Interior information display apparatus and light irradiation apparatus used for the same

• US 8,248,219 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Yoshihisa, Enokizaka, Tetsuya, Mori, Kenichi, Kawai, Seiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Toan N
• Application Number:
  US12/523,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20100295670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 340/458, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/459, 340/461, 353/13, 353/14
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/50 Arrangements to reconfigure features of lighting or signalling devices, or to choose from a list of pre-defined settings
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/12 lighting onto the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system

Abstract

Information is displayed by irradiating a visible light on a specific position based on at least one of vehicle state information, vehicle surrounding information, and vehicle interior information. For example, the visible light is irradiated on a target switch based on signals indicating an on/off state of a headlamp operation switch and an on/off state of a key switch. A user 5 can easily confirm the target switch and unerringly operate the target switch. A visible light irradiator 6 is arranged in a vehicle compartment and irradiates the visible light to display information in the vehicle compartment. The information can be provided for the user 5 in a novel manner.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle information display apparatus comprising:

a visible light irradiation device mounted on a vehicle and configured to irradiate a condensed visible light as one of a spot light and an area light to a predetermined position in a vehicle compartment;

a light irradiation controller including a light direction adjuster and an irradiation direction indicator, wherein the light direction adjuster adjusts an irradiation direction of the visible light irradiated from the visible light irradiation device, and the irradiation direction indicator outputs data associated with the irradiation direction to the light direction adjuster to adjust the irradiation direction of the visible light; and

an electronic control unit specifying information about an information display image based on at least one of vehicle state information, vehicle surrounding information and vehicle interior information, and transmits the information about the information display image to the irradiation direction indicator,

wherein the irradiation direction indicator outputs the data associated with the irradiation direction to the light direction adjuster based on the information about the information display image transmitted from the electronic control unit, and

wherein the light direction adjuster adjusts the irradiation direction of the visible light irradiated from the visible beam irradiator for irradiating the visible light irradiated into the vehicle compartment according to the information about the information display image.

2. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the light direction adjuster adjusts the irradiation direction of the visible light irradiated from the visible light irradiation device, and irradiates the visible light into the vehicle compartment by changing an irradiation position of the visible light in accordance with the information about the information display image transmitted from the electronic control unit.

3. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the light direction adjuster adjusts the irradiation direction of the visible light irradiated from the visible light irradiation device, and movingly irradiates the visible light from a position to another position in the vehicle compartment in accordance with the information about the information display image transmitted from the electronic control unit.

4. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the light direction adjuster adjusts the irradiation direction of the visible light irradiated from the visible light irradiation device, and movingly irradiates the visible light from a specific position to another position in the vehicle compartment in accordance with the information about the information display image transmitted from the electronic control unit.

5. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the electronic control unit acquires a signal indicating an on-off state of a headlamp operation switch and a signal indicating an on-off state of a key switch, determines a headlamp to be inadvertently left turned on when the headlamp operation switch is on and the key switch is off, and instructs the irradiation direction indicator to provide a headlamp warning as the information display.

6. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 5,

wherein the irradiation direction indicator provides the headlamp warning by outputting data associated with defining a lighting switch for the headlamp as the irradiation direction, and the light direction adjuster irradiates the visible light to the lighting switch.

7. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the electronic control unit acquires a signal indicating a fastened-unfastened state of a seat belt and a signal indicating an on-off state of a key switch, determines that the seat belt is unfastened when the seat belt is unfastened and the key switch is off, and instructs the irradiation direction indicator to provide a seat belt warning as the information display.

8. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 7,

wherein the irradiation direction indicator provides the seat belt warning by outputting data associated with defining a seat belt buckle as the irradiation direction, and the light direction adjuster irradiates the visible light to the seat belt buckle.

9. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the electronic control unit acquires a signal indicating an on-off state of a parking brake switch and vehicle speed data of the vehicle, determines that a parking brake is inadvertently not released when the parking brake switch is on and the vehicle speed exceeds a threshold value, and instructs the irradiation direction indicator to provide a parking brake warning as the information display.

10. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 9,

wherein the irradiation direction indicator provides the parking brake warning by outputting data associated with defining the parking brake switch as the irradiation direction, and the light direction adjuster irradiates the visible light to the operation switch.

11. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the electronic control unit acquires a signal indicating an open-close state of a door of the vehicle and vehicle speed data of the vehicle, determines that the door is inadvertently left opened when the door is opened and the vehicle speed exceeds a threshold value, and instructs the irradiation direction indicator to provide a door ajar warning as the information display.

12. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 11,

wherein the irradiation direction indicator provides the door ajar warning by outputting data associated with defining a door handle for a ajar door as the irradiation direction, and the light direction adjuster irradiates the visible light to the door handle.

13. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the visible light irradiation device is arranged on a place different from the light irradiation controller, and an optical fiber cable transmits the visible light irradiated from the visible light irradiation device to the light irradiation controller.

14. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 13,

wherein the visible light irradiation device is arranged in a trunk of the vehicle.

15. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the predetermined position in the vehicle compartment includes an interior of the vehicle compartment where the visible light irradiation device is capable of irradiating light.

16. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the vehicle state information shows information indicating a state of the vehicle detected by an onboard device mounted on the vehicle;

wherein the vehicle surrounding information shows exterior information including at least one of information associated with the presence of an obstacle around the vehicle, information available near the vehicle, external temperature, weather information, and exterior illumination detected by a vehicle surrounding sensor, and

wherein the vehicle interior information includes information about the user including biological information and information about a vehicle compartment used for irradiating the visible light.

17. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the light irradiation controller terminates irradiation of the visible light at an irradiation termination time when the visible light is irradiated, when one of:

an irradiation target is operated based on the information about the information display image; and

a predetermined time has passed after starting the irradiation of the visible light.

18. A light irradiation controller provided for the in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the light irradiation controller is arranged at a ceiling of the vehicle.

19. The light irradiation controller of claim 18,

wherein the light irradiation controller is mounted on a part of the ceiling ahead from an estimated position of a head of a user sitting on a seat of the vehicle.

20. The light irradiation controller of claim 18,

wherein at least one light irradiation controller is arranged on each of the ceiling and a center console of the vehicle.

21. The light irradiation controller of any one of claim 18,

wherein at least one light irradiation controller is mounted on each of a part of the ceiling and another part of the ceiling,

wherein the part of the ceiling is disposed ahead from an estimated position of a head of the user sitting on a driver seat, and

wherein the other part of the ceiling is disposed ahead from an estimated position of the head of the user sitting on a rear seat.

22. An in-vehicle information display apparatus comprising:

a light irradiation controller mounted on a vehicle and configured to irradiate a condensed visible light as one of a spot light and an area light to a predetermined position in a vehicle compartment; and

an electronic control unit specifying information about an information display image based on at least one of vehicle state information, vehicle surrounding information and vehicle interior information, and transmits the information about the information display image to the light irradiation controller,

wherein the light irradiation controller irradiates the visible light into the vehicle compartment in accordance with information about the information display image transmitted from the electronic control unit, and

wherein the light irradiation controller irradiates the visible light into the vehicle compartment by changing an irradiation position of the visible light in accordance with the information about the information display image transmitted from the electronic control unit.

23. The in-vehicle information display apparatus of claim 22,

wherein the predetermined position in the vehicle compartment includes an interior of the vehicle compartment where the light irradiation controller is capable of irradiating light.

24. An in-vehicle information display apparatus comprising:

a light irradiation controller mounted on a vehicle and configured to irradiate a condensed visible light as one of a spot light and an area light to a predetermined position in a vehicle compartment; and

an electronic control unit specifying information about an information display image based on at least one of vehicle state information, vehicle surrounding information and vehicle interior information, and transmits the information about the information display image to the light irradiation controller,

wherein the light irradiation controller irradiates the visible light into the vehicle compartment in accordance with information about the information display image transmitted from the electronic control unit, and

wherein the light irradiation controller movingly irradiates the visible light from a position to another position in the vehicle compartment in accordance with the information about the information display image transmitted from the electronic control unit.

25. An in-vehicle information display apparatus comprising:

a light irradiation controller mounted on a vehicle and configured to irradiate a condensed visible light as one of a spot light and an area light to a predetermined position in a vehicle compartment; and

an electronic control unit specifying information about an information display image based on at least one of vehicle state information, vehicle surrounding information and vehicle interior information, and transmits the information about the information display image to the light irradiation controller,

wherein the light irradiation controller irradiates the visible light into the vehicle compartment in accordance with information about the information display image transmitted from the electronic control unit, and

wherein the light irradiation controller movingly irradiates the visible light from a specific position to another position in the vehicle compartment in accordance with the information about the information display image transmitted from the electronic control unit.

26. A vehicular display apparatus comprising:

a video light generation device mounted in a vehicle compartment, and configured to condense a light emitted from a light source to generate a video light;

an occupant determination unit for determining whether an occupant occupies the vehicle compartment; and

a display control unit for controlling the video light generation device to irradiate the video light into the vehicle compartment to display a video image when the occupant determination unit determines no occupant in the vehicle compartment.

27. The vehicular display apparatus of claim 26,

wherein the video light is irradiated on a seat or a center console of the vehicle.

28. The vehicular display apparatus of claim 26 further comprising:

an elapsed time determination unit for determining whether a predetermined reference time or more has passed after the occupant determination unit estimates that an occupant has occupied the vehicle,

wherein the display control unit controls the video light generation device to stop irradiating the video light when the elapsed time determination unit determines that the predetermined reference time has passed after the occupant determination unit estimates that the occupant is to get into the vehicle.

29. A vehicular display apparatus comprising:

an information display unit for displaying information by irradiating a laser beam on an instrument panel surface of a vehicle;

a position adjusting unit for adjusting a display position of the information displayed by the information display unit;

an eye position detection unit for detecting an eye position of a driver in a vertical direction; and

a vertical angle detection unit for detecting a vertical angle of a rear view mirror,

wherein the position adjusting unit adjusts the display position of the information displayed by the information display unit in accordance with the eye position of the driver detected by the eye position detection unit, and

wherein the eye position detection unit detects the eye position of the driver in the vertical direction based on the vertical angle of the rear view mirror detected by the angle detection unit.

30. The vehicular display apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

a driving position detecting unit for detecting a driver seat adjusting position,

wherein the eye position detection unit detects the eye position of the driver in the front-back direction based on the driver seat adjusting position detected by the driving position detecting unit.

31. The vehicular display apparatus of claim 29, further comprising

a horizontal angle detecting unit for detecting a horizontal angle of a rear view mirror,

wherein the eye position detection unit detects the eye position of the driver in a front-back direction based on the horizontal angle of the rear view mirror detected by the horizontal angle detecting unit.

32. A vehicular information service apparatus comprising:

an irradiator arranged in a vehicle compartment of a vehicle, and configured to irradiate light generated by condensing a light from a light source;

an information acquisition unit for acquiring surrounding situation information about a surrounding situation of the vehicle;

an information service determining unit for determining based on the surrounding situation information acquired by the information acquisition unit whether an object for information service for an occupant of the vehicle exists at a position out of a peripheral visual field of the occupant of the vehicle; and

an irradiation control unit controlling to irradiate the generated light on a structural object other than a glass surface in the vehicle compartment positioned in a peripheral visual field of the occupant of the vehicle when the information service determining unit determines that the object for information service exists,

wherein the irradiation control unit includes a variable mechanism variably changing an irradiation direction of the generated light, and

an irradiation light moving unit that has an irradiation range on a surface of the structural object in the peripheral visual field of the occupant of the vehicle and movingly irradiates the generated light by using the variable mechanism within both the irradiation range and a predetermined range in which the object for information service exists.

33. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

a communication unit for communicating with a system outside of the vehicle,

wherein the information acquisition unit acquires the surrounding situation information from the system outside of the vehicle via the communication unit, and

wherein the information service determining unit determines the information service based on the surrounding situation information acquired from the system outside of the vehicle.

34. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 32,

wherein the irradiation control unit controls to irradiate the generated light on at least one of structural objects of an instrument panel and a front pillar in the vehicle compartment.

35. A vehicular information service apparatus comprising:

an irradiator arranged in a vehicle compartment of a vehicle, and configured to irradiate a light generated by condensing the light from a light source;

an information acquisition unit for acquiring surrounding situation information about a surrounding situation of the vehicle;

an information service determining unit for determining a necessity of information service for an occupant of the vehicle based on the surrounding situation information acquired by the information acquisition unit;

an irradiation control unit for controlling to irradiate the generated light on a structural object other than a glass surface in the vehicle compartment positioned in a peripheral visual field of the occupant of the vehicle when the information service determining unit determines the necessity of information service; and

a communication unit for communicating with a system outside of the vehicle,

wherein the information acquisition unit acquires the surrounding situation information from the system outside of the vehicle via the communication unit, and

wherein the information service determining unit determines the information service based on the surrounding situation information acquired from the system outside of the vehicle.

36. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 35,

wherein the irradiation control unit includes a variable mechanism for variably changing an irradiation direction of the generated light, and

wherein the irradiation control unit includes an irradiation direction change unit that establishes an irradiation range on a surface of the structural object, and changes the irradiation direction while irradiating the generated light within the irradiation range.

37. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 36,

wherein the irradiation control unit controls the irradiation in such a manner that the generated light is scanned along with a guidance direction for guiding a visual line of an occupant in the vehicle.

38. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 37,

wherein the irradiation direction change unit defines the guidance direction as an irradiation reference direction for the generated light, and changes the irradiation direction of the generated light in such a manner that the generated light is movingly irradiated around the irradiation reference direction.

39. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 37,

wherein the irradiation direction change unit defines the guidance direction as an irradiation reference direction for the generated light, and changes an irradiation direction of the generated light in such a manner that the generated light is movingly irradiated from the irradiation reference direction to a direction different from the guidance direction.

40. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 35,

wherein the surrounding situation information acquired by the information acquisition unit relates to at least one of another vehicle, a two-wheel vehicle and a pedestrian disposed around the vehicle, the surrounding situation information acquired from at least one of a road-to-vehicle communication with a roadside infrastructure and an inter-vehicle communication with the other vehicle.

41. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 40 further comprising:

a collision determining unit for determining a possibility of collision between the vehicle and the at least one of the other vehicle, the two-wheel vehicle, and the pedestrian acquired from the surrounding situation information,

wherein the information service determining unit determines a necessity of information service for the occupant when the collision determining unit determines the possibility of collision.

42. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 41,

wherein the collision determining unit determines a traveling direction of the vehicle in accordance with turn signal information and vehicle speed information about the vehicle, and determines the possibility of collision when there is the at least one of the other vehicle, the two-wheel vehicle, and the pedestrian entering around the vehicle in the traveling direction.

43. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 35,

wherein the irradiation control unit provides irradiation control so as to irradiate the generated light in accordance with the other vehicle, the two-wheel vehicle and the pedestrian.

44. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

a hazard determination unit for determining a hazard level for the vehicle based on the surrounding situation information,

wherein the irradiation control unit provides irradiation control so as to irradiate the generated light in accordance with the hazard level.

45. The vehicular information service apparatus of claim 44,

wherein the irradiation direction change unit accelerates a change of the irradiation direction of the generated light as the hazard level increases, and decelerates the change of the irradiation direction of the generated light as the hazard level decreases.

46. A vehicular display apparatus comprising:

an irradiator for irradiating a light into a vehicle compartment; and

a display control unit for controlling the irradiator to irradiate the light on a steering wheel of the vehicle and to display an instruction associated with a steering wheel operation.

47. The vehicular display apparatus of claim 46,

wherein the irradiator condenses the light from a light source, and irradiates the light at a spot,

wherein the irradiator includes a drive mechanism for changing an orientation of the irradiator, and

wherein the display control unit drives the drive mechanism to change the orientation of the irradiator and to display the instruction associated with the steering wheel operation.

48. The vehicular display apparatus of claim 46,

wherein the irradiator condenses the light from a light source, and generates a video light, and

wherein the display control unit controls the irradiator to movingly irradiate video light so as to display the instruction for the steering wheel operation.

49. The vehicular display apparatus of claim 46,

wherein the display control unit displays an instruction for indicating a direction of the steering wheel operation in such a manner that the light moves in the direction of the steering wheel operation.

50. The vehicular display apparatus of claim 49,

wherein the display control unit specifies the direction of the steering wheel operation in accordance with information that indicates a selection of the direction of the steering wheel operation for avoiding an obstacle, the selection input from an obstacle detector for detecting and providing a notification associated with the obstacle around the vehicle.

51. The vehicular display apparatus of claim 49,

wherein the display control unit specifies the direction of the steering wheel operation in accordance with information that indicates a selection of the direction of the steering wheel operation for keeping a correct lane, the selection input from a lane warning apparatus for detecting and providing a notification associated with deviation from a lane where the vehicle is running.

52. The vehicular display apparatus of claim 46,

wherein the instruction displayed by the display control unit includes an instruction for a steering wheel manipulation amount associated with varying a moving range of the light irradiated from the irradiator in accordance with the steering wheel manipulation amount.

53. The vehicular display apparatus of claim 52,

wherein the display control unit specifies the steering wheel manipulation amount in accordance with information indicating a value of the steering wheel manipulation amount for avoiding the obstacle, the value input from an obstacle detector for detecting and providing a notification associated with the obstacle around the vehicle.