Attention calling system and attention calling method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11628854-B2
Application number	US-202217674986-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2022
Priority date	Mar 12, 2021
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

Abstract

The attention calling system includes the classification unit for classifying an object into a category based on a traffic scene, the risk calculation unit for calculating the risk value with respect to contact with the object based on the category, and the attention calling unit for outputting the visual display in the horizontally extending belt-like range on the windshield of the moving body. The attention calling unit outputs the visual display in the mode adapted to the risk value of the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An attention calling system, comprising:
a light projection device which outputs a visual display on a windshield of a moving body, the visual display being visually recognizable by an operator of the moving body; and
an attention calling device which controls the light projection device to call the operator's attention to objects around the moving body by means of the visual display, wherein:
the attention calling device includes a detection unit for detecting the objects existing in an area surrounding the moving body, a classification unit for classifying each of the detected objects into one of multiple categories based on at least a type of the object, and a traffic scene in the presence of the detected objects, a risk calculation unit for calculating a risk value indicating a risk degree of contact with the moving body based on the classified category for each of the detected objects, and

an attention calling unit for outputting the visual display in a predetermined display range on the windshield of the moving body by controlling the light projection device;
the display range is a horizontally extending belt-like range on the windshield in a width direction of the moving body; and
the attention calling unit displays the visual display indicating each direction position of the detected objects in the display range on the windshield in a mode adapted to display respective calculated risk value with respect to the detected objects.

2. The attention calling system according to claim 1 , further comprising a behavior detection unit for determining whether or not the operator has visually recognized the displayed detected objects by detecting a visual line movement of the operator of the moving body using an in-vehicle camera disposed inside the moving body, wherein when it is determined that the operator has not visually recognized an object included in the displayed detected objects, the attention calling unit raises a level of visual attractivity of the visual display of the unrecognized object with time.

3. The attention calling system according to claim 2 , further comprising a reaction skill evaluation unit, wherein:
the behavior detection unit measures an actual reaction time taken for the operator to start a specific operation of the moving body from visual recognition of the displayed detected objects;
the reaction skill evaluation unit calculates a reaction proficiency value of the operator with respect to the classified category based on a reaction delay time obtained by subtracting a predetermined standard reaction time for the classified category of each of detected object respectively, from the actual reaction time for each of the displayed detected objects, and stores the reaction proficiency value for each of the classified categories in a storage unit as reaction proficiency information; and
the attention calling unit displays the visual display indicating each direction position of the detected objects in the display range on the windshield in a mode adapted to display the operator's respective reaction proficiency value with respect to the respective classified category of the object indicated by the reaction proficiency information, and the respective risk value with respect to the object.

4. The attention calling system according to claim 3 , wherein when the time for which the operator's visual line has been retained on a displayed detected object exceeds a given time, the reaction skill evaluation unit determines that the operator has visually recognized the object.

5. An attention calling method implemented by a computer, comprising the steps of:
detecting objects existing in an area surrounding a moving body;
classifying each of the detected objects into one of multiple categories based on at least a type of the object, and a traffic scene in the presence of the detected object;
calculating a risk value indicating a risk degree of contact with the moving body based on the classified category for each of the detected objects; and
outputting the visual display in a predetermined display range on the windshield of the moving body by controlling the light projection device disposed in the moving body, wherein:
the display range is a horizontally extending belt-like range on the windshield in a width direction of the moving body; and
in the step of outputting the visual display, the visual display indicating each direction position of the detected objects is displayed in the display range on the windshield in a mode adapted to display respective calculated risk value with respect to the detected objects.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Maruyama Masaki
• Seo Toshiaki
• Kishimoto Yuya
• Higuchi Minoru

Classifications

• B60K35/28

  characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver · CPC title

• B60K35/80

  Arrangements for controlling instruments · CPC title

• B60K35/23

  Head-up displays [HUD] (optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01) · CPC title

• B60K35/29

  Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions · CPC title

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title