JP3890598B2 - Vehicle information providing apparatus, vehicle information providing method, and vehicle information providing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular information providing apparatus, a vehicular information providing method, and a vehicular information providing program, and more particularly, a vehicle that supports driving of a vehicle by providing a driver with route information regarding a travel route on which the vehicle should travel. The present invention relates to a vehicle information providing apparatus, a vehicle information providing method, and a vehicle information providing program.

  2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle information providing device (car navigation device) that supports driving of a vehicle by providing a travel route that the vehicle should travel to a destination set for a vehicle occupant and related route information is known (patent) Reference 1).

  In this conventional vehicle information providing apparatus, the travel route and related route information are displayed on a monitor screen arranged in the vicinity of the center console, thereby supporting the driving of the vehicle.

  In this conventional vehicle information providing device, a vehicle occupant (driver) can check the traveling route displayed on the monitor screen, related route information, and the like, and then look forward through the windshield. It is necessary to look at actual roads, buildings, signs, etc., and match them with the information on the monitor screen to determine the actual route to travel and the intersection to bend. For this reason, there are cases where it is inconvenient, for example, that the travel route is wrong or the intersection is passed while the intersection to be bent is determined. In addition, the driver needs to remove the line of sight from the front in order to view the monitor screen, which increases the movement of the line of sight and causes a problem in safety.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-101653

  On the other hand, when a plurality of vehicles head for a certain destination, the leading vehicle may guide the route as a leading vehicle, and the following vehicle may follow the leading vehicle. In such a case, the driver of the following vehicle does not need to judge the road to be traveled by comparing the information on the monitor screen with the actual driving environment, and it is also necessary to remove the line of sight from the front. This is convenient for the driver.

  Therefore, the present inventors, when guiding the travel route by the vehicle information providing device, instead of the actual leading vehicle described above, lead by a virtual image as if the leading vehicle is actually running ahead. It has been found that if the vehicle can be seen several meters ahead of the vehicle through the windshield, the movement of the line of sight can be reduced and the same driver convenience can be obtained.

  However, if the vehicle information providing device simply displays the leading vehicle in the virtual image in front of the host vehicle, the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is always the same as the own vehicle. Must drive while keeping in mind the speed of the vehicle. On the other hand, when driving the vehicle following the actual leading vehicle, the driver only needs to drive the vehicle at the same traveling speed as the leading vehicle. There is no annoyance. Thus, in order to display a virtual leading vehicle and drive the vehicle with the same feeling as following an actual leading vehicle, it is necessary to solve such a new problem.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such a new problem, and since the driver's line of sight movement is small, the safety is improved and the driving route that the driver should follow from the image of the virtual leading vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle information providing apparatus, a vehicle information providing method, and a vehicle information providing program capable of reliably recognizing the above.
The present invention also provides a vehicle information providing apparatus, a vehicle information providing method, and a vehicle capable of driving the vehicle with substantially the same feeling as when the driver travels along a travel route that should follow the actual leading vehicle. The purpose is to provide an information provision program.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle information providing apparatus that guides a route by setting a travel route on which the vehicle should travel, and sets a travel speed of a virtual leading vehicle based on a predetermined condition. Leading vehicle display that displays an image of a virtual leading vehicle that is traveling at the traveling speed set by the speed setting unit in correspondence with the traveling route in the actual scenery that the driver is viewing. And a speed correcting means for correcting the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle according to the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle based on a predetermined condition. when the distance between the vehicle and the host vehicle is closer than a predetermined distance, and characterized by correcting the speed of the virtual leading vehicle as the running speed of the virtual leading vehicle is less than the running speed of the preceding vehicle There.
In the present invention configured as described above, since the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed in correspondence with the travel route in the actual scenery that the driver is viewing, the movement of the driver's line of sight is reduced. The safety can be improved, and the driver can follow the virtual leading vehicle, thereby reliably following the travel route on which the vehicle should travel. Further, in the present invention, since the virtual leading vehicle that is traveling at the traveling speed set based on the predetermined condition is displayed, the driver does not need to pay attention to the traveling speed of the own vehicle. It is possible to drive the vehicle with the same feeling as following the leading car. Furthermore, since the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected based on a predetermined condition, the driver can travel at an appropriate traveling speed by following the virtual leading vehicle. Furthermore, since the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected according to the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle, the driver can follow the virtual leading vehicle safely and safely while maintaining a good distance from the preceding vehicle. You can drive a car.

In the present invention, preferably, when the vehicle is traveling on a curve, the speed setting means sets the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle to be smaller as the curvature radius of the curve is smaller.
According to the present invention configured as described above, when the vehicle is traveling on a curve, the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle to be followed is set to be smaller as the curvature radius of the curve is smaller. It is possible to follow a virtual leading vehicle.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the speed setting means sets the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle to be smaller as the vehicle approaches the entrance of the curve where the vehicle enters.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the driver can follow the virtual leading vehicle while entering the curve at a safe speed.

In the present invention, preferably, the speed setting means sets the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle according to the legal speed of the road on which the vehicle travels.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the driver can follow the virtual leading vehicle while traveling at an appropriate speed according to the legal speed.

In the present invention, preferably, the speed correction means corrects the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle to be small when the vehicle is separated from the virtual leading vehicle by a predetermined distance or more.
According to the present invention configured as described above, even if the host vehicle is separated from the virtual leading vehicle, the travel speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected so that the driver can easily follow the virtual leading vehicle. I can do it.

In the present invention, preferably, the speed correction means corrects the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle to be increased when the vehicle approaches the virtual leading vehicle within a predetermined distance.
According to the present invention configured as described above, even if the host vehicle approaches the virtual leading vehicle, the travel speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected so that the driver can easily move to the virtual leading vehicle. Can follow.

In the present invention, preferably, the speed correction means corrects the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle so that the acceleration / deceleration of the virtual leading vehicle is within a predetermined range, but in an emergency state, the deceleration of the virtual leading vehicle is Even if the predetermined range is exceeded, the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected according to the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle .
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected so that the acceleration / deceleration of the virtual leading vehicle is within a predetermined range, the speed of the virtual object for the virtual leading vehicle changes rapidly. Therefore, the driver can easily follow the virtual leading vehicle. Furthermore, in the emergency state, even if the deceleration of the virtual leading vehicle exceeds the predetermined range, the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected according to the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle. When an emergency situation occurs, the virtual leading vehicle also suddenly decelerates according to the sudden deceleration of the preceding vehicle due to sudden braking, and the driver follows the virtual leading vehicle and steps on the sudden brake. Appropriate driving is possible.

The present invention preferably further includes alarm means for issuing an alarm in an emergency state.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the warning means gives a warning in an emergency state, so that the driver can be alerted.

The present invention preferably further includes alarm means for issuing an alarm when the vehicle approaches the virtual leading vehicle within a predetermined distance.
According to such a configuration, when the vehicle approaches the virtual leading vehicle within a predetermined distance, the alarm means gives an alarm, so that the driver can be alerted.

  According to the vehicle information providing apparatus, the vehicle information providing method, and the vehicle information providing program of the present invention, since the driver's line of sight movement is small, safety is improved, and the driving that the driver should proceed according to the image of the virtual leading vehicle The route can be reliably recognized without a sense of incongruity. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to drive the vehicle with almost the same feeling as when the driver travels along a traveling route that should follow the actual leading vehicle.

Hereinafter, a vehicle information providing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a vehicle information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment displays an image of a virtual leading vehicle instead of an actual leading vehicle, and provides route information regarding a traveling route to be traveled to the driver so as to support driving of the vehicle. It is a thing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle information providing device mounted on a vehicle. This vehicle information providing device 1 is route information related to a travel route to be traveled to a destination set by a driver. Is provided with a CPU 2 that achieves a navigation function, which is a basic function for supporting driving of the vehicle, and other functions described later.

  The vehicle information providing device 1 further includes a DVD-ROM 4 for storing main map information and building information, an HDD storage device 6 for storing detailed map information and information related to images of virtual leading vehicles, and map information. A monitor screen 8 for displaying various information and an operation switch 10 for setting a destination are provided.

  The HDD storage device 6 stores a destination set by the driver, data related to the travel route, data related to the driving characteristics of the driver, data related to the traveling performance of the host vehicle, and the like. Furthermore, the image data for virtual display including the image of the virtual leading vehicle for displaying in the actual scenery visually recognized by the driver is included.

The vehicular information providing apparatus 1 includes a transmission / reception apparatus 12, and the transmission / reception apparatus 12 transmits various types of information including the latest map information, detailed local road information, and information related to virtual leading vehicle images to the outside of the vehicle. Transmission / reception is possible from an information center (not shown) via the Internet or the like. Information obtained by the transmission / reception device 12 is stored in the HDD storage device 6.
The vehicle information providing apparatus 1 further includes a GPS receiver 14, a vehicle speed sensor 16, and a gyro sensor 18 for detecting the current position of the vehicle.

  The vehicle information providing apparatus 1 further detects the position and line of sight of the driver's eyes, and based on these, displays an image of the virtual leading vehicle in the actual landscape visually recognized by the driver. A camera 20, a virtual image display device 22, and a CCD camera 24 are provided.

  The eye camera 20 is for detecting the position of the occupant's pupil, the direction of the line of sight, the distance to the visual recognition object, and the like by photographing the occupant's pupil and the like. Various techniques such as EOG (P-EOG) method, corneal reflection method, first and fourth Purkinje image detection methods, contact lens method, search coil method, infrared fundus camera method, and the like are applied.

  The virtual image display device 22, together with the CPU 2, uses a method such as a hologram in the actual scenery that the driver is viewing through the windshield based on the position of the driver's pupil and the current position and orientation of the vehicle. Thus, the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed so that the driver can recognize as if the virtual leading vehicle is traveling in front of the host vehicle at a set traveling speed described later.

  The CCD camera 24 is attached to the upper part of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle, captures the scenery in front of the vehicle, and from the image data of the scenery, another preceding vehicle that travels in front of the vehicle and the blinker of the preceding vehicle. Blinking and lighting of brake lamps, parked vehicles, various obstacles on the route, curve conditions, lanes, traffic lights, intersections, road signs, road signs, pedestrians, brightness outside the vehicle, fog conditions, visibility conditions, etc. The weather conditions including can be detected.

  The vehicle information providing device 1 further includes a laser radar device 26 and a road surface μ sensor 28. The laser radar device 26 is attached to the front end portion of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle, and detects a preceding vehicle, an obstacle on the road, and the like, and detects a relative distance and a relative speed between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle. Is. The road surface μ sensor 28 detects a road surface state or a road surface friction coefficient.

The vehicle information providing device 1 further includes a voice interaction device 30. The voice interaction device 30 includes a speaker 30a and a microphone 30b, provides voice information to the driver, and accepts voice instructions from the driver. Further, an alarm can be given by the speaker 30a.
The vehicular information providing apparatus 1 further includes an alarm device 32 for issuing an alarm to the driver when the host vehicle needs to decelerate (brake operation or the like).

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the periphery of the driver's seat of the vehicle on which the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment is mounted. As shown in FIG. 2, a speaker 30a and a microphone 30b, which are voice interaction devices 30, are attached to an A-pillar 34 near the driver's seat.

  The operation switch 10 is provided on the instrument panel 36, and the monitor screen 8 is attached in the vicinity of the operation switch 10. The eye camera 20 is incorporated in the room mirror 38. The transmission / reception device 12 is attached between the driver seat 40 and the passenger seat 42. Furthermore, the virtual image display device 22 is attached to the upper part of the instrument panel 36, and as described above, displays the virtual leading vehicle image 46 by a method such as a hologram, and the driver images the virtual leading vehicle. 46, the virtual leading vehicle 46 can be recognized as if traveling in front of the host vehicle at a set traveling speed, which will be described later.

Next, the basic operation of the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic control flow of the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, S indicates a step.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment, in S1,
Make initial settings. This initial setting is performed by the driver operating the operation switch 10 in accordance with the display on the monitor screen 8. Details of the initial setting will be described later.

  Next, in S2, the destination is set, and in S3, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S4, a travel route to be traveled from the current location to the destination is set based on the map data in the DVD-ROM 4 and the HDD storage device 6. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S5, and route guidance is performed so that the vehicle can travel on the travel route that the vehicle should travel.

  Next, the initial setting by the vehicle information providing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing a monitor screen at the time of initial setting by the vehicle information providing apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, in the initial setting, first, a screen of initial setting (1) for performing verification / registration related to visual acuity is displayed on the monitor screen 8. By selecting the item "Verification of visual acuity and verification of visual recognition level", a screen (not shown) for inspecting visual acuity / moving body visual acuity, etc. is displayed, and the visual acuity of the user is inspected by this inspection screen. The result is recorded in the HDD storage device 6 as data relating to the user's visual acuity and the like.

  Next, when the item “eye position registration” is selected, the position of the pupil of the driver seated in the driver's seat is calculated from the image data photographed by the eye camera 20 and stored in the HDD storage device 6. The position of the driver's eyes may be estimated from the position of the driver's seat and the angle of the rearview mirror.

Next, the initial setting (2) screen is displayed on the monitor screen 8 as shown in FIG. On the initial setting (2) screen, the driving level of the driver, the running performance (vehicle level) of the vehicle (own vehicle), the necessity of displaying an image of the virtual leading vehicle, and the like are set.
Specifically, first, in the “driving level” section, the driver selects his / her driving level from driving levels set in five stages. In the “vehicle level” section, the acceleration performance, deceleration performance, and turning performance of the vehicle (own vehicle) are selected from five levels. In either case, the larger the number, the higher the level.

  Next, “ON” or “OFF” is selected in the “virtual leading vehicle display” section to set whether or not to display an image of the virtual leading vehicle. In the case of “OFF”, the driving route is not guided by the image of the virtual leading vehicle. On the other hand, when “ON” is selected, the driving route is guided by the virtual leading vehicle. Here, when “ON” is selected, the type of the virtual lead vehicle can be arbitrarily selected from “Open car”, “Sedan”, “Dog”, and “Other” according to the driver's preference. It can be done. As described above, “dog” other than the car can be selected as the virtual leading car.

  Furthermore, in the “other settings”, it is possible to perform the setting of the “sound guidance combined use” section. When this “use of voice guidance” is set to ON, for example, when turning right or left, the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed to turn right, and voice guidance “turn right” is executed.

Here, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an actual scenery that the driver recognizes through the front window glass of the vehicle (own vehicle), and FIG. 7 shows the driver through the front window glass of the vehicle according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the scenery containing the image of the virtual leading vehicle to see.
In the present embodiment, when “ON” is selected in the “virtual leading vehicle display” section and “sedan” is selected as the virtual leading vehicle, actually, as shown in FIG. Only the preceding vehicle 48 and the pedestrian 50 are present in front of the host vehicle through the front window glass 44 of the vehicle. According to the vehicle information providing apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. The virtual leading vehicle 46 is virtually displayed in the scenery of the actual preceding vehicle 48 and the pedestrian 50 recognized by the vehicle as if traveling a few meters ahead of the vehicle (own vehicle).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the image of the virtual leading vehicle 46 also includes a brake lamp 52 and a blinker 54. As a result, the brake lamp 52 is turned on when the virtual leading vehicle 46 is decelerated, and the blinker 54 is blinked when turning right or left.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the image of the virtual leading vehicle 46 is displayed in the actual landscape recognized by the driver, and the route on which the image of the virtual leading vehicle 46 is displayed should be driven by the vehicle. Since the driving route is the same as that set in advance and the brake lamp 52 and the blinker 54 are also displayed, the driver recognizes the virtual leading vehicle 46 as if it were an actual leading vehicle. By following the virtual leading vehicle 46 and driving, route guidance is performed as a result, and it is possible to travel on the travel route to be reached and arrive at the destination.

  It is also possible to select a “dog” other than the car as the virtual lead vehicle. In this case, the dog is displayed as if it is running in front of the host vehicle, and the “dog” is decelerated. When turning right or left, a display that performs the same function as a brake lamp or turn signal is made to be recognized by the driver.

Next, in the present embodiment, the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is set based on a predetermined condition, and the virtual leading vehicle that is traveling at the set traveling speed is in the actual scenery where the driver is viewing. By displaying, the driver can drive the vehicle with the same feeling as following the actual leading vehicle without paying attention to the traveling speed of the own vehicle.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control flow for setting the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle and displaying the virtual leading vehicle according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 8, S indicates each step.

  Referring to FIG. 8, first, in S11, various states are detected. Specifically, the CCD camera 24 recognizes an image of a road condition ahead of the vehicle, and the laser radar device 26 detects a relative distance and a relative speed from an obstacle or a preceding vehicle. Further, the traveling speed and acceleration / deceleration of the host vehicle are detected.

  Next, in S12, the legal speed of the road on which the vehicle is traveling (the travel route to be traveled) is detected from the signs in the image recognized in S11 and the map data in the DVD-ROM 4 and / or the HDD storage device 6. The legal speed may be detected from a sign or the like whose image has been recognized by the CCD camera 24.

  Next, it progresses to S13 and it is determined whether the own vehicle is driving | running | working a curve. Whether or not the vehicle is traveling on a curve may be determined from map data, the gyro sensor 18, and a white line indicating a traveling lane on the road in the image recognized in S11, a guardrail, or the like.

  If it is determined in S13 that the vehicle is traveling on a curve, the process proceeds to S14, where the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is set. This traveling speed is set in accordance with the curve curvature radius within a range not exceeding the legal speed detected in S12. When the curve curvature radius is small (when the curve is sharp), the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is set small. . Thereby, even if the own vehicle follows the virtual leading vehicle, the vehicle can travel safely.

  If it is determined in S13 that the vehicle is not traveling on a curve, the process proceeds to S15 to determine whether the host vehicle is traveling in front of the curve. Specifically, it is determined whether there is a curve to enter from ahead of the host vehicle and the approach distance to the entrance of the curve is within a predetermined distance. The presence of the curve to be entered and the distance to the curve entrance are detected from the map data or the white line indicating the driving lane on the road in the image recognized in S11, the guardrail, or the like.

  When it is determined in S15 that the vehicle is traveling in front of the curve, the process proceeds to S16, and the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is set. This travel speed is set according to the curve curvature radius and the distance to the curve entrance (approach distance) within a range not exceeding the legal speed detected in S12. Specifically, when the radius of curvature of the curve is small (in the case of a sharp curve), the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is set to gradually decrease from a position where the approach distance is large, that is, from a position substantially before the curve, When the radius of curvature of the curve is large (when the curve is gentle), the approach distance at which the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle starts to decrease is set to be relatively small. In this way, the traveling speed at the time of entering the curve does not increase compared to the straight traveling ahead of the curve, and the vehicle enters the curve at a traveling speed according to the radius of curvature of the curve so that the host vehicle becomes a virtual leading vehicle. Even if you follow, you can enter the curve at a safe speed.

  If it is determined that the vehicle is not traveling in front of the curve in S15, the vehicle is traveling straight ahead, so the process proceeds to S17, and the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is set according to the legal speed detected in S12. For example, when the legal speed is 60 km / h, the speed is set to 55 km / h.

  After the travel speed of the virtual leading vehicle is set in S14, S16 or S17, the set travel speed is determined according to the travel route of the vehicle and the road condition or the situation of the host vehicle, as shown in the following steps. To correct.

  First, in S18, the set speed of the virtual leading vehicle that has already been set is corrected according to the traveling speed (vehicle speed) of the preceding vehicle. When a preceding vehicle exists and the distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle is close to a predetermined distance, the set speed is corrected so that the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is lower than the vehicle speed of the preceding vehicle.

  Next, it progresses to S19 and correct | amends the setting speed of a virtual leading vehicle according to a road surface condition / weather condition. For example, when snow or rain is falling and the road surface is slippery, when the fog is generated and the visibility is not good, the setting speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected to be small. The road surface condition / weather condition is detected from the road surface μ sensor or the image recognition by the CCD camera 24 in S11.

  Next, it progresses to S20 and correct | amends the setting speed of a virtual leading vehicle according to the driving performance of the own vehicle. Here, depending on each level of acceleration performance, deceleration performance and turning performance set in the “vehicle level” section of the initial setting (2) screen (initial setting by S1 in FIG. 3) shown in FIG. The set speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected so that the vehicle can travel safely. For example, when the level of deceleration performance of the host vehicle is low, correction is made so that the set speed of the virtual leading vehicle is reduced.

  Next, it progresses to S21 and correct | amends the setting speed of a virtual leading vehicle according to a driver | operator's driving characteristic. Here, the speed at which the driver can travel safely according to the level set in the “Driving level” section of the initial setting (2) screen shown in FIG. 5 (initial setting by S1 in FIG. 3). Correct the set speed so that For example, when the driving level of the driver is low, correction is performed so that the set speed of the virtual leading vehicle is reduced.

  Next, when the image of the virtual leading vehicle that travels at the traveling speed set or corrected in each step described above is displayed, the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle changes rapidly and moves away from the host vehicle rapidly. When approaching or approaching, the driver of the own vehicle cannot follow the virtual leading vehicle. Even if the speed of the virtual leading vehicle does not change rapidly, depending on the driver's intention and driving level, it may not be possible to follow the virtual leading vehicle well. Therefore, in the following steps, the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is further corrected.

  First, in S22, it is determined whether it is an emergency state. If it is determined in S22 that the vehicle is in an emergency state, the process proceeds to S23 immediately without performing correction of the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle in S24 to S29, and a warning is given. Here, the emergency state is, for example, when the preceding vehicle has suddenly stepped on the brake, and in this case, in S18, the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected based on the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle. Since the speed of the virtual leading vehicle also drops rapidly, the driver can avoid the emergency state by recognizing the emergency itself and performing a brake operation or the like from the sudden deceleration state of the virtual leading vehicle. It should be noted that the emergency state in S22 does not include the case where the legal speed changes or the case where the vehicle exits a curve and enters a straight road.

  When it is determined in S22 that the vehicle is not in an emergency state, the process proceeds to S24, and the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected so that the acceleration / deceleration of the virtual leading vehicle is within a predetermined range. This predetermined range is set to a range that can easily follow the virtual leading vehicle according to the traveling performance of the host vehicle and the driving level of the driver.

Next, the process proceeds to S25, and the inter-vehicle distance between the virtual leading vehicle and the host vehicle is calculated. Next, in S26, it is determined whether the inter-vehicle distance is “appropriate”, “increase”, or “decrease”.
Here, when the inter-vehicle distance between the virtual leading vehicle and the host vehicle is within the predetermined range, it is determined to be “appropriate”, and when it exceeds the predetermined range, it is determined to be “increase” and falls below the predetermined range Is determined to be “decrease”. In the determination in S26, the determination may be made in consideration of the relative speed between the virtual leading vehicle and the host vehicle. For example, the inter-vehicle distance is within a predetermined range, but the virtual leading vehicle is not less than the predetermined distance from the host vehicle. When the vehicle moves away at a relative speed, it is determined to be “enlarged”. On the other hand, the inter-vehicle distance exceeds the predetermined range, but when the virtual leading vehicle approaches the host vehicle at the relative speed within the predetermined range, It may be determined.

In S26, when it is determined that the inter-vehicle distance is “increase”, the process proceeds to S27, and correction is performed so that the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle decreases.
In S26, when it is determined that the inter-vehicle distance is “decrease”, the process proceeds to S28, where the travel speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected, and further, the process proceeds to S29 to give an alarm. Thus, an example in which the inter-vehicle distance is determined to be “decrease” and an alarm is issued is shown in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 9, an image of the virtual leading vehicle 46 corrected to a large traveling speed is displayed in front of the front window glass 44 viewed by the driver of the host vehicle, and is displayed on the upper left and upper right of the front window 44, respectively. , “Attention to proximity” and “55 km / h”, which is the traveling speed of the host vehicle, are displayed as warnings (reference numeral 56). In addition, an audio warning is also emitted from the speaker 30b (see FIG. 2).

  Next, when it is determined in S26 that the inter-vehicle distance is “appropriate”, the travel speed of the virtual leading vehicle is not corrected, and the process proceeds to S30, where an image of the virtual leading vehicle that travels at the set (corrected) travel speed. Is displayed. Similarly, when the travel speed is set (corrected) in S27 and S28, and when it is determined that the emergency state is determined in S22, the process proceeds to S30 and the virtual travels at the set (corrected) travel speed. Displays an image of the leading vehicle.

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating a vehicle information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the circumference | surroundings of the driver's seat of the vehicle by which the information provision apparatus for vehicles by this embodiment is mounted. It is a flowchart which shows the basic control flow of the information provision apparatus for vehicles by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows initial setting (1) which is a monitor screen at the time of initial setting by the vehicle information provision apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows initial setting (2) which is a monitor screen at the time of initial setting by the vehicle information provision apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the actual scenery which a driver | operator recognizes through the front window glass of a vehicle (own vehicle). It is a figure which shows the scenery containing the image of the virtual leading vehicle which the driver | operator by this embodiment sees through the front window glass of a vehicle. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control flow for setting the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle and displaying the virtual leading vehicle according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the scenery and warning display containing the image of the virtual leading vehicle which the driver | operator by this embodiment looks through the front window glass of a vehicle.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vehicle Information Providing Device 2 CPU
4 DVD-ROM
6 HDD storage device 8 monitor screen 10 operation switch 12 transmission / reception device 14 GPS receiver 16 vehicle speed sensor 18 gyro sensor 20 eye camera 22 virtual image display device 24 CCD camera 26 laser radar device 28 road surface μ sensor 30 voice interactive device 32 alarm device 44 Front window 46 Virtual leading vehicle 48 Leading vehicle 50 Pedestrian 52 Brake lamp 54 Turn signal 56 Alarm

Claims (9)

An information providing device for a vehicle that guides a route by setting a travel route on which the vehicle should travel,
Speed setting means for setting the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle based on a predetermined condition;
Leading vehicle display means for displaying an image of the virtual leading vehicle traveling at the traveling speed set by the speed setting means in correspondence with the traveling route in an actual scene viewed by the driver;
Speed correcting means for correcting the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle according to the traveling speed of a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle based on a predetermined condition;
The speed correction means is configured to control the virtual leading vehicle so that the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is smaller than the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle when the distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle is within a predetermined distance. A vehicle information providing apparatus that corrects the traveling speed of the vehicle.   The vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speed setting means sets the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle to be smaller as the curvature radius of the curve is smaller when the vehicle is traveling on the curve.   3. The information providing apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the speed setting means sets the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle to be smaller as it approaches the entrance of a curve where the vehicle enters.   The vehicle information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the speed setting means sets a traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle according to a legal speed of a road on which the vehicle travels. The vehicle speed according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the speed correction means corrects the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle to be reduced when the vehicle is separated from the virtual leading vehicle by a predetermined distance or more. Information providing device. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the speed correction means corrects the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle to increase when the vehicle approaches the virtual leading vehicle within a predetermined distance. Information provision device. The speed correction means corrects the traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle so that the acceleration / deceleration of the virtual leading vehicle is within a predetermined range. In an emergency state, the deceleration of the virtual leading vehicle is within the predetermined range. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the vehicle traveling speed of the virtual leading vehicle is corrected according to the traveling speed of the preceding vehicle . Furthermore, the vehicle information provision apparatus of Claim 7 which has a warning means which performs a warning in an emergency state. The vehicular information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , further comprising a warning unit that issues a warning when the vehicle approaches the virtual leading vehicle within a predetermined distance.

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