Image display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018257547-A1
Application number	US-201815888791-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 5, 2018
Priority date	Mar 10, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image display device includes an illuminator and a detector. The illuminator is configured to send out light on a road surface around a first vehicle as an own vehicle, to display a first notification image that notifies information to surroundings of the first vehicle. The detector is configured to detect an image displayed on the road surface or information indicated by the image. The illuminator is configured to display the first notification image on the basis of the image detected by the detector or the information indicated by the image.

First claim

1 . An image display device, comprising:
an illuminator configured to send out light on a road surface around a first vehicle as an own vehicle, to display a first notification image that notifies information to surroundings of the first vehicle; and a detector configured to detects an image displayed on the road surface or information indicated by the image, the illuminator being configured to display the first notification image on a basis of the image detected by the detector or the information indicated by the image.

2 . The image display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a decision unit configured to decide a display mode of the first notification image on the road surface, on the basis of the image detected by the detector or the information indicated by the image; and a display control unit configured to control the illuminator in accordance with the display mode decided by the decision unit, wherein the detector detects, as the image, a second notification image displayed on the road surface by a second vehicle other than the first vehicle, the second notification image notifying information to surroundings of the second vehicle, and the decision unit decides the display mode on a basis of the second notification image detected by the detector.

3 . The image display device according to claim 2 , further comprising
an evaluation unit configured to evaluate a priority level that indicates whether to give priority to notifying first notification information or whether to give priority to notifying second notification information, the first notification information being information to be notified by the first vehicle to the surroundings of the first vehicle, and the second notification information being information to be notified by the second vehicle to the surroundings of the second vehicle, wherein the detector detects a target of notification around the first vehicle, the evaluation unit evaluates, with reference to safety of the target of notification detected by the detector, a priority level of the first notification information with respect to the target of notification detected by the detector and a priority level of the second notification information indicated by the second notification image detected by the detector, and the decision unit decides the display mode on a basis of an evaluation result of the evaluation unit.

4 . The image display device according to claim 3 , wherein
the decision unit decides the display mode, to cause the first notification image to be displayed in a predetermined region of the road surface, the predetermined region being spaced away from a display region of the second notification image by a predetermined distance, and to cause the first notification image to be on more highlighted display than the second notification image, on a condition that the priority level of the first notification information is higher than the priority level of the second notification information.

5 . The image display device according to claim 3 , wherein
the decision unit decides the display mode, to defer displaying the first notification image, at least while the second notification image is being displayed, on a condition that the priority level of the first notification information is lower than the priority level of the second notification information.

6 . The image display device according to claim 3 , wherein
the decision unit decides the display mode, to cause the first notification image to be displayed in a predetermined region of the road surface, the predetermined region being spaced away from a display region of the second notification image by a predetermined distance, on a condition that the priority level of the first notification information is equivalent to the priority level of the second notification information, and the first notification information is substantially non-identical to the second notification information.

7 . The image display device according to claim 3 , wherein
the decision unit decides the display mode, to keep the first notification image from interfering with the second notification image, on a condition that the priority level of the first notification information is equivalent to the priority level of the second notification information, and the first notification information is substantially identical to the second notification information.

8 . The image display device according to claim 7 , wherein
the decision unit decides the display mode, to cause an image that is substantially identical to the second notification image to be displayed as the first notification image in superimposed relation to a display region of the second notification image.

9 . The image display device according to claim 7 , wherein
the decision unit decides the display mode, to cause an image that highlights the second notification image to be displayed as the first notification image.

10 . The image display device according to claim 7 , wherein
the decision unit decides the display mode, to cause the first notification image to be non-displayed.

11 . The image display device according to claim 1 , wherein
the illuminator includes headlights of the first vehicle.

12 . The image display device according to claim 2 , wherein
the illuminator includes headlights of the first vehicle.

13 . The image display device according to claim 3 , wherein
the illuminator includes headlights of the first vehicle.

14 . The image display device according to claim 4 , wherein
the illuminator includes headlights of the first vehicle.

15 . The image display device according to claim 5 , wherein
the illuminator includes headlights of the first vehicle.

16 . The image display device according to claim 6 , wherein
the illuminator includes headlights of the first vehicle.

17 . The image display device according to claim 7 , wherein
the illuminator includes headlights of the first vehicle.

18 . The image display device according to claim 8 , wherein
the illuminator includes headlights of the first vehicle.

19 . An image display device, comprising:
an illuminator configured to send out light on a road surface around a first vehicle as an own vehicle, to display a first notification image that notifies information to surroundings of the first vehicle; a detector configured to detect an image displayed on the road surface or information indicated by the image; and circuitry configured to control the illuminator to display the first notification image on a basis of the image detected by the detector or the information indicated by the image.

Assignees

• Subaru Corp

Inventors

• Suzuki Dan
• Kinoshita Makoto
• Yamazumi Toru
• Yamasaski Kentarou

Classifications

• G08G1/005

  including pedestrian guidance indicator · CPC title

• B60Q2400/50

  Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body · CPC title

• B60Q1/04

  the devices being headlights · CPC title

• G08G1/166 Primary

  for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes · CPC title

• B60Q1/50 Primary

  for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking · CPC title