# US 12,112,408 B2 · Vehicle display control device, vehicle display device, vehicle display control method, and non-transitory storage medium

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- Number: US 12,112,408 B2
- Document ID: US12112408B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/812,604
- Filed: 2022-07-14
- Published: 2023-01-26
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2021-07-26
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Eriko Fujita; Hitoshi Kumon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112408B2

## CPC

- B60K 31/0008: {including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path}
- G06T 11/23: using straight lines or curves
- B60K 35/234: controlling the brightness, colour or contrast of virtual images depending on the driving conditions or on the condition of the vehicle or the driver
- B60K 35/81: for controlling displays
- G02B 27/0101: {characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence)}
- G09G 3/002: {to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT}
- B60K 35/00: Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
- B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
- B60K 2360/168: Target or limit values
- B60K 2360/179: Distances to obstacles or vehicles
- B60K 2360/31: Virtual images
- B60K 2360/785: on or in relation to the windshield or windows
- B60Y 2300/14: Cruise control
- G02B 27/01: Head-up displays
- G02B 2027/0141: {characterised by the informative content of the display}
- G06V 20/588: {Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road}
- G09G 2380/10: Automotive applications
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00)
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING

## Abstract

A vehicle display control device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The vehicle display control device is configured such that the processor controls a vehicle display device for displaying an image on a display region so as to be superimposed on a portion of a view ahead of a vehicle. The processor is configured so as to detect a preceding vehicle traveling at a vehicle front side of a host vehicle, and in cases in which the preceding vehicle has been detected, causes an image that includes a plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects from the host vehicle side toward the preceding vehicle side to be displayed in the display region, and causes sequential emphasis display of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects in sequence from the host vehicle side toward the preceding vehicle side.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle display control device, comprising:
a memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to control a vehicle display device that displays an image at a display region so as to be superimposed on a portion of a view ahead of a host vehicle, the processor being configured to:
detect a preceding vehicle traveling at a vehicle front side relative to the host vehicle, and
in a case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected:
cause an image that includes a plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects from a host vehicle side toward a preceding vehicle side to be displayed at the display region, and
after the image that includes the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects is caused to be displayed, implement sequential emphasis display of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects in sequence from the host vehicle side toward the preceding vehicle side such that after the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the remaining inter-vehicle marker objects, the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is immediately adjacent to the inter-vehicle marker object that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the inter-vehicle marker object that is closest to the host vehicle; or
detect a preceding vehicle traveling at a vehicle front side relative to the host vehicle,
in a case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected:
detect whether or not the host vehicle is being controlled by adaptive cruise control, and
detect whether or not the preceding vehicle is a target for following-travel control of the host vehicle, and
in the case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected:
cause an image that includes a plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects from a host vehicle side toward a preceding vehicle side to be displayed at the display region, and
in a case in which it has been detected that the host vehicle is being controlled by the adaptive cruise control and the preceding vehicle is the target for the following-travel control of the host vehicle:
after the image that includes the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects is displayed, implement sequential emphasis display of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects in sequence from the host vehicle side toward the preceding vehicle side such that after the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the remaining inter-vehicle marker objects, the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is immediately adjacent to the inter-vehicle marker object that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the inter-vehicle marker object that is closest to the host vehicle,
wherein the processor is configured to perform emphasis display of each of the inter-vehicle marker objects for respective fixed periods of time in the case in which the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects are subjected to the sequential emphasis display from the host vehicle side to the preceding vehicle side.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle display control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:
generate an image including a group of inter-vehicle marker objects from the host vehicle as far as the preceding vehicle in the case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected, and
cause the plurality of the inter-vehicle marker objects, which are configured for display at the display region from within the generated image, to be displayed at the display region.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle display control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:
recognize a position and a direction of a vehicle lane in which the host vehicle is traveling, and
cause a pair of vehicle lane guide lines, indicating respective edges of the vehicle lane from the host vehicle side as far as the preceding vehicle side along the vehicle lane, to be displayed at the display region.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle display control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to cause the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects to be displayed at the display region so as to appear uniformly spaced apart in a vehicle front-rear direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle display control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to perform the sequential emphasis display processing, at intervals of a specific time period, on the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects displayed at the display region.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle display control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:
perform gradation mask application processing on portions corresponding to respective vehicle width direction edges of an image being displayed at the display region using a gradation mask having a transmittance that gradually decreases in progression from a vehicle width direction inner side toward a vehicle width direction outer side, and
cause the image that has been subjected to the gradation mask application processing to be displayed at the display region.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle display control device of claim 1, wherein the display region is a projection surface that is projected onto by a head-up display device at a vehicle front side of a driving seat.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A vehicle display device, comprising:
the vehicle display control device of claim 1; and
a display section provided inside a vehicle cabin of the host vehicle and including the display region.

### Claim 9

A vehicle display control method, executed by a processor, for controlling a vehicle display device configured to display an image at a display region so as to be superimposed on a portion of a view ahead of a host vehicle, the vehicle display control method comprising:
detecting a preceding vehicle traveling at a vehicle front side relative to the host vehicle, and
in a case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected:
causing an image that includes a plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects from a host vehicle side toward a preceding vehicle side to be displayed at the display region, and
after the image that includes the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects is caused to be displayed, implementing sequential emphasis display of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects in sequence from the host vehicle side toward the preceding vehicle side such that after the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the remaining inter-vehicle marker objects, the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is immediately adjacent to the inter-vehicle marker object that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the inter-vehicle marker objects object that is closest to the host vehicle; or
detecting a preceding vehicle traveling at a vehicle front side relative to the host vehicle,
in a case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected:
detecting whether or not the host vehicle is being controlled by adaptive cruise control, and
detecting whether or not a preceding vehicle is a target for following-travel control of the host vehicle, and
in the case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected:
causing an image that includes a plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects from a host vehicle side toward a preceding vehicle side to be displayed at the display region, and
in a case in which it has been detected that the host vehicle is being controlled by the adaptive cruise control and the preceding vehicle is the target for the following-travel control of the host vehicle:
after the image that includes the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects is displayed, implementing sequential emphasis display of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects in sequence from the host vehicle side toward the preceding vehicle side such that after the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the remaining inter-vehicle marker objects, the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is immediately adjacent to the inter-vehicle marker object that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the inter-vehicle marker objects object that is closest to the host vehicle; and
performing emphasis display of each of the inter-vehicle marker objects for respective fixed periods of time in the case in which the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects are subjected to the sequential emphasis display from the host vehicle side to the preceding vehicle side.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle display control method of claim 9, further comprising:
generating an image including a group of inter-vehicle marker objects from the host vehicle as far as the preceding vehicle in the case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected; and
causing the plurality of the inter-vehicle marker objects, configured for display at the display region from within the generated image, to be displayed at the display region.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The vehicle display control method of claim 9, further comprising:
recognizing a position and a direction of a vehicle lane in which the host vehicle is traveling; and
causing a pair of vehicle lane guide lines, indicating respective edges of the vehicle lane from the host vehicle side as far as the preceding vehicle side along the vehicle lane, to be displayed at the display region.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The vehicle display control method of claim 9, further comprising:
causing the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects to be displayed at the display region so as to appear uniformly spaced apart in a vehicle front-rear direction.

### Claim 13

A non-transitory storage medium storing a program executable by a processor to perform vehicle display control processing for controlling a vehicle display device configured to display an image at a display region so as to be superimposed on a portion of a view ahead of a host vehicle, the vehicle display control processing comprising:
detecting a preceding vehicle traveling at a vehicle front side relative to the host vehicle, and
in a case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected:
causing an image that includes a plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects from a host vehicle side toward a preceding vehicle side to be displayed at the display region, and
after the image that includes the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects is caused to be displayed, implementing sequential emphasis display of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects in sequence from the host vehicle side toward the preceding vehicle side such that after the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the remaining inter-vehicle marker objects, the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is immediately adjacent to the inter-vehicle marker object that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the inter-vehicle marker object that is closest to the host vehicle; or
detecting a preceding vehicle traveling at a vehicle front side relative to the host vehicle,
in a case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected:
detecting whether or not the host vehicle is being controlled by adaptive cruise control, and
detecting whether or not a preceding vehicle is a target for following-travel control of the host vehicle, and
in the case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected:
causing an image that includes a plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects from a host vehicle side toward a preceding vehicle side to be displayed at the display region, and
in a case in which it has been detected that the host vehicle is being controlled by the adaptive cruise control and the preceding vehicle is the target for the following-travel control of the host vehicle:
after the image that includes the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects is displayed, implementing sequential emphasis display of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects in sequence from the host vehicle side toward the preceding vehicle side such that after the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the remaining inter-vehicle marker objects, the inter-vehicle marker object of the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects that is immediately adjacent to the inter-vehicle marker object that is closest to the host vehicle is emphasized with respect to the inter-vehicle marker object that is closest to the host vehicle; and
performing emphasis display of each of the inter-vehicle marker objects for respective fixed periods of time in the case in which the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects are subjected to the sequential emphasis display from the host vehicle side to the preceding vehicle side.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13, the vehicle display control processing further comprising:
generating an image including a group of inter-vehicle marker objects from the host vehicle as far as the preceding vehicle in the case in which the preceding vehicle has been detected; and
causing the plurality of the inter-vehicle marker objects, configured for display at the display region from within the generated image, to be displayed at the display region.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13, the vehicle display control processing further comprising:
recognizing a position and a direction of a vehicle lane in which the host vehicle is traveling; and
causing a pair of vehicle lane guide lines, indicating respective edges of the vehicle lane from the host vehicle side as far as the preceding vehicle side along the vehicle lane, to be displayed at the display region.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13, the vehicle display control processing further comprising:
causing the plurality of inter-vehicle marker objects to be displayed at the display region so as to appear uniformly spaced apart in a vehicle front-rear direction.