Vehicle display system and method of controlling vehicle display system

• US 10,279,683 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2018
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Inventors: Torii, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/898,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20180264945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 340438, 340901-903, 3404255, 3404261, 34042634, 34042628, 340905, 340427, 34042622, 340435-436, 340455, 340463, 340468, 340525, 340534-535, 34053922
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/174 Facial expression recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A vehicle display system includes a display device, a determiner, and a display controller. The display device provides a display on a window of a vehicle. The determiner determines whether a driver of the vehicle comes close to the vehicle. The display controller controls the display device to provide the display for an outside of the vehicle, when the determiner determines that the driver of the vehicle comes close to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle display system comprising:

a display device configured to provide a first image on windows of a vehicle; and

a controller configured to;

detect, outside the vehicle, a driver of the vehicle within a threshold distance of the vehicle;

determine a position of the driver outside the vehicle; and

control, in response to determining the position of the driver, the display device to provide the first image towards outside the vehicle on a first window of the windows, wherein the first window is located closer to the position of the driver than other windows of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle display system according to claim 1, wherein when the controller detects a change in the position of the driver outside the vehicle, the controller controls the display device to provide the first image towards outside the vehicle on a second window of the windows,

wherein the second window is located closer to the changed position of the driver than other windows of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle display system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect an abnormality of the vehicle,

wherein the controller controls, in response to detecting the abnormality of the vehicle, the display device to provide, on the first window, a second image indicating that the abnormality of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle display system according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the display device to provide the first image for the outside of the vehicle, when the abnormality of the vehicle is not detected.

5. The vehicle display system according to claim 4, wherein the first image comprises one or more of a message intended for the driver, a weather forecast, news, traffic information, and routing information.

6. The vehicle display system according to claim 4, further comprising a communicator configured to communicate with an external server,

wherein information regarding the first image is acquired by the communicator from the external server.

7. The vehicle display system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the driver is inside the vehicle,

wherein the controller controls, in response to determining that the driver is inside the vehicle, the display device to provide the first image towards inside the vehicle on the first window.

8. The vehicle display system according to claim 7, wherein the controller controls the display device to provide the first image towards inside the vehicle on the first window by inverting front and back of the first image provided towards outside the vehicle.

9. The vehicle display system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect an abnormality of the driver,

wherein the controller controls, in response to detecting the abnormality of the vehicle, the display device to provide a third image based on the abnormality of the driver, and

wherein the controller controls the display device to provide the third image on the first window.

10. A vehicle display system comprising:

a display device configured to provide a first image on windows of a vehicle; and

a controller configured to;

determine that a driver is inside the vehicle;

control, in response to determining that the driver is inside the vehicle, the display device to provide a first image towards inside the vehicle;

determine that the driver exists the vehicle;

determine a position of the driver outside the vehicle; and

control, in response to determining the position of the driver, the display device to provide the first image towards outside the vehicle on a first window of the windows, wherein the first window is located closer to the position of the driver than other windows of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle display system according to claim 10, wherein when the controller detects a change in the position of the driver outside the vehicle, the controller controls the display device to provide the first image towards outside the vehicle on a second window of the windows,

wherein the second window is located closer to the changed position of the driver than other windows of the windows of the vehicle.

12. A method of controlling a vehicle display system, the method comprising:

detecting, outside a vehicle, a driver of the vehicle within a threshold distance of the vehicle, the vehicle including a display device that provides an image on windows of the vehicle;

determining a position of the driver outside the vehicle; and

controlling, in response to determining the position of the driver, the display device to provide the image towards outside the vehicle on a first window of the windows, wherein the first window is located closer to the position of the driver than other windows of the vehicle.

13. A method of controlling a vehicle display system, the method comprising:

determining that a driver is inside a vehicle, the vehicle including a display device that provides an image on windows of the vehicle; and

controlling, in response to determining that the driver is inside the vehicle, the display device to provide the image towards inside the vehicle;

determining that the driver exits the vehicle; and

determining a position of the driver outside the vehicle; and

controlling, in response to determining the position of the driver, the display device to provide the image towards outside the vehicle on a first window of the windows, wherein the first window is located closer to the position of the driver than other windows of the vehicle.

14. A vehicle display system comprising:

a display device configured to provide an image on windows of a vehicle; and

circuitry configured to;

detect, outside the vehicle, a driver of the vehicle within a threshold distance of the vehicle;

determine a position of the driver outside the vehicle; and

control, in response to determining the position of the driver, the display device to provide the image towards outside the vehicle on a first window of the windows, wherein the first window is located closer to the position of the driver than other windows of the windows of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle display system comprising:

a display device configured to provide an image on windows of a vehicle; and

circuitry configured to

determine that a driver is inside the vehicle;

control, in response to determining that the driver is inside the vehicle, the display device to provide the image towards inside the vehicle;

determine that the driver exists the vehicle; and

determine a position of the driver outside the vehicle; and

control, in response to determining the position of the driver, the display device to provide the image towards outside the vehicle on a first window of the windows, wherein the first window is located closer to the position of the driver than other windows of the vehicle.