Operation support device

Abstract

To provide an operation support device having high visibility.SOLUTION: An operation support device (10) comprises: a housing (20) having an opening (22a) through which light can pass; a light transmission member (12) blocking the opening (22a), through which light can transmit; a light source (13), provided in the housing (20), which can light up; and control means (14) that controls the light source (13). The light transmission member (12) comprises adhesion suppressing means that suppresses droplets and dust from adhering to a circumference of the light transmission member (12). As one example, an upper surface of the housing (20) inclines in a longitudinal direction and / or in a lateral direction, and the adhesion suppressing means is configured by forming the light transmission member (12) in a curve shape in which a site through which light emitted from the light source (13) passes becomes highest.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a driving assistance device. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional technique capable of assisting a driver who drives a vehicle is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle instrument device equipped with a driving assistance device.

[0003] When a driving assistance device mounted on a vehicle instrument device issues a warning to a driver, the driving assistance device controls the light source to light up in a predetermined color using a control means. The light is emitted toward a diffuse reflector provided on a windshield cowl, and is diffusely reflected by the diffuse reflector toward the driver, allowing the driver to visually recognize the presence of warning information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6273772 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] According to the driving assistance device disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a risk that water droplets or dust may adhere to the light source, etc. If water droplets or dust adhere to the light source, the visibility of information transmitted to the driver may be reduced due to the influence of shadows cast by the water droplets or dust.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a driving assistance device with high visibility. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A driving assistance device according to a first aspect includes a housing having an opening through which light can pass, a light-transmitting member that closes the opening and through which light can pass, a light source that is provided within the housing and can be turned on, and a control means that controls the light source, The light transmitting member is provided with adhesion prevention means for preventing water droplets and dust from adhering to the periphery of the light transmitting member.

[0008] In a second aspect of the driving assistance device according to the first aspect, an upper surface of the housing is inclined forward and backward and / or left and right, The adhesion prevention means is configured to have a curved shape with lowered ends so that water droplets and dust can flow down toward the ends of the light transmitting member.

[0009] In the driving assistance device in a third aspect which may be dependent on the first or second aspect, the adhesion suppression means is configured by the light transmitting member having a curved shape that protrudes upward.

[0010] In a fourth aspect that can be dependent from the third aspect, the driving assistance device further includes a screen onto which the light emitted from the light source is projected, The curved shape of the light transmitting member is set so that the image projected onto the screen portion appears to have a predetermined shape. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, a driving assistance device with high visibility can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a driving assistance device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part 3 of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view taken along the arrow 4 in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description, left and right refer to left and right relative to the driver of the vehicle, and front and rear refer to front and rear relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle. In the drawings, Fr indicates front, Rr indicates rear, Le indicates left from the driver's perspective, Ri indicates right from the driver's perspective, Up indicates top, and Dn indicates bottom. <Example>

[0014] Please refer to Fig. 1. The driving assistance device 10 is provided, for example, at the front of a saddle-ride type vehicle. The driving assistance device 10 is a device that issues a warning to the driver based on, for example, information about the surroundings of the vehicle and information about the vehicle itself.

[0015] See Fig. 2. More specifically, the driving assistance device 10 projects an image Im as a virtual image in front of the driver Dr and issues a warning to the driver Dr. The driver Dr can recognize the warning by the color of the projected image Im, the blinking of the image Im, or the display of text as the image Im. The driving assistance device 10 may be configured integrally with an instrument such as a speedometer.

[0016] The driving assistance device 10 has a housing 20 having an opening 22a on the top surface, a light-transmitting member 12 that covers the opening 22a and allows light to pass through, a light source 13 that is provided within the housing 20 and can be turned on, a control means 14 that controls the light source 13 and is provided within the housing 20, and a screen portion 15 that is provided above the housing 20 and onto which the light emitted from the light source 13 is projected.

[0017] The housing 20 is tilted downward from the rear to the front. The housing 20 is composed of a base 21 fixed to the vehicle body and a lid 22 placed on top of the base 21. A hole 21a is formed in the center of the base 21 to pass the harness 16 through.

[0018] The base 21 and the lid 22 are fastened together by screws 23. A seal 24 is provided between the base 21 and the lid 22 around the entire periphery to prevent the intrusion of water and the like.

[0019] The base 21 and the lid 22 may be made of, for example, black AES resin, and may be formed by, for example, injection molding.

[0020] The housing 20 may be tilted downward from the front to the rear, or may be tilted left and right. Furthermore, the housing 20 may be tilted both in the front and rear directions and left and right directions. The housing 20 may be provided with its top surface horizontal, but it is preferable that the top surface be tilted.

[0021] Furthermore, the base 21 and the lid 22 may be made of a resin other than AES resin, or may be made of different materials. The molding method for the base 21 and the lid 22 is not limited to injection molding.

[0022] For example, an injection-molded product made of acrylic resin (PMMA) can be used for the light-transmitting member 12. The light-transmitting member 12 is colorless, or if colored, is configured with a color that allows light from the light source 13 to pass through.

[0023] See Figure 1. When viewed from above, the light-transmitting member 12 has a generally C-shaped curve, with the center located at the rearmost position and both ends located at the front. Because the top surface of the housing 20 slopes downward toward the front, the light-transmitting member 12 is positioned so that the center is highest and both ends are lowest.

[0024] Furthermore, the light-transmitting member 12 is formed so that its width is greatest at the center and narrowest at both ends. The radius of curvature of the light-transmitting member 12 continuously changes from large at the center to small at both ends. In other words, the curved shape of the light-transmitting member 12 continuously changes from the center to the ends in a plan view, with the radius of curvature being largest at the center and smallest at the ends.

[0025] Furthermore, when tangents are drawn to the light transmitting member 12, a tangent line L1 passing through the center portion extends substantially in the left-right direction, and tangent lines L2 passing through both end portions extend substantially in the front-rear direction.

[0026] The light transmitting member 12 may have a shape other than the C shape, such as a D-shape, a J-shape, or a U-shape in plan view. The highest point of the light transmitting member 12 may be at a location other than the center in the left-right direction, and is preferably a shape that slopes downward from the highest point to both ends.

[0027] See FIG. 3. The light-transmitting member 12 has a shape in which a substantially U-shaped cross section that protrudes upward is continuous. In other words, the light-transmitting member 12 has a curved shape that protrudes upward. The cross-sectional shape of the light-transmitting member 12 may vary continuously or may be constant. The light-transmitting member 12 protrudes upward in a curved shape, and light passing through the light-transmitting member 12 is refracted in a predetermined direction by passing through this curved portion.

[0028] See Fig. 4. The curved shape of the light-transmitting member 12 is set, for example, taking into consideration the direction of light refraction so that the image Im projected onto the screen unit 15 appears linear. The shape of the image Im may be set to appear as a shape other than a straight line or as a character.

[0029] The material of the light transmitting member 12 is not limited to acrylic resin, and other resins such as polycarbonate (PC) or glass can also be used.

[0030] See Figure 2. Light source 13 can be, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode). Light source 13 may be a single light source emitting light of one color tone (lighting color), or there may be multiple light sources emitting light of different color tones (lighting colors). Furthermore, the color tone may be changed by combining light sources 13 of the three primary colors.

[0031] It should be noted that the light source 13 may be something other than an LED.

[0032] The control means 14 is composed of a microcomputer mounted on a board and having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. A harness 16 is connected to the control means 14 to supply power to the control means 14, etc.

[0033] The control means 14 acquires various types of vehicle-related information from a vehicle ECU (Electronic Control Unit) mounted on the saddle-ride type vehicle via a harness 16. The control means 14 determines whether or not a warning is necessary based on the acquired information. If it determines that a warning is necessary, the control means 14 turns on or flashes the light source 13, changes the lighting color, or changes the lighting interval of the light source 13 according to the content of the warning.

[0034] The information that the control means 14 obtains from the vehicle ECU may include information such as the presence of an obstacle on the road, the vehicle approaching another vehicle traveling ahead, and another vehicle traveling behind approaching, but may also include any other information that requires a warning to be issued to the driver Dr.

[0035] The screen unit 15 is configured by, for example, a windshield. An injection-molded product made of polycarbonate (PC) can be used for the screen unit 15. The screen unit 15 is installed in the vehicle so as to cover the space above the housing 20, and ensures forward visibility while controlling the wind blowing on the driver Dr.

[0036] The light emitted from the light source 13 is projected onto the screen unit 15. The driver Dr perceives, for example, an image Im as a virtual image projected on the front of the screen unit 15.

[0037] The operation of the driving support device 10 explained above will now be described.

[0038] See FIG. 1. Water droplets and dust may fall onto the top surface of the housing 20. The top surface of the housing 20 is inclined forward, so the ends are the lowest. Therefore, the falling water droplets and dust flow down to the ends along the light-transmitting member 12, as shown by the arrows. This makes it possible to prevent water droplets and dust from adhering to the periphery of the light-transmitting member 12.

[0039] See Fig. 3. The light-transmitting member 12 has a curved shape that protrudes upward. This allows water droplets and dust that fall onto the upper surface of the housing 20 to flow forward along the light-transmitting member 12, as shown by the arrows. This makes it possible to prevent water droplets and dust from adhering to the periphery of the light-transmitting member 12.

[0040] Also see Figure 1. According to the driving assistance device 10, the end of the light transmitting member 12 is formed in a curved shape with a lowered position, and the light transmitting member 12 is formed in a curved shape that protrudes upward, thereby suppressing adhesion of water droplets and dust to the periphery of the light transmitting member 12. These configurations can be said to be adhesion suppression means that suppresses adhesion of water droplets and dust to the periphery of the light transmitting member 12. In other words, the light transmitting member 12 can be said to be equipped with adhesion suppression means that suppresses adhesion of water droplets and dust to the periphery of the light transmitting member 12.

[0041] The effects of the driving support device 10 described above will be described.

[0042] See FIG. 2. The light-transmitting member 12 is provided with adhesion suppression means for suppressing adhesion of water droplets and dust to the periphery of the light-transmitting member 12. If light is emitted from the light source 13 toward the light-transmitting member 12 with water or dust attached, the shadow of the water or dust may be projected onto the screen portion 15, which may result in a decrease in the visibility of information transmitted to the driver Dr. High visibility can be ensured by suppressing adhesion of water droplets and dust to the periphery of the light-transmitting member 12. A driving assistance device 10 with high visibility can be provided.

[0043] See Fig. 1. The adhesion prevention means is configured with a curved shape with lowered ends so that water droplets and dust flow down toward the ends of the light transmitting member 12. The inclination of the housing 20 is used to allow water and dust to flow down toward the ends of the light transmitting member 12. This is a simple configuration that can prevent water and dust from adhering to the periphery of the light transmitting member 12, which is preferable.

[0044] See Fig. 2. The adhesion prevention means is configured by the light transmitting member 12 having a curved shape that protrudes upward. By making the light transmitting member 12 curved and protruding upward, water and dust can flow down from the light transmitting member 12 to the upper surface of the housing 20. This is a simple configuration that can prevent water and dust from adhering to the periphery of the light transmitting member 12, which is preferable.

[0045] Furthermore, the curved shape of the light-transmitting member 12 is set so that the image Im projected onto the screen unit 15 appears to have a predetermined shape (for example, a straight line). This can enhance the design and improve the marketability of the driving assistance device 10.

[0046] Although the driving assistance device according to the present invention has been described as being mounted on a saddle-type vehicle, it can also be applied to vehicles with roofs, such as passenger cars, and is not limited to these types.

[0047] Furthermore, although the information provided by the driving assistance device to the driver has been explained using an example of an alert to the driver, the information provided by the driving assistance device to the driver can be any information, such as navigation information or vehicle speed.

[0048] That is, the present invention is not limited to the examples as long as the functions and effects of the present invention are exhibited. [Industrial Applicability]

[0049] The driving assistance device of the present invention is suitable for installation in a saddle-ride type vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10...Driving assistance device 12...Light-transmitting member 13...Light source 14...Control means 15...Screen section 20…Housing 22a…Aperture

Claims

1. The lamp comprises a housing having an opening through which light can pass, a light-transmitting member that closes the opening and through which light can pass, a light source that is provided within the housing and can be turned on, and a control means that controls the light source, The driving assistance device, wherein the light transmitting member is provided with adhesion suppression means for suppressing adhesion of water droplets and dust to the periphery of the light transmitting member.

2. The upper surface of the housing is inclined forward and backward and / or left and right, 2. The driving assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion suppression means is configured by a curved shape with a lowered end portion of the light transmitting member so that water droplets and dust flow down toward the end portion of the light transmitting member.

3. The driving assistance device according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesion suppression means is configured by the light transmitting member having a curved shape that protrudes upward.

4. further comprising a screen onto which the light emitted from the light source is projected; The driving assistance device according to claim 3 , wherein the curved shape of the light-transmitting member is set so that the image projected on the screen portion appears to have a predetermined shape.

Images