JP2014221630A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A display device with improved display mode is provided. A display device 100 includes a liquid crystal display 111 that is an image display type display unit, and is a display device that is mounted and used in a vehicle in which a plurality of cameras 81 for photographing the outside of the vehicle are installed. The liquid crystal display 111 is disposed around the vehicle image 61 representing the appearance of the vehicle, the external image 71 photographed by one of the plurality of cameras 81, and the vehicle image 61, and photographed by the one camera. A direction presentation image 65 presenting the direction is displayed. [Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device that can be used for, for example, a vehicle meter unit that displays instruments such as a speedometer and a tachometer, and more particularly to a display device that can perform graphic display.

  Conventionally, as a meter unit for a vehicle, an analog meter that displays information indicating the state of the vehicle such as a vehicle speed and an engine speed by physically moving a pointer, or a digital meter that displays information by a numerical or character segment display. It has been known.

  In recent years, a liquid crystal display panel or the like that can display an arbitrary image graphically by combining a large number of pixels whose display modes can be individually controlled is available at a relatively low cost. For this reason, attempts have been made to realize display of instruments and the like in the meter unit using various graphic displays.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, various instruments can be displayed by displaying an image on the screen of a liquid crystal display panel.

JP 2000-221915 A

  By the way, when the graphic display is adopted in the meter unit, the contents to be displayed can be freely expressed in various forms. However, even if a graphic display is adopted, it is required to display the same content as a conventional analog meter having a pointer on the display screen of the meter unit in order to emphasize visibility during driving. Tend to be.

  In this way, when using an expression method equivalent to that of an analog meter, the vehicle user recognizes that the display is the same as the old visual display, even though it employs a highly functional graphic display. There was a risk of it. That is, since the user cannot feel a novelty or a special high-class feeling, there is a possibility that a special added value corresponding to the graphic display cannot be generated even if the graphic display is adopted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a display device in which the novelness of the display mode is improved.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the display device according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) to (6).
(1) A display device that is mounted and used in a vehicle in which a plurality of cameras that photograph the outside of the vehicle are installed,
It has an image display type display,
The display unit is disposed around a vehicle image representing an appearance of the vehicle, an external image photographed by at least one of the plurality of cameras, and a photographing direction of the at least one camera. A direction presentation image for presenting, and
about.
(2) The display device according to (1) above,
A control unit for controlling the display content of the display unit;
The display unit displays the vehicle image and an instrument image for presenting information about the vehicle in a normal display state, and the vehicle image, the external image, and the display in a direction presenting state. A direction presentation image, and
When the control unit receives a predetermined input signal, the control unit transitions the display unit from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, and displays the external image instead of the instrument image.
about.
(3) The display device according to (2) above,
The display unit displays the vehicle image so that an inclination angle with respect to a display surface of the display unit gradually decreases in the process of transition from the normal display state to the direction presentation state.
about.
(4) The display device according to any one of (2) and (3) above,
When the control unit receives an input signal indicating that the direction indicator has been operated, the control unit causes the display unit to transition from the normal display state to the direction presenting state,
When the display unit transitions to the direction presenting state, the vehicle image and the external image captured by a camera that captures an imaging direction corresponding to an operation of the direction indicator among the plurality of cameras, Displaying the direction presentation image;
about.
(5) The display device according to any one of (2) to (4) above,
When the control unit receives an input signal indicating that a detected object is detected around the vehicle, the control unit causes the display unit to transition from the normal display state to the direction presenting state,
When the display unit transitions to the direction presenting state, the external image photographed by the camera that has photographed the vehicle image and a photographing direction corresponding to the direction in which the detected object is present with respect to the vehicle among the plurality of cameras. Displaying an image and the direction presentation image;
about.
(6) The display device according to any one of (2) to (5),
The display unit displays the vehicle image in the normal display state and a plurality of the instrument images having different information to be presented in the normal display state, and the vehicle image and the external image in the direction presentation state. And the direction presenting image,
When the control unit receives the input signal, the control unit shifts the display unit from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, and instead of the instrument image specified based on the received input signal, the specified instrument Displaying the external image at the position where the image was displayed;
about.

According to the display device having the above configuration (1), a vehicle image representing the appearance of the vehicle and a presentation image that is arranged around the vehicle image and presents the shooting direction of the camera that shot the external image are displayed together. Therefore, these images are associated with each other, and the direction in which the external image is taken can be transmitted to the user by a novel expression using graphic display. Thereby, it is possible to appropriately transmit the shooting direction of the external image to the user while improving the novelness of the display mode.
According to the display device having the configuration of (2) above, when the vehicle image and the instrument image are displayed and the transition is made from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, the instrument image is switched to the external image, and the direction presenting image is further displayed. Is done. For this reason, for example, the user may perform a predetermined operation and input an input signal to the control unit to change the display device from the normal display state to the direction presenting state and display the external image and the direction presenting image. it can. Alternatively, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, a predetermined input signal is input to the control unit without input from the user, and the display device transitions from the normal display state to the direction presenting state to display the external image and the direction presenting image. It can be configured. Thus, since the display content transitions, it is possible to obtain a novel expression while improving convenience, and to give a novel impression to the user. Moreover, since an external image is displayed instead of the instrument image, the display space can be used effectively. In this case, as an instrument image to be substituted for the external image, an instrument image that is not subject to legal regulations (for example, an instrument image other than a speedometer such as a tachometer or a water temperature meter) is selected. This is because it is necessary to present speed information to the meter unit due to legal regulations.
According to the display device having the configuration (3), it is possible to give the user an impression that the viewpoint changes from the side of the vehicle to the upper side, and the novelness of the display mode can be improved. In addition, since the vehicle is viewed from above after the transition, the user can easily grasp the shooting direction of the camera when the direction presenting image is displayed in the vicinity of the vehicle image.
According to the display device having the configuration (4), the user can cause the display device to transition from the normal display state to the direction presenting state by operating the direction indicator, and display the external image and the direction presenting image. it can. At this time, an external image captured by a camera that captures the shooting direction corresponding to the operation of the direction indicator is displayed. Thereby, the photographing direction of the displayed external image can be intuitively grasped, and convenience can be improved. Further, the operation direction and the shooting direction can be matched to create a novel expression, and a novel impression can be given to the user.
According to the display device having the configuration (5), when the presence of the detected object is detected, the display device transits from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, and the external image and the direction presenting image are displayed. In this case, an external image captured by a camera that captures the imaging direction corresponding to the direction in which the detected object exists is displayed. For this reason, for example, since the user can quickly recognize the presence of a detected object that is an obstacle, convenience can be improved. In addition, the presence direction of the detected object and the shooting direction can be matched to create a novel expression, and a novel impression can be given to the user.
According to the display device having the above configuration (6), a plurality of instrument images are displayed in the normal state, and in the direction presentation state, the instrument image specified based on the input signal is replaced with the instrument image specified in the plurality of instrument images. Thus, the external image is displayed at the position where the specified instrument image was displayed. That is, according to the type of the input signal, the instrument image substituted for the external image is different, and the position where the external image is displayed is different. The input signal may be based on an operation from the user, or may be based on other detection information of a detection object, for example. According to this configuration, the transition of the display screen can be varied, and a novel impression can be given to the user.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the display apparatus which improved the novelness of the display mode can be provided.

  The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through a mode for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) with reference to the accompanying drawings. .

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the display device 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of the camera 81 and the obstacle detection sensor 83 installed in the vehicle 62. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a graphic display area 111a displayed on the liquid crystal display 111 of the display device 100 in the normal display state. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the display operation procedure of the display device 100 when the display content is changed. FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams showing the transition of the graphic display area 111a when the display content is changed. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the inclination angle of the vehicle with respect to the display surface of the liquid crystal display 111.

  Hereinafter, the display device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The display device according to the present embodiment is applied to a graphic meter installed on an instrument panel in a vehicle compartment. The display device of the embodiment has a function of changing display contents between a normal display state and a direction presenting state.

<Configuration example of display device>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the display device 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a display device 100 includes a microcomputer (CPU: Central Processing Unit) 101, a read only memory (EEPROM) 102, an interface 103, an interface 104, a CPU power supply unit 105, a graphic A controller 106, a frame memory 107, an X driver 108, a Y driver 109, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) power supply unit 110, a liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) 111, and an interface 112 are provided.

  The microcomputer 101 is a control unit, executes a program prepared in advance, and performs various processes necessary for realizing the functions of the display device 100. For example, the microcomputer 101 performs the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  The read-only memory 102 stores the contents of a program executed by the microcomputer 101, image data of each instrument image (an image representing a speedometer 41, a fuel gauge 42, a tachometer 51, and a water temperature gauge 52 described later), a vehicle image 61, and the like. And various fixed data.

  The interface 103 inputs a signal (IGN +) indicating the state of the ignition switch on the vehicle side to the microcomputer 101.

  The interface 104 is used to perform communication according to a CAN (Controller Area Network) standard between the microcomputer 101 and various control devices (ECU: Electric Control Unit) on the vehicle side. Specifically, data representing various current vehicle states such as the current vehicle running speed, engine speed, cooling water temperature, fuel remaining amount, and whether or not the clutch is connected, is transmitted from the vehicle side to the interface 104 as almost real-time data. To the microcomputer 101.

  For example, the interface 104 receives a vehicle speed pulse signal output from a speed sensor mounted on the vehicle side every time the vehicle moves by a predetermined amount, and the microcomputer 101 as travel speed information indicating the current travel speed value of the vehicle. Output to.

  The interface 104 receives a pulse signal output from an engine speed sensor that detects the engine speed, and outputs the pulse signal to the microcomputer 101 as engine speed information. Further, the interface 104 receives information regarding the remaining amount of fuel detected by the fuel sensor and outputs the information to the microcomputer 101. The interface 104 receives a signal from a water temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the cooling water in the radiator, and outputs the signal to the microcomputer 101 as cooling water information.

  The interface 112 is connected to a direction indicator (a blinker switch) that is a switch that can accept an operation related to a graphic screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 111, receives a blinker operation instruction, and outputs a signal corresponding to the blinker operation instruction. Output to the microcomputer 101. That is, the interface 112 has performed a blinker operation for turning on the left direction indicator lamp (not shown) or a blinker operation for turning on the right direction indicator lamp (not shown). Is output to the microcomputer 101.

  The interface 112 is connected to a plurality of obstacle detection sensors 83 (see FIG. 2) installed in the front, rear, and left and right directions of the vehicle, and signals detected by the obstacle detection sensors 83 are sent to the microcomputer 101. Output. As the obstacle detection sensor, for example, an ultrasonic sensor including a transmission unit and a reception unit can be used. The ultrasonic sensor outputs a signal with an obstacle when the ultrasonic wave emitted from the transmitting unit is reflected by the obstacle and the reflected ultrasonic wave is detected within a predetermined time by the receiving unit. As the obstacle detection sensor, other known sensors that can measure the distance to the detection object can be used.

  The interface 112 is connected to a plurality of cameras 81 (see FIG. 2) installed in the front, rear, and left and right directions of the vehicle, and outputs video data captured by the camera 81 to the microcomputer 101.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of the camera 81 and the obstacle detection sensor 83 installed in the vehicle 62. The vehicle 62 is provided with four cameras 81 including cameras 81a, 81b, 81c, and 81d that respectively photograph the front, rear, and left and right directions of the vehicle 62. Hereinafter, these cameras 81a, 81b, 81c, and 81d are simply collectively referred to as cameras 81 when it is not necessary to distinguish them. A video (image) taken by any one of these four cameras 81 is used as an external image 71 (see FIG. 5C) described later.

  The vehicle 62 is provided with obstacle detection sensors 83a, 83b, 83c, and 83d that detect the presence or absence of an obstacle in the front, rear, and left-right direction of the vehicle 62. Hereinafter, these obstacle detection sensors 83a, 83b, 83c, and 83d are simply referred to as the obstacle detection sensor 83 when it is not necessary to distinguish them.

  The steering column (not shown) of the vehicle 62 is provided with a winker switch (direction indicator, not shown), which is a known lever switch.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, the CPU power supply unit 105 inputs DC power supplied from the vehicle-side plus-side power supply line (+ B) and generates a DC voltage (Vcc) necessary for the operation of the microcomputer 101. . Further, a reset signal is generated as necessary, and an operation for suppressing power supply is performed in accordance with a sleep signal output from the microcomputer 101.

  The liquid crystal display 111 is an image display type display unit, and has a color two-dimensional display screen in which a large number of minute display cells configured by a liquid crystal device are arranged in the X direction and the Y direction. By individually controlling the display states of a large number of minute display cells for each cell, desired information such as graphics, characters, images, etc. can be displayed on the two-dimensional display screen.

  Thus, the liquid crystal display 111 displays the graphic display area 111a of the display device 100 by two-dimensional screen display. The display content of the liquid crystal display 111 is controlled by the microcomputer 101 as will be described later.

  The scanning position in the Y direction on the display screen of the liquid crystal display 111 is sequentially switched by the output of the Y driver 109. The Y driver 109 sequentially switches the scanning position in the Y direction in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal output from the graphic controller 106.

  The X driver 108 sequentially switches the scanning position in the X direction on the display screen of the liquid crystal display 111 in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal output from the graphic controller 106. In addition, the X driver 108 gives RGB color image data output from the graphic controller 106 to the display cell at the scanning position to control the display contents on the screen.

  The graphic controller 106 displays various graphic elements on the screen of the liquid crystal display 111 according to various instructions input from the microcomputer 101. Actually, the microcomputer 101 or the graphic controller 106 writes the display data to the frame memory 107 that holds the display contents for each pixel and draws the graphic. In addition, a vertical synchronizing signal and a horizontal synchronizing signal for two-dimensionally scanning the screen of the liquid crystal display 111 are generated, and display data stored at a corresponding address on the frame memory 107 at a timing synchronized with these synchronizing signals. Is applied to the liquid crystal display 111.

  The LCD power supply unit 110 receives DC power supplied from the vehicle-side plus power supply line (+ B) and generates predetermined DC power required for display on the liquid crystal display 111.

<Specific examples of display screen>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a graphic display area 111a displayed on the liquid crystal display 111 of the display device 100 in the normal display state. A speedometer 41, a fuel gauge 42, a tachometer 51, a water temperature gauge 52, and a vehicle image 61 are displayed on the graphic display area 111a shown in FIG. Each of these display elements is realized as a graphic display element expressed by a set of a large number of display pixels.

  The speedometer (instrument image) 41 is a circular display element for presenting the current traveling speed (vehicle speed: km / h) as information relating to the state of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the speedometer 41 is disposed in the vicinity of the annular speed scale 45 and the center of the speed scale 45 as in a general analog instrument, and indicates a part of the speed scale 45 to indicate the current vehicle speed. And a pointer 46 to be presented. As shown in FIG. 3, the speedometer 41 is disposed on one end side (left end side in the figure) in the graphic display area 111a.

  The fuel gauge (instrument image) 42 is a circular display element for presenting the current remaining fuel amount of the vehicle as information relating to the state of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the fuel gauge 42 is arranged in the vicinity of the center of the fuel scale 47 and the annular fuel scale 47 having a smaller diameter than the speed scale 45, as in a general analog instrument. And a pointer 48 indicating a part and presenting the current remaining fuel amount. As shown in FIG. 3, the fuel gauge 42 has a smaller display area than the speedometer 41. Further, the fuel gauge 42 is arranged closer to the tachometer 51 than the speedometer 41 (that is, at the center side and the other end side) so as to have a portion overlapping the speedometer 41 in the graphic display area 111a. ing. In addition, the fuel gauge 42 is not displayed in the overlapping portion, and the speedometer 41 is displayed.

  The tachometer (instrument image) 51 is a circular display element for presenting the current engine speed (x1000 rpm) as information relating to the state of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, like a general analog instrument, the tachometer 51 is disposed in the vicinity of the center of the rotation speed scale 55 and the rotation speed scale 55 having the same shape as the speed scale 45 and the rotation speed scale 55. A pointer 56 indicating a part of the speed scale 55 and presenting the current rotation speed is included. As shown in FIG. 3, the tachometer 51 is opposed to the speedometer 41 on the other end side (right end side in the figure) opposite to the one end side where the speedometer 41 is arranged in the graphic display area 111a. Has been placed.

  The water temperature gauge (instrument image) 52 is a circular display element for presenting the current temperature of the cooling water of the vehicle as information relating to the state of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the water temperature gauge 52 is arranged in the vicinity of the center of the water temperature scale 57 and the annular water temperature scale 57 having substantially the same shape as the fuel scale 47 in the same manner as a general analog instrument. And a pointer 58 that indicates a part of the current temperature and presents the current temperature of the cooling water. As shown in FIG. 3, the water temperature meter 52 is closer to the speedometer 41 than the tachometer 51 (that is, to the center side and one end side) so as to have a portion overlapping the tachometer 51 in the graphic display area 111a. .) Is arranged. In addition, the water temperature meter 52 is not displayed in the overlapping portion, and the tachometer 51 is displayed.

  The tachometer 51 and the water temperature gauge 52 are displayed in the normal display state shown in FIG. On the other hand, in the direction presenting state to be described later, the tachometer 51 and the water temperature meter 52 are deleted, and instead of these, out of the four cameras 81a, 81b, 81c, 81d installed in the front, rear, left and right directions. An external image 71 (see FIG. 5C) captured by any one of the cameras is displayed. In other words, in the present embodiment, in the normal display state, a plurality of instrument images having different information to be presented (speedometer 41 for presenting the running speed, fuel gauge 42 for presenting the remaining amount of fuel, and the engine speed) are presented. And a water temperature meter 52 that presents the temperature of the cooling water are displayed. In the direction presenting state, an external image 71 is displayed instead of the two instrument images (rotometer 51 and water temperature meter 52). Is displayed. Details of the transition of the display contents will be described later.

  The vehicle image 61 is a display element representing the appearance of the vehicle, and is arranged at the center of the screen in the graphic display area 111a shown in FIG. That is, the vehicle image 61 is arranged between the speedometer 41 and the fuel gauge 42 arranged on one end side, and the tachometer 51 and the water temperature gauge 52 arranged on the other end side. The vehicle image 61 can be used, for example, to represent the current state of the vehicle graphically rather than displaying numerical values. For example, when the passenger seat door of the vehicle on which the display device 100 is mounted is open, the vehicle image 61 is displayed as if the passenger seat door is open, so that the passenger seat door is opened to the user. Can be informed. That is, the vehicle image 61 is a decoration image for displaying information related to the state of the vehicle as an image simulating the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the vehicle image 61 is also used to present the shooting direction of the camera that shot the external image 71. In other words, in the present embodiment, a direction presentation image 65 (see FIG. 5C), which will be described later, is displayed around the vehicle image 61, and an external image is displayed depending on the positional relationship (arrangement position) of the direction presentation image 65 with respect to the vehicle image 61. 71 shooting directions are presented. Details of the transition of the display contents will be described later.

<Operation of display device>
The display content changing operation of the display device 100 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the display operation procedure of the display device 100 when the display content is changed. FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams showing the transition of the graphic display area 111a when the display content is changed. An operation program for executing the processing shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the read-only memory 102 and is executed by the microcomputer 101.

  First, the driver turns on the ignition switch. The microcomputer 101 supplied with the DC voltage (Vcc) starts display in the graphic display area 111a.

  When the display starts, the microcomputer 101 performs meter display processing in the normal display state. In the normal display state, as shown in FIG. 5A, the microcomputer 101 performs display control so that the display content of the graphic display area 111a functions as a normal meter unit for automobiles. That is, the latest vehicle speed information is acquired via the interface 104, and the display content is updated so that this vehicle speed is reflected in the display position and orientation of the hands 46 of the speedometer 41. Further, the latest information on the engine speed is acquired via the interface 104, and the display content is updated so that the engine speed is reflected in the display position and orientation of the pointer 56 of the tachometer 51. The same applies to other display elements such as the fuel gauge 42 and the water temperature gauge 52.

  In step S <b> 1, the microcomputer 101 acquires display transition information input via the interface 112. For example, the presence or absence of a turn signal operation instruction is detected.

  The microcomputer 101 determines whether or not the external image 71 is to be displayed in an external video display state (step S2). More specifically, it is determined whether or not there is a turn signal operation instruction. When it is determined that there is a turn signal operation instruction, it is determined that the display is in the external video display state, and it is determined that a turn signal operation instruction has been received. Is determined not to be in the external video display state. If it is not in the external video display state, the microcomputer 101 executes the process of step S1 again.

  On the other hand, in the external video display state, the microcomputer 101 identifies whether the direction in which the blinker operation is performed is the left direction or the right direction based on the signal from the interface 112 (step S3). Hereinafter, a case where the direction specified by the turn signal operation instruction is the left direction will be described.

  Subsequently, the microcomputer 101 performs a process of changing the display mode of the vehicle image 61 (step S4).

  Here, the display process of the vehicle image 61 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the inclination angle of the vehicle 62 with respect to the display surface of the liquid crystal display 111. By changing the display mode of the vehicle image 61 so that the inclination angle θ of the vehicle 62 with respect to the display surface of the liquid crystal display 111 changes, the way the vehicle 62 is viewed from the viewpoint (eye point) changes. When the inclination angle θ is 0, the vehicle 62 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 111 as viewed from above.

  In the normal display state, as shown in FIG. 5A, the tilt angle θ is large, that is, a vehicle image 61A depicting the vehicle 62 viewed from slightly above the rear of the vehicle is displayed on the liquid crystal display 111. Is done.

  On the other hand, in the process of transition from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, as shown in FIG. 5B, a vehicle image 61B in which the vehicle 62 is drawn so that the inclination angle θ gradually decreases is displayed on the liquid crystal display 111. Is displayed.

  In the direction presenting state, as shown in FIG. 5C, the inclination angle θ is 0, that is, the vehicle image 61C in which the vehicle 62 is drawn as viewed from above is displayed on the liquid crystal display 111. . These three vehicle images 61A, 61B, and 61C are recorded in the EEPROM 102 in advance. When the microcomputer 101 starts the process of step S4, the microcomputer 101 performs display control to switch from the vehicle image 61A to the vehicle images 61B and 61C. Hereinafter, these vehicle images 61 </ b> A, 61 </ b> B, and 61 </ b> C are simply referred to as vehicle images 61 when it is not necessary to distinguish them.

  Further, here, in the process of transition from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, the configuration using the three vehicle images 61A, 61B, and 61C has been described. However, a configuration in which an arbitrary number of vehicle images is used may be used. . Further, instead of switching and displaying a plurality of vehicle images having different inclination angles θ, the vehicle images may be displayed so that the vehicle continuously changes by three-dimensional graphic processing. Any configuration may be used as long as the vehicle image 61 is displayed so that the inclination angle θ gradually decreases and the vehicle 62 is finally drawn as viewed from above.

  When the display processing of the vehicle image 61 is completed in step S4, the microcomputer 101 is positioned at a position corresponding to the shooting direction of the image shot by the camera 81 with respect to the vehicle image 61C depicting the vehicle 62 viewed from above. The direction presentation image 65 is displayed, and it is set as a direction presentation state (step S5). Here, since the direction specified in step S3 is the left direction, as shown in FIG. 5C, the direction presentation image representing the left direction, which is the direction presentation image 65 for representing the shooting direction of the camera 81. Of the direction presentation image 65d representing the right direction, the direction presentation image 65b representing the rear direction, and the direction presentation image 65a representing the front direction, the luminance of the direction presentation image 65c representing the left direction is displayed high. Thereby, the user can easily grasp that the shooting direction of the external image 71 is the left direction. In the following description, the direction presentation images 65a, 65b, 65c, and 65d are simply collectively referred to as the direction presentation images 65 when it is not necessary to distinguish them.

  Thereafter, the microcomputer 101 erases the tachometer 51 and the water temperature gauge 52 (step S6), and displays the external image 71 at the position where the instrument image is erased instead of these instrument images (step S7). Here, since the direction specified in step S <b> 3 is the left direction, an image captured by the camera 81 c that captures the left direction of the vehicle 62 is displayed as the external image 71. In the present embodiment, the external image 71 is always displayed on the right side regardless of whether the blinker operation is in the left direction or the right direction. After the process of step S7, the microcomputer 101 executes the process of step S1 again.

  As described above, in the display device 100 according to the present embodiment, the liquid crystal display 111 includes the vehicle image 61 in a state where the tilt angle θ is relatively large in the normal display state and the speedometer 41 which is a meter image. A fuel gauge 42, a tachometer 51, a water temperature gauge 52, and the like are displayed (FIG. 5A). In this normal display state, when the direction indicator is operated and a turn signal operation instruction is input to the microcomputer 101, the display state transitions to the direction presenting state. In the process of transition from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, the vehicle image 61 is displayed so that the inclination angle θ gradually decreases (FIGS. 5B and 5C). And if it changes to a direction presentation state completely, the vehicle image 61 will be displayed as if the inclination | tilt angle approached the value 0 and the vehicle 62 was seen from upper direction. In addition, when the state is changed to the direction presenting state, the photographing is performed by the camera that captures the photographing direction corresponding to the operation of the direction indicator of the four cameras 81 instead of the tachometer 51 and the water temperature meter 52 in the instrument image. The external image 71 thus displayed is displayed. Furthermore, when transitioning to the direction presenting state, the direction presenting image 65 arranged at a position corresponding to the shooting direction of the external image 71 is displayed in an identifiable manner in a display mode different from the other direction presenting images 65, and the external image The shooting direction of the camera 81 that shot 71 is presented.

  In the above-described processing, the case where the operation direction of the winker specified in step S3 is the left direction has been described, but the same processing is performed when the right direction is specified. That is, in this case, the brightness of the direction presenting image 65d representing the right direction is displayed high in the direction presenting image 65 in step S5, and in step S7, the image captured by the camera 81d that captures the right direction is displayed. It is displayed as an external image 71.

(Modification 1)
In the above embodiment, when the turn signal operation instruction by the turn indicator is detected, the state transitions to the direction presenting state. However, instead of detecting the turn signal operation instruction, a detection object (obstacle) is detected around the vehicle 62. In this case, a transition may be made. That is, in step S1 of FIG. 4, the microcomputer 101 may use the obstacle detection information as the display transition information. More specifically, the presence or absence of an obstacle is detected by the obstacle detection sensor 83 in step S1 of FIG. 4, and it is determined whether or not an external video display state is set according to the presence or absence of an obstacle in step S2. Further, the direction in which the obstacle is present, which is the direction in which the obstacle was detected in step S3, is identified. Other processes are the same as those in the above embodiment. For example, when the obstacle detection sensor 83 disposed in front of the vehicle detects an obstacle, an image captured by the camera 81a that captures the front of the vehicle is externally displayed. The image is displayed as an image 71, and the luminance of the direction presenting image 65a that is disposed in the vicinity of the vehicle image 61 and represents the front is displayed high.

(Modification 2)
In the above embodiment, in the normal display state, the external image 71 is always displayed in place of the tachometer 51 and the water temperature meter 52 regardless of whether the right or left turn signal operation instruction is given. An example to be described. As a modification, when the turn signal indicating the right direction is given, the right side of the speedometer 41, the fuel gauge 42, the tachometer 51, and the water temperature gauge 52, which are instrument images, as in the above embodiment. When the external image 71 obtained by photographing the right side is displayed in place of the tachometer 51 and the water temperature meter 52 displayed on the screen, and the blinker instruction indicating the left direction is given, the speed that is the instrument image is displayed. Of the meter 41, the fuel meter 42, the tachometer 51, and the water temperature meter 52, the speedometer 41 displayed on the left and the external image 71 obtained by photographing the left are displayed instead of the fuel meter 42, and the speedometer 41 and the fuel gauge 42 may be displayed in place of the tachometer 51 and the water temperature gauge 52 displayed on the right side. The display position of the vehicle image 61 and the direction presentation image 65 does not change in any case. In the second modification, the speedometer 41 and the fuel gauge 42 are displayed in place of the tachometer 51 and the water temperature gauge 52. The speedometer 41 cannot be deleted from the graphic display area 111a by law. Because. That is, in the second modification, when the microcomputer 101 receives an input signal (a blinker operation input signal or an obstacle detection signal), the microcomputer 101 shifts the liquid crystal display 111 from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, and receives the received input signal. Instead of the instrument image specified based on the above, the external image 71 is displayed at the position where the specified instrument image was displayed.

  Below, the effect | action and effect of the display apparatus 100 which concern on this embodiment are demonstrated.

(1) The display device 100 according to the embodiment includes a liquid crystal display 111 that is an image display type display unit capable of displaying an arbitrary image by combining a plurality of pixels whose display modes can be individually controlled, and is provided outside the vehicle. This is a display device that is mounted on and used in a vehicle 62 in which a plurality of cameras 81 for capturing images are installed. The liquid crystal display 111 is arranged around the vehicle image 61 representing the appearance of the vehicle, the external image 71 photographed by one of the plurality of cameras 81 (for example, the camera 81c), and the vehicle image 61, A direction presentation image 65 (for example, a direction presentation image 65c) that presents the shooting direction (for example, the left direction) of the one camera is displayed.
Thus, since the vehicle image 61 representing the appearance of the vehicle and the direction presenting image 65 arranged around the vehicle image 61 and presenting the photographing direction of the camera that photographed the external image 71 are displayed together. These images are associated with each other, and the direction in which the external image 71 is taken can be transmitted to the user by a novel expression using graphic display. Thereby, it is possible to appropriately transmit the shooting direction of the external image to the user while improving the novelness of the display mode.

(2) The display device 100 according to the embodiment further includes a microcomputer 101 that controls the display content of the liquid crystal display 111. In the normal display state, the liquid crystal display 111 displays a vehicle image 61 and instrument images (speedometer 41, fuel gauge 42, tachometer 51, water temperature gauge 52) for presenting information about the vehicle, and the direction. In the presentation state, the vehicle image 61, the external image 71, and the direction presentation image 65 are displayed. When the microcomputer 101 receives a predetermined input signal such as a blinker operation instruction or an obstacle detection signal, the microcomputer 101 shifts the liquid crystal display 111 from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, and replaces the tachometer 51 and the water temperature meter 52 with an external device. An image 71 is displayed.
As a result, when the vehicle image 61 and the instrument image are displayed in the normal display state, the instrument image is switched to the external image 71 and the direction presentation image 65 is further displayed. For this reason, for example, the user performs a predetermined operation such as a blinker operation and inputs an input signal to the microcomputer 101 to cause the display device 100 to transition from the normal display state to the direction presenting state. The presented image 65 can be displayed. Alternatively, based on the obstacle detection information, a predetermined input signal is input to the microcomputer 101 without input from the user, and the display device 100 transitions from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, and the external image 71 and the direction presenting are displayed. The image 65 can be configured to be displayed. Thus, since the display content transitions, it is possible to obtain a novel expression while improving convenience, and to give a novel impression to the user. Moreover, since the external image 71 is displayed instead of the instrument image, the display space can be used effectively. In this case, an instrument image that is not subject to legal regulations (for example, an instrument image other than the speedometer 41 such as the rotational speed meter 51 and the water temperature meter 52) is selected as the instrument image to be substituted for the external image 71. This is because it is necessary to present speed information to the meter unit due to legal regulations.

  (3) In the display device 100 according to the embodiment, the liquid crystal display 111 is configured such that the inclination angle θ with respect to the display surface of the liquid crystal display 111 gradually decreases in the process of transition from the normal display state to the direction presenting state. A vehicle image 61 is displayed. Thereby, an impression that the viewpoint changes from the side of the vehicle to the upper side can be given to the user, and the novelty of the display mode can be improved. Since the vehicle is viewed from above after the transition, the user can easily grasp the shooting direction of the camera 81 when the direction presentation image 65 is displayed in the vicinity of the vehicle image 61.

(4) In the display device 100 according to the embodiment, when the microcomputer 101 receives an input signal indicating that the direction indicator has been operated, the microcomputer 101 causes the liquid crystal display 111 to transition from the normal display state to the direction presenting state. . When the liquid crystal display 111 transitions to the direction presenting state, the camera (for example, the camera) that has captured the vehicle image 61 and the photographing direction (for example, the left direction) corresponding to the operation of the direction indicator among the plurality of cameras 81. The external image 71 photographed by 81c) and the direction presentation image 65 (for example, the direction presentation image 65c) are displayed.
For this reason, the user can display the external image 71 and the direction presentation image 65 by operating the direction indicator to change the display device 100 from the normal display state to the direction presentation state. At this time, an external image 71 photographed by the camera 81 that photographed the photographing direction corresponding to the operation of the direction indicator is displayed. Thereby, the shooting direction of the displayed external image 71 can be intuitively grasped, and convenience can be improved. Further, the operation direction and the shooting direction can be matched to create a novel expression, and a novel impression can be given to the user.

(5) In the display device 100 according to the first modification, when the microcomputer 101 receives an input signal indicating that a detected object exists around the vehicle 62, the liquid crystal display 111 is presented in a direction from the normal display state. Transition to a state. When the liquid crystal display 111 transitions to the direction presenting state, the camera (for example, the camera 81a) that has captured the vehicle image 61 and the imaging direction (for example, the forward direction) corresponding to the direction in which the detected object is present among the plurality of cameras 81. ) And the direction presentation image 65 (for example, the direction presentation image 65a) displayed.
According to this configuration, when the presence of the detected object is detected, the display device 100 transitions from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, and the external image 71 and the direction presenting image 65 are displayed. In this case, the external image 71 captured by the camera 81 that captures the capturing direction corresponding to the direction in which the detected object exists is displayed. For this reason, for example, since the user can quickly recognize the presence of a detected object that is an obstacle, convenience can be improved. In addition, the direction in which the obstacle exists and the shooting direction can be matched to create a novel expression, and a novel impression can be given to the user.

(6) Further, in the display device 100 according to the second modification, the liquid crystal display 111 has a vehicle image 61 and a plurality of instrument images (speedometer 41, fuel meter, which are different from each other) in the normal display state. 42, a tachometer 51, and a water temperature meter 52), and in a direction presenting state, a vehicle image 61, an external image 71, and a direction presenting image 65 are displayed. When the microcomputer 101 receives a predetermined input signal such as a turn signal operation instruction or an obstacle detection signal, the microcomputer 101 shifts the liquid crystal display 111 from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, and identifies the specified instrument based on the received input signal. Instead of the image (the speedometer 41 and the fuel gauge 42 or the tachometer 51 and the water temperature gauge 52), the external image 71 is displayed at the position where the specified instrument image is displayed.
As described above, in the normal state, a plurality of instrument images are displayed, and in the direction presenting state, the instrument images (for example, the speedometer 41 and the fuel gauge 42) specified based on the input signal among the plurality of instrument images are displayed. Instead, the external image 71 is displayed at the position where the specified instrument image was displayed. That is, the instrument image substituted for the external image differs according to the type of the input signal. The input signal may be based on an operation from the user, or may be based on other detection information of a detection object, for example. According to this configuration, the transition of the display screen can be varied, and a novel impression can be given to the user. Further, for example, when an operation in the left direction is performed, an external image is displayed instead of the instrument image displayed on the left side, and when an operation in the right direction is performed, it is displayed on the right side. If the external image is displayed instead of the instrument image, the direction of the user's operation matches the direction in which the external image appears, so the display of the external image has started due to its own operation. It is easy for the user to grasp intuitively.

  The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The above-described embodiments can be accompanied by various modifications and improvements within the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration includes the four cameras 81. However, the configuration may include any two or more cameras, and the camera mounting position is arbitrary.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the brightness of the direction presentation image representing the shooting direction of the camera that captured the external image 71 among the direction presentation images 65a, 65b, 65c, and 65d, which are the direction presentation images 65, is displayed high. Thus, the shooting direction of the camera that shot the external image 71 is presented. However, other configurations may be used as long as the shooting direction can be presented. For example, only the direction presenting image (for example, the direction presenting image 65a representing the front) representing the photographing direction of the camera that captured the external image 71 is displayed, and the other direction presenting images (for example, the direction presenting images 65b, 65c, 65d). ) May not be displayed, or a shooting direction may be presented by an arrow or the like.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image captured by one of the multiple (four) cameras 81 is the external image 71. However, the external image 71 is captured by at least one camera. For example, the images captured by the two cameras 81a and 81b may be external images, and the two external images 71 may be displayed. In this case, it is conceivable that the two presented images, the direction presentation images 65a and 65b, are displayed with high brightness as the direction presentation image.

41 Speedometer 42 Fuel meter 51 Tachometer 52 Water temperature meter 61, 61A, 61B, 61C Vehicle image 62 Vehicle 65, 65a, 65b, 65c, 65d Direction presented image 71 External image 81, 81a, 81b, 81c, 81d Camera 83, 83a, 83b, 83c, 83d Obstacle detection sensor 100 Display device 101 Microcomputer (control unit)
102 Read-only memory 103, 104, 112 Interface 105 CPU power supply unit 106 Graphic controller 107 Frame memory 108 X driver 109 Y driver 110 LCD power supply unit 111 Liquid crystal display (display unit)
111a Graphic display area

Claims (6)

A display device mounted and used in a vehicle in which a plurality of cameras for photographing the outside of the vehicle is installed,
It has an image display type display,
The display unit is disposed around a vehicle image representing an appearance of the vehicle, an external image photographed by at least one of the plurality of cameras, and a photographing direction of the at least one camera. A direction presentation image for presenting, and
A display device characterized by that. A control unit for controlling the display content of the display unit;
The display unit displays the vehicle image and an instrument image for presenting information about the vehicle in a normal display state, and the vehicle image, the external image, and the display in a direction presenting state. A direction presentation image, and
When the control unit receives a predetermined input signal, the control unit transitions the display unit from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, and displays the external image instead of the instrument image.
The display device according to claim 1. The display unit displays the vehicle image so that an inclination angle with respect to a display surface of the display unit gradually decreases in the process of transition from the normal display state to the direction presentation state.
The display device according to claim 2. When the control unit receives an input signal indicating that the direction indicator has been operated, the control unit causes the display unit to transition from the normal display state to the direction presenting state,
When the display unit transitions to the direction presenting state, the vehicle image and the external image captured by a camera that captures an imaging direction corresponding to an operation of the direction indicator among the plurality of cameras, Displaying the direction presentation image;
The display device according to any one of claims 2 and 3. When the control unit receives an input signal indicating that a detected object is detected around the vehicle, the control unit causes the display unit to transition from the normal display state to the direction presenting state,
When the display unit transitions to the direction presenting state, the external image photographed by the camera that has photographed the vehicle image and a photographing direction corresponding to the direction in which the detected object is present with respect to the vehicle among the plurality of cameras. Displaying an image and the direction presentation image;
The display device according to claim 2, wherein the display device is a display device. The display unit displays the vehicle image in the normal display state and a plurality of the instrument images having different information to be presented in the normal display state, and the vehicle image and the external image in the direction presentation state. And the direction presenting image,
When the control unit receives the input signal, the control unit shifts the display unit from the normal display state to the direction presenting state, and instead of the instrument image specified based on the received input signal, the specified instrument Displaying the external image at the position where the image was displayed;
The display device according to claim 2, wherein the display device is a display device.

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