Vehicle information projection system

• US 9,761,145 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2014
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Inventors: Ejiri, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US15/034,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20160284218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle information projection system capable of accurately determining the approaching state of an obstacle and assisting the driver in driving. A vehicle information projection system that enables a user to view an image showing a lane information image together with the actual view outside a host vehicle, wherein a rearward-information acquisition unit detects the approaching of a rearward vehicle as well as the relative distance and the relative speed between the host vehicle and the rearward vehicle, and when the approaching of the rearward vehicle is detected by the rearward-information acquisition unit, a display controller performs display control so as to superpose and make visible a trajectory image that indicates the approaching of the rearward vehicle in a lane adjacent to that on which the host vehicle is traveling as acquired by a lane-information acquisition means.

Claims

1. A vehicle information projection system, with a projection device configured to project an information image on a front windshield of a host vehicle, and a lane-information acquisition means configured to acquire lane information, and enabling a user to view an image showing the information image with an actual view outside the host vehicle, the system comprising:

a rearward vehicle detection means configured to detect a relative distance and a relative speed between the host vehicle and the rearward vehicle; and

a display controller configured to control the projection device so as to superpose an approach-indicating image on the front windshield which indicates approaching of the rearward vehicle in a lane adjacent to that on which the host vehicle is traveling when approaching of the rearward vehicle is detected by the rearward vehicle detection means,

wherein when the detected relative distance becomes shorter than a predetermined distance, the display controller is configured to execute an initial display where a separation distance, by which the superposed approach-indicating image appears to extend in front of the host vehicle, increases up to a target separation distance, and

after the initial display is completed, the separation distance increases or decreases based on changes in the detected relative speed and the detected relative distance.

2. The vehicle information projection system according to claim 1, further comprising

an interruption estimation means configured to estimate that the rearward vehicle interrupts the host vehicle, wherein,

when interruption of the rearward vehicle is estimated by the interruption estimation means, the display controller makes an interruption-indicating image which has been deformed from the approach-indicating image so that at least an end portion enters the lane on which the host vehicle is traveling be displayed.

3. The vehicle information projection system according to claim 2, wherein the display controller is capable of changing a deformation speed from the approach-indicating image to the interruption-indicating image depending on the relative distance and/or the relative speed.