IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,597,261
Granted Patent B2
US 11,597,261 · App. 16/938,009 · Granted Mar 7, 2023

Control apparatus, vehicle, and control method

Inventors: Keiko Nakano (Kawasaki, JP); Yu Nagata (Nagoya, JP); Takashi Hayashi (Aichi-gun, JP); Ryota Kondo (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B60J3/04G02F1/0121G06V20/56G06V20/59G06V40/10G09F21/04
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,597,261
App. No.
16/938,009
Granted
Mar 7, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control apparatus, a vehicle and a control method which improve user-friendliness of a technique for providing information to an interior or an exterior of a vehicle are provided. The control apparatus of the vehicle includes a controller which changes the degree of visibility between the exterior and the interior of the vehicle based on at least one of first information indicating a state of the exterior of the vehicle and second information indicating a state of the interior of the vehicle.

Claims (45)

1. A control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a controller configured to change the degree of visibility between an exterior and an interior of the vehicle based on at least one of first information indicating a state of the exterior of the vehicle and second information indicating a state of the interior of the vehicle.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first information includes an image of the exterior of the vehicle, and

the controller changes the degree of visibility based on a number of persons appearing in the image of the exterior of the vehicle.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first information includes position information for the vehicle, and

the controller changes the degree of visibility based on a type of an area corresponding to the position information of the vehicle.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller determines a number of viewing persons who view the interior of the vehicle from the exterior and changes the degree of visibility based on the first information.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein, in a case in which the number of viewing persons is equal to or greater than a first threshold, the controller enables visibility between the exterior and the interior of the vehicle.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein, in a case in which the number of viewing persons is equal to or less than a second threshold, the controller enables visibility between the exterior and the interior of the vehicle.

7. The control apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second information includes an image of the interior of the vehicle, and

the controller changes the degree of visibility based on a number of persons appearing in the image of the interior of the vehicle.

8. The control apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller determines a viewing allowance level for viewing the interior of the vehicle from the exterior and changes the degree of visibility based on the second information.

9. The control apparatus according to claim 8 ,

wherein, in a case in which the viewing allowance level is equal to or greater than a third threshold, the controller enables visibility between the exterior and the interior of the vehicle.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller changes the degree of visibility by changing transmittance of a windshield provided to the vehicle.

11. The control apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller changes the degree of visibility by changing a display image of at least one of a display arranged to face outside the vehicle and a display arranged to face inside the vehicle.

12. A vehicle comprising the control apparatus according to claim 1 .

13. A control method for a vehicle, comprising:

changing, by a controller, the degree of visibility between an exterior and an interior of the vehicle based on at least one of first information indicating a state of the exterior of the vehicle and second information indicating a state of the interior of the vehicle.

14. The control method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the first information includes an image of the exterior of the vehicle, and

the controller changes the degree of visibility based on a number of persons appearing in the image of the exterior of the vehicle.

15. The control method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the first information includes position information for the vehicle, and

the controller changes the degree of visibility based a type of an area corresponding to the position information for the vehicle.

16. The control method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the controller determines a number of viewing persons who view the interior of the vehicle from the exterior and changes the degree of visibility based on the first information.

17. The control method according to claim 16 ,

wherein, in a case in which the number of viewing persons is equal to or greater than a first threshold, the controller enables visibility between the exterior and the interior of the vehicle.

18. The control method according to claim 16 ,

wherein, in a case in which the number of viewing persons is equal to or less than a second threshold, the controller enables visibility between the exterior and the interior of the vehicle.

19. The control method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the second information includes an image of the interior of the vehicle, and

the controller changes the degree of visibility based on a number of persons appearing in the image of the interior of the vehicle.

20. The control method according to claim 13 ,

wherein the controller determines a viewing allowance level for viewing the interior of the vehicle from the exterior and changes the degree of visibility based on the second information.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2020
From: NAKANO, KEIKO; NAGATA, YU; HAYASHI, TAKASHI; KONDO, RYOTA
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 054006/0647 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-136442 · Jul 24, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210023918A1 · Jan 28, 2021