Image display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018257549-A1
Application number	US-201815890918-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 7, 2018
Priority date	Mar 10, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image display device includes a light illuminator, a crossing-facility detector, an image position determiner, and an illumination controller. The light illuminator is configured to send out light frontward of a first vehicle as an own vehicle, to display an image for a pedestrian. The crossing-facility detector is configured to detect a crossing facility provided on the road. The image position determiner is configured to determine, on the basis of a position of the crossing facility, whether or not a display position of the image is included in a no-crossing region near the crossing facility. The illumination controller is configured to control display operation of the light illuminator, to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on the condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region.

First claim

1 . An image display device, comprising:
a light illuminator configured to send out light frontward of a first vehicle as an own vehicle, to display an image for a pedestrian who waits to cross a road; a crossing-facility detector configured to detect a crossing facility provided on the road, the crossing facility allowing the pedestrian to cross; an image position determiner configured to determine, on a basis of a position of the crossing facility detected by the crossing-facility detector, whether or not a display position of the image is included in a no-crossing region near the crossing facility; and an illumination controller configured to control display operation of the light illuminator, to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region.

2 . The image display device according to claim 1 , wherein
the illumination controller controls the light illuminator to display a no-crossing image on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region, the no-crossing image prohibiting the pedestrian from crossing the road.

3 . The image display device according to claim 1 , wherein
the illumination controller controls the light illuminator to display a pedestrian-guidance image on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region, the pedestrian-guidance image guiding the pedestrian to the crossing facility.

4 . The image display device according to claim 2 , wherein
the illumination controller controls the light illuminator to display a pedestrian-guidance image on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region, the pedestrian-guidance image guiding the pedestrian to the crossing facility.

5 . The image display device according to claim 1 , wherein
the illumination controller makes the light illuminator stop sending out light, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the no-crossing region.

6 . The image display device according to claim 1 , further comprising a signal information detector configured to detect display information on a signal for automobiles at an intersection at which the crossing facility is provided, wherein
the image position determiner determines whether or not the display position of the image is included in a caution-against-crossing region, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image falls out of the no-crossing region, the caution-against-crossing region being a region of a predetermined distance or less from the no-crossing region, and the illumination controller controls the display operation of the light illuminator to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on a condition that the signal information detector detects the display information that allows a second vehicle other than the first vehicle to travel straight on the road on which the image is to be displayed, and on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the caution-against-crossing region.

7 . The image display device according to claim 2 , further comprising a signal information detector configured to detect display information on a signal for automobiles at an intersection at which the crossing facility is provided, wherein
the image position determiner determines whether or not the display position of the image is included in a caution-against-crossing region, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image falls out of the no-crossing region, the caution-against-crossing region being a region of a predetermined distance or less from the no-crossing region, and the illumination controller controls the display operation of the light illuminator to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on a condition that the signal information detector detects the display information that allows a second vehicle other than the first vehicle to travel straight on the road on which the image is to be displayed, and on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the caution-against-crossing region.

8 . The image display device according to claim 3 , further comprising a signal information detector configured to detect display information on a signal for automobiles at an intersection at which the crossing facility is provided, wherein
the image position determiner determines whether or not the display position of the image is included in a caution-against-crossing region, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image falls out of the no-crossing region, the caution-against-crossing region being a region of a predetermined distance or less from the no-crossing region, and the illumination controller controls the display operation of the light illuminator to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on a condition that the signal information detector detects the display information that allows a second vehicle other than the first vehicle to travel straight on the road on which the image is to be displayed, and on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the caution-against-crossing region.

9 . The image display device according to claim 4 , further comprising a signal information detector configured to detect display information on a signal for automobiles at an intersection at which the crossing facility is provided, wherein
the image position determiner determines whether or not the display position of the image is included in a caution-against-crossing region, on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image falls out of the no-crossing region, the caution-against-crossing region being a region of a predetermined distance or less from the no-crossing region, and the illumination controller controls the display operation of the light illuminator to prompt the pedestrian to cross along the crossing facility, on a condition that the signal information detector detects the display information that allows a second vehicle other than the first vehicle to travel straight on the road on which the image is to be displayed, and on a condition that the image position determiner determines that the display position of the image is included in the caution-against-crossing region.

10 . The image display device according to claim 6 , wherein
the predetermined distance is about 50 meters.

11 . The image display device according to claim 7 , wherein
the predetermined distance is about 50 meters.

12 . The image display device according to claim 8 , wherein
the predetermined distance is about 50 meters.

13 . The image display device according to claim 9 , wherein
the predetermined distance is about 50 meters.

14 . The image display device according to claim 1 , wherein
the light illuminator includes headlights.

15 . The image display device according to claim 2 , wherein
the light illuminator includes headlights.

16 . The image display device according to

Assignees

• Subaru Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60Q2400/50

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

• B60Q1/525

  automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data · CPC title

• B60Q1/04

  the devices being headlights · CPC title

• B60Q1/50 Primary

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

• B60Q1/547 Primary

  for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake · CPC title