Visual line input apparatus

• US 9,753,535 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Naruse, Youichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US14/888,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20160170485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1464 3D-gesture
• 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 35/90 Calibration of instruments, e.g. setting initial or reference parameters; Testing of instruments, e.g. detecting malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• 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: G02B 27/0179 Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

A visual line input apparatus selects an input element objected to be inputted by a visual line, and includes a head-up display device and a visual line detector. The head-up display device displays a plurality of input image elements in front of a windshield and a display region virtually arranged in front of a driving seat in a vehicle. The visual line detector is arranged in front of the driving seat and detects a gazing point made by a driver who sits on the driving seat. The head-up display device displays the plurality of input element images on the display region, and does not display the outer part of the input element image displayed at an end portion of the display region.

Claims

1. A visual line input apparatus for selecting an input element objected to be inputted by a visual line, comprising:

a head-up display device that displays a plurality of input element images on a display region virtually arranged in front of a windshield and in front of a driving seat in a vehicle;

a visual line detector that is arranged in front of the driving seat, and detects a gazing point made by a driver who sits on the driving seat; and

a gesture detector that detects a gesture made by the driver,

wherein the head-up display device displays the plurality of input element images in a row, and does not display an outer part of the input element images displayed at an end portion of the display region, and

wherein when the visual line detector detects the gazing point on one of the input element images at a center of the row, an input to the one of the input element images at the center is confirmed in a case where the gesture detector detects the gesture made by the driver.

2. The visual line input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the visual line detector is arranged at a predetermined region below the display region.

3. The visual line input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein when the gazing point detected by the visual line detector is on an other input element image different from the one of the input element images at the center of the row, the head-up display device moves the other input element image having the gazing point to the center of the row.

4. The visual line input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein an input to the one of the input element images is accepted when the vehicle stops.

5. The visual line input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the head-up display device displays a shift lever position of the vehicle in the display region.

6. The visual line input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the head-up display device displays an on and off state of a parking brake.