Vehicle information display device and vehicle information display method

A vehicle information display device including: a subject detecting sensor that detects an object in a surrounding area of a host vehicle; and a display portion that is configured to have a display area for displaying a display frame corresponded to the object in a mode of surrounding the object, and for emphatically displaying the object detected by the subject detecting sensor, and the display frame is displayed in a manner of that the emphasizing degree of an enlarging part is less than that of a non-enlarging part, when the display frame enlarges as the host vehicle moves.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-272625 filed on Dec. 27, 2013 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle information display device and a vehicle information display method for displaying the information of an object in a surrounding area of a vehicle.

2. Description of Related Art

The vehicle information display device is a device that detects an object in a surrounding area of a vehicle and displays information of the object. Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-119917 A discloses the following vehicle display device: the vehicle display device determines an image including a pedestrian based on the image shot by a camera and detects the pedestrian, and displays a pedestrian detecting frame surrounding the object such as the pedestrian in the display area, so as to emphatically display the object. In the vehicle display device, the moving amount and the moving direction of the object in appearance in the display area are forecasted based on the position change of the host vehicle and the object, and the range of the pedestrian detecting frame enlarges according to the forecasted moving amount and moving direction. By enlarging the range of the pedestrian detecting frame like this, the object can be emphatically displayed without deviating from the pedestrian detecting frame.

As described above, when the object is displayed as being surrounded by a pedestrian detecting frame or the like, if the position of the object in appearance in the display area changes along with the movement of the host vehicle, the display frame enlarges from the object along with the movement of the object in appearance. If the display frame enlarges from the object, there is a possibility that the driver of the host vehicle gazes the enlarged part of the display frame, and the driver takes his eyes off the object of interest. As such, the problem is: with the movement of the object in appearance in the display area, the driver may gaze the enlarging part of the display frame in some cases, thus, the driver may feel troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a vehicle information display device and a vehicle information display method that are capable of lowering the troublesome the driver feels.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle information device including: an object detecting portion configured to detect an object in a surrounding area of a host vehicle; and a display portion configured to display a display frame corresponded to the object, the display frame being corresponded to the object to emphatically display the object detected by the object detecting portion, the display portion having a display area for displaying the display frame in a mode of surrounding the object. When the display frame enlarges according to a movement of the object in appearance in the display area as the host vehicle moves, the display portion displays the display frame so that an emphasizing degree of an enlarging part of the display frame is less than the emphasizing degree of a non-enlarging part.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle information display device, in which when the display frame in the display area enlarges from the object according to the movement of the object in appearance in the display area, the display frame is displayed in a manner of that the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part is less than the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part. Therefore, since the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part is decreased in comparison with the non-enlarging part, the driver can avoid gazing the enlarging part of the display frame. Therefore, the driver can feel less troublesome.

The display portion may also display the display frame so that the emphasizing degree when an angle is large, is less than the emphasizing degree when the angle is small, the angle being an angle between a moving direction of the object using a ground as a reference and a moving direction of the object in appearance in the display area as the host vehicle moves. Incidentally, the larger an angle between the moving direction of the object using the ground as a reference actually and the moving direction of the object in appearance as the host vehicle moves, the easier the driver can understand the difference between the enlarging part and the non-enlarging part of the display frame. Therefore, as compared with that when the angle is small, the emphasizing degree of the display frame is decreased when the angle is large, which means the driver can easily understand, so that the troublesome the driver feels can be lowered.

Also, the display portion may display the display frame so that the emphasizing degree when the angle is equal to or more than a preset threshold value, is less than the emphasizing degree when the angle is less than the threshold value. Thus, as compared with that when an angle between the moving direction of the object using the ground as a reference and the moving direction of the object in appearance is less than a preset threshold value, the emphasizing degree of the display frame is decreased when the angle of which the driver can easily understand is equal to or more than the preset threshold value, so that the troublesome the driver feels can be lowered.

Further, the display area may also be provided on a head-up display of the host vehicle. If the display area is provided on the head-up display, the information of the object is displayed substantially in the sight line of the driver. Therefore, since the driver is capable of grasping the object almost without moving his or her sight line, the timing for the driver to notice the presence of the object can be advanced.

Other aspects of the present invention relate to a vehicle information display method including: detecting an object in a surrounding area of a host vehicle; and displaying a display frame corresponded to the object using an electronic control unit, the display frame being corresponded to the object so as to emphatically display the detected object when detecting the object, wherein a display area for displaying the display frame in a mode of surrounding the object is displayed, and the display frame is displayed so that an emphasizing degree of an enlarging part of the display frame is less than the emphasizing degree of a non-enlarging part, when the display frame enlarges according to a movement of the object in appearance in the display area as the host vehicle moves.

In the vehicle information display method of other aspects of the present invention, when the display frame enlarges from the object according to the movement of the object in appearance in the display area, the display frame is displayed in a manner that the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part is less than the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part. Therefore, since the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part is decreased in comparison with that of the non-enlarging part, the driver can avoid gazing the enlarging part of the display frame. Therefore, the troublesome the driver feels can be lowered.

According to various aspects and embodiments of the present invention, the troublesome the driver feels can be lowered.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Also, the same or corresponding elements in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the repeated description is omitted.

As illustrated inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the vehicle information display device1of the first embodiment is mounted on a vehicle100. The vehicle information display device1detects an object T in a surrounding area of the vehicle100and displays a display frame X corresponding to the object T in a display area31of the HUD device30which is used as the display system HMI (Human Machine Interface). As for the object T in the surrounding area of the vehicle100, for example, it may be an object having risk, such as a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorbike or another vehicle other than the vehicle100, the object can possibly hinder the vehicle100's traveling. In addition, various methods can be adopted to determine whether a pedestrian or the like in the surrounding area of the vehicle100is the object T.

The vehicle information display device1includes: a subject detecting sensor (object detecting portion)11that detects the object T in the surrounding area of the vehicle100, namely the host vehicle; a traveling state detecting sensor12that detects the traveling state of the vehicle100; and a HUD device30that displays the display frame X corresponded to the object T in the display area31for emphatically displaying the object T. Herein, the so-called display frame X is a frame-like pattern displayed in the display area31, emphatically displaying the information of the object T in the surrounding area of the vehicle100in the display area31. In addition, as illustrated inFIGS. 6A to 6C, the display frame X also includes a not completely closed frame.

In the present embodiment, the display area31is a head-up display provided on of the driver's seat side of a front glass35when looking at the front from inside of the vehicle100, and driver of the vehicle100can view the display area31while driving. Herein, the so-called head-up display is a display that overlays information at a visual field of the driver of the vehicle100. As the head-up display, for example, the front glass35or a transparent plate provided right before the front glass35can be used.

Also, since when the driver of the vehicle100looks at the object T, the object T being positioned outside the front glass35, thus the driver can view the object T through the display area31. And it is easier for the driver to view the display area31by providing the display area31on the driver's seat side of the front glass35, which can improve the visibility from the driver and realize a compact display area31.

As illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 4B, when the object T moves in the display area31along with the movement of the vehicle100, the HUD device30enlarges the display frame X to surround the object T which moves in the display area31. And, when enlarging the display frame X, the HUD device30makes the emphasizing degree of an enlarging part X1of the display frame X different from that of a non-enlarging part X2of the display frame X, and displays the display frame X in the display area31. Herein, the enlarging part X1may be an enlarged part of the display frame X, or may also be an enlarging part of the display frame X.

The enlarging part (the enlarging part X1, X3, refer toFIG. 8AandFIG. 8B, or X5, refer toFIG. 9AandFIG. 9B) of the present embodiment is described herein. As illustrated inFIGS. 5A to 5C, for example, when the vehicle100is pitching upward and the object T moves downward in appearance in the display area31, the display frame X is displayed in a mode of enlarging downward in the display area31. At this moment, the left side part and the right side part of the display frame X extend downward and the lower side part of the display frame X moves downward.

Under this situation, as illustrated inFIG. 5A, the lower side part a1may be the enlarging part and the emphasizing degree of the lower side part a1may be decreased. As illustrated inFIG. 5B, the lower side part a1, the downward extending part b1from the left side of the display frame X, and the downward extending part c1from the right side of the display frame X may be the enlarging part and the emphasizing degree of the lower side part a1may be decreased, and the downward extending parts b1and c1may be decreased. Also, as illustrated inFIG. 5C, the lower side part a1, the extended left side d1of the display frame X, and the extended right side e1of the display frame X may be the enlarging part, and the emphasizing degree of the lower side part a1, while the emphasizing degree of the left side d1and the right side e1may be decreased gradually as they extend downward.

As illustrated inFIGS. 6A to 6C, for example, when the display frame X is not completely closed, the enlarging part can be the same with that illustrated inFIGS. 5Ato5C, that is, the lower side part a2may be the enlarging part as illustrated inFIG. 6A; or the lower side part a2, the downward extending part b2from the left side of the display frame X, and the downward extending part c2from the right side of the display frame X may be the enlarging part as illustrated inFIG. 6B. Also, as illustrated inFIG. 6C, the lower side part a2, the extended left side d2of the display frame X, and the extended right side e2of the display frame X may be the enlarging part.

Also, as illustrated inFIGS. 7A to 7C, for example, when the object T moves toward lower left in the display area31in appearance, the left side part b3of the display frame X moves from the upper left corner of the display frame X toward lower left, and the lower side part a3of the display frame X moves from the lower right corner of the display frame X toward lower left. In addition, an upper-side extending part e3connecting the upper left corner of the display frame X and the upper end of the left side part b3, and an lower side extending part f3connecting the lower right corner of the display frame X and the right end of the lower side part a3are formed.

Under this situation, as illustrated inFIG. 7A, the lower side part a3and the left side part b3may be the enlarging part and the emphasizing degree of the lower side part a3and the left side part b3may be decreased. As illustrated inFIG. 7B, the lower side part a3, the left side part b3, the lower-left part c3of the upper-side extending part e3, and the lower-left part d3of the lower side extending part f3may be the enlarging part, and the emphasizing degree of the lower side part a3, the left side part b3and the lower-left parts c3and d3may be decreased. Also, as illustrated inFIG. 7C, the lower side part a3, the left side part b3, the upper-side extending part e3, and the lower side extending part f3may be the enlarging part, and the emphasizing degree of the lower side part a3, the left side part b3may be decreased, while the emphasizing degree of the upper-side extending part e3and the lower side extending part f3may be decreased gradually as they extend toward lower left.

Further, the part equivalent to the lower side part a3and the left side part b3ofFIGS. 7A to 7Cis almost invisible inFIG. 4B, while the part equivalent to the lower side part a1ofFIG. 5Cis almost invisible inFIG. 8B, and the left side part of the display frame X is almost invisible inFIG. 9B; however, these parts become invisible, resulting from the emphasizing degree is decreased and the display intensity is attenuated. Also, as the priority for decreasing the emphasizing degree, in the examples illustrated inFIGS. 7A to 7C, the intersection point between the lower side part a3and the left side part b3can have the highest priority, and the priority decreases as departing from the intersection point. Also, regarding the priority for decreasing the emphasizing degree, in the examples shown inFIGS. 5A to 5C, the lower side part a1can have the highest priority, and the priority decreases as departing from the lower side part a1.

Herein, the so-called emphasizing degree of the display frame X means the recognition easiness of the display frame X for a driver, including: color density of the display frame X, thickness of the display frame X, brightness of the display frame X, and whether the display frame X has a color that can be easily recognized, or whether the color is a preset color (e.g. red) for showing a high risk level. Further, the emphasizing degree of the display frame X does not include the size of the display frame X itself, increasing the emphasizing degree does not include enlarging the display frame X.

Also, the so-called decreasing the emphasizing degree means making the recognition of the display frame X difficult for a driver, including: making the color density of the display frame X lighter, making the display frame X thinner, or lowering the brightness of the display frame X, for example, the color of the display frame X changing from “red” to “orange”, making the display frame X difficult to be recognized, or for example, the color of the display frame X changing from “red” to “blue”, changing a color showing a high risk level to a color showing a low risk level. Further, “decreasing the emphasizing degree” includes “decrease the emphasizing degree to zero”, while “lower the brightness” includes “turn off the brightness”. Also, “decreasing the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part” includes: decreasing the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part at an enlarged state; and decreasing the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part while enlarging.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the subject detecting sensor11is a sensor that detects a subject in the surrounding area of the vehicle100as the object T, especially detects whether there is a subject that may become an obstacle. The subject detecting sensor11, for example, outputs electromagnetic wave to the surroundings of the vehicle100and receives electromagnetic wave reflected from the subject in the surrounding area of the vehicle100, thereby detecting the object T. As the subject detecting sensor11, a millimeter wave radar, a laser radar or a camera or the like can be used. Also, the subject detecting sensor11may be replaced, the vehicle information display device1receives information from the outside, such as other vehicles or road infrastructure or the like, and detects the object T based on the received information.

The subject detecting sensor11is connected with an ECU (Electronic Control Unit)20controlling the image displayed by the HUD device30, and the ECU20is connected with the HUD device30and a traveling state detecting sensor12. The information of the object T detected by the subject detecting sensor11is output to the ECU20. Also, the traveling state detecting sensor12is a group of sensors including a vehicle speed sensor detecting vehicle speed of the vehicle100, an acceleration sensor detecting the acceleration of the vehicle100, a turning sensor detecting the turning state of the vehicle100, a yaw rate sensor detecting the yaw rate of the vehicle100, a pitching sensor detecting the pitching of the vehicle100etc. The information such as vehicle speed, acceleration, turning state, yaw rate and pitching of the vehicle100detected by the traveling state detecting sensor12is output to the ECU20.

The ECU20includes: a position and size detecting portion21that detects the position and the size of the object T; a display position calculating portion22that calculates the display position of the object T in the display area31; a moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23that calculates the moving direction and the moving amount of the object T in the display area31; and a display design setting portion24that sets the display design of the display frame X displayed in the display area31.

The ECU20is configured to include CPU, and a memory such as ROM and RAM, and the functions of the position and size detecting portion21, the display position calculating portion22, the moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23and the display design setting portion24are realized by using the CPU to execute programs. Also, the functions of the position and size detecting portion21, the display position calculating portion22, the moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23and the display design setting portion24can be realized by using a plurality of ECUs.

The position and size detecting portion21detects the position and the moving information (moving direction and moving amount) of the object T detected by the subject detecting sensor11, the moving information of the object T being related to the vehicle100, and the position and size detecting portion21detects the size of the object T. The display position calculating portion22, for example, transforms the position of the object T detected by the subject detecting sensor11to a coordinate of the object T when the position of the object T being projected through the front glass35, and the display position calculating portion22calculates the position of the object T in the display area31. The moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23uses the information relating to the traveling state of the vehicle100obtained from the traveling state detecting sensor12and the moving information of the object T, and the moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23calculates the moving direction and the moving amount of the object T in the display area31. Also, the method for calculating the position of the object T and the moving direction and moving amount is not limited to the above; other method may also be used as long as the moving state of the object T on a two-dimensional plane can be acquired.

The display design setting portion24sets the display frame X displayed in the display area31. If the moving direction and the moving amount of the object T in the display area31is calculated by the moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23, the display design setting portion24sets the display frame X for surrounding the object T in the display area31. The display design setting portion24sets the display frame X repeatedly when the object T is displayed in the display area31, thus, the form of the display frame X changes properly according to the moving direction and the moving amount of the object T in the display area31, so as to surround the object T by using the display frame X.

The form of the display frame X constantly changes according to the change of the position of the object T in the display area31. Also, the display design setting portion24sets the display frame X, so that the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1is less than the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part X2of the display frame X. The HUD device30displays the display frame X in the display area31in a manner that the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1is less than the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part X2. Thus, the display position calculating portion22, the moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23, the display design setting portion24and the HUD device30function as a display portion40that displays the display frame X corresponded to the object T in the display area31. Since the object T is emphatically displayed by the display portion40, the driver can easily recognize the object T.

Next, the vehicle information display method of the present embodiment is described with reference toFIG. 3. The flow chart illustrated inFIG. 3illustrates the procedure of the vehicle information display process by using the vehicle information display device1. The vehicle information display process is for example, repeatedly executed at regular intervals.

First, in step S11(hereafter referred to as “S11”, the same for other steps), the object detecting process (the object detecting step) is performed by the subject detecting sensor11. In S11, the subject detecting sensor11determines whether an object T exists in the surrounding area of the vehicle100. Specifically, for example, the subject detecting sensor11calculates and measures the environment in the surrounding area of the vehicle100, and determines whether an object T as an object having risk exists in the surrounding area of the vehicle100. When it is determined in S11that the object T does not exist in the surrounding area of the vehicle100, a series of the process is ended. On the other hand, when it is determined in S11that the object T exists in the surrounding area of the vehicle100, it is proceeded to S12, and the position and size detecting portion21detects the position of the object T, the moving information of the object T being related to the vehicle100, and the size of the object T.

After the position and the size of the object T are detected in S12, it is proceeded to S13, and the display position calculating process is performed by the display position calculating portion22. Herein, the position and the size of the object T in the display area31are calculated based on the position and the size of the object T detected in S12. Then, it is proceeded to S14, and the frame display process is performed by the HUD device30. In S14, the display frame X is displayed in a manner of surrounding the object T in the display area31. Then, it is proceeded to S15, and the moving direction and moving amount calculating process is performed by the moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23. For example, as illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 4B, when the vehicle100is traveling straight on a road R, the moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23calculates the moving direction and the moving amount of the object T itself (the moving direction and the moving amount of the object T using the ground as a reference), and the moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23calculates the moving direction and the moving amount of the object T in appearance caused by the straight traveling of the vehicle100. Herein, the so-called movement in appearance of the object T means the movement of moving object T in the display area31as the vehicle100moves.

Based on the moving direction and the moving amount of the object T itself, and the moving direction and the moving amount of the object in appearance calculated in S15, in S16, the display design setting portion25determines the enlarging direction of the display frame X. The enlarging direction of the display frame X is determined to be a form that the object T does not exceed from the display frame X. If the enlarging direction of the display frame X is determined, it is proceeded to S17, and the display design setting portion24determines whether the enlarging direction of the display frame X is consistent with the moving direction of the object T in appearance. Herein, for example, when the enlarging direction of the display frame X is set as direction P1and the moving direction of the object T in appearance is set as direction P2, and when the absolute value Z of the angle formed by the direction P1and the direction P2is less than a preset threshold value θz, it is determined that the enlarging direction (direction P1) of the display frame X is consistent with the moving direction (direction P2) of the object T in appearance (S17: YES). On the other hand, when the absolute value Z of the angle formed by the direction P1and the direction P2is equal to or more than the threshold value θz, it is determined that enlarging direction (direction P1) of the display frame X is not consistent with the moving direction (direction P2) of the object T in appearance (S17: NO). Also, the threshold value θz, for example, can be set as 30°, but it can also be changed appropriately instead.

When it is determined in S17that the enlarging direction of the display frame X is consistent with the moving direction of the object T in appearance as described above, it is proceeded to S18, and the frame is enlarged with adding attenuation by using the HUD device30(display step). On the other hand, when it is determined in S17that the enlarging direction of the display frame X is not consistent with the moving direction of the object T in appearance, it is proceeded to S19, and the frame is enlarged without adding attenuation by the HUD device30(display step). Herein, the so-called adding attenuation means to decrease the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1of the display frame X. Thus, in S18or S19, after the enlarging process of the frame is performed, a series of processing is ended.

However, when the vehicle100has a low speed, and the moving amount of the object T in appearance is small, and when the object T moves across the traveling path of the vehicle100and the moving amount of the object T with respect to the ground is large, that is, when the moving amount of the object T with respect to the ground is equal to or more than the moving amount of the object T moving across the traveling path in appearance by an a preset threshold value, the movement of the object T with respect to the ground is dominant in comparison with the movement of the object T in appearance. The result is, the display frame X is enlarging in the moving direction of the object T with respect to the ground, however, in this case, the direction that the driver should gaze is consistent with the enlarging direction of the display frame X, and the moving direction of the object T in appearance is not consistent with the enlarging direction of the display frame X, it is not necessary to suppress the emphasizing degree of the display frame X. Therefore, as shown in the above-described S19, the frame is enlarged without adding attenuation, so that unnecessary suppression of the emphasizing degree can be prevented.

As described above, in the vehicle information display device1and the vehicle information display method of the present embodiment, when the display frame X in the display area31enlarges as the vehicle100moves, the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1is less than the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part X2. Therefore, since the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1is decreased in comparison with that of the non-enlarging part X2, the driver can be prevented from gazing the enlarging part X1of the display frame X. Hence, the troublesome the driver feels can be lowered.

Examples illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 4Bare illustrated in detail. If a pedestrian, namely an object T is detected on the left side of the road R when the vehicle100is traveling forward on the road R, the object T moves toward lower left in appearance in the display area31when the vehicle100is traveling forward. With the movement of the object T in appearance, the display frame X is displayed in the display area31in a manner of enlarging toward lower left. At this time, by using the HUD device30, the enlarging part X1that enlarges toward lower left is displayed with a less emphasizing degree in comparison with that of the non-enlarging part X2. Also, the display frame X is displayed in a manner of that the emphasizing degree decreases as departing from the object T, thus, the driver tends not to take his or her eyes off the object T.

Further, as illustrated inFIGS. 8A and 8B, when the vehicle100is pitching upward and the object T moves downward in the display area31in appearance, the display frame X is displayed in a mode of enlarging downward in the display area31. At this time, by using the HUD device30, the enlarging part X3that enlarges downward is displayed with a less emphasizing degree in comparison with that of the non-enlarging part X4.

Further, as illustrated inFIGS. 9A and 9B, if a pedestrian (object T) is detected on the right side of the road R when the vehicle100is about to turn right on the road R, the object T moves toward the left side in appearance when the vehicle100turns right. Thus, the display frame X is displayed in the display area31in a mode of enlarging toward the left side. At this time, by using the HUD device30, the enlarging part X5that enlarges toward the left side is displayed with a less emphasizing degree in comparison with that of the non-enlarging part X6.

As described above, since the enlarging part X1, X3or X5is displayed with a less emphasizing degree in comparison with that of the non-enlarging part X2, X4, X6by the HUD device30, the driver of the vehicle100tends not to gaze the enlarging part X1, X3, X5. Therefore, the driver can avoid taking his eyes off the object T, and the troublesome the driver feels can be lowered.

Further, since the display area31is provided on the head-up display of the vehicle100, the information of the object T is displayed substantially in the sight line of the driver. Therefore, since the driver is capable of grasping the object T without nearly moving the sight line, the timing for the driver to notice the presence of the object T can be advanced. Further, the driver can quickly take response actions (e.g. decelerating, steering) with respect to the object T.

Further, the vehicle information display device and the vehicle information display method of the second embodiment are described with reference toFIGS. 10A, 10B and 11. The vehicle information display device of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the vehicle information display device of the first embodiment, only the process content of the vehicle information display method is different from that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the following description will focus on the part different from the first embodiment, while the description of the part that is same with the first embodiment is omitted.

As illustrated inFIGS. 10A and 10B, the HUD device30changes the emphasizing degree of the display frame X, according to the angle θ between the moving direction D1of the object T using the ground as a reference and the moving direction D2of the object T in the display area31in appearance as the vehicle100moves. The larger the angle θ formed by the direction D1and D2is, the easier it is for the driver to take his or her eyes off the object T. But in the present embodiment, the larger the angle θ is, the less the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1is. That is to say, since the angle θ of the example illustrated inFIG. 10B is larger than that of the example illustrated inFIG. 10A, the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1is decreased. Thus, the driver tends not to take his or her eyes off the object T. On the other hand, the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1when the angle θ is small, is larger than the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1when the angle θ is large.

Herein, the moving direction D1of the object T using the ground as a reference can be, for example, calculated from the difference value between the direction D2of the object T in appearance and the traveling direction of the vehicle100. Further, when the subject detecting sensor11is a camera, the direction D1can also be, for example, calculated by determining the orientation of a pedestrian's face or the direction of front end of a bicycle or a vehicle, based on the analysis result of the shot images and the pattern matching result. Also, the direction D1can be calculated by using various methods other than the above-described methods.

The vehicle information display method of the second embodiment is, for example, performed according to the flow chart illustrated inFIG. 11. The vehicle information display process of the flow chart is, for example, repeatedly executed at regular intervals.

The process of S21to S27is the same as the process of S11to S17illustrated inFIG. 3, thus, the detailed description is omitted. Further, the same as that in S17, in S27, for example, the enlarging direction of the display frame X is set as the direction P1, and the moving direction of the object T in appearance is set as the direction P2, when the absolute value Z of the angle formed by the direction P1and the direction P2is less than a preset threshold value θz, it is determined that the enlarging direction (direction P1) of the display frame X is consistent with the moving direction (direction P2) of the object T in appearance (S27: YES). On the other hand, when the absolute value Z of the angle formed by the direction P1and the direction P2is equal to or more than the preset threshold value θz, it is determined that the enlarging direction (direction P1) of the display frame X is not consistent with the moving direction (direction P2) of the object T in appearance (S27: NO).

In S28, the angle (angle θ) is calculated by the moving direction and moving amount calculating portion28, the angle (angle θ) being formed by the moving direction of the object T with respect to the ground (the moving direction relative to the ground), namely the direction D1, and the moving direction of the object T in appearance, namely the direction D2. Then, it is proceeded to S29, the moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23determines whether the angle θ is equal to or more than a preset threshold value Th. Herein, the so-called preset threshold value Th is the value that is used as a reference for determining whether the frame is enlarged with adding attenuation or enlarged without adding attenuation. The threshold value Th may be, for example, a pre-determined fixed value, or a variable value that changes according to a preset rule. When it is determined that the angle θ is equal to or more than the threshold value Th, it is proceeded to S30; and when it is determined that the angle θ is less than the threshold value Th, it is proceeded to S31. In S30, the frame is enlarged with adding attenuation at the HUD device30. On the other hand, in S31, the frame is enlarged without adding attenuation at the HUD device30. Thus, after the enlarging process of the frame is performed in S30or S31, a series of process is ended. Further, the value of the above-mentioned threshold value Th can be changed appropriately.

As described above, in the vehicle information display device and the vehicle information display method of the second embodiment, the display frame X is displayed in a manner that the emphasizing degree when the angle θ is large, is less than the emphasizing degree when the angle θ is small, the angle θ being an angle between the moving direction D1of the object T using the ground as a reference and the moving direction D2of the object T in appearance as the vehicle100moves. The so-called when the angle θ is large means that the angle θ is equal to or more than the threshold value Th, and the so-called when the angle θ is small means that the angle θ is less than the threshold value Th. Thus, the emphasizing degree when the angle θ is equal to or more than the threshold value Th, is less than the emphasizing degree when the angle θ is less than the threshold value Th, so that the driver of the vehicle100can easily understand the difference between the enlarging part X1and the non-enlarging part X2of the display frame X. Therefore, the driver can avoid reliably taking his or her eyes off the object T, and the troublesome the driver feels can be lowered.

Further, in the second embodiment, when the angle θ is equal to or more than the threshold value Th, the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1is less than the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part X2. However, the threshold Th may not be used; for example, the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1may also be decreased gradually with the increase of the angle θ.

Further, the vehicle information display device and the vehicle information display method of the present invention are not limited to the description of the above embodiments. As for the vehicle information display device and the vehicle information display method of the present invention, the vehicle information display device and the vehicle information display method may be modified without departing from the gist of each claim, or may be applied to other embodiments.

In the above described embodiments, the display frame X is displayed in the display area31in a mode that the color density of the enlarging part X1is lighter than the color density of the non-enlarging part X2, but the display mode of the display frame X is not limited to the above described embodiments. For example, it may be displayed as such that the enlarging part is thinner than the non-enlarging part, or the brightness of the enlarging part is lower than the brightness of the non-enlarging part, or the color of the display frame X may be set as a color that is difficult to be recognized, or the color of the display frame may be changed to a color showing a lower risk level (e.g. blue).

Further, in the above described embodiments, examples in which the HUD device30makes the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1less than the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part X2are described, however, as methods for determining whether the display frame is enlarged, various methods can be adopted. For example, it may be determined that the display frame is enlarged when the enlarging amount of the display frame in the display area exceeds a reference value. Under this situation, the reference value can be set as an appropriate value. Further, it can also change the adjustment value emphasizing degree with establishing a correspondence to the increasing/decreasing of the enlarging amount of the display frame.

Further, in the above described embodiments, the example is described in which the HUD device30makes the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1relatively less than the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part X2by decreasing the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1with adding attenuation. However, it is not limited to this example; the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1can also be relatively less than the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part X2with adding attenuation, by increasing the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part X2attenuation.

Further, in the above described embodiments, as illustrated in the flow chart inFIG. 3, when the enlarging direction of the frame is consistent with the moving direction of the object T in appearance, the frame is enlarged with adding attenuation. However, it is not limited to the example; for example the process shown in S17to S19can be replaced, and only the process that makes the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1less than the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part X2can be performed.

Further, in the above described embodiments, the moving direction and moving amount calculating portion23uses the information about the traveling state of the vehicle100obtained from the traveling state detecting sensor12to calculate the moving state, but it may also use the information relating to whether the road in the surrounding area of the vehicle100includes a curve, and information relating to the unevenness of the road or other environmental information, so as to calculate the moving state.

Further, in the above described embodiments, the display area31is provided on the head-up display of the vehicle100, but as the display area, other display area other than the head-up display can also be used. That is to say, the display area31can be replaced, and, for example a meter panel, a vehicle navigation image or other display area may be used. Further, in the above described embodiments, the HUD device30is provided on the vehicle100, but the HUD device30may be replaced and an equipment that can be brought into the vehicle100as a display may be used. Specifically, a communication terminal (e.g. smart phone, tablet terminal) with display image that is brought into the vehicle can be used as the display portion. Under this situation, a display area can be set on a meter panel image, a vehicle navigation image or display image of the communication terminal or the like.

As described above, even when the display image of a meter panel, the vehicle navigation image or the display image of the communication terminal is used as the display area, the driver can avoid gazing the enlarging part by changing the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part of the display frame and the emphasizing degree of the non-enlarging part, thus same effect of the above described embodiments is achieved.

In addition, the above described the first embodiment and the second embodiment can also be appropriately combined. Under this situation, when the angle θ illustrated inFIGS. 10A and 10Bis large, the difference of the emphasizing degree further increases when the display frame is enlarging (the emphasizing degree of the enlarging part X1is further decreased); on the other hand, when the angle θ is small, the expansion of the difference of the emphasizing degree is suppressed in comparison with that when the angle θ is large.