IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20180257549A1
• Filed: 02/07/2018
• Published: 09/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Inventors: SUZUKI, Dan, KINOSHITA, Makoto, YAMAZUMI, Toru, YAMASAKI, Kentarou
• Granted Patent: US 10,358,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/04 the devices being headlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/547 for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body

Abstract

An image display device includes a light illuminator, a crossing-facility detector, an image position determiner, and an illumination controller. The light illuminator is configured to send out light frontward of a first vehicle as an own vehicle, to display an image for a pedestrian. The crossing-facility detector is configured to detect a crossing facility provided on the road. The image position determiner is configured to determine, on the basis of a position of the crossing facility, whether or not a display position of the image is included in a no-crossing region near the crossing facility. The illumination controller is configured to control display operation of the light illuminator, to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on the condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region.

Claims

1. An image display device, comprising:

a light illuminator configured to send out light frontward of a first vehicle as an own vehicle, to display an image for a pedestrian who waits to cross a road;

a crossing-facility detector configured to detect a crossing facility provided on the road, the crossing facility allowing the pedestrian to cross;

an image position determiner configured to determine, on a basis of a position of the crossing facility detected by the crossing-facility detector, whether or not a display position of the image is included in a no-crossing region near the crossing facility; and

an illumination controller configured to control display operation of the light illuminator, to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region.

2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein

the illumination controller controls the light illuminator to display a no-crossing image on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region, the no-crossing image prohibiting the pedestrian from crossing the road.

3. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein

the illumination controller controls the light illuminator to display a pedestrian-guidance image on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region, the pedestrian-guidance image guiding the pedestrian to the crossing facility.

4. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein

the illumination controller controls the light illuminator to display a pedestrian-guidance image on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region, the pedestrian-guidance image guiding the pedestrian to the crossing facility.

5. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein

the illumination controller makes the light illuminator stop sending out light, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region.

6. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising a signal information detector configured to detect display information on a signal for automobiles at an intersection at which the crossing facility is provided, wherein

the image position determiner determines whether or not the display position of the image is included in a caution-against-crossing region, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image falls out of the no-crossing region, the caution-against-crossing region being a region of a predetermined distance or less from the no-crossing region, and

the illumination controller controls the display operation of the light illuminator to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on a condition that the signal information detector detects the display information that allows a second vehicle other than the first vehicle to travel straight on the road on which the image is to be displayed, and on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the caution-against-crossing region.

7. The image display device according to claim 2, further comprising a signal information detector configured to detect display information on a signal for automobiles at an intersection at which the crossing facility is provided, wherein

the image position determiner determines whether or not the display position of the image is included in a caution-against-crossing region, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image falls out of the no-crossing region, the caution-against-crossing region being a region of a predetermined distance or less from the no-crossing region, and

the illumination controller controls the display operation of the light illuminator to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on a condition that the signal information detector detects the display information that allows a second vehicle other than the first vehicle to travel straight on the road on which the image is to be displayed, and on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the caution-against-crossing region.

8. The image display device according to claim 3, further comprising a signal information detector configured to detect display information on a signal for automobiles at an intersection at which the crossing facility is provided, wherein

the image position determiner determines whether or not the display position of the image is included in a caution-against-crossing region, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image falls out of the no-crossing region, the caution-against-crossing region being a region of a predetermined distance or less from the no-crossing region, and

the illumination controller controls the display operation of the light illuminator to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on a condition that the signal information detector detects the display information that allows a second vehicle other than the first vehicle to travel straight on the road on which the image is to be displayed, and on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the caution-against-crossing region.

9. The image display device according to claim 4, further comprising a signal information detector configured to detect display information on a signal for automobiles at an intersection at which the crossing facility is provided, wherein

the image position determiner determines whether or not the display position of the image is included in a caution-against-crossing region, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image falls out of the no-crossing region, the caution-against-crossing region being a region of a predetermined distance or less from the no-crossing region, and

the illumination controller controls the display operation of the light illuminator to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on a condition that the signal information detector detects the display information that allows a second vehicle other than the first vehicle to travel straight on the road on which the image is to be displayed, and on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the caution-against-crossing region.

10. The image display device according to claim 6, wherein

the predetermined distance is about 50 meters.

11. The image display device according to claim 7, wherein

the predetermined distance is about 50 meters.

12. The image display device according to claim 8, wherein

the predetermined distance is about 50 meters.

13. The image display device according to claim 9, wherein

the predetermined distance is about 50 meters.

14. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein

the light illuminator includes headlights.

15. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein

the light illuminator includes headlights.

16. The image display device according to claim 3, wherein

the light illuminator includes headlights.

17. The image display device according to claim 4, wherein

the light illuminator includes headlights.

18. An image display device, comprising:

a light illuminator configured to send out light frontward of a first vehicle as an own vehicle, to display an image for a pedestrian who waits to cross a road;

a crossing-facility detector configured to detect a crossing facility provided on the road, the crossing facility allowing the pedestrian to cross; and

circuitry configured to

control display operation of the light illuminator, on a basis of a position of the crossing facility detected by the crossing-facility detector,

determine whether or not a display position of the image is included in a no-crossing region near the crossing facility, and

control the display operation of the light illuminator, to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on a condition that the display position of the image is determined as being included in the no-crossing region.