JPWO2018030320A1 - Vehicle display device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a display device for a vehicle capable of providing appropriate information to a user without being affected by a change in position of the viewpoint of the user. The display device 10 for a vehicle includes an image display unit 20 having a display surface 21 capable of displaying an image, an image generation unit 30 generating an image displayed by the image display unit 20, and a viewpoint of a user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle 1. Point position acquisition unit 40 for acquiring the position 100 of the road, road shape information acquisition unit 60 for acquiring information on the road shape ahead of the vehicle 1, and a vehicle image so that the user sitting in the driver's seat can visually recognize the virtual image 310 And 1 a projection unit 50 for projecting toward the front window shield 2. The image generation unit 30 determines the position and size of the use area 220 used to display the image on the display surface 21 according to the position 100 of the user's viewpoint acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40, and the road shape information According to the road shape acquired by the acquisition unit 60, the length of the use area 220 is corrected.

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle capable of providing appropriate information to a user without being affected by a change in position of the viewpoint of the user.

  By projecting a display image on a translucent member such as a front window shield of a vehicle as a display device for a vehicle, a virtual image is viewed by a user sitting at the driver's seat using light of the display image reflected by the front window shield There is a so-called head-up display. In such a display device for a vehicle, the virtual image is visually recognized by the user sitting in the driver's seat so that the virtual image is formed on the vehicle traveling direction side (the vehicle front side) with reference to the front window shield of the vehicle . As a general configuration of such a display device for a vehicle, for example, a projection portion configured of an image display portion for displaying a display image, and an optical system including a concave mirror for projecting the display image onto a front window shield of the vehicle ,including.

  A user who sits in the driver's seat of a vehicle equipped with such a vehicle display device sees, for example, a virtual image giving information on the presence of other vehicles, obstacles, etc. on the road ahead of the vehicle through the front window shield And can be visually recognized. As the position at which the virtual image is viewed is above the front window shield in the vertical direction, the virtual image is viewed as being superimposed on the distant view of the landscape viewed through the front window shield. On the other hand, as the position at which the virtual image is visually recognized is below the front window shield in the vertical direction, the virtual image is superimposed on the scenery on the near side of the scenery seen through the front window shield.

  Here, the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat is not constant depending on the user's sitting height, the user's sitting posture, and the like. For example, when the position where the display image is projected is fixed, as the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat becomes higher, the virtual image is a landscape with a shorter distance among the landscapes seen through the front window shield. It is superimposed. As described above, when the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat changes, the object in the landscape on which the virtual image is superimposed is displaced, which may cause the user to feel uncomfortable.

  Therefore, for example, according to Patent Document 1, a head-up display device (display for vehicle that adjusts the projection direction of an optical system including a concave mirror of a projection unit according to the position in the vertical direction of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle) Device) is shown. The display apparatus for vehicles shown by patent document 1 is provided with the concave mirror actuator which adjusts the projection angle of the concave mirror of a projection part, and the viewpoint detection camera which acquires the position of the viewpoint of the user who sits in the driver's seat of a vehicle.

  In the display device for vehicle shown in Patent Document 1, when the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle acquired by the viewpoint detection camera is high, the display image is projected above the front window shield in the vertical direction To control the concave mirror actuator. On the other hand, when the position of the viewpoint of the user who sits in the driver's seat of the vehicle acquired by the viewpoint detection camera is low, the display device for vehicles shown in Patent Document 1 displays the display image below the front window shield in the vertical direction. Control the concave mirror actuator so that it is projected to the side. Therefore, in the display apparatus for vehicle shown in Patent Document 1, even when the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle changes, the object on which the virtual image is superimposed is visible in the scenery seen over the front window shield. It is configured to prevent a large deviation.

JP, 2014-210537, A

  However, in the display device for vehicle described in Patent Document 1, the inventor recognized that when the position of the viewpoint of the user changes, there is a possibility that the user may feel discomfort. This point will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 illustrates the relationship between the viewpoint position of the user, the virtual image visually recognized by the user, and the range of the distance on the road surface of the landscape on which the virtual image is superimposed in the display device for vehicle described in Patent Document 1. It is a schematic diagram for. FIG. 10 illustrates the relationship between the viewpoint position of the user in the vertical direction, the virtual image area displaying a virtual image visually recognized by the user, and the range of the distance on the road surface of the landscape on which the virtual image area overlaps. In addition, the amount of change in the viewpoint position of the user is expressed exaggeratingly. Specifically, the distance in the vertical direction between the user viewpoint position 101u, the user viewpoint position 101r, and the user viewpoint position 101d shown in FIG. 10 is actually shorter than the example shown in FIG. Further, in the coordinate axes shown in FIG. 10, the z-axis positive direction represents the vehicle front direction, the y-axis positive direction represents the vertical direction upper side, and the x-axis positive direction (vertically upward direction with respect to the drawing) Represents a direction.

  In FIG. 10, positions of three viewpoints of a user viewpoint position 101u, a user viewpoint position 101r, and a user viewpoint position 101d are shown as an example of the viewpoint position of the user who sits in the driver's seat of the vehicle. In the virtual image area 301u shown in FIG. 10, for example, when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101u, the projection angle of the display image is adjusted by the display device for vehicle described in Patent Document 1. As a result, the virtual image to be viewed by the user is displayed. In the virtual image area 301r shown in FIG. 10, for example, when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101r, the projection angle of the display image is adjusted by the display device for vehicle described in Patent Document 1. As a result, the virtual image to be viewed by the user is displayed. In the virtual image area 301d shown in FIG. 10, for example, when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101d, the projection angle of the display image is adjusted by the display device for vehicle described in Patent Document 1. As a result, the virtual image to be viewed by the user is displayed. In the display device for a vehicle described in Patent Document 1, when the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting on the driver's seat of the vehicle changes, the direction in which the display image is projected is changed. The area in which the image display unit displays the display image is not changed. Therefore, the vertical sizes of the virtual image area 301 u, the virtual image area 301 r, and the virtual image area 301 d are the same.

  The superimposed distance range 401u shown in FIG. 10 is, for example, a landscape in which the virtual image region 301u is superimposed among the landscape seen through the front window shield 2 when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101u. It is a range of distances on the road 91. A superimposed distance range 401r shown in FIG. 10 is, for example, a landscape on which the virtual image region 301r is superimposed among the landscape seen over the front window shield 2 when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101r. It is a range of distances on the road 91. A superimposed distance range 401d shown in FIG. 10 is, for example, a landscape on which the virtual image region 301d is superimposed among the landscape seen through the front window shield 2 when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101d. It is a range of distances on the road 91.

  As in the example shown in FIG. 10, the amount of change in the virtual image in the vertical direction is smaller than the amount of change in the user's viewpoint position in the vertical direction. Then, as the user viewpoint position moves upward in the vertical direction, the angle between the line of sight where the user sees a virtual image and the horizontal surface increases. On the other hand, as the user viewpoint position moves downward in the vertical direction, the angle between the line of sight where the user sees the virtual image and the horizontal surface decreases. Therefore, the length of the superimposed distance range 401u at the user viewpoint position 101u which is a position higher than the user viewpoint position 101r is smaller than the length of the superimposed distance range 401r at the user viewpoint position 101r. Further, the length of the superimposed distance range 401d at the user viewpoint position 101d which is a position lower than the user viewpoint position 101r is larger than the length of the superimposed distance range 401r at the user viewpoint position 101r. In FIG. 10, although it is shown that the positions of the end portions only on the vehicle rear side of the overlapping distance range 401u, the overlapping distance range 401r, and the overlapping distance range 401d are fluctuated, in fact, the vehicle front The position of the side ends may also vary.

  As described above, in the display apparatus for vehicle described in Patent Document 1, the area where the virtual image is displayed in the view seen through the front window shield by changing the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat The range of the distance on the road surface of the landscape on which is superimposed changes. As a result, in the display apparatus for vehicle described in Patent Document 1, for example, when the position of the viewpoint of the user is changed to the upper side in the vertical direction, the virtual image of the scenery seen over the front window shield is superimposed Situations may occur where a virtual image that is too small is viewed by the user. Similarly, in the display apparatus for vehicle described in Patent Document 1, for example, when the position of the user's viewpoint changes downward in the vertical direction, the virtual image of the scenery seen through the front window shield is to be superimposed On the other hand, situations may occur where a virtual image that is too large is viewed by the user. Thus, in the display apparatus for vehicles described in patent document 1, this inventor recognized that there is a possibility of giving a sense of incongruity to the user when the position of the viewpoint of the user changes.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a display device for a vehicle capable of providing appropriate information to a user without being affected by a change in position of the viewpoint of the user. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by referring to the following exemplified aspects and preferred embodiments and the attached drawings.

  The display apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention includes: a viewpoint position acquisition unit that acquires a position of a viewpoint of a user who sits in a driver's seat of a vehicle; and road shape information that is information of a road shape ahead of the vehicle The image display unit according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit, an image display unit having a display surface capable of displaying an image, and a road shape information acquisition unit to be acquired An image generation unit that determines a position and a length of a use area used to display the image which is a part of the display surface, and displays the image in the use area of the display surface; Projecting a light from a surface toward the light-transmissive member to generate a virtual virtual image area corresponding to the use area and displaying a virtual image corresponding to the image in the virtual image area; , Said image raw The unit determines the position and length of the use area corresponding to the vertical direction of the virtual image region according to the position of the user's viewpoint in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit, and the road shape The length of the use area is corrected so that the upper end of the virtual image area approaches the lower end and the vertical direction of the virtual image area is shortened according to the road shape information acquired by the information acquisition unit.

It is a block diagram showing an example of composition of a display for vehicles of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a structure of the image display part shown by FIG. 1A. It is sectional drawing of the projection part shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the example of the scenery and virtual image which are seen from the user who sits in the driver's seat of the vehicle provided with the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a flowchart figure which shows the example of operation | movement of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. The display apparatus for vehicles of this invention WHEREIN: It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the relationship between the viewpoint of a user, the virtual image visually recognized by the user, and the range of the distance in the road surface of the scenery which this virtual image superimposes. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. The display apparatus for vehicles of this invention WHEREIN: It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the relationship between the viewpoint of a user, the virtual image visually recognized by the user, and the range of the distance in the road surface of the scenery which this virtual image superimposes. It is a figure which shows the corrected use area set to the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the corrected use area and image which are set to the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the corrected use area and image which are set to the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles in 3rd Embodiment. In the display device for vehicle shown in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-210537), the relationship between the viewpoint position of the user, the virtual image visually recognized by the user, and the range of the distance on the road surface of the landscape on which the virtual image is superimposed. It is a typical figure for explaining.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, detailed descriptions of already well-known matters and substantially the same configurations may be omitted. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the attached drawings and the following description, and various modifications can be made without departing from the present invention.

  First Embodiment With reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, an example of the entire configuration of a display device 10 for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described. In order to facilitate the following description, as shown in FIG. 1A, in real space, for example, the z-axis is defined in the vehicle longitudinal direction with the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 as the vehicle forward direction. When the road surface on which the vehicle travels is horizontal, the y axis is defined in the vertical direction), and the x axis is defined in the left and right direction (the vehicle left and right direction) facing the front of the vehicle. At this time, the x-axis positive direction represents the left direction of the vehicle, the y-axis positive direction represents the upper side in the vertical direction (upper direction in real space), and the z-axis positive direction represents the forward direction of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the vehicle display device 10 includes an image display unit 20, an image generation unit 30, a viewpoint position acquisition unit 40, a projection unit 50, and a front information acquisition unit 60.

  The image display unit 20 has a display surface 21 capable of displaying an image, as shown in FIG. 1B. An area 210 capable of displaying an image on the display surface 21 is referred to as a display area 210, for example. An example of the display surface 21 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel 21 having a plurality of pixels 22 as shown in FIG. 1B. In the liquid crystal panel 21, the display region 210 is, for example, a pixel 22 of the entire liquid crystal panel 21. An example of the image display unit 20 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel module 20 having a liquid crystal panel 21 and a drive circuit 26 of the liquid crystal panel 21.

  For example, when the image display unit 20 receives a signal representing an image generated by the image generation unit 30, the image display unit 20 uses at least a part of the display surface 21 of the use area 210 of the display surface 21 according to the input signal. An image is displayed using the pixels 22. In the following description, although the liquid crystal panel module 20 is appropriately used as an example of the image display unit 20, the image display unit 20 may be another display device. For example, the image display unit 20 may be a self light emitting display panel module such as an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) element, or a reflective type such as DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) or LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) (registered trademark). It may be a display panel module, or may be a scanning display device or the like that scans laser light. When the image display unit 20 is a projection type display device such as a reflection type display panel module or a scanning type display device, the display surface 21 has a screen on which an image is generated by projection light from the projection type display device. Applicable

  In order to facilitate the following description, as shown in FIG. 1B, for example, the Ix axis is defined in the lateral direction of the display surface 21 in the viewpoint when the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 is viewed from the front. The Iy axis is defined in the vertical direction of the surface 21. At this time, the Ix-axis positive direction represents the left direction of the display surface 21, and the Iy-axis positive direction represents the upper direction of the display surface 21. The Ix-axis positive direction on the display surface 21 corresponds, for example, to the above-described x-axis positive direction, that is, the left direction of the vehicle in real space. Similarly, the Iy-axis positive direction on the display surface 21 corresponds to, for example, the above-described y-axis positive direction, that is, the upper side in the vertical direction (vertically upper direction) in real space.

  The viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 includes, for example, a vehicle interior image acquisition unit 41 and a vehicle interior image analysis unit 42. The viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 acquires the viewpoint position 100 of the user who sits in the driver's seat of the vehicle 1. Hereinafter, the position 100 of the viewpoint of the user who sits in the driver's seat of the vehicle 1 is also referred to as a user viewpoint position 100. The viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 is configured to be able to acquire at least the user viewpoint position 100 in the y-axis direction.

  The interior image acquisition unit 41 is, for example, an in-vehicle camera that captures an image of the interior of the vehicle. The interior image acquisition unit 41 may be, for example, a common in-vehicle camera or the like attached for the purpose of preventing vehicle theft or the like, or may be an in-vehicle camera or the like dedicated to the vehicle display device 10. The interior image acquisition unit 41 preferably captures the user viewpoint position 100 from the lower side in the vertical direction than the user viewpoint position 100, and may be attached to, for example, the dashboard 4 or the like. Further, it is preferable that the in-vehicle image acquiring unit 41 be capable of infrared imaging so that the user viewpoint position 100 can be acquired even when the vehicle interior is dark. The in-room image acquisition unit 41 outputs, for example, the acquired image of the in-vehicle room to the in-room image analysis unit 42.

  The vehicle interior image analysis unit 42 analyzes the input image in the vehicle interior using, for example, known image processing, pattern matching method, and the like. As a result of analyzing the image in front of the input vehicle, the in-room image analysis unit 42 determines that the user viewpoint position 100 in, for example, the real space, when the input image in the vehicle compartment includes the face of the user sitting in the driver's seat. The user viewpoint position 100 is acquired by specifying the coordinates (y). The interior image analysis unit 42 outputs, for example, the acquired user viewpoint position 100 to the image generation unit 30 via the bus 5 such as CAN (Controller Area Network) bus communication. Here, for example, the in-vehicle image analysis unit 42 may be included in an in-vehicle camera, and the image generation unit 30 may include the function of the in-vehicle image analysis unit 42. Further, the image generation unit 30 may directly input the user viewpoint position 100 from the in-vehicle image analysis unit 42 without passing through the bus 5.

  The forward information acquisition unit (road shape information acquisition unit) 60 includes, for example, a forward image acquisition unit 61 and a forward image analysis unit 62. The forward information acquisition unit 60, for example, the shape of the road in the forward direction of the vehicle, position information of other vehicles and obstacles existing in the forward direction of the vehicle, information of forward of the vehicle such as information of road sign in the forward direction of the vehicle, etc. get.

  The front image acquisition unit 61 is, for example, an outside camera for capturing an image in front of the vehicle. The front image acquisition unit 61 may be, for example, a shared outside camera used in a drive recorder or the like, or may be an outside camera dedicated to the vehicle display device 10 or the like. The out-of-vehicle camera may be a single-eye camera, but in order to accurately obtain the distance between an object present ahead of the vehicle and the vehicle 1, the out-of-vehicle camera is preferably a stereo camera. Further, the camera outside the vehicle may be capable of infrared imaging so that an image in front of the vehicle can be taken even when the front of the vehicle is dark. The front image acquisition unit 61 outputs, for example, the acquired image in front of the vehicle to the front image analysis unit 62.

  The front image analysis unit 62 analyzes the input image in front of the vehicle using, for example, known image processing, pattern matching method, and the like. The front image analysis unit 62 analyzes road images in front of the vehicle by analyzing the input image in front of the vehicle (lane shape, white line, stop line, pedestrian crossing, width of road, number of lanes, intersection, curve, Get a branch route etc.) In addition, the forward image analysis unit 62 analyzes the input image in front of the vehicle to find other vehicles existing ahead of the vehicle, such as the position and size of an obstacle, the distance to the vehicle 1, the vehicle 1, and the like. Obtain obstacle information such as relative velocity of The forward image analysis unit 62 outputs, for example, the acquired forward information to the image generation unit 30 via the bus 5. Here, the front image analysis unit 62 may be included, for example, in a camera outside the vehicle, and the image generation unit 30 may include the function of the front image analysis unit 62. Further, the image generation unit 30 may directly input forward information including road shape information from the forward image analysis unit 62 without passing through the bus 5.

  Further, the forward information acquisition unit 60 includes a laser radar, a millimeter wave radar, an ultrasonic sensor, or another known sensor or the like instead of or in combination with the forward image acquisition unit 61. It is also good. At this time, the forward image analysis unit 62 inputs data output from a laser radar, a millimeter wave radar, an ultrasonic sensor, a known sensor or the like instead of the image in front of the vehicle or in combination with the image in front of the vehicle. The above analysis may be performed to obtain forward information as described above.

  Furthermore, although in FIG. 1A, the in-vehicle image acquisition unit 41 and the front image acquisition unit 61 are illustrated as being attached to another place of the vehicle 1, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this. 41 and the front image acquisition unit 61 may be attached to the same place of the vehicle 1. Further, the in-room image acquisition unit 41 and the front image acquisition unit 61 may be provided in one and the same case.

  The road shape information acquiring unit 60 for acquiring road shape information in front of the vehicle 1 in the present invention can store and read road shape information in front of the vehicle 1 by itself based on the position information of the vehicle 1 or a network The navigation device may be replaced by a navigation device that can be obtained by the above-described method, or may be configured in combination with the above-described means by image analysis.

  The image generation unit 30 includes a processing unit 31 and a storage unit 32. The processing unit 31 includes, for example, one or more microprocessors, a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and any other integrated circuit (IC). The storage unit 32 is, for example, a rewritable random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), or a non-volatile memory. It has one or more memories capable of storing programs and / or data such as flash memory.

  The image generation unit 30 determines, according to the user viewpoint position 100 input from the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40, a use region 220 which is a portion used to display an image in the display region 210 of the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20. Do. The use area 220 is, for example, a range 220 of the pixels 22 used to display an image in the display area 210 which is the entire pixel 22 of the liquid crystal panel 21 in the example of the image display unit 20 shown in FIG. 1B.

  For example, the storage unit 32 of the image generation unit 30 stores a table in which the user viewpoint position 100 and the parameter for determining the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 are associated. The image generation unit 30 determines, for example, the use area 220 corresponding to the input user viewpoint position 100 by the processing unit 31 referring to the table.

  Further, for example, in the storage unit 32 of the image generation unit 30, an arithmetic expression for determining the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 is stored. The image generation unit 30 determines, for example, the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 to be input by the processing unit 31 calculating an arithmetic expression. The relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 and the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 will be described later.

  In addition, the image generation unit 30 uses the area of use 220 so that the upper end of the visually recognized virtual image area 300 becomes shorter toward the lower end according to the road shape information related to the road shape in front of the vehicle input from the front information acquisition unit 60. Correct the size of. The process of correcting the size of the use area 220 according to the road shape will be described later.

  The projection unit 50 projects the image displayed by the image display unit 20 toward the light transmitting member 2 such as the front window shield 2 of the vehicle 1. The light 80 constituting the projected image is reflected by the front window shield 2 into the passenger compartment. Hereinafter, the light 80 constituting the image is also referred to as the image light 80. The projection unit 50 projects an image such that the image light 80 reflected by the front window shield 2 is incident toward the user viewpoint 100. In addition, the light transmitting member 2 of the vehicle 1 may be a combiner provided in the vehicle 1.

  The user sitting in the driver's seat sees a virtual image 310 (see FIG. 2) on a virtual virtual image area 300 generated on the front side of the vehicle with respect to the front window shield 2 by the image light 80 entering the user viewpoint position 100. ) Can be viewed. The user can view, for example, the virtual image 310 on the virtual image area 300 in a state where at least a part of the view seen through the front window shield 2 and the virtual image area 300 overlap. In the virtual image area 300, for example, a virtual image 310 which is a virtual image of the image displayed on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 is visually recognized.

  An example of the structure of the projection unit 50 will be described using FIG. 1C. The projection unit 50 accommodates, for example, an optical system such as the plane mirror 54 and the concave mirror 55 and the actuator 56 in the housing 51. The housing 51 includes, for example, an upper case 52 and a lower case 53 which are disposed in the dashboard 4 of the vehicle 1 and formed of a black light shielding synthetic resin or the like. An upper case opening 52 a is provided substantially in the middle of the upper case 52 in the z-axis direction. The upper case opening 52a is covered with a transparent cover 57 formed of, for example, a transparent translucent synthetic resin. For example, a lower case opening 53 a is provided on the vehicle rear side of the lower case 53. The lower case opening 53 a is provided in the lower case 53 so that the image light 80 emitted from the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 attached to the outside of the housing 51 can enter, for example.

  The flat mirror 54 is attached to the vehicle rear side of the lower case 53 via, for example, an attachment member (not shown). The mounting position and the mounting angle of the flat mirror 54 are fixed so as to reflect the image light 80 emitted from the display surface 21 incident from the lower case opening 53 a in the forward direction of the vehicle, for example.

  The concave mirror 55 is attached, for example, on the front side of the flat mirror 54 of the lower case 53 via the actuator 56. The concave mirror 55 can be rotated by, for example, the x-axis as an axis of rotation by the actuator 56. The concave mirror 55 is, for example, fixed in position so as to receive the image light 80 reflected by the plane mirror 54, and the attachment angle is finely adjusted so as to reflect the incident image light 80 toward the front window shield 2 . Note that, for example, a table or an arithmetic expression for determining the user viewpoint position 100 stored in the storage unit 32 of the image generation unit 30 and the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 is corrected according to the attachment angle. Ru.

  The actuator 56 includes, for example, a motor, a decelerating mechanism, a concave mirror rotation member, and a support member of the concave mirror 55, none of which are shown. The actuator 56 is, for example, attached to the lower case 53 below the concave mirror 55 in the vertical direction via an attachment member (not shown). The actuator 56 rotates the motor according to a signal input from an actuator control unit (not shown), decelerates the rotation of the motor by the decelerating mechanism, transmits it to the concave mirror rotation member, and rotates the concave mirror 55. The actuator 56 need not necessarily be provided.

  Further, in the upper case 52 of the case 51 of FIG. 1C, a light shielding portion 52 b is provided between the upper case opening 52 a and the plane mirror 54. The light shielding portion 52 b is provided, for example, in order to prevent the light from the outside of the housing 51 incident from the upper case opening 52 a from traveling to the image display unit 20. The example of the structure of the projection part 50 demonstrated with reference to FIG. 1C is only an example, and does not restrict | limit the structure of the projection part 50 of the display apparatus 10 for vehicles at all.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a landscape and a virtual image 310 seen by the user sitting on the driver's seat of the vehicle 1 through the front window shield 2. In the example shown in FIG. 2, as an example of the view seen through the front window shield 2, a 3-lane road (road 91) extending in front of the vehicle and another vehicle (forward vehicle 92) existing in front of the vehicle are shown. . In the example of the scenery seen through the front window shield 2 shown in FIG. 2, the superimposed object 90 on which the virtual image 310 is superimposed is the road 91 or the forward vehicle 92. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the virtual image 310 is a navigation mark 311 which is superimposed and recognized on the road 91 and a notification mark 312 which is superimposed on the front vehicle 1 and which is visually recognized by the user.

  Further, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the area 300 is an area used to display the virtual image 310 corresponding to the use area 220 on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20. Hereinafter, the area 300 corresponding to the use area 220 on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 is also referred to as a virtual image area 300. That is, the virtual image area 300 is an area where the user can visually recognize the virtual image 310.

  The Ix-axis positive direction on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 in FIG. 1B corresponds to, for example, the x-axis positive direction, that is, the left direction of the vehicle in the virtual image region 300, for example. Similarly, the Iy-axis positive direction on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 of FIG. 1B corresponds to, for example, the y-axis positive direction, that is, the upper side in the vertical direction in the virtual image region 300.

  An example of the operation of the vehicular display device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. For example, when the power of the vehicle 1 is turned on, when the engine (not shown) is driven, or when the power of the vehicle 1 is turned on or the engine is driven, the operation of the vehicle display device 10 is in a predetermined standby state. It is started after the time has passed.

  In step S01, the forward information acquisition unit 60 acquires forward information (road shape information and obstacle information). In step S02, the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 acquires the user viewpoint position 100. Steps S01 and S02 do not necessarily have to be in this order, and the order may be reversed.

  In step S03, the image generation unit 30 generates an image including, for example, a notification mark, a navigation mark, and other marks, according to the forward information acquired by the forward information acquisition unit 60 in step S01.

  In step S04, the image generation unit 30 determines the use area 220 in the display area 210 of the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 according to the user viewpoint position 100 acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 in step S02. . Steps S03 and S04 do not necessarily have to be in this order, and the order may be reversed. In addition, the image generation unit 30 corrects the size of the use area 220 according to the road shape information acquired by the forward information acquisition unit 60 in step S01.

  In step S05, the image display unit 20 displays the image generated in step S03 using the total number of pixels 22 in the use area 220 determined by the image generation unit 30 in step S04. When the process of step S05 is performed, the flow returns to Start. Here, a predetermined standby is performed after the execution of the process of step S05 is finished until the flow returns to Start so that the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is repeatedly executed at predetermined intervals set in advance. Time may be inserted.

  The relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 and the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E and 5. FIG. On the left side of FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E, coordinate axes representing the user viewpoint position 100 in the real space y-axis and z-axis are shown. Also, on the right side of FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E, the display of the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 in the y-axis and z-axis in real space. In the area 210, a use area 220 used to display an image, which is determined by the image generation unit 30, is shown.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic view for explaining the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the virtual image area 300, and the range of distances on the road 91 of a landscape on which the virtual image area 300 overlaps in the display apparatus 10 for vehicles. It is a figure. Note that FIG. 5 illustrates the user viewpoint position 100 in order to make it easy to understand the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the virtual image region 300, and the distance range on the road 91 of the landscape on which the virtual image region 300 overlaps. Exaggerate the amount of change in Specifically, the distances in the vertical direction between the user viewpoint position 100r and the user viewpoint position 100u, and the user viewpoint position 100r and the user viewpoint position 100d shown in FIG. 5 are actually closer. As a result, FIG. 5 shows that the virtual image area 300r, the virtual image area 300u, and the virtual image area 300d do not overlap. However, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, in reality, at least the virtual image region 300r and the virtual image region 300u, and the virtual image region 300r and the virtual image region 300d partially overlap. Hereinafter, the range of the distance on the road 91 of the landscape on which the virtual image region 300 is superimposed is also referred to as a superimposed distance range 400.

  In FIG. 5, the virtual image region 300r at the user viewpoint position 100r shown in FIG. 4A, the virtual image region 300u at the user viewpoint position 100u shown in FIG. 4B, and the user viewpoint position 100d shown in FIG. And the virtual image area 300d of Further, in FIG. 5, of the scenery seen through the front window shield 2 at the user viewpoint position 100r, the overlapping distance range 400r which is the range of the distance on the road 91 of the landscape overlapping the virtual image region 300r, and the user viewpoint position. Of the scenery seen over the front window shield 2 at 100 u, the overlapping distance range 400 u which is the range of the distance on the road 91 of the scenery overlapping the virtual image region 300 u and the user viewpoint position 100 d Among the visible landscapes, a superimposed distance range 400d, which is a range of distances on the road 91 of the landscape to be superimposed on the virtual image region 300d, is shown.

  First, the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction and the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction will be described. The user viewpoint position 100r shown in FIG. 4A is represented at the intersection of the y-axis and the z-axis on the coordinate axes shown in FIG. 4A. Hereinafter, the user viewpoint position 100r shown in FIG. 4A is also referred to as a reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the reference user viewpoint position 100r, the image generation unit 30 displays the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 in step S04 shown in FIG. The use area 220 of the display area 210 is determined as the use area 220r shown in FIG. 4A. Hereinafter, the use area 220r corresponding to the reference user viewpoint position 100r shown in FIG. 4A is also referred to as a reference use area 220r.

  The user viewpoint position 100u shown in FIG. 4B is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 located vertically above the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100u, the image generation unit 30 displays the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 in step S04 shown in FIG. Of the display area 210, the use area 220 is determined to be the use area 220u shown in FIG. 4B.

  The use area 220 u shown in FIG. 4B is located on the Iy-axis positive direction side as compared to the reference use area 220 r. The length 221 u in the Iy-axis direction in the use area 220 u shown in FIG. 4B is longer than the length 221 r in the Iy-axis direction in the reference use area 220 r. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the virtual image area 300u corresponding to the use area 220u is located vertically above the real space in comparison with the virtual image area 300r corresponding to the reference use area 220r, and The length in the vertical direction in real space becomes long. The use area 220u overlaps a part of the reference use area 220r.

  That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves upward in the vertical direction, the position of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 is determined to be located on the Iy axis positive direction side. Further, the length of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 in the Iy-axis direction is determined to be longer as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 goes upward in the vertical direction. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves upward in the vertical direction, the virtual image region 300 is positioned above in the vertical direction in real space, and the vertical length in real space It will be longer.

  The user viewpoint position 100d shown in FIG. 4C is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 located on the lower side in the vertical direction compared to the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100d, the image generation unit 30 displays the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 in step S04 shown in FIG. Of the display area 210, the use area 220 is determined to be the use area 220d shown in FIG. 4C.

  The use area 220 d shown in FIG. 4C is located on the negative side in the Iy axis direction as compared to the reference use area 220 r. Further, the length 221d in the Iy axis direction in the use area 220d shown in FIG. 4C is shorter than the length 221r in the Iy axis direction in the reference use area 220r. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the virtual image area 300d corresponding to the use area 220d shown in FIG. 4C is lower than the virtual image area 300r corresponding to the reference use area 220r in the vertical direction in real space. Located in the real space, and the vertical length in real space is short. The use area 220 d overlaps a part of the reference use area 220 r.

  That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 goes downward in the vertical direction, the position of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 is determined to be located in the Iy axis negative direction side. In addition, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 goes downward in the vertical direction, the length of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 in the Iy axis direction is determined to be shorter. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 goes downward in the vertical direction, the virtual image region 300 is positioned below the vertical direction in real space, and in the vertical direction in real space The length of

  Here, referring to FIG. 5, the overlapping distance range 400r, the overlapping distance range 400u, and the overlapping distance range 400d coincide with each other. As in the example shown in FIG. 5, the amount of change in the vertical direction of the virtual image region 300 is smaller than the amount of change in the user view position 100 in the vertical direction. Then, for example, as the user viewpoint position 100 moves upward in the vertical direction, the angle between the line of sight where the user looks at the virtual image area 300 and the horizontal surface increases. On the other hand, for example, as the user viewpoint position 100 moves downward in the vertical direction, the angle between the line of sight where the user looks at the virtual image area 300 and the horizontal surface decreases.

  As a result, in order to make the overlapping distance range 400 constant without being influenced by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the vertical position of the virtual image region 300 is vertically made as the user viewpoint position 100 moves upward in the vertical direction. It is necessary to increase not only the upper side but also the vertical length. Similarly, in order to make the overlapping distance range 400 constant without being influenced by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the vertical position of the virtual image region 300 is set as the user viewpoint position 100 moves downward in the vertical direction. It is necessary to shorten not only the vertical direction but also the vertical length.

  That is, by appropriately determining the position in the Iy axis of the use area 220 and the length in the Iy axis according to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, superposition is performed without being influenced by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction. Distance range 400 can be made constant. When the overlapping distance range 400 becomes constant, it is possible to cope with the shift of the object in the landscape on which the virtual image 310 to be viewed by the user is superimposed.

  Subsequently, the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle longitudinal direction will be described. The user viewpoint position 100f shown in FIG. 4D is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 located in the forward direction of the vehicle as compared with the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100f, the image generation unit 30 displays the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 in step S04 shown in FIG. Of the display area 210, the use area 220 is determined to be the use area 220f shown in FIG. 4D.

  Both the length 222f in the Ix axis direction and the length 221f in the Iy axis direction in the use area 220f shown in FIG. 4D are compared with the length 222r in the Ix axis direction and the length 221r in the Iy axis direction in the reference use area 220r. And it's getting shorter. As a result, the virtual image area 300 corresponding to the use area 220f shown in FIG. 4D has a length in the lateral direction of the vehicle and a length in the vertical direction in real space as compared with the virtual image area 300 corresponding to the reference use area 220r. Both are short.

  That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 goes in the forward direction of the vehicle, both the length in the Ix axis direction and the length in the Iy axis direction of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 become shorter. To be determined. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 goes in the forward direction of the vehicle, the virtual image region 300 becomes shorter in both the length in the vehicle horizontal direction and the length in the vertical direction in real space .

  The user viewpoint position 100b shown in FIG. 4E is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 located in the vehicle backward direction as compared with the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100b, the image generation unit 30 displays the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 in step S04 shown in FIG. Of the display area 210, the use area 220 is determined to be the use area 220b shown in FIG. 4E.

  Both the length 222b in the Ix axis direction and the length 221b in the Iy axis direction in the use area 220b shown in FIG. 4E are compared with the length 222r in the Ix axis direction and the length 221r in the Iy axis direction in the reference use area 220r. You are getting longer. As a result, the virtual image area 300 corresponding to the use area 220b shown in FIG. 4E has a length in the lateral direction of the vehicle in real space and a length in the vertical direction as compared with the virtual image area 300 corresponding to the reference use area 220r. Both are long.

  That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 goes in the backward direction of the vehicle, both the length in the Ix axis direction and the length in the Iy axis direction of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 become longer To be determined. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 goes in the backward direction of the vehicle, the virtual image region 300 becomes longer in both the vehicle horizontal direction length and the vertical direction length in real space .

  For example, assuming that the virtual image area 300 is constant, the closer the distance between the user viewpoint position 100 and the virtual image area 300 (the distance in the vehicle longitudinal direction) is, the more of the scenery seen from the user viewpoint position 100 through the front window shield 2 The range of the landscape overlapping with the virtual image area 300 is wide. On the other hand, as the distance between the user's viewpoint 100 and the virtual image area 300 (the distance in the vehicle longitudinal direction) increases, the scenery that overlaps the virtual image 300 among the scenery seen from the user's viewpoint 100 over the front window shield 2 The range of

  As a result, in order to make the range of the landscape overlapping with the virtual image area 300 constant without being influenced by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle front-rear direction, the virtual image area 300 as the user viewpoint position 100 goes forward. It is necessary to shorten both the length in the left-right direction and the length in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Similarly, in order to make the range of the landscape overlapping with the virtual image area 300 constant without being influenced by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the virtual image area 300 as the user viewpoint position 100 goes in the vehicle backward direction. It is necessary to increase both the length in the left-right direction of the vehicle and the length in the vertical direction.

  That is, by appropriately determining the length in the Ix axis and the length in the Iy axis of the use area 220 according to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle longitudinal direction is influenced. Instead, the range of the overlapping landscape can be made constant. By making the range of the overlapping landscape constant, it is possible to cope with the shift of the object in the landscape on which the virtual image 310 to be viewed by the user is superimposed.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 7, the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 and the use area 220 corresponding to the forward information including the road shape information acquired by the forward information acquisition unit 60. explain. On the left side of FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, coordinate axes representing the user viewpoint position 100 in the real space in the y-axis and z-axis are shown. Further, on the right side of FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, an image in the display area 210 of the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 on the y axis and z axis in real space. A use area 220 used to display an image, which is determined by the generation unit 30, is shown. The image generation unit 30 causes the upper end of the virtual image area 300 to approach the lower end according to the forward information including the road shape acquired by the forward information acquisition unit 60 in step S01, in the use area 220 determined by the user viewpoint position 100. Thus, the correction is made to be a short correction correction area 221. Specifically, based on the road shape information acquired by the forward information acquisition unit 60 in step S 01, the image generation unit 30 has a curve or a T-shaped road in front of the vehicle 1. When it is determined that the unit does not overlap the road, the area of the use area 220 corresponding to the upper end side of the virtual image area 300 not overlapping the road is set as the non-use area 222 where the image is not displayed. It is set to a correction use area 221 capable of displaying an image.

  FIG. 7 shows the user's viewpoint 100 in the vertical direction, the corrected virtual image area 301 corrected by the road shape in front of the vehicle 1, and the road 91 of a landscape on which the corrected virtual image area 301 overlaps in the vehicle display device 10. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the relationship with the range of distance. Note that FIG. 7 illustrates the user viewpoint position in order to make it easy to understand the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the corrected virtual image region 301, and the distance range on the road 91 of the landscape on which the corrected virtual image region 300 is superimposed. The amount of change of 100 is exaggerated and expressed.

  In FIG. 7, a corrected virtual image region 301r at the user viewpoint position 100r shown in FIG. 6A, a corrected virtual image region 301u at the user viewpoint position 100u shown in FIG. 6B, and a user viewpoint position 100d shown in FIG. And a corrected virtual image area 301d at the time of. Further, in FIG. 7, among the scenery seen through the front window shield 2 at the user viewpoint position 100r, the corrected overlapping distance range 401r, which is the range of the distance on the road 91 of the scenery superimposed on the corrected virtual image region 301r, Of the scenery seen through the front window shield 2 at the viewpoint position 100u, the corrected overlapping distance range 401u which is the range of the distance on the road 91 of the scenery superimposed on the corrected virtual image region 301u and the front window at the user viewpoint 100d Among the scenery seen through the shield 2, a corrected overlapping distance range 401 d which is a range of distances on the road 91 of a scenery overlapping with the corrected virtual image region 301 d is shown. Further, in FIG. 7, among the scenery seen through the front window shield 2 at the user viewpoint position 100r, the virtual image is displayed according to the road shape ahead of the vehicle 1 in the virtual image region 300r determined by the user viewpoint position 100r. Of the non-overlapping distance range 402r, which is the range of distances on the road 91 of the landscape not to be performed, and the virtual image area 300u determined by the user viewpoint position 100u among the landscape seen over the front window shield 2 when the user viewpoint position 100u. Among them, the non-overlapping distance range 402u which is the range of the distance on the road 91 of the landscape where the virtual image is not displayed due to the road shape ahead of the vehicle 1 and the landscape seen over the front window shield 2 when the user viewpoint position 100d. , A virtual image area determined by the user viewpoint 100d Of 300d, and non-overlapping distance range 402d which is in the range of distance in landscape of the road 91 that does not perform a display of the virtual image is indicated by the road shape ahead of the vehicle 1.

  First, the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction and the use area 220 corresponding to the road shape ahead of the vehicle 1 will be described. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the reference user viewpoint position 100r, a road based on the forward information indicating the road shape in front of the vehicle 1 acquired in step S01 The area 222r of the use area 220r corresponding to a part of the virtual image area 300r which does not overlap is set as the nonuse area 222r which does not display the image, and the other area 221r is set as the correction use area 221r which can display the image. . Hereinafter, the correction use area 221r corresponding to the reference user viewpoint position 100r shown in FIG. 6A is also referred to as a reference correction use area 221r, and the nonuse area 222r is also referred to as a reference nonuse area 222r.

  The user viewpoint position 100u shown in FIG. 6B is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 located vertically above the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100u, it is superimposed on the road based on the forward information indicating the road shape in front of the vehicle 1 acquired in step S01. The area 222u of the use area 220u corresponding to a part of the virtual image area 300u is set as the nonuse area 222u where the image is not displayed, and the other area 221u is set as the correction use area 221u where the image can be displayed.

  The length 221ua in the Iy axis direction in the correction use area 221u shown in FIG. 6B is longer than the length 221ra in the Iy axis direction in the reference correction use area 221r. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the length in the vertical direction of the corrected virtual image region 301u in real space is increased.

  That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves upward in the vertical direction, the position of the correction use area 221 of the display surface 21 is determined to be located on the Iy axis positive direction side. Further, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves upward in the vertical direction, the length of the correction use area 221 of the display surface 21 in the Iy axis direction is determined to be longer. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves upward in the vertical direction, the corrected virtual image region 301 is positioned above in the vertical direction in real space and in the vertical direction in real space. Length will be longer.

  The user viewpoint position 100d shown in FIG. 6C is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 located on the lower side in the vertical direction compared to the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100d, it is superimposed on the road based on the forward information indicating the road shape in front of the vehicle 1 acquired in step S01. The area 222d of the use area 220d corresponding to a part of the virtual image area 300d not to be used is set as the nonuse area 222d not displaying the image, and the other area 221d is set as the correction use area 221d where the image can be displayed.

  The length 221da in the Iy-axis direction in the correction use area 221d shown in FIG. 6C is shorter than the length 221ra in the Iy-axis direction in the reference correction use area 221r. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the length in the vertical direction of the corrected virtual image region 301d in real space is shortened.

  That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 goes downward in the vertical direction, the position of the correction use area 221 of the display surface 21 is determined to be located in the Iy axis negative direction side. In addition, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 goes downward in the vertical direction, the length of the correction use region 221 of the display surface 21 in the Iy axis direction is determined to be shorter. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves downward in the vertical direction, the corrected virtual image region 301 is positioned below the vertical direction in the real space, and vertically in the real space. The length of the direction becomes shorter.

  That is, according to the road shape, the length in the vertical direction is shortened so that the upper end of the virtual image area 300 approaches the lower end (the size of the use area 220 is corrected to a reduced use area 221). The virtual image 310 is displayed at a position (e.g., a road shoulder or a wall around the road), which can prevent the viewer from feeling uncomfortable. Also, by appropriately determining the position of the correction use area 221 in the Iy axis and the length in the Iy axis according to the user viewpoint position 100, the correction overlap distance is not influenced by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction. The range 401 can be made constant. By making the correction overlapping distance range 400 constant, it is possible to cope with the shift of the object in the scenery on which the virtual image 310 visually recognized by the user is superimposed.

  As described above, the image generation unit 30 of the vehicle display device 10 of the present invention is used to display the image on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 according to the user viewpoint position 100 acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40. The use area 220 is determined. As a result, it is possible to adjust not only the position of the virtual image area 300 which is an area corresponding to the use area 220 and in which the user can view the virtual image 310, but also the size of the virtual image area 300. Therefore, in the vehicle display device 10, the user viewpoint position 100 is changed, for example, as compared with a vehicle display device in which only the position of the virtual image region 300 can be adjusted by changing the projection angle of the concave mirror 55 of the projection unit 50. When this happens, it is resolved that the object in the landscape on which the virtual image 310 is superimposed is displaced. Thus, the vehicle display device 10 of the present invention can provide the user with appropriate information without being influenced by the user viewpoint position 100.

  Here, the image generation unit 30 may determine the use area 220 according to only the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, or determines the use area 220 according to only the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. It is also good. However, with regard to the shift of the object in the landscape on which the virtual image 310 is superimposed, the change in the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction is more influential than the change in the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Therefore, it is preferable that the image generation unit 30 determines the use area 220 according to at least the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction.

  Then, according to the road shape information acquired by the road shape information acquisition unit 60, the image generation unit 30 of the display device 10 for a vehicle according to the present invention brings the upper end of the virtual image area 300 closer to the lower end and the vertical direction of the virtual image area 300 The length of the use area 220 is corrected so as to be short. Thus, the virtual image 310 is displayed at a position away from the road 91 (for example, a road shoulder or a wall around the road), so that the viewer can be prevented from feeling discomfort and the user's viewpoint in the vertical direction The correction overlapping distance range 401, which is the range of the distance in which the virtual image area 300 in which the virtual image 310 is displayed overlaps the road 91, can be made constant without being influenced by the position 100.

  Moreover, step S02 and step S04 shown in FIG. 3 described above do not necessarily have to be performed every time. For example, steps S02 and S04 may be executed only when the flow shown in FIG. 3 is executed for the first time after the power of the vehicle 1 is turned on. Thereafter, when the flow shown in FIG. 3 is executed a second time or later after the power of the vehicle 1 is turned on, the processes of steps S02 and S04 may be omitted. For example, while the user driving the vehicle 1 is not changed, there is a low possibility that the user viewpoint position 100 particularly in the vertical direction is greatly changed. Therefore, for example, coping with a shift in the object in the landscape on which the virtual image 310 is superimposed is obtained by acquiring the user viewpoint position 100 that drives the vehicle 1 only once after the power of the vehicle 1 is turned on, It is compatible with the speeding up of the operation of the display device 10 for a vehicle.

  Although the above is description of the display apparatus 10 for vehicles in this embodiment, this invention is not limited by the said embodiment and drawing. Of course, changes (including deletion of components) can be added to these. An example of a modification is shown below.

  The use area 220 in the present invention is, as shown in FIG. 8, a first use area 230 corresponding to a first virtual image area (not shown) in the virtual image area 300 and a position vertically lower than the first virtual image area. The image generation unit 30 includes at least a second use area 240 corresponding to a second virtual image area (not shown), and the image generation unit 30 performs the first operation according to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40. The second use area is determined without changing the size of the second use area 240 according to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction acquired by the view position acquisition unit 40 while determining the position and size of the use area 230. Only the position of 240 may be determined. Thus, when the user viewpoint position 100 changes in the vertical direction, the size in the vertical direction of the second virtual image area in the real space corresponding to the second use area 240 hardly changes. As a result, for example, even when an image composed of characters or the like is displayed in the second use area 240, when the viewpoint position of the user changes in the vertical direction, the user enters the second virtual image area. It is possible to prevent the difficulty of recognizing the information represented in the displayed virtual image.

  The size of the second use area 240 may be changed according to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40. In this case, the rate of change according to the change of the user viewpoint position 100 of the second use area 240 is smaller than the rate of change of the first use area 230. As a result, compared to the case where only the size of the first use area 230 is changed, the amount of change in the size of the first use area 230 can be suppressed small, and when the viewpoint position of the user changes in the vertical direction It is possible to prevent the user from having difficulty in recognizing information represented in the virtual image displayed in the first virtual image area.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, the image 250 displayed in the display area 210 includes a plurality of images 251, images 252, and images 253 aligned substantially along the Iy axis direction from the Iy axis positive direction side of the display surface 21. When the size of the use area 220 in the Iy-axis direction is reduced and corrected according to the road shape information, only the partial image 251 and the image 252 are corrected as shown in FIG. 9B. It may be displayed in the use area 221.

  The display apparatus for vehicles of the present invention is suitable for a head-up display which is mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle and allows a viewer to visually recognize a virtual image.

  Reference Signs List 1: vehicle 2: front window shield 10: display device for vehicle 20: image display unit, liquid crystal panel module, 21: display surface, liquid crystal panel, 30: image Generation unit 40 40 viewpoint position acquisition unit 41 vehicle interior image acquisition unit 42 vehicle interior image analysis unit 50 projection unit 60 front information acquisition unit (road shape Information acquisition unit) 80: image light 100: user's viewpoint position 210: display area 220: use area 300: virtual image area 310: virtual image 400・ Overlap distance range

Claims (5)

A viewpoint position acquisition unit (40) that acquires the position of the viewpoint of the user who sits in the driver's seat of the vehicle;
A road shape information acquisition unit (60) that acquires road shape information that is information on a road shape ahead of the vehicle;
An image display unit (20) having a display surface (21) capable of displaying an image;
The position of a use area used to display the image, which is a part of the display surface of the image display unit, according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit An image generator (30) for determining the length and displaying the image within the use area of the display surface;
By projecting light from the display surface toward the light transmitting member (2), a virtual virtual image area corresponding to the use area is generated, and a projection for displaying a virtual image corresponding to the image in the virtual image area And (50), and
The image generation unit determines the position and length of the use area corresponding to the vertical direction of the virtual image region according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit. The length of the use area is corrected so that the upper end of the virtual image area approaches the lower end and the vertical direction of the virtual image area becomes shorter according to the road shape information acquired by the road shape information acquisition unit.
And a display device for a vehicle. The image generation unit is configured such that, as the position of the viewpoint of the user acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit moves upward in the vertical direction, the position of the use area on the display surface While the size of the use area is largely determined in the direction corresponding to the vertical direction of the virtual image area,
The image generation unit is configured such that, as the position of the viewpoint of the user acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit moves downward, the virtual image region becomes lower on the position of the use area on the display surface. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the direction is determined, and the size of the use area is determined to be smaller in a direction corresponding to the vertical direction of the virtual image area.   The image generation unit is not affected by a change in the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction, and the distance on the road surface of the landscape on which the virtual image region is superimposed in the landscape viewed by the user through the translucent member. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the position and the size of the use area are determined on the display surface so that the range is constant. The use area is a first use area corresponding to a first virtual image area in the virtual image area, and a second use area corresponding to a second virtual image area located below the first virtual image area and visually recognized. , At least,
The image generation unit determines the position and size of the first use area according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit.
The image generation unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the position of the second use area is determined according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit. The display apparatus for vehicles as described in-. The use area is a first use area corresponding to a first virtual image area in the virtual image area, and a second use area corresponding to a second virtual image area located below the first virtual image area and visually recognized. , At least,
The image generation unit determines the position and size of the first use area according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit.
The image generation unit determines the position and size of the second use area according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit.
The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a change rate according to a change in the position of the viewpoint of the user in the second use area is smaller than the change rate of the first use area. Display device.

Images