JP2011002660A - Image display apparatus for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To move an image displayed on a front windshield using a headup display to an arbitrary position within a range that does not obstruct a front field of view of an occupant.SOLUTION: The front windshield 15 where the headup display projects a display image displayed thereon is segmented into a display permitted area 15a of the circumference permitting the display of the display image and a central display inhibition area 15b inhibiting the display of the display image. A line of sight sensing means detects a direction of the line of sight of the occupant, and a display image movement control means moves the display image Id existing in the direction of the line of sight of the occupant on the front windshield 15. At this point, when the display image Id is moved to a predetermined position on the display inhibition area 15b by the occupant, the display image Id is moved to the display permitted area 15a which is the nearest to the predetermined position, thereby reliably preventing a situation to obstruct the field of view of the occupant due to the display image Id displayed on the display inhibition area 15b, while ensuring selectivity of a moving end of the display image Id.

Description

  The present invention relates to a head-up display device that projects a display image on a front windshield, gaze detection means that detects the direction of the sight line of the occupant on the front windshield, and the direction of the sight line of the occupant detected by the gaze detection means The present invention relates to a vehicular image display device comprising display image movement control means for moving a display image existing on the front windshield by an occupant's operation.

  When the head-up display device displays an in-vehicle device icon on the front windshield of the vehicle, if the direction of the passenger's line of sight detected by the line-of-sight detection means is not on the home position icon, the icon display position is displayed. A device that moves from a home position to a retracted position different from the direction of the sight line of the occupant is known from Patent Document 1 below.

  Further, in the case where the display image is displayed on the front windshield of the vehicle by the head-up display device, the direction of the sight line of the occupant and the pointing direction of the occupant are made to coincide with a predetermined display image, and in that state, the direction of the sight line and the pointing of the occupant It is known from Patent Document 2 below that the display image is moved to a desired position on the front windshield by moving the direction.

JP 2007-296889 A JP 2007-99199 A

  By the way, what was described in the said patent document 1 had the problem that the movement place of the display position of an icon was restricted to the retreat position, and the icon could not be moved to the position which a passenger | crew wanted.

  Moreover, since the thing described in the said patent document 2 needs to detect a passenger | crew's eyes | visual_axis direction and a passenger | crew's pointing direction in order to move a display image, we are anxious about the fall of operativity and a raise of cost. In addition, since the display image can be moved to all positions on the front windshield, if the display image moves to the center of the front windshield, the front view of the occupant is displayed by the display image. There was a possibility of being blocked.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to move a display image displayed on a front windshield by a head-up display device to an arbitrary position within a range that does not block an occupant's front view. .

  To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a head-up display device that projects a display image on a front windshield, and a line-of-sight detection that detects the direction of the line of sight of an occupant on the front windshield. And a display image movement control means for moving a display image existing in the direction of the sight line of the occupant detected by the sight line detection means on the front windshield by the occupant's operation. The front windshield is divided into a display permission area in which display image display is permitted and a display prohibition area in which display image display is prohibited. When the display image is moved to a predetermined position on the display prohibited area, the display image is closest to the predetermined position. Vehicle image display apparatus according to claim is proposed to be moved to the display-enabled area.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, an operation switch that can be operated by an occupant is provided, and the display image movement control means is a display image that exists in the direction of the sight line of the occupant. The vehicle image display device according to claim 1, wherein the display image is moved in accordance with the movement of the line of sight of the occupant. The

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, an operation switch operable by an occupant is provided, and the display image movement control means is a display image existing in the direction of the sight line of the occupant. A vehicle image display device is proposed in which the display image is moved in accordance with the operation of the operation switch and the display image is moved in accordance with the operation of the operation switch.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the configuration of claim 1, an operation switch operable by an occupant is provided, and the display image is a plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of in-vehicle devices, The display image movement control means moves the icon to the display permission area closest to the in-vehicle device corresponding to the operation switch when the operation switch is operated in a state where the line of sight of the occupant points the predetermined icon. A vehicle image display device is proposed.

  The electronic control unit U of the embodiment corresponds to the display image movement control means of the present invention.

  According to the configuration of the first aspect, the head-up display device projects a display image on the front windshield, the line-of-sight detection means detects the direction of the passenger's line of sight on the front windshield, and the display image movement control means is the line-of-sight detection means. The display image existing in the direction of the line of sight of the passenger detected by the above is moved on the front windshield by the operation of the passenger. The front windshield is divided into a display permission area where display image display is permitted and a display prohibition area where display image display is prohibited, and the display image movement control means has the display image displayed on the display prohibition area by the occupant. When the display image is moved to the predetermined position, the display image is moved to the display permission area closest to the predetermined position, so that the display image is placed on the display prohibition area while ensuring the degree of freedom of selection of the movement destination of the display image. It is possible to reliably prevent a situation where the occupant's field of view is displayed.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect, the display image movement control means makes the display image existing in the direction of the sight line of the occupant movable by the operation of the operation switch by the occupant, and the display image is changed to the sight line of the occupant. Therefore, the occupant can move the display image only by the movement of the eyeball, and the operability is improved.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect, the display image movement control means makes the display image existing in the direction of the sight line of the occupant movable by the operation of the operation switch by the occupant, and displays the display image on the operation switch. Since it is moved according to the operation, it is not necessary for the occupant to keep gazing at the display image during the movement of the display image, and the front view can be easily confirmed.

  According to the configuration of claim 4, the display image is a plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of in-vehicle devices, and the display image movement control means operates the operation switch in a state where the sight line of the occupant points the predetermined icon. Then, since the icon is moved to the display permission area closest to the corresponding in-vehicle device, the occupant does not need to remove the line of sight from the forward view during the movement of the icon, but the icon is also displayed in the corresponding in-vehicle device. Since it is displayed at the closest position, the occupant's discomfort is reduced.

The figure explaining the schematic structure of a head-up display apparatus (1st Embodiment). FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in two directions in FIG. 1 (first embodiment). FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the structure and function of a line-of-sight detection unit (first embodiment). FIG. 3 is a first partial view of a flowchart for explaining the operation (first embodiment); The 2nd partial view (1st Embodiment) of the flowchart explaining an effect | action. Action | operation explanatory drawing which moves the position of an icon (1st Embodiment). The figure which shows the specific example of step S1-step S14 (1st Embodiment). The figure which shows the specific example of step S1-step S3 and step S16-step S20 (1st Embodiment). The figure which shows the specific example of step S1-step S3 and step S21-step S25 (1st Embodiment). The figure which shows the specific example of step S22, step S23, and step S26-step S32 (1st Embodiment). Action | operation explanatory drawing when an icon moves to a display prohibition area | region (1st Embodiment). The figure which shows the operation switch which consists of a cross key switch (2nd Embodiment). The flowchart explaining operation | movement (2nd Embodiment). Explanatory drawing of the setting method of the designated display position of a display image (3rd Embodiment). Explanatory drawing when there is a risk of rear-end collision. (Fourth embodiment)

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the head-up display device 11 mounted on the vehicle includes a video output means 13 and a reflecting mirror 14 disposed inside the instrument panel 12, and the video output means 13 outputs the result. After the image is reflected by the reflecting mirror 14 and reflected by the half mirror portion of the front windshield 15, the occupant can visually recognize a display image displaying various information as a virtual image in front of the front windshield 15. .

  For example, when the occupant checks the speedometer provided on the meter panel, it is necessary to largely remove the line of sight from the scenery outside the vehicle that can be seen through the front windshield 15, but by displaying an image of the speedometer on the front windshield 15. The occupant can recognize necessary information without shifting his line of sight from the scenery outside the vehicle.

  Further, when the occupant views the scenery outside the vehicle and the meter panel alternately, it is necessary to switch the focus of the eyes, which causes a problem of fatigue, but the display image of the head-up display device 11 is the front of the front windshield 15. Therefore, the occupant can visually recognize both the scenery outside the vehicle and the display image without changing the focus of the eyes, and can reduce fatigue.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a steering wheel 16 is provided at a position on the right side of the instrument panel 12 of the vehicle. A pair of near infrared LEDs 18, 18 are provided. The near-infrared camera 17 and the near-infrared LEDs 18 and 18 constitute line-of-sight detection means 19 that detects the direction in which the line of sight of the occupant is directed. The steering wheel 16 is provided with an operation switch 20 for operating a display image of the head-up display device 11.

  The front windshield 15 is divided into a peripheral display permission area 15a and an inner display prohibition area 15b. The display permission area 15a is an area where display of the display image of the head-up display device 11 is permitted so as not to obstruct the occupant's forward view, and the display prohibition area 15b is for obstructing the occupant's forward view. This is an area where display of the display image of the head-up display device 11 is prohibited.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows the structure and function of the line-of-sight detection means 19. The near-infrared camera 17 includes a corneal reflection point a in which the near-infrared light emitted by the near-infrared LED 18 is reflected on the cornea of the occupant's eyeball, Two points with the pupil center b are imaged. Then, the corneal center c is estimated from the two points of the corneal reflection point a and the pupil center b, and the direction of the sight line of the occupant is detected as a line connecting the corneal center c and the pupil center b.

  In the embodiment, the two near-infrared LEDs 18 and 18 are provided with two corneal reflection points a and a for each eyeball, and two sight lines using the respective corneal reflection points a and a. This is because the detection accuracy is improved by detecting the direction and taking the average of them.

  The electronic control unit U of the vehicular image display apparatus to which the head-up display device 11, the line-of-sight detection means 19 and the operation switch 20 are connected is configured to detect the direction of the passenger's line of sight detected by the line-of-sight detection means 19, and Based on the operation state, the display image of the front windshield 15 by the head-up display device 11 is controlled.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the display image displayed on the front windshield 15 by the head-up display device 11 in the present embodiment includes a navigation system icon Ia, an audio system icon Ib, and a multi-view system icon Ic. And an icon Id of the speedometer, which are displayed in the display permission area 15a (see FIG. 2) of the front windshield 15. The positions of the icons Ia to Id can be moved to arbitrary positions by the occupant's operation as long as they are within the display permission area 15a of the front windshield 15.

  For example, in order to move the icon Ia of the navigation system, when the occupant depresses the operation switch 20 of the steering wheel 16 while the line-of-sight detection means 19 detects that the occupant is gazing at the icon Ia, the icon Ia Highlighted prominently. When the occupant moves the line of sight to the target display position in this state, the icon Ia moves so as to follow the movement of the line of sight. When the occupant presses the operation switch 20 when the icon Ia reaches the target display position, the highlighted display of the icon Ia is canceled and the movement is completed.

  Note that the display position that is the destination of the icon Ia needs to be within the display permission area 15a of the front windshield 15, but the occupant accidentally moves the icon Ia to the display position within the display prohibition area 15b. In this case, the icon Ia is automatically moved to the nearest display permission area 15a and displayed.

  Next, the operation of the display image displayed on the front windshield 15 by the head-up display device 11 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5.

  Assume that the occupant presses the operation switch 20 in step S2 when the occupant is gazing at any icon in step S1 of the flowcharts of FIGS. If the operation switch 20 is pressed shortly (once) in step S3, the icon being watched in step S4 is highlighted. When the occupant's gaze destination moves in step S5, the highlighted icon automatically moves to a new gaze destination in step S6. When the occupant presses the operation switch 20 in step S7, the icon highlight display is canceled in step S8.

  If the destination (designated display position) of the icon is not in the display prohibition area 15b on the front windshield 15 in step S9, that is, if it is in the display permission area 15a, the image corresponding to the icon is set to the designated display position in step S10. indicate. For example, if the icon is for a navigation system, the video is a map of the navigation system. When the occupant gazes at the video in step S11 and the occupant presses the operation switch 20 in step S12, the display of the video ends in step S13, and the icon corresponding to the video moves to the position before the movement in step S14.

  As shown in FIG. 11, if the destination (designated display position) of the icon is in the display prohibition area 15b on the front windshield 15 in step S9, the video corresponding to the icon is closest to the designated display position in step S15. Are displayed in the display permission area 15a.

  FIG. 7 shows a specific example of steps S1 to S14.

  If the operation switch 20 is pressed shortly (twice) in step S3, a video corresponding to the icon is displayed in a predetermined display area in the display permission area 15a in step S16. The “designated display area” in step S16 is preset at a position close to the in-vehicle device corresponding to each icon. For example, the “designated display area” of the icon Ia of the navigation system is set at a position close to the navigation system provided on the instrument panel 12. When the occupant gazes at the video in step S17 and the occupant presses the operation switch 20 in step S18, the video display ends in step S19, and the icon corresponding to the video moves to the position before the movement in step S20.

  FIG. 8 shows specific examples of steps S1 to S3 and steps S16 to S20.

  If the operation switch 20 is pressed long in step S3, an image corresponding to the icon is displayed at the position where the icon is displayed in step S21. While the occupant continues to press the operation switch 20 in step S22, the video display is continued. When the occupant finishes pressing the operation switch 20 in step S22, the video display ends in step S24 when a predetermined time elapses after the pressing ends in step S23.

  If the occupant depresses the operation switch 20 in step S25 and the gazing destination of the occupant moves in step S26 before a predetermined time elapses after the depression of the operation switch 20 in step S23, an image is displayed in step S27. When the position moves to the occupant's gaze destination and the occupant presses the operation switch 20 in step S28, the video display position is fixed. When the occupant gazes at the video in step S29 and the occupant presses the operation switch 20 in step S30, the video display ends in step S31, and the icon corresponding to the video moves to the position before the movement in step S32.

  FIG. 9 shows specific examples of Steps S1 to S3 and Steps S21 to S24, and FIG. 10 shows specific examples of Steps S22, S23 and Steps S25 to S32. Yes.

  As described above, since the plurality of display images displayed on the front windshield 15 can be moved following the movement of the line of sight, the occupant can move the display image only by the movement of the eyeball. Operability is improved. Moreover, the front windshield 15 is divided into a display permission area 15a where display of the display image is permitted and a display prohibition area 15b where display of the display image is prohibited, and the display image is placed at a predetermined position on the display prohibition area 15b by the occupant. When it is moved, the display image is moved to the display permission area 15a closest to the predetermined position, so that the display image after the movement is positioned at the center of the front windshield 15 and blocks the front view of the occupant. Can be prevented. Thereby, a passenger | crew's front view can be ensured, ensuring the freedom degree of selection of the moving place of a display image.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 12 and FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the icon or the video corresponding to the icon is moved following the movement of the line of sight of the occupant. However, in the second embodiment, the icon or the video corresponding to the icon is moved to the occupant. It is made to move by the operation switch 20 operated.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the operation switch 20 according to the second embodiment is configured by a cross key switch. By pressing the upper switch 20U, the lower switch 20D, the left switch 20L, and the right switch 20R, an icon is displayed. Alternatively, it is possible to command the movement of the image in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  When the occupant gazes at a predetermined icon in step S41 of the flowchart of FIG. 13 and the occupant presses any of the up / down / left / right switches 20U, 20D, 20L, and 20R of the operation switch 20 in step S42, the occupant is in step S43. The icon you are watching is highlighted. In the next step S44, the pressing direction of the up / down / left / right switches 20U, 20D, 20L, 20R of the operation switch 20 is read. In step S45, the highlighted icon moves in the pressing direction of the operation switch 20, and the movement is as follows. In step S46, the operation switch 20 continues to be pressed.

  The steps S44 to S47 are repeated until the predetermined time elapses in step S47 after the pressing of the operation switch 20 is completed in step S46, and the pressing direction of the up / down / left / right switches 20U, 20D, 20L, 20R is repeated. By switching, the highlighted icon can be moved in any direction up, down, left, or right.

  When the predetermined time has elapsed in step S47, it is determined that the movement of the icon is completed, and the highlight display of the icon is canceled in step S48. At this time, if the position of the moved icon is not in the display prohibited area 15b in step S49, an image corresponding to the position of the icon is displayed in step S50, and the moved icon position is displayed in the display prohibited area in step S49. If it is 15b, an image corresponding to the position of the icon is displayed in the nearest display permission area 15a in step S51.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the icon that exists in the direction of the occupant's line of sight is made movable by operating the occupant's operation switch 20, and the icon is used for operating the operation switch 20. Accordingly, it is not necessary for the occupant to keep gazing at the icon while the icon is moving, and the front view can be easily confirmed.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the first embodiment, when the occupant gazes at a predetermined icon and presses the operation switch 20 for a short time (twice), the “designated display area” in which the icon is set in advance near the corresponding in-vehicle device. In the present embodiment, the position of the “designated display area” can be arbitrarily set or selected according to the passenger's preference.

  In other words, an icon to be displayed on the front windshield 15 can be selected from a plurality of icons in the monitor image of the navigation system (or an image projected on the front windshield 15 by the head-up display device 11). Then, a “designated display area” for displaying an image corresponding to the selected icon is selected from a plurality of preset candidates, or the upper switch 20U, the lower switch 20D, and the left switch 20D of the operation switch 20 including a cross key switch. The setting can be made by pressing the switch 20L and the right switch 20R and moving them to arbitrary positions. At this time, the position of the “designated display area” selected or set must be in the display permission area.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  If your vehicle has abnormally approached the preceding vehicle and the possibility of a rear-end collision has increased, if the front windshield 15 displays an icon or a corresponding image, the front view is blocked and the occupant Visual recognition may be delayed, and collision avoidance may be difficult. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the risk of a rear-end collision or the like increases, all the display images on the front windshield 15 are erased so that the maximum forward field of view can be secured, and the risk is reduced. The display image is displayed again at the original position on the front windshield 15.

  In this case, an alarm such as “Brake!” May be displayed on the front windshield 15 by the head-up display device 11.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, the line-of-sight detection means 19 is not limited to the structure of the embodiment, and an arbitrary structure can be adopted.

  Further, the type of icon projected on the front windshield 15 is not limited to the embodiment, and the display image of the present invention is not limited to the icon and the video corresponding thereto.

  Further, in the embodiment, the cross key switch that the occupant presses with the finger is illustrated as the operation switch 20, but the operation switch 20 is a voice switch that operates with voices such as “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, etc. There may be.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Head up display apparatus 15 Front windshield 15a Display permission area | region 15b Display prohibition area | region 19 Line-of-sight detection means 20 Operation switch U Electronic control unit (display image movement control means)

Claims (4)

A head-up display device (11) for projecting a display image onto the front windshield (15);
Line-of-sight detection means (19) for detecting the direction of the line of sight of the occupant in the front windshield (15);
Vehicle comprising display image movement control means (U) for moving a display image existing in the direction of the sight line of the occupant detected by the sight line detection means (19) on the front windshield (15) by the operation of the occupant An image display device,
The front windshield (15) is divided into a display permission area (15a) where display of display images is permitted and a display prohibition area (15b) where display of display images is prohibited,
When the display image is moved to a predetermined position on the display prohibition area (15b) by an occupant, the display image movement control means (U) moves the display image to the display permission area (15a closest to the predetermined position). The image display apparatus for vehicles characterized by the above-mentioned. It has an operation switch (20) that can be operated by a passenger,
The display image movement control means (U) makes the display image existing in the direction of the sight line of the occupant movable by the operation of the operation switch (20), and follows the movement of the sight line of the occupant. The vehicle image display device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle image display device is moved. It has an operation switch (20) that can be operated by a passenger,
The display image movement control means (U) makes the display image existing in the direction of the line of sight of the occupant movable by the operation of the operation switch (20), and displays the display image of the operation switch (20). The vehicle image display device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle image display device is moved according to an operation. It has an operation switch (20) that can be operated by a passenger,
The display image is a plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of in-vehicle devices,
When the operation switch (20) is operated in a state where the line of sight of the occupant is directed to a predetermined icon, the display image movement control means (U) allows the display permission closest to the in-vehicle device corresponding to the icon. The vehicular image display device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular image display device is moved to the region (15 a).

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