JP5206512B2 - Vehicle information display control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle information display control device that controls information display by a display in a vehicle.

  In recent years, a switch unit for operating an in-vehicle device such as an audio device or an air conditioner device has been provided on a steering wheel of a vehicle. In response to this, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for displaying operation information relating to the operation state of the switch unit in the steering wheel and operation information relating to the operation state of the vehicle-mounted device in accordance with the operation of the switch unit using a display.

  Specifically, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, a head-up display (hereinafter referred to as “HUD”) that projects operation information and operation information onto a front windshield of a vehicle and displays a virtual image is used as a display. Yes. When the display controller receives a signal output from the switch unit according to the operation of the switch unit, the operation information is displayed as a virtual image. In addition, when a signal output from the switch unit in response to the operation of the switch unit is received by the in-vehicle device, the in-vehicle device outputs a signal indicating an operation state to the display controller together with the corresponding operation, whereby the operation information is obtained. A virtual image is also displayed.

JP 2007-106353 A

  However, in the case of the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the operation information and the operation information can be displayed at the same time, the display sizes of the information are inevitably small, and there is a concern that the visibility of the vehicle occupant is reduced. Is done. In particular, in a configuration in which information is displayed in a virtual image using a front windshield, the display size needs to be limited so that the field of view of the vehicle occupant is not hindered by the virtual image display.

  Therefore, the present inventor has conducted earnest research on a technique for securing each display size of the information by switching each display of the operation information and the operation information according to the signal output from the switch unit and the in-vehicle device. As a result, a slight delay occurs in the signal output from the in-vehicle device that operates according to the signal with respect to the signal output from the switch unit according to the operation of the switch unit, so that the operation information is displayed before the operation information is displayed. It was found that flickering is likely to occur due to wasteful display that is displayed instantaneously.

  This invention is completed in view of such knowledge, The objective is to provide the information display control apparatus for vehicles for displaying required information timely and with sufficient visibility.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a switch unit for operating the in-vehicle device is provided in the steering wheel, and the operation information regarding the operation state of the switch unit in the steering wheel and the operation state of the in-vehicle device according to the operation of the switch unit. In a vehicle in which operation information is displayed by a display device, an apparatus for controlling information display by the display device, an operation detection means for detecting an operation signal output from the switch unit in response to an operation of the switch unit, and an operation signal Operation detection means that detects the operation signal output from the on-vehicle equipment that operates according to the operation time, and sets the delay time longer than the required time from the output of the operation signal by the switch unit to the output of the operation signal by the on-vehicle equipment, and operation detection After the operation signal is detected by the means, the operation is detected before the delay time elapses. If the unit detects the operation signal, a control command signal for displaying the operation information based on the operation signal prior to displaying the operation information based on the operation signal, a command means for outputting to the display unit, a command means After the operation signal is detected by the operation detection unit and the operation detection unit detects the operation signal until the delay time elapses, the operation information is displayed for a predetermined time after the operation information is displayed for a predetermined time. A control command signal for switching to is output to the display .

In this invention, after the detection of the operation signal output from the switch unit according to the operation of the switch unit, when the operation signal output from the in-vehicle device operating according to the operation signal is detected by the lapse of the delay time, Prior to the display of the operation information, the display is instructed to display the operation information. Here, since the delay time is set to be longer than the required time from the output of the operation signal by the switch unit to the output of the operation signal by the in-vehicle device, the operation information display based on the operation signal delayed to the operation signal is displayed on the operation signal. Therefore, priority can be given to the display of the operation information based on it. Therefore, when operating the switch unit, it is possible to switch to the display of the operation information related to the operation state after preferentially displaying the operation information related to the operation state of the in-vehicle device corresponding to the operation as the information particularly necessary for the vehicle occupant. Visibility can be secured by increasing the display size of each information. According to the above, it is possible to provide a vehicle information display control device that displays necessary information in a timely manner with good visibility.
Further, in the present invention, after detecting the operation signal output from the switch unit according to the operation of the switch unit, when the operation signal output from the in-vehicle device operating according to the operation signal is detected before the delay time elapses The display device is instructed to switch to the operation information display after the set time of the operation information display continues. Therefore, when operating the switch unit, it is possible to ensure the priority display time before switching to the operation information display for the display of the operation information particularly necessary for the vehicle occupant, so that the visibility of the operation information by the vehicle occupant is displayed. This is combined with the effect of increasing the size.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the set time is set to be longer than the time required for the vehicle occupant to visually interpret the operation information.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the command unit skips the display of the operation information when the operation detection unit does not detect the operation signal by the lapse of the delay time after the operation signal is detected by the operation detection unit. A control command signal for displaying operation information is output to the display. In this invention, after the detection of the operation signal output from the switch unit according to the operation of the switch unit, when the operation signal output from the in-vehicle device that operates according to the operation signal is not detected even if the delay time elapses, The display unit is instructed to display operation information that skips the display of operation information. Therefore, regardless of the operation of the switch unit, the operation information display based on the operation signal is realized without the operation information display based on the operation signal at the time when the operation signal is not output for the normal required time delayed by the operation signal. Can be done. According to this, it is possible to improve the timely display of necessary information.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the command means controls the erasure of the operation information being displayed after a predetermined display time has elapsed since the operation detection means once detected to be in a non-detection state. The command signal is output to the display. In the present invention, after the display time has elapsed after the detected operation signal is once in the non-detected state, the display device is instructed to erase the operation information being displayed based on the operation signal. Therefore, when the output of the operation signal stops due to the switch unit becoming non-operating, the display of the operation information that is unnecessary for the vehicle occupant is surely erased, so the timely display of necessary information can be improved. It is.

  The invention according to claim 5 is connected to a display that projects the operation information and the operation information onto the front windshield of the vehicle to display a virtual image, and controls the virtual image display. In this invention, since the operation information and the operation information are projected onto the front windshield of the vehicle and displayed as a virtual image by a display connected to the vehicle information display control device, there is a concern that the display size is limited. However, by switching the display of the operation information and the operation information, it is possible to increase the display size within an allowable range under such restrictions and to improve the visibility of the information.

It is a block diagram which shows the vehicle information display system by which the vehicle information display control apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention is integrated. It is a front view which shows the driver's seat front in the vehicle to which the vehicle information display system of FIG. 1 is applied. It is a schematic diagram which shows the operation information (a) and operation information (b) which are displayed with the indicator of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow of the information display by the vehicle information display control apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow of the modification of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a vehicle information display system 1 in which a vehicle information display control device 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as “display control device 100”) according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated. In addition to the display control device 100, the vehicle information display system 1 displays a switch unit 10 for operating the audio device 2 of the vehicle, and information regarding the operation state of the switch unit 10 and the operation state of the audio device 2. A display 50 is provided. The audio device 2 of the present embodiment is an “in-vehicle device” for outputting audio information such as radio reception information and media music information in the vehicle. For example, the audio device 2 is a radio receiver, a media player, a speaker, or the like. It is configured.

  First, the switch unit 10 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the switch unit 10 provided in the steering wheel 4 in front of the driver's seat 3 in the vehicle includes switches 11 and a switch control device 12.

  The switches 11 are disposed on the surface of the steering wheel 4 on the driver's seat 3 side, and a plurality of operation switches 11a, 11b, which can be operated by the occupant 5 on the driver's seat 3 in order to instruct a predetermined operation to the audio device 2 of the vehicle. 11c, 11d, and 11e are provided in the layout as shown in FIG. Each operation switch 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e consists of switch type sensors, such as a contact operation type and a pushing operation type, and outputs the signal of the voltage level according to each operation state. Functions corresponding to various operations of the audio device 2 are assigned in advance to the operation switches 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e. For example, in this embodiment, the operation switch 11a has a volume down function, the operation switch 11b has a volume up function, the operation switch 11c has a function for selecting an operation mode such as a radio mode or a media performance mode, and the operation switch 11d has a radio reception frequency. The operation control value decrement function such as the playing order of media and the operation switch value increment function is assigned to the operation switch 11e.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the switch control device 12 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a memory 12a, and each operation switch 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e of the switches 11, the audio device 2, the display control device 100, and the like. It is connected to the. The switch control device 12 is activated by turning on an ignition switch (not shown) of the vehicle and executes a computer program stored in the memory 12a. When the switch control device 12 detects the operation switch in the operation state based on the output signals from the operation switches 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e by the execution, the operation signal for identifying the operation switch is transmitted to the audio device 2. And output to the display control device 100. Here, when the audio device 2 detects an operation signal output from the switch control device 12, the audio device 2 performs an operation corresponding to the function of the operation switch identified by the operation signal, and displays an operation signal indicating the operation state. Output to 100. The operation of the display control apparatus 100 in response to the operation signal and the operation signal will be described in detail later.

  Next, the display device 50 will be described. The display device 50 provided in the instrument panel 6 of the vehicle is a so-called HUD composed of an image monitor 51, an optical system 52, and the like.

  The image monitor 51 includes, for example, a liquid crystal monitor and has a screen 51a for displaying information. The optical system 52 is formed by combining, for example, a mirror and a lens, and projects information displayed on the screen 51a of the image monitor 51 onto the front windshield 7 of the vehicle as an optical image. The information on the screen 51a is imaged in front of the front windshield 7 by such projection, and is displayed as a virtual image on the driver's seat 3 side as indicated by reference numeral 54 in FIG. As the information displayed in this way, two types of operation information 54 and operation information 56 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B are prepared.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the operation information 54 is a virtual image having a shape simulating the layout of the switches 11, that is, switch information 54a and 54b corresponding to the operation switches 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e, respectively. , 54c, 54d, 54e are displayed as virtual images. In particular, the operation information 54 of the present embodiment is directed to emphasize the correspondence information of the operation switches 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e in the operation state among the switch information 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, and 54e. A virtual image is displayed. In this case, the switch information 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, and 54e is instructed by, for example, changing the display color of the virtual image as shown in FIG. 3A (the same figure shows an example of the switch information 54a), and the virtual image. Is blinking, reversing the brightness of a virtual image, or a combination thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the operation information 56 indicates the operation state realized by the audio device 2 corresponding to the function of the operation switch operated among the operation switches 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e. It is displayed as a virtual image that is schematically indicated by, for example. For example, FIG. 3B illustrates operation information 56 that indicates a volume adjustment state in the audio device 2 when the operation switch 11a or 11b to which the volume down function or the up function is assigned is operated. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the display control device 100 is mainly configured by a microcomputer having a memory 100 a and is connected to the switch control device 12, the audio device 2, and the image monitor 51. The display control apparatus 100 is activated by turning on an ignition switch of the vehicle and executes a computer program stored in the memory 100a. With this execution, the display control device 100 displays the operation information 54 or the operation information 56 on the display device 50 in a virtual image according to the detection result of the operation signal output from the switch control device 12 and the operation signal output from the audio device 2. The control command signal is output to the image monitor 51. Here, in particular, the display control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment generates a control command signal so that the virtual image display of the operation information 54 and the virtual image display of the operation information 56 are switched at the same position with respect to the front windshield 7. In accordance with such a control command signal, the image monitor 51 displays the operation information 54 or the operation information 56 on the screen 51a and passes through the optical system 52, thereby realizing a virtual image display of the operation information 54 or the operation information 56.

  Hereinafter, the control flow of information display performed by the display control apparatus 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This control flow is started in response to an ON operation of the ignition switch of the vehicle, and is ended in response to an OFF operation of the ignition switch.

  In step S1 of the control flow, has an operation signal for identifying an operation switch in the operation state among the operation switches 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e of the switches 11 detected according to the output from the switch control device 12? Determine whether or not. As a result, while a negative determination is made, step S1 is repeatedly executed, and when an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S2.

  In step S2, the first timer T1 set in the memory 100a is initialized and its increment is started. Subsequently, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the measured value of the first timer T1 has reached a predetermined delay time Td. Here, the delay time Td is equal to or longer than the required time Tr with respect to the time Tr predicted to be required from the output of the operation signal by the switch control device 12 to the output of the operation signal by the audio device 2 according to the operation signal. (For example, about 300 ms).

  If a negative determination is made in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, it is determined whether or not an operation signal representing the operation state of the audio device 2 according to the operation signal has been detected according to the output from the device 2. As a result, while a negative determination is made, the process returns to step S3, and steps S3 and S4 are repeatedly executed until the delay time Td elapses from the execution time of step S2. The process proceeds to S5.

  In step S5, the second timer T2 set in the memory 100a is initialized and its increment is started. Subsequently, in step S6, based on the operation signal detected in the immediately preceding step S4, the operation information 56 relating to the operation state of the audio device 2 is displayed on the display 50 by generating a control command signal and outputting it to the image monitor 51. Let Subsequently, in step S7, it is determined whether or not the measured value of the second timer T2 has reached a predetermined set time Ts. Here, the set time Ts is preliminarily set to a time (for example, about 3 s) longer than the interpretation time Tm with respect to the time Tm necessary for the passenger 5 on the driver's seat 3 to visually interpret the motion information 56 displayed in the virtual image. Is set.

  While a negative determination is made in step S7, the process returns to step S6, whereby steps S6 and S7 are repeatedly executed. However, if an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S8. Also, when the delay time Td has elapsed from the execution time of step S2 and an affirmative determination is made in step S3, the process proceeds to step S8.

  Thus, in step S8, which follows either of steps S3 and S7, it is determined whether or not the operation signal is detected in accordance with step S1, and if an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, based on the operation signal detected in the immediately preceding step S8, the operation information 54 relating to the operation state of the switches 11 is displayed on the display 50 by generating a control command signal and outputting it to the image monitor 51. Then, the process returns to step S8. In step S9 immediately after the transition from step S7 through step S6 for displaying the motion information 56 as a virtual image, a control command signal is generated so that the virtual image display of the motion information 56 is switched to the virtual image display of the operation information 54. Done.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S8, the process proceeds to step S10, the third timer T3 set in the memory 100a is initialized, and the increment is started. Subsequently, in step S11, based on the detection signal in step S1 or S8 in which the detection of the operation signal was confirmed before the immediately preceding step S8, the virtual image display of the operation information 54 according to step S9 (the above-described operation information 56). (Including switching from virtual image display). Subsequently, in step S12, it is determined whether or not the measured value of the third timer T3 has reached a predetermined display time Ti. Here, the display time Ti is set in advance to a time (for example, about 1 s) longer than the confirmation time Tc with respect to the time Tc necessary for the occupant 5 on the driver's seat 3 to confirm the operation information 54 displayed in the virtual image. Has been.

  While a negative determination is made in step S12, steps S11 and S12 are repeatedly executed by returning to step S11. However, if an affirmative determination is made, the process proceeds to step S13. In step S <b> 13, the virtual image display of the operation information 54 is erased by generating a control command signal and outputting it to the image monitor 51. Thus, one routine of the control flow is completed, and the routine returns to step S1 to execute the next routine of the control flow.

  As described above, according to the display control device 100, after the operation signal output from the switch control device 12 is detected, the operation signal output from the audio device 2 is detected before the delay time Td has elapsed, and the operation information 54 is displayed as a virtual image. The virtual image display of the previous operation information 56 is realized at the set time Ts. Here, the delay time Td is not less than the required time Tr from the output of the operation signal to the output of the operation signal, and the set time Ts is not less than the time Tm necessary for visual interpretation of the operation information 56. Therefore, a virtual image display of the operation information 56 that is particularly necessary information for the occupant 5 when the switches 11 are operated is displayed on the operation signal regardless of the display based on the operation signal that is delayed with respect to the operation signal. The visual interpretation by the occupant 5 can be surely given priority over the virtual image display of the operation information 54 based on it.

  Furthermore, according to the display control apparatus 100, after the virtual image display of the operation information 56 is continued for the set time Ts, the display is switched to the virtual image display of the operation information 54 at the same position as the display. Further, according to the display control device 100, after detecting the operation signal output from the switch control device 12, when the operation signal output from the audio device 2 is not detected by the lapse of the delay time Td, the virtual image display of the operation information 56 is performed. By skipping, a virtual image display of the operation information 54 is realized at the scheduled display position. According to these, not only the timeliness of necessary information according to the operation of the switches 11 can be improved, but also the virtual image display of information 54 and 56 whose display size is restricted due to securing the field of view of the occupant 5. In addition, the display size can be enlarged within the allowable range under the restriction to improve the visibility.

  In addition, according to the display control apparatus 100, the operation information 54 being displayed is erased based on the operation signal after the display time Ti has elapsed after the operation signal once detected is in a non-detection state. Here, the display time Ti is equal to or longer than the time Tc necessary for confirming the operation information 54. Therefore, when the display of the operation information 54 becomes unnecessary for the occupant 5 due to the switches 11 being in a non-operation state, the display time Ti is displayed. It is possible to further improve the timely display of necessary information by securely deleting the information.

  In the embodiments described so far, the display control device 100 that executes steps S1 and S8 of the control flow corresponds to the “operation detection unit” recited in the claims, and the display control that executes step S4 of the control flow. The apparatus 100 corresponds to the “operation detection means” recited in the claims, and the display control apparatus 100 that executes steps S6, S9, S11, and S13 of the control flow corresponds to the “command means” recited in the claims. Equivalent to.

(Other embodiments)
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention is not construed as being limited to the embodiment described, and can be applied to various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. .

  Specifically, the “in-vehicle device” as an operation target by the switch unit 10 may be, for example, an air conditioner device, a navigation device, a communication device for mobile communication or an ETC, in addition to the audio device 2 as described above. . Therefore, the layout of the switches 11 (operation switches 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e) of the switch unit 10 and the shapes of the pieces of information 54 and 56 can be set as appropriate according to the type of the “vehicle equipment”. It is.

  As the display 50, in addition to the HUD that displays the information 54, 56 on the driver's seat 3 side as a virtual image as described above, for example, the information 54, 56 on the screen 51a of the image monitor 51 is displayed on the driver's seat 3 side as it is. You may do.

  As for the control flow of information display by the display control device 100, as shown in a modification in FIG. 5, the routine may be terminated after the process is directly shifted from step S3, S7 to step S9. . Thereby, it becomes possible to continue displaying the operation information 54 until at least the next operation of the switches 11.

1 vehicle information display system, 2 audio equipment, 3 driver's seat, 4 steering wheel, 5 passengers, 6 instrument panel, 7 front windshield, 10 switch unit, 11 switches, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e Switch, 12 Switch control device, 12a Memory, 50 Display, 51 Image monitor, 51a Screen, 52 Optical system, 54 Operation information, 54a, 54b, 54c, 54d, 54e Switch information, 56 Operation information, 100 Vehicle information display Control device / display control device (operation detection means / motion detection means / command means), 100a memory

Claims (5)

A switch unit for operating the in-vehicle device is provided in the steering wheel, and the operation information regarding the operation state of the switch unit in the steering wheel and the operation information regarding the operation state of the in-vehicle device according to the operation of the switch unit are displayed. In the vehicle displayed by the device, the device controls the information display by the indicator,
Operation detecting means for detecting an operation signal output from the switch unit in response to an operation of the switch unit;
An operation detection means for detecting an operation signal output from the in-vehicle device operating in response to the operation signal;
A delay time is set longer than a required time from the output of the operation signal by the switch unit to the output of the operation signal by the in-vehicle device, and after the operation signal is detected by the operation detection unit, the delay time elapses. When the operation detection unit detects the operation signal, a control command signal for displaying the operation information based on the operation signal is output to the display prior to displaying the operation information based on the operation signal. Command means;
Equipped with a,
The command means continues displaying the operation information for a predetermined set time after the operation signal is detected by the operation detection means and when the operation detection means detects the operation signal by the lapse of the delay time. A vehicle information display control device for outputting a control command signal for switching to display of the operation information for a predetermined time or more later to the display . The vehicle information display control device according to claim 1, wherein the set time is set to be longer than a time required for a passenger of the vehicle to visually interpret the operation information .   The command means skips the display of the operation information when the operation detection means does not detect the operation signal by the lapse of the delay time after the operation signal is detected by the operation detection means. 3. The vehicle information display control device according to claim 1, wherein a control command signal for displaying is output to the display.   The command means displays a control command signal for erasing the operation information being displayed after a predetermined display time has elapsed after the operation signal once detected by the operation detection means has been detected. The vehicle information display control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle information display control device outputs the information to a container.   The vehicle information display according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operation information and the operation information are projected to a front windshield of a vehicle and connected to the display that displays a virtual image, and the virtual image display is controlled. Control device.

Images