Display control device for vehicle, display control system for vehicle, display control method for vehicle

• US 10,668,856 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2018
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Asai, Goro, Iida, Tomoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hansell, Jr., Richard A
• Application Number:
  US15/921,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20180272938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 348118
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning

Abstract

A display control device for a vehicle includes at least one electronic control unit configured to: cause a display device to display a host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image, the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image being an image of an area behind a host vehicle, the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image being captured by a sensor of the host vehicle; detect a rearward vehicle, the rearward vehicle being another vehicle existing behind the host vehicle; cause the display device to display the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image with a first contrast ratio when the rearward vehicle is not detected; and cause the display device to display the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image with a second contrast ratio when the rearward vehicle is detected, the second contrast ratio being higher than the first contrast ratio.

Claims

1. A display control device for a vehicle comprising:

at least one electronic control unit configured to;

cause a display device to display a host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image, the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image being an image of an area behind a host vehicle, the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image being captured by a sensor of the host vehicle;

detect a rearward vehicle, the rearward vehicle travelling on a lane behind the host vehicle;

cause the display device to display the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image with a first contrast ratio in response to the rearward vehicle not being detected;

cause the display device to display the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image with a second contrast ratio in response to the rearward vehicle being detected;

calculate a relative vehicle speed between the rearward vehicle and the host vehicle; and

cause the display device to display the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image with a third contrast ratio when the rearward vehicle is detected and when the relative vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, wherein

the second contrast ratio is higher than the first contrast ratio, and

the third contrast ratio is higher than the second contrast ratio.

2. The display control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the display device is an electronic mirror mounted on the host vehicle.

3. A vehicle comprising:

the display control device of claim 1; and

a sensor disposed in a rear of the vehicle and configured to acquire information on the rearward vehicle,

wherein the at least one electronic control unit is configured to detect the rearward vehicle based upon the acquired information.

4. The display control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic control unit is configured to cause the display device to display the host vehicle'"'"'s entire behind-the-vehicle image with the second contrast ratio when the rearward vehicle is detected.

5. A display control device for a vehicle comprising:

at least one electronic control unit configured to;

cause a display device to display a host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image, the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image being an image of an area behind a host vehicle, the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image being captured by a sensor of the host vehicle;

detect a rearward vehicle, the rearward vehicle being another vehicle existing behind the host vehicle;

cause the display device to display the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image with a first contrast ratio in response to the rearward vehicle not being detected while the host vehicle is travelling forward;

cause the display device to display the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image with a second contrast ratio in response to the rearward vehicle being detected while the host vehicle is travelling forward;

calculate a relative vehicle speed between the rearward vehicle and the host vehicle; and

cause the display device to display the host vehicle'"'"'s behind-the-vehicle image with a third contrast ratio when the rearward vehicle is detected and when the relative vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, wherein

the second contrast ratio is higher than the first contrast ratio, and

the third contrast ratio is higher than the second contrast ratio.