Display system

The present disclosure relates to a display system to be used as, for example, an in-vehicle display system.

As a display apparatus, a head-up display (hereinafter, also referred to as an HUD) is known. The HUD can realize so-called AR (Augmented Reality) by projecting an image on a translucent display medium and presenting to a user this image so as to be superimposed on an object which can be seen through the display medium.

An in-vehicle HUD includes a display apparatus of a type which presents to a driver, information which supports driving, or the like, in front of a windshield as a virtual image which can be seen so as to be superimposed on actual scenery. This type of display apparatus is disclosed in, for example, PTL 1, PTL 2, or the like.

The in-vehicle HUD includes an HUD which displays an AR route as a virtual image. Display of an AR route is disclosed in, for example, PTL 3, or the like. The AR route is a direction in which a driver should go, displayed on a road in a band shape.

Patent Literature

PTL 1

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-257228

PTL 2

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-045103

PTL 3

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-140714

Technical Problem

In practice, an AR (Augmented Reality) route is created using map information of a navigation system. Specifically, first, the navigation system searches for a route to a destination, and selects coordinates (nodes, links) corresponding to the route among coordinates of roads (nodes, links) included in the map information. Then, a display apparatus forms an AR route on the basis of information of the selected nodes and links and projects the formed AR route on a front windshield as a virtual image.

Here, because the coordinate information included in the nodes and the links is often coordinates of centers of roads, if the AR route is formed using the information as it is, there is a case where the AR route which provides a feeling of strangeness is displayed. Particularly, the AR route which provides a feeling of strangeness is highly likely to be displayed at positions such as an intersection and a branch point, where a plurality of roads intersect.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described points, and provides a display system which can display an AR route which matches a shape of a route on which a subject vehicle is to travel without providing a feeling of strangeness.

Solution to Problem

One aspect of a display system according to the present disclosure is a system for displaying an AR (Augmented Reality) route which is a virtual image so as to be superimposed on a real image which is seen by a user, the display system including:

an AR route former that forms the AR route; and

a display that displays the AR route as a virtual image, in which the AR route former forms the AR route by shifting a node coordinate included in road map data to a lane on which a subject vehicle is to travel on a basis of lane information.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to display an AR route which matches a shape of a route on which a subject vehicle is to travel without providing a feeling of strangeness.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example where a display apparatus according to an embodiment is mounted on a vehicle;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a region in which light is projected by the display apparatus in the embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example which a virtual image is displayed so as to be superimposed on foreground;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a display apparatus;

FIGS. 5A to 5C explain AR route formation in the embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a display example of an AR route in a case where line correction processing of the embodiment is not applied;

FIG. 7 illustrates a display example of an AR route in a case where the line correction processing of the embodiment is applied;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of flow of the line correction processing of the AR route in the embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of curve interpolation in the embodiment;

FIG. 10 illustrates a display example of an AR route in a case where curve interpolation processing of the embodiment is not applied;

FIG. 11 illustrates a display example of an AR route in a case where the curve interpolation processing of the embodiment is applied;

FIGS. 12A and 12B explain display of the AR route which is conventionally performed, FIG. 12A illustrates node positions, and FIG. 12B illustrates the AR route;

FIGS. 13A and 13B explain display of an AR route in the embodiment, FIG. 13A illustrates shifting of the node positions, and FIG. 13B illustrates the shifted AR route; and

FIG. 14A illustrates an example where the AR route is not shifted, and FIG. 14B illustrates an example where AR route shifting processing of the present embodiment is applied.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<1> Schematic Configuration of Display Apparatus

FIG. 1 illustrates an example where display apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is mounted on vehicle 200 .

Display apparatus 100 in the present embodiment is embodied as an in-vehicle head-up display (HUD). Display apparatus 100 is attached near an upper face of dashboard 220 of vehicle 200 .

Display apparatus 100 projects light on region D 10 within a field of view of a driver, indicated with a dashed-dotted line, in windshield (so-called, front windshield) 210 . While part of the projected light passes through windshield 210 , the other part of the light is reflected by windshield 210 . This reflected light heads for eyes of the driver. The driver perceives the reflected light which has entered the eyes as virtual image Vi which looks like an image of an object located on an opposite side (outside of vehicle 200 ) of windshield 210 against a background of a real object seen through windshield 210 .

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of region D 10 which is a region where light is projected by display apparatus 100 in the present embodiment.

Region D 10 is located at a lower portion on the driver side of windshield 210 , for example, as indicated as a region enclosed by a dashed line in FIG. 2 . Display apparatus 100 attached at dashboard 220 projects an image on windshield 210 by projecting light on region D 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 . By this means, virtual image Vi which looks like an image of an object located outside of vehicle 200 from the driver is generated.

Note that an image projected on windshield 210 can be perceived by the driver in virtual image Vi as if it were located at different distances depending on vertical positions within region D 10 . For example, in the examples in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , because region D 10 is located at a portion lower than height of the eyes of the driver, an image located at a portion lower in region D 10 can be perceived as if it were an object located closer from the driver in virtual image Vi, while an object located at a portion higher within the image projected on region D 10 can be perceived as if it were an object located farther from the driver in virtual image Vi. Principle of such perception is explained by one type of geometric perspective (vertical perspective).

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a virtual image generated by display apparatus 100 in the present embodiment, and an example where this virtual image is superimposed on scenery ahead of vehicle 200 seen from the driver of vehicle 200 which is traveling.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates part of scenery within a field of view of a driver (not illustrated) who is driving vehicle 200 as a whole. Note that a frame indicated with a dashed line indicating region D 10 in which an image from display apparatus 100 is projected is illustrated for the purpose of illustration of the present embodiment, and neither exists nor is perceived by the driver. Reference numeral 200 indicates a hood which is part of vehicle 200 . Further, an arrow image with reference numeral V 10 indicates an AR (Augmented Reality) route which is an example of virtual image Vi generated by display apparatus 100 and perceived by the driver.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , AR route V 10 which is a virtual image is displayed so as to be superimposed on scenery actually seen within a field of view of the driver. In practice, AR route V 10 is displayed so as to be superimposed on a road. By this means, the driver is guided to travel on a band-like region indicated by AR route V 10 .

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of display apparatus 100 .

Display apparatus 100 includes map information acquirer 101 , position detector 102 , radar 103 , vehicle behavior detector 104 , viewpoint detector 105 , image former 110 , display controller 120 and HUD 130 .

Map information acquirer 101 acquires map information including information which expresses landforms, road shapes, or the like, with coordinates in an absolute coordinate system. The map information acquired by map information acquirer 101 may be information stored in a map information storage medium mounted on vehicle 200 or may be acquired through communication with an external apparatus. In a case of the present embodiment, map information acquirer 101 , which is a so-called navigation system, acquires a course from a current location to a destination. Map information acquirer 101 outputs the map information and course information to image former 110 .

Position detector 102 , which is embodied by a GPS receiver, a gyro scope, a vehicle speed sensor, or the like, detects a current location of subject vehicle 200 .

Radar 103 detects whether or not there is an object and a distance to the object by emitting a radio wave or laser light toward a region ahead of subject vehicle 200 and receiving the reflected wave. Note that display apparatus 100 may include other detection apparatuses such as a camera and an infrared sensor in addition to radar 103 to detect an object in a peripheral region.

Vehicle behavior detector 104 , which is embodied by a gyro scope, a suspension stroke sensor, a vehicle height sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, or the like, detects a physical amount indicating behavior of the vehicle.

Viewpoint detector 105 takes an image of the eyes of the driver with, for example, an infrared camera, and measures coordinates of positions of the eyes of the driver in a vehicle coordinate system from the taken image of the eyes through image processing. The detection result by viewpoint detector 105 is output to display controller 120 .

Image former 110 forms an image which becomes a basis of virtual image Vi on the basis of input signals from map information acquirer 101 , position detector 102 , radar 103 and vehicle behavior detector 104 . Image former 110 includes AR route former 111 . AR route former 111 forms an image which becomes a basis of an AR route which is a virtual image on the basis of input signals from map information acquirer 101 and position detector 102 .

Display controller 120 displays virtual image Vi in region D 10 of the windshield by controlling a light source, a scanner, a screen driver, or the like, which constitute HUD 130 on the basis of the image formed by image former 110 and viewpoint information.

<2> AR Route Formation

Before characteristic AR route forming processing according to the present embodiment is described, typical route formation using map information will be described.

Note that functions of AR route former 111 which will be described below are realized by a CPU copying the program stored in the storage apparatus to a RAM, sequentially reading out commands included in the program from the RAM and executing the commands. In other words, processing of AR route former 111 which will be described below is realized by the program.

AR route former 111 inputs road map data from map information acquirer 101 . In the road map data, a minimum unit indicating a road section is referred to as a link. That is, each road is constituted with a plurality of links set for each predetermined road section. Points which connect the links are referred to as nodes, and each of the nodes has position information (coordinate information). Further, points called shape interpolating points may be set between nodes within a link. Each of the shape interpolating points also has position information (coordinate information) in a similar manner to the nodes. A link shape, that is, a shape of a road is determined by position information of the nodes and the shape interpolating points.

The node is an intersection, a branch point, a junction, or the like, and AR route former 111 inputs coordinate information of the intersection, the branch point, the junction, or the like, as information of the nodes. Further, AR route former 111 also inputs coordinate information of the shape interpolating points as described above.

Each link is constituted with respective pieces of data such as a link length indicating a length of the link, shape information of the link, coordinates (latitude, longitude) of a start node and a terminal node of the link, road name, a road type, a road width, a road attribute, a one-way attribute, the number of lanes, presence or absence of a right-turn-only or left-turn-only lane, and the number of the right-turn-only or left-turn only lanes as attribute information of the link.

AR route forming processing by AR route former 111 of the present embodiment will be described next. Information of the nodes and the links indicating the traveling route of the subject vehicle as described above is input to AR route former 111 .

<2-1> Line Correction

FIGS. 5A to 5C explain AR route formation in the present embodiment. FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate nodes N 1 to N 5 within a route section. Therefore, in a conventional AR route forming processing, the AR route which sequentially connects N 1 , N 2 , N 3 , N 4 and N 5 is formed.

Meanwhile, in AR route forming processing in the present embodiment, first, it is determined whether or not a section from N 1 to N 5 is a linear section, and, in a case where it is determined that the section is a linear section, line L 0 which connects start node N 1 with terminal node N 5 of the section is formed as the AR route and displayed. On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that the section is not a linear section, dividing processing or curve correction processing which will be described later are performed.

The processing will be specifically described. In the AR route forming processing in the present embodiment, first, as illustrated in FIG. 5A , line L 0 which connects section start node N 1 with section terminal node N 5 within a route section to be subjected to determination on whether or not the section is a linear section is formed.

Then, distances h 2 , h 3 and h 4 between line L 0 and other nodes N 2 , N 3 and N 4 included in the route section are calculated.

Next, AR route former 111 compares distances h 2 , h 3 and h 4 with a predetermined threshold. In a case where distances h 2 , h 3 and h 4 are all equal to or less than the threshold, AR route former 111 creates an AR route by connecting the section between node N 1 with node N 5 with one line L 0 . On the other hand, in a case where there is a distance greater than the threshold among distances h 2 , h 3 and h 4 , AR route former 111 divides a route section at a node to which the distance is the greatest as a dividing point. In a case of the examples in FIGS. 5A to 5C , because distance h 3 to node N 3 is the greatest, the route section is divided at node N 3 as the dividing point.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 5B , processing of determining whether or not the section is a linear section is repeated in a similar manner as described above using the dividing point as an end point and a start point of the section. Specifically, line L 1 which connects section start node N 1 with section terminal node N 3 is formed within the route section. In a similar manner, line L 2 which connects section start node N 3 with section terminal node N 5 is formed within the route section. Then, distance h 2 between line L 1 and another node N 2 included within the route section is calculated. In a similar manner, distance h 4 between line L 2 and another node N 4 included in the route section is calculated. Then, distance h 2 is compared with the threshold. In a similar manner, distance h 4 is compared with the threshold. In an example of the drawing, because distance h 2 is smaller than the threshold, as illustrated in FIG. 5C , an AR route is created by connecting a section between node N 1 and node N 3 with one line L 1 . In a similar manner, because distance h 4 is smaller than the threshold, as illustrated in FIG. 5C , an AR route is created by connecting a section between node N 3 and node N 5 with one line L 2 .

In short, line correction processing in the present embodiment is processing for creating a line while excluding (ignoring) nodes which do not largely deviate from a line connecting a start node with a terminal node of a section. By this means, it is possible to prevent an AR route from being unnaturally bent due to a way of setting of coordinates of the nodes. For example, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that an AR route is slightly bent for each intersection due to the coordinate of the node being set at a coordinate of the center of the intersection, although the road is actually a linear road.

FIG. 6 illustrates a display example of the AR route in a case where the line correction processing of the present embodiment is not applied. It can be seen from this drawing that the AR route is slightly bent at the intersection although the road is a linear road. FIG. 7 illustrates a display example of the AR route in a case where the line correction processing of the present embodiment is applied. It can be seen from this drawing that a bent portion of the AR route at the intersection disappears.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of flow of the line correction processing of the AR route in the present embodiment.

AR route former 111 first calculates distance h between a line connecting the start node with the terminal node and another node included in the section in step S 1 . That is, AR route former 111 calculates distances h 2 , h 3 and h 4 between line L 0 connecting section start node N 1 with section terminal node N 5 and other nodes N 2 , N 3 and N 4 included in the section in the example in FIG. 5A .

AR route former 111 calculates whether or not all distances h 2 , h 3 and h 4 are equal to or less than a threshold in the subsequent step S 2 . In a case where a positive result is obtained in step S 2 (step S 2 : Yes), the processing transitions to step S 3 , and the section is determined to be a linear section, and an AR route is formed. In the example in FIG. 5A , line L 0 is set as the AR route.

Meanwhile, in a case where a negative result is obtained in step S 2 (step S 2 : No), the processing transitions to step S 4 , and the section is divided at a node to which distance h is the greatest as a dividing point. That is, in the example in FIG. 5B , the route section is divided at node N 3 as the dividing point. The processing of AR route former 111 returns to step S 1 again after the processing in step S 4 . This processing in step S 1 corresponds to the processing of calculating distances h 2 and h 4 in the example in FIG. 5B .

In this manner, AR route former 111 divides the section until there is no longer a node to which the distance is equal to or greater than the threshold by recursively repeating the processing of step S 1 -S 2 -S 4 -S 1 until a positive result can be obtained in step S 2 . Then, when such a node no longer exists, the section is determined to be a linear section, and the processing in step S 3 is performed to form a liner AR route within the linear section.

<2-2> Curve Interpolation

AR route former 111 in the present embodiment performs curve interpolation on the route section which is determined to be a non-linear section.

For example, curve interpolation as illustrated in FIG. 9 is performed on a non-linear section subjected to the line correction (which can be also referred to as smoothing of a line) as described in section <2-1>. In the example in FIG. 9 , because line L 1 and line L 2 are connected while being bent via node N 3 which is the dividing point, a section from N 1 -N 3 -N 5 is not a linear section. In practice, in most every case, the section from N 1 -N 3 -N 5 is not a bent road, but a curve. In view of this, AR route former 111 forms curve L 10 by performing curve interpolation on the section from N 1 -N 3 -N 5 and outputs this curve L 10 as the AR route.

At this time, AR route former 111 performs curve interpolation using nodes included in the section as control points. In the example in FIG. 9 , curve L 10 is formed by curve interpolation being performed using nodes N 1 , N 3 and N 5 as control points.

Here, the nodes are not always arranged so as to make a clear curve, and there is a case where a curve shape having distortion is made if curve interpolation is performed so that the curve passes through all nodes. In view of this, in the present embodiment, curve L 10 without distortion is formed by interpolation being performed using a B-spline curve. However, the curve interpolation is not limited to interpolation using a B-spline curve.

Note that, while a case has been described here where curve interpolation is performed on a section which is not a linear section after the line correction as described in section <2-1> has been performed, the present invention is not limited to this, and, in short, it is only necessary to perform curve interpolation on the route section which is determined to be a non-linear section using nodes included in the section as the control points and output a curve subjected to the curve interpolation as the AR route.

FIG. 10 illustrates a display example of the AR route in a case where the curve interpolation processing of the present embodiment is not applied. It can be seen from this drawing that the AR route becomes a broken line although an actual road is curved. FIG. 11 illustrates a display example of the AR route in a case where the curve interpolation processing of the present embodiment is applied. It can be seen from this drawing that the AR route having a curved shape along the curve can be displayed.

<2-3> Processing of Shifting AR Route on the Basis of Lane Information

As described above, the AR route is created on the basis of the nodes and the links included in the road map data. However, as described in the section of Technical Problem, because the coordinate information included in the nodes and the links is often coordinates of centers of roads, if the AR route is formed using the information as it is, there is a case where the AR route which provides a feeling of strangeness is displayed. Particularly, an AR route which provides a feeling of strangeness is highly likely to be displayed at positions such as an intersection and a branch point, where a plurality of roads intersect.

In view of this, in the present embodiment, the AR route is formed by shifting a coordinate of the node included in the road map data to a lane on which the subject vehicle is to travel on the basis of the lane information. By this means, on the basis of the lane information, it becomes possible to display an AR route which does not provide a feeling of strangeness, shifted on the side of the lane on which the subject vehicle travels. For comparison, because the AR route is formed by connecting the nodes, shifting the coordinate of the node is equivalent to shifting the AR route. Therefore, in the following description, it is possible to read shifting the coordinate of the node as shifting the AR route, inversely, it is possible to read shifting the AR route as shifting the coordinate of the node.

FIGS. 12A and 12B explain conventional display of an AR route. As illustrated in FIG. 12A , a case is assumed where the subject vehicle is travelling on a road which has one lane each way and which has a center line, and turns right at an intersection ahead. At this time, coordinates of nodes N 1 to N 4 are coordinates on the center line.

FIG. 12B illustrates the AR route formed and displayed on the basis of nodes N 1 to N 4 in FIG. 12A . As can be seen from FIG. 12B , because, in the conventional AR route, the start point is set so as to match a traveling position of the subject vehicle, while a portion ahead of the subject vehicle is displayed without providing a feeling of strangeness, after the subject vehicle passes through an intersection, the AR route is on a center line. That is, the AR route is displaced in the center line direction from a lane on which the subject vehicle is to actually travel.

FIGS. 13A and 13B explain display of the AR route in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 13A , nodes N 1 ′, N 2 ′, N 3 ′ and N 4 ′ are calculated by coordinates of nodes N 1 , N 2 , N 3 and N 4 on the center line being shifted to the lane on which the subject vehicle is to travel, and the AR route is formed and displayed using nodes N 1 ′, N 2 ′, N 3 ′ and N 4 ′.

FIG. 13B illustrates the AR route formed and displayed on the basis of nodes N 1 ′, N 2 ′, N 3 ′ and N 4 ′ in FIG. 13A . As can be seen from FIG. 13B , the AR route in the present embodiment is displayed on the lane on which the subject vehicle is to travel even after the subject vehicle passes through the intersection. As a result, it is possible to display the AR route without providing a feeling of strangeness.

Here, a specific example of shifting of the AR route according to the present embodiment will be described here.

In a case where the road has three lanes each way and a lane on which the subject vehicle is to travel is the leftmost lane, the node positions are shifted on the lane of the subject vehicle by a “lane width (for example, 3.25 m)×(the number of lanes (in this example, 3)-0.5)”. This processing is processing to address a situation where the nodes are set on the center line.

In this manner, in the AR route shifting processing of the present embodiment, a node set at the center of the road is shifted on the lane on which the subject vehicle is to travel. In the present embodiment, the AR route is shifted to the center of the lane on which the subject vehicle is to travel.

In the AR route shifting processing in the present embodiment, particularly, the AR route after the subject vehicle turns left or right or the AR route the subject vehicle is to follow after the branch point is shifted on the basis of lane information of the road after the subject vehicle turns left or right or lane information of the road on which the subject vehicle is to follow after the branch point, it is possible to reduce a feeling of strangeness of the AR route after the subject vehicle turns left or right or the AR route the subject vehicle is to follow after the branch point.

Then, effects by the AR route shifting processing according to the present embodiment will be described using FIGS. 14A and 14B .

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate display of the AR route in a case where the subject vehicle turns left at an intersection ahead. FIG. 14A illustrates an example where the AR route is not shifted, and FIG. 14B illustrates an example where the AR route shifting processing of the present embodiment is applied. As can be clear through comparison between these drawings, while the AR route in FIG. 14A is displayed near the center of the road on which the subject vehicle is not to travel after the subject vehicle passes through the intersection, the AR route in FIG. 14B is displayed on the lane on which the subject vehicle is to travel even after the subject vehicle passes through the intersection without a feeling of strangeness being provided.

In this manner, by performing the AR route shifting processing of the present embodiment, even if the node position at the intersection is displaced to a left side or right side from an extension of the traveling lane, it is possible to display the AR route along the lane on which the subject vehicle is to travel without providing a feeling of strangeness.

<3> Conclusion

As described above, according to the present embodiment, as described in section <2-3>, because the AR route is formed by the node information included in the road map data being shifted to of the lane on which the subject vehicle is to travel on the basis of the lane information, it is possible to display the AR route which matches the shape of the route on which the subject vehicle is to travel without providing a feeling of strangeness while resolving inconvenience that the AR route is largely displaced from the route on which the subject vehicle is to travel at positions such as an intersection and a branch point, where a plurality of roads intersect.

The above-described embodiment is merely an example of embodiment for implementing the present invention, and a technical scope of the present invention should not be limitedly interpreted by this. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms within a range not deviating from a gist or main features of the present invention.

While, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described where the display apparatus of the present disclosure is applied to an in-vehicle HUD, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the display apparatus of the present disclosure can be widely applied to display systems and apparatuses which display the AR route which is a virtual image so as to be superimposed on a real image which is seen by the user, in short.

While various embodiments have been described herein above, it is to be appreciated that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention(s) presently or hereafter claimed.

This application is entitled and claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-061464, filed on Mar. 27, 2019, the disclosure of which including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The display system of the present invention is suitable for, for example, a system including an in-vehicle HUD.

100 Display apparatus

101 Map information acquirer

102 Position detector

103 Radar

104 Vehicle behavior detector

105 Viewpoint detector

110 Image former

111 AR route former

120 Display controller

130 HUD (Head-Up Display)

200 Vehicle

210 Windshield

220 Dashboard

N 1 , N 2 , N 3 , N 4 , N 5 Node

h 2 , h 3 , h 4 Distance

L 0 , L 1 , L 2 Line

L 10 Curve

Vi Virtual image