A vehicle information providing system is realized, which is capable of providing appropriate vehicle information depending on a used driving energy source. The kind of fuel used when refueling a vehicle is identified based on image information from a camera provided in a service station, and/or payment information for the refueling. The magnitude of the environmental burden caused by the identified fuel is specified so as to change, according thereto, a background color of an instrument panel of the vehicle. Also, a turn-on/turn-off state and a lighting color of an eco-lamp provided on a rear surface of the vehicle is changed. Thus, the appropriate vehicle information is provided in consideration of differences in the environmental burden depending on the used fuel even when the vehicle model is the same.

A control device controls an instrument configured to indicate a state of a moving body. An instrument has a first object having a line shape or band shape that is continuously visually recognized, a second object indicative of a present value of an output index that is an index relating to an output energy amount, and a third object indicative of a present value of a regeneration index that is an index relating to a regenerative energy amount. A partial region on the first object is formed with an output region in which the present value of the output index is indicated by a position on the region, and a region different from the output region on the first object is formed with a regeneration region in which the present value of the regeneration index is indicated by a position on the region.

A navigation method, navigation apparatus, color indicating apparatus and transportation guiding apparatus are provided. A navigation method, for providing navigation to a vehicle, comprises locating a position of the vehicle (101); determining a route for the vehicle based on the position and a destination of the vehicle (102); determining a transportation guiding apparatus for guiding the vehicle based on the route and position of the vehicle (103); determining a color associated with the vehicle (104); transmitting an indication of the color to a color indicating apparatus on the vehicle (105); and transmitting, an instruction on color display for guiding the vehicle, to the transportation guiding apparatus (106).

An information processing device and an information processing method control a display unit including a display area that is transparent to surrounding of a vehicle such that the surrounding is visible from a driver's seat of the vehicle, determine whether an object is within a range of a predetermined distance from the vehicle or a route on which the vehicle is scheduled to travel, based on information of the object located in the surrounding of the vehicle, increase a ratio of the display area that allows the surrounding to pass through by changing part or all of an image displayed and superimposed on the display area in a case of determining that the object is within the range.

In cases in which an other vehicle traveling along an adjacent lane, which is adjacent to a travel lane of a host vehicle is executing a cut-in operation to move from the adjacent lane to a cut-in position ahead of the host vehicle in the travel lane, a processor controls a display section configured to display a travel lane image representing the travel lane, an adjacent lane image representing the adjacent lane, a lane boundary line image representing a lane boundary line defining a boundary between the travel lane and the adjacent lane, and an other vehicle image representing the other vehicle, such that the display section causes the other vehicle image to move in a discontinuous manner from a first position on the adjacent lane image to a second position on the lane boundary line image.

A head-up display for displaying graphics upon a windscreen of a vehicle includes a graphic projection module for generating images upon the windscreen of the vehicle, a user input device for receiving user-generated commands created by a user of the vehicle, and one or more controllers in electronic communication with the graphic projection module and the user input device. The controller executes instructions to instruct the graphic projection module to generate a luminance adjustment graphic, where the luminance adjustment graphic includes an adaptive color palette graphic including two or more colors. The controller receives, from the user input device, a user-generated luminance input indicating a change in a level of luminance in a selected color, where the change in the level of luminance in the selected color is selected by the user to discern differences between the two or more colors caused by a color vision deficiency.

The techniques of this disclosure relate to a vehicle occupancy-monitoring system. The system includes a controller circuit that receives occupant data from an occupancy-monitoring sensor of a vehicle. The controller circuit determines an occupancy status of respective seats in a cabin of the vehicle based on the occupancy-monitoring sensor. The controller circuit indicates the occupancy status of the respective seats on a display located in a field of view of occupants of the vehicle. The display is integral to one of a roof light module, a door panel, or a headliner of the cabin. The system can improve passenger safety by alerting the operator and other occupants about the occupancy status of the passengers.

A vehicle control system is disclosed that includes a forward-facing signal sensor operable to detect transmitted data signals reflecting a presence, relative distance and relative location of a first forward obstruction in front of a vehicle, an on-board vehicle status sensor configured to generate a status signal reflecting the speed of the vehicle, a processor to receive the transmitted data signals the forward obstruction and (2) the status sensor signals and (3) a relay signal receiver adapted to receive a signal from the forward obstruction and originating from a source remote from the forward obstruction, and a signal transmitter adapted to transmit information to a following vehicle, wherein the information includes the status signal and information from said forward facing signal sensor and the relay signal and the processor creates a vehicle control signal in response to a collision avoidance algorithm run by the processor that uses data from said forward facing signal detectors, the status signal and the relay signal in the event that said algorithm determines that a collision is imminent.

A vehicle instrument cluster including a monochromatic display having a matrix of pixels which can be independently controlled by a control unit to inhibit or to allow the passage of light. The instrument cluster has a back-lighting device that emits at least a monochromatic light beam toward a rear surface of the display and through a filter, which is light-permeable and is provided with a coloured graphic representation whose contours have a resolution higher than the one of the display.

It is aimed to provide a system for alerting a driver of a driver cabin of a motor vehicle, said system comprising: a plurality of light sources arranged in array to project a signal light against the windshield and/or side window, provided in the driver cabin along a horizontal contour of windshield and side windows, outside a line of sight of the driver, and arranged to show a mirror image of the light source in the windshield or side window, visible to the driver; a tracking controller, arranged to identify one or more objects to be tracked in the perimeter of the motor vehicle; a control system, coupled to the tracking controller for activating a number of light sources of the plurality of light sources, arranged to project a signal light indicative of said tracked object substantially centered along a virtual line of sight from the driver towards the identified object.