Method for displaying rearward image of vehicle
A display control method for a vehicle-mounted display device includes a housing, an electro-optic layer configured to vary reflectivity of incident light, a display provided between the electro-optic layer and part of the housing, a sensor to detect intensity of light emitted on the display device, and an operation lever provided on the housing that switches the electro-optic layer between two postures. The display control method includes varying a reflectivity of the electro-optic layer within a predetermined range based on intensity of light emitted on the display device, and when the electro-optic layer is in a first posture, the predetermined range is between a first and second reflectivity. When the electro-optic layer is in a second posture, displaying a backward image on a display screen, and when the electro-optic layer is in the second posture, restricting the varying of the reflectivity within the predetermined range.
1 . A display control method for a display device mounted in a vehicle, the display control method comprising:
varying a reflectivity level of an electro-optic layer within at least part of variable reflectivity levels of the electro-optic layer based on an intensity of light emitted on a part of a display device, when the electro-optic layer is in a downward posture, the electro-optic layer being visible from an outside of the display device through an opening of a housing of the display device, the electro-optic layer having the variable reflectivity levels of incident light to transmit a first part of the incident light, and to reflect a second part of the incident light, the at least part of the variable reflectivity levels being between a first reflectivity level and a second reflectivity level, the first reflectivity level being greater than the second reflectivity level, a first normal direction of the electro-optic layer extending outward from an inside of the housing through the opening of the housing in the downward posture;
displaying a rearward image of the vehicle on a screen of a display, the rearward image captured by an image capture device, when the electro-optic layer is in an upward posture, the display provided between the electro-optic layer and a part of the housing of the display device, and coupled with the image capture device capturing the rearward image of the vehicle, a second normal direction of the electro-optic layer extending outward from the inside of the housing through the opening of the housing in the upward posture, the second normal direction of the electro-optic layer in the upward posture being oriented more upward than the first normal direction of the electro-optic layer in the downward posture; and
nullifying the varying of the reflectivity level of the electro-optic layer within the at least part of the variable reflectivity levels of the electro-optic layer based on the intensity of light emitted on the part of the display device, when the electro-optic layer is in the upward posture.
2 . The display control method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
nullifying the displaying of the rearward image on the screen of the display, when the electro-optic layer is in the downward posture.
3 . The display control method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting one reflectivity level of the electro-optic layer from the variable reflectivity levels of the electro-optic layer, when the electro-optic layer is in the upward posture.
4 . The display control method according to claim 3 , wherein
the one reflectivity level is greater than the second reflectivity level.
5 . The display control method according to claim 1 , wherein
the display device comprises an operation lever provided on the housing and to switch the electro-optic layer between the downward posture and the upward posture.
6 . The display control method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting ambient illuminance in at least a forward direction of the vehicle using a first illuminance sensor of the sensor; and
detecting surface illuminance on a front surface of the display device using a second illuminance sensor of the sensor, the second illuminance sensor configured to detect the intensity of light emitted on the part of the display device,
the front surface of the display device facing a vehicle occupant in the vehicle.
7 . The display control method according to claim 1 , wherein
the display device comprises a glass panel located on the opening of the housing, and
the electro-optic layer is located between the glass panel and the display.
8 . The display control method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
varying the reflectivity level of incident light of the electro-optic layer by a voltage applied to the electro-optic layer.
9 . The display control method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
varying a transmittance level of the variable transmittance element by a voltage applied to the variable transmittance element, the electro-optic layer including the variable transmittance element being layered and a transmissive-reflective layer being layered.
10 . The display control method according to claim 9 , wherein
the display device comprises a glass panel located on the opening of the housing, and
the variable transmittance element is located between the glass panel and the transmissive-reflective layer.