Vehicle information display system

• US 20050154505A1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Koji, Kashiwada, Shinji, Aoki, Naoyuki, Aoki, Tomoo, Shinoda, Yoshio, Yasuda, Kazuya, Takahashi, Akira, Ando, Hiroshi, Kitagawa, Nozomi, Kamiya, Akira, Kakizaki, Masaru, Fujikawa, Takayuki, Kawahara, Nobuaki, Inada, Junya
• Granted Patent: US 7,561,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• 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 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A vehicle information display system includes a head-up display for reflecting an image on a windshield of a vehicle and displaying the image so that a driver recognizes the image as a virtual image. Information is collected for being displayed by the head-up display. A circumstance of the vehicle, a circumstance of surrounding of the vehicle, or a circumstance of the driver is detected. The collected information is classified in accordance with a detection result. Then, display contents of the head-up display are controlled in accordance with a classification result.

Claims

1. A vehicle information display system having display means for reflecting an image on a windshield of a vehicle and displaying the image so that an occupant of the vehicle recognizes the image as a virtual image, the system comprising:

information collection means for collecting information to be displayed by the display means;

circumstance detection means for detecting at least one of a circumstance of the vehicle, a circumstance of surrounding of the vehicle, and a circumstance of the occupant;

information classification means for classifying the collected information collected by the information collection means in accordance with a detection result from the circumstance detection means; and

display control means for controlling display contents of the display means in accordance with a classification result from the information classification means.

2. The vehicle information display system according to claim 1,

wherein the information classification means has first classification means for classifying the collected information into first class information to be immediately recognized by the occupant and second class information other than the first class information, and

wherein the display control means

defines display areas capable of being displayed by the display means as

a center display area enabling the occupant to read information without averting a sight line from a forward driving course while running along a straight course and

a surrounding display area other than the center display area, and

controls display positions of the first class information and the second class information so that the first class information corresponds to the center display area and the second class information corresponds to the surrounding display area.

3. The vehicle information display system according to claim 2,

wherein the information collection means collects at least point information needed for the occupant at a predetermined specific point;

wherein the circumstance detection means detects at least a point of the vehicle as a circumstance of the vehicle; and

wherein, when the point of the vehicle detected by the circumstance detection means is inside a predetermined area around the specific point, the first classification means classifies the point information as first class information and, when the point of the vehicle is outside the predetermined area, classifies the point information as second class information.

4. The vehicle information display system according to claim 1,

wherein the information classification means has second classification means for classifying the collected information into displayable information to be displayed and undisplayable information to be hidden;

and

wherein the display control means displays only the displayable information.

5. The vehicle information display system according to claim 4,

wherein the circumstance detection means detects at least one of a vehicle'"'"'s right turn operation and a vehicle'"'"'s left turn operation;

and

wherein, when a right turn is detected by the circumstance detection means, the second classification means classifies, as the undisplayable information, information having a display position specified in a right portion of the surrounding display area opposing to a right side of the center display area, and

wherein, when a left turn is detected by the circumstance detection means, the second classification means classifies, as the undisplayable information, information having a display position specified in a left portion of the surrounding display area opposing to a left side of the center display area.

6. The vehicle information display system according to claim 4,

wherein the circumstance detection means detects at least the presence or absence of a danger-avoidance operation to avoid danger;

and

wherein, when the circumstance detection means detects a danger-avoidance operation, the second classification means classifies information irrelevant to the danger-avoidance operation as the undisplayable information.

7. A method used in a vehicle information display system having display means for reflecting an image on a windshield of a vehicle and displaying the image so that an occupant of the vehicle recognizes the image as a virtual image, the method comprising steps of:

collecting information to be displayed by the display means;

detecting at least one of a circumstance of the vehicle, a circumstance of surrounding of the vehicle, and a circumstance of the occupant;

classifying the collected information in accordance with a result from the detecting; and

controlling display contents of the display means in accordance with a result from the classifying.

8. A vehicle information display system comprising:

video display means for displaying a video indicating provision information to be provided to an occupant of a vehicle; and

projection means for projecting the video on a vehicle windshield so that the occupant visually recognizes the video displayed by the video display means,

wherein, while the projection means projects the video on a top area above a visual field area corresponding to a visual field needed for the occupant to confirm traffic circumstances, and the projection means projects the video also on a bottom area below the visual field area in addition to the top area, and

wherein the projection means includes;

a first mirror which reflects an incident video and projects the video on the top area;

a second mirror which reflects an incident video and projects the video on the bottom area.

9. The vehicle information display system according to claim 8, wherein the visual field area includes at least test area A as specified in JIS standard R3212.

10. The vehicle information display system according to claim 8,

wherein the projection means projects the video on an area of the top area other than an area where an inside rear view mirror obstructs a visual field.

11. The vehicle information display system according to claim 8,

wherein the video display means projects the video on an area of the top area other than an area where an inside rear view mirror obstructs a visual field.

12. The vehicle information display system according to claim 8,

wherein the projection means further includes:

a half mirror disposed to transmit and reflect a video displayed by the video display means for two branches, allow one of the branches to enter the first mirror, and allow the other of the branches to enter the second mirror; and

a pair of shutters which are respectively provided on a path for a transmitted video transmitting the half mirror toward the windshield and on a path for a reflected video reflected by the half mirror toward the windshield so as to transmit or block off light, and

wherein the video display means displays time division multiplexed data generated from a first video to be projected on the top area and a second video to be projected on the bottom area and generates a drive signal for complementarily operating the pair of shutters in accordance with timing to change the multiplexed video so that one shutter transmits light and the other shutter blocks off light.

13. The vehicle information display system according to claim 8,

wherein the projection means further includes:

a movable mirror capable of changing directions of a video displayed by the video display means so as to be reflected in either of incident directions to the first mirror and the second mirror, and

wherein the video display means generates time division multiplexed data from a first video to be projected on the top area and a second video to be projected on the bottom area and generates a drive signal for changing directions of the movable mirror in accordance with timing to change the multiplexed video.

14. The vehicle information display system according to claim 8,

wherein the projection means further includes:

a double reflecting mirror which, when assuming that a display screen of the video display means comprises first and second parts, reflects a video displayed on the first part in a direction incident on the first mirror and reflects a video displayed on the second part other than the first part in a direction incident on the second mirror, and

wherein the video display means displays a synthesized video so that a first video to be projected on the top area corresponds to the first part and a second video to be projected on the bottom area corresponds to the second part.

15. The vehicle information display system according to claim 8, further comprising:

an input means for inputting an instruction to select whether or not to display the provision information.

16. The vehicle information display system according to claim 8, further comprising:

an external circumstance detection means for detecting circumstances visible through the windshield outside a vehicle,

wherein the video display means has adjustment means for adjusting and increasing brightness of a video projected on the windshield and overlapped with an object, if any, detected by the external circumstance detection means so that a vehicle'"'"'s occupant should visually recognize the object.

17. The vehicle information display system according to claim 8, comprising:

information collection means for collecting information for supporting operations based on at least any one of circumstances around a vehicle, a state of the occupant, and a vehicle'"'"'s operating state,

wherein the video display means uses information collected by the information collection means as the provision information.

18. The vehicle information display system according to claim 17,

wherein the video display means provides a video of a signboard to display the provision information comprising information for supporting operations.

19. The vehicle information display system according to claim 18,

wherein the video display means changes display positions and sizes of the signboard in accordance with changes in positional relationship between a specific point in a landscape visible through the windshield and a vehicle so that a video of the signboard can be viewed so as to be fixed at the specific point.

20. The vehicle information display system according to claim 19,

wherein the video display means starts displaying a video of the signboard by increasing a distance to the specific point and an initial size of the signboard as a vehicle'"'"'s running speed increases.

21. A vehicle information display system comprising:

route guide means for generating route guide information that guides a vehicle to a destination;

image data storage means for storing image data of guide images corresponding to the route guide information;

image display means for displaying images based on image data on a display area which is part of a windshield of the vehicle and is positioned higher than a sight line of an occupant of the vehicle; and

control means for reading image data of the guide image corresponding to the route guide information from the image data storage means and displaying the guide image on the image display means.

22. The vehicle information display system according to claim 21,

wherein the guide image represents a signboard or a traffic sign.

23. The vehicle information display system according to claim 21, the system further comprising:

image capturing means for capturing images in front of the vehicle and creating image data; and

image data creation means for analyzing the image data created by the image capturing means in front of the vehicle to recognize a targeted object and creating image data of the targeted object,

wherein the image data storage means stores image data of the targeted object; and

wherein the control means reads the image data of the targeted object from the image data storage means and displays an image of the targeted object on the image display means.

24. A vehicle information display system comprising:

image capturing means for capturing images in front of a vehicle and creating image data;

image data creation means for analyzing the image data created by the image capturing means in front of the vehicle to recognize a targeted object and creating image data of the targeted object,

image data storage means for storing image data of the targeted object;

image display means for displaying images based on image data on a display area which is part of a windshield of the vehicle and is positioned higher than a sight line of an occupant of the vehicle; and

control means for reading the image data of the targeted object from the image data storage means and displaying an image of the targeted object on the image display means.

25. The vehicle information display system according to claim 24,

wherein the targeted object is a signboard.

26. The vehicle information display system according to claim 24,

wherein the control means, in accordance with a display request, allows the image display means to display a most recent one of image data which is stored in the image data storage means and is associated with the targeted object.

27. The vehicle information display system according to claim 24, the system further comprising:

position detection means for detecting positions of the vehicle,

wherein the control means reads, from the image data storage means, image data corresponding to a position of the vehicle and allows the image display means to display an image based on the image data.

28. The vehicle information display system according to claim 27,

wherein the image data represents a signboard installed on a road.

29. The vehicle information display system according to claim 24, the system further comprising:

means for measuring mileage of the vehicle,

wherein the control means processes the image data so as to enlarge an image displayed by the image display means in accordance with the measured mileage of the vehicle.

30. The vehicle information display system according to claim 29,

wherein the control means allows the display area to display image A enlarged in accordance with mileage A and image B enlarged in accordance with mileage B by shifting display positions.

31. The vehicle information display system according to claim 24, the system further comprising:

input means for inputting a stop instruction or a remove instruction,

wherein the control means, when the stop instruction is input, stops motion of an image displayed by the image display means and, when the remove instruction is input, removes an image displayed by the image display means.

32. The vehicle information display system according to claim 24, the system further comprising:

means for detecting speeds of the vehicle,

wherein the control means allows the image display means to display an image when a speed of the vehicle exceeds a specified threshold value.

33. The vehicle information display system according to claim 24, the system further comprising:

input means for capable of inputting sizes of images displayed on the image display means,

wherein the control means processes the image data so that a size of an image displayed by the image display means becomes equal to a size input by the input means.

34. The vehicle information display system according to claim 24, the system further comprising:

an external apparatus outside the vehicle; and

reception means for receiving road information transmitted from the external apparatus,

wherein the external apparatus includes

detection means for detecting the road information and

transmission means for transmitting the road information to the reception means,

wherein the image data storage means stores image data of an image corresponding to the road information; and

wherein the control means reads image data corresponding to the road information from the image data storage means and allows the image display means to display an image corresponding to the image data.

35. A vehicle information display system having an external apparatus outside a vehicle and an internal apparatus in the vehicle,

wherein the external apparatus comprises:

detection means for detecting road information; and

transmission means for transmitting the road information to the internal apparatus,

wherein the internal apparatus comprises;

reception means for receiving the road information transmitted from the external apparatus;

image data storage means for storing image data of images corresponding to the road information;

image display means for displaying images based on image data on a display area which is part of a windshield of the vehicle and is positioned higher than a sight line of an occupant of the vehicle; and

control means for reading the image data corresponding to the road information from the image data storage means and allowing the image display means to display an image corresponding to the image data.

36. The vehicle information display system according to claim 35,

wherein the road information relates to another vehicle on a road crossing a road where the vehicle travels.

37. A method used in a vehicle information display system, the method comprising steps of:

storing image data of guide images;

generating route guide information that guides a vehicle to a destination;

reading the stored image data of the guide image corresponding to the generated route guide information; and

displaying images based on the read image data corresponding to the generated route guide information on a display area which is part of a windshield of the vehicle and is positioned higher than a sight line of an occupant of the vehicle.

38. A method used in a vehicle information display system, the method comprising steps of:

capturing images in front of a vehicle to create image data;

analyzing the created image data to recognize a targeted object and to create image data of the targeted object,

storing the created image data of the targeted object;

reading the stored image data of the targeted object; and

displaying images based on the read image data of the targeted object on a display area which is part of a windshield of the vehicle and is positioned higher than a sight line of an occupant of the vehicle.

39. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a vehicle information display system, the computer program product comprising instructions for:

storing image data of guide images;

generating route guide information that guides a vehicle to a destination;

reading the stored image data of the guide image corresponding to the generated route guide information; and

displaying images based on the read image data corresponding to the generated route guide information on a display area which is part of a windshield of the vehicle and is positioned higher than a sight line of an occupant of the vehicle.

40. A computer program product in a computer readable media for use in a vehicle information display system, the computer program product comprising instructions for:

capturing images in front of a vehicle to create image data;

analyzing the created image data to recognize a targeted object and to create image data of the targeted object,

storing the created image data of the targeted object;

reading the stored image data of the targeted object; and

displaying images based on the read image data of the targeted object on a display area which is part of a windshield of the vehicle and is positioned higher than a sight line of an occupant of the vehicle.

41. A vehicle information display system comprising:

first means for generating a first image representing first information; and

second means for generating a second image representing second information,

wherein the first image is visually recognized by an occupant of a vehicle as a virtual image on a windshield below a driving visual field area that the occupant frequently looks at during driving of the vehicle, and

wherein the second image is visually recognized by the occupant as a virtual image on the windshield above the driving visual field.

42. The vehicle information display system according to claim 41,

wherein the first information and the second information are associated with each other.

43. The vehicle information display system s according to claim 42,

wherein the first information represents actual measurements of a physical amount concerning the vehicle;

and

wherein the second information represents a targeted or regulated value for the physical amount concerning the vehicle.

44. The vehicle information display system according to claim 42,

wherein the first information notifies anomaly contents concerning the vehicle;

and

wherein the second information notifies contents of countermeasure against the anomaly concerning the vehicle.

45. The vehicle information display system according to claim 42,

wherein the first information represents a current position and a terminal destination of the vehicle;

and

wherein the second information is associated with a road where the vehicle is running.

46. The vehicle information display system according to claim 41,

wherein at least one of the first information and the second information includes a plurality of pieces of information.

47. A method used on a vehicle information display system, the method comprising steps of:

generating a first image representing first information; and

generating a second image representing second information,

wherein the first image is visually recognized by an occupant of a vehicle as a virtual image on a windshield below a driving visual field area that the occupant frequently looks at during driving of the vehicle, and

wherein the second image is visually recognized by the occupant as a virtual image on the windshield above the driving visual field.