JP2008040621A - In-vehicle alarm system - Google Patents

Abstract

A notification device capable of reliably transmitting a warning to a driver and being alerted without being affected by the environment in which the vehicle is placed is provided.
A vehicle-mounted notification provided with first notification means for stimulating a first sensory device to notify information and second notification means for stimulating a second sensory device to notify information. When it is determined that the overlap determination unit 10 that determines whether or not the stimulus based on the first notification unit and the stimulus based on the notification environment overlap, and the overlap determination unit overlap, Selection means 10 for selecting the second notification means as means for notifying the information. A warning can be reliably transmitted to the driver without being affected by the environment in which the vehicle is placed, so that attention can be drawn.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a notification device that issues a warning to a driver (hereinafter referred to as a driver) to call attention when there is a possibility that a vehicle deviates from a lane in which the vehicle is running.

  In order to support safe driving of vehicles, there has been a proposal for an alarm device that emits an alarm sound when the vehicle deviates from the driving lane. However, when the vehicle departs from the driving lane and makes a warning by making a sound from the speaker, it is troublesome for all passengers to hear the warning sound. Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a lane departure warning device in which a vibration output unit (vibrator) is arranged on a seat cushion unit, a seat back unit, a floor carpet, or the like to generate a warning vibration. With such an alarm device, when the vehicle is about to depart from the driving lane, a warning is transmitted only to the driver by vibration. Therefore, it is not recognized that there was a warning for other passengers, and the troublesomeness of the warning can be suppressed.

JP 2001-341599 A

  However, the road on which the vehicle travels is not always a paved flat road surface. That is, you often encounter a situation where the vehicle travels on a rough road. In recent years, roads with rumble strips have been laid. Rumble Strips is a traffic safety facility aimed at alerting the driver to prevent the vehicle from deviating from the road, so as to give sound and vibration when the vehicle travels in the middle of the road or on the shoulder. It is the formed unevenness.

  When the vehicle travels on a rough road surface or a road provided with rumble strips, vibration based on the unevenness of the road surface occurs. Therefore, the driver receives vibration based on the road surface shape, but if a warning by vibration is transmitted from the alarm device mounted on the vehicle at this time, the vibration for warning may be drowned out by the vibration based on the road surface. is there.

  In the above description, the case of vibration has been described. However, in the case of a notification device that is configured to issue a warning to the driver by an alarm sound or the like, the alarm sound is erased by noise or noise generated from inside or outside the vehicle. Assumed.

  As is clear from the above explanation, there are generally considered methods for alerting the driver, such as generating vibration to stimulate the driver's tactile sense, or generating sound to stimulate the driver's hearing. . However, regardless of whether vibration or sound is used, the warning may not be accurately transmitted under the influence of the environment (notification environment) that issued the warning to the driver.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a notification device capable of reliably transmitting a warning to a driver and being alerted without being affected by the environment in which the vehicle is placed.

  The above-mentioned object is a vehicle-mounted informing device provided with first informing means for stimulating the first sensory device and informing information, and second informing means for stimulating the second sensory device and informing the information. The information is notified when it is determined that the overlap determination means for determining whether or not the stimulus based on the first notification means and the stimulus based on the notification environment overlap, and the overlap determination means overlap. This is achieved by an in-vehicle notification device provided with selection means for selecting the second notification means.

  According to the present invention, the overlap determination unit determines whether the stimulus based on the first notification unit and the stimulus based on the notification environment overlap. When the stimuli overlap, the selection means selects the second notification means as a means for notifying information. Therefore, the warning can be reliably transmitted to the driver without being affected by the environment in which the vehicle is placed, so that attention can be drawn.

  The first notification unit generates a tactile stimulation by at least one of vibration and reaction force, and the second notification unit is formed as an in-vehicle notification device that generates an auditory stimulation by at least one of sound and sound. It may be. In this way, it is first attempted to warn the driver with a tactile stimulus, and when it is difficult to transmit the warning by vibration, an auditory stimulus by voice is used. Therefore, the driver can be alerted efficiently and reliably.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the alerting | reporting apparatus which can transmit a warning reliably to a driver and to call attention without being influenced by the environment where the vehicle is put can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an in-vehicle alarm device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This notification device is mounted on a vehicle and used, and is a device that issues a warning when it is necessary to alert the driver. For example, this notification device alerts the driver when there is a possibility that the vehicle may deviate from the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, when the vehicle deviates, or when the vehicle may come into contact with other vehicles or pedestrians. It is an effective device to do. However, in the following description, a case where a warning is issued to the driver when the vehicle departs from the lane will be described in order to facilitate understanding of the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a notification device 1 according to the embodiment. The notification device 1 includes, for example, a line recognition camera 2, a state detection sensor 3 that detects a vehicle state, a rear side distance measuring sensor 4, and an up / down G detection sensor 5. Output signals from these cameras and sensors are supplied to an ECU 10 (Electronic Control Unit).

  The line recognition camera 2 detects a line (white line or yellow line) laid on the lane (traveling path) in which the vehicle is traveling. Therefore, the ECU 10 can confirm from the output of the line recognition camera 2 whether the vehicle is properly traveling along the line, and there is a possibility that the vehicle may deviate or deviate from the line.

  The state detection sensor 3 includes, for example, a vehicle speed sensor, a steering angle sensor, a yaw rate sensor, and the like, and detects the state of the vehicle. The rear side distance measuring sensor 4 detects a distance from an obstacle or the like on the rear side of the vehicle. Therefore, the ECU 10 can determine the presence or absence of a vehicle departure based on the output of the line recognition camera 2 and the outputs of the sensors 3 and 4. Further, the vertical G detection sensor 5 detects the vertical acceleration G applied to the vehicle. Therefore, the ECU 10 can also confirm that the vehicle is traveling on a road with a rough road surface or a road provided with rumble strips.

  The ECU 10 sequentially checks changes in the situation around the vehicle based on the output of the sensor and the like, and when it is necessary to alert the driver, it gives a warning by stimulating a sense. In FIG. 1, each function realized by the ECU 10 is shown as a functional block so that it can be easily understood. That is, the ECU 10 of this embodiment has the functions of a line recognition ECU 11, a departure determination ECU 12, a vehicle control ECU 13, and an alarm processing ECU 14. Note that FIG. 1 does not illustrate the ECUs 11 to 14 in terms of electrical or structural aspects. That is, the ECU 10 may be configured by one electronic control unit, and the unit may be formed so as to exhibit a plurality of functions. Moreover, ECU10 may be comprised by the some electronic control unit. The ECU 10 has a storage area (memory) for storing a series of programs related to warnings output for alerting the driver and data necessary for program execution. Then, the ECU 10 executes a warning process by reading a predetermined program and data from the memory when warning the driver. Details of the warning process executed by the ECU 10 functioning as the alarm process ECU 14 will be described later.

  The ECU 10 first checks the output from the line recognition camera 2 and the output from the state detection sensor 3 to determine whether the vehicle has deviated. And ECU10 performs a predetermined | prescribed warning process, when it determines with the possibility that the vehicle may deviate (or the vehicle has deviated). The contents of this warning process will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the notification device 1 includes two types of notification means for causing a driver to recognize a warning. The first notification means is a vibrator 15 (hereinafter referred to as a vibrator 15) provided on the seat on which the driver sits, and the other second notification means is a sound generator 16 provided in the passenger compartment. The vibrator 15 vibrates to stimulate the driver's sense of touch (first sensory organ). In addition, the sound generator 16 stimulates the driver's hearing (second sensory device) by generating a warning sound or a sound for calling attention. Note that an audio speaker provided in the vehicle interior may be used as the sound generator, or a warning speaker may be provided in the headrest portion of the driver.

  When it is determined that the vehicle deviates, the ECU 10 warns by stimulating the driver's tactile sense by vibrating the vibrator 15 in principle. However, if it is determined that the vibration warning by the vibrator 15 is insufficient, the driver's hearing is stimulated by generating a predetermined warning sound from the sound generator 16. Such warning processing is executed when the ECU 10 functions as the warning processing ECU 14.

  FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the relationship between the vibration of the vibrator 15 provided on the driver's seat and the vibration when the vehicle travels. The vibrator 15 is installed on the seat ST on which the driver DR is seated, and a warning is notified by stimulating the tactile sensation of the driver DR with vibration. The attachment position of the vibrator 15 with respect to the seat ST is not particularly limited, but may be a position where the driver's body (head, ear, etc.) such as the back, buttocks and thighs of the driver DR may come into contact. In addition, it is more preferable to arrange vibrators at a plurality of positions symmetrically on the seat ST so that it can be distinguished whether the warning is on the left or right side of the vehicle.

In addition, the vibration (Vib) of the region (recommended vibration region AR) specified by the frequency and amplitude (strength) at which the driver DR receiving tactile stimulation feels somewhat uncomfortable. It is better to set to generate st). The amplitude and frequency of the vibrator 15 are controlled by the ECU 10.

By the way, when the vehicle travels, various vibrations (vehicle on-spring vibration: Vib Vehicle). FIG. 2A shows that the vibrator 15 of the seat ST vibrates (Vib for warning). When generating st), vibration (Vib on the vehicle side) The situation where Vehicle A) occurs is illustrated. In the case of (a), the amplitude and frequency of vibration generated from the vehicle side are clearly different from those generated by the vibrator 15. Therefore, the driver DR can recognize that the vibrator 15 vibrates and issues a warning.

On the other hand, FIG. 2B shows the vibration (Vib) of the vibrator 15 for warning. st) and vehicle vibration (Vib It shows a case where Vehicle B) is substantially the same (overlapping). If the state of vibration is the same as in (b), even if the driver DR receives vibration based on the warning, it cannot be distinguished from vibration on the vehicle side.

FIG. 2C shows the vibration (Vib) of the vibrator 15 for warning. st) and vehicle vibration (Vib The case where Vehicle C) approximates is shown. In the case of (c), the vibration of the vibrator 15 and the vibration on the vehicle side (Vib Vehicle C) does not match, but is approximate. Even in this case, the driver DR may not be able to distinguish it from the vibration on the vehicle side even if it receives vibration based on the warning. In particular, the vibration generated from the vehicle side differs from the case of the vibrator 15 and is not constant but changes. Therefore, when the vibration generated from the vehicle side overlaps with the recommended vibration area AR, there are many cases where the driver DR cannot recognize the vibration based on the warning.

  As described above, when the vibration of the vibrator 15 is the same as or close to the vibration generated from the vehicle side, the vibration generated for warning is masked by the vibration of the vehicle. For this reason, it is impossible to expect the effect of stimulating the driver's tactile sensation with vibration and calling attention. This masking state corresponds to a situation where vibration for warning is extinguished when the vehicle travels on a rough road surface.

  Therefore, when the ECU 10 of the notification device 1 determines that the driver cannot be sufficiently alerted by tactile stimulation by the vibrator 15 as the first notification means, that is, when it is determined that the vibration of the vibrator 15 overlaps with the vibration on the vehicle side. The ECU 10 selects an alarm sound by the sound generator 16 serving as the second notification means and thoroughly alerts the driver. That is, the notification device 1 according to the present embodiment prioritizes driving the vibrator and executing it by vibration when giving a warning to alert the driver. However, since the vehicle itself vibrates due to the road surface state where the vehicle is traveling, the warning is switched to the warning by sound or sound when the warning vibration is masked and cannot be reliably notified.

  Referring back to FIG. 1, the output from the vertical G detection sensor 5 is supplied to the ECU 10. The vertical G detection sensor 5 measures the acceleration G in the vertical direction acting on the vehicle. Therefore, the traveling environment of the vehicle can be confirmed by confirming the output of the vertical G detection sensor 5. More specifically, the ECU 10 can confirm the vibration that the vehicle receives according to the road surface condition of the road on which the vehicle is traveling by using the vertical G detection sensor 5.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart collectively showing the processing performed by the ECU 10 when a warning is issued to alert the driver. In addition, when ECU10 of the alerting | reporting apparatus 1 performs a warning process, it is a time as shown in FIG. For example, when it is estimated that the vehicle CA is at the position B after Tb (Sec) from the position A, it is determined that the vehicle CA deviates from the right line RL when it arrives at the position B.

  In FIG. 3, the ECU 10 determines whether the vehicle is in a situation where the driving lane deviates based on the outputs of the line recognition camera 2, the state detection sensor 3, the rear side ranging sensor 4, or the like, that is, the alarm flag is turned on. It is monitored whether or not (S11).

  When the warning flag is turned on, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the ECU 10 prepares to issue a warning to the driver when the vehicle CA determines that the vehicle CA deviates from the right line RL after a predetermined time Tb. First, the ECU 10 confirms the state of the vibration X generated on the vehicle side based on the output of the vertical G detection sensor 5 (S12), and confirms the closeness with the vibration Y by the vibrator 15 installed on the driver's seat ST. (S13).

  When the vibration X generated on the vehicle side in step S13 is not approximate to the vibration Y of the vibrator 15 installed on the seat, the ECU 10 can alert the driver with the vibration of the vibrator 15 and call attention. Therefore, the ECU 10 supplies a predetermined signal to the vibrator 15 to vibrate (S14), alerts the driver, and ends the process according to this routine.

  On the other hand, the ECU 10 determines that there is an influence of masking when the vibration X generated on the vehicle side in step S13 is similar to the vibration Y of the vibrator 15 installed on the seat. Therefore, the ECU 10 changes the warning by the tactile stimulus of the vibrator 15 to the warning by the auditory stimulus of the alarm sound. That is, the ECU 10 generates a warning sound by supplying a predetermined signal to the sound generator 16, warns that the vehicle CA may deviate by stimulating the driver's hearing (S15), and this routine. The process by is terminated.

  As described above, according to the notification device 1 of the embodiment, in principle, a warning that the driver's tactile sensation is stimulated by the vibration of the vibrator 15 can call attention without being noticed by other passengers. When masking becomes a problem due to the influence of the traveling environment of the vehicle, the ECU 10 generates an alarm sound such as a buzzer sound or a warning sound to stimulate the driver's hearing to alert the driver. Therefore, according to the notification device 1 of the embodiment, the warning can be surely made without being affected by the environment where the vehicle is placed, so that the driver's attention can be drawn.

  In the case where the driver is warned with an audible alarm as shown by a broken line in FIG. 3, a display warning is also given when there is a display device such as a liquid crystal screen or HUD (Head Up Display) in the vehicle interior. More preferably (S16). For example, it is desirable that the warning content can be confirmed by performing blinking display, character or graphic display on the display device simultaneously with the alarm sound. In this way, the driver can be more surely alerted.

  Further, the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 3 illustrates the case where the warning by the vibrator 15 is stopped and only the warning by the alarm sound is selected when the vibration on the vehicle side and the vibration on the vibrator 15 side are the same or approximate. . However, the present invention is not limited to this mode, and if there is a possibility that the vibration may be approximated, an audio warning may be further selected. That is, an alarm sound may be added to the warning by vibration to give a warning.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the seat on which the driver sits is vibrated is described as a preferred example. However, the member to be vibrated for warning is not necessarily limited to the seat. For example, the steering wheel (steering wheel) or the accelerator pedal may be vibrated, or the reaction force of the accelerator pedal may be changed. In the above-described embodiment, as a more preferable combination, a warning by a tactile stimulus is used first, and a warning by an auditory stimulus is used second. However, the auditory stimulus may be the first and the tactile stimulus may be the second.

  Furthermore, the notification apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 illustrates a case where an electric power steering (hereinafter referred to as EPS 17) is provided as a more preferable configuration. When the ECU 10 determines that the vehicle deviates from the travel path, the ECU 10 functions as the vehicle control ECU 13 to control the EPS 17 and adjust the travel direction of the vehicle. Thus, the notification device 1 can improve the safe driving performance of the vehicle. Note that the stimulation level in the notification device 1 may be set at a level that awakens from human characteristics. Further, the first notification means and the second notification means are not limited to the notification means exemplified in the embodiment. It is possible to use light deceleration, tactile stimulation by blowing air, odor stimulation by smell, or visual stimulation by display. These different stimuli may be combined, and arbitrary stimuli may be set or they may be combined. In addition, the warning is not limited to the lane departure warning, and information that determines the necessity of the warning, such as a warning at the time of follow-up, a warning at the time of collision, a warning at the time of navigation guidance, a warning based on information transmitted from the infrastructure, It may be set arbitrarily.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. It can be changed.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the alerting | reporting apparatus which concerns on an Example. It is the figure shown in order to demonstrate the relationship between the vibration of the vibrator provided in the sheet | seat of the driver, and the vibration when a vehicle drive | works. It is the flowchart which showed collectively the process by ECU10 at the time of warning for alerting a driver. It is the figure which showed an example of the condition of the vehicle which a warning device emits a warning.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Notification apparatus 2 Line recognition camera 3 State detection sensor 4 Rear side ranging sensor 5 Vertical G detection sensor 10 ECU (duplication determination means, selection means)
15 Vibrator
16 sound generator DR driver ST seat CA vehicle

Claims (2)

An in-vehicle informing device comprising first informing means for inducing information by stimulating a first sensory instrument and second informing means for informing information by stimulating a second sensory instrument,
Overlap determination means for determining whether or not the stimulus based on the first notification means and the stimulus based on the notification environment overlap;
A vehicle-mounted notification device, comprising: a selection unit that selects the second notification unit as a unit for notifying the information when it is determined that the overlap determination unit overlaps. The said 1st alerting | reporting means generates the tactile stimulation by at least one of a vibration and reaction force, The said 2nd alerting | reporting means generates the auditory stimulus by at least one of a sound and an audio | voice. The vehicle-mounted alarm device described.

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