Alert system and recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12252149-B2
Application number	US-202217951466-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2022
Priority date	Sep 29, 2021
Publication date	Mar 18, 2025
Grant date	Mar 18, 2025

Abstract

The alert system includes a projection device, a display control unit, and a target object recognition unit. When a state changes from a state where a target object is not recognized by the target object recognition unit to a state where a target object is recognized by the target object recognition unit, the display control unit causes the projection device to output an alert display on a front window such that the length of the alert display is gradually shortened toward a position where a direction from an operator to the target object intersects with a front window.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An alert system comprising:
a projection device configured to output, on a front window of a mobile body, a visual display viewable to an operator of the mobile body, wherein the projection device comprises a plurality of light sources; and
a processor configured to function as:
a display control unit configured to cause the projection device to output a prescribed alert display on the front window as the visual display;
a target object recognition unit configured to recognize a target object present in front of the mobile body; and
a sound image localization control unit configured to change a sound image position of a prescribed alert sound perceived by the operator by controlling an output mode of a plurality of speakers provided to the mobile body, wherein

the display control unit:
when the target object is not recognized by the target object recognition unit, causes the projection device to output, on the front window, the alert display in a linear form having a prescribed length corresponding to a width of the front window along a width direction of the mobile body; and
when a state changes from a state where the target object is not recognized by the target object recognition unit to a state where the target object is recognized by the target object recognition unit, causes the projection device to output the alert display on the front window such that the length of the alert display is gradually shortened toward a position where a direction from the operator to the target object intersects with the front window,

the sound image localization control unit:
when the target object is not recognized by the target object recognition unit, sets the sound image position of the alert sound to a prescribed range of surroundings of the operator; and
when a state changes from a state where the target object is not recognized by the target object recognition unit to a state where the target object is recognized by the target object recognition unit, gradually reduces the range of the sound image position of the alert sound from the prescribed range toward the direction from the operator to the target object.

2. The alert system according to claim 1 , wherein, when the state where the target object is not recognized by the target object recognition unit continues for a prescribed time or more, the display control unit changes an output mode of the alert display formed by the projection device.

3. The alert system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to function as an influence degree recognition unit configured to recognize an influence degree of the target object for the mobile body when the target object is recognized by the target object recognition unit, and
the display control unit sets an output mode of the alert display formed by the projection device in accordance with the influence degree.

4. A non-transitory recording medium storing a control program for causing a computer to execute processing of:
acquiring a recognition result of a target object present in front of a mobile body;
outputting a command to a projection device to display, on a front window of the mobile body, a prescribed alert display corresponding to the recognition result as a visual display, the projection device outputting the visual display viewable to an operator of the mobile body, wherein the projection device comprises a plurality of light sources; and
changing a sound image position of a prescribed alert sound perceived by the operator by controlling an output mode of a plurality of speakers provided to the mobile body,
when the target object is not recognized, outputting a command to the projection device to display the alert display in a linear form having a prescribed length corresponding to a width of the front window along a width direction of the mobile body;
when a state changes from a state where the target object is not recognized to a state where the target object is recognized, outputting a command to the projection device to display the alert display such that the length of the alert display in the linear form is gradually shortened from the prescribed length toward a position where a direction from the operator to the target object intersects with the front window;
when the target object is not recognized, setting the sound image position of the alert sound to a prescribed range of surroundings of the operator; and
when a state changes from a state where the target object is not recognized to a state where the target object is recognized, gradually reducing the range of the sound image position of the alert sound from the prescribed range toward the direction from the operator to the target object.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Maruyama Masaki
• Higuchi Minoru
• Kishimoto Yuya
• Seo Toshiaki
• Tanaka Masuhito
• Takano Kazuki
• Takeda Hidehiro
• Koseki Misaki

Classifications

• B60K35/285

  for improving awareness by directing driver's gaze direction or eye points · CPC title

• B60K35/81

  for controlling displays · 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

• B60K35/26

  using acoustic output · CPC title

• B60K2360/1868

  according to driving situations · CPC title