DEVICE FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION TO A VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE

Abstract

Device for providing vehicle information, comprising: a detection section configured to determine whether an external vehicle has entered a vehicle intersection, which is an area between moving vehicles organized in a platoon, wherein the moving vehicles follow one another in the direction of travel and the external vehicle is a vehicle not intended for the platoon; an information generation section configured to generate entry handling information for the handling of the external vehicle when the detection section determines that the external vehicle has entered; and an execution section for controlling information provision, configured to execute a control to provide the entry handling information generated by the information generation section to the external vehicle.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a device for providing vehicle information and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In related prior art, PTL 1 discloses a device for controlling the movement of a vehicle, which is installed in each of a plurality of vehicles and configured to perform driving control by mutual communication of sending and receiving information. According to the disclosure, a control device for vehicle movement is configured as a host device, and the positions of the platooning vehicles are detected, and a driving command signal is transmitted to other vehicles to achieve a predetermined vehicle-to-vehicle distance. In this way, the vehicles can drive with a reduced vehicle-to-vehicle distance, thereby improving fuel efficiency. Citation list for patent literature

[0003] PTL 1 Japanese patent application Laid-Open No. 2008-74210 Summary of the invention: Technical problem

[0004] When vehicles are driving, it can happen that a vehicle not intended for a platoon joins it. In this case, the platoon is split, and the vehicles cannot maintain a reduced vehicle-to-vehicle distance, and fuel efficiency cannot be improved.

[0005] One objective of the present disclosure is to provide a device for providing vehicle information and a vehicle so that fuel efficiency can be improved. Solution to the problem

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, a device for providing vehicle information in an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a detection section configured to determine whether an external vehicle is entering a vehicle intermediate area, which is an area located between moving vehicles organized in a platoon, wherein the moving vehicles follow one another in the direction of travel and the external vehicle is a vehicle not intended for the platoon; and an information generation section configured to generate entry handling information for handling the external vehicle when the detection section determines that the external vehicle is entering the intermediate area.and an execution section for controlling information provision, configured to control the provision of the entry handling information generated by the information generation section to the external vehicle.

[0007] Furthermore, a vehicle of an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the aforementioned device for providing vehicle information. Advantageous effects of the invention

[0008] The present disclosure can improve fuel efficiency. List of characters Fig. 1 is a control block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a device for providing vehicle information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a vehicle traveling in its own or an adjacent lane; and Fig. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary procedure for determining a break-in according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Description of the embodiments

[0009] One embodiment of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the figures.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a control block diagram that schematically shows a configuration of the device 1 for providing vehicle information according to the embodiment shown in the present disclosure. The device 1 The provision of vehicle information includes a vehicle-to-vehicle communication section. 2 , a section on satellite tracking 3 , a section on object recognition 4 , a tax section 5 and a display section 6 (an example of a "notification section"). The device1 Vehicle information is provided in every vehicle.

[0011] The vehicle-to-vehicle communication section 2 A communication device is designed to use a wireless radio wave within a predetermined frequency band to transmit and receive information between vehicles, exchanging a variety of vehicle-related information. This includes vehicle location information. Note that vehicle location information is derived from the satellite tracking section. 3 be determined.

[0012] The section 3 Satellite tracking measures a vehicle's position three-dimensionally. For the satellite tracking section 3 For example, a publicly known wireless global positioning system (GPS) is used.

[0013] The object recognition section 4 detects an object in an area between the vehicles, i.e., in an area located between the vehicles organized in a platoon, which are traveling one after the other in the direction of travel. The section 4 For object detection, a millimeter wave sensor is used, for example. The millimeter wave sensor emits electromagnetic waves as transmission waves from the side of the vehicle towards the area between the vehicles and receives the reflection waves of the emitted transmission waves.

[0014] The control section 5It consists of a microcomputer comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM), a main memory (RAM), an input interface, and an output interface. The CPU reads a program corresponding to the procedure from the ROM and loads it into the RAM, and performs centralized control of operations of each block and the like in conjunction with the loaded program. Note that in the present embodiment, the control section 5 as a recording section 51 , Investigation section 52 , Information generation section 53 and implementation section for controlling information provision 54functions. Note that these functions may be contained within an electrical control unit (ECU), which is a device that uses electronic circuitry to control every system in a vehicle. Additionally, some or all of these functions may also be provided separately by the ECU.

[0015] The recording section 51 captures a result of the object capture section 4 The tax section 5 calculated based on the data collection result of the object collection section 4 Object location information. Furthermore, the data acquisition section records... 51 a measurement result (vehicle location information) of the satellite location segment 3 .

[0016] The investigation section 52It determines whether an external vehicle is present in the area between the vehicles. More precisely, the investigation section compares... 52 the object position information, which is based on the recognition result of the object recognition section 4 were calculated, and the recorded measurement result (vehicle position information) of the satellite tracking section 3 , and if the position information of the two matches, the investigation section determines 52 that an external vehicle is located in the area between the vehicles.

[0017] The section 53Information generation involves generating information for handling an external vehicle that has entered the system. Entry handling information is information that specifies, for example, the entry of an external vehicle. Here, the generation of entry handling information encompasses the generation of entry handling information using data that was previously stored in a memory section (e.g., in ROM).

[0018] The section 54 To execute the information provision control, a control system is used to provide the external vehicle with the information specified in section 53 The information generated for information generation is provided for the entry treatment. For example, the information provision control execution section performs 54 a control to the display section 6 to cause the entry information to be displayed.

[0019] The display section 6displays the entry information. The display section 6 It is positioned where it can be visually detected from the outside of the vehicle. For the display section 6 For example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) is used. If it is detected that an external vehicle has entered the area between the vehicles, the control section sends a signal. 5 the entry information to the display section 6 The transmitted entry indication information is displayed by the display section. 6 displayed.

[0020] Next, a specific example of the device will be presented. 1 to provide vehicle information with reference to Fig. 2 described. Fig. Figure 2 schematically shows a vehicle driving in its own lane or an adjacent lane. Fig. 2. White pentagons indicate vehicles traveling in a platoon, and hatched pentagons indicate vehicles not intended for the platoon.

[0021] In the following description, the direction of travel of the vehicles can be referred to as the "forward direction." Furthermore, the area between a leading and a trailing vehicle, organized in a platoon traveling in a line in the direction of travel, is referred to as the "intermediate vehicle area." Additionally, a leading vehicle can be referred to as the "host vehicle." Furthermore, a vehicle that has entered the intermediate vehicle area is referred to as the "external vehicle."

[0022] It is assumed that the device 1 is provided to display vehicle information in the host vehicle. Furthermore, the display section 6The information is located in the rear area (e.g., the tailgate or rear frame of a van) of the host vehicle. Furthermore, the information regarding the entry procedure is visual, such as "Enter".

[0023] The section 4 For object detection, an object is detected in the vehicle's intermediate area between the host vehicle (front vehicle) and a rear vehicle. The detection section 51 captures a result of the object capture section 4 The tax section 5 calculated based on the recognition result of the object recognition section 4 Object location information.

[0024] The recording section 51 captures the location result (vehicle location information) of the satellite location segment 3 The investigation section 52 compares the results based on the object recording section.4 calculated object position information combined with the positioning result (vehicle position information) of the satellite tracking segment 3 , to determine whether an external vehicle not intended for the platoon is in the vehicle space.

[0025] If it is detected that an external vehicle has entered the area between the vehicles, the control section sends 5 the information on how to handle the vehicle that has entered the vehicle is displayed in the display section 6 The display section 6 It receives the information and displays it. Since the display section 6 Located in the rear of the host vehicle, the display section 6 The displayed entry information can be visually recognized from the external side of the vehicle.

[0026] Next, a method for determining the break-in period according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to Fig. 3 described. Fig. Figure 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary procedure for determining the entry point according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The procedure of the flowchart is expediently started during a platoon run by vessels organized in a platoon.

[0027] First, in which Fig. Step 3 S100, as shown, captures the acquisition section 51 a recording result from the object recording section 4 .

[0028] Next, in step S110, the investigation section determines 52 based on the recording results of the object recording section 4The procedure checks whether an object has been detected. If an object has been detected (step S110: YES), the procedure continues to step S120. If no object has been detected (step S110: NO), the procedure is aborted.

[0029] In step S120, the control section calculates 5 the object position information based on the recognition result of the object recognition section 4 .

[0030] Next, in step S130, the data collection section records 51 the measurement information (vehicle location information) of the satellite tracking section 3 .

[0031] Next, in step S140, the investigation section compares 52The object position information and the vehicle position information are used to determine whether there is an external vehicle that has entered the area between the vehicles. If there is an external vehicle that has entered the area (step S140: YES), the procedure continues to step S150. If there is no external vehicle that has entered the area (step S140: NO), the procedure ends.

[0032] In step S150, the section generates 53 For information generation, information for handling the entry, which indicates the occurrence of an external vehicle entering the vehicle space.

[0033] Next, in step S160, the execution section 54 To control the information provision, a control system is used that manages the display section 6 prompted the display of information regarding the handling of the entry.

[0034] The vehicle information provision device1 The present embodiment includes the investigation section 52 , which is set up to determine whether there is an external vehicle that has entered the platoon and is not intended for the platoon in the vehicle inter-area, which is an area located between vehicles that are organized in a platoon and travel in succession, an information generation section 53 , which is set up to generate entry handling information for handling the crossed external vehicle when the investigation section 52 Determined that there is a driven-in external vehicle and a display section. 6, which is configured to display entry handling information. Displaying this information notifies the external vehicle to leave the vehicle gap. Once the external vehicle has left the vehicle gap, the vehicles can travel with a reduced vehicle-to-vehicle distance, thus improving fuel efficiency.

[0035] Next, a modification of the present embodiment will be described.

[0036] When an external vehicle is positioned within the vehicle gap—an area enclosed by vans lined up in a front-to-back direction—the information regarding the handling of the lane change is transmitted to the external vehicle. However, if, for example, an external vehicle changes lanes from its own lane to an adjacent lane, vans to the front and rear of the external vehicle significantly obstruct its view, making it difficult for the external vehicle to change lanes.

[0037] In view of this, the section generates 53 In accordance with the modification, additional information is generated to support the lane change of the external vehicle. More precisely, the section generates 53For information generation, a lane change signal is provided, specifying an area for the lane change of the external vehicle. In the present embodiment, the detection section captures 51 a measurement result from the satellite positioning section 3 (Here, the location information of a vehicle in the adjacent lane). Based on the position information of a vehicle in the adjacent lane, the control section calculates 5 the distance Df1 between an external vehicle and a preceding vehicle (the external vehicle and the one in Fig. 2. The first vehicle shown from the front in the adjacent lane) in the direction of travel of the vehicle. In addition, the control section calculates 5 Based on position information from a vehicle in the adjacent lane, the distance Drl between an external vehicle and a rear vehicle (the external vehicle and the rearmost vehicle in the lane) is calculated. Fig.2 adjacent lanes shown) in the direction of vehicle travel.

[0038] The control section 5 The control section determines the distance D between the front and rear vehicles as lane-change information by adding the distances Df1 and Df2. 5 sends the lane change information to the display section 6 The display section 6 Displays the transmitted lane change information.

[0039] The device 1 The provision of vehicle information according to the modification can support the lane change of the external vehicle by providing lane change information for the external vehicle side, thus increasing the ease of the lane change of the external vehicle.

[0040] It should be noted that in this modification, the auxiliary information is the lane change information, which specifies an area in which the external vehicle can move when changing lanes. However, the auxiliary information can also include information about the road ahead and behind a platoon. The information about the road ahead and behind a platoon is provided by the section 53 to generate information based on the position information of the vehicles organized in the platoon and the position information of the vehicles in an area around the platoon.

[0041] Furthermore, the auxiliary information can include information indicating the timing for the external vehicle's lane change. For example, providing information that specifies a suitable or unsuitable timing for the lane change on the external vehicle's side increases the ease of the lane change.

[0042] Furthermore, the additional information can trigger an automatic lane change. If the timing is suitable for the lane change, a vehicle can, for example, be safely separated from a platoon by generating a trigger for a vehicle equipped with an automatic operating function that includes the lane change function.

[0043] Note that, during the section 3In the present embodiment, satellite positioning is used as a positioning device to measure the vehicle position; the positioning device is not located in section 3 is limited to satellite positioning and may be a vehicle speed sensor, a yaw rate sensor, a component that performs positioning by so-called dead reckoning navigation based on data from a steering angle sensor, or a component that uses a beacon and the like.

[0044] In the present embodiment, a millimeter wave sensor serves as the object detection section. 4 It is also possible to use a laser sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a camera that captures an image of an object.

[0045] During the display section 6 In the present embodiment, the display section is arranged in the rear wall of the host vehicle. 6It may also be located in an external vehicle. The display section 6 The operating display section, which is located in an external vehicle, can be such as a touch panel display. In this case, the execution section performs the following actions. 54 To control the provision of information, a control system is used which includes the section 2 This prompts the system to initiate cross-vehicle communication with the external vehicle. Lane change information, for example, is transmitted from the host vehicle via the cross-vehicle communication segment. 2 provided to the external side of the vehicle. Furthermore, the display section located in an external vehicle 6 a mobile device that can be installed in an external vehicle, such as a tablet terminal (pad terminal), a personal computer, and a smartphone.

[0046] During the display section 6 In the present embodiment, the display section is used as a notification section that communicates information about the entry treatment to the external vehicle side in the form of visual information. However, it is also possible to use a sound generator, such as a buzzer and a loudspeaker, to communicate information about the entry treatment to the external vehicle side in the form of sound. It should be noted that both the display section 6 as well as the tone generator.

[0047] The embodiments mentioned above are merely examples of the present disclosure, and the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be considered limited by them. In other words, various modifications of the present disclosure may be made, provided they are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] This application claims to the Japanese patent application No. 2018-163369, which was filed on August 31, 2018, the disclosure of which is comprehensively contained herein by reference in their entirety, including the description, the drawings and the summary. Industrial applicability

[0049] The vehicle information provision device of the present disclosure is advantageously used for vehicles that need to improve fuel efficiency. Reference symbol list 1 Device for providing vehicle information Section 2 on vehicle-to-vehicle communication Section 3 on satellite positioning Section 4 on object recognition 5 Control section 6 Display section 51 Recording section 52 Investigation Section Section 53 on Information Generation 54 Implementation section for controlling information provision QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2008074210

[0003] JP 2018163369

[0048]

Claims

[1] Device for providing vehicle information, comprising: an investigation section set up to determine whether an external vehicle has entered a vehicle intersection, which is an area between moving vehicles organized in a platoon, where the moving vehicles follow one another in the direction of travel and the external vehicle is a vehicle not intended for the platoon; an information generation section configured to generate entry treatment information for the handling of the external vehicle when the investigation section determines that an entry of the external vehicle has occurred; and an execution section for controlling information provision, which is configured to perform a control for providing the entry handling information generated by the information generation section to the external vehicle. [2] The device for providing vehicle information according to claim 1, which further comprises a notification section configured to issue a notification about the generated information for handling the entry. [3] The device for providing vehicle information according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information for the entry treatment includes auxiliary information to assist the lane change of the external vehicle. [4] The device for providing vehicle information according to claim 3, wherein the auxiliary information comprises lane change information that indicates an area in which the external vehicle is mobile when the external vehicle changes lanes. [5] The device for providing vehicle information according to claim 4, further comprising a detection section configured to detect location information of the vehicles organized in the platoon and location information of a vehicle in an area around the platoon via communication with the outside, wherein the information generation section generates the lane change information based on the location information of the vehicle detected by the detection section. [6] A vehicle comprising the device for providing vehicle information according to any one of claims 1 to 5.