JP6418189B2 - Vehicle interior indicator display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle interior indicator display device.

  The driver of the vehicle will drive while checking the situation outside the vehicle through the front window glass. In Patent Document 1, for the purpose of driving assistance, when a cautionary object (for example, a dangerous obstacle such as a pedestrian) is detected ahead, an indicator provided on the interior material of the passenger compartment moves toward the cautionary object. It is disclosed that the display is made (moving).

JP 2006-331040 A

  By the way, at night, a driver who is in a dark room is immersive and difficult to recognize the space (decrease in space recognition ability). For this reason, it is difficult to grasp the position of the host vehicle and the behavior of the vehicle. It becomes. From this point of view, it is brightly displayed at night so that it can be easily seen by the driver at a position offset in the left-right direction with respect to the driver (for example, a vehicle interior material located near the left and right ends of the front window glass). It is considered that the driver can grasp the position of the index by providing the index and the driver can recognize the position of the index.

  However, when the above indicators are provided, for example, even when the driver should watch the outside of the vehicle, such as when an obstacle is detected ahead, the driver's consciousness is only outside the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to focus on the indicators, and it is possible that the concentration of consciousness toward the outside of the vehicle is hindered (dispersion of consciousness). Especially at night, it is difficult to see the outside of the vehicle, so countermeasures in this respect are important.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to increase the driver's space awareness at night and to concentrate the driver's awareness outside the vehicle in situations where the outside of the vehicle should be watched. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle interior indicator display device which can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, the following solution is adopted in the present invention. That is, as described in claim 1,
Indicator display means for displaying a pair of left and right indicators so as to stand out from the driver at night in the vicinity of the left and right ends of the windshield facing the vehicle traveling direction,
Gaze situation determination means for determining that the driver is in a situation to gaze outside the vehicle through the front window glass ;
Index control means for controlling the index display means so that the index is less noticeable when it is determined by the gaze status determination means that the driver is in a situation where the driver should look outside the vehicle;
Bei to give a,
The indicator is assumed to have a vector component in the vehicle traveling direction.
The gaze situation determination means determines that the driver should gaze outside the vehicle when turning right or left.
It is like that.

  According to the above solution, the driver can easily check the position of the index at night, and the space recognition (ability) at night will increase based on the position of the index to clearly recognize the position of the vehicle. This makes it easier to grasp the behavior of the vehicle. In addition, the indicator is less noticeable in situations where the outside of the vehicle should be watched, so that the driver's awareness is prevented from being dispersed toward the indicator, and the driver's awareness is concentrated on the outside of the vehicle. be able to.

Further, the direction indicated by the indicators are set to be the traveling direction of the vehicle, which is preferable in terms of clearly to recognize the traveling direction of the host vehicle to the driver at night.

In addition to the above, a pair of left and right indicators are displayed in the vicinity of the left and right end portions of the front window glass, which is preferable for further enhancing the driver's night space recognition. Further, the driver's consciousness can be concentrated outside the vehicle in the left turn direction or outside the vehicle in the right turn direction.

A preferred mode based on the above solution is as described in claim 2 and the following. That is,
The indicator is lit up,
The indicator control means makes the indicator less noticeable by dimming or turning off the indicator.
(Corresponding to claim 2 ). In this case, the degree of visibility of the index can be easily adjusted.

The indicator control means makes the indicator less noticeable by reducing the display area of the indicator (corresponding to claim 3 ). In this case, the degree of visibility of the index can be easily adjusted.

The gaze situation determination means determines that the driver should gaze outside the vehicle when an intersection is present in front of the vehicle (corresponding to claim 4 ). In this case, the driver's consciousness can be concentrated toward the intersection in front of the vehicle.

The gaze status determination means determines that the driver should gaze outside the vehicle when an obstacle is detected in front of the vehicle (corresponding to claim 5 ). In this case, the driver's consciousness can be concentrated toward the obstacle ahead.

  The index control means makes only one index existing in the vehicle turning direction out of the pair of left and right indices less noticeable when turning right or left (corresponding to claim 6).

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a driver | operator's consciousness can be concentrated toward a vehicle exterior in the condition which should pay attention to the vehicle exterior, improving a driver | operator's space recognition power at night.

The figure which shows the display mode of the parameter | index at the time of straight running. The figure which shows the display mode of the parameter | index when a dangerous substance exists ahead. The figure which shows the display mode of the parameter | index at the time of a left turn. The figure which shows the example of a control system of this invention. The flowchart which shows the example of control of this invention.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is a front window glass, 2R and 2L are left and right front pillars, 3 is an instrument panel, and 4 is a steering wheel.

  A pair of left and right indicators 10R and 10L are provided at positions offset in the left-right direction of the driver (driver sitting in the driver's seat), specifically, on the upper surfaces of the left and right end portions of the instrument panel 3. . The indicators 10R and 10L are constituted by, for example, a thin film type display using liquid crystal or organic EL or a display using LED light.

  The indicators (indicator indicators) 10R and 10L are in a bar-like (bar-like) display mode, and can be switched between lighting, dimming, and extinguishing. In FIG. 1, the indicators 10R and 10L are hatched to show that the indicators 10R and 10L are lit. Further, in FIGS. 2 and 3 to be described later corresponding to FIG. 1, the indicators 10R and 10L are shown in white to indicate that the indicators 10R and 10L are turned off.

  In FIG. 1, examples of optical flows (vectors indicating scenery flow) radially extending from the infinitely far point (disappearance point) O ahead of the driver to the host vehicle when traveling straight are indicated as OP1 and OP2. The optical flow OP1 is shown to gradually extend downward and to the right as it goes rearward, and pass through the upper surface position of the right end portion of the instrument panel 3. The optical flow OP2 is shown extending gradually downward and to the left as it goes rearward, and passing through the upper surface position of the left end portion of the instrument panel 3.

  The right indicator 10R that is lit and displayed in a bar shape is set to face in the same direction as the extension line of the optical flow OP1 (so as to overlap). The left indicator 10L that is lit and displayed in a bar shape is set to face in the same direction as the extension line of the optical flow OP2 (so as to overlap). Such a pair of left and right indicators 10R and 10L is displayed in such a manner that the interval gradually decreases toward the front (display in a C shape in plan view).

  The indicators 10R and 10L are turned off during the day and turned on at night. At night, the driver can easily check the positions of the pair of left and right indicators 10R and 10L that are lit. That is, the driver can increase the space recognition (ability) at night based on the positions of the indicators 10R and 10L, can clearly recognize the position of the host vehicle, and can easily understand the behavior of the vehicle. . The indicators 10R and 10L, which are lit and displayed in a bar shape, have a vector component in the same direction as the optical flows OP1 and OP2 during straight traveling, so that the driver clearly recognizes the traveling direction of the vehicle. be able to.

  FIG. 2 corresponding to FIG. 1 shows a state when a dangerous object (obstacle) B is detected ahead, that is, a state in which the driver should watch the outside of the vehicle ahead. At this time, as indicated by an arrow Y1 in the figure, the indicators 10R and 10L are turned off to concentrate the driver's consciousness on the dangerous object B. That is, by turning off the indicators 10R and 10L, it is possible to prevent the driver's consciousness from being dispersed toward the indicators 10R and 10L.

  In FIG. 3 corresponding to FIG. 1, a state at the time of a left turn, that is, a state in which the driver should watch the outside of the left front vehicle is shown, as indicated by an arrow Y <b> 2 in the drawing. At this time, the indicators 10R and 10L are turned off to concentrate the driver's consciousness outside the left front vehicle. By turning off the indicators 10R and 10L, it is possible to prevent the driver's consciousness from being dispersed toward the indicators 10R and 10L. Although not shown, the indicators 10R and 10L are extinguished so as to concentrate the driver's consciousness outside the right front vehicle when turning right. Also, when there is an intersection ahead of the vehicle within a predetermined distance range, the indicators 10R and 10L are turned off because it is a situation in which the outside of the vehicle ahead should be watched.

  Next, an example of a control system mounted on the vehicle in connection with the control of the indicators 10R and 10L will be described with reference to FIG. First, U is a controller (control unit) configured using a microcomputer, and the indicators 10R and 10L are controlled by the controller U. Signals from various sensors or devices S1 to S5 are input to the controller U. S1 is a switch for turning on / off lights (particularly headlights). S2 is a steering angle sensor that detects a steering angle. S3 is a navigation device for obtaining map information and the vehicle position. S4 is a camera outside the vehicle and detects obstacles ahead. S5 is a radar that detects the distance to the obstacle ahead.

  Next, an example of control by the controller U will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the following description, Q indicates a step. First, in Q1, it is determined whether or not the light switch S1 is on, and this determination is whether or not it is nighttime. When YES is determined in Q1, that is, at night, the indicators 10R and 10L are lit and displayed in Q2 (corresponding to FIG. 1).

  After Q2, in Q3, it is determined whether or not a dangerous object has been detected ahead (detection of a dangerous object using the camera S4 and the radar S5). If YES in Q3, the indicators 10R and 10L are turned off in Q6 (corresponding to FIG. 2).

  If the determination in Q3 is NO, it is determined in Q4 whether the vehicle is turning left or right (detection using the steering angle sensor S2). When the determination in Q4 is YES, the process proceeds to Q6 and the indicators 10R and 10L are turned off (corresponding to FIG. 3).

  If the determination in Q4 is NO, it is determined in Q5 whether or not there is an intersection ahead (detection using camera S4, radar S5 or detection using navigation device S3). When the determination in Q5 is YES, the process proceeds to Q6, and the indicators 10R and 10L are turned off. When the determination in Q5 is NO, the indicators 10R and 10L are kept off without being turned off.

  Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and appropriate modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. In order to make the indicators 10R and 10L inconspicuous, they may be dimmed instead of turned off. Further, the indicators 10R and 10L may be made inconspicuous by reducing the display areas of the indicators 10R and 10L (for example, reducing the area range to be lit). The indicators 10R and 10L can be projected and displayed by a projection mapping apparatus provided on the instrument panel 3, for example. The indicators 10R and 10L are configured as a phosphorescent type that is stored by daylight, and in order to make the display less conspicuous, an appropriate cover member is provided to cover the indicators 10R and 10L. You can adopt one. When turning left or right, only one of the left and right indicators existing in the turn direction may be made inconspicuous (for example, when turning left as shown in FIG. 3, only the left indicator 10L is turned off or dimmed).

  The indicators 10R and 10L may be provided so as to be offset only on either the left or right side of the driver. In particular, when provided only on the left or right side, the vehicle width direction on the side of the passenger seat that is far away from the driver It is preferable to provide at a position close to the outer side end. The indicators 10R and 10L are not limited to the vicinity of the front window glass 1, but are provided in the vicinity of the side window glass of the driver side door or the passenger side door that the driver's line of sight may turn when turning left or right. Also good. The vehicle interior material provided with the indicators 10R and 10L is not limited to the instrument panel 3, but may be appropriately selected such as the front pillars 2R and 2L (especially the lower end), and the side door (particularly the front upper edge). You can choose one. The height position at which the indicators 10R and 10L are provided is set to a position lower than the driver's eye position so that the driver is not unnecessarily dazzled and the driver's awareness. Is preferable in order not to concentrate too much on the indicators 10R and 10L. The indicators 10R and 10L may have an appropriate shape such as a circular shape or a polygonal shape, and may have a shape that does not have a vector component in the vehicle traveling direction. Each step or step group shown in the flowchart indicates the function of the controller U, and the name indicating the function can be attached to the name of the means so as to be grasped as a constituent requirement of the controller U. Of course, the object of the present invention is not limited to what is explicitly stated, but also implicitly includes providing what is substantially preferred or expressed as an advantage.

  The present invention can provide a suitable one at night driving.

1: Front window glass 2R, 2L: Front pillar 3: Instrument panel 4: Steering wheel 10R, 10L: Indicator (indicator indicator)
OP1, OP2: Optical flow Y1, Y2: Arrow (driver's line-of-sight direction)
U: Controller S1: Light switch S2: Rudder angle sensor S3: Navigation device S4: Outside camera S5: Radar

Claims (6)

Indicator display means for displaying a pair of left and right indicators so as to stand out from the driver at night in the vicinity of the left and right ends of the windshield facing the vehicle traveling direction,
Gaze situation determination means for determining that the driver is in a situation to gaze outside the vehicle through the front window glass ;
Index control means for controlling the index display means so that the index is less noticeable when it is determined by the gaze status determination means that the driver is in a situation where the driver should look outside the vehicle;
Bei to give a,
The indicator is assumed to have a vector component in the vehicle traveling direction.
The gaze situation determination means determines that the driver should gaze outside the vehicle when turning right or left.
A vehicle interior indicator display device characterized by the above. In claim 1 ,
The indicator is lit up,
The indicator control means makes the indicator less noticeable by dimming or turning off the indicator.
A vehicle interior indicator display device characterized by the above. In claim 1 or claim 2 ,
The vehicle indoor indicator display device, wherein the indicator control means makes the indicator less conspicuous by reducing the display area of the indicator. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3 ,
The vehicle indoor indicator display device characterized in that the gaze status determination means determines that the driver should gaze outside the vehicle when an intersection exists in front of the vehicle. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4 ,
The vehicle indoor index display device according to claim 1, wherein the gaze state determination unit determines that the driver should gaze outside the vehicle when an obstacle is detected in front of the vehicle. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 5,
  The vehicle interior indicator display device characterized in that the indicator control means makes only one indicator existing in the turning direction of the vehicle out of the pair of left and right indicators less noticeable when turning right or left.

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