Vehicle with road surface image rendering functionality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024273911-A1
Application number	US-202418431681-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 2, 2024
Priority date	Feb 14, 2023
Publication date	Aug 15, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle with road surface image rendering functionality includes a light projection member, a controller, and a detection device. The light projection member is configured to perform light projection for road surface image rendering toward a road surface in front of the vehicle and render a road surface image on the road surface. The controller is configured to control the light projection for the road surface image rendering by the light projection member. The detection device is configured to detect a vehicle-to-vehicle distance to a preceding vehicle in front of the vehicle. The controller is configured to, in accordance with the vehicle-to-vehicle distance detected by the detection device, change a position of the road surface image rendered on the road surface by the light projection member and so that the position of the road surface image is closer to the vehicle than a rear end of the preceding vehicle.

First claim

1 . A vehicle with road surface image rendering functionality, the vehicle comprising:
a light projection member configured to perform light projection for road surface image rendering toward a road surface in front of the vehicle and render a road surface image on the road surface; a controller configured to control the light projection for the road surface image rendering by the light projection member; and a detection device configured to detect a vehicle-to-vehicle distance to a preceding vehicle in front of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to in accordance with the vehicle-to-vehicle distance detected by the detection device, change a position of the road surface image rendered on the road surface by the light projection member so that the position of the road surface image on the road surface is closer to the vehicle than a rear end of the preceding vehicle.

2 . The vehicle with the road surface image rendering functionality according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to change the position of the road surface image rendered on the road surface by the light projection member so that a distance from the vehicle to the road surface image is less than or equal to half of the vehicle-to-vehicle distance detected by the detection device.

3 . The vehicle with the road surface image rendering functionality according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to stop the light projection by the light projection member to stop rendering the road surface image when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance detected by the detection device becomes less than or equal to twice a first threshold.

4 . The vehicle with the road surface image rendering functionality according to claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to stop the light projection by the light projection member to stop rendering the road surface image when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance detected by the detection device becomes less than or equal to twice a first threshold.

5 . The vehicle with the road surface image rendering functionality according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to control the light projection by the light projection member to change the road surface image rendered on the road surface by the light projection member from a normal image to a simplified image with a reduced amount of light when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance detected by the detection device becomes less than twice a second threshold greater than the first threshold.

6 . The vehicle with the road surface image rendering functionality according to claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to control the light projection by the light projection member to change the road surface image rendered on the road surface by the light projection member from a normal image to a simplified image with a reduced amount of light when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance detected by the detection device becomes less than twice a second threshold greater than the first threshold.

7 . The vehicle with the road surface image rendering functionality according to claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to change the position of the road surface image rendered on the road surface by the light projection member based on a vehicle-to-vehicle setting distance for cruise control of the vehicle.

8 . The vehicle with the road surface image rendering functionality according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to change the position of the road surface image rendered on the road surface by the light projection member based on a vehicle-to-vehicle setting distance for cruise control of the vehicle.

9 . The vehicle with the road surface image rendering functionality according to claim 7 ,
wherein the controller is configured to change the position of the simplified road surface image, which is light-projected from the light projection member when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance becomes less than or equal to twice the second threshold, toward a widthwise end of a lane in which the vehicle is traveling.

10 . The vehicle with the road surface image rendering functionality according to claim 8 ,
wherein the controller is configured to change the position of the simplified road surface image, which is light-projected from the light projection member when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance becomes less than or equal to twice the second threshold, toward a widthwise end of a lane in which the vehicle is traveling.

11 . The vehicle with the road surface image rendering functionality according to claim 9 ,
wherein the light projection member comprises a right light projection member provided in a right side of the vehicle and a left light projection member provided in a left side of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to cause one of the right light projection member and the left light projection member to diagonally project the simplified road surface image rendered toward the widthwise end of the lane in which the vehicle is traveling the one of the right light projection member and the left light projection member being on an opposite side to the simplified road surface image.

12 . The vehicle with the road surface image rendering functionality according to claim 10 ,
wherein the light projection member comprises a right light projection member provided in a right side of the vehicle and a left light projection member provided in a left side of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to cause one of the right light projection member and the left light projection member to diagonally project the simplified road surface image rendered toward the widthwise end of the lane in which the vehicle is traveling the one of the right light projection member and the left light projection member being on an opposite side to the simplified road surface image.

13 . A vehicle with road surface image rendering functionality, the vehicle comprising:
a light projection member including a light source and configured to perform light projection for road surface image rendering toward a road surface in front of the vehicle and render a road surface image on the road surface; circuitry configured to control the light projection for the road surface image rendering by the light projection member; and a detection device including a sensor and configured to detect a vehicle-to-vehicle distance to a preceding vehicle in front of the vehicle, wherein the circuitry is configured to in accordance with the vehicle-to-vehicle distance detected by the detection device, change a position of the road surface image rendered on the road surface by the light projection member so that the position of the road surface image on the road surface is closer to the vehicle than a rear end of the preceding vehicle.

Assignees

• Subaru Corp

Inventors

• Yamasaki Kentarou
• Kinoshita Makoto

Classifications

• B60Q2400/50

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

• E01F9/615

  illuminated · CPC title

• E01F9/608

  for guiding, warning or controlling traffic, e.g. delineator posts or milestones · CPC title

• B60Q1/50 Primary

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

• G06V20/56 Primary

  exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle · CPC title