JP2010018122A - Driver awakening device - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a driver awakening device that can reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened.
A driver awakening device for awakening a driver, a driver state estimating unit for detecting a driver's arousal state, and a holding for holding the driver when the driver is in a non-awake state A seat belt tension generating device 36 that increases the tension of the device to give a stimulus, and a body movement amount when the seat belt tension generating device 36 is activated, and a steering amount is detected when the body movement amount is detected Is configured to include a steering cancellation unit 13 that cancels the steering, so that the driver does not intend in accordance with the body movement at the time of tension enhancement in a non-resistance state such as when the driver is deeply asleep. Even when steering is generated, the steering that is unnecessary for traveling can be canceled, so that the influence on traveling when the driver is awakened can be reduced.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a driver awakening device that awakens a driver.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a driver awakening device that awakens a driver, a device that increases the tension of a seat belt at the time of falling asleep is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The device of Patent Document 1 includes a seat belt, a cardiac potential detection sensor that detects a heart rate of the driver, and a belt winding device that applies tension to the seat belt, and is the patient sleeping based on the heart rate of the driver? It is a device that determines whether or not and tightens the belt when it is asleep.
JP-B-2-29531

  Here, when the driver's sleep is deep and in a non-resistance state, if the tension of the seat belt is increased, the driver's body movement may occur, and the steering wheel movement may occur due to the body movement. That is, in the conventional driver awakening device, when the tension of the seat belt is increased, steering steering unintended by the driver may occur.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem, and an object thereof is to provide a driver awakening device that can reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened. To do.

  That is, the driver wake-up device according to the present invention is a driver wake-up device that wakes up the driver, the wake-up state detecting means for detecting the wake-up state of the driver, and the driver in a non-wake-up state , Awakening means for applying a stimulus by increasing the tension of the holding tool for holding the driver, and detecting a body movement amount when the awakening means is operated, and detecting a steering amount when the body movement amount is detected In this case, a steering canceling means for canceling the steering is provided.

  According to the present invention, when the driver's arousal state is detected and the driver is in a non-awake state, the tension of the holder that holds the driver is increased to give the awakening warning, and the body at the time of the awakening warning If the amount of movement is detected and there is a change in the amount of steering when the amount of body movement is detected, the steering can be canceled. Thus, for example, in a non-resistance state such as when the driver is deeply asleep, steering steering can be canceled even if steering that is not intended by the driver occurs due to body movement during tension strengthening. As a result, the influence on driving when the driver is awakened can be reduced.

  Here, it is preferable that the steering cancel means predicts a necessary steering amount associated with a road shape and cancels the steering based on a difference between the steering amount and the necessary steering amount.

  With this configuration, when a change in the steering amount occurs with a change in the road shape, it is possible to detect and cancel the occurrence of steering steering that is unnecessary for travel associated with body movement.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  The driver awakening device according to the present embodiment is a device that awakens a driver who is not awake, such as a snooze, and is suitably used for a vehicle having a seat belt, for example. First, the configuration of the vehicle including the driver awakening device according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a vehicle including a driver awakening device according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 3 includes a driver awakening device 1. The driver awakening device 1 includes, for example, a driver detection sensor 30, a driver body movement detection sensor 31, and a steering steering amount detection sensor 32. , A road shape acquisition sensor 33, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 34, a vehicle speed sensor 35, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 10, a seat belt tension generator (awakening means) 36, and a steering actuator 37. Here, GPS is a measurement system using a satellite, and is preferably used for grasping the current position of the host vehicle. The ECU is an electronically controlled vehicle device computer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) memory, an input / output interface, and the like. Yes.

  The driver detection sensor 30 has a function of acquiring information for determining the state of the driver. As the driver detection sensor 30, for example, an image sensor for monitoring the driver, an electrocardiogram detection sensor arranged on a handle or the like for detecting the heart rate of the driver, and the like are used. The driver detection sensor 30 has a function of outputting the acquired information to the ECU 10.

  The driver body movement detection sensor 31 has a function of detecting the amount of body movement of the driver. As the driver's body movement detection sensor 31, for example, a pressure sensor that is disposed inside the driver's seat seat or backrest and detects the amount of weight movement, or an image sensor that images the driver's body is used. The driver's body movement detection sensor 31 has a function of outputting the acquired information to the ECU 10.

  The steering amount detection sensor 32 has a function of detecting a steering amount by steering. The steering amount detection sensor 32 has a function of detecting the amount of steering based on, for example, a change in steering angle and outputting the detected amount to the ECU 10.

  The road shape acquisition sensor 33 has a function of acquiring information related to the road shape. As the road shape acquisition sensor 33, for example, an image sensor that acquires front image information and recognizes the road shape, a communication device that acquires a road shape from a terminal having map information, or the like is used. The road shape acquisition sensor 33 has a function of outputting the acquired information to the ECU 10.

  The GPS receiver 34 has a function of receiving vehicle position information. The GPS receiver 34 has a function of outputting the received position information to the ECU 10.

  The vehicle speed sensor 35 has a function of detecting the vehicle speed of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle speed sensor 35 has a function of outputting the detected vehicle speed to the ECU 10.

  The ECU 10 has a function of determining whether or not the vehicle is running based on the vehicle speed output by the vehicle speed sensor 35. Moreover, it has the function to determine whether predetermined time passed since the driving | running | working start. Further, the ECU 10 includes a driver state estimation unit (wake state detection unit) 11, a necessary steering amount prediction unit 12, and a steering cancellation unit (steering cancellation unit) 13.

  The driver state estimation unit 11 has a function of estimating the driver's arousal state based on information related to the driver's state output by the driver detection sensor 30. The awake state refers to a state in which normal driving can be performed, for example, a state where the user is not asleep or a state where the consciousness is not lowered. For example, the driver state estimation unit 11 detects the driver's facial expression and the movement of the eyelid based on the image information output by the image sensor, and when the facial expression has an action or the eyes are open, It has a function of estimating that it is in a state (awake state). On the other hand, when the heel is closed for a predetermined time, it has a function of estimating that it is a dozing state (non-awake state). Alternatively, it may have a function of acquiring a heart rate from the electrocardiogram detection sensor and estimating that the heart rate is falling asleep when it is lower than the normal heart rate. Further, the driver state estimating unit 11 has a function of outputting an operation instruction to the seat belt tension generating device 36 when it is estimated that the driver is in a non-wake state.

  The necessary steering amount prediction unit 12 has a function of predicting a steering amount (necessary steering amount) necessary for driving. For example, it has a function of detecting the actual steering amount based on the steering amount output by the steering amount detection sensor 32. Based on the road shape output by the road shape acquisition sensor 33, the position information of the host vehicle output by the GPS receiver 34, and the vehicle speed output by the vehicle speed sensor 35, it is necessary for traveling along the road. It has a function of predicting the steering amount. The necessary steering amount prediction unit 12 has a function of outputting the predicted steering amount to the steering cancellation unit 13.

  The steering cancellation unit 13 is based on the operating state of the seat belt tension generator 36, the body movement amount output by the driver body movement detection sensor 31, and the necessary steering amount output by the necessary steering amount prediction unit 12. , It has a function of acquiring and canceling a steering change due to body movement. For example, when the body movement amount is detected when the seat belt tension generator 36 is activated, the steering cancel unit 13 cancels the steering so that the difference from the necessary steering amount becomes 0, and the steering actuator 13 It has a function to output an operation command.

  The seat belt tension generator 36 has, for example, a motor for winding the seat belt. This motor is connected to a shaft provided in a normal seat belt winding device, for example. When an operation command is input from the driver state estimation unit 11, the seat belt tension generator 36 has a function of winding the seat belt by driving the motor to increase the tension. Further, the seat belt tension generator 36 has a function of outputting the operating state to the steering cancellation unit 13.

  The steering actuator 37 is a mechanical component that controls the traveling of the vehicle based on the operation command output from the steering cancellation unit 13, and for example, a steering angle control motor is used.

  Next, operation | movement of the driver | operator awakening apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the driver awakening device 1. The control process shown in FIG. 2 is repeatedly executed at a predetermined timing after, for example, the ignition is turned on or the execution button provided on the vehicle 3 is turned on.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the driver awakening device 1 starts from a running state determination process (S10). The process of S10 is a process executed by the ECU 10 to determine whether or not the vehicle is in a traveling state based on the vehicle speed output by the vehicle speed sensor 35, and to determine whether or not a predetermined time T1 has elapsed since the start of traveling. is there. In the process of S10, when it is determined that the predetermined time T1 has elapsed from the start of traveling, the process proceeds to a driver awakening state determination process (S12).

  The process of S12 is a process which the driver state estimation part 11 performs, and determines whether a driver | operator's state is a wakeful state. The driver state estimation unit 11 inputs, for example, image information and heart rate information of the driver's face from the driver detection sensor 30, and determines whether or not the driver is awake. In the process of S12, when the driver is not in the awake state, that is, when the driver is drowsy or consciousness is lowered, the process proceeds to the awakening process (S14).

  The process of S14 is a process that is executed by the seat belt tension generator 36, increases the tension of the seat belt as a sensation alarm, stimulates the driver, and awakens the driver. When the process of S14 ends, the process proceeds to a body movement determination process (S16).

  The process of S16 is a process which the steering cancellation part 13 performs and determines the presence or absence of a driver | operator's body movement. For example, the steering cancellation unit 13 determines the presence or absence of the driver's body movement based on the detection result output by the driver body movement detection sensor 31. For example, the detection result of a pressure sensor arranged inside the seat back detects that the driver's body has been pulled rearward and moved backward. Further, for example, the movement of the driver's body is detected based on the driver's image result. In the process of S16, when it is determined that the driver's body has moved, the process proceeds to the steering steering determination process (S18).

  The process of S18 is a process executed by the steering cancel unit 13 to determine whether or not steering steering is occurring. For example, the steering cancellation unit 13 inputs a steering amount from the steering steering amount detection sensor 32 and determines whether or not steering by the driver has occurred. If it is determined in step S18 that steering has occurred, the process proceeds to road shape determination processing (S20).

  The process of S20 is executed by the necessary steering amount prediction unit 12 and the steering cancellation unit 13, and determines whether or not the steering amount detected in the process of S18 is a steering necessary for traveling along the road shape. It is. The necessary steering amount prediction unit 12 acquires the road shape during traveling based on the position information of the host vehicle output from the GPS receiver 34 and the map information input from the terminal or the like. Alternatively, the road shape in the vehicle traveling direction is acquired using an image sensor as the road shape acquisition sensor 33. Then, the necessary steering amount prediction unit 12 predicts the steering amount necessary for traveling along the road shape based on the vehicle speed and the road shape output from the vehicle speed sensor 35. Thereafter, the steering cancellation unit 13 compares the necessary steering amount predicted by the necessary steering amount prediction unit 12 with the steering amount acquired in the process of S18, and the steering amount generated during the body movement is necessary for the traveling. Determine if it is a quantity. For example, if the predicted steering amount matches the steering amount acquired in S18, it is determined that the steering amount generated during body movement is a steering amount necessary for traveling, and the predicted steering amount and the processing in S18 are determined. If the steering amount acquired in step S1 does not match, it is determined that the steering amount generated during body movement is not the steering amount necessary for traveling. In the process of S20, when it is determined that the steering amount is not for traveling along the road shape, the process proceeds to a cancel amount calculation process (S22).

  The process of S22 is a process that is executed by the steering cancel unit 13 and calculates a steering amount that is unnecessary for traveling. For example, when the road shape is a straight line, the steering amount acquired in the process of S18 is set as a steering amount unnecessary for traveling. For example, when the road shape is a curve, the steering amount that is insufficient or excessive with respect to the steering amount calculated in the process of S20 is calculated as a steering amount that is unnecessary for traveling. When the processing of S22 is completed, the routine proceeds to steering steering cancellation processing (S24).

  The process of S24 is executed by the steering cancel unit 13, and the steering amount unnecessary for traveling calculated in the process of S22 is subtracted from the steering amount by the steering steering, and the steering actuator 37 is operated so as to operate with the subtracted steering amount. This is a process of outputting an instruction. When the process of S24 ends, the control process shown in FIG. 2 ends.

  On the other hand, in the process of S10, when it is determined that the predetermined time T1 has not elapsed since the start of travel, the control process shown in FIG. Further, in the process of S12, when the driver is in an awake state, that is, when the driver does not have drowsiness or reduced consciousness, the control process shown in FIG. 2 is terminated. Moreover, when it determines with there being no movement of a driver | operator's body in the process of S16, the control process shown in FIG. 2 is complete | finished. If it is determined in step S18 that steering has not occurred, the control process shown in FIG. 2 is terminated. Further, in the process of S20, when it is determined that the steering amount is for traveling along the road shape, the control process shown in FIG. 2 is terminated.

  The control process shown in FIG. By executing the control process shown in FIG. 2, when the tension of the seat belt is increased as a bodily sensation alarm, it is possible to sense the driver's body movement and cancel steering steering accompanying the body movement. Further, it is possible to predict the steering amount necessary for traveling based on the road shape and vehicle speed information, and to determine whether steering is possible or not to cancel steering steering unnecessary for traveling.

  As described above, according to the driver wake-up device 1 according to the present embodiment, the driver's wake-up state is detected, and when the driver is in a non-wake-up state, the tension of the holding tool that holds the driver is increased. In addition to giving a wake-up warning, the body movement amount at the time of the wake-up warning is detected, and if there is a change in the steering amount when the body movement amount is detected, the steering can be canceled. As a result, even when steering is unintended by the driver due to body movement during tension enhancement in a non-resistance state such as when the driver is dozing while holding the steering wheel, Since the steering can be canceled, the influence on driving when the driver is awakened can be reduced.

  Further, according to the driver awakening device 1 according to the present embodiment, when a change in the steering amount occurs with a change in the road shape, the occurrence of steering steering unnecessary for the travel accompanying the body movement is detected, Can be canceled. This makes it possible to detect and cancel steering steering associated with body movements based on sensation alarms when the driver is asleep during the steering operation required for driving, so the driver can be awakened without affecting the driving. It can be carried out

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above shows an example of the driver | operator awakening apparatus based on this invention. The driver awakening device according to the present invention is not limited to the driver awakening device 1 according to the embodiment, and the driver awakening device 1 according to the embodiment is modified without changing the gist described in each claim. Or may be applied to other things.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which a seat belt is wound by a motor as a wake-up unit and the tension is increased to give a sensation alarm has been described. For example, when the seat seat is inflated and deformed to increase the tension of the seat belt It may be.

It is a composition outline figure of vehicles provided with a driver awakening device concerning this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the driver | operator awakening apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Driver wake-up device, 3 ... Vehicle, 10 ... ECU, 11 ... Driver state estimation part (wake state detection means), 13 ... Steering cancellation part (steering cancellation means), 36 ... Seat belt tension generator (wake-up means) ).

Claims (2)

A driver awakening device for waking up a driver,
Awake state detecting means for detecting the driver's awake state;
When the driver is in a non-wake state, the wake-up means for giving a stimulus by increasing the tension of a holding tool for holding the driver;
A steering cancel means for detecting a body movement amount when the awakening means is operated and detecting a steering amount when the body movement amount is detected;
A driver awakening device comprising:   The driver awakening device according to claim 1, wherein the steering cancellation unit predicts a necessary steering amount associated with a road shape and cancels steering based on a difference between the steering amount and the necessary steering amount.

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