JP2024088832A - Display device, vehicle, and display control method - Google Patents

Abstract

To notify a driver of a factor of an action, which the driver is requested to perform, in a manner more understandable than conventionally and in a driver view.SOLUTION: A display device displays information in a display area 4 within a vehicle. The display device includes information acquisition means 102 that acquires information concerning a travel environment of the vehicle, and processing means 12 to 14 that allow first information 605, which signifies an action that a driver is requested to perform, and second information 604, which signifies a factor of the action, in the display area on the basis of the information concerning the travel environment. The processing means changes the display position of the second information in the display area according to relative positions of the vehicle and factor obtained from the information concerning the travel environment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a display device such as a head-up display (HUD) that displays information inside a vehicle.

There are five levels of autonomous driving for vehicles, from level 1 to level 5. In vehicles that support level 3, where the autonomous driving system is the main driver, level 3 autonomous driving is possible when driving conditions such as the road, speed and weather meet certain conditions, but if these conditions are not met, the level of autonomous driving drops to level 2 or lower. To safely move from level 3 to level 2 or lower, where the driver is the main driver, it is necessary to clearly communicate the actions required of the driver, along with the reasons for those actions.

Patent Document 1 discloses a method for predicting an event that may result in a drop in the autonomous driving level and notifying the driver in an output format that corresponds to the warning level of the event. Patent Document 2 discloses a method for notifying the driver of a change in autonomous driving level so that the driver's stimulus changes as the vehicle approaches the planned location for changing the autonomous driving level. Patent Document 3 discloses a method for switching from the driver's viewpoint to a rear viewpoint to display an object of attention in autonomous driving depending on the position of the object of attention relative to the vehicle.

JP 2019-73078 A JP 2019-75073 A JP 2022-41286 A

It would be desirable to be able to inform the driver of the factors that are required of them in a way that is easier to understand than ever before, and that is still from the driver's perspective.

A display device according to one aspect of the present invention displays information in a display area within a vehicle. The display device has an information acquisition means for acquiring information related to the vehicle's driving environment, and a processing means for displaying in the display area first information indicating an action required of the driver and second information indicating the cause of the action based on the information related to the driving environment. The processing means changes the display position of the second information in the display area according to the relative positions of the vehicle and the cause obtained from the information related to the driving environment. Note that a vehicle equipped with the above-mentioned display device also constitutes another aspect of the present invention.

A display control method according to another aspect of the present invention displays information in a display area within a vehicle. The display control method includes the steps of acquiring information related to the vehicle's driving environment, and displaying in the display area first information indicating an action required of the driver and second information indicating a factor of the action based on the information related to the driving environment. The display position of the second information in the display area is changed according to the relative positions of the vehicle and the factor obtained from the information related to the driving environment. Note that a program for causing a computer to execute processing according to the above-mentioned display control method also constitutes another aspect of the present invention.

The present invention makes it possible to notify the driver of the factors that are required of the driver from the driver's perspective in a manner that is easier to understand than ever before.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display area of a HUD according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a HUD. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an in-vehicle system including a HUD. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an information area in the display area of the HUD. 11 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the HUD. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a HUD. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of a display of the HUD. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing yet another display example of the HUD.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a driver's seat in a vehicle equipped with a head-up display device (display device: hereinafter referred to as HUD) as a first embodiment of the present invention. The driver's seat is provided with a steering wheel 1, in front of which is a dashboard 2, and in front of which is a windshield 3. The driver can see the outside world (the road and other vehicles) in front of the vehicle through the windshield 3.

A HUD display area 4 is set above the dashboard 2 on the windshield 3. The driver can see the information displayed in the display area 4 while looking at the outside world ahead through the windshield 3 without moving his/her viewpoint significantly.

In this embodiment, a HUD that displays information on a display area 4 on the windshield 3 is described, but the display device may be, for example, a liquid crystal display or other display device that is positioned above the dashboard and allows the driver looking ahead to view the information without having to move their eye position significantly.

Figure 2 shows the optical and electrical configuration of the HUD. The HUD has a display unit 10 and a virtual image control unit 14.

The display unit 10 has an image display element 11, a display optical system, an image generating unit 12, and a display element control unit 13. The image display element 11 is composed of a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL panel, or the like, and displays the original image of the image information displayed in the display area 4.

In the display optical system, the first light A from the image display element 11 is reflected by the first mirror M1, which is positioned at the angle shown by the solid line, and directed to the display area 4 on the windshield 3, where it is reflected to reach the driver's eye E. In this state, the driver can see a near virtual image NV that is displayed almost perpendicular to the line of sight. The near virtual image NV displays information that the driver wants to see close to him or her, such as information indicating the vehicle status (speed, gear shift, battery status, remaining gasoline, temperature, turn signal status, etc.) and simple navigation information (distance to the next lane change point, steering direction, arrival time at the destination, etc.).

The second light B from the image display element 11 is first reflected by the second mirror M2, then reflected by the first mirror M1, whose angle has been changed from the display state of the near virtual image NV as shown by the dashed line, and directed to the display area 4 on the windshield 3. It is then reflected by the display area 4 and reaches the driver's eye E. In this state, the driver can see the far virtual image FV, which is displayed as if tilted (leaning forward) relative to the driver's line of sight. The far virtual image FV displays information that appears to have depth, such as information showing the distance to the vehicle ahead, an arrow showing the steering direction near a lane change point, and other information. In addition, information such as the weather in the distance and lane change plans is also displayed.

The image generation unit 12 generates an original image to be displayed on the image display element 11 in response to an instruction received from the display control unit 105 described below. The display element control unit 13 controls the image display element 11 to display the original image generated by the image generation unit 12.

The virtual image control unit 14 has a display position control unit 15 and a drive unit 16. The display position control unit 15 controls the display position of the virtual image of the original image (whether to display it as a near virtual image NV or a far virtual image FV) based on information from the above-mentioned information acquisition unit 102, etc. The drive unit 16 drives the first mirror M1 between an angle for displaying the near virtual image NV and an angle for displaying the far virtual image FV, based on the display position of the virtual image controlled by the display position control unit 15.

Figure 3 shows the configuration of an in-vehicle system including the HUD 107 shown in Figure 2. The in-vehicle system has an operation detection unit 101, an information acquisition unit 102, a vehicle control unit 103, an autonomous driving control unit 104, a display control unit 105, an instrument panel display unit 106, and the HUD 107.

The operation detection unit 101 detects various driver operations related to driving the vehicle, such as the driver's accelerator/brake operations, gear shift operations, and drive mode (normal/sports/economy mode, etc.) selection operations.

The information acquisition unit (information acquisition means) 102 acquires video information (camera video) from an on-board camera, object information from Lidar or radar, navigation information to the destination from the navigation system (including map data, data on service areas and other facilities, etc.), and vehicle position information from the on-board GPS. Furthermore, the information acquisition unit 102 has a communication unit, and acquires traffic congestion, weather, and other external information from outside the vehicle via the communication unit. All of this information is collectively referred to as information about the vehicle's driving environment (driving environment information), and the camera video, object information, and external information are collectively referred to as information about the vehicle's surroundings.

The vehicle control unit 103 is composed of an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and includes a steering control unit that controls the vehicle's traveling direction and a speed control unit that controls the vehicle's traveling speed.

The autonomous driving control unit 104 controls autonomous driving at levels 1 to 3 (or higher). For example, when driving conditions such as the road, speed, and weather meet the conditions for level 3, autonomous driving control corresponding to level 3 is performed, and when the driving conditions do not meet the conditions for level 3, autonomous driving control centered on the driver at level 2 or lower is performed.

The display control unit 105 controls the display of the instrument panel (instrument panel) display unit 106 and the HUD 107. Specifically, the display control unit 105 displays information on the driver's operation detected by the operation detection unit 101, various information acquired by the information acquisition unit 102, information indicating the control status by the vehicle control unit 103, and information on the autonomous driving level by the autonomous driving control unit 104 on the instrument panel display unit 106 or the HUD 107. The display control unit 105 also has a memory (database) DB that holds parts (icons, illustrations, fonts, etc.) to be displayed on the HUD 107 and a database that determines the display form according to the driving environment information. The display control unit 105 determines the display position and display method of the parts on the HUD 107 and sends them to the display unit 107. The memory DB of the display control unit 105 may hold the ID of the parts, and the bitmap information of the parts may be held in an image generation unit (not shown) in the HUD 107.

The instrument panel display unit 106 is provided below the dashboard 2 (in front of the steering wheel 1) shown in FIG. 1, and is controlled by the display control unit 105 to display various information related to the vehicle, such as driving speed, engine RPM, gear ratio, remaining fuel, engine water temperature, mileage, and other information. Because the instrument panel display unit 106 is provided below the dashboard 2, a driver looking ahead through the windshield 1 must move his/her viewpoint significantly downward to view the information displayed on the instrument panel display unit 106. On the other hand, because the display area 4 of the HUD 107 is provided above the dashboard 2, a driver looking ahead can view the information displayed in the display area 4 by simply moving his/her viewpoint slightly downward or with almost no viewpoint movement.

Figure 4 shows an example of a HUD image displayed by HUD 107 in display area 4 when driving on a highway in level 3 automated driving. Display area 4 is divided into multiple (four) partial areas (201-204) according to the importance of the information to be displayed. Specifically, it is divided into a vehicle information area 201 that displays information related to the vehicle state at the bottom of the center in the left-right direction, an important information area (first partial area) 202 above that that displays important driving information, and useful information areas (second partial areas) 203, 204 on the left and right that display useful driving information. Here, an example in which the following information is displayed as a distant virtual image FV in each information area is described.

In FIG. 4, the vehicle information area 201 displays the essential information, such as the gear position, battery status, turn signal status, and remaining fuel. The important information area 202, which displays the most important information, displays the vehicle ahead, the distance to that vehicle, the current driving speed and speed limit, the distance to the next lane change point, and the steering direction. The vehicle ahead is displayed at the bottom of the important information area 202, while the driving speed, speed limit, and the distance to the next lane change point and steering direction are displayed at the top of the important information area 202.

The useful information area 203 on the left, which displays information of lower importance, displays the nearest highway exit and toll fee to the destination, the facilities at the next service area, and the parking availability. The useful information area 203 on the right, which displays information of lower importance, displays the estimated time of arrival at the destination and the current outside temperature.

In the HUD image that displays this basic information, if the autonomous driving level drops, for example from 3 to 2 or lower, due to a certain factor (here, a forward factor), the following information will be added:

6A shows an example of a driver notification image (hereinafter, referred to as a non-highlighted image) that is displayed in a non-highlighted manner in the display area 4 when the driver is notified that there are rain clouds in the distance (1 km ahead) in the weather information and that the autonomous driving level may be lowered. The non-highlighted display is less noticeable to the driver than the highlighted display described below. This non-highlighted display image includes a request image (first information) that indicates the action required of the driver when the autonomous driving level is lowered, and a factor image (second information) that indicates the cause of the action (in other words, the level lowering). Specifically, an image 601 of a rain cloud as a factor image is displayed in the upper part of the important information area 202 that corresponds to the distance. In addition, an image 602 that requests the driver to prepare for steering is displayed as a request image in the useful information area 203. In addition, a text image (in 1 km) 603 indicating the distance to the point where the rain clouds will be encountered is also displayed in the useful information area 203.

6(b) shows an example of a driver notification image (hereinafter referred to as a highlighted image) that is displayed in the display area 4 with more emphasis than a non-highlighted image when notifying the driver that the rain clouds ahead may bring heavy rain and that the driver will soon reach that point and the autonomous driving level is likely to be lowered. The highlighted image is displayed in an area of the display area 4 including the important information area 202 with more emphasis than that shown in FIG. 6(a). Specifically, an image of heavy rain 604 as a factor image (second information) and an image (first information) 605 as a request image requesting the driver to actually operate the steering wheel are highlighted in the important information area 202 and part of the vehicle information area 201. At this time, the heavy rain image 604 is displayed at a central display position corresponding to a short distance in the important information area 202 compared to the position of the rain cloud image 601 in FIG. 6(a). Furthermore, a text image (in 300 m) 606 indicating the distance to the heavy rain point is highlighted in the useful information area 204.

Display forms for the highlighting include not only making the display size larger than the non-highlighting display in FIG. 6(a), but also displaying in a color that is more noticeable to the driver. Also, when a continuous display (illuminated display) is used as the non-highlighting display form, a flashing display may be used as the highlighting display form.

When highlighting the cause of the downgrade of the autonomous driving level (heavy rain) and the action required of the driver in response (steering wheel operation) in this way, the highlighting is performed by using a display size, color, and blinking that is more noticeable to the driver than when the display is not highlighted. In FIG. 6(b), the display position of the cause image is changed from the top to the center within the same important information area 202 as in FIG. 6(a), and the display position of the requested image is changed from the useful information area 203 to the important information area 202.

In addition, when displaying a highlighted image, the area division within the non-highlighted display area 4 may be released (i.e., regardless of the division into areas 201 to 204), and the factor image and the required image may be displayed in a large highlighted manner within the display area 4.
Fig. 6(c) shows an example of a driver notification image that is displayed in a non-highlighted manner in the display area 4 when notifying the driver that there are rain clouds in the distance, similar to Fig. 6(a), but that the rain clouds are not heavy rain and therefore the possibility of a downgrade in the level of autonomous driving is low. In this example, a rain cloud image 607 and an image (in 1 km) 608 showing the distance to the rain cloud are displayed in a non-highlighted manner in the useful information area 204, while an image requesting the driver to prepare for steering is not displayed.

Figure 5 shows the process (display control method) executed by the display control unit 105 (processing means) as a computer in accordance with a program. Here, the display examples of Figures 6 (a) to (c) are used for explanation. The display control unit 105 issues instructions to the image generation unit 12 and the virtual image control unit 14 to generate images and control the virtual image display.

In step S501, the display control unit 105 acquires the various pieces of information described above from the information acquisition unit 102. In the example of FIG. 6(a), weather information is acquired.

Next, in step S502, the display control unit 105 determines whether there has been a change in the information acquired in step S501 of the current routine compared to the information acquired in step S501 of the previous routine. If there has been a change (distant rain clouds have been confirmed, as in FIG. 6(a)), the process proceeds to step S503; if there has been no change, the process returns to step S501.

In step S503, the display control unit 105 determines whether or not all of the changes determined in step S502 have been resolved. If they have not been resolved, the process proceeds to step S504. If they have been resolved, the process proceeds to step S509.

In step S509, the display control unit 105 generates and displays a HUD image (Figure 4) in which the driver notification image (non-highlighted image or highlighted image) that was displayed in the display area 4 in the previous routine has been erased.

Meanwhile, in step S504, the display control unit 105 calculates the degree of necessity to notify the driver of the change in the above information as a factor for a downgrade in the level of autonomous driving. In other words, it calculates the possibility that a level downgrade will occur due to the factor. For example, if the rain clouds are bringing heavy rain and there is a high possibility of a level downgrade, a high degree of necessity is calculated, and if the rain clouds are bringing less rain than heavy rain and there is a low possibility of a level downgrade, a low degree of necessity is calculated. In addition, the degree of necessity may take into account the probability of actually encountering the factor, the time until the encounter, etc.

Next, in step S505, the display control unit 105 determines whether the degree of necessity for notification of the cause of the level downgrading calculated in step S504 is higher than a predetermined threshold. If the degree of necessity is higher than the threshold, the process proceeds to step S506, and if not, the process returns to step S501.

In step S506, the display control unit 105 calculates the relative position between the vehicle and the cause of the level down (the position of the cause relative to the vehicle and the distance thereto). Next, in step S507, the display control unit 105 controls the virtual image display method based on the calculation result in step S506. Specifically, if the cause is located at a long distance in front of the vehicle, the display control unit 105 selects the display method of the far virtual image FV, and if the cause is located at a short distance in front, to the side, or behind the vehicle, the display control unit 105 selects the display method of the near virtual image NV.

Next, in step S508, the display control unit 105 generates a driver notification image (a non-highlighted image or a highlighted image) and displays it in the display area 4. In the example of FIG. 6(b), the heavy rain image 604, the steering wheel operation image 605, and the image 606 indicating the distance are highlighted as a near virtual image NV as highlighted images. At this time, the highlighted image may be displayed as a far virtual image FV in the lower part of the display area corresponding to the near distance. After that, the processing unit returns to step S501.

According to this embodiment, when a forward factor that lowers the autonomous driving level occurs in the distance, a factor image showing the forward factor is displayed in a non-highlighted display position in the display area corresponding to the long distance. Then, when the vehicle approaches the forward factor and the possibility of a level downgrade occurring increases, the forward factor is displayed in a highlighted display position in the display area corresponding to the short distance together with the request image. In this way, by changing and highlighting the display position of the factor image according to the relative positions of the vehicle and the forward factor, the driver can clearly understand the cause of the level downgrade and can respond calmly to the level downgrade. This enables a smoother and safer level downgrade.

In addition, if side and rear factors, which will be described in other embodiments later, occur simultaneously in addition to forward factors, they may be highlighted together for easy understanding, or each factor may be highlighted alternately. Also, the factor with the highest degree of driver notification may be displayed with priority.

The driver may also be allowed to choose whether or not to display the driver notification image.

Next, a different HUD display example from Example 1 will be described as Example 2. In this example, an example is shown in which the autonomous driving level is reduced due to a lateral factor.

In FIG. 7(a), an image 701 indicating that a highway exit is approaching, which is obtained from navigation information, is displayed at the top of the important information area 202 as a forward factor for downgrading the level of autonomous driving. In addition, the useful information area 203 displays an image 702 that prompts the driver to prepare the steering wheel for a lane change, and an image 703 indicating the distance to the lane change point (in 1.2 km).

Figure 7 (b) shows an example of a display when another vehicle is detected approaching from the left rear of the vehicle in front of the vehicle in the left rear image from the camera at the left rear. In some cases, autonomous driving cannot continue at level 3 due to unforeseen circumstances, and image 704 is displayed in the useful information area 203 in a non-highlighted manner as a factor image indicating a lateral factor that may lower the autonomous driving level, that is, another vehicle is trying to cut in front of the vehicle. In addition, image 705, which prompts the driver to prepare to operate the steering wheel in response to the approach of another vehicle, and image 706, which prompts the driver to prepare to operate the brakes, are displayed in a non-highlighted manner as request images. In this embodiment, the near virtual image NV display method is selected as the virtual image display method in step S507 of Figure 5.

Image 704 is an image simulating a side mirror (door mirror, fender mirror) on the left side (the direction the driver's line of sight moves) reflecting another vehicle located to the left of the vehicle, and is displayed in a left position (useful information area 203) of display area 4. In other words, images 704 to 706 are displayed in the left display position on the side of the side mirror according to the relative position of the vehicle and the lateral factor. This makes it possible to clearly notify the driver that they should look at the left side mirror and pay attention to the vehicle to the rear left.

In FIG. 7(c), when it is detected in the left rear camera image that the other vehicle is approaching further and accelerating while turning on its blinker, etc., making it highly likely that the vehicle will cut in front of the vehicle, which will also likely cause the level to drop, an image 707 showing this is highlighted as a cause image. Furthermore, images 708 and 709 that request the driver to operate the steering wheel and brakes are highlighted as request images.

Image 707, like image 704 in FIG. 7(b), is displayed on the left side of display area 4 as an image simulating a left side mirror reflecting another vehicle. Moreover, images 707-709 are displayed as large as possible within display area 4, regardless of the division of areas 201-204. This makes it possible to clearly notify the driver that steering or braking is required to avoid a collision with a vehicle reflected in the left rear mirror.

In this embodiment, when a lateral factor occurs that causes the autonomous driving level to be lowered, the factor image is displayed in a non-highlighted manner in the display area 4 at a display position that corresponds to the relative position between the vehicle and the lateral factor. Furthermore, when the distance between the lateral factor and the vehicle becomes closer and the possibility of an autonomous driving level downgrade increases, the factor image is displayed together with the request image in a highlighted manner in a display position that corresponds to the relative position between the vehicle and the lateral factor. This allows the driver to clearly understand the cause of the level downgrade and allows the driver to respond calmly to the level downgrade. This enables a smoother and safer level downgrade.

Next, a different HUD display example from Examples 1 and 2 will be described as Example 3. In this example, an example is shown in which the autonomous driving level is lowered due to a rearward factor.

In FIG. 8(a), image 801 is a cause image obtained from the rear camera image indicating that another vehicle is approaching the vehicle from behind, and image 802 is a request image requesting the driver to pay attention to the vehicle, and is not highlighted. In this embodiment, the near virtual image NV display method is selected as the virtual image display method in step S507 in FIG. 5.

Image 801 is an image that mimics a rearview mirror that reflects the vehicle behind, and image 802 is an image that requests the driver to look in the rearview mirror. If the driver's seat is on the right side of the vehicle, the rearview mirror is located above and to the left of the driver, so images 801 and 802 are displayed in the useful information area 203 on the left side of the display area 4, which is the side of the rearview mirror in the direction in which the driver's line of sight moves. In other words, images 801 and 802 are displayed in the display position on the left side where the rearview mirror is located, according to the relative position between the vehicle and the rear object.

In FIG. 8(b), image 803 is a cause image indicating that a vehicle behind is approaching the vehicle too closely (the vehicle is being tailgated), and image 804 is an image requesting strong caution from the driver.

Image 803, like image 801 in FIG. 8(a), is an image that imitates a rearview mirror, and is displayed in the left position of display area 4. Moreover, images 803 and 804 are displayed as large as possible within display area 4, regardless of the division of areas 201 to 204. This makes it possible to clearly notify the driver that he or she should check the situation in order to avoid being tailgated by a vehicle behind that is reflected in the rearview mirror.

In this embodiment, when a rear factor occurs that reduces the autonomous driving level, a factor image is normally displayed in the display area 4 at a display position that corresponds to the relative position between the vehicle and the rear factor. Furthermore, when the distance between the vehicle and the rear factor becomes closer and the possibility of an autonomous driving level downgrade increases, the factor image is highlighted together with the request image at a display position that corresponds to the relative position between the vehicle and the rear factor. The driver can clearly understand the cause of the level downgrade, and can respond calmly to the level downgrade. This enables a smoother and safer level downgrade.

This embodiment can be applied even when the autonomous driving level can be maintained, and when a hindrance occurs that requires the driver to take action.

As described above, according to each embodiment, the factors of the actions required of the driver during automated driving can be communicated to the driver in a more understandable manner than before, and from the driver's perspective.

The above embodiment includes the following configurations.
(Configuration 1)
A display device that displays information in a display area inside a vehicle,
An information acquisition means for acquiring information regarding a driving environment of the vehicle;
a processing means for displaying, in the display area, first information indicating an action required of the driver and second information indicating a cause of the action based on the information regarding the driving environment;
The display device is characterized in that the processing means changes the display position of the second information in the display area depending on the relative position of the vehicle and the factor obtained from information regarding the driving environment.
(Configuration 2)
The processing means includes:
When the factor is located forward of the vehicle, the display position is set to the center in the left-right direction of the display area;
2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display position is changed from a position corresponding to a long distance in the center to a position corresponding to a short distance as the cause approaches the vehicle.
(Configuration 3)
3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the processing means changes a display position of the second information in a direction in which the driver's line of sight moves, depending on the relative position.
(Configuration 4)
The display device according to configuration 3, characterized in that, when the factor is located to the side of the vehicle, the processing means displays the second information at a display position on the side of the side mirror in the display area.
(Configuration 5)
The display device according to configuration 3, wherein the processing means displays the second information at a display position on the rear-view mirror side in the display area when the cause is located rearward with respect to the vehicle.
(Configuration 6)
the display area is divided into a plurality of partial areas each having a different level of importance of information to be displayed;
The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, wherein the processing means changes the display position in the partial region having the highest importance among the plurality of partial regions according to the relative position.
(Configuration 7)
the display area is divided into a first partial area and a second partial area having different importance of information to be displayed,
The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 6, characterized in that the processing means changes the display position of one of the first and second partial regions from the one with lower importance to the one with higher importance in response to the relative positions approaching each other.
(Configuration 8)
the display area is divided into a plurality of partial areas each having a different level of importance of information to be displayed;
The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 7, characterized in that the processing means changes the display position from one of the plurality of partial regions to the display position regardless of the division of the partial region in response to the relative position approaching.
(Configuration 9)
9. The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 8, wherein the processing means changes a display form of the second information depending on the display position.
(Configuration 10)
10. The display device according to configuration 9, wherein the display form is at least one of a display size, a display color, lighting/flashing, and a virtual image position.
(Configuration 11)
11. The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, wherein the processing means changes a display position of the first information when changing the display position of the second information.
(Configuration 12)
The vehicle is capable of autonomous driving;
The display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 11, wherein the factor is a factor for downgrading the level of the autonomous driving.
(Configuration 13)
A vehicle comprising the display device according to any one of configurations 1 to 12.
(Configuration 14)
14. The vehicle according to configuration 13, wherein the first and second information are displayed in the display area set on a windshield of the vehicle.
Other Examples
The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

The embodiments described above are merely representative examples, and various modifications and alterations are possible when implementing the present invention.

107 Head-up display device 601, 604, 704, 707, 801, 803 Factor image 602, 605, 705, 706, 708, 709, 802, 804 Request image

Claims (16)

A display device that displays information in a display area inside a vehicle,
An information acquisition means for acquiring information regarding a driving environment of the vehicle;
a processing means for displaying, in the display area, first information indicating an action required of the driver and second information indicating a cause of the action based on the information regarding the driving environment;
The display device is characterized in that the processing means changes the display position of the second information in the display area depending on the relative position of the vehicle and the factor obtained from information regarding the driving environment. The processing means includes:
When the factor is located forward of the vehicle, the display position is set to the center in the left-right direction of the display area;
2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display position is changed from a position corresponding to a long distance in the center to a position corresponding to a short distance as the cause approaches the vehicle. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing means changes the display position of the second information in the direction in which the driver's line of sight moves, depending on the relative position. The display device according to claim 3, characterized in that, when the factor is located to the side of the vehicle, the processing means displays the second information at a display position on the side of the side mirror in the display area. The display device according to claim 3, characterized in that, when the factor is located behind the vehicle, the processing means displays the second information at a display position on the rear-view mirror side of the display area. the display area is divided into a plurality of partial areas each having a different level of importance of information to be displayed;
2 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing means changes the display position in accordance with the relative position in the partial region having the highest importance among the plurality of partial regions. the display area is divided into a first partial area and a second partial area having different importance of information to be displayed,
2 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing means changes the display position of one of the first and second partial regions from the one with lower importance to the one with higher importance as the relative positions approach each other. the display area is divided into a plurality of partial areas each having a different level of importance of information to be displayed;
The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing means changes the display position from one of the plurality of partial regions to the display position regardless of the division of the partial region in response to the approach of the relative positions. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing means changes the display form of the second information depending on the display position. The display device according to claim 9, characterized in that the display form is at least one of the display size, display color, lighting/flashing, and virtual image position. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing means also changes the display position of the first information when changing the display position of the second information. The vehicle is capable of autonomous driving;
The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the cause is a cause for a downgrade of the level of the autonomous driving. A vehicle equipped with a display device according to any one of claims 1 to 12. The vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that the first and second information are displayed in the display area set on the windshield of the vehicle. A display control method for displaying information in a display area in a vehicle, comprising:
acquiring information about a driving environment of the vehicle;
and displaying, in the display area, first information indicating an action required of the driver and second information indicating a cause of the action based on the information regarding the driving environment;
A display control method, comprising: changing a display position of the second information in the display area according to a relative position between the vehicle and the factor obtained from information regarding the driving environment. A program that causes a computer to execute a process according to the display control method described in claim 15.