Display control device, display device, and display control method

A display control device that controls an illumination unit capable of forming a display with light on a steering wheel including a central portion, an outer edge, and a connecting portion that connects the central portion and the outer edge in a vehicle having a driving assistance function, the display control device comprising:

• a control unit that controls rendering by a first display element formed in the central portion of the steering wheel, a second display element formed in the connecting portion, and a third display element formed in the outer edge,
• wherein when a driving assistance level is changed, by rendering by the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element on the steering wheel, the control unit presents change information on the driving assistance level by causing a driver of the vehicle to have at least one of:
• a first sense in which a driving responsibility of the vehicle moves toward the steering wheel from a front portion in front of the steering wheel of the vehicle;
• and
• a second sense in which the driving responsibility of the vehicle moves from the steering wheel toward the front portion of the vehicle, and
• wherein, when performing rendering by the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element of the steering wheel, the control unit;
• expresses each of the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element in perspective so that one image perceived by the driver becomes a stereoscopic image having a sense of depth based on each of the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element;
• when causing the driver to have the first sense,
• displays the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element in this order at different times to make the driver feel a motion from a far side to a near side when viewed from the driver, or
• displays the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element at the same time and changes display states of the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element in this order at different times to make the driver feel a motion from the far side to the near side when viewed from the driver;
• and
• when causing the driver to have the second sense,
• displays the third display element, the second display element, and the first display element in this order at different times to make the driver feel a motion from the near side to the far side when viewed from the driver, or
• displays the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element at the same time and changes display states of the third display element, the second display element, and the first display element in this order at different times to make the driver feel a motion from the near side to the far side when viewed from the driver.

A display control method for forming a display with light on a steering wheel including a central portion, an outer edge, and a connecting portion that connects the central portion and the outer edge in a vehicle having a driving assistance function, the display control method comprising:

• when a driving assistance level is changed,
• by controlling rendering by a first display element formed in the central portion of the steering wheel, a second display element formed in the connecting portion, and a third display element formed in the outer edge, and
• presenting change information on the driving assistance level by causing a driver of the vehicle to have at least one of:
• a first sense in which a driving responsibility of the vehicle moves toward the steering wheel from a front portion in front of the steering wheel of the vehicle;
• and
• a second sense in which the driving responsibility of the vehicle moves from the steering wheel toward the front portion of the vehicle,
• wherein display control method further comprises:
• when performing rendering by the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element of the steering wheel,
• expressing each of the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element in perspective so that one image perceived by the driver becomes a stereoscopic image having a sense of depth based on each of the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element, and
• when causing the driver to have the first sense,
• displaying the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element in this order at different times to make the driver feel a motion from a far side to a near side when viewed from the driver, or
• displaying the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element at the same time and changes display states of the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element in this order at different times to make the driver feel a motion from the far side to the near side when viewed from the driver, and
• when causing the driver to have the second sense,
• displaying the third display element, the second display element, and the first display element in this order at different times to make the driver feel a motion from the near side to the far side when viewed from the driver, or
• displaying the first display element, the second display element, and the third display element at the same time and changes display states of the third display element, the second display element, and the first display element in this order at different times to make the driver feel a motion from the near side to the far side when viewed from the driver.

The display control device,

• wherein when the steering wheel viewed from the driver is one virtual plane having a two-dimensional spread in a real space, a virtual first responsible area is set on a side of the front portion of the vehicle and a virtual second responsible area is set on a side of the driver with the plane as a boundary, and
• wherein the control unit:
• causes the driver to have the first sense and thus recognize a shift from the first responsible area to the second responsible area;
• and
• causes the driver to have the second sense and thus recognize a shift from the second responsible area to the first responsible area.