Display control device configured to control projection device, display control method for controlling projection device, and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10922976-B2
Application number	US-201816179032-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2018
Priority date	Dec 18, 2017
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

A display control device configured to control a projection device that projects an image on a windshield of a vehicle includes a circuitry. The circuitry is configured to determine a target ground object that is a ground object other than an object which a driver of the vehicle is to be warned of, the target ground object being used to provide the driver with a sense of distance to the object, and project, using the projection device, an image for indicating a presence of the object in a manner that allows the driver to perceive a sense of distance to the object on a windshield of the vehicle, such that a first part of the image and the target ground object overlap each other and a second part of the image and the target ground object do not overlap each other when viewed from the driver.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A display control device configured to control a projection device, the projection device being configured to project an image of a simulated object on a windshield of a vehicle, the display control device comprising a circuitry configured to:
determine a target ground object that is a ground object other than an object which a driver of the vehicle is to be warned of, the target ground object being used to provide the driver with a sense of distance to the object; and
project, using the projection device, the image of the simulated object illustrating a simulated shape of the object on the windshield of the vehicle while an entirety of the object is blocked by the target ground object when viewed from the driver of the vehicle, such that a first part of the image of the simulated object and the target ground object overlap each other and a second part of the image of the simulated object and the target ground object do not overlap each other when viewed from the driver, the second part being a part of the image other than the first part.

2. The display control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuitry is configured to determine the ground object that is visible to the driver of the vehicle and positioned to be overlapped with the object when viewed from the driver of the vehicle, as the target ground object.

3. The display control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuitry is configured to cause the projection device to project the image of the simulated object in a size corresponding to a distance from the vehicle to the object.

4. The display control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuitry is configured to determine the ground object that is visible to the driver of the vehicle and positioned to be overlapped with the object that is moving toward a traveling road of the vehicle when viewed from the driver of the vehicle.

5. The display control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuitry is configured to, when the object moves from an overlapping position with the target ground object to a non-overlapping position with the target ground object when viewed from the driver, cause the projection device to project the image of the simulated object to follow a movement of the object.

6. The display control device according to claim 1 , wherein
the circuitry is configured to, when the object is overlapped with the target ground object in a manner in which the object is positioned on a back side of the target ground object when viewed from the driver, cause the projection device to project the image of the simulated object in a shape representing a type of the object.

7. A vehicle comprising the display control device according to claim 1 .

8. A display control method for controlling a projection device, the projection device being configured to project an image of a simulated object on a windshield of a vehicle, the display control method comprising:
determining a target ground object that is a ground object other than an object which a driver of the vehicle is to be warned of, the target ground object being used to provide the driver with a sense of distance to the object;
projecting, using the projection device, the image of the simulated object illustrating a simulated shape of the object on the windshield of the vehicle, such that a first part of the image of the simulated object and the target ground object overlap each other and a second part of the image of the simulated object and the target ground object do not overlap each other when viewed from the driver, the second part being a part of the image of the simulated object other than the first part; and
adjusting a size of the simulated object based on a change of a distance from the vehicle to the object.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Murai Rie

Classifications

• G02B27/0101

  characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08G1/164 Primary

  Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles · CPC title

• G08G1/04

  using optical or ultrasonic detectors · CPC title

• G02B2027/0141

  characterised by the informative content of the display · CPC title

• G02B27/01

  Head-up displays · CPC title