WO2018030320A1 - Vehicle display device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a vehicle display device which is capable of providing proper information to a user without being affected by a change in the viewing position of the user. This vehicle display device 10 comprises: an image display unit 20 which has a display surface 21 on which an image can be displayed; an image generation unit 30 which generates an image to be displayed by the image display unit 20; a viewing position acquisition unit 40 which acquires the viewing position 100 of a user sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle 1; a road shape information acquisition unit 60 which acquires information relating to the shape of the road ahead of the vehicle 1; and a projection unit 50 which projects the image onto the front windshield 2 of the vehicle 1 so that the user sitting in the driver's seat can visually identify a virtual image 31. The image generation unit 30 determines the position and size of a usable region 220 to be used for displaying the image within the display surface 21 according to the viewing position 100 of the user as acquired by the viewing position acquisition unit 40, and corrects the length of the usable region 220 according to the road shape acquired by the road shape information acquisition unit 60.

Description

Vehicle display device

The present invention relates to a vehicle display device. In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicle display device that can provide appropriate information to a user without being affected by a change in the position of the user's viewpoint.

As a display device for vehicles, by projecting a display image onto a translucent member such as a front window shield of the vehicle, a virtual image is visually recognized by a user sitting in the driver's seat using the light of the display image reflected by the front window shield. There is a so-called head-up display. In such a vehicle display device, the virtual image is visually recognized by the user sitting in the driver's seat so that the virtual image is formed on the vehicle traveling direction side (vehicle front side) with reference to the front window shield of the vehicle. . As a general configuration of such a vehicle display device, for example, an image display unit that displays a display image, and a projection unit that includes an optical system that includes a concave mirror that projects the display image onto a front window shield of the vehicle; ,including.

A user who sits in the driver's seat of a vehicle equipped with such a vehicle display device can see a virtual image that gives information on the presence of other vehicles, obstacles, etc. on the road ahead of the vehicle through the front window shield. And can be visually recognized in a superimposed state. As the position at which the virtual image is visually recognized becomes higher in the vertical direction of the front window shield, the virtual image is visually recognized by being superimposed on the scenery on the far side of the landscape that can be seen through the front window shield. On the other hand, as the position at which the virtual image is visually recognized becomes lower in the vertical direction of the front window shield, the virtual image is superimposed on the landscape on the near side of the landscape that can be seen through the front window shield.

Here, the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat is not constant depending on the sitting height of the user, the sitting posture of the user, and the like. For example, when the position at which the display image is projected is fixed, the virtual image becomes more closely related to the scenery on the near side of the scenery seen through the front window shield as the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat increases. Superimposed. As described above, since the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat changes, the object in the landscape on which the virtual image is superimposed shifts, which may give the user a sense of incongruity.

Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a head-up display device (vehicle display) that adjusts the projection direction of the optical system including the concave mirror of the projection unit according to the position in the vertical direction of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle. Device). The vehicle display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a concave mirror actuator that adjusts the projection angle of the concave mirror of the projection unit, and a viewpoint detection camera that acquires the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle.

The vehicle display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 projects a display image on the upper side in the vertical direction of the front window shield when the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle acquired by the viewpoint detection camera is high. In this manner, the concave mirror actuator is controlled. On the other hand, the display device for a vehicle shown in Patent Document 1 displays a display image vertically below the front window shield when the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle acquired by the viewpoint detection camera is low. The concave mirror actuator is controlled so that it is projected to the side. Therefore, the vehicular display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a target on which a virtual image is superimposed in a landscape seen through the front window shield even when the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle changes. It is configured to prevent a large shift.

JP 2014-210537 A

However, the present inventor has recognized that the vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1 may give the user a sense of discomfort when the position of the user's viewpoint changes. This point will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 illustrates the relationship between the viewpoint position of the user, the virtual image visually recognized by the user, and the range of the distance on the road surface of the landscape on which the virtual image is superimposed in the vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1. It is a schematic diagram for. In addition, FIG. 10 is for easily explaining the relationship between the viewpoint position of the user in the vertical direction, the virtual image area displaying the virtual image visually recognized by the user, and the range of the distance on the road surface of the landscape where the virtual image area is superimposed. In addition, the amount of change in the user's viewpoint position is exaggerated. Specifically, the vertical distances between the user viewpoint position 101u, the user viewpoint position 101r, and the user viewpoint position 101d shown in FIG. 10 are actually shorter than the example shown in FIG. In the coordinate axes shown in FIG. 10, the z-axis positive direction represents the front direction of the vehicle, the y-axis positive direction represents the upper side in the vertical direction, and the x-axis positive direction (upward direction perpendicular to the drawing) represents the vehicle left side. Represents a direction.

FIG. 10 shows three viewpoint positions of a user viewpoint position 101u, a user viewpoint position 101r, and a user viewpoint position 101d as examples of the viewpoint positions of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle. In the virtual image area 301u shown in FIG. 10, for example, when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101u, the projection angle of the display image is adjusted by the vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1. As a result, the virtual image visually recognized by the user is displayed. In the virtual image area 301r shown in FIG. 10, for example, when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101r, the projection angle of the display image is adjusted by the vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1. As a result, the virtual image visually recognized by the user is displayed. In the virtual image area 301d shown in FIG. 10, for example, when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101d, the projection angle of the display image is adjusted by the vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1. As a result, the virtual image visually recognized by the user is displayed. In the vehicular display device described in Patent Literature 1, when the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle changes, the direction in which the display image is projected is changed. The area in which the image display unit displays the display image is not changed. Therefore, the vertical sizes of the virtual image region 301u, the virtual image region 301r, and the virtual image region 301d are all the same.

The overlap distance range 401u illustrated in FIG. 10 is, for example, a landscape in which the virtual image region 301u overlaps among the landscapes that can be seen through the front window shield 2 when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101u. This is a distance range on the road 91. The superimposing distance range 401r shown in FIG. 10 is, for example, a scene in which the virtual image area 301r is superposed among the scenery that can be seen through the front window shield 2 when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101r. This is a distance range on the road 91. The superimposition distance range 401d shown in FIG. 10 is, for example, a scene in which the virtual image area 301d is superposed among the scenery seen through the front window shield 2 when the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle is the user viewpoint position 101d. This is a distance range on the road 91.

As in the example shown in FIG. 10, the amount of change in the vertical direction of the virtual image is smaller than the amount of change in the vertical direction of the user's viewpoint position. Then, as the user viewpoint position moves upward in the vertical direction, the angle between the line of sight where the user views the virtual image and the horizontal plane increases. On the other hand, as the user viewpoint position moves downward in the vertical direction, the angle between the line of sight where the user views the virtual image and the horizontal plane decreases. Therefore, the length of the overlapping distance range 401u at the user viewpoint position 101u that is higher than the user viewpoint position 101r is smaller than the length of the overlapping distance range 401r at the user viewpoint position 101r. Further, the length of the overlapping distance range 401d at the user viewpoint position 101d that is lower than the user viewpoint position 101r is larger than the length of the overlapping distance range 401r at the user viewpoint position 101r. In FIG. 10, the positions of the end portions of only the vehicle rear side of the overlap distance range 401u, the overlap distance range 401r, and the overlap distance range 401d are shown to be fluctuating. The position of the side edges can also vary.

As described above, in the vehicular display device described in Patent Document 1, a region in which a virtual image is displayed in a landscape seen through the front window shield by changing the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat. The range of the distance on the road surface of the landscape where is superimposed changes. As a result, in the vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1, for example, when the position of the user's viewpoint has changed to the upper side in the vertical direction, the object to be superimposed with the virtual image of the landscape seen through the front window shield Thus, a situation may occur in which a virtual image that is too small is viewed by the user. Similarly, in the vehicle display device described in Patent Document 1, for example, when the position of the user's viewpoint changes to the lower side in the vertical direction, the virtual image of the landscape that can be seen through the front window shield is superimposed. On the other hand, a situation may occur in which a virtual image that is too large is viewed by the user. As described above, the present inventor has recognized that the display device for a vehicle described in Patent Document 1 may give a sense of incongruity to the user when the position of the user's viewpoint changes.

One object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle display device that can provide appropriate information to a user without being affected by a change in the position of the user's viewpoint. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by referring to the aspects and preferred embodiments exemplified below and the accompanying drawings.

The vehicle display device of the present invention includes a viewpoint position acquisition unit that acquires a position of a viewpoint of a user sitting in a driver's seat of a vehicle, and road shape information that is information on a road shape in front of the vehicle from the travel route of the vehicle. The road shape information acquisition unit to be acquired, the image display unit having a display surface capable of displaying an image, and the image display unit according to the position of the user's viewpoint in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit An image generation unit that determines a position and a length of a use area used to display the image that is a part of the display surface, and displays the image in the use area of the display surface; and the display A projection unit for projecting light from the surface toward the translucent member to generate a virtual virtual image region corresponding to the use region and displaying a virtual image corresponding to the image in the virtual image region; The image The formation unit determines the position and length of the use area corresponding to the vertical direction of the virtual image area according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit, and the road According to the road shape information acquired by the shape information acquisition unit, the length of the use area is corrected so that the upper end of the virtual image area approaches the lower end and the vertical direction of the virtual image area is shortened.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of a structure of the display apparatus for vehicles of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a structure of the image display part shown by FIG. 1A. It is sectional drawing of the projection part shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the example of the landscape and virtual image which can be seen from the user sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle provided with the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a flowchart figure which shows the example of operation | movement of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. In the vehicle display device of the present invention, it is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between the viewpoint position of the user, the virtual image visually recognized by the user, and the range of the distance on the road surface of the landscape on which the virtual image is superimposed. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the position of a user's viewpoint, and the image displayed by the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles shown by FIG. 1A. In the vehicle display device of the present invention, it is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between the viewpoint position of the user, the virtual image visually recognized by the user, and the range of the distance on the road surface of the landscape on which the virtual image is superimposed. It is a figure which shows the correct | amended use area | region set to the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the corrected use area | region and image which are set to the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the corrected use area | region and image which are set to the image display part of the display apparatus for vehicles in 3rd Embodiment. In the vehicular display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-210537), the relationship between the viewpoint position of the user, the virtual image visually recognized by the user, and the range of the distance on the road surface of the landscape on which the virtual image is superimposed It is a typical figure for demonstrating.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, detailed descriptions of already well-known matters and substantially the same configuration may be omitted. The gist of the present invention is not limited to the attached drawings and the following description, and various modifications can be made without departing from the present invention.

<< 1st Embodiment >> With reference to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C, the example of the whole structure of the display apparatus 10 for vehicles of this invention is demonstrated. In order to facilitate the following description, as shown in FIG. 1A, in real space, for example, the z-axis is defined in the vehicle front-rear direction with the traveling direction of the vehicle 1 as the vehicle front direction, and the vertical direction (vehicle 1 When the road surface on which the vehicle travels is horizontal, the y-axis is defined in the vertical direction), and the x-axis is defined in the left-right direction (vehicle left-right direction) facing the front direction of the vehicle. At this time, the x-axis positive direction represents the left direction of the vehicle, the y-axis positive direction represents the upper side in the vertical direction (upward in real space), and the z-axis positive direction represents the front direction of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the vehicle display device 10 includes an image display unit 20, an image generation unit 30, a viewpoint position acquisition unit 40, a projection unit 50, and a front information acquisition unit 60.

The image display unit 20 has a display surface 21 that can display an image, as shown in FIG. 1B. An area 210 on the display surface 21 where an image can be displayed is referred to as a display area 210, for example. An example of the display surface 21 is, for example, a liquid crystal panel 21 having a plurality of pixels 22 as shown in FIG. 1B. In the liquid crystal panel 21, the display area 210 is, for example, the pixels 22 of the entire liquid crystal panel 21. An example of the image display unit 20 is the liquid crystal panel module 20 including, for example, a liquid crystal panel 21 and a drive circuit 26 for the liquid crystal panel 21.

For example, when a signal representing an image generated by the image generation unit 30 is input, the image display unit 20 includes at least a part of the display surface 21 in the use area 210 of the display surface 21 according to the input signal. An image is displayed using the pixel 22. In the following description, the liquid crystal panel module 20 is used as an example of the image display unit 20 as appropriate, but the image display unit 20 may be another display device. For example, the image display unit 20 may be a self-luminous display panel module such as an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) element, or a reflective type such as DMD (Digital-Micromirror Device) or LCoS (Liquid-Crystal-on Silicon) (registered trademark). It may be a display panel module or a scanning display device that scans with laser light. When the image display unit 20 is a projection display device such as a reflective display panel module or a scanning display device, the display surface 21 is a screen on which an image is generated by the projection light from the projection display device. Applicable.

In order to facilitate the following description, as shown in FIG. 1B, for example, the Ix axis is defined in the lateral direction of the display surface 21 at the viewpoint when the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 is viewed from the front. An Iy axis is defined in the vertical direction of the surface 21. At this time, the positive direction of the Ix axis represents the left direction of the display surface 21, and the positive direction of the Iy axis represents the upward direction of the display surface 21. Further, the Ix-axis positive direction on the display surface 21 corresponds to, for example, the above-described x-axis positive direction, that is, the vehicle left direction in real space. Similarly, the Iy-axis positive direction on the display surface 21 corresponds to, for example, the above-described y-axis positive direction, that is, the vertical direction upper side (vertical upward direction) in real space.

The viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 includes, for example, a vehicle interior image acquisition unit 41 and a vehicle interior image analysis unit 42. The viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 acquires the position 100 of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle 1. Hereinafter, the position 100 of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle 1 is also referred to as the user viewpoint position 100. The viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 is configured to be able to acquire the user viewpoint position 100 in at least the y-axis direction.

The vehicle interior image acquisition unit 41 is, for example, a vehicle camera that captures an image of the vehicle interior. The vehicle interior image acquisition unit 41 may be, for example, a common vehicle camera attached for the purpose of preventing vehicle theft or the like, or a vehicle camera dedicated to the vehicle display device 10. The vehicle interior image acquisition unit 41 preferably captures the user viewpoint position 100 from the lower side in the vertical direction than the user viewpoint position 100, and may be attached to the dashboard 4 or the like, for example. The vehicle interior image acquisition unit 41 is preferably capable of infrared imaging so that the user viewpoint position 100 can be acquired even when the vehicle interior is dark. The vehicle interior image acquisition unit 41 outputs the acquired vehicle interior image to the vehicle interior image analysis unit 42, for example.

The vehicle interior image analysis unit 42 analyzes the input image of the vehicle interior using, for example, known image processing, a pattern matching method, and the like. As a result of analyzing the input image in front of the vehicle, the vehicle interior image analysis unit 42 shows that the user's face sitting in the driver's seat is included in the input vehicle interior image, for example, in the user viewpoint position 100 in the real space. The user viewpoint position 100 is acquired by specifying the coordinates (y). The vehicle interior image analysis unit 42 outputs the acquired user viewpoint position 100 to the image generation unit 30 via the bus 5 such as CAN (Controller 等 Area Network) bus communication, for example. Here, the vehicle interior image analysis unit 42 may be provided, for example, in a vehicle camera, and the image generation unit 30 may include the function of the vehicle interior image analysis unit 42. Further, the image generation unit 30 may directly input the user viewpoint position 100 from the vehicle interior image analysis unit 42 without using the bus 5.

The front information acquisition unit (road shape information acquisition unit) 60 includes, for example, a front image acquisition unit 61 and a front image analysis unit 62. The forward information acquisition unit 60, for example, information on the front of the vehicle, such as the shape of the road in the front direction of the vehicle, position information of other vehicles and obstacles existing in the front direction of the vehicle, information on road signs in the front direction of the vehicle, etc. get.

The front image acquisition unit 61 is, for example, a camera outside the vehicle that captures an image in front of the vehicle. The front image acquisition unit 61 may be, for example, a shared vehicle camera used for a drive recorder or the like, or a vehicle camera dedicated to the vehicle display device 10. In addition, the camera outside the vehicle may be a monocular camera, but it is preferable that the camera outside the vehicle is a stereo camera in order to accurately acquire the distance between the object existing ahead of the vehicle and the host vehicle 1. Further, the camera outside the vehicle may be capable of infrared imaging so that an image ahead of the vehicle can be taken even when the vehicle front is dark. The front image acquisition unit 61 outputs, for example, the acquired front image of the vehicle to the front image analysis unit 62.

The front image analysis unit 62 analyzes the input image ahead of the vehicle using, for example, known image processing, a pattern matching method, or the like. The forward image analysis unit 62 analyzes the input image in front of the vehicle to obtain road shape information (lane, white line, stop line, pedestrian crossing, road width, lane number, intersection, curve, To acquire a branch road). Further, the front image analysis unit 62 analyzes the input image in front of the vehicle, so that the position and size of other vehicles and obstacles existing in front of the vehicle, the distance from the own vehicle 1, the own vehicle 1 and Obstacle information such as relative speed is acquired. For example, the front image analysis unit 62 outputs the acquired front information to the image generation unit 30 via the bus 5. Here, the front image analysis unit 62 may be provided, for example, in a camera outside the vehicle, and the image generation unit 30 may include the function of the front image analysis unit 62. Further, the image generation unit 30 may directly input the forward information including the road shape information from the forward image analysis unit 62 without using the bus 5.

Further, the front information acquisition unit 60 includes a laser radar, a millimeter wave radar, an ultrasonic sensor, or other known sensors instead of the front image acquisition unit 61 or in combination with the front image acquisition unit 61. Also good. At this time, the front image analysis unit 62 inputs data output from a laser radar, a millimeter wave radar, an ultrasonic sensor, a known sensor, or the like instead of the image in front of the vehicle or in combination with the image in front of the vehicle. The forward information as described above may be acquired by analyzing the above.

Further, in FIG. 1A, the vehicle interior image acquisition unit 41 and the front image acquisition unit 61 are illustrated as being attached to another place of the vehicle 1, but this is not necessarily the case, and the vehicle interior image acquisition unit is not necessarily limited thereto. 41 and the front image acquisition part 61 may be attached to the same place of the vehicle 1. Moreover, the vehicle interior image acquisition part 41 and the front image acquisition part 61 may be provided in one same housing | casing.

The road shape information acquisition unit 60 that acquires road shape information ahead of the vehicle 1 according to the present invention can store and read road shape information ahead of the vehicle 1 by itself based on the position information of the vehicle 1 or a network. May be replaced by a navigation device that can be obtained by the above-described method, or may be configured in combination with the above-described image analysis means.

The image generation unit 30 includes a processing unit 31 and a storage unit 32. The processing unit 31 includes, for example, one or a plurality of microprocessors, a microcontroller, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and any other IC (Integrated Circuit). The storage unit 32 is, for example, a rewritable RAM (Random Access Memory), a read-only ROM (Read Only Memory), an erasable program read-only EEPROM (Electrically-Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), or a nonvolatile memory. It has one or a plurality of memories capable of storing programs and / or data such as a flash memory.

In accordance with the user viewpoint position 100 input from the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40, the image generation unit 30 determines a use area 220 that is a part used for displaying an image in the display area 210 of the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20. To do. For example, in the example of the image display unit 20 illustrated in FIG. 1B, the use area 220 is a range 220 of the pixels 22 used for displaying an image in the display area 210 that is the entire pixels 22 of the liquid crystal panel 21.

For example, the storage unit 32 of the image generation unit 30 stores a table in which the user viewpoint position 100 and the parameters for determining the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 are associated with each other. For example, the processing unit 31 refers to the table, and the image generation unit 30 determines the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 to be input.

Further, for example, the storage unit 32 of the image generation unit 30 stores an arithmetic expression for determining the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100. For example, the image generation unit 30 determines the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 to be input by the processing unit 31 calculating an arithmetic expression. The relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 and the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 will be described later.

Further, the image generation unit 30 uses the use region 220 so that the upper end of the visually recognized virtual image region 300 is shortened so as to approach the lower end in accordance with the road shape information regarding the road shape ahead of the vehicle input from the front information acquisition unit 60. Correct the size. Processing for correcting the size of the use area 220 in accordance with the road shape will be described later.

The projection unit 50 projects the image displayed by the image display unit 20 toward the light transmissive member 2 such as the front window shield 2 of the vehicle 1. The light 80 constituting the projected image is reflected by the front window shield 2 into the vehicle interior. Hereinafter, the light 80 constituting the image is also referred to as image light 80. The projection unit 50 projects an image so that the image light 80 reflected by the front window shield 2 enters toward the user viewpoint position 100. Further, the light transmissive member 2 of the vehicle 1 may be a combiner provided in the vehicle 1.

A user sitting in the driver's seat receives a virtual image 310 (see FIG. 2) on a virtual virtual image region 300 generated on the vehicle front side with respect to the front window shield 2 when the image light 80 enters the user viewpoint position 100. ). For example, the user can visually recognize the virtual image 310 on the virtual image region 300 in a state in which at least a part of the scenery seen through the front window shield 2 and the virtual image region 300 overlap each other. In the virtual image region 300, for example, a virtual image 310 that is a virtual image of the image displayed on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 is visually recognized.

An example of the structure of the projection unit 50 will be described with reference to FIG. 1C. The projection unit 50 houses, for example, an optical system such as a plane mirror 54 and a concave mirror 55 and an actuator 56 inside the housing 51. The casing 51 includes, for example, an upper case 52 and a lower case 53 that are arranged in the dashboard 4 of the vehicle 1 and are formed of a black light-shielding synthetic resin or the like. An upper case opening 52a is provided substantially in the middle of the upper case 52 in the z-axis direction. The upper case opening 52a is covered with a transparent cover 57 formed of, for example, a transparent translucent synthetic resin. On the vehicle rear side of the lower case 53, for example, a lower case opening 53a is provided. The lower case opening 53 a is provided in the lower case 53 so that, for example, image light 80 emitted from the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 attached to the outside of the housing 51 can enter.

The flat mirror 54 is attached to the vehicle rear side of the lower case 53 via an attachment member (not shown), for example. The mounting position and the mounting angle of the flat mirror 54 are fixed so that, for example, the image light 80 emitted from the display surface 21 incident from the lower case opening 53a is reflected toward the front of the vehicle.

The concave mirror 55 is attached to the front side of the vehicle from the plane mirror 54 of the lower case 53 via an actuator 56, for example. The mounting angle of the concave mirror 55 can be rotated by the actuator 56, for example, with the x axis as a rotation axis. For example, the position of the concave mirror 55 is fixed so that the image light 80 reflected by the plane mirror 54 is incident, and the attachment angle is finely adjusted so that the incident image light 80 is reflected toward the front window shield 2. . Depending on the attachment angle, for example, the user viewpoint position 100 stored in the storage unit 32 of the image generation unit 30 and the table or calculation formula for determining the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 are corrected. The

The actuator 56 includes, for example, a motor, a speed reduction mechanism, a concave mirror rotating member, and a support member for the concave mirror 55, all of which are not shown. For example, the actuator 56 is attached to the lower case 53 on the lower side in the vertical direction of the concave mirror 55 via an attachment member (not shown). The actuator 56 rotates the motor in accordance with a signal input from an actuator control unit (not shown), decelerates the rotation of the motor by the speed reduction mechanism, transmits it to the concave mirror rotating member, and rotates the concave mirror 55. The actuator 56 is not necessarily provided.

Further, in the upper case 52 of the casing 51 of FIG. 1C, a light shielding portion 52b is provided between the upper case opening 52a and the plane mirror 54. The light shielding unit 52b is provided, for example, to prevent light from the outside of the housing 51 that enters from the upper case opening 52a from traveling to the image display unit 20. The example of the structure of the projection unit 50 described with reference to FIG. 1C is merely an example, and does not limit the structure of the projection unit 50 of the vehicle display device 10 at all.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a landscape and a virtual image 310 that a user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle 1 can see through the front window shield 2. In the example shown in FIG. 2, a three-lane road (road 91) extending in front of the vehicle and another vehicle (front vehicle 92) existing in front of the vehicle are shown as examples of the scenery that can be seen through the front window shield 2. . In the example of the landscape seen through the front window shield 2 shown in FIG. 2, the superimposed object 90 on which the virtual image 310 is superimposed is a road 91 and a forward vehicle 92. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the virtual image 310 is a navigation mark 311 that is superimposed on the road 91 and visually recognized, and a notification mark 312 that is superimposed on the preceding vehicle 1 and visually recognized by the user.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the region 300 is a region used for displaying the virtual image 310 corresponding to the used region 220 on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20. Hereinafter, the region 300 corresponding to the use region 220 on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 is also referred to as a virtual image region 300. That is, the virtual image area 300 is an area where the user can visually recognize the virtual image 310.

Also, the Ix-axis positive direction on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 in FIG. 1B corresponds to, for example, the x-axis positive direction in the virtual image region 300, that is, the vehicle left direction. Similarly, the Iy-axis positive direction on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 in FIG. 1B corresponds to, for example, the y-axis positive direction in the virtual image region 300, that is, the upper side in the vertical direction.

An example of the operation of the vehicle display device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation of the vehicle display device 10 is performed, for example, for a predetermined waiting time when the power of the vehicle 1 is turned on, when an engine (not shown) is driven, or when the power of the vehicle 1 is turned on or the engine is driven. It starts after time has passed.

In step S01, the forward information acquisition unit 60 acquires forward information (road shape information and obstacle information). In step S02, the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 acquires the user viewpoint position 100. Note that step S01 and step S02 are not necessarily in this order, and the order may be changed.

In step S03, the image generation unit 30 generates an image including, for example, a notification mark, a navigation mark, and other marks according to the forward information acquired by the forward information acquisition unit 60 in step S01.

In step S04, the image generation unit 30 determines the use region 220 in the display region 210 of the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 according to the user viewpoint position 100 acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 in step S02. . Note that step S03 and step S04 are not necessarily in this order, and the order may be changed. In addition, the image generation unit 30 corrects the size of the use area 220 according to the road shape information acquired by the front information acquisition unit 60 in step S01.

In step S05, the image display unit 20 displays the image generated in step S03 using the total number of pixels 22 in the use area 220 determined by the image generation unit 30 in step S04. When the process of step S05 is executed, the flow returns to Start. Here, in order that the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is repeatedly executed at predetermined intervals set in advance, a predetermined waiting time is required after the execution of the process of step S05 until the flow returns to Start. Time may be inserted.

4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 5, the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 and the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 will be described. On the left side of FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E, coordinate axes representing the user viewpoint position 100 on the y axis and the z axis in real space are shown. In addition, on the right side of FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E, the display of the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 on the y axis and the z axis in the real space is displayed. Of the area 210, a use area 220 used for displaying an image, which is determined by the image generation unit 30, is shown.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the virtual image area 300, and the range of the distance on the road 91 in the landscape where the virtual image area 300 overlaps in the vehicle display device 10. It is a simple figure. FIG. 5 shows the user viewpoint position 100 in order to easily understand the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the virtual image area 300, and the range of the distance on the road 91 in the landscape where the virtual image area 300 overlaps. The amount of change is exaggerated. Specifically, the vertical distances between the user viewpoint position 100r and the user viewpoint position 100u and between the user viewpoint position 100r and the user viewpoint position 100d shown in FIG. 5 are actually closer. As a result, the virtual image region 300r, the virtual image region 300u, and the virtual image region 300d are shown in FIG. 5 so that there is no overlapping portion. However, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, in reality, at least the virtual image region 300r, the virtual image region 300u, the virtual image region 300r, and the virtual image region 300d partially overlap. Hereinafter, the range of the distance on the road 91 in the landscape where the virtual image region 300 is superimposed is also referred to as a superimposed distance range 400.

FIG. 5 shows a virtual image area 300r at the user viewpoint position 100r shown in FIG. 4A, a virtual image area 300u at the user viewpoint position 100u shown in FIG. 4B, and a user viewpoint position 100d shown in FIG. 4C. The virtual image region 300d is shown. Also, FIG. 5 shows a superimposition distance range 400r that is a range of the distance on the road 91 of the landscape that overlaps the virtual image region 300r among the landscapes that can be seen through the front window shield 2 at the user viewpoint position 100r, and the user viewpoint position. Of the scenery that can be seen through the front window shield 2 at 100u, the superimposing distance range 400u that is the distance range of the road 91 over the virtual image area 300u and the front window shield 2 at the user viewpoint position 100d. Of the scenery that can be seen, a superimposition distance range 400d that is a distance range on the road 91 of the scenery that overlaps the virtual image area 300d is shown.

First, the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction and the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction will be described. The user viewpoint position 100r shown in FIG. 4A is represented at the intersection of the y axis and the z axis in the coordinate axes shown in FIG. 4A. Hereinafter, the user viewpoint position 100r illustrated in FIG. 4A is also referred to as a reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 illustrated in FIG. 3 is the reference user viewpoint position 100r, the image generation unit 30 displays the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 in step S04 illustrated in FIG. The use area 220 is determined as the use area 220r shown in FIG. 4A. Hereinafter, the use area 220r corresponding to the reference user viewpoint position 100r illustrated in FIG. 4A is also referred to as a reference use area 220r.

The user viewpoint position 100u shown in FIG. 4B is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 located on the upper side in the vertical direction compared to the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100u, in step S04 shown in FIG. Of the display area 210, the use area 220 is determined to be the use area 220u shown in FIG. 4B.

The use area 220u shown in FIG. 4B is located on the Iy axis positive direction side as compared with the reference use area 220r. Also, the length 221u in the Iy-axis direction in the use area 220u shown in FIG. 4B is longer than the length 221r in the Iy-axis direction in the reference use area 220r. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the virtual image area 300u corresponding to the use area 220u is positioned above the virtual image area 300r corresponding to the reference use area 220r in the vertical direction on the real space, and The length in the vertical direction in real space becomes longer. The use area 220u overlaps a part of the reference use area 220r.

That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves upward in the vertical direction, the position of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 is determined to be positioned on the Iy axis positive direction side. In addition, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves upward in the vertical direction, the length of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 in the Iy-axis direction is determined to be longer. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves upward in the vertical direction, the virtual image region 300 is positioned on the upper side in the vertical direction in the real space and the vertical length in the real space is increased. Lengthens.

The user viewpoint position 100d shown in FIG. 4C is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 located on the lower side in the vertical direction as compared with the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100d, in step S04 shown in FIG. Of the display area 210, the use area 220 is determined to be the use area 220d shown in FIG. 4C.

The use area 220d shown in FIG. 4C is located on the Iy-axis negative direction side as compared to the reference use area 220r. Further, the length 221d in the Iy-axis direction in the use area 220d shown in FIG. 4C is shorter than the length 221r in the Iy-axis direction in the reference use area 220r. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the virtual image area 300d corresponding to the use area 220d shown in FIG. 4C is lower in the vertical direction in the real space than the virtual image area 300r corresponding to the reference use area 220r. The vertical length in real space is short. The use area 220d overlaps a part of the reference use area 220r.

That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves downward in the vertical direction, the position of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 is determined to be positioned on the Iy axis negative direction side. In addition, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves downward in the vertical direction, the length in the Iy axis direction of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 is determined to be shorter. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves downward in the vertical direction, the virtual image region 300 is positioned in the vertical direction lower side in the real space and the vertical direction in the real space. The length of is shortened.

Here, referring to FIG. 5, the overlap distance range 400r, the overlap distance range 400u, and the overlap distance range 400d are coincident. As in the example shown in FIG. 5, the amount of change in the vertical direction of the virtual image region 300 is smaller than the amount of change in the vertical direction of the user viewpoint position 100. Then, for example, as the user viewpoint position 100 moves upward in the vertical direction, the angle between the line of sight where the user views the virtual image region 300 and the horizontal plane increases. On the other hand, for example, as the user viewpoint position 100 moves downward in the vertical direction, the angle between the line of sight when the user views the virtual image region 300 and the horizontal plane decreases.

As a result, in order to make the overlapping distance range 400 constant without being affected by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the vertical position of the virtual image region 300 is vertically changed as the user viewpoint position 100 moves upward in the vertical direction. It is necessary to increase the length in the vertical direction as well as the upper side in the direction. Similarly, in order to make the overlapping distance range 400 constant without being affected by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the vertical position of the virtual image region 300 is changed as the user viewpoint position 100 moves downward in the vertical direction. It is necessary to shorten the length in the vertical direction as well as on the lower side in the vertical direction.

That is, by appropriately determining the position on the Iy axis and the length on the Iy axis of the use area 220 according to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the superimposition is performed without being affected by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction. The distance range 400 can be made constant. By making the superimposition distance range 400 constant, it is possible to cope with a shift in the object in the landscape on which the virtual image 310 visually recognized by the user is superimposed.

Subsequently, the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle front-rear direction and the use area 220 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle front-rear direction will be described. The user viewpoint position 100f illustrated in FIG. 4D is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 that is located in the vehicle front direction compared to the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100f, in step S04 shown in FIG. Of the display area 210, the use area 220 is determined to be the use area 220f shown in FIG. 4D.

Both the length 222f in the Ix-axis direction and the length 221f in the Iy-axis direction in the use region 220f shown in FIG. 4D are compared with the length 222r in the Ix-axis direction and the length 221r in the Iy-axis direction in the reference use region 220r. And it is getting shorter. As a result, the virtual image area 300 corresponding to the use area 220f shown in FIG. 4D is compared with the virtual image area 300 corresponding to the reference use area 220r in the vehicle left-right direction length and vertical length in real space. Both are short.

That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves in the vehicle front direction, both the length in the Ix axis direction and the length in the Iy axis direction of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 are shortened. To be determined. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves in the front direction of the vehicle, the virtual image area 300 becomes shorter in both the length in the vehicle left-right direction and the length in the vertical direction in real space. .

The user viewpoint position 100b shown in FIG. 4E is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 positioned in the rearward direction of the vehicle as compared with the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100b, the image generation unit 30 in the step S04 shown in FIG. Of the display area 210, the use area 220 is determined to be the use area 220b shown in FIG. 4E.

Both the length 222b in the Ix-axis direction and the length 221b in the Iy-axis direction in the use region 220b shown in FIG. 4E are compared with the length 222r in the Ix-axis direction and the length 221r in the Iy-axis direction in the reference use region 220r. And it is getting longer. As a result, the virtual image area 300 corresponding to the use area 220b shown in FIG. 4E is compared with the virtual image area 300 corresponding to the reference use area 220r in the vehicle left-right direction length and vertical length in real space. Both are long.

That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves in the vehicle rearward direction, both the length in the Ix axis direction and the length in the Iy axis direction of the use area 220 of the display surface 21 are increased. To be determined. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves in the vehicle rearward direction, the virtual image area 300 becomes longer in both the vehicle left-right length and the vertical length in real space. .

For example, if the virtual image area 300 is constant, the closer the distance between the user viewpoint position 100 and the virtual image area 300 (the distance in the vehicle front-rear direction) is, the landscape that can be seen from the user viewpoint position 100 through the front window shield 2 is: The range of the landscape that overlaps the virtual image region 300 is widened. On the other hand, as the distance between the user viewpoint position 100 and the virtual image area 300 (the distance in the vehicle front-rear direction) increases, among the scenery that can be seen from the user viewpoint position 100 through the front window shield 2, the scenery that overlaps the virtual image area 300. The range of becomes narrower.

As a result, in order to make the range of the landscape superimposed on the virtual image area 300 unaffected by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle front-rear direction, the virtual image area 300 is moved as the user viewpoint position 100 moves in the vehicle front direction. It is necessary to shorten both the length in the vehicle left-right direction and the length in the vertical direction. Similarly, in order to make the range of the landscape superimposed on the virtual image area 300 unaffected by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle front-rear direction, the virtual image area 300 increases as the user viewpoint position 100 moves backward in the vehicle. It is necessary to increase both the length in the vehicle left-right direction and the length in the vertical direction.

That is, depending on the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle front-rear direction, the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle front-rear direction is influenced by appropriately determining the length in the Ix axis and the length in the Iy axis of the use region 220. The range of the landscape to be superimposed can be made constant. Since the range of the landscape to be superimposed becomes constant, it is possible to cope with a shift in the object in the landscape on which the virtual image 310 visually recognized by the user is superimposed.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 7, the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 and the use area 220 corresponding to the forward information including the road shape information acquired by the forward information acquisition unit 60 is described. explain. On the left side of FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C, coordinate axes representing the user viewpoint position 100 on the y axis and the z axis in real space are shown. Further, on the right side of FIGS. 6A, 6 </ b> B, and 6 </ b> C, an image is displayed in the display area 210 of the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 corresponding to the user viewpoint position 100 on the y axis and the z axis in real space. A use area 220 used for displaying an image determined by the generation unit 30 is shown. The image generation unit 30 uses the use area 220 determined by the user viewpoint position 100 according to the forward information including the road shape acquired by the front information acquisition unit 60 in step S01, and the upper end of the virtual image area 300 approaches the lower end. Thus, the correction use area 221 is corrected to be short. Specifically, the image generation unit 30 determines that the road shape in front of the vehicle 1 is a curve, a T-shaped road, or the like based on the road shape information acquired by the front information acquisition unit 60 in step S01. When it is determined that the part does not overlap with the road, the area of the use area 220 corresponding to the upper end side of the virtual image area 300 that does not overlap with the road is set to the non-use area 222 that does not display an image, The correction use area 221 in which an image can be displayed is set.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the vehicle display device 10, in the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the corrected virtual image region 301 corrected by the road shape ahead of the vehicle 1, and the landscape road 91 where the corrected virtual image region 301 overlaps. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the relationship with the range of distance. FIG. 7 shows the user viewpoint position 100 for easy understanding of the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, the corrected virtual image area 301, and the range of the distance on the road 91 in the landscape where the corrected virtual image area 300 is superimposed. The amount of change of 100 is exaggerated.

FIG. 7 shows a corrected virtual image area 301r at the user viewpoint position 100r shown in FIG. 6A, a corrected virtual image area 301u at the user viewpoint position 100u shown in FIG. 6B, and a user viewpoint position 100d shown in FIG. 6C. The corrected virtual image area 301d at the time of is shown. Further, FIG. 7 shows a corrected overlapping distance range 401r that is a range of the distance on the road 91 of the scenery superimposed on the corrected virtual image area 301r among the scenery that can be seen through the front window shield 2 at the user viewpoint position 100r, and the user Of the scenery that can be seen through the front window shield 2 at the viewpoint position 100u, the corrected superimposing distance range 401u that is the range of the distance on the road 91 of the scenery that overlaps the corrected virtual image area 301u and the front window at the user viewpoint position 100d. Of the scenery seen through the shield 2, a corrected superimposition distance range 401d, which is a distance range on the road 91 of the scenery superimposed with the corrected virtual image area 301d, is shown. Further, in FIG. 7, the virtual image is displayed by the road shape in front of the vehicle 1 in the virtual image region 300 r determined by the user viewpoint position 100 r in the landscape that can be seen through the front window shield 2 at the user viewpoint position 100 r. Of the virtual image region 300u determined by the user viewpoint position 100u out of the non-overlapping distance range 402r that is the range of the distance on the road 91 of the scenery that does not perform and the landscape that can be seen through the front window shield 2 at the user viewpoint position 100u. Among these, a non-overlapping distance range 402u that is a range of a distance on the road 91 of a landscape that does not display a virtual image due to a road shape in front of the vehicle 1 and a landscape that can be seen through the front window shield 2 at the user viewpoint position 100d The virtual image area determined by the user viewpoint position 100d Of 300d, and non-overlapping distance range 402d which is in the range of distance in landscape of the road 91 that does not perform a display of the virtual image is indicated by the road shape ahead of the vehicle 1.

First, the relationship between the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction and the use area 220 corresponding to the road shape ahead of the vehicle 1 will be described. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the reference user viewpoint position 100r, based on the forward information indicating the road shape ahead of the vehicle 1 acquired in step S01, The area 222r of the use area 220r corresponding to a part of the virtual image area 300r that does not overlap is set as an unused area 222r that does not display an image, and the other area 221r is set as a correction use area 221r that can display an image. . Hereinafter, the correction use area 221r corresponding to the reference user viewpoint position 100r shown in FIG. 6A is also referred to as a reference correction use area 221r, and the non-use area 222r is also referred to as a reference non-use area 222r.

The user viewpoint position 100u shown in FIG. 6B is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 located on the upper side in the vertical direction as compared with the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100u, it is superimposed on the road based on the forward information indicating the road shape ahead of the vehicle 1 acquired in step S01. An area 222u of the use area 220u corresponding to a part of the virtual image area 300u that is not to be displayed is set as an unused area 222u that does not display an image, and the other area 221u is set as a correction use area 221u that can display an image.

6B, the length 221ua in the Iy-axis direction in the correction use area 221u shown in FIG. 6B is longer than the length 221ra in the Iy-axis direction in the reference correction use area 221r. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the vertical length of the corrected virtual image region 301u in the real space is increased.

That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves upward in the vertical direction, the position of the correction use area 221 of the display surface 21 is determined to be positioned on the Iy axis positive direction side. Further, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves upward in the vertical direction, the length in the Iy axis direction of the correction use area 221 of the display surface 21 is determined to be longer. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves upward in the vertical direction, the corrected virtual image region 301 is positioned on the upper side in the vertical direction in the real space and the vertical direction in the real space Length increases.

The user viewpoint position 100d shown in FIG. 6C is an example of the user viewpoint position 100 located on the lower side in the vertical direction as compared with the reference user viewpoint position 100r. For example, when the user viewpoint position 100 acquired in step S02 shown in FIG. 3 is the user viewpoint position 100d, it is superimposed on the road based on the forward information indicating the road shape ahead of the vehicle 1 acquired in step S01. The area 222d of the use area 220d corresponding to a part of the virtual image area 300d that is not displayed is set as a nonuse area 222d that does not display an image, and the other area 221d is set as a correction use area 221d that can display an image.

The length 221da in the Iy-axis direction in the correction use area 221d shown in FIG. 6C is shorter than the length 221ra in the Iy-axis direction in the reference correction use area 221r. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the vertical length of the corrected virtual image region 301d in the real space is shortened.

That is, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves downward in the vertical direction, the position of the correction use area 221 of the display surface 21 is determined to be positioned on the Iy axis negative direction side. Further, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves downward in the vertical direction, the length in the Iy axis direction of the correction use area 221 of the display surface 21 is determined to be shorter. As a result, as the user viewpoint position 100 detected by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40 moves downward in the vertical direction, the corrected virtual image region 301 is positioned in the vertical direction lower side in the real space and the vertical position in the real space. The length of the direction becomes shorter.

That is, from the road 91 by shortening the length in the vertical direction so that the upper end of the virtual image area 300 approaches the lower end according to the road shape (correcting the corrected use area 221 by reducing the size of the use area 220). It is possible to prevent the viewer from feeling uncomfortable by displaying the virtual image 310 at a position deviated (for example, a shoulder or a wall around the road). Further, by appropriately determining the position on the Iy axis and the length on the Iy axis of the correction use area 221 in accordance with the user viewpoint position 100, the correction overlapping distance is not affected by the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction. The range 401 can be made constant. By making the corrected superimposition distance range 400 constant, it is possible to cope with a shift in the object in the landscape on which the virtual image 310 visually recognized by the user is superimposed.

As described above, the image generation unit 30 of the vehicle display device 10 of the present invention is used to display an image on the display surface 21 of the image display unit 20 according to the user viewpoint position 100 acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40. The use area 220 to be determined is determined. As a result, not only can the position of the virtual image region 300, which is a region corresponding to the use region 220 and is a region where the user can visually recognize the virtual image 310, be adjusted, but also the size of the virtual image region 300 can be adjusted. Therefore, the vehicle display device 10 changes the user viewpoint position 100 as compared with a vehicle display device that can adjust only the position of the virtual image region 300 by changing the projection angle of the concave mirror 55 of the projection unit 50, for example. The object in the landscape on which the virtual image 310 is superimposed is eliminated. Therefore, the vehicle display device 10 of the present invention can provide appropriate information to the user without being influenced by the user viewpoint position 100.

Here, the image generation unit 30 may determine the use area 220 only according to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction, or determine the use area 220 only according to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle front-rear direction. Also good. However, the change in the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction has a greater influence on the shift of the object in the landscape on which the virtual image 310 is superimposed than the change in the user viewpoint position 100 in the vehicle front-rear direction. Therefore, it is preferable that the image generation unit 30 determines the use area 220 according to at least the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction.

Then, the image generation unit 30 of the vehicle display device 10 according to the present invention causes the upper end of the virtual image region 300 to approach the lower end according to the road shape information acquired by the road shape information acquisition unit 60, and the vertical direction of the virtual image region 300. So that the length of the use area 220 is corrected. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the viewer from feeling uncomfortable by displaying the virtual image 310 at a position deviated from the road 91 (for example, a shoulder or a wall around the road), and the user viewpoint in the vertical direction. Without being affected by the position 100, the corrected overlapping distance range 401, which is a distance range in which the virtual image region 300 on which the virtual image 310 is displayed overlaps the road 91, can be made constant.

Further, the above-described steps S02 and S04 shown in FIG. 3 do not necessarily have to be executed every time. For example, steps S02 and S04 may be executed only when the flow shown in FIG. 3 is executed for the first time after the vehicle 1 is turned on. Thereafter, when the flow shown in FIG. 3 is executed for the second and subsequent times after the power of the vehicle 1 is turned on, the processes of step S02 and step S04 may be omitted. For example, while the user who drives the vehicle 1 is not changed, it is unlikely that the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction is changed significantly. Therefore, by acquiring the user viewpoint position 100 that drives the vehicle 1 only once after the vehicle 1 is turned on, for example, dealing with a shift in the object in the landscape on which the virtual image 310 is superimposed, Both speeding up of the operation of the vehicle display device 10 can be achieved.

The above is the description of the vehicle display device 10 in the present embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiment and the drawings. Of course, changes (including deletion of components) can be added to these. An example of a modification is shown below.

As shown in FIG. 8, the use area 220 according to the present invention is a first use area 230 corresponding to a first virtual image area (not shown) in the virtual image area 300, and is visually recognized by being positioned vertically below the first virtual image area. At least a second use area 240 corresponding to a second virtual image area (not shown), and the image generation unit 30 performs the first operation according to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40. The position and size of the use area 230 are determined, and the second use area without changing the size of the second use area 240 according to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40. Only 240 positions may be determined. Thereby, when the user viewpoint position 100 changes in the vertical direction, the size in the vertical direction of the second virtual image area on the real space corresponding to the second use area 240 hardly changes. As a result, for example, even when an image composed of characters or the like is displayed in the second use area 240, when the user's viewpoint position changes in the vertical direction, the user moves to the second virtual image area. It is possible to prevent the information represented in the displayed virtual image from becoming difficult to recognize.

Note that the size of the second use area 240 may be changed according to the user viewpoint position 100 in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit 40. In this case, the change rate according to the change in the user viewpoint position 100 in the second use area 240 is set to be smaller than the change rate in the first use area 230. Thereby, compared with the case where only the magnitude | size of the 1st use area | region 230 is changed, the variation | change_quantity of the magnitude | size of the 1st use area | region 230 can be restrained small, and when a user's viewpoint position changes to the perpendicular direction, It can be suppressed that the user becomes difficult to recognize the information represented in the virtual image displayed in the first virtual image area.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, the image 250 displayed in the display area 210 includes a plurality of images 251, 252, and 253 that are arranged substantially along the Iy axis direction from the Iy axis positive direction side of the display surface 21. When the size of the used area 220 in the Iy-axis direction is reduced and corrected to the corrected used area 221 according to road shape information, only a part of the images 251 and 252 are corrected as shown in FIG. 9B. You may make it display on the use area | region 221. FIG.

The vehicle display device of the present invention is suitable as a head-up display that is mounted on a moving body such as a vehicle and allows a viewer to visually recognize a virtual image.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle, 2 ... Front window shield, 10 ... Display apparatus for vehicles, 20 ... Image display part, Liquid crystal panel module, 21 ... Display surface, Liquid crystal panel, 30 ... Image Generating unit, 40 ... viewpoint position acquisition unit, 41 ... vehicle interior image acquisition unit, 42 ... vehicle interior image analysis unit, 50 ... projection unit, 60 ... forward information acquisition unit (road shape Information acquisition unit), 80 ... image light, 100 ... user viewpoint position, 210 ... display area, 220 ... use area, 300 ... virtual image area, 310 ... virtual image, 400 ...・ Overlapping distance range

Claims (5)

A viewpoint position acquisition unit (40) that acquires the position of the viewpoint of the user sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle;
A road shape information acquisition unit (60) for acquiring road shape information which is information of a road shape ahead of the vehicle;
An image display unit (20) having a display surface (21) capable of displaying an image;
The position of the use area used for displaying the image that is a part of the display surface of the image display unit according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit, and An image generator (30) for determining a length and displaying the image in the use area of the display surface;
Projecting light from the display surface toward the translucent member (2) to generate a virtual virtual image region corresponding to the use region, and displaying a virtual image corresponding to the image in the virtual image region Part (50),
The image generation unit determines the position and length of the use area corresponding to the vertical direction of the virtual image area according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit, In accordance with the road shape information acquired by the road shape information acquisition unit, the length of the use area is corrected so that the upper end of the virtual image area approaches the lower end and the vertical direction of the virtual image area is shortened.
A display device for a vehicle. The image generation unit is configured to display the position of the use area on the display surface and the virtual image area on the upper side in the vertical direction as the position of the viewpoint of the user acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit goes on the upper side in the vertical direction. And the size of the use area is largely determined in a direction corresponding to the vertical direction of the virtual image area,
As the position of the viewpoint of the user acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit goes downward, the image generation unit causes the position of the use area to be lower and the virtual image area to be lower on the display surface. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle display device is determined in a direction and the size of the use area is determined to be small in a direction corresponding to a vertical direction of the virtual image area. The image generation unit is not affected by a change in the position of the user's viewpoint in the vertical direction, and the distance on the road surface of the landscape where the virtual image region overlaps among the landscapes that the user can see through the translucent member. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the position and the size of the use area are determined on the display surface so that the range is constant. The use area includes a first use area corresponding to a first virtual image area in the virtual image area, and a second use area corresponding to a second virtual image area which is visually recognized by being positioned below the first virtual image area. Including at least
The image generation unit determines the position and size of the first use area according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit,
The said image generation part determines the position of the said 2nd use area | region according to the position of the said viewpoint of the said user in the up-down direction acquired by the said viewpoint position acquisition part. The vehicle display device described in 1. The use area includes a first use area corresponding to a first virtual image area in the virtual image area, and a second use area corresponding to a second virtual image area which is visually recognized by being positioned below the first virtual image area. Including at least
The image generation unit determines the position and size of the first use area according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit,
The image generation unit determines the position and size of the second use area according to the position of the viewpoint of the user in the vertical direction acquired by the viewpoint position acquisition unit,
4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a rate of change according to a change in the position of the viewpoint of the user in the second usage region is smaller than the rate of change in the first usage region. 5. Display device.

Images