Onboard Display Device, Onboard Display System and Vehicle

Abstract

An onboard display device in accordance with the present invention includes a display section (11) attached to an instrument panel of a vehicle. The section (11) has a second display area (11b) and a first display area (11a). The second display area (11b) shows at least the speed as vehicle condition images indicating the conditions of the vehicle. The first display area (11a) shows a navigation image and other secondary images. The display section (11) measures greater in width than in height with an aspect ratio of 7:3 or greater. The aspect ratio is the width / height ratio of a display area. The onboard display device allows for a visibility-improved simultaneous display of the secondary image, such as a navigation image, and the vehicle condition image, such as a speed display, which presents information on the conditions of the vehicle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to onboard display devices and systems for displaying the traveling speed, engine speed, and other conditions of the vehicle. The present invention also relates to vehicles in which the onboard display system is installed.BACKGROUND ART[0002]New automobile instrument panels, or onboard display devices, have been suggested. They display driver-supporting information, such as navigation images (“secondary images”), as well as the traveling speed, engine speed, and other information on the conditions of the vehicle. See Japanese published patent application 6-195056 / 1994 (Tokukaihei 6-195056; published on Jul. 15, 1994) and Japanese published patent application 9-123848 / 1997 (Tokukaihei 9-123848; published on May 13, 1997).[0003]For example, Tokukaihei 6-195056 provides a wide display screen to improve on visibility, road safety, and ease in operation. Monitor images around the vehicle are displayed on the wide screen along with travel...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present invention, conceived in view of the problems, has an objective to provide an onboard display device and systems, as well as a vehicle incorporating the device and system. The device and system achieves improved visibility to the eye of the driver in the concurrent display of a secondary image and a vehicle condition image. The former includes, for example, a navigation image. The latter presents information on the conditions of the vehicle and includes. for example, a speed display. The device and system thus achieves improved road safety and ease in operation.

[0015]This allows for a visibility-improved simultaneous display of the secondary image, such as a navigation image, and the vehicle condition image, such as a speed display, which presents information on the conditions of the vehicle. As a result, the onboard display device offers improvement in visibility, safety, and easy-of-use to the driver.

[0017]The aspect ratio only needs be 7:3 or greater. For example, at 8:3 or 32:9, two 4:3 or 16:9 display areas can be accommodated. As a result, high visibility displays are produced in both areas, giving extra safety to the driver.

[0019]According to the arrangement, the imaging devices takes images to and near the front, rear, right, and left of the vehicle. The images are simultaneously shown on the display section of the vehicle display device. The driver can reliably check the surroundings of the vehicle for safety when start moving the vehicle.

[0022]Showing a widthwise elongated image to and near the rear of the vehicle in association with the reverse gear at an aspect ratio of 2.3:1 or greater as in the foregoing arrangement provides an easy-to-see image. Thus, the display device is capable of highly visible displays when parking the vehicle, allowing the driver to safely drive backwards.

Problems solved by technology

However, when they are displayed side by side on the Tokukaihei 6-195056 display device, the former appear much smaller and more difficult to recognize.

This situation will lead to safety and ease-in-operation issues.

If these images are however displayed at the same time, sufficient resolution is not ensured for each kind of image.

The resultant display is hard to recognize for the driver.

This will again lead to safety and ease-in-operation issues.

Images