JP6896108B2 - Vehicle display control device and image display method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a display control device for a vehicle that displays an image on a head-up display mounted on the vehicle.

As a display device that presents information to the driver of a vehicle, a head-up display (HUD) that displays an image as a virtual image in the driver's field of view by displaying an image on a screen (for example, a front window) that the driver can see. Are known. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses an information display device that displays an image representing a road marking on a road surface on a head-up display along a guide path of a navigation device. The information display device of Patent Document 1 reduces the visibility of an image showing a road marking when the vehicle is unlikely to deviate from the guidance route, and prevents the image from depriving the driver of the driver's line of sight. ..

JP-A-2010-236915

The information display device of Patent Document 1 presents an image representing a road marking to the driver using a head-up display, but the driver cannot recognize the distance from the image to the intersection. For example, it is possible to display a numerical value indicating the distance to the intersection in addition to the image showing the road marking, but if the number of items to be displayed on the head-up display increases, it is not preferable because it causes the driver's line of sight to be deprived. ..

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a vehicle display control device capable of displaying an image on a head-up display that allows the driver to recognize the distance from the vehicle to a specific point. The purpose is to provide.

The vehicle display control device according to the present invention has a specific point information acquisition unit that acquires information on the distance from the own vehicle to a specific point in front of the own vehicle and information on an image associated with the specific point, and a specific point information acquisition unit from the own vehicle. When the tilt angle determination unit that determines the tilt angle of the image associated with the specific point based on the distance to the specific point and the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point are less than or equal to a predetermined threshold, the specific point is set. It is provided with a display control unit that displays the associated image on the head-up display of the own vehicle so that the associated image appears tilted by the inclination angle with respect to the road surface in front of the specific point, and the inclination angle determination unit is from the own vehicle. the inclination angle of the associated image to the specific point is displayed when the distance to a particular point falls below a predetermined threshold, the hand as the distance from the vehicle to a particular location decreases, becomes greatly It is something that changes like this.
The image display method according to the present invention is an image display method in a vehicle display control device, and the specific point information acquisition unit of the vehicle display control device provides information on the distance from the own vehicle to a specific point in front of the vehicle, and , The tilt angle determination unit of the vehicle display control device acquires the information of the image associated with the specific point, and the tilt angle of the image associated with the specific point is based on the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point. When the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point becomes less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, the display control unit of the vehicle display control device displays the image associated with the specific point on the road surface in front of the specific point. The head-up display of the own vehicle is displayed so that the tilt angle appears to be tilted, and the tilt angle determination unit is displayed when the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. The inclination angle of the image associated with the point is changed so as to increase as the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point decreases.

The vehicle display control device according to the present invention heads up the image associated with a specific point so that the image is tilted with respect to the road surface by an inclination angle determined based on the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point. Since it is displayed on the display, the driver can be made to recognize the distance from the own vehicle to a specific point.

Objectives, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent with the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle information display system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the relationship between the distance from the own vehicle to a specific point, and the inclination angle of an image. It is a figure which shows the example of the relationship between the distance from the own vehicle to a specific point, and the inclination angle of an image. It is a figure which shows the example of the relationship between the distance from the own vehicle to a specific point, and the inclination angle of an image. It is a figure which shows the example of the relationship between the distance from the own vehicle to a specific point, and the inclination angle of an image. It is a flowchart which shows the operation of the display control device which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the image display processing. It is a figure which shows the example of the hardware composition of the display control device. It is a figure which shows the example of the hardware composition of the display control device. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle information display system which concerns on Embodiment 3. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of a visibility determination part. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of a visibility determination part. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle information display system which concerns on Embodiment 4. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 4. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the vehicle information display system which concerns on Embodiment 5. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5. It is a figure for demonstrating operation of the display control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 5.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle information display system according to the first embodiment. Hereinafter, a vehicle equipped with a vehicle information display system is referred to as a "own vehicle".

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle information display system according to the first embodiment includes a vehicle display control device 10 (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “display control device”) and a own vehicle position acquisition device 21 connected to the display control device 10. It includes a map information storage device 22 and a head-up display (HUD) 25.

The own vehicle position acquisition device 21 is based on a positioning signal received from a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) satellite such as a GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite and information obtained from the own vehicle's mileage sensor, orientation sensor, and the like. Acquire the position of the own vehicle. The own vehicle position acquisition device 21 of the present embodiment can acquire highly accurate position information so that the lane in which the own vehicle is traveling can be identified.

The map information storage device 22 is a storage medium in which map information is stored. The map information stored in the map information storage device 22 of the present embodiment includes information on the position of each lane included in the road and the position and type of road markings drawn on the road surface of each lane. To do. The map information storage device 22 does not necessarily have to be mounted on the own vehicle, and may be, for example, a server that distributes map information to the display control device 10 by communication.

The head-up display 25 displays the image as a virtual image in the driver's field of view by displaying the image on a screen that the driver of the own vehicle can see. The head-up display 25 of the present embodiment uses the front window of the own vehicle as a screen. When the head-up display 25 displays an image, the image is superimposed on the landscape seen from the driver through the front window. To the driver, the image appears as if it were a virtual image in front of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display control device 10 includes a specific point information acquisition unit 11, a display control unit 12, and an inclination angle determination unit 13.

The specific point information acquisition unit 11 acquires information on the distance from the own vehicle to a specific point in front of the vehicle and information on an image associated with the specific point (hereinafter referred to as “specific point corresponding image”). In the present embodiment, the specific point is an intersection in front of the own vehicle, and the intersection as the specific point is an image showing the road marking of the lane in which the own vehicle is traveling at the intersection (hereinafter referred to as "road marking image"). ) Is associated. The data of the road marking image may be stored in the map information storage device 22 as a part of the map information, or may be stored in the display control device 10. Further, the specific point information acquisition unit 11 obtains the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point from the position of the own vehicle acquired by the own vehicle position acquisition device 21 and the position of the specific point acquired by the own vehicle position acquisition device 21. Can be calculated.

The display control unit 12 causes the head-up display 25 to display the image corresponding to the specific point when the distance from the own vehicle acquired by the specific point information acquisition unit 11 to the specific point is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. The head-up display 25 displays the image corresponding to the specific point on the front window of the own vehicle, so that the image corresponding to the specific point is displayed as a virtual image in the driver's field of view. At this time, the display control unit 12 processes the image corresponding to the specific point and displays it on the head-up display 25 so that the image corresponding to the specific point appears to be tilted with respect to the road surface. The display control unit 12 of the present embodiment displays the image corresponding to a specific point on the head-up display 25 so that the image can be seen rising from the road surface.

When the head-up display 25 can display a three-dimensional image with depth, the display control unit 12 does not need to process the image corresponding to the specific point, and actually tilts the image corresponding to the specific point and displays it. Just let me do it.

The tilt angle determining unit 13 determines the apparent tilt angle (hereinafter referred to as “tilt angle”) with respect to the road surface of the image corresponding to a specific point displayed by the head-up display 25. The tilt angle is determined based on the distance from the own vehicle to a specific point. The display control unit 12 of the present embodiment changes the tilt angle so that the tilt angle increases as the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point decreases.

Next, the operation of the display control device 10 will be described with reference to specific examples. As described above, in the present embodiment, the intersection in front of the own vehicle is a specific point, and the intersection as the specific point is an image of the lane in which the own vehicle is traveling at the intersection (road marking image). Are associated with each other.

For example, it is assumed that the own vehicle 100 is traveling in the right turn lane of the road as shown in FIG. In this case, an image showing a road marking in the right turn lane (an image of an arrow indicating a right turn) is associated with the intersection which is a specific point as a road marking image.

Specific point information acquisition unit 11 obtains the distance D _A from the vehicle 100 to the intersection, the data of a road marking image representing the road markings right turn lane. The display control unit 12, the distance by comparing the D _A with a predetermined threshold value D _T, if the distance D _A is smaller than or equal to the threshold D _T, and displays the road marking image in the head-up display 25. In the state of FIG. 2, since the distance D _A is greater than the threshold value D _T, the display control unit 12 are not able to display the road marking image in the head-up display 25. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, no image is superimposed and displayed on the landscape seen from the driver through the front window 101.

Thereafter, the vehicle 100 moves forward, the distance D _A from the vehicle 100 as shown in FIG. 4 to the intersection becomes equal to or smaller than the threshold value D _T, road way, the display control unit 12 is a head-up display 25 in FIG. 5 The marking image 200 is displayed. At this time, the display control unit 12 causes the head-up display 25 to display the road marking image 200 so that the road marking image 200 appears to rise up from the road surface as shown in FIG.

The inclination angle θ of the road marking image 200 with respect to the road surface, the tilt angle determination unit 13 determines based on the distance D _A from the vehicle 100 to the intersection. In this embodiment, the inclination angle determination unit 13, so that as the distance D _A smaller inclination angle theta is larger, varying the inclination angle theta.

For example, when the own vehicle 100 approaches the intersection as shown in FIG. 7, the inclination angle determining unit 13 increases the inclination angle θ of the road marking image 200 as shown in FIG. Correspondingly, the road marking image 200 displayed on the head-up display 25 by the display control unit 12 appears to rise as shown in FIG.

Further, when the own vehicle 100 advances to just before the intersection as shown in FIG. 10, the inclination angle determining unit 13 sets the inclination angle θ of the road marking image 200 to 90 ° as shown in FIG. Correspondingly, the road marking image 200 displayed on the head-up display 25 by the display control unit 12 looks upright as shown in FIG.

Thus, the display control apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, the road marking image 200, in a manner such that it appears tilted at an inclination angle θ in accordance with the distance D _A from the vehicle 100 to the intersection, a head-up display Display on 25. Therefore, from the driver's point of view, the road marking image 200 appears to rise as the own vehicle 100 approaches the intersection. Therefore, the driver can not only recognize the road marking of the lane in which the own vehicle is traveling from the road marking image 200, but also recognize the distance from the own vehicle 100 to the intersection.

Further, when the distance D _A from the vehicle 100 to the intersection is greater than the threshold value D _T is a road marking image 200 is not displayed. Further, even if the distance D _A is equal to or less than a threshold value D _T, the distance D _A is visible pivoting forward road marking image 200 when relatively large, since the area of the front window within 101 occupied by the road marking image 200 is small , The road marking image 200 suppresses the driver's line of sight from being deprived.

Incidentally, as long relationships inclination angle as the distance D _A from the vehicle 100 to the intersection becomes smaller θ increases monotonically is obtained, the method of determining the inclination angle θ by the inclination angle determination unit 13 may be an arbitrary method. For example, the inclination angle _{^{θ, θ = sin -1 {(}} D T -D A) / D T} and may be defined, in which case the relationship between the distance _{D A} and the inclination angle theta, as shown in FIG. 13 Become. Further, the inclination angle _{^{θ, θ = cos -1 (D}} A / D T) and may be defined, in which case the relationship between the distance _{D A} and the inclination angle theta is as shown in FIG.

In the example of FIGS. 13 and 14, the distance D inclination angle with respect to a change in _A theta is changing curve, as shown in FIG. 15, the inclination angle theta is linear with respect to changes in the distance D _A May change to. 15, the inclination angle theta, is an example of defined as _{θ = 90 · (1-D} A / D T). Further, as shown in FIG. 16, or provided the distance D _A segment angle of inclination θ is constant with respect to changes in the inclination angle θ may be or provided that changes discontinuously.

The head-up display 25, if it is possible to vary the apparent distance from the driver to the display position of the image (hereinafter referred to as "virtual image distance"), in accordance with a change in the distance D _A, a road marking image The virtual image distance of 200 may be changed. For example, as the distance D _A decreases as the road marking image 200 is seen approaching the driver, a fixed position is a road marking image 200 (e.g., an intersection close position) it may be seen stopped on.

In FIGS. 5, 9 and 12, the display position of the road marking image 200 is set to be a position that overlaps with the road, but the display position of the road marking image 200 is not limited to this. Further, in accordance with a change in the distance D _A, it may change the display position of the road sign image 200. For example, as the distance D _A is smaller, it may be moved toward the top display position of the road marking image 200.

Further, in accordance with a change in the distance D _A, it may change the display mode of the shape and color of a road marking image 200. For example, as the distance D _A is reduced, or modified to such shape of the road marking image 200 becomes longer, it may be or is changed to a more noticeable color.

In the present embodiment, only the road marking image of the lane in which the own vehicle is traveling is associated with the intersection as a specific point, but in addition, the road marking image of another lane such as an adjacent lane is also associated. It may be associated. That is, the intersection as a specific point may be associated with an image showing a road marking of the road on which the own vehicle is traveling. For example, when all the road marking images of the plurality of lanes included in the road on which the own vehicle is traveling are associated with the intersection as a specific point, the display control unit 12 displays the head-up display 25 with the plurality of road marking images. Display the road marking image. In that case, it is preferable that each road marking image is superimposed and displayed on the corresponding lane.

17 and 18 are flowcharts showing the operation of the display control device 10. The operation of the display control device 10 described above is realized by the display control device 10 executing the flow of FIGS. 17 and 18. Hereinafter, the operation of the display control device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18.

When the display control device 10 is activated, the specific point information acquisition unit 11 acquires the position of the own vehicle from the own vehicle position acquisition device 21 (step S1). Further, the specific point information acquisition unit 11 acquires the map information around the own vehicle from the map information storage device 22 and acquires the position of the specific point in front of the own vehicle (step S2). Then, the specific point information acquisition unit 11 calculates the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point from the position of the own vehicle and the position of the specific point (step S3), and whether or not the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. Is confirmed (step S4).

If the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point is larger than the threshold value (NO in step S4), the process returns to step S1. If the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point is equal to or less than the threshold value (YES in step S4), the process proceeds to the image display process (step S5), which is the process of displaying the image on the head-up display 25.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the image display process. When the image display process is started, the specific point information acquisition unit 11 acquires a specific point corresponding image associated with the specific point in front of the own vehicle (step S51). Further, the specific point information acquisition unit 11 again acquires the position of the own vehicle from the own vehicle position acquisition device 21 (step S52), and calculates the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point (step S53).

Subsequently, the tilt angle determination unit 13 determines the tilt angle when the display control unit 12 displays the image corresponding to the specific point on the head-up display 25 based on the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point (step S54). ..

Then, the display control unit 12 causes the head-up display 25 to display the image corresponding to the specific point (step S55). At this time, the display control unit 12 displays the image corresponding to the specific point on the head-up display 25 in such a way that the image corresponding to the specific point appears to be tilted with respect to the road surface by the tilt angle determined in step S54.

After that, the specific point information acquisition unit 11 confirms whether or not the own vehicle has reached the specific point (step S56). If the own vehicle has not reached the specific point (NO in step S56), the process returns to step S51, and if the own vehicle has reached the specific point (YES in step S56), the image display process ends. When the image display process is completed, the process returns to step S1 in FIG.

In the first embodiment, the image corresponding to the specific point is a road marking image of the lane in which the own vehicle is traveling. Therefore, if the own vehicle changes lanes during the image display process (FIG. 18), the image corresponding to the specific point changes. It will be. Therefore, it is necessary to repeatedly acquire the image corresponding to the specific point (step S51) until the own vehicle reaches the specific point (while it is determined as NO in step S56). However, if the image corresponding to the specific point does not change during the image display process, it is sufficient to acquire the image corresponding to the specific point (step S51) only once in one image display process. Therefore, in that case, when NO is determined in step S56, the process may return to step S52 instead of step S51.

19 and 20 are diagrams showing an example of the hardware configuration of the display control device 10, respectively. Each function of the components (specific point information acquisition unit 11, display control unit 12, and tilt angle determination unit 13) of the display control device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is realized by, for example, the processing circuit 50 shown in FIG. That is, the display control device 10 acquires the information on the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point in front of the own vehicle and the information on the image associated with the specific point, and based on the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point, The inclination angle of the image associated with the specific point is determined, and when the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point becomes less than a predetermined threshold, the image associated with the specific point is inclined by the inclination angle with respect to the road surface. A processing circuit 50 for displaying on the head-up display of the own vehicle is provided so that the image can be seen. The processing circuit 50 may be dedicated hardware, or may be a processor (Central Processing Unit (CPU), processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microprocessor, etc.) that executes a program stored in the memory. It may be configured by using a DSP (also called a Digital Signal Processor).

When the processing circuit 50 is dedicated hardware, the processing circuit 50 may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an FPGA (Field-Programmable). Gate Array), or a combination of these. The functions of the components of the display control device 10 may be realized by individual processing circuits, or these functions may be collectively realized by one processing circuit.

FIG. 20 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the display control device 10 when the processing circuit 50 is configured by using the processor 51 that executes the program. In this case, the functions of the components of the display control device 10 are realized by software (software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware). The software or the like is described as a program and stored in the memory 52. The processor 51 realizes the functions of each part by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 52. That is, when executed by the processor 51, the display control device 10 acquires information on the distance from the own vehicle to a specific point in front of the display control device 10 and information on an image associated with the specific point. The process of determining the tilt angle of the image associated with a specific point based on the distance from the vehicle to the specific point, and when the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point is less than a predetermined threshold, it corresponds to the specific point. It is provided with a process of displaying the attached image on the head-up display of the own vehicle so that the attached image appears tilted by the inclination angle with respect to the road surface, and a memory 52 for storing a program to be executed as a result. .. In other words, it can be said that this program causes the computer to execute the procedure and method of operation of the components of the display control device 10.

Here, the memory 52 is a non-volatile or non-volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). Volatile semiconductor memory, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), magnetic disk, flexible disk, optical disk, compact disk, mini disk, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) and its drive device, etc., or any storage medium used in the future. You may.

The configuration in which the functions of the component elements of the display control device 10 are realized by either hardware, software, or the like has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which a part of the components of the display control device 10 is realized by dedicated hardware and another part of the components is realized by software or the like may be used. For example, for some components, the function is realized by the processing circuit 50 as dedicated hardware, and for some other components, the processing circuit 50 as the processor 51 is stored in the memory 52. It is possible to realize the function by reading and executing it.

As described above, the display control device 10 can realize each of the above-mentioned functions by hardware, software, or a combination thereof.

<Embodiment 2>
In the second embodiment, the specific point is a point where the number of lanes on the road increases or decreases (hereinafter referred to as "lane number change point"), and the image associated with the specific point is displayed while the own vehicle is traveling at the lane number change point. It is an image (road marking image) showing the road marking of the lane. Except for this, the configuration and operation of the vehicle information display system are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The operation of the display control device 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to a specific example. For example, as shown in FIG. 21, the own vehicle 100 is traveling in a lane for both straight-ahead and right-turn (hereinafter referred to as "straight-ahead / right-turn lane"), and the straight-ahead / right-turn lane is a straight-ahead lane at a point where the number of lanes changes as a specific point. Suppose that the number of lanes increases after dividing into the right turn lane. In this case, an image showing a road marking of a straight-ahead / right-turn lane (an image of an arrow showing both a straight-ahead and a right-turn) is associated with a specific point where the number of lanes changes.

Specific point information acquisition unit 11 acquires the information of the distance D _A from the vehicle 100 to the number of lanes changes location, the road marking image of straight / right turn lane. The display control unit 12, the distance by comparing the D _A with a predetermined threshold value D _T, if the distance D _A is smaller than or equal to the threshold D _T, a head-up display 25 to display a road marking image. In the state of FIG. 21, since the distance D _A is greater than the threshold value D _T, the display control unit 12 are not able to display the road marking image in the head-up display 25. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22, no image is superimposed and displayed on the landscape seen from the driver through the front window 101.

Thereafter, the vehicle 100 is advanced, the distance D _A from the vehicle 100 to the number of lanes changes point as shown in FIG. 23 is equal to or less than the threshold value D _T, as shown in FIG. 24, the display control unit 12 is a head-up display The road marking image 200 is displayed on 25. At this time, the display control unit 12 displays the road marking image 200 on the head-up display 25 so that the road marking image 200 can be seen rising from the road surface.

The inclination angle of the road marking image 200 with respect to the road surface is the inclination angle determination unit 13, is determined based on the distance D _A from the vehicle 100 to the number of lanes changes location. The inclination angle determination unit 13, as such inclination angle increases the distance D _A is reduced, varying the inclination angle.

Then, as shown in FIG. 25, when the own vehicle 100 advances to just before the lane number change point, the inclination angle determining unit 13 sets the inclination angle of the road marking image 200 to 90 °. Correspondingly, the road marking image 200 displayed on the head-up display 25 by the display control unit 12 stands upright as shown in FIG. 26.

Thus, the display control apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment, the head-up display 25 to display a road marking image 200 at a tilt angle corresponding to the distance D _A from the vehicle 100 to the number of lanes changes location. Therefore, from the driver's point of view, the road marking image 200 appears to rise as the own vehicle 100 approaches the lane number change point. Therefore, the driver can not only recognize the road marking of the lane in which the own vehicle is traveling from the road marking image 200, but also recognize the distance from the own vehicle 100 to the lane number change point.

The distance D _A from the vehicle 100 to the number of lanes changes point road marking image 200 is not displayed is greater than the threshold value D _T. Since the distance D _A even falls below the threshold value D _T, the distance D _A is seen lying road marking image 200 when a relatively large forward area in front window within 101 occupied by the road marking image 200 is small, the road The marking image 200 suppresses the driver's line of sight from being deprived.

<Embodiment 3>
FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle information display system according to the third embodiment. The configuration of the vehicle information display system of FIG. 27 is such that the vehicle-mounted sensor 23 of the own vehicle is added to the configuration of FIG. 1, and the display control device 10 is provided with the visibility determination unit 14. Further, in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the specific point is an intersection in front of the own vehicle, and the intersection as the specific point is marked with a road marking of the lane in which the own vehicle is traveling at the intersection. The representative image (road marking image) is associated with it.

The in-vehicle sensor 23 can detect the position of an obstacle such as another vehicle existing around the own vehicle, and is composed of, for example, a camera or a radar.

The visibility determination unit 14 is based on the position of the own vehicle acquired by the own vehicle position acquisition device 21, the position of the obstacle detected by the in-vehicle sensor 23, and the position of the road marking acquired from the map information storage device 22. , Judge whether the road markings can be seen from the own vehicle. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 28, the visibility determination unit 14 indicates that the distance D ₁ from the own vehicle 100 to the vehicle in front 110 is larger than _{the distance D 2} from the own vehicle 100 to the tip of the road marking 120. , It is determined that the road marking 120 can be seen from the own vehicle 100, and if _{the distance D 1} is equal to or less than the distance D ₂ , as shown in FIG. 29, it is determined that the road marking 120 cannot be seen from the own vehicle 100.

The method of determining whether or not the road marking is visible from the own vehicle is not limited to the above method, and for example, it depends on whether or not the road marking is shown in the image of the front of the own vehicle taken by the camera which is the in-vehicle sensor 23. You may judge. In this method, it is determined that the road markings cannot be seen from the own vehicle even when the road markings are covered with snow or the road markings have disappeared due to wear of the road surface, for example.

The operation of the display control device 10 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment. However, in the third embodiment, the display control unit 12 operates so as to display the road marking image on the head-up display 25 only when the road marking cannot be seen from the own vehicle.

For example, as shown in FIG. 30, when the road marking is hidden by the vehicle 110 ahead and cannot be seen from the own vehicle, the display control unit 12 causes the head-up display 25 to display the road marking image 200 as in the first embodiment. However, as shown in FIG. 31, when the road marking is visible from the own vehicle, the display control unit 12 does not display the road marking image 200 on the head-up display 25.

According to the third embodiment, the road marking image is displayed by the head-up display 25 only when the road marking cannot be seen from the own vehicle and it is difficult for the driver to recognize the road marking. Since the road marking image is prevented from being displayed more than necessary, the risk of the driver's line of sight being deprived can be reduced. The technique of the third embodiment can also be applied to the vehicle information display system of the second embodiment.

<Embodiment 4>
FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle information display system according to the fourth embodiment. The configuration of the vehicle information display system of FIG. 32 is an addition of the navigation device 24 to the configuration of FIG. The navigation device 24 sets the planned travel route of the own vehicle based on the destination set by the driver, and provides the driver with route guidance so that the own vehicle travels along the planned travel route.

Further, in the fourth embodiment, the specific point is a point where the navigation device 24 guides the route of the own vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "guidance point"), and the guidance point as the specific point is the navigation device 24 at the guidance point. An image (hereinafter referred to as "guidance image") indicating a direction to be guided by

In FIG. 32, the own vehicle position acquisition device 21, the map information storage device 22, and the navigation device 24 are shown as separate blocks, but the own vehicle position acquisition device 21 and the map information storage device 22 are attached to the navigation device 24. It may be built-in.

The operation of the display control device 10 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to specific examples. For example, it is assumed that the navigation device 24 of the own vehicle 100 is set with a planned travel route for turning right at an intersection as shown in FIG. 33, and route guidance for turning right is performed at the intersection. In this case, the intersection that is the guidance point is a specific point, and the intersection is associated with an image showing the guidance for a right turn (an image of an arrow indicating a right turn) as a guidance image.

Specific point information acquisition unit 11 obtains the distance D _A to the guidance point from the vehicle 100, a guide image indicating a right turn. The display control unit 12, the distance by comparing the D _A with a predetermined threshold value D _T, if the distance D _A is smaller than or equal to the threshold D _T, a head-up display 25 to display the guide image. In the state of FIG. 33, since the distance D _A is greater than the threshold value D _T, the display control unit 12 are not able to display the guide image on the head-up display 25. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 34, no image is superimposed and displayed on the landscape seen from the driver through the front window 101.

Thereafter, the vehicle 100 moves forward, the distance _{D A} to the guidance point from the vehicle 100 as shown in FIG. 35 is equal to or less than the threshold value _{D T,} as the display control unit 12 of FIG. 36, a head-up display 25 Display the guide image 201. At this time, the display control unit 12 displays the guide image 201 on the head-up display 25 in such a way that the guide image 201 appears to be tilted with respect to the road surface.

The inclination angle of the guide image 201 with respect to the road surface is the inclination angle determination unit 13, is determined based on the distance D _A to the guidance point from the vehicle 100. Inclination angle determining section 13, the distance D _A as the inclination angle increases as decreases, changing the inclination angle.

For example, as shown in FIG. 37, when the own vehicle 100 approaches the guide point, the tilt angle determining unit 13 increases the tilt angle of the guide image 201. Therefore, the guide image 201 that the display control unit 12 displays on the head-up display 25 rises up as shown in FIG. 38.

Further, when the own vehicle 100 advances to just before the guide point as shown in FIG. 39, the tilt angle determining unit 13 sets the tilt angle of the guide image 201 to 90 °. Therefore, the guide image 201 displayed on the head-up display 25 by the display control unit 12 stands upright as shown in FIG. 40.

Thus, the display control apparatus 10 according to the fourth embodiment, the head-up display 25 to display the guide image 201 in tilt angle in accordance with the distance D _A to the guidance point from the vehicle 100. Therefore, from the driver's point of view, the closer the own vehicle 100 is to the guide point, the more the road marking image 200 appears to rise. Therefore, the driver can not only recognize the route guidance from the guidance image 201, but also recognize the distance from the own vehicle 100 to the guidance point.

The distance D _A to the guidance point from the vehicle 100 does not appear guide image 201 is greater than the threshold value D _T. Moreover, since even if the distance D _A is equal to or less than a threshold value D _T, when the distance D _A is relatively large visible guide image 201 is falling forward, the area occupied by the guide image 201 in the front window within 101 is small, the guide It is possible to prevent the driver's line of sight from being deprived by the image 201.

<Embodiment 5>
FIG. 41 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle information display system according to the fifth embodiment. The configuration of the vehicle information display system of FIG. 41 is the configuration of FIG. 32 with the addition of the lane change necessity determination unit 15 to the display control device 10.

In the fifth embodiment, as in the fourth embodiment, the specific point is a guide point where the navigation device 24 guides the route of the own vehicle, and the guide point as the specific point is the navigation device 24 at the guide point. A guide image indicating the direction to be guided is associated with the guide image.

The lane change necessity determination unit 15 sets the position of the own vehicle acquired by the own vehicle position acquisition device 21, the lane included in the road on which the own vehicle is traveling acquired from the map information storage device 22, and the navigation device 24. Based on the planned travel route, it is determined whether or not it is necessary to change lanes in order for the own vehicle 100 to travel along the planned travel route.

For example, as shown in FIG. 42, it is assumed that the own vehicle 100 needs to travel in the right turn lane in order to travel along the planned travel route. At this time, as shown in FIG. 42, if the own vehicle 100 is traveling in the right turn lane, the lane change necessity determination unit 15 determines that the lane change of the own vehicle 100 is unnecessary. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 43, if the own vehicle 100 is traveling in a lane other than the right turn lane, the lane change necessity determination unit 15 determines that the lane change of the own vehicle 100 is necessary.

The operation of the display control device 10 according to the fifth embodiment is basically the same as that of the fourth embodiment. However, in the fifth embodiment, when the required lane change of the vehicle 100, the display control unit 12, a threshold value D _T to be compared with the distance D _A to the guidance point from the vehicle 100, unnecessary lane change _{(The threshold value DT} is larger in FIG. 42 than in FIG. 43). Therefore, when it is necessary to change the lane of the own vehicle 100, the guidance image 201 is displayed at an earlier timing than when the lane change is not necessary.

According to the fifth embodiment, when the lane change of the own vehicle 100 is required, the timing at which the guide image 201 is displayed is earlier, so that the driver can be made to recognize that the lane change is necessary as soon as possible.

Further, the display control unit 12 may change the display mode of the guide image 201 according to the necessity of changing the lane of the own vehicle 100. For example, when it is necessary to change lanes, as shown in FIG. 44, by displaying the guidance image 201 in a color that is more conspicuous than when changing lanes is not necessary, the driver can more reliably recognize that the lane change is necessary. Can be made to.

Further, the tilt angle determining unit 13 may change the tilt angle of the guide image 201 according to the necessity of changing the lane of the own vehicle 100. For example, when the lane change is required, the guidance image 201 can be made more conspicuous by increasing the inclination angle of the guidance image 201 than when the lane change is not required, and the driver can be more certain that the lane change is necessary. Can be recognized by.

In the present invention, each embodiment can be freely combined, and each embodiment can be appropriately modified or omitted within the scope of the invention.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, the above description is exemplary in all embodiments and the invention is not limited thereto. It is understood that innumerable variations not illustrated can be assumed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

10 Display control device, 11 Specific point information acquisition unit, 12 Display control unit, 13 Tilt angle determination unit, 14 Visibility determination unit, 15 Lane change necessity determination unit, 21 Own vehicle position acquisition device, 22 Map information storage device, 23 in-vehicle sensor, 24 navigation device, 25 head-up display, 100 own vehicle, 101 front window, 110 front vehicle, 120 road sign, 200 road sign image, 201 guide image, 50 processing circuit, 51 processor, 52 memory.

Claims (11)

A specific point information acquisition unit that acquires information on the distance from the own vehicle to a specific point in front of the vehicle and information on an image associated with the specific point.
An inclination angle determining unit that determines an inclination angle of an image associated with the specific point based on the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point.
When the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the image associated with the specific point appears to be tilted by the inclination angle with respect to the road surface in front of the specific point. A display control unit to be displayed on the head-up display of the own vehicle,
With
The tilt angle determining unit determines the tilt angle of the image associated with the specific point displayed when the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. distance from the vehicle to the specific point hand as decreases, changing so greatly,
Display control device for vehicles. The specific point is an intersection
The display control unit displays an image corresponding to the road marking as an image associated with the intersection in front of the road marking marked in front of the intersection on the road on which the own vehicle is traveling at the intersection. , Displayed on the head-up display,
The vehicle display control device according to claim 1. Further provided with a visibility determination unit for determining whether or not the road marking can be seen from the own vehicle.
The display control unit causes the head-up display to display an image representing the road marking only when the road marking cannot be seen from the own vehicle.
The vehicle display control device according to claim 2. The specific point is an intersection
The display control unit displays an image corresponding to the road marking as an image associated with the intersection in front of the road marking marked in front of the intersection in the lane in which the own vehicle is traveling at the intersection. , Displayed on the head-up display,
The vehicle display control device according to claim 1. Further provided with a visibility determination unit for determining whether or not the road marking can be seen from the own vehicle.
The display control unit causes the head-up display to display an image representing the road marking only when the road marking cannot be seen from the own vehicle.
The vehicle display control device according to claim 4. The specific point is a point where the number of lanes changes, which is a point where the number of lanes increases or decreases.
The display control unit serves as an image associated with the lane number change point in front of the road marking marked in front of the lane number change point in the lane in which the own vehicle is traveling at the lane number change point. , The image corresponding to the road marking is displayed on the head-up display.
The vehicle display control device according to claim 1. Further provided with a visibility determination unit for determining whether or not the road marking can be seen from the own vehicle.
The display control unit causes the head-up display to display an image representing the road marking only when the road marking cannot be seen from the own vehicle.
The vehicle display control device according to claim 6. The specific point is a guidance point where the navigation device guides the route of the own vehicle.
The display control unit is associated with the guidance point in the lane in which the own vehicle is traveling at the guidance point, before the road marking indicating the direction in which the navigation device guides the own vehicle at the guidance point. An image corresponding to the road marking is displayed on the head-up display as the image.
The vehicle display control device according to claim 1. Further provided with a lane change necessity determination unit for determining whether or not the lane change is necessary for the own vehicle to travel along the guidance.
When it is determined that the lane change is necessary, the display control unit increases the threshold value.
The vehicle display control device according to claim 8. Further provided with a lane change necessity determination unit for determining whether or not the lane change is necessary for the own vehicle to travel along the guidance.
The display control unit changes the display mode of the image showing the direction in which the own vehicle is guided according to the necessity of changing the lane.
The vehicle display control device according to claim 8. This is an image display method in a vehicle display control device.
The specific point information acquisition unit of the vehicle display control device acquires information on the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point in front of the vehicle and information on the image associated with the specific point.
The tilt angle determining unit of the vehicle display control device determines the tilt angle of the image associated with the specific point based on the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point.
When the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the display control unit of the vehicle display control device displays an image associated with the specific point on the road surface in front of the specific point. It is displayed on the head-up display of the own vehicle so that it appears to be tilted by the tilt angle.
The tilt angle determining unit determines the tilt angle of the image associated with the specific point displayed when the distance from the own vehicle to the specific point becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. distance from the vehicle to the specific point hand as decreases, changing so greatly,
Image display method.

Images