JPH10311732A - Display device for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] When the scenery around a vehicle changes, the display background of a head-up display (HUD) changes, so that the degree of recognition of the display content decreases. SOLUTION: An ECU 18 recognizes a landscape state outside the vehicle based on information obtained from a map database 26 or a CCD camera 28 and an illuminance sensor 30, and a display mode of a HUD unit 22 is displayed for the recognized landscape state outside the vehicle. The display mode (display color and transmittance) of the HUD unit 22 is changed so as not to be assimilated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle,
In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a display form of a head-up display for projecting and displaying various information on a window glass of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a display device of a vehicle or the like, a meter display device or the like embedded in a predetermined position of an instrument panel is mainly used. Further, in recent years, in order to improve the visibility of the display content of the display device, a display image composed of an upright virtual image is formed at a position outside and forward of the windshield so that the driver can drive forward through the windshield while driving. 2. Description of the Related Art A head-up display device capable of recognizing display contents together with a scene is used.

The head-up display device comprises a thin film combiner as a display area formed on an inner side surface of a vehicle windshield, and a light source for projecting display contents displayed on a display onto the combiner. And a reflection mirror.

[0004] When such a head-up display device is used, the driver can significantly reduce the amount of line-of-sight movement for recognizing display information. That is, conventionally, during driving of a vehicle, a driver who looked at a traffic condition or a road shape ahead through a windshield, when recognizing display information, embedded a line of sight at a predetermined position of an instrument panel in a foreground from a front view. It was necessary to move to a meter display device, and the amount of movement of the line of sight for that was large. On the other hand, in the case of the head-up display device, the display content is displayed in the forward view, so that the display content can be confirmed together with the forward view. As a result, the amount of movement of the line of sight for recognizing the display content is reduced, and the visual recognition of the information content is facilitated.

Further, in order to improve the visibility of display information, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-83397 discloses a method of changing the display position of a head-up display device in accordance with the traveling direction of a vehicle, thereby displaying the display itself. Discloses a technique for recognizing the presence of a display by changing a display position while preventing a decrease in visibility. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-266925 discloses a technique for changing the display mode of a head-up display device according to the degree of attention of a driver while driving a vehicle.

[0006]

However, in the conventional head-up display device, the scene passing through the windshield becomes the display background of the display screen. May be similar in color to the display screen or display characters (display graphics) on the display screen. In this case, there is a problem that the visibility of the display screen, the display characters on the display screen, the display graphic, and the like is significantly reduced. In addition, when the scenery in the traveling direction of the vehicle changes one after another, a state in which the display is visible or invisible is repeated and there is a problem that the display is very troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a vehicular display device capable of satisfactorily recognizing display contents even when the scenery around the vehicle changes. The purpose is to:

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle display device for projecting and displaying various information on a window glass of a vehicle. Map information acquiring means for acquiring, own-vehicle position detecting means for detecting the current position of the own-vehicle, and setting the outside-view scene state as a background of the display screen to be projected and displayed based on the current position of the own vehicle and the map information. It is characterized by including a vehicle outside scene estimating means for estimating, and a display form changing means for assimilating and displaying the display form to be projected and displayed on the estimated vehicle outside scene state.

Here, the map information includes not only general road form information, but also terrain information (for example, information on undulations and elevation differences of roads) and facility information (for example, the size and size of buildings along a road). Color) and environmental information around the road (for example, the height and color of trees around the road). Further, the map information acquiring means transmits the map information to a beacon or FM using a communication means.
It may be obtained as external information from multiplex broadcasting, etc.
-It may be obtained as internal information from a vehicle-mounted database such as a ROM. In addition, the non-assimilar display of the display form with respect to the outside scene state means that the display screen is changed to a display form in which the display screen and its contents can be distinguished from each other.

According to this configuration, even when the scene outside the vehicle changes, the display form of the vehicle display device is displayed in a distinctive manner according to the change, so that the display content can be recognized well.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle display device for projecting and displaying various kinds of information on a window glass of a vehicle, wherein the background of the display screen for projecting and displaying the information is provided. State detection means for detecting a vehicle exterior scene state, and display form change means for disassembly-displaying the display form for projection display with respect to the detected vehicle exterior scene state,
It is characterized by including.

Here, the state detecting means includes, for example,
Examples include a CCD camera and an illuminance sensor. According to this configuration, it is possible to recognize the outside scene state in real time,
It is possible to more effectively perform the assimilation display for the scene outside the vehicle in the display mode.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, in the configuration of the present invention, in the above-mentioned apparatus, the display form changing means recognizes a color type of a scene outside the vehicle, and displays a display screen according to the color type. The color is changed.

Here, the change of the color of the display screen includes not only the entire display screen but also individual changes of display contents such as characters and figures. In addition, the color may be changed so that characters, figures, and the like have the same color (for example, the background is light green, and the characters and the like are dark green) with respect to the background of the display screen. It may be.

According to this configuration, since the display screen can be easily assimilated clearly to the scenery outside the vehicle, good visibility can be obtained.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the configuration of the present invention, in the above-mentioned apparatus, the display form changing means recognizes a color tone of a scene outside the vehicle, and transmits a display screen according to the color tone. Is changed.

According to this configuration, since the transmittance of the display screen is changed in accordance with the color tone of the scenery outside the vehicle, it is possible to display an image with no sense of incongruity and good visibility in the window glass.

In order to achieve the above object, the configuration of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned apparatus, the display form changing means changes the display position of the display screen in accordance with the external scenery state. I do.

Here, the change of the display position means that the display image is moved so that the display image does not overlap with an important object seen through the windshield, for example, a signal, a falling object on the road, a pedestrian or the like. Say.

According to this configuration, the safety outside the vehicle can be reliably confirmed, and the visibility of the displayed image can be improved by the moving operation.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle display device 1 according to this embodiment.
0 is shown. In the present embodiment, the vehicle display device 10 will be described using an example in which a part of the configuration of the navigation system is used.
The transceiver 12 communicates with an optical beacon or a radio beacon provided on the roadside to provide information necessary for general navigation such as map information and traffic information, as well as terrain information (for example, information on undulations and elevation differences of roads). Various information such as information on buildings and facilities (for example, the size and color of buildings along the road) and environmental information around the road (for example, the height and color of trees around the road) are obtained in a form linked to the road map. doing. Similarly, the receiver 14 receives the FM signal via the FM antenna 16.
Wide area information (including weather information, facility information, etc. as well as traffic information) within the reception area is received. These pieces of information are stored in a memory 20 via an electronic control unit (hereinafter, referred to as an ECU) 18 and are described later as a head-up display unit (hereinafter, referred to as a HUD unit).
22 is used for control and navigation processing. Also,
The ECU 18 is connected to a GPS receiver 24 as vehicle position detecting means for detecting the current position of the vehicle, and detects the absolute position of the vehicle using GPS satellites.

In addition, the ECU 18 includes a CD-RO
A map database 26 using M or the like is connected.
In the map database 26, similarly to the above-described received map information, in addition to the road information, terrain information (for example, information on undulations and elevation differences) and facility information (for example, the size and color of buildings along the road) ) And environmental information around the road (for example, heights and colors of trees around the road) are stored.
The transmitter / receiver 12, the receiver 14, and the map database 26 do not necessarily need to include all of them, and may be provided independently if sufficient information can be obtained, or may be combined to complement each other's information. You may do so. For example, only topographic information may be prepared in the map database 26, and information such as the height of a building or a tree along the moving path of the vehicle may be appropriately supplemented by the transceiver 12 or the receiver 14.

Further, in the present embodiment, the ECU
Reference numeral 18 is connected to a CCD camera 28 for acquiring a color image from a scene outside the vehicle (mainly in the forward direction of the vehicle) and an illuminance sensor 30 for recognizing the brightness around the vehicle.

The HUD unit 22 projects the display contents displayed on the display unit onto a thin film combiner formed as a display area of an image on the indoor side surface of the windshield of the vehicle, similarly to the conventional configuration. Light source, a reflection mirror, and the like. Then, information to be provided to the driver is formed as an erect virtual image at a position outside and outside the windshield. The driver can recognize the display contents together with the scenery in front through the windshield during driving. As a result, the display content can be checked together with the front view (landscape) without greatly moving the line of sight during driving of the vehicle, so that the visibility of the information content can be improved and the safety of driving the vehicle can be improved. .

A characteristic feature of the present embodiment is that when the outside scene state in front changes, the display form of the display image is changed so that the display form of the display image and the outside scene state are dissimilar. .

The processing operation of the vehicle display device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when the ignition switch (ACC or IG) of the vehicle is turned on, the display processing of the vehicle display device 10 is started. ECU1
8 recognizes the absolute position of the vehicle using the GPS satellites via the GPS receiver 24 (S100). Next, EC
U18 transmits map information, topographical information (for example, information on undulations of roads, elevation information, etc.), facility information (for example, the size and color of buildings along the road) and roads from optical beacons and radio beacons via the transceiver 12. The surrounding environment information (for example, the height and color of a tree around the road) is acquired (S101). Similarly, it receives wide area information (including weather information, facility information, and the like in addition to traffic information) in the FM reception area via the receiver 14. Then, necessary information among the acquired information is stored in the memory 20. Further, the ECU 18 uses a direction sensor such as a terrestrial magnetism sensor or a gyro mounted on the navigation device to determine the direction in which the front of the vehicle is currently facing (the direction of the windshield of the vehicle).
Is recognized (S102).

Subsequently, the ECU 18 recognizes the state of the outside scene in front of the vehicle (S103). In the case of the present embodiment, there are a method of estimating the outside scene based on the map information and a method of acquiring the actual outside scene using the CCD camera 28 in the recognition of the outside scene.

(A) In the case of estimating the outside scenery based on the map information The outside scene acquisition means included in the ECU 18 comprises the steps (S10)
The map information around the current position of the own vehicle is read from the memory 20 or the map data database 26 based on the own vehicle position recognized in (0) and the vehicle front direction recognized in (S102). At the same time, the ECU 18 reads the weather information around the own vehicle position stored in the memory 20. As described above, since the map information includes information such as undulations and elevation differences of roads, the size and color of facilities around the road, and the height and color of trees around the road, the vehicle position, If the weather, the current time, and the like are known, it is possible to easily estimate what the current front view of the vehicle is like.
For example, if it is daytime on a sunny day and one side of the road is a beach and the other side is a mountain, the scenery that appears through the windshield of a running vehicle can see the sea according to the curved or undulating state of the road. Or mountains can be estimated. In addition, even when traveling in an urban area, it is possible to estimate the scene appearing through the windshield according to the state of the buildings and street trees around the road, the curve state of the road, and the undulating state.

(B) When Acquiring the Actual Outside Scene The outside scene acquiring means included in the ECU 18 acquires the actual outside scene by using the CCD camera 28. The CCD
The camera 28 is arranged, for example, on a front window glass on the driver's seat side or on the back of the rearview mirror, so that substantially the same field of view as the driver can be secured.

After estimating or capturing the outside scene by the ECU 18, the ECU 18 calculates the outside scene state (background color) as the display background surface B of the display area of the image by the HUD unit 22, as shown in FIG. When the outside view of the vehicle is estimated from the map information, if the current vehicle front direction is, for example, facing the sea side, the sea should be visible through the windshield, so the ECU 18 sets the display background color to "dark blue". It is estimated that there is. On the other hand, if the vehicle front direction is, for example, facing the mountain side, it is estimated that the background color is “dark green”. In the case of night driving, the display background color is estimated to be “black”. When snowfall or snowfall is confirmed in the traveling area based on the weather information, the display background color is estimated to be “white”. In this case, the ECU 18
Based on the information from the illuminance sensor 30, the brightness around the vehicle may be recognized and the display background color may be further finely recognized by recognizing the intensity of the outside scenery state.
On the other hand, when the outside scene of the vehicle is acquired by the CCD camera 28, image processing is performed on a pixel-by-pixel basis by a known method to perform color classification. Then, the display background color is determined while performing collation with a prepared color pattern. The background color determination processing is performed by a CCD
The processing may be performed on the entire range of the video captured by the camera 28, or may be performed only on the display background surface B of the display area and its peripheral portion, and the image processing time can be reduced. In addition, the type of color of an image that may be captured by the CCD camera 28 is determined based on map information in the map database 26, illuminance information from the illuminance sensor 30, and other information such as time, weather, season, and traveling direction obtained from various types of provided information. If you select in advance based on the information of
The color of the screen captured in step 8 and the prepared color pattern can be compared more quickly and smoothly, and the display background color can be determined.

Subsequently, the display mode changing means included in the ECU 18 determines the color of the HUD display screen C (see FIG. 3) as a color that is not assimilated (non-assimilated color) with respect to the determined outside scene state (S104). ). For example, if the color of the outside scene state (the color of the display background surface B) is bluish, the color of the HUD display screen C is set to green or yellow. It is desirable that the correspondence between the non-assimilated colors is determined in advance 1: 1 by the system or the user. Subsequently, the display mode changing means performs the HUD display contents (characters and graphics as information actually provided to the driver).
Is determined (S105). Again, basically,
A color that is not assimilated (non-assimilated color) with respect to the external scenery state is selected. In addition, it is necessary to select a color that is not assimilated with the color of the HUD display screen C. However, in order to simplify the color selection processing and the synthesis processing, the color of the HUD display screen C may be set to a light color, and the color of the HUD display content may be set to the same dark color. As described above, it is possible to satisfactorily recognize the display content without assimilating the outside scene state only by changing the color depth. Also in this case, it is desirable that the correspondence between the assimilation color and the darkness be determined 1: 1 by the system or the user in advance.

Further, the display mode changing means included in the ECU 18 recognizes the brightness around the vehicle (mainly in the forward direction of the vehicle) obtained from the CCD camera 28, the illuminance sensor 30, and the like, and changes the display transmittance of the HUD unit 22. Determine (S1
06). For example, in the daytime on a sunny day, the light transmittance of the HUD display unit is reduced. That is, the display color is darkened as a whole. On the other hand, at night, in tunnels, inside buildings, etc., HU
The light transmittance of the D display unit is increased. When the front of the vehicle is bright due to the headlights of the oncoming vehicle at night or in a tunnel, the transmittance is controlled to be low as in the daytime. In addition, the brightness of the HUD display section depends on the ON / O of the headlight.
It is desirable that the adjustment be made in conjunction with the FF or the like. As described above, by adjusting the transmittance, the HUD can be displayed on the windshield without any discomfort.

When the display color and display transparency of the HUD are determined, the display mode changing means included in the ECU 18 determines the display position (appearance position) of the HUD display section on the windshield (S107). The display is performed at the position (S108). As shown in FIG. 4, the display position of the HUD display unit is one selected from among display positions 32a to 32c (three in this embodiment) of the driver's seat side front window glass, for example. Is about 5 inches, for example. This display position is appropriately selected based on the scene in front of the vehicle recognized by the CCD camera 28 or the like. For example, when an oncoming vehicle or an obstacle (a falling object, etc.) approaches from the front of the own vehicle by the CCD camera 28, or when a traffic signal or a sign approaches, important driving necessary for safe driving through the windshield is required. If a good object can be seen, a position is selected such that the object and the HUD display position do not overlap. Alternatively, the thin film combiner may be formed larger than the display screen, and the display position may be arbitrarily moved in the up, down, left, and right directions according to the driving posture and the physique of the driver to perform fine adjustment. At this time, the contents displayed on the HUD are road information and emergency information that can be obtained from route guidance, VICS or the like as shown in FIG. 5 within a range that does not hinder the driving operation. In addition, information on the front of the vehicle obtained from the CCD camera 28, the map database 26, and the like, for example, information on vehicles traveling in front, sign information, information on surrounding buildings, and the like are displayed, and information on the front of the driver is displayed. It may be an auxiliary means for recognition. In addition, if necessary, a plurality of display positions 32a to 32c are used,
For example, character information and video information may be displayed in combination.

Subsequently, the display mode changing means included in the ECU 18 monitors whether or not there is a change in the scenery state in front of the own vehicle which can be recognized from the map database 26, the CCD camera 28 and the like (S109). In this case, the color of the currently recognized scenery is compared with the color of the scenery of a predetermined time in the past, or the current brightness in front of the own vehicle is compared with the brightness of the predetermined time in the past, and the color and brightness are determined in a predetermined manner. If a change in the landscape state exceeding the threshold is confirmed (S100)
Then, a process for changing the display mode of the HUD is performed. If it is determined that there is no change in the landscape state exceeding a predetermined threshold, the current HUD display state is maintained, and the monitoring of the change in the landscape state is continued. Note that the above-described processing for changing the display is continued until the ignition switch is turned off.

When the display color or the display position of the HUD is frequently changed, such as when traveling on a continuous curve or passing through an intermittent tunnel, the visibility of the displayed contents may be reduced. There is. Therefore, the CCD camera 28
And the surrounding situation from the map database 26, etc.
The threshold value for changing the display mode of the UD may be increased so that the change is not performed extremely frequently. Further, the driver may arbitrarily set the change interval as needed.

In this embodiment, an example has been described in which map information from the map database 26 and image information from the CCD camera 28 are combined for more accurate recognition of the scenery outside the vehicle, but either one of them may be used. Alternatively, map information may be provided with image information and used for recognition. Further, in the present embodiment, the operation of the vehicle display device is described by using a part of the function of the navigation device.
A receiver, a map database, and the like may be prepared exclusively for a vehicle display device.

[0038]

According to the present invention, even when the scene outside the vehicle changes, the display mode of the HUD is changed according to the change,
Since the display is distinguished, the displayed contents can be recognized well.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the vehicle display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display position of the vehicle display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display position of the vehicle display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of the vehicle display device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 vehicle display device, 12 transceiver, 14 receiver, 16 FM antenna, 18 electronic control unit (E
CU), 20 memories, 22 HUD units, 24
GPS receiver, 26 map database, 28 CCD
Camera, 30 illuminance sensor.

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G09G 5/00 550 G09G 5/00 550C

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle display device for projecting and displaying various information on a window glass of a vehicle, comprising: map information acquisition means for acquiring map information; and vehicle position detection means for detecting a current position of the vehicle. An exterior scene estimating means for estimating an exterior scene state as a background of the display screen to be projected and displayed based on the current position of the own vehicle and the map information; and projecting and displaying the estimated exterior scene state. A display device for a vehicle, comprising: a display mode changing unit configured to display the display mode in an assimilation manner. 2. A vehicle display device for projecting and displaying various information on a window glass of a vehicle, comprising: a state detecting means for detecting a state of a scene outside the vehicle as a background of the display screen to be projected and displayed; A display form changing means for disassembly displaying the display form for projection display with respect to the outside scene state. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display mode changing unit recognizes a color type of a scene outside the vehicle, and changes a color of a display screen according to the color type. Vehicle display device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display form changing means recognizes a color tone of a scene outside the vehicle, and changes the transmittance of a display screen according to the color tone. Vehicle display device. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display form changing unit changes a display position of a display screen according to a state of a scene outside the vehicle. Display device.