IP Library Granted Patent US 12676127
Granted Patent B2
US 12676127 · App. 18/638,672 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Control apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium

Inventor: Wataru Kaku (Musashino, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G09G5/38G06F3/14G06T7/20G06T7/60G09G2340/0464
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12676127
App. No.
18/638,672
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control apparatus includes a display having a display area for displaying images, an imager configured to capture an image of a plurality of users around the display area, and a controller configured to raise or lower a position of the display area to a height corresponding to a representative eye height of the plurality of users based on the image captured by the imager.

Claims (62)

1 . A control apparatus, comprising:

a display having a display area for displaying images;

an imager configured to capture an image of a plurality of users around the display area; and

a controller configured to raise or lower a position of the display area to a height corresponding to a representative eye height of the plurality of users based on the image captured by the imager, wherein

the height corresponding to the representative eye height is a height of a vertical center of the display area relative to the ground, which corresponds to a direction that is predetermined degrees below the representative eye height at an average distance,

the average distance is an average of distances from the plurality of users to the display area,

the controller is configured to

assign to each user of the plurality of users a weight that decreases according to a height of the corresponding user, and

determine the representative eye height by taking into account the weight, and

the weight decreases as the height of the corresponding user is higher.

2 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is configured to determine the representative eye height for a target that includes the plurality of users included in a reference area around the display area.

3 . The control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

when determining the representative eye height, the controller is configured to

add to the target a user who moves inside the reference area from outside the reference area, and

exclude from the target a user who moves outside the reference area from inside the reference area.

4 . The control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

when determining the representative eye height, the controller is configured to add to the target a user who performs a predetermined action.

5 . The control apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the predetermined action includes turning of a head of the user to face the display area.

6 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is configured to

assign to each user of the plurality of users a further weight that decreases according to a distance from the corresponding user to the display area, and

determine the representative eye height by taking into account the further weight.

7 . The control apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein

the further weight decreases as the distance from the corresponding user to the display area is larger.

8 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an input area configured to accept an operation for the display area by any user in the plurality of users, wherein

the controller is configured to determine the representative eye height by taking into account a further weight for each user of the plurality of users according to a state of operation with respect to the control apparatus.

9 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the height of the vertical center of the display area is lower as the average distance increases.

10 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the predetermined degrees are 10 to 15 degrees.

11 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an actuator configured to raise or lower the display, wherein

the controller is configured to raise or lower the position of the display area by instructing the actuator to raise or lower the display area together with the display.

12 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is configured to raise or lower the position of the display area by transmitting, to the display, information causing the display to display the images in which the position of the display area is raised or lowered.

13 . The control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the representative eye height is an average of eye heights of the plurality of users.

14 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program to be executed by a control apparatus comprising a display having a display area for displaying images and an imager configured to capture an image of a plurality of users around the display area, the program causing the control apparatus to:

raise or lower a position of the display area to a height corresponding to a representative eye height of the plurality of users based on the image captured by the imager, wherein

the height corresponding to the representative eye height is a height of a vertical center of the display area relative to the ground, which corresponds to a direction that is predetermined degrees below the representative eye height at an average distance,

the average distance is an average of distances from the plurality of users to the display area,

the control apparatus

assigns to each user of the plurality of users a weight that decreases according to a height of the corresponding user, and

determines the representative eye height by taking into account the weight, and the weight decreases as the height of the corresponding user is higher.

15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 14 , wherein

the control apparatus determines the representative eye height for a target that includes the plurality of users included in a reference area around the display area.

16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein

when determining the representative eye height, the control apparatus

adds to the target a user who moves inside the reference area from outside the reference area, and

excludes from the target a user who moves outside the reference area from inside the reference area.

17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein

when determining the representative eye height, the control apparatus adds to the target a user who performs a predetermined action.

18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 14 , wherein

the control apparatus

assigns to each user of the plurality of users a further weight that decreases according to a distance from the corresponding user to the display area, and

determines the representative eye height by taking into account the further weight.

19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 15 , wherein

the control apparatus further comprises an input area configured to accept an operation for the display area by any user in the plurality of users, and

the control apparatus determines the representative eye height by taking into account a further weight for each user of the plurality of users according to a state of operation with respect to the control apparatus.