Image display device

• US 10,558,416 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2018
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Dan, Kinoshita, Makoto, Yamazumi, Toru, Yamasaki, Kentarou
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US15/888,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20180260182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/04 the devices being headlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/545 for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/547 for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/36 characterised by the display of a graphic pattern, e.g. using an all-points-addressable [APA] memory
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/40 characterised by the way in which both a pattern determined by character code and another pattern are displayed simultaneously, or either pattern is displayed selectively, e.g. with character code memory and APA, i.e. all-points-addressable, memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3194 including sensor feedback

Abstract

Provided is an image display device for a vehicle, in which the vehicle travels on a road and includes a first image display unit that displays a transmissive image inside the vehicle for an occupant. The image display device includes a second image display unit and a display controller. The second image display unit displays a road-surface image on a road surface of the road. The display controller stops displaying any one of the transmissive image and the road-surface image, on the condition that the transmissive image displayed by the first image display unit and the road-surface image displayed by the second image display unit appear superimposed on each other.

Claims

1. An image display device for a vehicle, the vehicle traveling on a road and including a first image display unit configured to project at least one first image inside the vehicle for an occupant, the image display device comprising:

a second image display unit configured to project at least one second image on a road surface of the road;

a line-of-sight detection unit configured to detect a line of sight of the occupant; and

a display controller configured to, when the at least one first image projected inside the vehicle and the at least one second image projected on the road surface of the road appear superimposed on each other from a perspective of the occupant based on the detected line of sight of the occupant, stop projecting

     1) the at least one first image projected inside the vehicle or

     2) the at least one second image projected on the road surface of the road.

2. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit configured to determine whether the at least one first image projected inside the vehicle and the at least one second image projected on the road surface of the road appear superimposed on each other based on one or both of image information of the at least one first image and image information of the at least one second image.

3. The image display device according to claim 2, further comprising a derivation unit configured to derive:

the image information of the at least one first image including at least one of display area of the at least one first image, a display amount of the at least one first image, a number of the at least one first image projected inside the vehicle, and a display position of the at least one first image; and

the image information of the at least one second image including at least one of display area of the at least one second image, a display amount of the at least one second image, number of the at least one second image projected on the road surface of the road, and a display position of the at least one second image.

4. The image display device according to claim 2, further comprising a comparison unit configured to compare the image information of the at least first image with the image information of the at least second image, wherein

the display controller configured to stop projecting 1) the at least one first image projected inside the vehicle or 2) the at least one second image projected on the road surface of the road further based on a comparison result of the comparison unit.

5. The image display device according to claim 2, further comprising an evaluation unit configured to determine a safety level of the vehicle based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle, wherein

the display controller stops projecting 1) the at least one first image projected inside the vehicle or 2) the at least one second image projected on the road surface of the road further based on determining that the safety level of the vehicle is lower than a threshold.

6. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein

the vehicle includes headlights, and

the second image display unit includes the headlights.

7. The image display device according to claim 3, further comprising a comparison unit configured to compare the image information of the at least first image with the image information of the at least second image, wherein

the display controller configured to stop projecting 1) the at least one first image projected inside the vehicle or 2) the at least one second image projected on the road surface of the road further based on a comparison result of the comparison unit.

8. The image display device according to claim 3, further comprising an evaluation unit configured to evaluate determine a safety level of the vehicle based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle, wherein

the display controller stops projecting 1) the at least one first image projected inside the vehicle or 2) the at least one second image projected on the road surface of the road further based on determining that the safety level of the vehicle is lower than a threshold.

9. The image display device according to claim 3, wherein

the vehicle includes headlights, and

the second image display unit includes the headlights.

10. The image display device according to claim 4, further comprising an evaluation unit configured to determine a safety level of the vehicle based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle, wherein

the display controller stops projecting 1) the at least one first image projected inside the vehicle or 2) the at least one second image projected on the road surface of the road further based on determining that the safety level of the vehicle is lower than a threshold.

11. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein

the vehicle includes headlights, and

the second image display unit includes the headlights.

12. The image display device according to claim 7, further comprising an evaluation unit configured to determine a safety level of the vehicle based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle, wherein

the display controller stops projecting 1) the at least one first image projected inside the vehicle or 2) the at least one second image projected on the road surface of the road further based on determining that the safety level of the vehicle is lower than a threshold.

13. The image display device according to claim 7, wherein

the vehicle includes headlights, and

the second image display unit includes the headlights.

14. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising an evaluation unit configured to determine a safety level of the vehicle based on a surrounding environment of the vehicle, wherein

the display controller stops projecting 1) the at least one first image projected inside the vehicle or 2) the at least one second image projected on the road surface of the road further based on determining that the safety level of the vehicle is lower than a threshold.

15. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle includes headlights, and

the second image display unit includes the headlights.