VEHICULAR DISPLAY DEVICE

Abstract

When an ignition switch has been turned off, an accessory switch has been turned off, and a door has been opened (100, 102), a message is displayed in a monitor on an opposite side to a side that the door has been opened (112). In addition, when it has been detected that a key has been shut in or that it has been forgotten to close a window (104), there is performed a warning display that displays a warning in a monitor on an opposite side to a door where a door locking operation has been performed (110). Moreover, when there has been detected a smart key carried by an occupant on a vehicle outside after getting out of a vehicle (118), a message is displayed in a monitor on an opposite side to a key detection direction (120).

Claims

1. A vehicular display device, comprising: a pair of display sections that are provided on each of left and right inside a vehicle interior and are disposed configured to be visually recognized from a vehicle outside on an opposite side to a side on which each of the pair of display sections has been provided, the pair of display sections each displaying a photographic image of a vehicle periphery; and a control section that controls the display section so as to display predetermined information when display conditions have been satisfied, the display conditions being satisfied in at least one of a case that a person is about to get into a vehicle, a case that a person is about to move away from the vehicle, and a case that approach to the vehicle by a person has been detected.

2. The vehicular display device according to claim 1, wherein the display conditions are satisfied when there has been acquired getting-into/getting-out-of information showing at least one of getting-into the vehicle and getting-out-of the vehicle by an occupant, and the control section controls the display section so as to display the predetermined information in the display section on an opposite side to a getting-into/getting-out-of side shown by the getting-into/getting-out-of information.

3. The vehicular display device according to claim 1, wherein the display conditions are satisfied when an ignition switch has been turned from on to off, an accessory switch has been turned from on to off, and a door has been opened from a closed state, and the control section controls the display section so as to display the predetermined information in the display section on an opposite side to a side of opening of the door.

4. The vehicular display device according to claim 1, wherein the display conditions are satisfied when there has been detected an own vehicle key carried by an occupant on the vehicle outside, and the control section controls the display section so as to display the predetermined information in the display section on an opposite side to the occupant on the vehicle outside.

5. The vehicular display device according to claim 1, wherein the display conditions are satisfied when there has been performed at least one of a door locking operation showing a key having been shut in to the vehicle interior and a door locking operation in a state of it having been forgotten to close a window, and the control section controls the display section so as to display warning information corresponding to the one of the operations, as the predetermined information, in the display section on an opposite side to a door where the operation has been performed.

6. The vehicular display device according to claim 1, further comprising a generating section that generates at least one of a sound and light, wherein the control section, when displaying the predetermined information, further controls the generating section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1A is a view showing an example of a vehicle mounting position of a vehicular visual recognition device according to the present embodiment;

[0018] FIG. 1B is a view showing a schematic configuration of the vehicular visual recognition device according to the present embodiment;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an arrangement of monitors of the vehicular visual recognition device according to the present embodiment;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the vehicular visual recognition device according to the present embodiment;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of display control performed by a control device of the vehicular visual recognition device according to the present embodiment; and

[0022] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a warning process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a vehicular visual recognition device will be described as an example of a vehicular display device. FIG. 1A is a view showing an example of a vehicle mounting position of the vehicular visual recognition device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a view showing a schematic configuration of the vehicular visual recognition device according to the present embodiment.

[0024] A vehicular visual recognition device 10 according to the present embodiment includes: a rear side camera 12; a monitor 14 acting as a display section and a generating section; an operating section 16; and a control device 18 acting as a control section. The rear side camera 12, the monitor 14, and the control device 18 are respectively provided corresponding to left and right of a vehicle.

[0025] The rear side camera 12 is mounted on an outer side at a vehicle front side end of a middle section in an up-down direction of a side door (front side door, not shown in the drawings) of the vehicle, and photographs a vehicle rear side. The rear side camera 12 is provided in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shaped box-like casing 13 acting as a supporting body, has a lens disposed directed to the vehicle rear side, and photographs a rear side of the vehicle. An inner end section in a vehicle width direction of the casing 13 is attached to the side door, and the casing 13 is supported rotatably in a vehicle front-rear direction in the side door (vehicle body side). Note that the casing 13 may adopt a form of being attached to another position such as a front fender, not the side door.

[0026] The monitor 14 is provided in a left and right door trim, and mainly displays a photographic image of the rear side camera 12 as a visual recognition image. In detail, the monitor 14 is provided having its display surface offset to a driving seat side with respect to a vehicle inside direction so as to be visually recognizable by an occupant of a driving seat, and as shown by the dotted lines of FIG. 2, is provided in a position visually recognizable from a vehicle outside on an opposite side of the monitor 14. In the present embodiment, the monitor 14 is configured as a substitute of an outer mirror, and by confirming the monitor 14, the vehicle rear side representing a vehicle periphery can be visually recognized. The monitor 14 is respectively provided corresponding to left and right of the vehicle. Note that in the present embodiment, an example where the monitor 14 is provided in the door trim in a vehicle interior is described, but an arrangement position is not limited to this. For example, the monitor 14 may be provided close to a lower end of a front pillar. Moreover, it is configured possible for the monitor 14 to be provided with a speaker and to be provided with a lamp such as an LED lamp, and for various kinds of reports or warnings, and so on, by sound or light, to be performed.

[0027] The operating section 16 performs the likes of instruction of change of a display position of the image displayed in the monitor 14, that is, a rear side visual recognition range. The operating section 16 includes, for example, the likes of a switch or sensor for performing the likes of instruction of change to the vehicle width direction or instruction of change to the vehicle up-down direction of the visual recognition range, and a switch for instructing a target monitor 14 (left or right) whose visual recognition range is to be changed. Specifically, the operating section 16 includes: a left switch 16L and right switch 16R for instructing a direction corresponding to the monitor 14 whose visual recognition range is to be changed; and a direction instructing section 16S for instructing a direction of change.

[0028] The control device 18 is provided corresponding to each of left and right of the vehicle, and performs display control of the photographic image of each of the left and right rear side cameras 12. Note that the control device 18 may be configured so as to further perform the likes of reversing interlock control where a vehicle rear side visual recognition range is changed during reversing to make it easier to visually recognize an obstacle on a lower side vehicle side, or turning interlock control where the visual recognition range is changed by interlocking with operation of a direction instructing apparatus to make it easier to visually recognize the vehicle rear side.

[0029] Next, a configuration of a control system of the vehicular visual recognition device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the vehicular visual recognition device 10 according to the present embodiment.

[0030] The control device 18 is configured by a microcomputer in which a CPU 18A, a ROM 18B, a RAM 18C, and an I/O (input/output interface) 18D are each connected to a bus 18E.

[0031] The ROM 18B stores various kinds of programs such as a visual recognition image control program for displaying in the monitor 14 the rear side photographic image of the rear side camera 12, or a display control program that displays information required at a getting-into/getting-out-of time of at least one of getting into the vehicle and getting out of the vehicle. The program stored in the ROM 18B is run in the RAM 18C to be executed by the CPU 18A, whereby photographic control of the rear side camera 12 and display control to the monitor 14 are performed.

[0032] The operating section 16 for instructing the likes of change in visual recognition range, the rear side camera 12, and the monitor 14 are connected to the I/O 18D.

[0033] When the likes of an instruction of change of the rear side visual recognition range is performed by the occupant, the operating section 16 outputs a change instruction signal to the control device 18. Specifically, the operating section 16 includes the above-mentioned left switch 16L, right switch 16R, and direction instructing section 16S shown in FIG. 1B. That is, the direction (left or right) corresponding to the monitor 14 whose visual recognition range is to be changed is instructed by the left switch 16L or right switch 16R, and the change direction (vehicle width direction and vehicle up-down direction) of the visual recognition range is instructed by the direction instructing section 16S.

[0034] The rear side camera 12 obtains the rear side photographic image by photographing the vehicle rear side. The rear side photographic image obtained by photographing is outputted to the control device 18 as a photographic result of the rear side camera 12.

[0035] The monitor 14 displays the rear side photographic image photographed by the rear side camera 12, based on control of the control device 18. Moreover, the monitor 14 displays the information required at the getting-into/getting-out-of time of at least one of getting into the vehicle and getting out of the vehicle by the occupant, based on control of the control device 18.

[0036] In the present embodiment, a courtesy switch 20, a smart key control section 22, a window open/closed sensor 26, and a lock switch 24 are further connected to the I/O 18D.

[0037] The courtesy switch 20 is a switch that is on/off according to opening/closing of the door, and by a signal of the switch being inputted to the control device 18, the control device 18 detects opening/closing of the door.

[0038] The smart key control section 22 detects a smart key carried by the occupant and controls locking and release of a door lock. The lock switch 24 provided in an outside handle is connected to the smart key control section 22. Locking and release of the door lock is made possible by operation of the lock switch 24. In the present embodiment, a detection result of the smart key or an operation result of the lock switch 24 are inputted to the control device 18, and the control device 18 can detect door locking operations such as the smart key having been shut in or it having been forgotten to close a window.

[0039] The window open/closed sensor 26 detects opening/closing of a side window of the vehicle, and has its detection result inputted to the control device 18. The control device 18 can detect the likes of it having been forgotten to close a window, from a detection result of the window open/closed sensor 26.

[0040] Then, the control device 18 controls photography by the rear side camera 12 and, based on the photographic result of the rear side camera 12, performs control of display to the monitor 14. Moreover, when a change in the rear side visual recognition range has been instructed by the operating section 16, the control device 18 performs control changing a display position (rear side visual recognition range) of the monitor 14. The change in display position of the monitor 14 changes the visual recognition range by, for example, displaying in the monitor 14 a partial image having part of the photographic extracted and changing a range of extracting. Alternatively, the visual recognition range may be changed by displaying the entire photographic image in the monitor 14 and changing a photographing direction of the rear side camera 12. Furthermore, the control device 18 controls such that predetermined information is displayed in the monitor 14 in at least one of a case that a person is about to get into the vehicle, a case that a person is about to move away from the vehicle, and a case that approach to the vehicle by a person has been detected. In detail, the control device 18 controls such that there is displayed in the monitor 14 information required at a getting-into/getting-out-of time of at least one of getting into the vehicle and getting out of the vehicle, based on signals from the courtesy switch 20, the smart key control section 22, and the window open/closed sensor 26. For example, when there has been acquired getting-into/getting-out-of information showing the occupant getting into or getting out of the vehicle, the predetermined information is displayed in the monitor 14 on an opposite side to where the occupant is getting into or getting out of the vehicle. More specifically, a predetermined greeting message, or the like, is displayed in the monitor 14 at a time of getting into the vehicle. Alternatively, when getting out of the vehicle, the likes of a predetermined greeting message or a warning message such as it having been forgotten to close a window or the key having been shut in, is displayed in the monitor 14. Alternatively, a predetermined greeting message, or the like, is displayed in the monitor 14 when approach of the occupant to the vehicle has been detected.

[0041] Note that display control of the left and right monitors 14 may be performed by one control device 18, or a pair of the control devices 18 may be provided corresponding to left and right of the vehicle. In the case that a pair of the control devices 18 are provided corresponding to left and right, each may have the other control device 18 connected to its I/O 18D so that they can mutually communicate.

[0042] Here, display control for displaying in the monitor 14 of the information required at a getting-into/getting-out-of time of at least one of the occupant getting into the vehicle and the occupant getting out of the vehicle performed by the control device 18 of the vehicular visual recognition device 10 according to the present embodiment, will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of display control performed by the control device 18 of the vehicular visual recognition device 10 according to the present embodiment. Note that a process of FIG. 4 begins when an unillustrated ignition switch (IG) has been operated from on to off.

[0043] In step 100, the control device 18 determines whether an accessory switch (ACC) has been operated from on to off, or not. When said determination is affirmative, the control device 18 shifts to step 102, and when said determination is negative, the control device 18 shifts to step 106.

[0044] In step 102, the control device 18, based on a signal from the courtesy switch 20, determines whether the door has been opened from a closed state, or not. When said determination is negative, the control device 18 shifts to step 104, and when said determination is affirmative, the control device 18 shifts to step 108.

[0045] In step 104, the control device 18 determines whether the ACC has been turned on, or not. When said determination is affirmative, the control device 18 returns to step 100 to repeat the above-mentioned process, and when said determination is negative, the control device 18 shifts to step 106.

[0046] In step 106, the control device 18 determines whether the ignition switch (IG) has been turned on, or not. When said determination is affirmative, the control device 18 finishes said process to perform another process, and when said determination is negative, the control device 18 returns to step 100 to repeat the above-mentioned process.

[0047] On the other hand, in step 108, the control device 18, based on information from the smart key control section 22, determines whether the key has been shut in or it has been forgotten to close a window, or not. When said determination is affirmative, the control device 18 shifts to step 110, and when said determination is negative, the control device 18 shifts to step 112. Note that the smart key control section 22 determines that the key has been shut in when the lock switch 24 provided in the outside handle has been operated in a state where the smart key has been detected inside the vehicle. On the other hand, when the lock switch 24 has been operated in a state where a window has been detected in an open state by the window open/closed sensor 26, it is determined that it has been forgotten to close a window.

[0048] In step 110, the control device 18 performs a warning process and returns to step 108 to repeat the above-mentioned process. The warning process is performed according to a flow of a process shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the warning process.

[0049] That is, in step 200 after the control device 18 has shifted to the warning process, the control device 18 determines whether in step 108, the determination of step 108 was affirmative by the key having been shut in, or the determination of step 108 was affirmative by it having been forgotten to close a window. If said determination is affirmative in the case of the key having been shut in, the control device 18 shifts to step 202, and if said determination is negative in the case of it having been forgotten to close a window, the control device 18 shifts to step 204.

[0050] In step 202, the control device 18 controls such that the key having been shut in is displayed in the monitor 14 and a warning sound is generated, then shifts to step 206. In detail, a message such as “The key is inside the vehicle.” is displayed as warning information and the warning sound is generated, in the monitor 14 on an opposite side to a door where a key-having-been-shut-in operation has been performed. The occupant can confirm the message displayed in the display-controlled monitor 14, via a window, from an opposite side to the display-controlled monitor 14. Moreover, since the message is displayed in one of the monitors 14, power consumption can be reduced more than when the message is displayed in both of the left and right monitors 14. Note that it may be controlled such that a lamp, or the like, provided in the likes of the monitor 14 is simultaneously lighted.

[0051] In step 204, the control device 18 controls such that it having been forgotten to close a window is displayed in the monitor 14 and a warning sound is generated, then shifts to step 206. In detail, a message such as “A window is open.” is displayed as warning information and the warning sound is generated, in the monitor 14 on an opposite side to a door where a door locking operation has been performed in a state of it having been forgotten to close a window. The occupant can confirm the message displayed in the display-controlled monitor 14, via a window, from an opposite side to the display-controlled monitor 14. Moreover, since the message is displayed in one of the monitors 14, power consumption can be reduced more than when the message is displayed in both of the left and right monitors 14. Note that it may be controlled such that a lamp, or the like, provided in the likes of the monitor 14 is simultaneously lighted.

[0052] In step 206, the control device 18 determines whether warning cancellation conditions have been satisfied, or not. In the case of the key having been shut in, said determination determines the likes of whether the key inside the vehicle has been taken out or not, by acquiring information from the smart key control section 22. On the other hand, in the case of it having been forgotten to close a window, said determination determines the likes of whether closing of the window has been detected by the window open/closed sensor 26 or not. Then, the control device 18 waits until said determination is affirmative, then shifts to step 208.

[0053] In step 208, the control device 18 ends a series of warning processes by stopping a warning display and the warning sound, and returns to the above-mentioned step 108 to repeat the above-mentioned process.

[0054] Meanwhile, returning to the process of FIG. 4, in step 112, the control device 18 controls such that a message is displayed in the monitor 14 on an opposite side to a direction that the door has been opened, then shifts to step 114. That is, when the occupant is getting out of the vehicle and is about to move away from the vehicle, a message is displayed in the monitor 14. For example, a message such as “Have a nice day.” is displayed in the monitor 14. The occupant can confirm the message displayed in the display-controlled monitor 14, via a window, from an opposite side to the display-controlled monitor 14. Moreover, since the message is displayed in one of the monitors 14, power consumption can be reduced more than when the message is displayed in both of the left and right monitors 14. Note that it may be controlled such that when the message is displayed in the monitor 14, at least one of a sound (a beep sound, a vocal sound, or the like) and light is further generated.

[0055] In step 114, the control device 18 waits until a certain time elapses from the message being displayed in the monitor 14, then shifts to step 116.

[0056] In step 116, the control device 18 switches off display of the monitor 14, then shifts to step 118. That is, the message is switched off after the message has been displayed for a certain time in the monitor 14.

[0057] In step 118, the control device 18 determines whether an own vehicle smart key has been detected by the smart key control section 22, or not. The control device 18 waits until said determination is affirmative, then shifts to step 120. That is, the control device 18 determines whether the occupant is re-approaching the vehicle after having got out of the vehicle, or not.

[0058] In step 120, the control device 18 controls such that a message is displayed in the monitor 14 positioned in an opposite direction to a direction that the smart key control section 22 has detected the smart key, then shifts to step 122. That is, in at least one of a case that the occupant is about to get into the vehicle or a case that approach to the vehicle by the occupant has been detected, a message is displayed in the monitor 14. For example, a greeting message such as “Good morning”, “Good afternoon”, “Good evening”, and so on, is displayed. The occupant can confirm the message displayed in the display-controlled monitor 14, via a window, from an opposite side to the display-controlled monitor 14. Moreover, since the message is displayed in one of the monitors 14, power consumption can be reduced more than when the message is displayed in both of the left and right monitors 14. Note that it may be controlled such that when the message is displayed in the monitor 14, at least one of a sound (a beep sound, a vocal sound, or the like) and light is further generated. Moreover, in the present embodiment, when approach of the occupant carrying the smart key has been detected, a message is displayed in the monitor 14 as described above, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, there may be included a sensor that detects approach of a person, and it may be controlled such that when approach to the vehicle by the person has been detected, a security message such as “On alert” is displayed in the monitor 14 on an opposite side to a side of approach by the person.

[0059] In step 122, the control device 18 determines whether a door has been opened from a closed state, based on a signal of the courtesy switch 20, or the own vehicle smart key has gone undetected by the smart key control section 22, or not. The control device 18 waits until said determination is affirmative, then shifts to step 124.

[0060] In step 124, the control device 18 controls such that display of the monitor 14 is switched off, thereby ending a series of processes.

[0061] Note that in the above-described embodiment, a vehicular visual recognition device that visually recognizes a vehicle rear side as a vehicle periphery, by photographing the vehicle rear side, has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a vehicular visual recognition device that photographs and displays another direction such as a vehicle side or front, rear, and so on, may be applied. Moreover, although a vehicular visual recognition device has been described as an example of the vehicular display device, the present invention is not limited to this, and a vehicular display device that displays various kinds of information of the vehicle, and so on, may be applied.

[0062] Moreover, the process performed by the control device 18 in the above-described embodiment has been described as a software process. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, there may be adopted a process performed by hardware, or there may be adopted a process combining both hardware and software.

[0063] Moreover, it may be configured that the process performed by the control device 18 in the above-described embodiment and modified examples is distributed stored as a program in a storage medium.

[0064] Furthermore, the present invention is of course not limited to the above, and can be implemented also in other than the above, by making a variety of modifications in a range not departing from the spirit of the present invention.