Information provision device and information provision method

• US 10,852,818 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2018
• Issued: 12/01/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Saisho, Kenichiroh
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stone, Robert M
• Application Number:
  US16/213,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20190107886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/166 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/167 Vehicle dynamics information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/177 Augmented reality
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/333 Lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/349 Adjustment of brightness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/48 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/66 Projection screens or combiners
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• 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 35/211 producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/285 for improving awareness by directing driver's gaze direction or eye points
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 : Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 : for controlling displays
• 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 1/24 : in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/31 : providing stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 : using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 : using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 : combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/308 : by overlaying the real scene, e.g. through a head-up display on the windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/605 : the adjustment being automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 : Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3635 : Guidance using 3D or perspective road maps
• 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: G01C 21/3697 : Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0185 : Displaying image at variable distance
• 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: G06F 3/013 : Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

An information provision device and an information provision method. Each of the information provision device and information provision method includes projecting an image light to a light transmission member so as to display a for-driver information image, sensing a relative distance of an object to be detected existing around the mobile object in the direction of travel, detecting a location of a viewpoint of the driver, and changing a position at which an object image indicating the object to be detected is displayed according to a result of the detecting so as to change a perception distance of the driver influenced by a motion parallax of the object image according to the relative distance of the object to be detected in the direction of travel.

Claims

1. An image display device, comprising:

a location detector configured to detect a change, in a given direction, of a location of a viewpoint of a driver when driving a mobile object;

a projector configured to project, to a first display area, an active-information image that is actively recognized by the driver and includes a speed of the mobile object, and project, to a second display area, a passive-information mage that is projected and recognized by the driver, when a prescribed information provision condition is met, the active-information image and the passive-information image being visible to the driver through a light transmission member, wherein the second display area is above the first display area when viewed from the viewpoint of the driver, and the passive-information image includes passive information used by the driver to drive the mobile object; and

a controller configured to, based on the detected change of the location of the viewpoint of the driver, shift, in a reverse direction of the given direction, a position at which the passive-information image is projected in the second display area by a second amount that is different from a first amount by which a position at which the active-information image is projected is shifted in the reverse direction, so as to change a depth perception distance of the passive-information image relative to a depth perception distance of the active-information image.

2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the depth perception distance of the passive-information image for the driver to be longer than the depth perception distance of the active-information image for the driver.

3. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising circuitry configured to obtain distance information indicating a distance between the mobile object and an object existing in a peripheral area of the mobile object,

wherein the passive-information image is projected at a position corresponding to the object existing in the peripheral area of the mobile object.

4. The image display device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to control the depth perception distance of the passive-information image to become shorter when a relative distance between the mobile object and the object existing in the peripheral area of the mobile object gets shorter.

5. The image display device according to claim 3, wherein the object is another mobile object traveling forward, ahead of the mobile object.

6. The image display device according to claim 5, wherein the passive-information image displayed in the second display area is an image indicating the distance to the another mobile object.

7. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the location of the viewpoint of the driver is at a location of an eye of the driver.

8. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the location of the viewpoint of the driver is at a location of a head of the driver.

9. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control a size of a particular object in the passive-information image so as to change the depth perception distance of the passive-information image.

10. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the projector is configured to project the passive-information image, which includes route navigation information.

11. The image display device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to shift the second display area by the second amount and shift the first display area by the first amount, which is larger than the second amount.

12. A mobile object, comprising:

a light transmission member through which a driver views outside the mobile object;

a location detector configured to detect a change, in a given direction, of a location of a viewpoint of the driver when driving the mobile object; and

a display configured to display, in a first display area, an active-information image that is actively recognized by the driver and includes a speed of the mobile object, and, in a second display area, a passive-information image that is displayed and recognized by the driver, when a prescribed information provision condition is met, the active-information image and the passive-information image being visible to the driver through the light transmission member, wherein the second display area is above the first display area when viewed from the viewpoint of the driver, and the passive-information image includes passive information used by the driver to drive the mobile object,

wherein the display is further configured to, based on the detected change of the location of the viewpoint of the driver, shift, in a reverse direction of the given direction, a position at which the passive-information image is displayed in the second display area by a second amount that is different from a first amount by which a position at which the active-information image is displayed is shifted in the reverse direction, so as to change a depth perception distance of the passive-information image relative to a depth perception distance of the active-information image.

13. A method of displaying an image, the method comprising:

detecting a change, in a given direction, of a location of a viewpoint of a driver when driving a mobile object;

displaying, in a first display area, an active-information image that is actively recognized by the driver and includes a speed of the mobile object, and, in a second display area, a passive-information image that is displayed and recognized by the driver when a prescribed information provision condition is met, the active-information image and the passive-information image being visible to the driver through a light transmission member, wherein the second display area is above the first display area when viewed from the viewpoint of the driver, and the passive-information image includes passive information used by the driver to drive the mobile object; and

based on the detected change of the location of the viewpoint of the driver, shift, in a reverse direction of the given direction, a position at which the passive-information image is displayed in the second display area by a second amount that is different from a first amount by which a position at which the active-information image is displayed is shifted in the reverse direction, so as to change a depth perception distance of the passive-information image relative to a depth perception distance of the active-information image for the driver.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method, the method comprising:

detecting a change, in a given direction, of a location of a viewpoint of a driver when driving a mobile object;

displaying, in a first display area, an active-information image that is actively recognized by the driver and includes a speed of the mobile object, and, in a second display area, a passive-information image that is displayed and recognized by the driver, when a prescribed information provision condition is met, the active-information image and the passive-information image being visible to the driver through a light transmission member, wherein the second display area is above the first display area when viewed from the viewpoint of the driver, and the passive-information image includes passive information used by the driver to drive the mobile object; and

based on the detected change of the location of the viewpoint of the driver, shift, in a reverse direction of the given direction, a position at which the passive-information image is displayed in the second display area by a second amount that is different from a first amount by which a position at which the active-information image is displayed is shifted in the reverse direction, so as to change a depth perception distance of the passive-information image relative to a depth perception distance of the active-information image.