Abstract:
An information provision device for a vehicle allows information to be provided to a user appropriately, and includes an onboard device having a first control means that operates a display unit, and an external device having a second control means that outputs information from outside the vehicle to the first control means. The display unit includes a first region in which vehicle-status information is displayed and a second region in which the information from outside the vehicle is displayed. The first control means can determine priorities for the vehicle-status information and the information from outside the vehicle. The first control means operates the display unit such that either the first region or the second region, which contains high-priority information, is larger than the other. If prescribed conditions occur, the first control means operates the display unit such that the region containing low-priority information is larger than the other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is the U.S. National Phase of PCT/JP2014/050932 filed Jan. 20, 2014, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-018120 filed Feb. 1, 2013. The subject matter of each is incorporated herein by reference in entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an information provision device for vehicle configured to present various items of information to a vehicle user and, specifically, to an information provision device for vehicle configured to present various items of information by using an onboard device and an external device. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As an information provision device for vehicle such as an in-car information system, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a configuration in which a portable information device (external device) and an onboard multimedia computer with a liquid crystal display (onboard device) mounted on a vehicle are connected to each other and are controllable with respect to each other. With this configuration, an external information of the vehicle that the portable information device has (audio player, navigation system, internet browser) can be displayed to a vehicle user via a display (display unit) provided on an onboard multimedia computer. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: JP-A-2001-22482 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The information provision device for vehicle described in the above-described Patent Literature 1 provides an in-car information system (information provision device for vehicle) which allows usage of a portable information device readily in a vehicle, and providing a vehicle user with high convenience. When presenting the external information (the external information of the vehicle) that the portable information device has to the vehicle user not by a specific display, but by using an existing display, there is a room for improvement regarding a method of displaying the external information. 
     In particular, supposing that there is an indicator display (display unit) provided with the existing display on a vehicle indicator (onboard device), the indicator display normally displays vehicle state information such as a traveling speed of the vehicle or the like, and in the case of additionally displaying the external information that the portable information device has in the indicator display in which the vehicle state information is already displayed, a display region in the indicator display is not sufficient. Therefore, a reduction in display size of various items of information to be displayed (the term “various items of information” here means information including the vehicle state information and the external information) (that is, a change of a display layout) is required. 
     However, if the display size of the various items of information displayed on the indicator display is reduced, it is anticipated that the vehicle user who is driving the vehicle while viewing the various items of information may be puzzled (feel a sense of discomfort) or visibility of the user who watches the various items of information may be deteriorated. Therefore, it cannot be said that adequate second display region is provided for the user and, in this point, there is a room for further improvement. 
     Therefore, focusing on a point of improvement described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information provision device for vehicle capable of realizing information provision to a user more adequately in the case of presenting external information that an external device has to the vehicle user via a display unit provided on the onboard device. 
     Solution to Problem 
     The present invention includes an onboard device having a display unit configured to display various states of a vehicle to a user as vehicle state information and first control means configured to activate the display unit; and an external device having second control means connected to the onboard device via connecting means and configured to output external information of the vehicle to the first control means, and characterized in that the display unit includes: a first display region configured to display the vehicle state information; and a second display region configured to display the external information of the vehicle, in that the first control means has a function to determine priority between the vehicle state information and the external information of the vehicle, and cause the display unit to be operated so that at least one of the first display region and the second display region which includes information having higher priority becomes larger than the other display region and, if a predetermined condition is met, controls the display unit to operate so that the display region including the information having lower priority becomes larger than the other display region. 
     A present invention includes an onboard device having a display unit configured to display various states of a vehicle to a user as vehicle state information and first control means configured to activate the display unit; and an external device having second control means connected to the onboard device via the connecting means and configured to output external information of the vehicle to the first control means, and characterized in that the display unit includes: a first display region configured to display the vehicle state information; and a second display region configured to display the external information of the vehicle, in that the first control means has a function to determine priority between the vehicle state information and the external information of the vehicle, and controls the display unit to operate so that a display surface area of the first display region and a display surface area of the second display region depending on whether or not a predetermined condition is met and the priority. 
     The present invention is also characterized in that the first control means determines whether or not the predetermined condition is met on the basis of vehicle speed information which indicates a vehicle traveling speed included in the vehicle state information or operation information output from an operating device by an operation of the operating device by the user. 
     The present invention is also characterized in that the onboard device is capable of receiving telephone call or e-mail incoming information as the external information of the vehicle from the external device side via the connecting means, and the first control means operates the display unit to display at least one of the incoming information and the alarm information in the second display region so as to intrude thereon upon detection of at least one of the incoming information and the alarm information. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     The present invention is capable of providing an information provision device for vehicle capable of realizing information provision to a user more adequately in the case where external information that an external device has is presented to the vehicle user via a display unit provided on the onboard device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an information provision device for vehicle and a connecting state of various electric components according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the information provision device for vehicle according to the same embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a bird&#39; eye view illustrating an example of an onboard device of the same embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a drawing illustrating a display layout of a display unit by a first display mode (normal display mode) of the same embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a drawing illustrating a display layout of a display unit in a second display mode (external device display mode) of the same embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a drawing illustrating a display layout of the display unit in a third display mode (another external device display mode) of the same embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a drawing illustrating the display layout of the display unit when a first control means receives alarm information according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating a display layout of the display unit when the first control means receives incoming call information according to a modification of the same second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 6 , a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  100  denotes a vehicle. Reference numeral  101  denotes an information provision device for vehicle, and the information provision device for vehicle  101  includes an onboard device (here, vehicle indicator)  102 , an external device as a portable information device (here, smart phone)  103 , and connecting means  104  configured to connect the onboard device  102  and the external device  103 . 
     The onboard device  102  is connected to electric components such as an audio  106 , an air conditioner  107 , a body control unit  108 , an engine control unit  109 , and the like via an onboard LAN (multiple communication line)  105 . The external device  103  connected to the onboard device  102  via the connecting means  104  may also be connected to internet via communication means  110 . 
     Subsequently, a configuration of the information provision device for vehicle  101  which mainly includes the onboard device  102  and the external device  103  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . The onboard device  102  includes a vehicle information terminal (vehicle information means)  210  and a multiple communication I/O terminal (multiple communication I/O means)  211  configured to input and output various items of information (vehicle state signal) regarding various states of the vehicle; a operation information terminal  212  capable of input an operation instruction signal (for example, a display mode switching signal described later, for example) from predetermined operating means  213 , vehicle interface (vehicle I/F) means  201 ; first control means  202  composed of a microcomputer, for example, configured to perform control of the onboard device  102 ; first memory means  203  including a flush memory in which a processing program of the first control means  202  is to be stored and a non-volatile memory such as a EEPROM and the like; first notifying means  206  including a first display unit (display unit)  204  such as a liquid crystal display panel and an organic EL panel configured to visually notify various items of information (various states of the vehicle) to the vehicle user and a first sound generating member  205  such as a speaker configured to acoustically notify various items of information (various state of the vehicle) to the vehicle user; first driving means  208  configured to control driving of both of the first display unit  204  and the first sound generating member  205  and various analog (indicating needle type) indicator  207 ; and a first communication unit (here, Bluetooth (registered tread mark)  209  as a wireless communication device which constitute the connecting means  104  configured to connect the external device  103 . 
     Here, the first sound generating member  205  may be a helmet speaker provided in a helmet that a rider (user) who ride a motorcycle when the vehicle is the motor cycle. Although detailed illustration is omitted, the various types of analog indicator  207  includes at least one of a speed meter configured to indicate a vehicle speed in an analog fashion, a tachometer configured to indicate the number of revolution of an engine of the vehicle in an analog fashion, a fuel meter configured to indicate an amount of fuel in a tank in an analog fashion, and a temperature meter configured to display a temperature of an engine cooling water in an analog fashion. 
     A first communication unit  209  is configured to perform a wireless communication with a second communication unit described later provided on the external device  103 . In other words, the first communication unit  209  is capable of transferring data with the second communication unit provided on the external device  103 . 
     The operating means  213  includes an operation input unit for performing various operations of the onboard device  102 , for example, an operation input unit of substantially cross-shaped key type having a cursor button, an enter button, and the like installed at an adequate position in the car so that the user can reach with his/her hand may be applied, and operating information (the operation instruction signal described above) output from the operating means  213  by the operation of the operating means  213  by the user is input to the first control means  202  through the operation information terminal  212  and the vehicle interface means  201 . A touch-panel type operation input unit may be applied instead of the above-described cross-key type operation input unit as the operating means  213 . 
     The external device  103  includes: a second communication unit (here, Bluetooth (registered tread mark))  260  as a wireless communication device which constitute the connecting means  104  configured to connect with the onboard device  102 ; various sensors (here, GPS module)  261 ; interface (I/F) means  251 ; second control means  252  composed of a microcomputer, for example, configured to perform control of the external device  103 ; second memory means  253  including a flush memory in which a processing program of the second control means  252  is to be stored and a non-volatile memory such as a EEPROM and the like; second notifying means  256  including a second display unit  254  such as a display with a touch panel configured to visually notify various items of information (various states of the vehicle) to the vehicle user and a second sound generating member  255  such as a speaker configured to acoustically notify various items of information (various state of the vehicle) to the vehicle user; second driving means  257  configured to control driving of both of the second display unit  254  and second sound generating member  255 ; and a communication module  258  configured to constitute the communication means  110  for connecting with the internet. 
     In this embodiment, the first and second communication units  209  and  260  composed of wireless communication means are applied to the onboard device  102  and the connecting means  104  of the external device  103 . However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the onboard device  102  and the external device  103  may be connected by using the connecting means  104  composed of a wired communication device such as an USB. 
     In this embodiment, the first communication unit  209  is provided in the onboard device  102 . However, the invention is not limited thereto, and for example, a configuration in which gate way (G/W) means, which is not illustrated, to be connected to the onboard LAN  105  is provided and the first communication unit  209  is integrated in the gateway means, thereby connecting the onboard device  102  and the external device  103  is also applicable. 
     Subsequently, a display layout displayed on the first display unit  204  when the first control means  202  provided on the onboard device  102  executes first to third display mode, described later, will be described with reference to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 6 . 
     Here, the onboard device  102  as the vehicle indicator is provided with the first display unit  204  formed of the liquid crystal display panel as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and the first display unit  204  is formed of a display for indicators which display various states of the vehicle to the vehicle user as the vehicle state information. 
     The first control means  202  receives the vehicle state signal via the multiple communication I/O terminal  211  (or the vehicle information terminal  210 ), and controls the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation for causing the first display unit  204  to display the vehicle state information corresponding to a first display mode (normal display mode) M 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  on the basis of the vehicle state signal. 
     In the first display mode M 1  in which the external information of the vehicle is not displayed at all and only the vehicle state information is displayed on the first display unit  204  described later, the first control means  202  performs control the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation in order to display a vehicle-speed display unit  300  configured to display a traveling speed of the vehicle as the vehicle state information, a shift position display unit  310  configured to display a shift position, a fuel remaining amount display unit  320  configured to display a remaining amount of fuel, and a direction indication display unit  330  configured to display a direction of travel of the vehicle on the first display unit  204 . 
     In the first display mode M 1 , the vehicle-speed display unit  300  is displayed at a substantially center of the first display unit  204 , the shift position display unit  310  is displayed on a lower left of the first display unit  204 , the fuel remaining amount display unit  320  is displayed on the lower right of the first display unit  204 , and the direction indication display unit  330  is displayed on the upper left and the upper right of the first display unit  204 . 
     Subsequently, a display layout displayed on the first display unit  204  when the first control means  202  executes a second display mode (external information display mode) M 2  different from the first display mode (normal display mode) M 1  will be described. 
     At the time of executing the second display mode M 2 , the first control means  202  receives the vehicle state signal via the multiple communication I/O terminal  211  (or the vehicle information terminal  210 ) and, simultaneously, receives the external information of the vehicle (here, it is navigation information, but may be, for example, music information) via the respective communication units  260  and  209  from the external device  103  side. 
     Here, the first control means  202  has a function to determine priority between the vehicle state signal (the vehicle state information) and the navigation information by using a vehicle speed signal (that is, the vehicle speed information) indicating the traveling speed of the vehicle out of the vehicle state signal, and determines that the vehicle state signal (vehicle state information) has a higher priority than the navigation information during the vehicle travel, that is, when the vehicle is traveling, and controls the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation for displaying display information corresponding to the second display mode (external information display mode) M 2  as illustrated in  FIG. 5  in the first display unit  204  on the basis of the vehicle state signal or the navigation information. 
     In other words, in the second display mode M 2 , the first control means  202  controls the first display unit  204  to perform the display operation for displaying the vehicle-speed display unit  300  displayed already in the first display mode M 1 , the shift position display unit  310 , the fuel remaining amount display unit  320 , and the direction indication display unit  330  in a first display region R 1  which is an upper side in the first display unit  204  in  FIG. 5 . 
     At this time, the second control means  252  provided on the external device  103  outputs navigation information to the first control means  202  via the connecting means  104  (communication units  260  and  209 ), and the first control means  202  controls the first display unit  204  to perform the display operation for displaying navigation display unit  340  (external information of the vehicle) in a second display region R 2 , which is a lower side in the first display unit  204  in  FIG. 5 . 
     Here, the navigation display unit  340  performs a turn-by-turn display including an arrow indication  341 , an intersection name display  342 , and a remaining distance display  343  to an intersecting point. A map display may be applied to the navigation display unit  340  instead of the turn-by-turn display. 
     In the second display mode M 2 , the first display unit  204  includes the first display region R 1  and the second display region R 2  divided into an upper part and a lower part, and at this time, since the first control means  202  determines that the vehicle state information has a higher priority than the navigation information as described above, a border line L 1  (an alternate long and short dash line portion in  FIG. 5 ) which indicates a border between the first display region R 1  and the second display region R 2  is positioned on a lower side than a center line L 2  (dot line portion in  FIG. 5 ) which divide the first display unit  204  into two upper and lower parts. 
     Therefore, in the second display mode M 2 , the first control means  202  controls the first display unit  204  to perform the display operation so that a display region including information having higher priority from between the first display region R 1  and the second display region R 2  (that is, the first display region R 1  in which the vehicle-speed display unit  300 , the shift position display unit  310 , the fuel remaining amount display unit  320 , and the direction indication display unit  330  are displayed) becomes larger than the other display region (that is, the second display region R 2  in which the navigation display unit  340  is displayed). 
     In other words, at the time of execution of the second display mode M 2 , the display surface area of the first display region R 1  including the vehicle state information (a vehicle-speed display unit  300 , a shift position display unit  310 , a fuel remaining amount display unit  320 , and a direction indication display unit  330 ) which is determined to have higher priority is configured to be larger (wider) than the surface area of the second display region R 2  including the navigation display unit  340  which is determined to have lower priority. 
     Therefore, a display size of characters and symbol marks of the vehicle state information (the vehicle-speed display unit  300 , the shift position display unit  310 , fuel remaining amount display unit  320 , and the direction indication display unit  330 ) to be displayed in the first display region R 1  may be substantially the same as a display size in the first display mode M 1 . In contrast, when comparing with the display surface area of the vehicle state information at this time, the display size of the characters and the symbol marks of the navigation display unit  340  (the arrow indication  341 , the intersection name display  342 , and the remaining distance display  343  to the intersecting point) to be displayed in the second display region R 2  which has a rather smaller display surface area becomes small. 
     Subsequently, a display layout of the first display unit  204  when the first control means  202  receives the display mode switching signal output from the operating means  213  in association with an operation of the operating means  213  by the user during execution of the second display mode M 2  illustrated in  FIG. 5  will be described on the basis of  FIG. 6 . 
     The first control means  202  receives the vehicle state signal via the multiple communication I/O terminal  211  (or the vehicle information terminal  210 ) and, simultaneously, receives the external information of the vehicle (here, it is navigation information) via the respective communication units  260  and  209  from the external device  103  side in the same manner as the case of the second display mode M 2 . 
     When a predetermined condition is met (for example, when the display mode switching signal indicating that the display mode is switched), the first control means  202  controls the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation for displaying the display information corresponding to a third display mode (another external information display mode) M 3  as illustrated in  FIG. 6  on the basis of the vehicle state signal and the navigation information. In other words, in this case, the first control means  202  has a function to determine whether or not the predetermined condition is met on the basis of the display mode switching signal as the operation information. 
     When executing the third display mode M 3 , the first control means  202  controls the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation for displaying the vehicle state information (the vehicle-speed display unit  300 , the shift position display unit  310 , fuel remaining amount display unit  320 , and the direction indication display unit  330 ) on the first display region R 1  located on the upper side of the border line L 1  in a state in which the border line L 1  is located on the upper side of the center line L 2  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , and displaying the navigation display unit  340  in the second display region R 2  located on the lower side of the border line L 1  in a state in which the border line L 1  is located on the upper side of the center line L 2 . 
     Therefore, in the third display mode M 3 , the first control means  202  controls the first display unit  204  to perform the display operation so that a display region including information determined to have lower priority at the time of executing the second display mode M 2  (that is, the second display region R 2  on which the navigation display unit  340  is displayed) becomes wider than the other display region (that is, the first display region R 1  on which the vehicle-speed display unit  300 , the shift position display unit  310 , the fuel remaining amount display unit  320 , and the direction indication display unit  330  are displayed) when the predetermined condition is met. 
     More specifically, at this time, the first control means  202  makes the display surface area of the display region including information having high priority (that is, the first display region R 1 ) out of the first display region R 1  and the second display region R 2  larger when the predetermined condition is not met than that when the predetermined condition is met and, in contrast, controls the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation so that the display surface area of the other display region including information having lower priority (that is the second display region R 2 ) larger when the predetermined condition is met than that when the predetermined condition is not met. In other words, it means that the first control means  202  controls the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation so that the display surface area of the first display region R 1  and the display surface area of the second display region R 2  are determined depending on whether or not the predetermined condition is generated and the priority. 
     In other words, when executing the third display mode M 3 , the display surface area of the second display region R 2  including the navigation display unit  340  which is determined to have low priority at the time of execution of the second display mode M 2  is configured to be larger (wider) than the display surface area of the first display region R 1  including the vehicle state information (the vehicle-speed display unit  300 , the shift position display unit  310 , fuel remaining amount display unit  320 , and the direction indication display unit  330 ) which is determined to have high priority at the time of execution of the second display mode M 2 . 
     Therefore, the display size of the characters and the symbol marks of the navigation display unit  340  (the arrow indication  341 , the intersection name display  342 , and the remaining distance display  343  to the intersecting point) to be displayed in the second display region R 2  may be larger than the display size in the second display mode M 2  described above. In contrast, when comparing with the display surface area of the navigation display unit  340  at that time, the display size of the characters and the symbol marks of the vehicle state information (the vehicle-speed display unit  300 , the shift position display unit  310 , fuel remaining amount display unit  320 , and the direction indication display unit  330 ) displayed in the first display region R 1  having a rather small display surface area is smaller than the display side of the first display mode M 1  (or the second display mode M 2 ) described above. 
     In the case of where the first control means  202  receives the display mode switching signal again at the time of execution of the third display mode M 3 , the first control means  202  may control the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation so that the information is displayed in the second display mode instead of the third display mode M 3  in the first display unit  204 . This means that the second display mode M 2  and the third display mode M 3  can be switched by an operation of the operating means  213  by the user. 
     According to the embodiment as described above, the first control means  202  has a function to determine priority between the vehicle state information and the external information (navigation display unit  340 ) of the vehicle, controls the first display unit  204  to operate so that the first display region including the information having high priority out of the first display region R 1  and the second display region R 2  (the first display region R 1  in which the vehicle state information is displayed) becomes wider than the other display region (the second display region R 2  in which the navigation display unit  340  is displayed), and when the predetermined condition is met (upon reception of the display mode switching signal), controls the first display unit  204  to operate so that the display region including the information having low priority (the second display region R 2  in which the navigation display unit  340  is displayed) becomes wider than the other display region (first display region R 1  in which the vehicle state information is displayed). The first control means  202  determines whether or not the predetermined condition is met or not on the basis of the display mode switching signal as the operation information output from the operating means  213  by an operation of the operating means  213  by the user. 
     Therefore, in the second display mode (external information display mode) M 2  like during the travel of the vehicle, since the display surface area of the first display region R 1  in which the vehicle state information (the vehicle-speed display unit  300 , the shift position display unit  310 , fuel remaining amount display unit  320 , and the direction indication display unit  330 ) is displayed is set to be wider (larger) than the display surface area of the second display region R 2  in which the navigation display unit  340  is displayed, the display size of characters and the symbol mark of the vehicle state information, which is the information having high priority becomes substantially same as the display side in the first display mode M 1 , whereby further adequate information provision to the user with the vehicle state added thereto is realized. 
     Furthermore, since the display size of the characters and the symbol marks of the navigation display unit  340 , which has been rather smaller in the second display mode M 2 , becomes larger in the third display mode M 3  when the display is switched from the second display mode M 2  to the third display mode (the other external device display mode) M 3  by using the operation information (the display mode switching signal), visibility of the navigation display unit  340  is sufficiently secured, and further adequate information provision to the user is enabled. 
     In this embodiment, the example in which the first control means  202  controls the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation for displaying the display information corresponding to the third display mode M 3  in the first display unit  204  instead of the second display mode M 2  when the predetermined condition is matched (upon reception of the display mode switching signal) has been described. However, the first control means  202  may be configured to control the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation for displaying the display information corresponding to the third display mode M 3  in the first display unit  204  instead of the second display mode M 2  when the first control means  202  receives a signal (vehicle speed information) indicating that the traveling speed of the vehicle is 0 km/h (that is, the vehicle is stopped) by using the vehicle speed information indicating the traveling speed of the vehicle included in the vehicle state information. 
     In other words, in this case, the first control means  202  determines whether or not the predetermined conditions is met on the basis of the vehicle speed information included in the vehicle state information. The first control means  202  is configured to cause the information displayed in the first display unit  204  is switched from the second display mode M 2  to the third display mode M 3  upon reception of the display mode switching signal. However, a configuration in which the mode is switched from the second display mode M 2  to the third display mode M 3  after an elapse of a predetermined time from the execution of the third display mode M 3 , for example, is also applicable, and a configuration in which the mode is switched to the second display mode M 2  when the vehicle start switch (ignition switch) is changed from an ON state to an OFF state during the execution of the third display mode M 3  is also applicable. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Subsequently, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described on the basis of  FIG. 7 . However, the same or corresponding parts as those of the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. 
     The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that at the time of execution of the third display mode M 3 , the first control means  202  has a function to determine whether or not various types of (predetermined) alarm information (here, it is assumed to be a trunk OPEN signal which indicates a trunk on the rear of the vehicle is OPEN as reminder information) are generated, and when the alarm information (reminder information) is determined to be generated, controls the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation so that display of part of the navigation display unit  340  displayed in the second display region R 2  is switched to an alarm display unit  350  as the alarm information. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a display example of the third display mode M 3  displayed so that the alarm display unit  350  intrudes part (at least part) of the navigation display unit  340 . Here, when the first control means  202  determines that the alarm information is generated, the first control means  202  controls the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation so that display of part of the navigation display unit  340  displayed in the second display region R 2  is switched to the alarm display unit  350 . 
     Specifically, in the first display unit  204 , the arrow indication  341  and the intersection name display  342  which have been displayed in the second display region R 2  thus far are brought into a non-display state, and the alarm display unit  350  saying “the trunk is open” is displayed at a position where the arrow indication  341  and the intersection name display  342  are displayed so as to intrude thereon. Subsequently, when the first control means  202  receives a trunk CLOSED signal indicating that the trunk is closed, the first control means  202  control the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation for returning the first display unit  204  back to a display layout illustrated in  FIG. 6  on the basis of the trunk CLOSED signal (that is, for not displaying the alarm display unit  350  and displaying the arrow indication  341  and the intersection name display  342  again). 
     In the second embodiment, the example in which the alarm display unit  350  is displayed in part of the navigation display unit  340  so as to intrude thereon in the third display mode M 3  has been described. However, for example, a configuration in which telephone call or e-mail incoming information  360  is displayed so as to intrude part of the navigation display unit  340  instead of the alarm display unit  350  in the third display mode M 3  as illustrated in  FIG. 8  as a modification of the second embodiment. 
     In this case, the second control means  252  provided on the external device  103  outputs the telephone call or e-mail incoming information to the first control means  202  via the connecting means  104  (the communication units  260  and  209 ) and, in association therewith, the onboard device  102  is allowed to receive the telephone call or e-mail incoming information as the vehicle external information from the external device  103  side via the connecting means  104 . 
     In the case where the first control means  202  determines that the incoming call information (here, it is assumed to be the e-mail incoming information) is generated as the external information of the vehicle, the first control means  202  controls the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation so that display of part of the navigation display unit  340  displayed in the second display region R 2  is switched to the incoming call display unit (notification display unit)  360  as the incoming call information. 
     Specifically, in the first display unit  204 , the arrow indication  341  and the intersection name display  342  which have been displayed in the second display region R 2  thus far are brought into a non-display state, and the incoming call display unit  360  including a sender display  361  and a title display  362 , for example is displayed at a position where the arrow indication  341  and the intersection name display  342  are displayed so as to intrude thereon. Subsequently, when the first control means  202  control the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation for returning the first display unit  204  back to a display layout illustrated in  FIG. 6  (that is, for not displaying the incoming call display unit  360  and displaying the arrow indication  341  and the intersection name display  342  again) upon reception of the operation information that indicates that the user has performed a confirmation operation for incoming of the e-mail. 
     According to the second embodiment, when the first control means  202  detects one of the incoming call information (the incoming call display unit  360 ) and the alarm information (the alarm display unit  350 ), the first control means  202  controls the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation for displaying one of them in the second display region R 2  so as to intrude thereon, so that a further adequate information provision to the user is realized. In addition, since the provision of an area specific for displaying the incoming call information or for displaying the alarm information is no longer necessary for displaying the incoming call information and the alarm information which occur at rather low frequency in the first display unit  204 , there is a merit that the first display unit  204  can be reduced in size. 
     In addition, in the second embodiment, the example in which one of the incoming call information (incoming call display unit  360 ) and the alarm information (alarm display unit  350 ) is displayed in the second display region R 2  so as to intrude thereon has been described. However, both of the incoming call information and the alarm information may be displayed in the second display region R 2  so as to intrude thereon. In other words, in the case of the present invention, the first control means  202  is configured to control the first display unit  204  to perform a display operation so as to display at least one of the incoming call information and the alarm information in the second display region R 2  so as to intrude thereon upon detection thereof. 
     In the second embodiment, the example in which the incoming call information (the incoming call display unit  360 ) or the alarm information (alarm display unit  350 ) is displayed so as to intrude thereon in the third display mode M 3  as the other external device display mode illustrated in  FIG. 6  has been described. However, for example, a configuration in which at least one of the incoming call information (the incoming call display unit  360 ) and the alarm information (the alarm display unit  350 ) is displayed in the second display region R 2  in the second display mode M 2  as the external device display mode illustrated in  FIG. 5  so as to intrude thereon is also applicable. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention relates to an information provision device for vehicle in which an onboard device and an external device are used, and may be applied as the onboard device not only to vehicle meters (vehicle indicators) configured to display vehicle information, but also to a navigation system or a multi-display apparatus to be mounted on the vehicle. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               101  information provision device for vehicle 
               102  onboard device 
               103  external device 
               104  connecting means 
               202  first control means 
               204  first display unit (display unit) 
               209  first communication unit 
               213  operating device 
               252  second control means 
               260  second communication unit 
               300  vehicle-speed display unit 
               310  shift position display unit 
               320  fuel remaining amount display unit 
               330  direction indication display unit 
               340  navigation display unit (external information of vehicle) 
               341  arrow indication 
               342  intersection name display 
               343  remaining distance display 
               350  alarm display unit 
               360  incoming call display unit 
             L 1  border line 
             L 2  center line 
             M 1  first display mode (normal display mode) 
             M 2  second display mode (external device display mode) 
             M 3  third display mode (another external device display mode) 
             R 1  first display region 
             R 2  second display region