Display control device, display device, display control method, and non-transitory storage medium

• US 9,776,567 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Mochizuki, Makoto, Emura, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Balaoing, Ariel
• Application Number:
  US14/626,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20150251600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• 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 1/001 integrated in the windows, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• 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 2300/8033 for pedestrian protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0196 having transparent supporting structure for display mounting, e.g. to a window or a windshield
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/203 Drawing of straight lines or curves
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT

Abstract

A display control device includes an obtainer and a controller. The obtainer obtains a detection accuracy of an object that exists in surroundings of a movable body. When the obtainer obtains a first detection accuracy, the controller controls an image generator so as to generate a first predetermined image that shows a first graphic having a predetermined shape and divided into n regions (n is an integer greater than or equal to 2). When the obtainer obtains a second detection accuracy that is lower than the first detection accuracy, the controller controls the image generator so as to generate a second predetermined image that shows a second graphic having a predetermined shape and undivided or divided into m regions (m is an integer that is greater than or equal to 1 and that is smaller than n).

Claims

1. A display control device in a display system including a detection device that detects a predetermined object that exists in surroundings of a movable body, a calculator that calculates a detection accuracy of the detection device, an image generator that generates a predetermined image, and a displayer that outputs the predetermined image on a display medium to display a graphic having a predetermined shape on the display medium, the display control device comprising:

an obtainer that obtains the detection accuracy; and

a controller that controls, based on the detection accuracy, the image generator so as to generate the predetermined image that shows the graphic having a predetermined shape when displayed on the display medium,

wherein the controller;

controls the image generator so as to generate a first predetermined image as the predetermined image, when the obtainer obtains a first detection accuracy, and

controls the image generator so as to generate a second predetermined image as the predetermined image, when the obtainer obtains a second detection accuracy lower than the first detection accuracy,

wherein the first predetermined image shows, as the graphic having a predetermined shape, a first graphic divided into n regions when displayed on the display medium, the first graphic including a divided region, and the second predetermined image shows, as the graphic having a predetermined shape, a second graphic divided into m regions or undivided when displayed on the display medium, the second graphic including a divided region or an undivided region, and

n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and m is an integer that is greater than or equal to 1 and that is smaller than n.

2. The display control device according to claim 1,

wherein the display medium is a windshield of the movable body;

and

the displayer displays the graphic having a predetermined shape on the windshield by projecting the predetermined image onto the windshield.

3. The display control device according to claim 1,

wherein the display medium is a transmissive display, and the predetermined image is image data;

and

the displayer displays the graphic having a predetermined shape on the transmissive display by outputting the image data onto the transmissive display.

4. The display control device according to claim 1,

wherein each of the first predetermined image and the second predetermined image includes a highlighted region indicating a positional relationship between the movable body and the predetermined object.

5. The display control device according to claim 4,

wherein the graphic having a predetermined shape is a graphic divided into a plurality of regions by one or more lines extending radially from a predetermined reference point;

and

the plurality of regions include a first region indicating a direction in which the predetermined object exists relative to the movable body and one or more second regions other than the first region, the first region being displayed in a first display mode, and the one or more second regions being displayed in a second display mode different from the first display mode.

6. The display control device according to claim 4,

wherein, in the case where the graphic having a predetermined shape is displayed without being divided,

the controller

controls the image generator so as to generate the predetermined image that shows the predetermined shape in a first mode, when the detection device recognizes the predetermined object, and

controls the image generator so as to generate the predetermined image that shows the predetermined shape in a second mode when the detection device does not recognize the predetermined object.

7. The display control device according to claim 5,

wherein, in the case where a division number of the graphic having a predetermined shape and displayed on the display medium changes owing to a change in the detection accuracy,

the controller

controls the image generator so that, when the first region in the graphic having a predetermined shape increases owing to a decrease in the division number, luminance of the first region decreases compared with the luminance thereof before the decrease in the division number, and

controls the image generator so that, when the first region in the graphic having a predetermined shape decreases owing to an increase in the division number, the luminance of the first region increases compared with the luminance thereof before the increase in the division number.

8. The display control device according to claim 1,

wherein the graphic having a predetermined shape includes a region indicating a distance between the predetermined object and the movable body.

9. The display control device according to claim 8,

wherein the graphic having a predetermined shape is a graphic divided into a plurality of regions by one or more lines that extend in a horizontal direction or one or more lines that extend in an arc direction of a circle having a center at a predetermined reference point;

and

the plurality of regions include a third region indicating a distance between the movable body and the predetermined object and one or more fourth regions other than the third region, the third region being displayed in a first display mode, and the one or more fourth regions being displayed in a second display mode different from the first display mode.

10. The display control device according to claim 8,

wherein, when the graphic having a predetermined shape is displayed without being divided,

the controller

controls the image generator so as to generate the predetermined image that shows the predetermined shape in a first mode, when the detection device recognizes the predetermined object, and

controls the image generator so as to generate the predetermined image that shows the predetermined shape in a second mode when the detection device does not recognize the predetermined object.

11. The display control device according to claim 9,

wherein, in the case where a division number of the graphic having a predetermined shape and displayed on the display medium changes owing to a change in the detection accuracy,

the controller

controls the image generator so that, when the third region in the graphic having a predetermined shape increases owing to a decrease in the division number, luminance of the third region decreases compared with the luminance thereof before the decrease in the division number, and

controls the image generator so that, when the third region in the graphic having a predetermined shape decreases owing to an increase in the division number, the luminance of the third region increases compared with the luminance thereof before the increase in the division number.

12. The display control device according to claim 1,

wherein, in the case where a division number of the graphic having a predetermined shape and displayed on the display medium changes owing to a change in the detection accuracy,

the controller controls the image generator so as to display the graphic having a predetermined shape by causing a mode of the graphic before the change in the division number and a mode of the graphic after the change in the division number to be changed in a time series.

13. The display control device according to claim 1,

wherein the detection device comprises a first sensor that detects the surroundings of the movable body and a second sensor that detects predetermined weather or an illuminance change;

the detection accuracy is an accuracy of the first sensor;

when the second sensor does not detect the predetermined weather or the illuminance change, the first detection accuracy is used as the detection accuracy; and

when the second sensor detects the predetermined weather or the illuminance change, the second detection accuracy is used as the detection accuracy.

20. The display control device according to claim 4,

wherein the highlighted region is the divided region.

14. A display device, comprising:

an obtainer that obtains a detection accuracy of a detection device that detects a predetermined object that exists in surroundings of a movable body;

a controller that performs, based on the detection accuracy, control so as to generate a predetermined image that shows a graphic having a predetermined shape when displayed on a display medium;

an image generator that generates the predetermined image, based on control performed by the controller; and

a displayer that displays the graphic having a predetermined shape on the display medium by outputting the generated predetermined image onto the display medium,

wherein the controller;

controls the image generator so as to generate a first predetermined image as the predetermined image, when the obtainer obtains a first detection accuracy, and

controls the image generator so as to generate a second predetermined image as the predetermined image, when the obtainer obtains a second detection accuracy lower than the first detection accuracy, and

wherein the first predetermined image shows, as the graphic having a predetermined shape, a first graphic divided into n regions when displayed on the display medium, the first graphic including a divided region, and the second predetermined image shows, as the graphic having a predetermined shape, a second graphic divided into m regions or undivided when displayed on the display medium, the second graphic including a divided region or an undivided region, and

n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and m is an integer that is greater than or equal to 1 and that is smaller than n.

15. The display device according to claim 14,

wherein the display medium is a windshield of the movable body;

and

the displayer displays the graphic having a predetermined shape on the windshield by projecting the predetermined image onto the windshield.

16. The display device according to claim 14,

wherein the display medium is a transmissive display, and the predetermined image is image data;

and

the displayer displays the graphic having a predetermined shape on the transmissive display by outputting the image data onto the transmissive display.

17. A display device according to claim 14, further comprising:

a display medium;

the controller that performs, based on the detection accuracy, control so as to generate a predetermined image that shows a graphic having a predetermined shape when displayed on the display medium; and

the displayer that displays the graphic having a predetermined shape on the display medium by outputting the generated predetermined image onto the display medium.

18. A method of controlling a display system including a detection device that detects a predetermined object that exists in surroundings of a movable body, a calculator that calculates a detection accuracy of the detection device, an image generator that generates a predetermined image, and a displayer that outputs the predetermined image on a display medium to display a graphic having a predetermined shape on the display medium, the method comprising:

controlling the image generator so as to generate a first predetermined image as the predetermined image, when the detection accuracy calculated by the calculator is a first detection accuracy;

controlling the image generator so as to generate a second predetermined image as the predetermined image, when the calculated detection accuracy changes from the first detection accuracy to a second detection accuracy lower than the first detection accuracy,

wherein the first predetermined image shows, as the graphic having a predetermined shape, a first graphic divided into n regions when displayed on the display medium, the first graphic including a divided region, and the second predetermined image shows, as the graphic having a predetermined shape, a second graphic divided into m regions or undivided when displayed on the display medium, the second graphic including a divided region or an undivided region, and

n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and m is an integer that is greater than or equal to 1 and that is smaller than n.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the display control method according to claim 18.