Vehicle having road-surface rendering function

1 . A vehicle having a road-surface rendering function, the vehicle comprising:

a light projection member configured to perform light projection for road-surface rendering, the light projection member being configured to irradiate a road surface with light according to a selected light projection pattern selected from multiple light projection patterns each serving as a basis for a traffic-related symbol to be rendered on the road surface, so as to render, on the road surface, the traffic-related symbol corresponding to the selected light projection pattern;

a rain detection member configured to perform detection of rain or a rain-associated state; and

a control unit configured to control the light projection for the road-surface rendering by the light projection member in accordance with the detection by the rain detection member,

wherein the control unit is configured to determine that the rain is falling and suppress the light projection from the light projection member when the rain detection member detects the rain or the rain-associated state.

2 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 1 ,

wherein the rain detection member comprises a rain sensor provided in the vehicle or a wiper device configured to operate when the rain falls on the vehicle,

wherein the control unit is configured to;

determine that the rain is falling and suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol from the light projection member when a time period or an amount of the rain detected by the rain sensor is greater than or equal to a threshold value or when a time period in which the wiper device operates is greater than or equal to a threshold value; and

determine that the rain has stopped and resume the light projection for the traffic-related symbol from the light projection member when a time period greater than or equal to a threshold value has elapsed after the rain is no longer detected by the rain sensor or when a time period greater than or equal to a threshold value has elapsed after the wiper device stops operating.

3 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 2 ,

wherein the control unit is configured to suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol by stopping the light projection for the traffic-related symbol when the rain is falling.

4 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 2 ,

wherein the control unit is configured to:

suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol by stopping the light projection for the traffic-related symbol when a time period or an amount of the rain is greater than or equal to a threshold value; and

suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol by moving a light projection position for the traffic-related symbol closer toward the vehicle and also by performing light reduction when the time period or the amount of the rain is not greater than or equal to the threshold value.

5 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 1 ,

wherein the rain detection member comprises a vehicle-exterior camera provided in the vehicle, and

wherein the control unit is configured to:

determine that the rain is falling and suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol from the light projection member when the vehicle-exterior camera captures an image including spot light on the road surface as the rain-associated state; and

determine that the rain has stopped and resume the light projection for the traffic-related symbol from the light projection member when the vehicle-exterior camera stops capturing the image including the spot light on the road surface.

6 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 5 ,

wherein the control unit is configured to suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol by stopping the light projection for the traffic-related symbol when the rain is falling.

7 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 5 ,

wherein the control unit is configured to:

suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol by stopping the light projection for the traffic-related symbol when a time period or an amount of the rain is greater than or equal to a threshold value; and

suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol by moving a light projection position for the traffic-related symbol closer toward the vehicle and also by performing light reduction when the time period or the amount of the rain is not greater than or equal to the threshold value.

8 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 5 , wherein the spot light on the road is a puddle on the road surface.

9 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control unit is configured to suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol by stopping the light projection for the traffic-related symbol when the rain is falling.

10 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 1 ,

wherein the control unit is configured to:

suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol by stopping the light projection for the traffic-related symbol when a time period or an amount of the rain is greater than or equal to a threshold value; and

suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol by moving a light projection position for the traffic-related symbol closer toward the vehicle and also by performing light reduction when the time period or the amount of the rain is not greater than or equal to the threshold value.

11 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to move the light projection position for the traffic-related symbol closer toward the vehicle by reducing a size of the traffic-related symbol.

12 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 1 , wherein the traffic-related symbol comprises at least one of a left-turn indication, a go-straight indication, a right-turn indication, a speed-limit indication, a stop-position indication, a no-crossing indication, or a snowy- or frozen-road warning indication.

13 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol by at least one of moving a light projection position for the traffic-related symbol closer toward the vehicle or performing light reduction.

14 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 1 ,

wherein the vehicle further comprises a first light source configured to form high beam light and a second light source configured to form low beam light, and

wherein the light projection member comprises a third light source configured to project light for rendering the traffic-related symbol on the road surface.

15 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 14 ,

wherein the first light source comprises low beam LEDs, the second light source comprises high beam LEDs, and the third light source comprises a MEMS light projection module.

16 . A vehicle having a road-surface rendering function, the vehicle comprising:

a light projection member including a light source and configured to perform light projection for road-surface rendering, the light projection member being configured to irradiate a road surface with light according to a selected light projection pattern selected from multiple light projection patterns each serving as a basis for a traffic-related symbol to be rendered on the road surface, so as to render, on the road surface, the traffic-related symbol corresponding to the selected light projection pattern; and

circuitry configured to:

perform detection of rain or a rain-associated state;

control the light projection for the road-surface rendering by the light projection member in accordance with the detection; and

determine that the rain is falling and suppress the light projection from the light projection member when the rain or the rain-associated state is detected.

17 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 16 , wherein the traffic-related symbol comprises at least one of a left-turn indication, a go-straight indication, a right-turn indication, a speed-limit indication, a stop-position indication, a no-crossing indication, or a snowy- or frozen-road warning indication.

18 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 16 , wherein the circuitry is configured to suppress the light projection for the traffic-related symbol by at least one of moving a light projection position for the traffic-related symbol closer toward the vehicle or performing light reduction.

19 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 16 ,

wherein the vehicle further comprises a first light source configured to form high beam light and a second light source configured to form low beam light, and

wherein the light projection member comprises a third light source configured to project light for rendering the traffic-related symbol on the road surface.

20 . The vehicle having the road-surface rendering function according to claim 19 ,

wherein the first light source comprises low beam LEDs, the second light source comprises high beam LEDs, and the third light source comprises a MEMS light projection module.