# US 12,766,960 B2 · Vehicle display control device, vehicle display control method and non-transitory computer readable medium storing vehicle display control program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,766,960 B2 - Document ID: US12766960B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/800,914 - Filed: 2024-08-12 - Published: 2024-12-05 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-21 - Assignees: Denso Corporation - Applicants: Denso Corporation - Inventors: Takuya Kume; Kazuki Izumi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12766960B2 ## CPC - B60K 35/29: Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/50: Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence) - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - B60K 35/654: {the user being the driver} - B60K 35/81: for controlling displays - B60K 35/90: Calibration of instruments, e.g. setting initial or reference parameters; Testing of instruments, e.g. detecting malfunction - B60K 35/26: using acoustic output - 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 2360/167: Vehicle dynamics information - B60K 2360/175: Autonomous driving - B60K 2360/1876: according to vehicle situations - B60K 2360/195: Blocking or enabling display functions - B60K 2360/48: Sensors - 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 ## Abstract Disclosed is a technique of controlling display of travel related information on an indicator provided in a vehicle that can be switched between non-monitoring-obligation automated driving and monitoring-obligation driving. The non-monitoring-obligation automated driving is automated driving without a surrounding monitoring obligation. The monitoring-obligation driving is driving with the surrounding monitoring obligation. In the method, the travel related information displayed during the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving is reduced compared to the travel related information displayed during the monitoring-obligation driving. Reduction of the travel related information is suppressed based on an identified vehicle situation during the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle display control device for a vehicle configured to be switched between non-monitoring-obligation automated driving that is automated driving without a surrounding monitoring obligation and monitoring-obligation driving that is driving with the surrounding monitoring obligation, the vehicle display control device comprising: at least one processor configured to: identify a situation of the vehicle; control display of travel related information on an indicator provided in a vehicle compartment of the vehicle, the travel related information being information related to traveling of the vehicle; reduce the travel related information displayed on the indicator during the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving by omitting display of a plurality of pieces of the travel related information, compared to the travel related information displayed during the monitoring-obligation driving; and suppress reduction of the travel related information based on a vehicle situation identified by the at least one processor during the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving, by omitting display of at least one piece of the plurality of pieces of the travel related information while displaying at least another piece of the plurality of pieces, the vehicle situation excluding information about whether the vehicle is operated in the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, wherein the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving includes area-limited automated driving which is automated driving permitted in a limited area without the surrounding monitoring obligation, and traffic congestion limited automated driving which is automated driving permitted only in traffic congestion without the surrounding monitoring obligation, the vehicle is configured to be switched between the area-limited automated driving and the traffic congestion limited automated driving as the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving, the travel related information includes behavior related information that is information related to behavior of the vehicle itself, and the at least one processor is configured to suppress reduction of the behavior related information based on the vehicle situation indicating the area-limited automated driving, compared to reduction of the behavior related information displayed during the traffic congestion limited automated driving. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle display control device according to claim 2, wherein the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving includes sleep permitted automated driving in which a driver of the vehicle is permitted to sleep, and sleep non-permitted driving in which the driver is not permitted to sleep, the sleep non-permitted driving includes the area-limited automated driving and the traffic congestion limited automated driving, the vehicle is configured to be switched between the sleep permitted automated driving and the sleep non-permitted driving in the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving, and configured to be switched between the area-limited automated driving and the traffic congestion limited automated driving in the sleep non-permitted driving, and the at least one processor is further configured to reduce the behavior related information displayed on the indicator during the traffic congestion limited automated driving, compared to the behavior related information displayed during the monitoring-obligation driving, and based on the vehicle situation indicating the sleep permitted automated driving, reduce the behavior related information compared to the behavior related information displayed during the area-limited automated driving, or set an amount of the behavior related information to be same as an amount of the behavior related information displayed during the traffic congestion limited automated driving. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vehicle display control device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to reduce the behavior related information and increase an amount of travel environment related information displayed on the indicator during the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving compared to the monitoring-obligation driving, the travel environment related information being information related to a travel environment of the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, wherein the travel related information includes behavior related information that is information related to behavior of the vehicle itself, and the at least one processor is further configured to reduce the behavior related information displayed on the indicator during the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving, compared to the behavior related information displayed during the monitoring-obligation driving, and suppress reduction of the behavior related information during the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving based on the vehicle situation indicating gripping of a steering wheel or operating of an accelerator pedal by a vehicle driver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle display control device according to claim 5, wherein the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving includes area-limited automated driving which is automated driving permitted in a limited area without the surrounding monitoring obligation, and traffic congestion limited automated driving which is automated driving permitted only in traffic congestion without the surrounding monitoring obligation, the vehicle is configured to be switched between the area-limited automated driving and the traffic congestion limited automated driving in the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving, the at least one processor is further configured to reduce the behavior related information displayed on the indicator during the traffic congestion limited automated driving, compared to the behavior related information displayed during the monitoring-obligation driving, and suppress reduction of the behavior related information during the traffic congestion limited automated driving based on the vehicle situation indicating gripping of the steering wheel or operation of the accelerator pedal by a vehicle driver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle display control device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to continue to display the behavior related information, which has been increased by suppression of the reduction of the behavior related information based on the vehicle situation indicating the gripping of the steering wheel or the operation of the accelerator pedal, until at least a prescribed time elapses after a start of the suppression of the reduction of the behavior related information. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The vehicle display control device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to terminate reduction of the behavior related information during the traffic congestion limited automated driving before resolution of the traffic congestion based on the at least one processor identifying a situation in which the traffic congestion starts to be resolved. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The vehicle display control device according to claim 2, wherein the behavior related information is information of a revolution speedometer of the vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The vehicle display control device according to claim 2, wherein the behavior related information includes information having same content as information displayed on the vehicle and redundantly indicated in a different expression or different form. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, wherein the travel related information includes behavior related information that is information related to behavior of the vehicle itself, and the at least one processor is further configured to increase the behavior related information based on the vehicle situation indicating traveling on a general road during automated driving at a specific level or higher, compared to the behavior related information displayed during driving at a level lower than the specific level, the specific level being a level at which both steering and acceleration/deceleration are assisted. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle display control device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to further increase the behavior related information based on the vehicle situation indicating traveling at an intersection. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, wherein the travel related information includes behavior related information that is information related to behavior of the vehicle itself, and the at least one processor is further configured to control display on a fellow passenger indicator that is the indicator visually recognizable by a fellow passenger who is an occupant other than a vehicle driver, display the behavior related information on the fellow passenger indicator during automated driving at a specific level or higher, the specific level being a level at which both steering and acceleration/deceleration are assisted, and make a transition to display entertainment-related content information based on switching from the automated driving the specific level or higher to driving at a level lower than the specific level. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle display control device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control display on a driver indicator that is the indicator for the vehicle driver, and synchronize contents displayed on the fellow passenger indicator and the driver indicator during the automated driving at the specific level or higher. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, wherein the travel related information includes behavior related information that is information related to behavior of the vehicle itself, and the at least one processor is further configured to control display on a fellow passenger indicator that is the indicator visually recognizable by a fellow passenger who is an occupant other than a vehicle driver, control display on a driver indicator that is the indicator for the vehicle driver, and make the behavior related information displayed on the fellow passenger indicator less than the behavior related information displayed on the driver indicator during the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, wherein the travel related information includes behavior related information that is information related to behavior of the vehicle itself, and the at least one processor is further configured to suppress reduction of the behavior related information based on the vehicle situation indicating traveling on a downhill during the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, wherein the travel related information includes behavior related information that is information related to behavior of the vehicle itself, the vehicle is an electric vehicle having regeneration modes different in magnitude of regenerative braking, and the at least one processor is further configured to change an amount of the behavior related information displayed on the indicator depending on a current regeneration mode of the vehicle indicated by the vehicle situation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle display control device according to claim 17, wherein the behavior related information includes information related to the regenerative braking, and the at least one processor is further configured to increase an amount of the information related to the regenerative braking with increase in magnitude of regenerative braking of the regeneration mode being used. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a remote operation vehicle operable in automated driving by a remote operation, the travel related information includes behavior related information that is information related to behavior of the vehicle itself, and the at least one processor is further configured to reduce the behavior related information based on the vehicle situation indicating the remote operation of the vehicle, compared to the behavior related information displayed during an operation that is not the remote operation, and suppress reduction of the behavior related information based on the vehicle situation indicating that the remote operation is required to be switched to an operation by an occupant of the vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The vehicle display control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a remote operation vehicle operable in automated driving by a remote operation, the at least one processor is further configured to: instruct to display information to a remote operator, the remote operator being outside the vehicle to remotely operate the remote operation vehicle; and reduce information displayed on the indicator to an occupant of the vehicle, compared to information displayed to the remote operator via the at least one processor, based on the vehicle situation indicating the remote operation of the vehicle. ### Claim 21 A vehicle display control method for a vehicle configured to be switched between non-monitoring-obligation automated driving that is automated driving without a surrounding monitoring obligation and monitoring-obligation driving that is driving with the surrounding monitoring obligation, the method executed by at least one processor, the method comprising: identifying a situation of the vehicle; and controlling display of travel related information on an indicator provided in a vehicle compartment of the vehicle, the travel related information being information related to traveling of the vehicle, wherein the controlling includes reducing the travel related information displayed on the indicator during the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving by omitting display of a plurality of pieces of the travel related information, compared to the travel related information displayed during the monitoring-obligation driving, and suppressing reduction of the travel related information based on a vehicle situation identified in the identifying during the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving, by omitting display of at least one piece of the plurality of pieces of the travel related information while displaying at least another piece of the plurality of the pieces, the vehicle situation excluding information about whether the vehicle is operated in the non-monitoring-obligation automated driving. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a vehicle display control program comprising instructions configured to, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out the method according to claim 21.