Information providing device for vehicle

Abstract

An information providing device provided in a vehicle includes an object detecting unit for detecting an object outside the vehicle; a providing unit for providing, outside of the vehicle, visual information which is visually perceptible; and a controlling unit for controlling the providing unit. The providing unit is usually caused to provide the visual information to indicate a heading direction of the vehicle. In contrast, when the detected object is determined to include a danger to advancement of the vehicle or an indication of stopping the vehicle, the providing unit is caused to then move the visual information to indicate a direction towards the detected object.

1 . An information providing device provided in a vehicle, the device comprising: 
 an object detecting unit for detecting an object outside the vehicle;    a providing unit for providing, outside of the vehicle, visual information which is visually perceptible; and    a controlling unit for causing the providing unit 
 to provide the visual information to indicate a heading direction of the vehicle and  
 to move the visual information to indicate a direction towards the detected object when the detected object is determined to include at least one of (i) a danger to advancement of the vehicle and (ii) an indication of stopping the vehicle.  
   
   
   
       2 . The information providing device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a running state detecting unit for detecting a running state of the vehicle,    wherein the controlling unit 
 estimates a path which the vehicle is estimated to follow according to the detected running state and  
 causes the providing unit to provide the visual information that shows the estimated path to indicate the heading direction of the vehicle.  
   
   
   
       3 . The information providing device of  claim 2 , 
 wherein the controlling unit changes, with respect to the shown estimated path, at least one of a direction, a length, and a shape, based on the detected running state.    
   
   
       4 . The information providing device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a running state detecting unit for detecting a running state of the vehicle,    wherein the controlling unit 
 estimates a path which the vehicle is estimated to follow based on the detected running state and  
 determines whether the detected object includes at least one of the danger to advancement of the vehicle and the indication of stopping the vehicle, based on the estimated path.  
   
   
   
       5 . The information providing device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a driving operation state detecting unit for detecting a driving operation state of a driver of the vehicle,    wherein the controlling unit 
 estimates intention of the driver regarding the driving operation based on the detected driving operation state,  
 determines whether the detected object includes at least one of the danger to advancement of the vehicle and the indication of stopping the vehicle, based on the estimated intention.  
   
   
   
       6 . The information providing device of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the object detecting unit detects at least one of another vehicle, a pedestrian, a traffic control device, a road traffic sign, and a boarder between lanes of a road, and    wherein, when the providing unit is caused to move the visual information to indicate the direction towards the detected object, the providing unit provides the visual information which varies depending on a kind of a detected object by the object detecting unit.    
   
   
       7 . The information providing device of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the providing unit provides the visual information that is formed using laser beams.    
   
   
       8 . An information providing method used in a vehicle, the vehicle including: 
 an object detecting unit for detecting an object outside the vehicle; and    a providing unit for providing, outside of the vehicle, visual information which is visually perceptible,    the information providing method comprising steps of:    causing the providing unit to provide the visual information to indicate a heading direction of the vehicle;    executing a determination of whether or not the detected object includes at least one of (i) a danger to advancement of the vehicle and (ii) an indication of stopping the vehicle; and    causing the providing unit to move the visual information to indicate a direction towards the detected object, when the determination is affirmed.