Display method and apparatus for changing display position based on external environment

• US 7,167,779 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Koji, Ando, Hiroshi, Kakizaki, Masaru, Kashiwada, Shinji, Fujikawa, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Matthew
• Application Number:
  US10/779,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 345 7- 9, 345629-641, 345419-428, 340435-438, 701 1- 18, 701200-213
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0112 comprising device for genereting colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

In a head-up display device, when a preceding vehicle exists between a pre-movement information conveyor and a vehicle, the pre-movement information conveyor is moved to another position at which the pre-movement information conveyor is displayed as a recognizable post-movement information conveyor. Thus, the pre-movement information conveyor is removed from a state in which the pre-movement information conveyor is hidden behind the preceding vehicle, hence, becoming invisible. As a result, the incompatibility sense felt by the driver of the vehicle can be reduced and the information conveyor will be less overlooked.

Claims

1. A display method adopted in a vehicle for allowing a driver of a vehicle to three-dimensionally recognize an information conveyor for conveying information to the driver by utilizing a difference in vision between eyes of the driver, the method comprising:

determining a position of existence of the information conveyor;

determining whether an object exists between the determined position of existence of the information conveyor and the vehicle such that the information conveyor is substantially hidden by the object and substantially invisible from the vehicle;

changing the determined position of existence of the information conveyor, when the object is determined to exist between the determined position of existence of the information conveyor and the vehicle, to a position other than a location behind the object in advance of displaying; and

displaying the information conveyor at the changed position in a display of the vehicle.

2. The display method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

changing the determined position of the information conveyor, when a color tone distribution degree of a background at the determined position of existence of the information conveyor is higher than a predetermined reference, to a position having a color tone distribution degree lower than the predetermined reference in advance of the displaying step.

3. The display method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

displaying the information conveyor once at the determined position of existence before being changed by the changing step.

4. The display method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

changing a display color of the information conveyor in accordance with a color of a background at the determined position of existence of the information conveyor.

5. The display method as in claim 1, wherein the changing of the determined position of existence of the information conveyor further comprises changing the position only when the determined position is within a display image of the object in the display.

6. The display method as in claim 1, wherein the displaying of the information conveyor further comprises displaying the information conveyor such that the information conveyor is viewed as locating the object and the vehicle.