JP3890599B2 - Vehicle information providing apparatus, vehicle information providing method, and vehicle information providing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular information providing apparatus, a vehicular information providing method, and a vehicular information providing program, and more particularly, a vehicle that supports driving of a vehicle by providing a driver with route information regarding a travel route on which the vehicle should travel. The present invention relates to a vehicle information providing apparatus, a vehicle information providing method, and a vehicle information providing program.

  2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle information providing device (car navigation device) that supports driving of a vehicle by providing a travel route that the vehicle should travel to a destination set for a vehicle occupant and related route information is known (patent) Reference 1).

  In this conventional vehicle information providing apparatus, the travel route and related route information are displayed on a monitor screen arranged in the vicinity of the center console, thereby supporting the driving of the vehicle.

  In this conventional vehicle information providing device, a vehicle occupant (driver) can check the traveling route displayed on the monitor screen, related route information, and the like, and then look forward through the windshield. It is necessary to look at actual roads, buildings, signs, etc., and match them with the information on the monitor screen to determine the actual route to travel and the intersection to bend. For this reason, there are cases where it is inconvenient, for example, that the travel route is wrong or the intersection is passed while the intersection to be bent is determined. In addition, the driver needs to remove the line of sight from the front in order to view the monitor screen, which increases the movement of the line of sight and causes a problem in safety.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-101653

  On the other hand, when a plurality of vehicles head for a certain destination, the leading vehicle may guide the route as a leading vehicle, and the following vehicle may follow the leading vehicle. In such a case, the driver of the following vehicle does not need to judge the road to be traveled by comparing the information on the monitor screen with the actual driving environment, and it is also necessary to remove the line of sight from the front. This is convenient for the driver.

  Therefore, the present inventors, when guiding the travel route by the vehicle information providing device, instead of the actual leading vehicle described above, lead by a virtual image as if the leading vehicle is actually running ahead. It has been found that if the vehicle can be seen several meters ahead of the vehicle through the windshield, the movement of the line of sight can be reduced and the same driver convenience can be obtained.

  However, if the vehicle information providing device simply displays the leading vehicle in the virtual image in front of the host vehicle, it does not consider obstacles (for example, pedestrians, parked vehicles, and preceding vehicles) in front of the vehicle. The leading vehicle with a virtual image will be displayed, and the vehicle will go straight regardless of such obstacles, so the driver should follow the leading vehicle with a virtual image safely and safely A new problem arises that cannot be done.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such a new problem, and since the driver's line of sight movement is small, the safety is improved and the driving route that the driver should follow from the image of the virtual leading vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle information providing apparatus, a vehicle information providing method, and a vehicle information providing program capable of reliably recognizing the above.
The present invention also provides a vehicle information providing apparatus, a vehicle information providing method, and a vehicle capable of driving the vehicle with substantially the same feeling as when the driver travels along a travel route that should follow the actual leading vehicle. The purpose is to provide an information provision program.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle information providing apparatus that guides a route by setting a travel route on which the vehicle should travel, in which a driver visually recognizes an image of a virtual leading vehicle. Leading vehicle display means for displaying in the scenery corresponding to the travel route, obstacle detecting means for detecting obstacles existing in front of the vehicle , and obstacles caused by the vehicle following the virtual leading vehicle based on a predetermined condition Determining means for determining whether or not an object avoiding operation is necessary, and when it is determined by the determining means that an avoiding operation is required, the vehicle following the virtual leading vehicle can avoid the obstacle so that the obstacle of the virtual leading vehicle can be avoided. Displacement means for displacing the display position of the image in either the left or right direction with respect to the traveling direction of the virtual leading vehicle so as to avoid an obstacle, and the displacement means includes a lane in which the vehicle is traveling, Same If the obstacle can be avoided by the amount of displacement in the line, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced so that it is in the same lane as the vehicle is traveling, or the vehicle is traveling If the obstacle cannot be avoided with the amount of displacement in the same lane as the existing lane, the obstacle detection means determines whether there is an obstacle in the adjacent lane. It is characterized in that the display position of the vehicle image is displaced in either the left or right direction to the adjacent lane .
In the present invention configured as described above, the leading vehicle display means displays the image of the virtual leading vehicle in the actual scenery that the driver is viewing, corresponding to the travel route. The safety can be improved by reducing the amount, and the driver can reliably follow the travel route that the vehicle should travel by following the virtual leading vehicle. Further, in the present invention, when it is determined that the obstacle avoidance operation by the virtual leading vehicle is necessary, the displacement means is arranged so that the obstacle can avoid the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle . Since the vehicle is displaced in the direction , the driver can drive the vehicle with the same feeling as actually following the leading vehicle, and can avoid obstacles. Furthermore, since the displacement means displaces the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle so that it is in the same lane as the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, the driver follows the virtual leading vehicle and drives the vehicle. It is possible to prevent the vehicle from colliding with other vehicles existing in the adjacent lane. Further, according to the present invention, when the obstacle cannot be avoided by the displacement in the same lane as the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, the obstacle detecting means determines the presence or absence of the obstacle in the adjacent lane, and When it is determined that there is no object, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced in either the left or right direction to the adjacent lane.

In the present invention, the obstacle is a preceding vehicle, a parked vehicle on the road, or a pedestrian crossing the road.
According to the present invention configured as described above, by driving the preceding vehicle, the parked vehicle on the road, and the pedestrian crossing the road, the driver follows the virtual leading vehicle, which is an obstacle, It can be avoided reliably.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the displacement means displaces the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle in either the left or right direction so that the driver can visually recognize the obstacle.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced in either the left or right direction so that the driver can visually recognize the obstacle. Since the driver can visually recognize the obstacle without hiding it by the car, the obstacle avoidance operation can be surely performed.

The present invention preferably further includes alarm means for warning that an obstacle is present when the determination means determines that an avoidance operation is necessary.
According to the present invention configured as described above, when the driver needs an avoidance operation, the driver is also warned of the presence of an obstacle, so that the driver can perform an appropriate obstacle avoidance operation. Can do.

In the present invention, preferably, the alarm means displays an image of the same obstacle as the obstacle in an overlapping manner with the actual obstacle .
According to the present invention configured as described above, the driver can surely recognize an obstacle.

In the present invention, preferably, the alarm means informs the driver of the factor determined to require the avoidance operation.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the driver can recognize the factor that the avoidance operation is necessary, and thereby can accurately perform the avoidance operation.

In the present invention, preferably, when the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced to the left, the displacing means determines the left lane of the vehicle and the presence or absence of an obstacle on the lane, and such a left side If there is a lane and there is no obstacle in the lane, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced leftward to the left lane.
In the present invention, preferably, when the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced to the left, the displacement means determines whether or not there is a road shoulder on the left side of the vehicle and an obstacle on the road shoulder, such left side When there is a road shoulder and there is no obstacle on the road shoulder, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced leftward to the left road shoulder.
In the present invention, preferably, the displacing means determines the presence or absence of another vehicle traveling behind the vehicle, and if there is no such vehicle traveling behind, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is determined. The vehicular information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the vehicular information providing apparatus is displaced in either the left or right direction.
In the present invention, preferably, when there is no lane adjacent to the lane in which the vehicle travels, it is determined whether there is an obstacle in the avoidance direction and avoidance range of the vehicle, and there is an obstacle in the avoidance direction and avoidance range. When it is determined not to do so, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced beyond the lane in which the vehicle travels in the avoidance direction and to the avoidance range.
In the present invention, preferably, there is further provided image changing means for changing the image of the virtual leading vehicle so as to be close to the own vehicle when there is no space for avoiding the obstacle.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the image changing means turns on and displays a brake lamp of the virtual vehicle when changing the image of the virtual leading vehicle so as to be close to the own vehicle.

  According to the vehicle information providing apparatus, the vehicle information providing method, and the vehicle information providing program of the present invention, since the driver's line of sight movement is small, safety is improved, and the driving that the driver should proceed according to the image of the virtual leading vehicle The route can be reliably recognized without a sense of incongruity. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to drive the vehicle with almost the same feeling as when the driver travels along a traveling route that should follow the actual leading vehicle.

Hereinafter, a vehicle information providing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a vehicle information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment displays an image of a virtual leading vehicle instead of an actual leading vehicle, and provides route information regarding a traveling route to be traveled to the driver so as to support driving of the vehicle. It is a thing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle information providing device mounted on a vehicle. This vehicle information providing device 1 is route information related to a travel route to be traveled to a destination set by a driver. Is provided with a CPU 2 that achieves a navigation function, which is a basic function for supporting driving of the vehicle, and other functions described later.

  The vehicle information providing device 1 further includes a DVD-ROM 4 for storing main map information and building information, an HDD storage device 6 for storing detailed map information and information related to images of virtual leading vehicles, and map information. A monitor screen 8 for displaying various information and an operation switch 10 for setting a destination are provided.

  The HDD storage device 6 stores a destination set by the driver, data related to the travel route, data related to the driving characteristics of the driver, data related to the traveling performance of the host vehicle, and the like. Furthermore, the image data for virtual display including the image of the virtual leading vehicle for displaying in the actual scenery visually recognized by the driver is included.

The vehicular information providing apparatus 1 includes a transmission / reception apparatus 12, and the transmission / reception apparatus 12 transmits various types of information including the latest map information, detailed local road information, and information related to virtual leading vehicle images to the outside of the vehicle. Transmission / reception is possible from an information center (not shown) via the Internet or the like. Information obtained by the transmission / reception device 12 is stored in the HDD storage device 6.
The vehicle information providing apparatus 1 further includes a GPS receiver 14, a vehicle speed sensor 16, and a gyro sensor 18 for detecting the current position of the vehicle.

  The vehicle information providing apparatus 1 further detects the position and line of sight of the driver's eyes, and based on these, displays an image of the virtual leading vehicle in the actual landscape visually recognized by the driver. A camera 20, a virtual image display device 22, and a CCD camera 24 are provided.

  The eye camera 20 is for detecting the position of the occupant's pupil, the direction of the line of sight, the distance to the visual recognition object, and the like by photographing the occupant's pupil and the like. Various techniques such as EOG (P-EOG) method, corneal reflection method, first and fourth Purkinje image detection methods, contact lens method, search coil method, infrared fundus camera method, and the like are applied.

  The virtual image display device 22, together with the CPU 2, uses a method such as a hologram in the actual scenery that the driver is viewing through the windshield based on the position of the driver's pupil and the current position and orientation of the vehicle. Thus, an image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed so that the driver can recognize as if the virtual leading vehicle is traveling several to several tens of meters ahead of the host vehicle.

  The CCD camera 24 is attached to the upper part of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle, captures the scenery in front of the vehicle, and from the image data of the scenery, another preceding vehicle that travels in front of the vehicle and the blinker of the preceding vehicle. Blinking and lighting of brake lamps, parked vehicles, various obstacles on the route, curve conditions, lanes, traffic lights, intersections, road signs, road signs, pedestrians, brightness outside the vehicle, fog conditions, visibility conditions, etc. The weather conditions including can be detected.

  The vehicle information providing device 1 further includes a laser radar device 26 and a road surface μ sensor 28. The laser radar device 26 is attached to the front end portion of the vehicle toward the front of the vehicle, and detects a preceding vehicle, an obstacle on the road, and the like, and detects a relative distance and a relative speed between the own vehicle and the preceding vehicle. Is. The road surface μ sensor 28 detects a road surface state or a road surface friction coefficient.

The vehicle information providing device 1 further includes a voice interaction device 30. The voice interaction device 30 includes a speaker 30a and a microphone 30b, provides voice information to the driver, and accepts voice instructions from the driver. Further, an alarm can be given by the speaker 30a.
The vehicular information providing apparatus 1 further includes an alarm device 32 for issuing an alarm to the driver when the host vehicle needs to decelerate (brake operation or the like).

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the periphery of the driver's seat of the vehicle on which the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment is mounted. As shown in FIG. 2, a speaker 30a and a microphone 30b, which are voice interaction devices 30, are attached to an A-pillar 34 near the driver's seat.

  The operation switch 10 is provided on the instrument panel 36, and the monitor screen 8 is attached in the vicinity of the operation switch 10. The eye camera 20 is incorporated in the room mirror 38. The transmission / reception device 12 is attached between the driver seat 40 and the passenger seat 42. Furthermore, the virtual image display device 22 is attached to the upper part of the instrument panel 36, and as described above, displays the virtual leading vehicle image 46 by a method such as a hologram, and the driver images the virtual leading vehicle. 46, the virtual leading vehicle 46 can be recognized as if it is traveling several to several tens of meters ahead of the vehicle.

Next, the basic operation of the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a basic control flow of the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, S indicates a step.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present embodiment, in S1,
Make initial settings. This initial setting is performed by the driver operating the operation switch 10 in accordance with the display on the monitor screen 8. Details of the initial setting will be described later.

  Next, in S2, the destination is set, and in S3, the current location of the vehicle is detected. In step S4, a travel route to be traveled from the current location to the destination is set based on the map data in the DVD-ROM 4 and the HDD storage device 6. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S5, and route guidance is performed so that the vehicle can travel on the travel route that the vehicle should travel.

  Next, the initial setting by the vehicle information providing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing a monitor screen at the time of initial setting by the vehicle information providing apparatus of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, in the initial setting, first, a screen of initial setting (1) for performing verification / registration related to visual acuity is displayed on the monitor screen 8. By selecting the item "Verification of visual acuity and verification of visual recognition level", a screen (not shown) for inspecting visual acuity / moving body visual acuity, etc. is displayed, and the visual acuity of the user is inspected by this inspection screen. The result is recorded in the HDD storage device 6 as data relating to the user's visual acuity and the like.

  Next, when the item “eye position registration” is selected, the position of the pupil of the driver seated in the driver's seat is calculated from the image data photographed by the eye camera 20 and stored in the HDD storage device 6. The position of the driver's eyes may be estimated from the position of the driver's seat and the angle of the rearview mirror.

Next, the initial setting (2) screen is displayed on the monitor screen 8 as shown in FIG. On the initial setting (2) screen, the driving level of the driver, the running performance (vehicle level) of the vehicle (own vehicle), the necessity of displaying an image of the virtual leading vehicle, and the like are set.
Specifically, first, in the “driving level” section, the driver selects his / her driving level from driving levels set in five stages. In the “vehicle level” section, the acceleration performance, deceleration performance, and turning performance of the vehicle (own vehicle) are selected from five levels. In either case, the larger the number, the higher the level.

  Next, “ON” or “OFF” is selected in the “virtual leading vehicle display” section to set whether or not to display an image of the virtual leading vehicle. In the case of “OFF”, the driving route is not guided by the image of the virtual leading vehicle. On the other hand, when “ON” is selected, the driving route is guided by the virtual leading vehicle. Here, when “ON” is selected, the type of the virtual lead vehicle can be arbitrarily selected from “Open car”, “Sedan”, “Dog”, and “Other” according to the driver's preference. It can be done. As described above, “dog” other than the car can be selected as the virtual leading car.

  Furthermore, in the “other settings”, it is possible to perform the setting of the “sound guidance combined use” section. When this “use of voice guidance” is set to ON, for example, when turning right or left, the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed to turn right, and voice guidance “turn right” is executed.

Here, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an actual scenery that the driver recognizes through the front window glass of the vehicle (own vehicle), and FIG. 7 shows the driver through the front window glass of the vehicle according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the scenery containing the image of the virtual leading vehicle to see.
In the present embodiment, when “ON” is selected in the “virtual leading vehicle display” section and “sedan” is selected as the virtual leading vehicle, actually, as shown in FIG. Only the parked vehicle 56 and the pedestrian 50 are present in front of the host vehicle through the front window glass 44 of the vehicle. According to the vehicle information providing apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. In the scenery of the actual parked vehicle 56 and the pedestrian 50 recognized by the vehicle, the virtual leading vehicle 46 is virtually displayed as if it is traveling several to several tens of meters ahead of the vehicle (own vehicle).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the image of the virtual leading vehicle 46 also includes a brake lamp 52 and a blinker 54. As a result, the brake lamp 52 is turned on when the virtual leading vehicle 46 is decelerated, and the blinker 54 is blinked when turning right or left.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the image of the virtual leading vehicle 46 is displayed in the actual landscape recognized by the driver, and the route on which the image of the virtual leading vehicle 46 is displayed should be driven by the vehicle. Since the driving route is the same as that set in advance and the brake lamp 52 and the blinker 54 are also displayed, the driver recognizes the virtual leading vehicle 46 as if it were an actual leading vehicle. By following the virtual leading vehicle 46 and driving, route guidance is performed as a result, and it is possible to travel on the travel route to be reached and arrive at the destination.

  It is also possible to select a “dog” other than the car as the virtual lead vehicle. In this case, the dog is displayed as if it is running in front of the host vehicle, and the “dog” is decelerated. When turning right or left, a display that performs the same function as a brake lamp or turn signal is made to be recognized by the driver.

  In this embodiment, when an obstacle (for example, a pedestrian, a parked vehicle, or a traveling vehicle) is present in front of the vehicle (own vehicle), when the obstacle needs to be avoided by steering, an image of the virtual leading vehicle The display position is displayed while being displaced laterally so that an obstacle can be avoided, and the driver is notified of the necessity of the avoidance operation. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control flow for shifting and displaying the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle in the horizontal direction so that the obstacle can be avoided when the obstacle needs to be avoided. In FIG. 8, S indicates each step.

  Referring to FIG. 8, first, in S11, various states are detected. Specifically, the CCD camera 24 recognizes an image of the road condition ahead of the vehicle, and the laser radar device 26 detects an obstacle and detects a relative distance and a relative speed with respect to a preceding vehicle that is an obstacle. Further, the traveling speed and acceleration / deceleration of the host vehicle are detected.

  Next, in S12, it is determined whether or not a parked vehicle on the road ahead of the vehicle has been detected from the road conditions recognized in S11. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, since the parked vehicle 56 exists on the road ahead of the vehicle, this is detected as an obstacle.

When a parked vehicle on the road is not detected in S12, the process proceeds to S13, and it is determined whether or not a preceding vehicle that is an obstacle has been detected from the road condition recognized in S11.
When the preceding vehicle is not detected in S13, the process proceeds to S14, and it is determined whether or not other obstacles ahead of the vehicle are detected from the road condition recognized in S11.

  Here, the obstacle means a thing that may become an obstacle in traveling on traveling the travel route on which the vehicle should travel, for example, a pedestrian crossing the road, a fallen object, a construction site, A parked vehicle, a preceding vehicle, etc. In this embodiment, a parked vehicle and a preceding vehicle on the road are detected as such obstacles in S12 and S13, and other obstacles are detected in S14. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, since there is a pedestrian 50 on the road ahead of the vehicle, this is detected as an obstacle.

  In S12, S13, and S14, when an obstacle including a parked vehicle or a preceding vehicle is detected, the process proceeds to S15, and it is determined whether or not the own vehicle needs to avoid these obstacles. Here, when an obstacle avoidance operation is necessary, there is a possibility that the vehicle will collide when traveling in the current traveling direction at the current speed and acceleration, or even if it does not collide. If it is very close to the vehicle, it includes a case where it passes through an obstacle. Also, if the preceding vehicle is blinking the blinker to change the driving lane, turning left or right, the preceding vehicle is about to slow down or stop on the road, or is blinking the hazard and is about to park This is applicable when it is necessary to avoid obstacles.

  When such an obstacle is not detected in S12, S13, and S14, and when it is determined in S15 that there is no need for an obstacle avoidance operation, the process proceeds to S16, and a virtual leading vehicle image is displayed, for example. As shown in FIG. 7, the virtual leading vehicle 46 is displayed so as to be in a normal traveling state. In the example shown in FIG. 7, an image of the virtual leading vehicle 46 is displayed so that the vehicle travels in the straight traveling state as it is.

  When it is determined in S15 that an obstacle avoidance operation is necessary, the process proceeds to S17, where it is determined whether or not the driver can visually recognize the obstacle. Here, when the obstacle can be visually recognized, a part of the obstacle is hidden in the virtual leading vehicle, but includes a case where the driver can recognize what the detection target is. In addition, the case where the obstacle cannot be visually recognized includes a case where the obstacle such as the preceding vehicle is partially or entirely hidden by the virtual leading vehicle and the obstacle cannot be visually recognized.

  If it is determined in S17 that the obstacle can be visually recognized, in such a case, it is considered that the driver can determine the timing of deceleration and how much deceleration is decelerated based on his / her own judgment. Proceeding to, correction is performed to delay the display timing of lighting of the brake lamp of the virtual leading vehicle by a predetermined time.

  Next, the process proceeds to S19 to determine how much the virtual leading vehicle avoids the obstacle and determines the lateral displacement amount of the avoidance operation of the virtual leading vehicle. Here, when determining the displacement amount of the avoidance operation, the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced in the same lane as the lane in which the vehicle is traveling. However, when the obstacle cannot be avoided by the displacement in the same lane, for example, when the vehicle is displaced to the right to avoid the parked vehicle, the opposite lane is determined from the road condition in front of the vehicle recognized in S11. The presence or absence of an oncoming vehicle or other obstacle traveling in the vehicle is determined, and if there is no oncoming vehicle or obstacle, the amount of displacement is determined so that the virtual leading vehicle avoids the oncoming lane.

  Further, for example, when the vehicle is displaced to the left in order to avoid a preceding vehicle that is about to turn right, the presence or absence of an obstacle such as a left lane or a shoulder is determined. In such a case, if the CCD camera 24 recognizes the road condition behind the vehicle, the virtual leading vehicle is avoided so as not to collide with a vehicle traveling behind the host vehicle, and further, the virtual leading vehicle is avoided. It is possible to avoid the own vehicle following the vehicle from colliding with such a vehicle.

Similarly, when there is no lane, it is determined whether there is an obstacle or the like in the direction and range in which the avoidance operation is to be performed, and the displacement amount of the avoidance operation of the virtual leading vehicle is determined.
Furthermore, it is preferable to determine the displacement amount of the avoidance operation so that the obstacle can be seen well by the driver without being largely hidden by the virtual leading vehicle. In this case, the virtual leading vehicle is displaced in the same lane. It does not have to be restricted.

Next, in S20, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is laterally displaced so that the virtual leading vehicle avoids the obstacle, and the blinker 54 blinks in the direction avoiding the virtual leading vehicle. . FIG. 9 shows an example in which the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displayed while being displaced in the horizontal direction, and the blinker 54 in the direction avoiding the virtual leading vehicle is blinked.
When there is no space for avoiding the virtual leading vehicle on the road, the virtual leading vehicle 46 comes close to the own vehicle and the brake lamp 52 of the virtual leading vehicle 46 is turned on instead of the virtual leading vehicle avoiding operation. Display the image of the virtual leading vehicle.

Next, it progresses to S21 and performs an alarm. This warning is displayed on the windshield 44 so as to notify the driver of the avoidance operation or the cause of the avoidance operation.
For example, in the example shown in FIG. 10, the leading vehicle 48 that is about to turn right by blinking the blinker is instructed as “caution to turn right” as indicated by reference numeral 60 to notify the factor (alarm) for the avoidance operation. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the virtual leading vehicle 46 informs the driver that the blinker 54 blinks and the avoidance operation is performed. The blinking of the blinker 54 is made to blink very quickly so as to be distinguished from the right / left turn in the normal route guidance. Moreover, you may display the arrow 62 which shows such a direction to avoid. Furthermore, the effect of the avoidance operation may be displayed together with the cause of the avoidance operation indicated by the reference numeral 60 or instead of “in the process of avoidance”. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the virtual leading vehicle displays such an image so as to perform an avoidance operation on the left side.

Further, in the present embodiment, the obstacle is exaggerated and displayed by an image in order to inform the driver of the cause of the avoidance operation. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 10, an exaggerated display image of the same preceding vehicle as the preceding vehicle 48 is superimposed on the preceding vehicle 48 from the recognition image in front of the vehicle recognized in S11 so as to make the preceding vehicle 48 stand out. Thus, the driver is informed that the factor of the avoidance operation is the preceding vehicle 48. In this case, when such an obstacle is largely hidden in the virtual leading vehicle and the driver cannot see it well, an exaggerated display image of the obstacle is superimposed on the virtual leading vehicle, that is, hidden by the virtual leading vehicle. You may make it display without a part.
Further, in addition to these warnings, a voice warning is also issued from the speaker 30b (see FIG. 2).

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating a vehicle information providing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the circumference | surroundings of the driver's seat of the vehicle by which the information provision apparatus for vehicles by this embodiment is mounted. It is a flowchart which shows the basic control flow of the information provision apparatus for vehicles by this embodiment. It is a figure which shows initial setting (1) which is a monitor screen at the time of initial setting by the vehicle information provision apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows initial setting (2) which is a monitor screen at the time of initial setting by the vehicle information provision apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the actual scenery which a driver | operator recognizes through the front window glass of a vehicle (own vehicle). It is a figure which shows the scenery containing the image of the virtual leading vehicle which the driver | operator by this embodiment sees through the front window glass of a vehicle. It is a flowchart which shows a control flow when notifying a driver | operator by the horizontal displacement of the image of a virtual leading vehicle that the vehicle (own vehicle) by this embodiment needs to perform the obstacle avoidance operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the scenery by which the display position of the image of a virtual leading vehicle which a driver | operator sees through a front window glass is displaced in the horizontal direction according to this embodiment, and blinks in the avoidance direction. It is a figure which shows the scenery including the preceding vehicle which the driver | operator is going to turn right by blinking a blinker, and the factor which carries out an avoidance operation | movement which a driver | operator looks through a windshield according to this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Vehicle Information Providing Device 2 CPU
4 DVD-ROM
6 HDD storage device 8 monitor screen 10 operation switch 12 transmission / reception device 14 GPS receiver 16 vehicle speed sensor 18 gyro sensor 20 eye camera 22 virtual image display device 24 CCD camera 26 laser radar device 28 road surface μ sensor 30 voice interactive device 32 alarm device 44 Front window 46 Virtual leading vehicle 48 Leading vehicle 50 Pedestrian 52 Brake lamp 54 Blinker 56 Parking vehicle 60 Factor display 62 Avoidance direction display

Claims (12)

An information providing device for a vehicle that guides a route by setting a travel route on which the vehicle should travel,
A leading vehicle display means for displaying an image of the virtual leading vehicle in correspondence with the travel route in the actual scenery that the driver is viewing;
An obstacle detecting means for detecting an obstacle present in front of the vehicle,
A determination means for determining whether or not the obstacle avoidance operation by the vehicle following the virtual leading vehicle is necessary based on a predetermined condition;
When it is determined by the determination means that an avoidance operation is necessary, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is avoided so that the vehicle following the virtual leading vehicle can avoid the obstacle. And displacement means for displacing in the left or right direction with respect to the traveling direction of the virtual leading vehicle ,
If the obstacle can be avoided by the amount of displacement in the same lane as the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, the displacing means is the lane in which the vehicle is traveling in the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle. If the obstacle cannot be avoided with the displacement in the same lane as the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, the obstacle detection means can detect the adjacent lane. Providing information for vehicles characterized in that the presence or absence of an obstacle is determined, and when it is determined that there is no obstacle, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced in either the left or right direction to the adjacent lane apparatus.   The vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the obstacle is a preceding vehicle, a parked vehicle on the road, or a pedestrian crossing the road. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the displacement means displaces a display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle in either the left or right direction so that a driver can visually recognize the obstacle. Information provision device. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising warning means for warning that the obstacle is present when the determination means determines that an avoidance operation is necessary. . 5. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the warning means displays an image of the same obstacle as the obstacle in an overlapping manner with the actual obstacle . The vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the warning means informs a driver of a factor determined that the avoidance operation is necessary. In the case where the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced to the left, the displacement means determines the left lane of the vehicle and the presence or absence of an obstacle on the lane, and there is such a left lane. The vehicle information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when there is no obstacle in the lane, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced leftward to the left lane. . When the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced to the left, the displacement means determines the left shoulder of the vehicle and the presence or absence of an obstacle on the shoulder, and there is such a left shoulder. The vehicle information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein when there is no obstacle on the road shoulder, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is displaced leftward to the road shoulder on the left side. . The displacement means determines whether or not there is another vehicle traveling behind the vehicle, and when there is no vehicle traveling behind such a vehicle, the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle is set to either the left or right side. The vehicular information providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the vehicular information providing device is displaced in a direction. Furthermore, when there is no lane adjacent to the lane in which the vehicle travels, it is determined whether there is an obstacle in the avoidance direction and the avoidance range of the vehicle, and it is determined that no obstacle exists in the avoidance direction and the avoidance range. 10. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising second displacement means for displacing the display position of the image of the virtual leading vehicle beyond the lane in which the vehicle travels in the avoidance direction and to the avoidance range. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim. 11. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an image changing unit configured to change an image of the virtual leading vehicle so as to be close to the own vehicle when there is no space for avoiding the obstacle. Information providing device. 12. The vehicle information providing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image changing means turns on and displays a brake lamp of the virtual vehicle when the image of the virtual leading vehicle is changed to be close to the own vehicle.

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