Display control device, information display system for moving object, module for driver's seat and moving object

• US 8,130,087 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tsubooka, Satoshi, Okamoto, Toshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US12/377,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20100164698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 340/679, 340/680, 340/686.1, 340/686.5, 345/158, 700/108, 700/106, 700/111, 700/99
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• 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 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

An imaging module that generates a plurality of display images respectively based on a plurality of pieces of state information different from each other, in accordance with an instruction signal from a controller, and allows the plurality of display images to be displayed simultaneously on a display screen of a liquid crystal display device, and a recording and reproducing unit that performs a capture operation, in accordance with the instruction signal from the controller are provided. The recording and reproducing unit records the display screen on the recording medium as screen data through the capture operation.

Claims

1. A display control device that receives state information from each part of a moving object and that allows a display device to display a display image based on the input state information, the display control device comprising:

a display operation determination unit arranged to select state information to be displayed on a display screen of the display device, based on a plurality of pieces of the input state information, and to determine a display position on the display screen of a display image based on the selected state information;

an image generation unit arranged to generate a plurality of display images respectively based on the plurality of pieces of state information different from each other, in accordance with an instruction signal from the display operation determination unit, and to allow the plurality of display images to be displayed simultaneously on the display screen;

a recording medium arranged to record data on the display image that is being displayed on the display screen;

a recording unit arranged to perform a data recording operation with respect to the recording medium; and

a capture operation instruction unit arranged to output an instruction signal to the recording unit on a predetermined time interval basis, thereby allowing the recording unit to perform a capture operation of capturing the display screen as screen data.

2. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the state information contains operation information regarding an instruction for an operation with respect to the moving object, operating information regarding an operating state of the moving object including a speed and a moving direction of the moving object, and image pickup information from an image pickup device provided in the moving object.

3. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the capture operation instruction unit allows a display screen to be subjected to the capture operation to be captured as screen data on one frame of a still image, and allows the recording unit to perform the capture operation with respect to the display screen in accordance with a recording interval and the number of recording frames previously set.

4. The display control device according to claim 1, further comprising an abnormality determination unit arranged to determine whether or not an abnormality has occurred in the moving object, based on the input state information, wherein the abnormality determination unit notifies the display operation determination unit of state information used in abnormality determination, when determining that an abnormality has occurred in the moving object, the display operation determination unit selects the notified state information as state information to be displayed on the display screen, when being notified of the state information from the abnormality determination unit, determines a display position on the display screen, and notifies the capture operation instruction unit of an occurrence of an abnormality, and the capture operation instruction unit allows the recording unit to perform the capture operation, when being notified of the occurrence of an abnormality from the display operation determination unit.

5. The display control device according to claim 4, further comprising a capture operation changing unit arranged to be notified of the state information used in abnormality determination from the abnormality determination unit, determines a recording interval and the number of recording frames in the capture operation which the capture operation instruction unit indicates with respect to the recording unit, based on the notified state information, and changes the recording interval and the number of recording frames.

6. The display control device according to claim 1, further comprising a time information providing unit arranged to notify the image generation unit of time information indicating current date and time, thereby allowing the time information to be displayed on the display screen.

7. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit performs predetermined data compression processing, when recording the screen data on the recording medium through the capture operation.

8. The display control device according to claim 1, further comprising a reproducing unit arranged to reproduce the screen data recorded on the recording medium, and a reproducing operation instruction unit that allows the reproducing unit to perform a reproducing operation of the screen data, in accordance with an instruction signal from outside.

9. An information display system for a moving object, comprising the display control device according to claim 1, and a display device arranged to display a display image generated by the image generation unit of the display control device.

10. A module for a driver'"'"'s seat attached around a driver'"'"'s seat of a moving object, comprising the information display system for a moving object according to claim 9.

11. A moving object comprising the information display system for a moving object according to claim 9, wherein the display device is attached to a position that is recognizable visually at least from the driver'"'"'s seat.