surface is used as a display for a navigation device (corresponding to claim 14). In this case, it is preferable in terms of improving visibility over a wide range of the map displayed on the display.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the visibility around the gazing point by the driver.

The figure for demonstrating the external rotation and the internal rotation of an eyeball. Explanatory drawing which shows the situation when both eyes are facing a focal position. Explanatory drawing which shows that the inclination angle of a horopter surface changes at the time of external rotation of an eyeball. The simplified side view which shows one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the example of the control system of this invention. The flowchart which shows the control example of this invention. The figure which shows the relationship between the vehicle speed and the rotational momentum (the angle of external rotation). The figure which shows the relationship with the change amount of the inclination angle of an information display surface according to the amount of rotation.

FIG. 1 is a view when the driver's left eye is viewed from the front. In FIG. 1, the left side is the direction in which the driver's nose is located, and the right side is the direction in which the driver's left ear is located. Become. The vertical line α passing through the center of the black eye is the reference state when the eyeball is not rotated (rotation angle is 0 degrees). When the eyeball is rotated from the reference line α toward the nose with the anterior-posterior direction line (a line extending in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface) as the center, it is an internal rotation (internal rotation) and is rotated toward the left ear. The time is the time of external rotation (external rotation). Similarly, for the right eye, when it is rotated to the nasal side, it is internal rotation, and when it is rotated to the right ear side, it is external rotation. Such rotation of the eyeball occurs naturally so that the current state of viewing can be maintained as much as possible when a visual stimulus generated at a vehicle speed or the like is input or the head is tilted. Is believed to be. The maximum value (maximum angle) of rotation is about 10 degrees. In addition, when one of the left and right eyeballs is externally rotated, the other eyeball may be internally rotated, both eyes may be externally rotated, or both eyes may be internally rotated.

FIG. 2 is a view of a state in which both eyes are gazing at the front as viewed from above. FIG. 2 shows a state in which no rotation occurs in both eyes, and the distance L to the gazing point x is the focal length. In FIG. 2, the broken line arrow indicates the direction when both eyes are externally rotated.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a state in which the information display surface HB is set in front of the driver and the gazing point x is gazed by both eyes from the side. The information display surface HB is tilted so as to rise forward so as to form a holopter surface corresponding to when rotation does not occur in the side view. As is known, the holopter surface is a surface obtained by tracing the spatial position where a human perceives (perceives) a binocular image from the distribution of retinal correspondence points of the eyeball, and rises forward in the vertical direction. It becomes an inclined surface of. That is, in the upward direction, the inclined surface is gradually positioned forward as it goes upward, while it is gradually positioned backward as it goes downward. In the left-right direction, the holopter surface is a curved surface that is convex outward from the center of the human (eyeball) (a surface that gradually moves backward as the distance from the left-right direction increases).

Here, when both eyes are externally rotated, the holopter surface changes so that the degree of forward rise (degree of inclination) becomes larger as shown by Hθ as compared with the case where both eyes are not rotated. To do. That is, when the information display surface HB is tilted more forward by θ, the visibility with respect to the periphery of the gazing point x is improved. On the contrary, when both eyes are internally rotated, the visibility of the periphery of the center point x is improved by inclining the information display surface HB in the direction opposite to Hθ. Furthermore, when one eye rotates externally and the other eye rotates internally and there is a difference in the amount of rotation (rotation angle), the information display surface HB tilt angle is changed according to the larger amount of rotation. However, the degree of change in the inclination angle may be determined according to the deviation between the external rotation amount (external rotation angle) and the internal rotation amount (internal rotation angle). The change angle θ can be changed so as to increase as the amount of rotation (rotation angle) increases (continuously variable type or stepwise change).

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a front window glass, 2 is a roof, 3 is a bonnet, 4 is an instrument panel, 5 is a meter hood, and 6 is a steering wheel. Reference numeral 7 denotes a meter panel arranged in the meter hood. The meter panel 7 is equipped with, for example, a speedometer indicating the vehicle speed, a tachometer indicating the engine speed, a fuel gauge indicating the remaining amount of fuel, and the like, and displays these information to the driver M. ing.

In the embodiment, the information is provided to the driver M by the head-up display HD. That is, the head-up display HD has a projector 11 mounted in the instrument panel 4 and a combiner 12 arranged on the front window glass 1, and a virtual image is displayed in front of the front window glass 1. Various information is displayed in the form. The display surface of this virtual image is shown as the information display surface 13. The information display surface 13 is not a physically existing display surface, but a virtual (visual) display surface composed of information such as displayed character information and graphic information.

The tilt angle of the projector 11, that is, the projection angle with respect to the combiner 12, can be changed by the actuator 14. The tilt angle of the information display surface 13 can be changed by the actuator 14 (corresponding to the change between the information display surface HB and Hθ shown in FIG. 3). Then, the actuator 14 is controlled by a controller (control unit) U configured by using a microcomputer. In addition, the projection angle can be changed (change of the inclination angle of the information display surface 13) by a method as described in JP-A-2004-168230 and JP-A-6-144802.

FIG. 5 shows an input / output system for the controller U, and signals from the eye camera 21 and the seat sensor 22 are input to the controller U. Then, the controller U controls the actuator 14. The eye camera 21 detects the rotational momentum (rotation angle) of the eyeball of the driver M. The seat sensor 22 detects the seat position of the driver's seat S. That is, the position of the eyeball of the driver M is detected (estimated) from the front-rear position and the height position of the seat cushion in the driver's seat S and the inclination angle of the seat back.

Next, a control example by the controller U will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, Q indicates a step. First, in Q1, data is input (signal input from the eye camera 21 and the seat sensor 22). After that, in Q2, the reference angle and the position of the information display surface 13 are determined. That is, the eyeball position of the driver M is detected (estimated) based on the state of the driver's seat S detected by the seat sensor 22, and the tilt angle (reference) of the information display surface 13 rising forward according to the eyeball position. The angle) is set (set to have a holopter surface or an inclination angle close to this in side view). In this Q2, the distance from the driver M (eyeball) of the information display surface 13 is also set. In the embodiment, this separation distance is set to a preset constant value, but it can be changed so that the separation distance increases as the vehicle speed increases.

After Q2, in Q3, it is determined whether or not the rotation angle of the eyeball of the driver M is large (whether or not it is larger than 1 degree). When the determination in Q3 is NO, it is assumed that no rotation has occurred, and the tilt angle of the information display surface 13 in Q4 is set as the reference angle set in Q2. Of course, the controller U drives and controls the actuator 14 so as to have this reference angle.

If YES in the determination of Q3, the information display surface 13 is tilted from the reference angle set in Q2 in Q5. The change inclination angle from the reference angle is set within a range of a maximum of 10 degrees so that the larger the rotation angle, the larger the inclination angle. Of course, the controller U drives and controls the actuator 14 so that the tilt angle is changed.

As described above, the inclination direction from the reference angle in Q5 is the direction in which the degree of forward rise is large when both eyes are externally rotated, and the degree of forward rise is small when both eyes are internally rotated. It is said to be in the direction of When one eye is externally rotated and the other eye is internally rotated, and the amount of external rotation is larger than the amount of internal rotation, the degree of forward rise is increased, and the amount of internal rotation is larger. If it is larger than the amount of external rotation, the degree of forward rise is considered to be smaller. The degree of tilt angle to be changed is increased as the amount of rotation (when one eye is externally rotated and the other eye is internally rotated, the difference is increased).

Here, instead of directly detecting the rotational momentum by the eye camera 21, the rotational momentum can be indirectly detected. That is, the controller U stores in advance the characteristics indicating the correspondence between the vehicle speed and the rotational momentum (rotation angle, which is actually the external rotation amount) as shown by A in FIG. 7 (stored as a database). ), The rotational momentum may be determined (estimated) according to the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor. While the vehicle is running, the driver recognizes the flow of the scenery through the front window glass 1, but as the vehicle speed increases, the flow of the scenery becomes faster and causes a rotational movement (external rotation movement for both eyes). , Has been experimentally confirmed. In this way, by detecting the rotational momentum using the vehicle speed sensor generally used in the vehicle, it becomes unnecessary to use the expensive eye camera 21.

In FIG. 7, in addition to the characteristics shown by A, it is also possible to set the characteristics shown by the characteristics B or C. It is also possible to select any one of the plurality of characteristics A to C according to the difference in scenery such as running condition, road surface condition, and weather condition. In FIG. 7, the characteristic A is assumed to be driven on a highway, the characteristic B is assumed to be driven in an urban area, and the characteristic C is assumed to be driven in a suburb. Although each of the characteristics A to C has a smooth curve, it can be changed in a stepped manner.

FIG. 8 shows a setting example of the amount of rotation (the difference when one eye is externally rotated and the other eye is internally rotated) and the degree of change in the tilt angle of the information display surface (changed angle amount). .. In the figure, the characteristic indicated by D is preferable for the information display surface having a high visual frequency during driving, the characteristic indicated by F is preferable for the information display surface having a low visual frequency during driving, and the characteristic indicated by E is preferable for the information display surface having low visual frequency during driving. This is preferable for information display surfaces that are less frequently viewed.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and appropriate modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. The information display surface is not limited to the head-up display HD, and may be an appropriate information display surface. For example, the tilt angle of the map display display in the navigation device can be changed according to the rotation, or the tilt angle of the meter panel 7 can be changed according to the rotation. When the meter panel 7 is equipped with a plurality of types of instruments (that is, a plurality of types of display surfaces), all of the plurality of types of instruments can be obtained by changing the tilt angle of the meter panel 7 itself holding the plurality of types of instruments. The tilt angle can be changed at the same time (the present invention can be applied to a plurality of information display surfaces). Further, among the instruments mounted on the meter panel 7, only some of the instruments (for example, speedometers) that are frequently visually recognized by the driver M may be changed in inclination angle according to the rotation. it can. In the head-up display HD, the angle of the information display surface 13 is changed as appropriate, such as by controlling the angle of the combiner 12 or driving the optical element (including the optical element of the projector 11) provided in the optical path. It can be done by the method of.
Of course, an object of the present invention is not limited to what is specified, but also implicitly includes providing what is expressed as substantially preferable or advantageous.

The present invention can improve the visibility around the gazing point.

U: Controller M: Driver S: Driver's seat 1: Front window glass 4: Instrument panel 5: Meter hood 7: Meter panel 21: Eye camera 22: Seat sensor HD: Head-up display 11: Projector 12: Combiner 13: Information display surface

Claims (14)

It is an information display device that displays information on the information display surface set in front of the driver.
Equipped with a rotation detecting means for directly or indirectly detecting the rotational movement of the driver's eyeball,
According to the rotational motion detected by the rotational detection means, the inclination angle of the information display surface in the front-rear direction is changed to be the inclination angle formed by the holopter surface formed with respect to the driver .
An information display device characterized by the fact that. In claim 1,
The information display surface is tilted at a reference tilt angle that is previously raised forward in the side view.
The reference tilt angle is the tilt angle formed by the holopter surface configured for the driver when rotation is not occurring in both eyes in the lateral view.
An information display device characterized by the fact that. In claim 1 or 2 ,
An information display device characterized in that the rotation detecting means is an eye camera that photographs the driver's eyeball. In claim 1 or 2 ,
It is further equipped with a storage means that memorizes the relationship between the vehicle speed and the rotational momentum.
The rotation detecting means detects the rotational momentum by collating the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detecting means with the storage means.
An information display device characterized by the fact that. In any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
Wherein when rotation motion to be detected in the external rotation in both eyes both the rotation detection means, the inclination angle of the information display surface is large, that the information display device according to claim. In any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
When rotation motion is detected in the internal rotation in both eyes both by the rotation detecting means, the inclination angle of the information display screen is small, that the information display device according to claim. In any one of claims 1 to 6,
When the rotational movement detected by the rotational detection means is external rotation for one eye and internal rotation for the other eye, and the external rotation amount is larger than the internal rotation amount, the information display surface is tilted. An information display device characterized in that the angle is increased. In any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
When the rotational movement detected by the rotational detection means is external rotation for one eye and internal rotation for the other eye, and the internal rotation amount is larger than the external rotation amount, the information display surface is tilted. An information display device characterized in that the angle is reduced. In claim 5 or 6 ,
An information display device characterized in that the amount of change in the tilt angle of the information display surface is increased as the amount of rotation is larger. In claim 7 or 8 ,
An information display device characterized in that the inclination angle of the information display surface is increased as the difference between the external rotation amount and the internal rotation amount is large. In any one of claims 1 to 10.
An information display device characterized in that the information display surface is a display surface displayed by a head-up display. In any one of claims 1 to 11.
An information display device characterized in that the information display surface is a display surface of a meter panel. In claim 12,
The meter panel has a plurality of types of display surfaces and has a plurality of types of display surfaces.
By changing the tilt angle of the meter panel, the tilt angles of the plurality of types of display surfaces are changed at the same time.
An information display device characterized by the fact that. In any one of claims 1 to 13.
An information display device characterized in that the information display surface is a display for a navigation device.

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