Device to prevent abandonment in car and system to prevent abandonment in car

Abstract

To provide a device to prevent abandonment in a car and a system to prevent abandonment in a car capable of preventing a passenger from being abandoned in a car after completion of operation while minimizing an adverse effect imposing on a battery mounted in a pickup and drop-off vehicle.SOLUTION: When a power source off signal reporting that an engine of a bus 10 is halted is inputted from the bus 10, (1) a control unit 22 of a device to prevent abandonment in a car 20 outputs an activation signal to an acoustic unit 24 or display device 27. Thereafter, (2) when a depression signal is received from a wireless depression button 30, the control unit outputs a halt signal to the acoustic unit 24 or display device 27, and outputs a cutoff signal to a power cutoff unit 25. Otherwise, when the depression signal is received from the wireless depression button 30, the control unit outputs the cutoff signal to the power cutoff unit 25. Otherwise, (3) when predetermined time has elapsed since outputting of the activation signal, the control unit outputs the cutoff signal to the power cutoff unit 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle abandonment prevention device mounted in a shuttle vehicle used to pick up and drop off children attending kindergartens, nursery schools, etc., mentally disabled people, elderly people, etc., and an in-vehicle abandonment prevention system including the same. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there have been accidents involving shuttle buses taking children to and from kindergartens and nursery schools, resulting in the deaths of children left behind inside the vehicle. Recently, various studies have been conducted to prevent the occurrence of such accidents involving children being left behind on shuttle buses. For example, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has announced in the following Non-Patent Document 1 that it will "establish a working group under the Vehicle Safety Measures Review Committee to study the performance requirements of safety devices that will help prevent children from being left behind on shuttle buses." [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Home > Press and Public Relations > Latest Information (Press Releases) > September 30, 2022, "We will consider the specifications of safety devices to help prevent passengers from being left behind on shuttle buses ~ We will consider the specifications of safety devices to help prevent passengers from being left behind to compensate for human error ~", [online], [Searched October 31, 2022], Internet<URL https: / / www.mlit.go.jp / report / press / jidosha10_hh_000268.html> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The contents of the study by the working group of the Vehicle Safety Measures Review Committee, which is published in Non-Patent Document 1, have not yet been made public at the time of filing this application and are therefore unclear, but if we assume the possibility of such an accident occurring on a shuttle bus, the victims are not limited to young children (kindergarteners) on their way to and from school. For example, it is expected that this could also occur in situations where intellectually disabled people or elderly people are being dropped off or picked up. For this reason, buses that transport such socially vulnerable people should also be equipped with the above-mentioned safety devices.

[0005] On the other hand, since such safety devices are electric devices mounted on shuttle vehicles such as shuttle buses, their driving power is often obtained from the vehicle's on-board battery. The on-board battery plays a role in supplying power to the starter motor when starting the engine of the vehicle and to electrical equipment such as the vehicle control computer. Therefore, if the safety device consumes excessive power and puts a strain on the on-board battery, operational problems such as the engine of the shuttle vehicle being unable to start may occur.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to minimize the power consumption of the safety device and to minimize the impact on the vehicle battery. In addition, since it is expected that the safety device will be installed not only in new vehicles but also in existing vehicles, it is desirable that the safety device be configured so that it can be easily retrofitted to shuttle vehicles without requiring major modification work.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an in-vehicle abandonment prevention device and an in-vehicle abandonment prevention system that can prevent passengers from being left behind in the vehicle after the service has ended while minimizing the impact on the battery installed in the shuttle vehicle. Another aim is to provide an in-vehicle abandonment prevention system that can be easily retrofitted to existing shuttle vehicles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device described in claim 1 of the claims is an in-vehicle left-behind prevention device that is mounted on a shuttle vehicle and operates by receiving power from a battery possessed by the shuttle vehicle, and includes a control unit, a push button switch that is provided at the rear of the interior of the shuttle vehicle and has a button unit that sends a push signal to the control unit when the button unit is pressed, an attention calling unit that starts an operation of calling attention via an auditory or visual sense when a start signal is input from the control unit and ends the operation when a stop signal is input from the control unit, and a power cut-off unit that cuts off the power supplied from the battery when a cut-off signal is input from the control unit, and the control unit, when a power source off signal notifying that the running power source of the shuttle vehicle has stopped, (1) outputs the start signal to the attention calling unit, and thereafter, (2) when the control unit receives the push signal from the push button switch, outputs the stop signal to the attention calling unit and outputs the cut-off signal to the power cut-off unit, or outputs the cut-off signal to the power cut-off unit, or (3) The technical feature is that when a predetermined time has elapsed since the output of the activation signal, the cutoff signal is output to the power cutoff unit. Note that when a push-button switch transmits a press signal by pressing a part of the switch, the part is included in the concept of the button unit even if it is not structurally or mechanically separated as the button unit.

[0009] The invention of the in-vehicle abandoned prevention device described in claim 1 comprises a control unit, a push button switch, a warning unit, and a power cut-off unit. When the control unit receives a power source off signal from the shuttle vehicle, notifying that the driving power source of the shuttle vehicle has stopped, the control unit (1) outputs a start signal to the warning unit. Thereafter, (2) when a push signal is received from the push button switch, the control unit outputs a stop signal to the warning unit and a cut-off signal to the power cut-off unit. Alternatively, when a push signal is received from the push button switch, the control unit outputs a cut-off signal to the power cut-off unit (without outputting a stop signal to the warning unit). Or, (3) when a predetermined time has passed since the output of the start signal, the control unit outputs a cut-off signal to the power cut-off unit. The driving power source of the shuttle vehicle is typically an engine (internal combustion engine), or in the case of an electric vehicle, a motor (electric motor).

[0010] For example, when a shuttle vehicle that has finished picking up and dropping off passengers parks in a designated parking space or the like and stops its running power source, a power source off signal is input from the shuttle vehicle to the control unit. As a result, the attention calling unit starts an operation of calling attention through hearing or vision (attention calling activation operation), so it is possible to urge the driver of the shuttle vehicle, the tour escort, or other crew member (hereinafter referred to as the "crew member") to check whether there are any passengers left behind in the vehicle without getting off due to drowsiness or the like. In addition, since such attention calling activation operation is ended by pressing the button portion of a push button switch provided at the rear of the vehicle interior, the crew member must move to the rear of the vehicle interior in order to stop the attention calling activation operation of the attention calling unit. Therefore, even if a passenger is left behind at the rear of the vehicle interior, which is difficult to see from the front of the vehicle interior because it is hidden by the backrest of the passenger seat, the crew member can find such a passenger.

[0011] In addition, by pressing the button part of the push button switch, the attention activation of the attention unit is terminated, or regardless of the termination of the attention activation, the power cut-off unit cuts off the power supplied from the battery of the shuttle vehicle to the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device. In addition, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the output of the activation signal that causes the attention unit to start the attention activation, the power cut-off unit cuts off the power even if the button part of the push button switch is not pressed. As a result, even after the button part of the push button switch is pressed and the attention activation of the attention unit is terminated, power is not continuously supplied from the battery to the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device, and the attention unit does not continue the attention activation until the button part of the push button switch is pressed. In other words, the power supply from the battery is cut off due to the pressing of the push button switch, and is automatically cut off after a predetermined time has elapsed even if the push button switch is not pressed, so it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption by the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device.

[0012] Furthermore, the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device described in claim 2 of the claims has the technical features that, in the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device described in claim 1, it further includes a pause switch provided near the driver's seat of the shuttle vehicle, and when the pause switch is turned on while the attention warning unit is operating, it outputs a pause signal to the control unit, and when the pause signal is input from the pause switch, the control unit outputs the stop signal to the attention warning unit, and if a power source on signal indicating that the driving power source is operating has not been input after a predetermined time has elapsed, it outputs the start signal to the attention warning unit, and if the power source on signal has been input, it waits for the input of the power source off signal without outputting the start signal, and then performs the operations from (1) onwards again.

[0013] The invention of the vehicle abandonment prevention device described in claim 2 further includes a temporary stop switch provided near the driver's seat of the shuttle vehicle. The control unit outputs a start signal to the attention calling unit when a power source ON signal indicating that the driving power source is operating has not been input after a predetermined time has elapsed. Furthermore, when a power source ON signal has been input, the control unit waits for a power source OFF signal without outputting the start signal and performs the operations from (1) onwards again. As a result, even if a situation occurs during the shuttle trip where the driving power source of the shuttle vehicle is temporarily stopped due to an idling stop function or the like of the shuttle vehicle and a power source OFF signal is input to the control unit to start the attention calling operation, the driver can stop the attention calling operation by performing an operation to turn on the temporary stop switch. Therefore, it is possible to stop the attention calling operation in a situation where it should not be performed.

[0014] In addition, if the traveling power source is not operating even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the pause switch is turned on, the attention calling unit starts the attention calling operation again. Therefore, for example, when the pause switch is turned on in a situation where the traveling power source is stopped due to parking after picking up and dropping off passengers, the attention calling unit resumes the attention calling operation after the predetermined time has elapsed, so that it is possible to prevent the driver from forgetting to press the push button switch or failing to check. In addition, it is possible to suppress the driver's inappropriate behavior of pressing the pause switch because the auditory or visual attention calling operation is bothersome after the traveling power source is stopped due to parking.

[0015] Furthermore, the in-vehicle left-behind prevention system described in claim 3 of the claims is an in-vehicle left-behind prevention system including the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device described in claim 1 or 2, in which the push button switch is capable of transmitting the press signal via wireless communication, and a confirmation device provided outside the shuttle vehicle, wherein the confirmation device comprises a confirmation control unit, a receiving unit capable of receiving the press signal transmitted from the push button switch via wireless communication and outputting reception information to the confirmation control unit that the press signal has been received, a release button switch having a button unit and sending a release signal to the confirmation control unit when the button unit is pressed, and a press notification unit that initiates a notification operation to visually notify that the push button switch has been pressed when a notification signal is input from the confirmation control unit, and terminates the notification operation when a confirmation signal is input from the confirmation control unit, and the confirmation control unit has the technical feature that when the reception information is input from the receiving unit, it outputs the notification signal to the press notification unit, and then, when it receives the release signal from the release button switch, it outputs the confirmation signal to the press notification unit.

[0016] The invention of the in-vehicle left-behind prevention system described in claim 3 includes an in-vehicle left-behind prevention device equipped with a push button switch capable of transmitting a press signal via wireless communication, and a confirmation device provided outside the shuttle vehicle, the confirmation device including a confirmation control unit, a receiving unit, a release button switch, and a press notification unit. When received information is input from the receiving unit, the confirmation control unit outputs a notification signal to the press notification unit. Thereafter, when a release signal is received from the release button switch, the confirmation control unit outputs a confirmation signal to the press notification unit. The outside of the shuttle vehicle where the confirmation device is provided is typically inside a building or structure adjacent to the space where the shuttle vehicle is parked (a designated parking space).

[0017] For example, when a shuttle vehicle that has finished picking up and dropping off passengers parks in a designated parking space or the like and stops its driving power source, the attention-calling unit in the vehicle-left-behind prevention device mounted on the shuttle vehicle starts an attention-calling operation, so that the driver in the shuttle vehicle checks whether there are any passengers left behind (hereinafter referred to as "passenger remaining inspection") and presses a push button switch at the rear of the vehicle interior. When a press signal transmitted by wireless communication from the push button switch reaches a confirmation device outside the shuttle vehicle, the press notification unit in the confirmation device starts a notification operation to visually notify that the push button switch has been pressed. Therefore, a person in charge of traffic management work or the like near the confirmation device (hereinafter referred to as "manager") can know that the driver is performing a remaining passenger inspection by visually checking the notification operation of the press notification unit.

[0018] In addition, since the push button switch of the vehicle abandonment prevention device mounted on the shuttle vehicle can transmit a push signal by wireless communication, for example, there is no need to lay wiring for a control signal from a control unit provided near the driver's seat at the front of the vehicle interior to the rear of the vehicle interior. In addition, if the push button switch has its own power source, there is no need to lay wiring for power. Therefore, even if such push button switches are provided at multiple locations at the rear of the vehicle interior, there is no need to run a large number of wires. In addition, the power source off signal can be obtained, for example, as voltage information of the accessory power source of the shuttle vehicle.

[0019] Furthermore, the in-vehicle abandonment prevention system described in claim 4 of the claims has the technical features that, in the in-vehicle abandonment prevention system described in claim 3, it further includes a passenger switch that is installed near the passenger seats of the shuttle vehicle, has its own power source, and when turned on, transmits a passenger signal to the receiving unit of the confirmation device via wireless communication using power supplied from the power source, and the confirmation device further includes a residual warning unit that, when a residual signal is input from the confirmation control unit, initiates a warning operation to visually warn that the passenger switch has been turned on, and the receiving unit is capable of receiving the passenger signal transmitted from the passenger switch via wireless communication and outputs residual information to the confirmation control unit indicating that the passenger signal has been received, and the confirmation control unit, when the residual information is input from the receiving unit, outputs the residual signal to the residual warning unit.

[0020] The invention of the in-vehicle abandoned prevention system described in claim 4 further includes a passenger switch. The passenger switch is provided near the passenger seats of the shuttle vehicle and has its own power source. When turned on, the passenger switch transmits a passenger signal to the receiving unit of the confirmation device by wireless communication using power supplied from the power source. The confirmation device further includes a remaining warning unit, which starts a warning operation to visually warn that the passenger switch has been turned on when a remaining signal is input from the confirmation control unit.

[0021] For example, even if a passenger is left behind in a shuttle vehicle parked in a designated parking space after picking up or dropping off passengers, the passenger turns on the passenger switch, which transmits a passenger signal via wireless communication to the outside of the shuttle vehicle. When the passenger signal transmitted from the passenger switch reaches a confirmation device outside the shuttle vehicle, the remaining warning unit of the confirmation device starts a warning operation to visually warn that the passenger switch has been turned on. Therefore, the manager can know that a passenger has been left behind in the shuttle vehicle by visually confirming the warning operation of the remaining warning unit. Therefore, the passenger left behind in the shuttle vehicle can be rescued quickly.

[0022] The in-vehicle left-behind prevention system described in claim 5 of the claims includes the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device described in claim 1 or 2, in which the push button switch is capable of transmitting, by wireless communication, the press signal to which is added identification information capable of identifying the push button switch that is the sender or identification information capable of identifying the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device equipped with the push button switch that is the sender, and a confirmation device provided outside the shuttle vehicle, wherein the confirmation device includes a confirmation control unit, a receiving unit capable of receiving the press signal transmitted by wireless communication from the push button switch and outputting reception information indicating that the press signal has been received and the identification information to the confirmation control unit, and a button unit which, when pressed, sends a release signal to the confirmation unit. and a press-down notification unit which, when an alarm signal corresponding to the identification information is input from the confirmation control unit, initiates an alarm operation to visually notify that the push button switch corresponding to the identification information has been pressed in accordance with the identification information of the alarm signal, and when a confirmation signal corresponding to the identification information is input from the confirmation control unit, terminates the alarm operation corresponding to the identification information of the confirmation signal.The technical feature of this device is that when the receiving information and the identification information are input from the receiving unit, the confirmation control unit outputs the alarm signal and the identification information to the press-down notification unit, and then, when it receives the release signal and the identification information from the release button switch, it outputs the confirmation signal and the identification information to the press-down notification unit.

[0023] The invention of the in-vehicle left-behind prevention system described in claim 5 includes an in-vehicle left-behind prevention device equipped with a push button switch capable of wirelessly transmitting a press signal to which identification information capable of identifying the sender (a push button switch or an in-vehicle left-behind prevention device equipped with a push button switch) is added, and a confirmation device provided outside the shuttle vehicle, the confirmation device including a confirmation control unit, a receiving unit, a release button switch, and a press notification unit. When the confirmation control unit receives reception information and identification information from the receiving unit, it outputs a notification signal corresponding to the identification information to the press notification unit. Thereafter, when it receives a release signal from the release button switch, it outputs a confirmation signal corresponding to the identification information to the press notification unit. The outside of the shuttle vehicle where the confirmation device is provided is typically inside a building or structure adjacent to the space where the shuttle vehicle is parked (a designated parking space).

[0024] For example, when a plurality of shuttle vehicles that have finished picking up and dropping off passengers are parked in a designated parking space, etc., and a specific one of them stops its power source, the attention warning unit in the vehicle abandonment prevention device mounted on the shuttle vehicle starts a warning activation operation, so that the driver in the shuttle vehicle checks for remaining passengers and presses the push button switch at the rear of the vehicle interior. For example, even if two shuttle vehicles stop their power sources almost simultaneously or one after the other with a slight time difference, the push signals transmitted from the push button switches of these two shuttle vehicles are added with different sender identification information, so that the confirmation device installed outside the shuttle vehicles can process the information without mistaking them. As a result, when the push signal transmitted by wireless communication from this push button switch and added with the sender identification information reaches the confirmation device outside the shuttle vehicle, the press notification unit in the confirmation device starts a notification operation to visually notify that the specific push button switch corresponding to the identification information has been pressed. Therefore, by visually checking the notification action of the depression notification unit, the manager can know that the crew is conducting a remaining passenger inspection at a specific car.

[0025] In addition, since the push button switch of the vehicle abandonment prevention device mounted on the shuttle vehicle can transmit a push signal by wireless communication, for example, there is no need to lay wiring for a control signal from a control unit provided near the driver's seat at the front of the vehicle interior to the rear of the vehicle interior. In addition, if the push button switch has its own power source, there is no need to lay wiring for power. Therefore, even if such push button switches are provided at multiple locations at the rear of the vehicle interior, there is no need to run a large number of wires. In addition, the power source off signal can be obtained, for example, as voltage information of the accessory power source of the shuttle vehicle.

[0026] Furthermore, the in-vehicle left-behind prevention system described in claim 6 of the claims has the technical features that, in the in-vehicle left-behind prevention system described in claim 5, it further includes a passenger switch that is installed near the passenger seats of the shuttle vehicle, has its own power source, and when turned on, transmits a passenger signal and identification information added thereto to the receiving unit of the confirmation device via wireless communication using power supplied from the power source, and the confirmation device further includes a residual warning unit that, when a residual signal corresponding to the identification information is input from the confirmation control unit, initiates a warning operation to visually warn that the passenger switch corresponding to the identification information has been turned on in correspondence with the identification information of the residual signal, and the receiving unit is capable of receiving the passenger signal transmitted from the passenger switch via wireless communication and outputs residual information and the identification information indicating that the passenger signal has been received to the confirmation control unit, and the confirmation control unit, when the residual information and the identification information are input from the receiving unit, outputs the residual signal and the identification information to the residual warning unit.

[0027] The invention of the in-vehicle abandoned prevention system described in claim 6 further includes a passenger switch. The passenger switch is provided near the passenger seat of the shuttle vehicle and has its own power source. When turned on, the passenger switch transmits the passenger signal and the identification information added thereto to the receiving unit of the confirmation device by wireless communication using the power supplied from the power source. The confirmation device further includes a remaining warning unit, which, when a remaining signal is input from the confirmation control unit, starts a warning operation that visually warns that the passenger switch corresponding to the identification information of the remaining signal has been turned on in association with the identification information.

[0028] For example, even if a passenger is left behind in one of a number of vehicles parked in a specified parking space after picking up and dropping off passengers, the passenger turns on the passenger switch, which transmits the passenger signal and the identification information attached thereto to the outside of the vehicle by wireless communication. When the passenger signal and the identification information transmitted from the passenger switch reach the confirmation device outside the vehicle, the remaining warning unit of the confirmation device starts a warning operation that visually warns that the passenger switch corresponding to the identification information of the specific vehicle has been turned on. Therefore, the manager can visually confirm that a passenger has been left behind in one of the multiple vehicles by checking the warning operation of the remaining warning unit. Therefore, the passenger left behind in the specific vehicle can be rescued quickly.

[0029] The in-vehicle left-behind prevention system described in claim 7 of the claims includes the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device described in claim 1 or 2, in which the push button switch is capable of transmitting the push signal by wireless communication, and a confirmation device provided outside the shuttle vehicle, the confirmation device including a confirmation control unit, a receiving unit capable of receiving the push signal transmitted from the push button switch by wireless communication and outputting reception information indicating that the push signal has been received to the confirmation control unit, a release button switch having a button unit and sending a release signal to the confirmation control unit when the button unit is pressed, and a notification unit output from the confirmation control unit. The device is equipped with a press notification unit that starts an alarm operation to visually notify that the push button switch has been pressed when a signal is input, and ends the alarm operation when a confirmation signal is input from the confirmation control unit, and a record storage unit that records and stores information, wherein the confirmation control unit outputs the alarm signal to the press notification unit when the received information is input from the receiving unit, and then, when the confirmation control unit receives the release signal from the release button switch, outputs the confirmation signal to the press notification unit and records and stores at least one of the received information, the start information and the end information of the alarm operation in the record storage unit.

[0030] The invention of the in-vehicle left-behind prevention system described in claim 7 includes an in-vehicle left-behind prevention device equipped with a push button switch capable of transmitting a press signal by wireless communication, and a confirmation device provided outside the shuttle vehicle, the confirmation device including a confirmation control unit, a receiving unit, a release button switch, a press notification unit, and a record storage unit. When reception information is input from the receiving unit, the confirmation control unit outputs a notification signal to the press notification unit. When a release signal is subsequently received from the release button switch, the confirmation control unit outputs a confirmation signal to the press notification unit, and records and stores at least one of the reception information, the start information and the end information of the notification operation in the record storage unit. The outside of the shuttle vehicle where the confirmation device is provided is typically inside a building or structure adjacent to the space (designated parking space) where the shuttle vehicle is parked.

[0031] For example, when a shuttle vehicle that has finished picking up and dropping off passengers parks in a designated parking space or the like and stops its running power source, the attention-calling unit in the vehicle-left-behind prevention device mounted on the shuttle vehicle starts an attention-calling operation, so that the driver in the shuttle vehicle checks the remaining passengers and presses a push button switch at the rear of the vehicle interior. When a pressing signal transmitted by wireless communication from the push button switch reaches a confirmation device outside the shuttle vehicle, the pressing notification unit in the confirmation device starts a notification operation to visually notify that the push button switch has been pressed. Therefore, the manager can know that the driver is checking the remaining passengers by visually confirming the notification operation of the pressing notification unit. In addition, at least one or more pieces of information, such as the received information, the start information and the end information of the notification operation, are recorded and stored in the record storage unit, so that these pieces of information can be confirmed after the fact.

[0032] In addition, since the push button switch of the vehicle abandonment prevention device mounted on the shuttle vehicle can transmit a push signal by wireless communication, for example, there is no need to lay wiring for a control signal from a control unit provided near the driver's seat at the front of the vehicle interior to the rear of the vehicle interior. In addition, if the push button switch has its own power source, there is no need to lay wiring for power. Therefore, even if such push button switches are provided at multiple locations at the rear of the vehicle interior, there is no need to run a large number of wires. In addition, the power source off signal can be obtained, for example, as voltage information of the accessory power source of the shuttle vehicle.

[0033] Furthermore, the in-vehicle left-behind prevention system described in claim 8 of the claims has the technical features that, in the in-vehicle left-behind prevention system described in claim 7, it further includes a passenger switch that is provided near the passenger seats of the shuttle vehicle, has its own power source, and when turned on, transmits a passenger signal to the receiving unit of the confirmation device via wireless communication using power supplied from the power source, and the confirmation device further includes a residual warning unit that initiates a warning operation to visually warn that the passenger switch has been turned on when a residual signal is input from the confirmation control unit, the receiving unit is capable of receiving the passenger signal transmitted from the passenger switch via wireless communication and outputs residual information to the confirmation control unit indicating that the passenger signal has been received, and when the residual information is input from the receiving unit, the confirmation control unit outputs the residual signal to the residual warning unit, and records and stores at least one of the received information, the residual information, start information of the warning operation, and start information and end information of the notification operation in the record storage unit.

[0034] The invention of the in-vehicle abandoned prevention system described in claim 8 further includes a passenger switch. The passenger switch is provided near the passenger seats of the shuttle vehicle and has its own power source. When turned on, the passenger switch transmits a passenger signal to the receiving unit of the confirmation device by wireless communication using power supplied from the power source. The confirmation device further includes a remaining warning unit, which, when a remaining signal is input from the confirmation control unit, starts a warning operation to visually warn that the passenger switch has been turned on. The confirmation control unit records and stores at least one of the following information in the record storage unit: the received information, the remaining information, warning operation start information, and notification operation start information and end information.

[0035] For example, even if a passenger is left behind in a shuttle vehicle parked in a specified parking space after the passenger has been picked up and dropped off, the passenger turns on the passenger switch, which transmits a passenger signal to the outside of the shuttle vehicle via wireless communication. When the passenger signal transmitted from the passenger switch reaches a confirmation device outside the shuttle vehicle, the remaining warning unit in the confirmation device starts a warning operation to visually warn that the passenger switch has been turned on. Therefore, the manager can know that a passenger has been left behind in the shuttle vehicle by visually confirming the warning operation of the remaining warning unit. Therefore, the passenger left behind in the shuttle vehicle can be rescued quickly. In addition, the record storage unit records and stores at least one of the following information: reception information, remaining information, warning operation start information, and notification operation start information and end information, making it possible to check this information after the fact. Effect of the Invention

[0036] In the vehicle abandonment prevention device of the present invention, when the driving power source of the shuttle vehicle is stopped, the attention calling unit starts an attention calling operation, so that it is possible to urge the driver to check whether there are any passengers left behind in the vehicle without getting off due to drowsiness or the like. In addition, since the driver is forced to move to the rear of the vehicle interior, even if a passenger is left behind in the rear of the vehicle interior that is difficult to see from the front of the vehicle interior, the driver can find such a passenger. Furthermore, since the power supply from the battery is cut off due to pressing of the push button switch, and is automatically cut off after a predetermined time has passed even if the push button switch is not pressed, it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption by the vehicle abandonment prevention device. Therefore, it is possible to prevent passengers from being left behind in the vehicle after the end of the trip while minimizing the impact on the battery installed in the shuttle vehicle.

[0037] In the in-vehicle left-behind prevention system of the present invention, the manager can visually confirm that the driver is inspecting the remaining passengers (in a specific vehicle if there are multiple shuttle vehicles) by checking the notification action of the push notification unit. Therefore, the driver can check whether the remaining passengers have been inspected outside the shuttle vehicle, so that it is possible to reliably prevent passengers from being left behind in the vehicle after the trip has ended. In addition, since the push button switch of the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device mounted on the shuttle vehicle can transmit a push signal by wireless communication, there is no need to lay wiring for a control signal from the control unit provided near the driver's seat at the front of the vehicle interior to the rear of the vehicle interior. Therefore, the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device can be easily retrofitted to existing shuttle vehicles without requiring major modification work. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0038] [Figure 1] Fig. 1(A) is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a bus for picking up and dropping off children equipped with an in-vehicle left-behind prevention device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1(B) is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a control process executed by a main unit constituting the vehicle abandonment prevention device of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the sound suppression process shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] Fig. 4(A) is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle abandonment prevention system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4(B) is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of a confirmation device included in the vehicle abandonment prevention system. [Diagram 5] 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of a control process executed by a confirmation device constituting the system for preventing a person from being left in a vehicle according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6]Fig. 6(A) is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a vehicle abandonment prevention system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6(B) is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration example of a confirmation device included in the vehicle abandonment prevention system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] Hereinafter, embodiments of the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device and in-vehicle abandonment prevention system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [First embodiment] First, as one embodiment of the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device of the present invention, an in-vehicle left-behind prevention device 20 mounted on a shuttle bus 10 (sometimes called a school bus; hereinafter, such buses on which children ride will simply be referred to as "buses") used to transport children to and from kindergartens, nursery schools, etc. will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. In this first embodiment, the bus 10 will be described with an example having a gasoline engine or diesel engine (hereinafter referred to as "engine") as the power source for running, but in the case of an EV (Electric Vehicle) type, a running motor will be used as the power source for running. Children may correspond to "passengers" as defined in the claims.

[0040] The in-vehicle left-behind prevention device 20 is mainly composed of a main unit 21, a mute button 26, a display device 27, and a wireless push button 30. The main unit 21 and the mute button 26 are provided at the front of the interior of the bus 10, for example, at the top of the dashboard 15 near the steering wheel 14, or in a position close to the driver's seat 13 of the bus 10. In contrast, the display device 27 and the wireless push button 30 are provided at the rear of the interior of the bus 10, for example, near the ceiling of the rear door 19 located at the rearmost part. The reasons for mounting the main unit 21 and the like in such positions will be described later. In FIG. 1(A), reference numeral 11 denotes a boarding / alighting door, reference numeral 12 denotes a seat for children (passenger seat), and reference numeral 17 denotes a battery.

[0041] The main unit 21 accommodates a control unit 22, a wireless unit 23, an audio unit 24, a power cutoff unit 25, etc., in a case made of synthetic resin such as plastic having a rectangular thin box shape. The main unit 21 is driven by receiving power from a battery 17 mounted on the bus 10. In the first embodiment, the main unit 21 is connected to a constant power source that can receive power even when the engine is stopped, that is, directly connected to the battery 17. In addition, the main unit 21 is also connected to an accessory power source Acc or an ignition power source Ig in order to obtain an on signal (power source on signal) when the engine is operating and an off signal (power source off signal) when the engine is stopped.

[0042] These constant power sources, the accessory power source Acc, and the ignition power source Ig can be electrically connected, for example, in a fuse box provided at the front of the passenger compartment or in the dashboard 15. Therefore, the main unit 21 is provided so as to be located at the front of the passenger compartment where the dashboard 15 and the like are present. The accessory power source Acc can also be obtained from a cigarette lighter socket provided in the dashboard 15 and the like.

[0043] The control unit 22 is a controller that controls the wireless unit 23, the audio unit 24, the power cut-off unit 25, and the display device 27, and is, for example, a microcomputer module composed of an MPU, memory (RAM, ROM), an input / output interface, a voltage monitor, an A / D converter, etc. The control unit 22 obtains driving power supplied from the above-mentioned constant power supply via the power cut-off unit 25, and also supplies the obtained driving power to the wireless unit 23, the audio unit 24, the power cut-off unit 25, and the display device 27 that are to be controlled. In addition, the MPU of the control unit 22 is configured to perform control processing, which will be described later, based on signals and information input from the wireless unit 23, the mute button 26, the accessory power source Acc, or the ignition power source Ig (hereinafter referred to as "accessory power source Acc, etc.").

[0044] For this reason, in the first embodiment, a control program that enables the MPU to execute such control processing is stored (memorized) in the memory of the control unit 22. The control unit 22 is also connected to the mute button 26, the accessory power source Acc, or the ignition power source Ig (hereinafter referred to as "accessory power source Acc, etc.") in addition to the wireless unit 23, etc. to be controlled, and is configured to obtain a pause signal from the mute button 26 and an engine on signal or off signal from the accessory power source Acc, etc. The engine on signal or off signal output from the accessory power source Acc, etc. is, for example, a voltage signal (voltage information) whose on / off state is determined by a voltage value. For this reason, in the first embodiment, the engine on signal or off signal is also input to the voltage monitor.

[0045] The voltage monitor has a function of controlling the power cut-off unit 25 to the ON state when the voltage value input to the voltage monitor becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold voltage while the power cut-off unit 25 is in the OFF state, and in the present first embodiment, is connected to the accessory power source Acc, etc. Therefore, when a voltage equal to or higher than the minimum voltage value (e.g., 20 V (when the rated output voltage of the battery 17 is 24 V)) that can be supplied from the accessory power source Acc, etc. is detected, a conduction signal that controls the power cut-off unit 25 to the ON state can be output to the power cut-off unit 25. As a result, when the control unit 22 receives a voltage of the above-mentioned minimum voltage value from the accessory power source Acc, etc., the voltage monitor controls the power cut-off unit 25, which is in the OFF state, to the ON state, so that it becomes possible to supply drive power to the control unit 22 from the continuous power source (battery 17).

[0046] Typically, a voltage monitoring IC is used as the voltage monitor, and its current consumption is several microamperes or less. Therefore, if the voltage monitor requires a power source even in a standby state where no driving power is supplied to the control unit 22, the voltage monitor in standby can be driven by a backup power source such as an electric double layer capacitor or a lithium secondary battery provided in the control unit 22, and therefore there is no need to receive power supply from the continuous power source (battery 17) of the bus 10. In the first embodiment, the voltage monitor is provided in the control unit 22, but it may be provided in the power cut-off unit 25. In this case, the power cut-off unit 25 also needs to be connected to the accessory power source Acc or the like.

[0047] The wireless unit 23 is a wireless communication module that enables short-distance wireless communication with the wireless push button 30. In the first embodiment, the wireless unit 23 is connected to the control unit 22 and is configured to be able to transmit and receive according to a control command received from the control unit 22. The wireless unit 23 uses, for example, a short-distance wireless communication standard or protocol that complies with, for example, ZigBee (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) in the wireless communication line. In addition, the wireless unit 23 is configured to output reception information that notifies the control unit 22 that a press signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30 has been received, when the wireless unit 23 receives the press signal. The antenna for wireless communication may be built into the case of the main unit 21, or may be provided so as to be exposed to the outside of the case.

[0048] The sound unit 24 has a function of auditorily alerting crew members such as the driver and the conductor of the bus 10, and is composed of, for example, a generating module capable of generating an electronic sound, and a speaker that generates a sound upon receiving a ringing signal output from the generating module. The generating module is connected to the control unit 22 so that a control signal can be input, and upon receiving a start signal output from the control unit 22, the generating module outputs a predetermined ringing signal to the speaker, causing the speaker to ring with the electronic sound, and continues to output the ringing signal until a stop signal is received. The electronic sound is, for example, a notification sound such as a telephone hold sound or a clock alarm sound, and is configured so that the type of notification sound can be set by a setting signal output from the control unit 22. Instead of an electronic sound, a synthetic voice that issues a sentence in words encouraging an inspection of the interior of the bus (a remaining inspection of passengers) may be used.

[0049] In the first embodiment, the acoustic unit 24 is configured to be housed in the case of the main device 21. Therefore, a plurality of sound holes are formed in the case of the control unit 22 at a portion where the sound generating surface of the speaker of the acoustic unit 24 is located. As a result, the electronic sound emitted by the acoustic unit 24 can be heard around the main device 21 (for example, the driver's seat 13 of the bus 10), so that an action can be taken to alert the driver via hearing. An action to alert the driver via hearing or vision is hereinafter referred to as an "attention-calling activation action."

[0050] The power cutoff unit 25 is a power switch that controls the supply of power input from the constant power source (battery 17) of the bus 10, and is composed of, for example, semiconductor switching elements such as power MOSFETs and IGBTs or mechanical relays, and is configured so that these switching devices can be controlled to be turned on and off by a control signal input from a control terminal. In the first embodiment, the control terminal is connected to the control unit 22, and the switch section is turned on by a conduction signal output from the control unit 22, and the switch section is turned off by a cutoff signal output in a similar manner. The conduction signal is output from the aforementioned voltage monitor of the control unit 22, and the cutoff signal is output from a driver circuit included in the control unit 22 via a control process described later.

[0051] The mute button 26 is a switch that the driver turns on when stopping the attention-calling operation that has started in a situation where it should not be performed. Even in a situation where the engine is temporarily stopped by the idling stop function or the like due to a certain period of time spent waiting for a traffic light at an intersection or waiting for children to board or disembark during a trip, an engine off signal may be input to the main unit 21 from the accessory power source Acc or the like, and the above-mentioned audio unit 24 and the display device 27 described later may start the attention-calling operation. The attention-calling operation by the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 in such a situation is not originally planned as the operation of the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20. Therefore, when the attention-calling operation starts in such a situation, the driver immediately presses the mute button 26 to stop the attention-calling operation.

[0052] In the first embodiment, the mute button 26 that can be used in such a situation is composed of a main body 26a having a low cylindrical shape, a button portion 26b that is biased to protrude upward from the main body 26a, and a switch portion (not shown) built into the main body 26a, and is connected to the main device 21. For example, when the button portion 26b is pressed against the biasing force, the switch portion in the OFF state transitions to the ON state, and a pause signal is output to the control unit 22 of the main device 21. As a result, the control unit 22 that has received this pause signal performs a mute process or the like to temporarily stop the attention-calling operation by the sound unit 24 and the display device 27, as described later.

[0053] The mute button 26 may be configured, for example, so that the button portion 26b is made of a translucent resin material, an LED lamp is housed inside, and the LED lamp is turned on when the sound unit 24 starts to output an electronic sound and turned off when the sound output ends, under the control of the control unit 22. This allows for visual attention activation, similar to the display device 27 described below.

[0054] The display device 27 is a horizontally long, rectangular-shaped indicator light capable of visually calling the attention of the driver of the bus 10, and is provided on the rear door 19 located at the rearmost part of the vehicle interior so that it is easily visible from the front of the vehicle interior and can easily direct the driver's attention toward the rear of the vehicle interior. In the first embodiment, for example, the display device 27 is composed of a plurality of LED lamps that emit visible light, an acrylic plate that covers the light-emitting sides of the LED lamps and displays a warning message, pictogram, or the like with translucent paint, and a framed panel that surrounds the outer periphery of the acrylic plate and can fix the plurality of LED lamps to the inside of the acrylic plate.

[0055] In the first embodiment, the message to call attention displayed on the acrylic plate is, for example, "Please check inside the vehicle," and the pictogram is, for example, a pictorial symbol or a pictogram shown in a line diagram that evokes the image of "pointing and checking." As will be described later, by a control process executed by the MPU of the control unit 22, the display device 27 lights up and performs a call-at-attention operation, for example, after the bus 10 that has completed its child pick-up and drop-off service has parked in a specified parking space or the like and the engine has been stopped. For this reason, the display device 27 is connected to the main device 21 by electrical wiring including a power cable. Note that this vehicle interior inspection refers to a remaining inspection of the children (passengers).

[0056] The LED lamps are configured to be turned on when a start signal sent from the control unit 22 is input, and turned off when a stop signal sent from the control unit 22 is input. Note that instead of such start and stop signals, the LED lamps may be controlled by supplying (corresponding to a start signal) and cutting off (corresponding to a stop signal) driving power that can be supplied to the LED lamps via a power cable. Also, the LED lamp built into the button portion 26b of the mute button 26 described above may be turned on and off by such start and stop signals.

[0057] Also, like the LED destination displays on route buses, a large number of color LED lamps may be arranged in a matrix of horizontally long strips, and the above-mentioned attention-calling messages, pictograms, etc. may be displayed by the brightness and color of the dots as they are turned on and off. In this case, since the configuration of the messages, pictograms, etc. can be controlled by software, there is an advantage in that they can be easily changed or updated, but there is a disadvantage in that the equipment costs may be higher than in the configuration of the display device 27 described above.

[0058] The wireless push button 30 is composed of a main body 31 made of synthetic resin such as plastic and formed in a vertically long rectangular shape with rounded corners when viewed from the front in an installed state, a button section 33 provided so as to be biased toward the front of the main body 31 in an installed state and protrude, and a switch section, a control section, a power supply section, a wireless section, etc., not shown, built into the main body 31. The wireless push button 30 is provided near the ceiling of the rear door 19 of the bus 10 as described above. The wireless push button 30 is used by the driver of the bus 10 as described later, and is pressed by the driver when stopping the attention-calling operation by the sound unit 44 and the display device 27 of the main device 21. For this reason, in the present first embodiment, the wireless push button 30 is provided near the ceiling of the rear door 19, at a position where it is difficult for children on board to touch the button section 33 for the purpose of mischief.

[0059] In the first embodiment, two wireless push buttons 30 are provided, one on each side of the rear door 19. Therefore, for example, when a driver presses the button section 33 against the biasing force, the control section and the wireless section are configured so that a push signal to which ID information (identification information) capable of identifying the wireless push button 30 is added (given) can be transmitted to the outside as information indicating that the switch section is pressed and turned on. As described later, such ID information is useful, for example, when it is necessary to confirm that all of the wireless push buttons 30 provided on the bus 10 have been pressed. In this case, the ID information associated in advance with the wireless push buttons 30 constituting the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20 is stored and saved in the memory of the control unit 22 as valid ID information. As a result, the control unit 22 only needs to process push signals having registered ID information, and therefore it is possible to prevent malfunctions and the like by eliminating push signals transmitted from wireless push buttons 30 having unregistered ID information.

[0060] In addition, such ID information is also useful when distinguishing the wireless push button 30 of the bus 10 from the wireless push button 30 of the other bus 10 when the bus 10 is parked adjacent to the bus 10 as in the third embodiment described later. Therefore, when it is not necessary to distinguish the wireless push buttons 30 from each other and it is sufficient to distinguish the in-vehicle abandonment prevention devices 20 of the buses 10 from each other, the ID information added to the push signal may be information that can identify, for example, the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20 or the bus 10 equipped with the wireless push button 30. Note that even in these cases, the respective ID information previously associated with the multiple wireless push buttons 30 constituting the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20 is stored and saved in the memory of the control unit 22 as effective ID information. This makes it possible to prevent malfunctions and the like by eliminating push signals transmitted from wireless push buttons 30 having unregistered ID information.

[0061] The wireless section of the wireless push button 30 is configured to be capable of short-range communication with the wireless unit 23 of the main device 21 described above, and is compliant with, for example, ZigBee (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). A small antenna is housed within the main device 31. The power supply section is configured to store power generated by pressing the button section 33 in an electric double layer capacitor or the like. The power supply section may be a primary battery type button battery that requires battery replacement.

[0062] By configuring the vehicle abandonment prevention device 20 of the first embodiment in this way, the control process shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is performed by the control unit 22. As described above, this control process is performed by the MPU executing the control program stored in the memory of the control unit 22. In the first embodiment, when the engine of the bus 10 is stopped, even if a continuous power source (battery 17) is connected to the main body device 21, the power cut-off unit 25 is in the off state and no driving power is supplied to the control unit 22.

[0063] Therefore, for example, by turning the key switch of the bus 10 to the Acc or START position, a voltage equal to or higher than the minimum voltage value described above is input from the accessory power source Acc or the like to the control unit 22, and as described above, the voltage monitor of the control unit 22 controls the power cutoff unit 25 to the ON state. This causes driving power to be supplied from the constant power source (battery 17) to the control unit 22, starting the MPU, and starting the control process shown in Fig. 2 (START). Note that if the switch for starting the engine of the bus 10 is a push button type, pressing the start button once or twice will input a voltage equal to or higher than the minimum voltage value to the control unit 22 from the accessory power source Acc or the like.

[0064] 2, in the control process, first, a predetermined initialization process is performed in step S101, and then an engine information acquisition process is performed in step S103. The predetermined initialization process (S101) includes, for example, clearing or setting a work area secured in the memory (RAM) of the control unit 22, a timer value for timekeeping, and the like, to initial values, and sending predetermined initialization commands to the wireless unit 23, the audio unit 24, and the display device 27.

[0065] In the engine information acquisition process in step S103, information (operating state information) relating to the operating state of the engine of the bus 10 is acquired. In the first embodiment, since it is possible to determine whether the engine is operating (on) or stopped (off) based on a voltage signal (off) input from an accessory power source Acc or the like, the voltage value of this voltage signal is acquired. This voltage value is acquired by converting the voltage signal input from the accessory power source Acc or the like into a digital value that can be acquired by the MPU using an A / D converter in the control unit 22.

[0066] In the next step S105, a process is performed to determine whether the engine is stopped. That is, the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device 20 functions after the engine of the bus 10 on which it is mounted is stopped. Therefore, in this step S105, if the voltage value of the voltage signal input from the accessory power source Acc or the like is equal to or higher than the above-mentioned minimum voltage value (for example, 20V or higher when the rated output voltage of the battery 17 is 24V), the bus 10 determines that the key switch is in the Acc or START position and the engine is running (S105; No), and performs the engine information acquisition process (S103) again.

[0067] Then, the determination process of step S105 is repeated until the voltage value of the voltage signal input from the accessory power source Acc or the like becomes less than half the minimum voltage value indicating that the engine is stopped (for example, less than 10 V when the rated output voltage of the battery 17 is 24 V). If it is determined that the engine is stopped (S105; Yes), the process proceeds to the next step S107 and attention-calling start process is performed.

[0068] In the attention-call start process in step S107, an activation signal is output to the audio unit 24 and the display device 27. In the audio unit 24 to which this activation signal is input, as described above, a predetermined ringing signal is output to the speaker, and the speaker in the main unit 21 sounds with the electronic sound. When the attention-call start operation by the audio unit 24 starts, the electronic sound reverberates around the driver's seat 13, and the driver is alerted by the electronic sound that an interior inspection of the vehicle is required immediately.

[0069] In addition, the display device 27 installed near the ceiling of the rear door 19 has multiple LED lamps that emit visible light, and the message "Please check inside the car" and the pictogram "Check by pointing" displayed on the acrylic plate are brightly lit. Therefore, when the attention-calling operation by the display device 27 starts, the words "Please check inside the car" stand out prominently above the rear door 19 in the rear part of the car, so that the driver naturally turns his / her eyes to the rear part of the car by paying attention to the display on the display device 27. This makes the driver aware that he / she must visually check the area around the rear door 19 at the very back, that is, check for any children left behind in the car without getting off due to falling asleep or the like.

[0070] In the next step S109, a timer start process is performed. In this process, the timer starts timing as timing information used to determine whether the duration of the attention-calling operation by the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 has reached a predetermined time. This determination is made in step S113. The predetermined time is, for example, a sufficient time (e.g., 5 minutes) required for the driver to visually check all of the child seats 12 and their vicinity in the bus 10.

[0071] The driver is aware in advance through training that the sound of the sound unit 24 and the lighting of the display 27 are actions to alert the driver, and that they can be stopped by pressing the wireless push button 30 at the rear of the vehicle, or that they will automatically stop after a predetermined time has passed. Therefore, the driver is forced to move toward the rear of the vehicle while visually inspecting the child seats 12 and their surroundings in order to press the wireless push button 30. This encourages the driver to inspect the vehicle interior, which prevents passengers from being left behind in the bus after the bus 10 has finished its journey.

[0072] In the next step S111, a mute switch information acquisition process is performed. The mute button 26 is a switch operated by the crew, and as described above, when an attention-calling operation by the audio unit 24 or the display device 27 is started in a scene where it should not be performed, the crew turns on the switch to temporarily stop the attention-calling operation. Therefore, in this process, if a pause signal is input from the mute button 26, information on the signal is acquired. Then, if it is determined in step S113 that the mute button 26 is turned on (S113; Yes), since the mute button 26 has been pressed by the crew, the process proceeds to the mute process in step S115.

[0073] Here, the sound-reduction process (S115) will be described with reference to Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, in the sound-reduction process, an attention-calling end process is performed in step S201. In the attention-calling end process, a stop signal is output to the sound unit 24 and the display device 27. When this stop signal is input to the sound unit 24 and the display device 27, the sound unit 24 immediately stops outputting the sound signal, and the sound from the speaker stops. Also, the multiple LED lamps of the display device 27 are immediately turned off.

[0074] Then, in step S203, a timer is started and the process waits until a predetermined time has elapsed (S205; No). The predetermined time here is, for example, a sufficient time (e.g., 3 to 5 minutes) required for a certain period of time to elapse due to waiting for a traffic light at an intersection or waiting for children to get on and off. Then, when this predetermined time has elapsed, that is, when the time is up (S205; Yes), the series of sound silencing processes ends and the process returns to step S103 of the control process (RETURN). As a result, after the predetermined time has elapsed, information on the operating state of the engine of the bus 10 is obtained by the engine information acquisition process (S103) and an engine stop determination process (S105) is performed.

[0075] Therefore, if the engine is operating (S105; No), the bus 10 is traveling, etc., so the process returns to the engine information acquisition process (S103) again and waits until the engine is stopped. If the engine is stopped (S105; Yes), the process proceeds to step S107 as described above to perform the attention-call start process and again causes the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 to perform the attention-call activation operation. This makes it possible to suppress inappropriate behavior by the driver, such as pressing the mute button 26 after the engine is stopped to park, because the attention-call activation operation by the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 through hearing and vision is annoying.

[0076] On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S113 that the mute button 26 is not on (determined to be off) (S113; No), the mute button 26 has not been pressed by the driver, and therefore the engine is unlikely to have been temporarily stopped, particularly due to waiting for a traffic light at an intersection or waiting for children to get on or off. Therefore, the received information acquisition process is performed in the following step S117.

[0077] In the reception information acquisition process in step S117, the reception information is acquired. When the wireless unit 23 receives a push signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30, the reception information is output from the wireless unit 23. Therefore, in this process, the reception information output by the wireless unit 23 to the control unit 22 is acquired. Then, in the following step S119, a process is performed to determine whether or not the information has been received.

[0078] That is, when reception information is acquired by the reception information acquisition process (S117), it is determined that a push signal has been received from the wireless push button 30 (S119; Yes), and the attention call end process of step S121 is performed. In the first embodiment, the push signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30 is added with ID information (identification information) capable of identifying the wireless push button 30. Therefore, for example, when it is necessary to receive push signals from both of the two wireless push buttons 30 on the left and right provided on the rear door 19 of the bus 10, it is determined whether push signals have been received from all the wireless push buttons 30, including the ID information added to the push signals. When it is sufficient to receive a push signal from one of the wireless push buttons 30, it is determined whether a push signal has been received from either one of the wireless push buttons 30.

[0079] On the other hand, if the reception information has not been acquired, it is determined that a push signal has not been received from the wireless push button 30 (S119; No), and the time-up determination process of step S119 is performed. In the first embodiment, when one is sufficient, this is the case when a push signal has not been received from both of the two wireless push buttons 30, and when both are required, this is the case when a push signal has not been received from either one or both of the two wireless push buttons 30. In such a case, since it is highly likely that the driver of the bus 10 has not yet moved to the rear of the vehicle cabin, the reception information acquisition process (S117) and the reception determination process (S119) are repeated (S123; No) until the predetermined time (e.g., 3 minutes) of the timer started in step S109 has elapsed (time-up has occurred) (S123; No).

[0080] When the driver presses both or either of the wireless push buttons 30, as described above, the driver moves toward the rear of the vehicle interior, and it is presumed that the vehicle interior is inspected during the movement. Therefore, since it is highly likely that the driver has been alerted by the vehicle abandonment prevention device 20, the driver's alert activation operation that has been performed up until that point is terminated in the alert termination process of step S121. Therefore, in the first embodiment, a stop signal is output to the audio unit 24 and the display device 27. As a result, the audio unit 24 immediately stops outputting the sound signal and the speaker stops sounding. Also, the display device 27 immediately turns off multiple LED lamps.

[0081] In the next step S125, a power cut-off process is performed. In this process, a cut-off signal is output to the power cut-off unit 25 via a driver circuit of the control unit 22. As a result, the driving power that has been supplied to the control unit 22 and to the wireless unit 23, the audio unit 24, the mute button 26, and the display device 27 via the control unit 22 is cut off by the power cut-off unit 25. As described above, when a cut-off signal is input from the control unit 22, the switching device of the power cut-off unit 25 is controlled to the off state, so that the power of the control unit 22, the wireless unit 23, the audio unit 24, the mute button 26, and the display device 27 is cut off and they do not function. Therefore, even if the continuous power source (battery 17) is connected to the main device 21, the power consumption by the main device 21 becomes zero, so that it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption of the battery 17.

[0082] Also, when a predetermined time (e.g., 3 minutes) of the timer started in step S109 has elapsed (timed up) (S119; Yes), such a power cutoff process (S125) is performed. Therefore, even if the attention-calling operation by the audio unit 24 or the display device 27 of the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20 is continued and left unattended, the power supply to the control unit 22, the wireless unit 23, the audio unit 24, the mute button 26, and the display device 27 is all cut off, so that even if a continuous power source (battery 17) is connected to the main device 21, the power consumption by the main device 21 becomes zero. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption by the battery 17.

[0083] In this way, even if the audio unit 24 or the display device 27 is performing an attention-calling activation operation, the power consumption by the main device 21 can be reduced to zero by executing the power-off process (S125), so the attention-calling termination process executed in step S121 can be omitted. In other words, if it is determined by the determination process in step S119 that a push signal has been received from both or one of the required wireless push buttons 30 (S119; Yes), the flow of information processing may be changed so that the power-off process (S125) is executed without executing step S121.

[0084] As described above, in the vehicle abandonment prevention device 20 of the first embodiment, when the control unit 22 receives an off signal from the bus 10 notifying that the engine of the bus 10 has stopped (S105; Yes), the control unit 22 (1) outputs an activation signal to the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 (S107). After that, when the control unit 22 receives a push signal from the wireless push button 30 (S119; Yes), the control unit 22 outputs a stop signal to the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 (S121) and outputs a cutoff signal to the power cutoff unit 25 (S125). Alternatively, when the control unit 22 receives a push signal from the wireless push button 30, the control unit 22 outputs a cutoff signal to the power cutoff unit 25. ... cutoff signal from the wireless push button 30, the control unit 22 outputs a cutoff signal to the power cutoff unit 25 (S125). Or, when the control unit 22 receives a push signal from the wireless push button 30, the control unit 22 outputs a cutoff signal to the power cutoff unit 25 (S123; Yes), the control unit 22 outputs a cutoff signal to the power cutoff unit 25 (S125).

[0085] For example, when the bus 10 stops its engine after picking up and dropping off children in a designated parking space, an off signal is input from the bus 10 to the control unit 22. As a result, the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 start an attention-calling operation through hearing or vision, so that it is possible to urge the driver to check for children who have been left behind in the vehicle without getting off due to drowsiness or the like. In addition, since such attention-calling operation is terminated by pressing the button part 33 of the wireless push button 30 provided on the rear door 19 at the rear of the vehicle interior, the driver must move to the rear of the vehicle interior to stop the attention-calling operation of the audio unit 24 and the display device 27. Therefore, even if a child is left behind in the rear of the vehicle interior, which is difficult to see from the front of the vehicle interior because it is hidden by the backrest of the child seat 12, the driver can find such a child.

[0086] In addition, by pressing the button section 33 of the wireless push button 30, the power cut-off unit 25 cuts off the power supplied from the battery 17 of the bus 10 to the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device 20 when the attention-calling activation of the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 ends, or regardless of the end of the attention-calling activation. In addition, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the output of an activation signal that causes the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 to start the attention-calling activation, the power cut-off unit 25 cuts off the power even if the button section 33 of the wireless push button 30 is not pressed. This prevents the battery 17 from continuing to supply power to the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device 20 even after the button section 33 of the wireless push button 30 is pressed to end the attention-calling activation of the audio unit 24 and the display device 27, and prevents the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 from continuing the attention-calling activation until the button section 33 of the wireless push button 30 is pressed. That is, the power supply from the battery 17 is cut off due to the button part 33 of the wireless push button 30, and is also automatically cut off after a predetermined time has elapsed even if the wireless push button 30 is not pressed, so it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption by the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20. Therefore, it is possible to prevent children from being left behind in the vehicle after the trip has finished while minimizing the effect on the battery 17 mounted on the bus 10.

[0087] The vehicle abandonment prevention device 20 of the first embodiment further includes a mute button 26 provided near the driver's seat 13 of the bus 10. After a predetermined time has elapsed (S205; Yes), if an ON signal indicating that the engine is operating has not been input (S105; Yes), the control unit 22 outputs an activation signal to the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 (S107). If an ON signal has been input (S105; No), the control unit 22 waits for an OFF signal to be input without outputting an activation signal, and performs the operations from (1) onward again (S107 to S125). As a result, even if a situation occurs during a transfer where the engine of the bus 10 is temporarily stopped due to an idling stop function of the bus 10, an OFF signal is input to the control unit 22, and the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 start an attention-calling activation operation, for example, the driver can stop the attention-calling activation operation by performing an operation to turn on the mute button 26. Therefore, it is possible to stop the activation of a warning in a situation where it should not be activated.

[0088] In addition, if the engine is not operating even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the mute button 26 has been turned on, the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 start the attention-calling activation again. Therefore, for example, when the mute button 26 is turned on in a scene where the engine is stopped due to parking after picking up or dropping off children, the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 resume the attention-calling activation after a predetermined time has elapsed, so that it is possible to prevent the driver from forgetting to press the wireless push button 30 or failing to check it. In addition, it is possible to suppress the driver's inappropriate behavior of pressing the mute button 26 after the engine is stopped due to parking because the attention-calling activation via hearing or vision is bothersome.

[0089] In the above-described first embodiment, the wireless push button 30 constituting the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20 is configured to be capable of transmitting pressing information to the main unit 21 via wireless communication, but it may also be configured to be capable of sending pressing information to the main unit 21 via wired communication.

[0090] In the above-described first embodiment, two wireless push buttons 30 are provided, one on each side of the rear door 19 at the rear of the vehicle interior, but one may be provided on either the left or right side, or one or more wireless push buttons 30 may be provided at other positions in addition to the one on each side, that is, three or more wireless push buttons 30 in total. The wireless push button 30 may be provided on the ceiling at the rear of the vehicle interior.

[0091] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, a configuration is adopted in which a mute button 26 is provided, but in cases where it is not necessary to prevent the activation of the attention warning operation when the engine is temporarily stopped due to stopping for a certain period of time at an intersection, etc., as described above, the mute button 26 does not have to be provided.

[0092] In the first embodiment described above, ID information (identification information) is added to the push signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30, but if it is sufficient to receive a push signal from either one of the two wireless push buttons 30 and it is not necessary to distinguish between the wireless push buttons 30, the ID information is not necessary. Therefore, in this case, it is not necessary to add the ID information to the push signal. However, as in the third embodiment described later, when there are multiple buses 10 and each bus is equipped with an in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20, it may be necessary to add the ID information.

[0093] In the first embodiment described above, the control unit 22, the wireless unit 23, the audio unit 24, and the power cut-off unit 25 are provided in the main unit 21, but these may be provided separately. Furthermore, like the wireless push button 30, the mute button 26 may be configured to be capable of wireless communication and connected to the control unit 22 via the wireless unit 23.

[0094] In addition, in the above-described first embodiment, a configuration was adopted in which voltage information output from the accessory power source Acc or the ignition power source Ig is obtained as the power source on signal or the power source off signal. However, instead of this, for example, a configuration may be adopted in which engine on / off information can be obtained based on information obtained from an in-vehicle LAN such as a Controller Area Network (CAN) or a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) provided in the bus 10.

[0095] [Second embodiment] Next, as one embodiment of the in-vehicle abandonment prevention system of the present invention, an in-vehicle abandonment prevention system 40 including the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs.

[0096] As shown in Figure 4, the second embodiment of the in-vehicle abandonment prevention system 40 is composed of an in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20 mounted on a bus 10, a confirmation device 41 provided outside the bus 10 in a school building 70 such as a kindergarten or nursery school, and a wireless push button 50 provided on the rear door 19 of the bus 10.

[0097] This wireless push button 50 is provided in anticipation of a situation in which a child may be left behind inside the bus 10 when the bus has finished picking up or dropping off passengers and is parked in a designated parking space, etc., and is provided in a position where the child can press it, such as near the child seats 12 at the rear door 19. The wireless push button 50 is configured similarly to the wireless push button 30, except for the position where it is provided. Therefore, a description of the configuration of the wireless push button 50 will be omitted here.

[0098] In the second embodiment, ID information (identification information) capable of identifying the wireless push button 30, 50 is added (given) to the push signal transmitted by the wireless push button 30 and the passenger signal transmitted by the wireless push button 50. Therefore, in the in-vehicle left-behind prevention system 40, the ID information associated in advance with the multiple wireless push buttons 30 constituting the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device 20 and the ID information associated in advance with the wireless push button 50 are stored and saved in the memory of the control unit 42 as valid ID information. As a result, the control unit 42 only needs to process push signals and passenger signals having registered ID information, and it is possible to prevent malfunctions and the like by eliminating push signals and passenger signals transmitted from the wireless push buttons 30, 50 having unregistered ID information.

[0099] In the second embodiment, the confirmation device 41 is provided, for example, in an office 71 of a kindergarten building 70, and is composed of a "unit 42, a wireless unit 43, and an audio unit 44" housed in a case made of synthetic resin such as plastic, a press notification lamp 45, a release button 46, and an abandoned warning lamp 48. These are driven by receiving DC power from, for example, an AC adapter (not shown). In Fig. 4(B), a rectangular shape surrounding the control unit 42, the wireless unit 43, and the audio unit 44 is shown as the concept of such a case.

[0100] The control unit 42 is a controller that controls the wireless unit 43, the audio unit 44, the push notification lamp 45, and the abandoned vehicle warning lamp 48, and is, for example, a microcomputer module configured with an MPU, memory (RAM, ROM), an input / output interface, an LED driver circuit, a clock module, etc. In the second embodiment, the control unit 42 is configured so that the MPU can perform control processing, which will be described later, based on signals and information input from the wireless unit 43 and the release button 46. For this reason, the control unit 42 is connected to the release button 46 in addition to the wireless unit 43, etc., and the memory of the control unit 42 stores (memorizes) a control program that enables the MPU to execute such control processing.

[0101] The wireless unit 43 is a wireless communication module that enables short-distance wireless communication with the wireless push buttons 30 and 50. In the second embodiment, the wireless unit 43 is connected to the control unit 42 and is configured to be able to transmit and receive according to a control command received from the control unit 42. The wireless unit 43 uses, for example, a wireless communication line that complies with ZigBee (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark), similar to the wireless unit 23 of the main unit 21 in the first embodiment. When the wireless unit 43 receives a push signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30 used by the crew, it outputs reception information notifying that the push signal has been received to the control unit 42, and when it receives a passenger signal transmitted from the wireless push button 50 that can be used by children, it outputs residual information notifying that the passenger signal has been received.

[0102] The sound unit 44 has a function of audibly alerting the manager who is performing operation management work in the office 71. Almost similar to the sound unit 44 of the main unit 21 described in the first embodiment, the sound unit 44 is composed of, for example, a generating module capable of generating an electronic sound, and a speaker that generates a sound upon receiving a ringing signal output from the generating module. The generating module is connected to the control unit 42 so that a control signal can be input, and upon receiving a notification signal output from the control unit 42, the generating module outputs a predetermined ringing signal to the speaker to ring the speaker with the electronic sound, and continues to output the ringing signal until a confirmation signal is received. The electronic sound is, for example, a notification sound such as a holding sound of a telephone or an alarm sound of a clock, or an alarm sound such as a siren, and is configured so that the type of the notification sound or alarm sound can be set by a setting signal output from the control unit 42.

[0103] In the second embodiment, the sound unit 44 is accommodated in a case made of synthetic resin such as plastic together with the control unit 42, and the case has a plurality of sound holes formed in the portion where the sound generating surface of the speaker of the sound unit 44 is located. This allows the electronic sound emitted by the sound unit 44 to be heard by the manager or other personnel working around the confirmation device 41, making it possible to activate an action to alert the manager or other personnel via hearing.

[0104] The push notification lamp 45 is a confirmation lamp having a function of visually calling the attention of a manager or the like in the office 71. In the second embodiment, for example, the push notification lamp 45 is composed of a plurality of large LED lamps, such as the notification lamps of a fire alarm, and is covered by a yellow transparent globe having a dome shape. The push notification lamp 45 is connected to the LED driver circuit of the control unit 42 by electrical wiring including a power cable, and is configured to be turned on when a notification signal sent from the control unit 42 is input, and to be turned off when a confirmation signal sent from the control unit 42 is input. Note that, instead of such a notification signal and a confirmation signal, the push notification lamp 45 may be controlled by supplying (corresponding to a notification signal) and cutting off (corresponding to a confirmation signal) driving power that can be supplied to the plurality of LED lamps via a power cable.

[0105] The release button 46 is a switch that a manager or the like in the office 71 turns on when the manager or the like confirms by visually checking that the press notification lamp 45 is lit up that a driver is inspecting the inside of the bus 10. In the second embodiment, the release button 46 that can be used in such a case is composed of a main body 46a having a low cylindrical shape, a button portion 46b that is biased to protrude upward from the main body 46a, and a switch portion (not shown) built into the main body 46a, and is connected to the control unit 42. In the second embodiment, for example, when the button portion 46b is pressed against the biasing force, the switch portion in the OFF state transitions to the ON state, and a release signal can be output to the control unit 42.

[0106] The abandoned warning lamp 48 is a warning lamp capable of visually warning the manager or the like in the office 71, and is configured almost the same as the above-mentioned press notification lamp 45, except that the light color and the control signal from the control unit 42 are different. Therefore, the differences will be mainly explained here. The abandoned warning lamp 48 is also configured, for example, with multiple large LED lamps covered with a red transparent globe, and these are connected to the LED driver circuit of the control unit 42 by electrical wiring including a power cable. It is configured to light up when a residual signal sent from the control unit 42 is input, and to turn off when a power switch (not shown) provided on the case is turned off.

[0107] By configuring the vehicle abandonment prevention system 40 of the second embodiment in this way, the control process shown in Fig. 5 is performed by the control unit 42 of the confirmation device 41. As described above, this control process is performed by the MPU executing the control program stored in the memory of the control unit 42. For example, the control process shown in Fig. 5 is started (START) immediately after a power switch (not shown) provided on the case is turned on and DC power is supplied to the confirmation device 41 from an AC adapter or the like.

[0108] 5, in the control process, first, a predetermined initialization process is performed in step S501, and then a received information acquisition process is performed in step S503. The predetermined initialization process (S501) clears a work area and predetermined flags secured in the memory (RAM) of the control unit 42 to initial values, and sends predetermined initialization commands to the wireless unit 43, the audio unit 44, the press notification lamp 45, and the abandoned warning lamp 48, for example.

[0109] In the received information acquisition process in step S503, the received information and residual information are acquired. When the wireless unit 43 receives a push signal or a passenger signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30, 50, the received information and residual information are output from the wireless unit 43. Therefore, in this process, the received information and residual information output from the wireless unit 43 to the control unit 42 are acquired. Then, in the following step S505, a process of determining whether or not a signal has been received is performed.

[0110] That is, if reception information has been acquired by the reception information acquisition process (S503), it is determined that a press signal has been received from the wireless push button 30 (S505; Yes (received information)), and the press notification start process of step S507 is performed.

[0111] In the second embodiment, as described above, the push signal transmitted by the wireless push button 30 and the passenger signal transmitted by the wireless push button 50 are added with ID information (identification information) capable of identifying the wireless push button 30, 50. Therefore, in this reception presence / absence determination process (S505), as described in the first embodiment, when it is necessary to receive push signals from both the two wireless push buttons 30 on the left and right sides provided on the rear door 19 of the bus 10, it is determined whether push signals have been received from all the wireless push buttons 30, including the ID information added to the push signals. When it is sufficient to receive a push signal from one of the wireless push buttons 30, it is determined whether a signal has been received from either one of the wireless push buttons 30.

[0112] In addition, in this determination process (S505), the passenger signal transmitted from the wireless push button 50 provided below the rear door 19 is also determined, including the ID information. If residual information is acquired by the received information acquisition process (S503), it can be determined that a passenger signal is received from the wireless push button 50. However, the wireless push button 50 is designed to assume that, for example, a child may be left behind in the bus 10 parked in a specified parking space after a shuttle service has been completed. For this reason, the case in which a child left behind in the parked bus 10 can press the wireless push button 50 to transmit passenger information is limited to after the driver has inspected the interior of the vehicle, that is, after the driver has pressed both wireless push buttons 30 (or either one if only one is sufficient).

[0113] Therefore, in this reception presence / absence determination process (S505), as a precondition for determining that a passenger signal is being received from the wireless push button 50, for example, it is added that it has been determined by the determination process (S505) that a press signal is being received from both (or either one) of the wireless push buttons 30. Specifically, for example, when it is determined by the determination process (S505) that a press signal is being received from both (or either one) of the wireless push buttons 30 by the reception information acquisition process (S503) (S505; Yes (received information)), a predetermined determination flag is set to on, and then the process proceeds to the press notification start process of step S507. As a result, when residual information is acquired by the reception information acquisition process (S503), it is determined by the determination process (S505) that a passenger signal is being received from the wireless push button 50 only when this predetermined determination flag is set to on (S505; Yes (remaining information)).

[0114] On the other hand, if neither the received information nor the residual information has been acquired, it is determined that neither the push signal nor the passenger information has been received from the wireless push buttons 30, 50 (S505; None), and the process returns to the received information acquisition process (S503) to acquire the received information and the residual information again. In the second embodiment, this is the case when push signals have not been received from both of the two wireless push buttons 30 when one is sufficient, and when both are required, this is the case when push signals have not been received from either or both of the two wireless push buttons 30.

[0115] As a result, even if the wireless push button 50 is operated and a passenger signal is transmitted before the driver presses both (or either one if only one is sufficient) wireless push buttons 30, the residual information output by the wireless unit 43 which receives the signal and acquired by the received information acquisition process (S503) is not determined to be "received (residual information)" in the reception / non-reception determination process (S505). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the malfunction of the abandoned vehicle warning lamp 48 due to an erroneous operation of the wireless push button 50, for example, when a kindergartener or the like on board presses the wireless push button 50 for the purpose of mischief and transmits a passenger signal.

[0116] In the press notification start process in step S507, a notification signal is output to press notification lamp 45 and audio unit 44. When a notification signal is input to press notification lamp 45, as described above, multiple large LED lamps are turned on, causing the inside of the yellow transparent globe to shine brightly. This visually alerts the manager performing traffic management tasks in office 71, and also notifies the manager that wireless push button 30 has been pressed inside bus 10.

[0117] Furthermore, when an alarm signal is input to the sound unit 44, a preset ringing signal is output to the speaker, and the speaker in the case of the confirmation device 41 sounds with the electronic sound. When the acoustic unit 44 starts an auditory attention-calling activation operation, the electronic sound reverberates around the confirmation device 41, so that the manager or the like can know from the electronic sound that the wireless push button 30 has been pressed inside the bus 10. This makes it possible to notify that the driver is inspecting the inside of the bus to see if there are any children left behind inside the bus because they have fallen asleep or the like. Note that such an attention-calling activation operation may be performed by only either the depression notification lamp 45 or the sound unit 44.

[0118] In the next step S511, a release button information acquisition process is performed. The release button 46 is a switch operated by a manager or the like, and as described above, when the manager or the like confirms by visually checking the illumination of the press notification lamp 45 that a crew member is inspecting the inside of the bus 10, the switch is turned on by the manager or the like, and by pressing the button portion 46b, the switch portion in the OFF state transitions to the ON state, and a release signal is output to the control unit 42. Therefore, in this release button information acquisition process (S511), a process of acquiring the release signal is performed.

[0119] In the next step S513, a process is performed to determine whether or not the release button 46 is in the on state. That is, if the release signal has not been acquired, the release button 46 is not in the on state, so if it is determined that the release button 46 is not in the on state (S513; No), the process returns to the release button information acquisition process (S511) again to acquire the release signal. In contrast, if the release signal has been acquired, the release button 46 has transitioned to the on state, which indicates that the manager or the like has confirmed that the driver is inspecting the inside of the bus 10.

[0120] For this reason, in step S515, a confirmation signal is output to the press notification lamp 45 and the audio unit 44. When the confirmation signal is input to the press notification lamp 45, as described above, the multiple large LED lamps are turned off, so that the inside of the yellow transparent globe becomes dark and it is visually clear that the lights are off. Also, when the confirmation signal is input to the audio unit 44, the output of the sound signal is immediately stopped, so that the sound from the speaker stops.

[0121] If the prerequisite conditions described above are met and residual information has been acquired by the received information acquisition process (S503), it is determined that a passenger signal has been received from the wireless push button 50 (S505; Yes (residual information)). In this case, a residual alarm start process is performed in step S509, and a residual signal is output to the abandoned passenger warning lamp 48 and the audio unit 44. When a residual signal is input to the abandoned passenger warning lamp 48, as described above, multiple large LED lamps are lit, causing the inside of the red transparent globe to glow brightly. This provides a visual warning to the manager performing operations management tasks in the office 71, and also indicates that the wireless push button 50 has been pressed inside the bus 10.

[0122] Furthermore, when a residual signal is input to the sound unit 44, a preset sound signal such as a siren is output to the speaker, and the electronic sound causes the speaker in the case of the confirmation device 41 to sound. When the acoustic unit 44 starts an auditory warning operation, an electronic sound such as a siren sounds around the confirmation device 41, so that the manager or the like can know from the electronic sound that the wireless push button 50 has been pressed inside the bus 10. This makes it possible to warn that there is a high possibility that a child has been left behind inside the currently parked bus 10. Note that such a warning operation may be performed by only either the abandoned child warning lamp 48 or the sound unit 44.

[0123] In the next step S517, a power information acquisition process is performed. This process is for obtaining state information of a power switch (not shown) provided in the confirmation device 41, and in this case, information on the on / off state of the power switch is obtained. After the release button 46 is pressed, there is a possibility that the confirmation device 41 will no longer need to function, so in this process, the state information of the power switch is obtained, and in the next step S519, a process is performed to determine whether the power is off.

[0124] If it is determined in step S519 that the power switch (not shown) is in the OFF state and the power is off (S519; Yes), the process proceeds to the next step S521 where a process for saving the notification / alarm information, etc. is carried out. On the other hand, if it is determined in this process that the power switch (not shown) is in the ON state and the power is not off (S519; No), the process returns to the received information acquisition process (S503) again to acquire the received information and residual information. For example, the process waits for the arrival of another bus 10 and the reception of a push signal, etc. from the wireless push button 30, etc.

[0125] In the process of saving the notification / alarm information in step S521, the reception information and residual information acquired in this control process, or information on the press notification start process (information on the start of the notification operation), information on the press notification end process (information on the end of the notification operation), information on the residual alarm start process (information on the start of the alarm operation), information on the residual alarm start process (information on the end of the alarm operation), etc. are saved in the memory of the control unit 42. Information (timestamp information) on the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second when the reception information or residual information was acquired or the alarm start information, etc. was output is acquired in real time from a clock module of the control unit 42 and added to each of these pieces of information. This makes it possible to separately use each piece of saved information as log data.

[0126] As described above, the in-vehicle abandonment prevention system 40 of the second embodiment includes the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20 having the wireless push button 30 capable of transmitting a press signal by wireless communication, and the confirmation device 41 provided outside the bus 10, and the confirmation device 41 includes the control unit 42, the wireless unit 43, the release button 46, the audio unit 44, and the press notification lamp 45. When the control unit 42 receives reception information from the wireless unit 43 (S505; Yes (received information)), it outputs a notification signal to the audio unit 44 and the press notification lamp 45 (S507). After that, when it receives a release signal from the release button 46 (S513; Yes), it outputs a confirmation signal to the audio unit 44 and the press notification lamp 45 (S515).

[0127] For example, when the bus 10, which has finished picking up and dropping off children, parks in a designated parking space or the like and stops its engine, the audio unit 24 and display device 27 of the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device 20 mounted on the bus 10 start a warning activation, so that the driver checks the inside of the bus 10 to see if there are any children left behind and presses the wireless push button 30 at the rear of the cabin. When a push signal transmitted by wireless communication from the wireless push button 30 reaches the confirmation device 41 outside the bus 10, the confirmation device 41 starts an alarm operation to visually notify the driver that the wireless push button 30 has been pressed by the audio unit 44 and the press notification lamp 45. Therefore, a manager performing operations management near the confirmation device 41 can know that the driver is inspecting the inside of the bus for children by visually checking the alarm operation of the audio unit 44 and the press notification lamp 45. Therefore, since the driver can check outside the bus 10 whether there are any children inside the bus, it is possible to reliably prevent children from being left behind inside the bus 10 after the trip has finished.

[0128] In addition, since the wireless push button 30 of the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device 20 mounted on the bus 10 can transmit a push signal by wireless communication, for example, there is no need to lay wiring for a control signal from the control unit 22 of the main device 21 provided near the driver's seat 13 to the rear of the vehicle interior. In addition, since the wireless push button 30 has its own power supply unit (power source), there is no need to lay wiring for power. Therefore, even if a configuration is adopted in which multiple such wireless push buttons 30 are provided on the rear door 19 at the rear of the vehicle interior, there is no need to run a large number of wires. In addition, the off signal can be obtained, for example, as voltage information of the accessory power supply Acc of the bus 10. Therefore, the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device 20 can be easily retrofitted to an existing bus 10 without requiring major modification work.

[0129] The in-vehicle abandoned prevention system 40 of the second embodiment further includes a wireless push button 50. The wireless push button 50 is provided near the child seats 12 of the bus 10 and has its own power supply unit, and when turned on, transmits a passenger signal by wireless communication to the wireless unit 43 of the confirmation device 41 using power supplied from the power supply unit. The confirmation device 41 further includes an abandoned warning lamp 48, and when a residual signal is input from the control unit 42 (S505; Yes (Residual Information)), this abandoned warning lamp 48 starts a warning operation to visually warn that the wireless push button 50 has been turned on (S509).

[0130] For example, even if a child is left behind inside the bus 10 that has finished picking up and dropping off passengers and is parked in a designated parking space, the child can turn on the wireless push button 50, which transmits a passenger signal to the outside of the bus 10 via wireless communication. When the passenger signal transmitted from the wireless push button 50 reaches the confirmation device 41 outside the bus 10, the confirmation device 41 starts a warning operation of the abandoned warning lamp 48 to visually warn that the wireless push button 50 has been turned on. Therefore, the manager can know that a child has been left behind inside the bus 10 by visually confirming the warning operation of the abandoned warning lamp 48. Therefore, the child left behind inside the bus 10 can be rescued quickly.

[0131] In the second embodiment described above, the press notification lamp 45 and the abandonment warning lamp 48 are configured separately, but for example, they may be integrated into one lamp, and the LED lamp may be configured to perform both functions separately by emitting light in yellow for the press notification lamp and in red for the abandonment warning lamp. Also, instead of the press notification lamp 45 and the abandonment warning lamp 48, a liquid crystal display may be provided in the confirmation device 41, and the press notification information and warning information may be displayed on the liquid crystal display in large characters or illustrations (characters, figures, diagrams, etc.).

[0132] [Third embodiment] Next, as one embodiment of the in-vehicle abandonment prevention system of the present invention, an in-vehicle abandonment prevention system 60 including in-vehicle abandonment prevention devices 20a to 20c installed on multiple buses 10a to 10c will be described with reference to Figure 6.

[0133] As shown in FIG. 6, the third embodiment of the in-vehicle abandonment prevention system 60 is designed to accommodate a case in which multiple buses 10a to 10c are parked in adjacent parking spaces, and multiple wireless push buttons 30 constituting the in-vehicle abandonment prevention devices 20a to 20c mounted on each of the buses 10a to 10c can send a push signal to a single confirmation device 61.

[0134] That is, the in-vehicle abandonment prevention system 60 is composed of an in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20a mounted on bus 10a, an in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20b mounted on bus 10b, an in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20c mounted on bus 10c, a confirmation device 61 provided outside the bus 10 in a school building 70 such as a kindergarten or nursery school, and a wireless push button 50 provided on the rear door 19 of each of the buses 10a to 10c.

[0135] Therefore, the confirmation device 61 provided in the office 71 of the kindergarten building 70 may receive push signals from the six wireless push buttons 30 constituting each of the buses 10a to 10c via wireless communication, and may also receive passenger signals from the three wireless push buttons 50 mounted on each of the buses 10a to 10c via wireless communication. Therefore, in the third embodiment, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as "PC") comprising a PC main body 62, a liquid crystal display 63, a keyboard 64, a mouse 65, etc., and a wireless data communication device 66 are used as the confirmation device 61. The PC is configured to be connectable to the Internet.

[0136] The correspondence between the hardware in the third embodiment and the hardware in the second embodiment is as follows. PC main body 62 → control unit 42, audio unit 44 LCD display 63 → Press notification lamp 45 and abandoned warning lamp 48 Keyboard 64 → Release button 46 Mouse 65 → Release button 46 Wireless data communication device 66 → Wireless unit 43

[0137] In this third embodiment, a desktop type personal computer is used as confirmation device 61, but this personal computer is of general-purpose specification, and differs from other general-purpose personal computers in that an application program (hereinafter referred to as "this application") capable of performing information processing with the control processing (FIG. 5) executed by control unit 42 described in the second embodiment and the functions described below added thereto is installed and executable. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the power supply information acquisition processing (S517) is replaced with the termination information acquisition processing of this application, and the power off determination processing (S519) is replaced with the termination determination processing of this application.

[0138] Therefore, if such an app can be executed, for example, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, or the like may be used as the confirmation device 61. Also, if a notebook computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, or the like has the functionality of the wireless data communication device 66, the wireless data communication device 66 may be omitted.

[0139] In the third embodiment, the functions added as tasks separate from the control process shown in FIG. 5 are, for example, the following (1) to (3). (1) List display function In the third embodiment, three in-vehicle abandonment prevention devices 20a to 20c are mounted on three buses 10a to 10c, and push signals and passenger signals are transmitted from a total of six wireless push buttons 30 and a total of three wireless push buttons 50 constituting these devices, and reach one set of confirmation device 61. Therefore, as explained in the second embodiment, ID information is added to the push signals and passenger signals transmitted from the wireless push buttons 30, 50, respectively, and it is possible to identify the wireless push button 30, 50 that transmitted them.

[0140] Therefore, for example, on the liquid crystal display 63 of the confirmation device 61, it becomes possible to classify each of the buses 10a to 10c and display in a list whether the wireless push button 30 has been pressed and the interior inspection has been completed. Car No.1: Interior inspection completed Vehicle No.2: Interior inspection *Not yet* Car No.3: Interior inspection completed

[0141] In addition, when the wireless push button 50 is pressed, for example, red letters such as "Vehicle No. 2 Abandoned!" are displayed on almost the entire screen of the liquid crystal display 63, and a loud alarm sound, such as a siren, is output from the built-in speaker of the personal computer main body 62.

[0142] (2) History management function In the control process of the second embodiment, in the process of saving the notice / warning information, etc. (S521), the following information is saved with time stamp information in the memory of the control unit 42. Therefore, in the third embodiment, by saving this information in the hard disk drive or SSD (Solid State Drive) of the personal computer main body 62, it becomes possible to manage the vehicle interior inspection history. Reception information of the push signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30 Residual information of the residual signal transmitted by the wireless push button 50 Information on the start of the press notification process (information on the start of the notification operation) Information on the end of the press notification process (notification operation end information) Information on the residual alarm start process (alarm operation start information) Information on the residual alarm start process (alarm operation end information)

[0143] (3) Information sharing function Furthermore, in the third embodiment, since a personal computer connectable to the Internet is used as the confirmation device 61, it is possible to use, for example, a cloud service. Therefore, by uploading information used in the above (1) list display function and (2) history management function to a specific cloud, it becomes possible to share information via the cloud.

[0144] As described above, the in-vehicle abandoned prevention system 60 of the third embodiment includes the in-vehicle abandoned prevention device 20 having the wireless push button 30 capable of wirelessly transmitting a press signal to which ID information capable of identifying the sender is added, and the confirmation device 61 provided outside the bus 10, and the confirmation device 61 has a personal computer main body 62, a liquid crystal display 63, a keyboard 64, a mouse 65, and a wireless data communication device 66. When the personal computer main body 62 receives reception information and ID information from the wireless data communication device 66 (S507; Yes (received information)), it outputs a notification signal corresponding to the ID information to the liquid crystal display 63 (S507). After that, when it receives a release signal from the keyboard 64 or the mouse 65 (S513; Yes), it outputs a confirmation signal corresponding to the ID information to the liquid crystal display 63 (S515).

[0145] For example, when a plurality of buses 10a-10c finish transporting children and park in a designated parking space, etc., and a specific bus 10a among them stops its engine, the audio unit 24 and display device 27 of the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20a mounted on the bus 10a start a warning operation, and the driver in the bus 10a checks the interior of the bus for children and presses the wireless push button 30 on the rear door 19 at the rear of the vehicle interior. For example, even if two buses 10a and 10b stop their engines almost simultaneously or one after the other with a slight time difference, different ID information is added to the push signals transmitted from the wireless push buttons 30 of these two buses 10a and 10b, so that the confirmation device 61 (wireless data communication device 66 and personal computer main body 62) in the kindergarten building 70 can perform the control process of FIG. 5 without confusion. As a result, when the push signal transmitted by wireless communication from this wireless push button 30, to which the ID information of the sender has been added, reaches the confirmation device 61 outside the bus 10a, the liquid crystal display 63 of the confirmation device 61 starts an alarm operation to visually notify that the specific wireless push button 30 corresponding to the ID information has been pressed. Therefore, by visually checking the alarm operation of the liquid crystal display 63, the manager can know that the driver is inspecting the interior of the specific bus 10a for children. Therefore, since it becomes possible for the driver to check outside the bus 10a for the presence or absence of an interior inspection of children, it is possible to reliably prevent children from being left behind inside the bus after the trip has finished.

[0146] In addition, the wireless push button 30 of the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device 20 mounted on the bus 10a can transmit a push signal by wireless communication, so there is no need to lay wiring for a control signal from the control unit 22 of the main unit 21 provided near the driver's seat 13 to the rear door 19 at the rear of the vehicle interior. In addition, since the wireless push button 30 has its own power supply unit (power source), there is no need to lay wiring for power. Therefore, even if a configuration is adopted in which multiple such wireless push buttons 30 are provided on the rear door 19 at the rear of the vehicle interior, there is no need to run a large number of wires. In addition, the off signal can be obtained, for example, as voltage information of the accessory power supply Acc of the bus 10a. Therefore, the in-vehicle left-behind prevention device 20 can be easily retrofitted to an existing bus 10a without requiring major modification work.

[0147] The in-vehicle abandoned prevention system 60 of the third embodiment further includes a wireless push button 50. The wireless push button 50 is provided near the child seats 12 of the buses 10a to 10c and has its own power supply unit (power source). When turned on, the wireless push button 50 transmits the passenger signal and the ID information added thereto to the wireless data communication device 66 of the confirmation device 61 by wireless communication using the power supplied from the power supply unit. The confirmation device 61 further includes a liquid crystal display 63, and when a residual signal is input from the personal computer main body 62 (S505; Present (residual information)), the liquid crystal display 63 starts a warning operation that visually warns that the wireless push button 50 corresponding to the ID information has been turned on in association with the ID information of the residual signal (S509).

[0148] For example, even if a child is left behind in one of the three buses 10a to 10c that have finished picking up and dropping off children and are parked in a designated parking space, the child can turn on the wireless push button 50 to transmit the passenger signal and the ID information attached thereto to the outside of the bus 10a by wireless communication. When the passenger signal and the ID information transmitted from the wireless push button 50 reach the confirmation device 61 outside the bus 10a, the liquid crystal display 63 of the confirmation device 61 starts a warning operation to visually warn that the wireless push button 50 corresponding to the ID information of the specific bus has been turned on. Therefore, by visually confirming the warning operation of the liquid crystal display 63, the manager can know that a child has been left behind in one of the three buses 10a to 10c, the child left behind in the specific bus 10a can be rescued quickly.

[0149] Furthermore, the in-vehicle abandoned prevention system 60 of the third embodiment includes an in-vehicle abandoned prevention device 20a equipped with a wireless push button 30 capable of transmitting a press signal by wireless communication, and a confirmation device 61 provided outside the bus 10a, and the confirmation device 61 includes a personal computer main body 62, a liquid crystal display 63, a keyboard 64, a mouse 65, a wireless data communication device 66, and a hard disk drive or SSD of the personal computer main body 62. When reception information is input from the wireless data communication device 66 (S507; Yes (received information)), the personal computer main body 62 outputs a notification signal to the liquid crystal display 63 (S507). Thereafter, if a release signal is received from the keyboard 64 or mouse 65 (S513; Yes), a confirmation signal is output to the LCD display 63 (S515), and at least one of the following information is recorded and saved in the hard disk drive or SSD of the personal computer main body 62 (S521): reception information of the press signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30, information on the start of the press notification process (information on the start of the notification operation), and information on the end of the press notification process (information on the end of the notification operation).

[0150] For example, when the bus 10a that has finished picking up and dropping off the children parks in a designated parking space or the like and stops its engine, the audio unit 24 and the display device 27 of the vehicle abandonment prevention device 20a mounted on the bus 10a start a warning activation, and the driver of the bus 10a inspects the interior of the vehicle for children and presses the wireless push button 30 on the rear door 19 at the rear of the vehicle interior. When the push signal transmitted by wireless communication from the wireless push button 30 reaches the confirmation device 61 outside the bus 10a, the confirmation device 61 starts an alarm operation to visually notify the user that the wireless push button 30 has been pressed using the keyboard 64 and mouse 65. Therefore, the manager can know that the driver is inspecting the interior of the vehicle for children by visually checking the alarm operation of the liquid crystal display 63. In addition, the hard disk drive or SSD of the personal computer main body 62 records and stores at least one of the following information: reception information for the press signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30, information on the start of the press notification process (information on the start of the notification operation), and information on the end of the press notification process (information on the end of the notification operation), making it possible to check this information after the fact.

[0151] In addition, since the wireless push button 30 of the in-vehicle abandonment prevention device 20a mounted on the bus 10a can transmit a push signal by wireless communication, for example, there is no need to lay wiring for a control signal from the control unit 22 of the main device 21 provided near the driver's seat 13 to the rear door 19 at the rear of the vehicle interior. In addition, if the wireless push button 30 has its own power supply unit (power source), there is no need to lay wiring for power. Therefore, even if such wireless push buttons 30 are provided on multiple rear doors 19 at the rear of the vehicle interior, there is no need to run a large number of wires. In addition, the off signal can be obtained, for example, as voltage information of the accessory power supply Acc of the bus 10a.

[0152] The in-vehicle abandoned prevention system 60 of the third embodiment further includes a wireless push button 50. The wireless push button 50 is provided near the child seats 12 of the bus 10a and has its own power supply unit (power source). When the wireless push button 50 is turned on, it transmits a passenger signal by wireless communication to the wireless data communication device 66 of the personal computer main body 62 using power supplied from the power supply unit. The confirmation device 61 further includes a liquid crystal display 63, and when a residual signal is input from the personal computer main body 62 (S505; present (residual information)), the liquid crystal display 63 starts a warning operation that visually warns that the wireless push button 50 has been turned on (S509). The personal computer main body 62 records and saves at least one of the following information in a hard disk drive or SSD of the personal computer main body 62 (S521): reception information of the press signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30, residual information of the residual signal transmitted from the wireless push button 50, information on the press notification start processing (start information of the notification operation), information on the press notification end processing (end information of the notification operation), information on the residual alarm start processing (start information of the alarm operation), and information on the residual alarm start processing (end information of the alarm operation).

[0153] For example, even if a child is left behind inside the bus 10a that has been parked in a designated parking space after picking up or dropping off children, the child can turn on the wireless push button 50, which transmits a passenger signal to the outside of the bus 10a via wireless communication. When the passenger signal transmitted from the wireless push button 50 reaches the confirmation device 61 outside the wireless push button 50, the liquid crystal display 63 of the confirmation device 61 starts a warning operation that visually warns that the wireless push button 50 has been turned on. Therefore, the manager can know that a child has been left behind inside the bus 10a by visually confirming the warning operation of the liquid crystal display 63. Therefore, the child left behind inside the bus 10a can be rescued quickly. In addition, the hard disk drive or SSD of the personal computer main body 62 records and stores at least one of the following information: reception information of the press signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30, residual information of the residual signal transmitted from the wireless push button 50, information on the press notification start processing (start information of the notification operation), information on the press notification end processing (end information of the notification operation), information on the residual alarm start processing (start information of the alarm operation), and information on the residual alarm start processing (end information of the alarm operation), making it possible to check this information after the fact.

[0154] In the above-mentioned third embodiment, in order to realize the above-mentioned "(2) History management function", the hard disk drive or SSD of the personal computer main body 62 is configured to record and store reception information of the press signal transmitted from the wireless push button 30, residual information of the residual signal transmitted from the wireless push button 50, information on the press notification start processing (start information of the notification operation), information on the press notification end processing (end information of the notification operation), information on the residual alarm start processing (start information of the alarm operation), and information on the residual alarm start processing (end information of the alarm operation). However, if the "(2) History management function" is not required, there is no need to record and store this information in the hard disk drive or SSD.

[0155] In the above-mentioned third embodiment, the confirmation device 61 is configured using the PC main body 62, the liquid crystal display 63, the keyboard 64, the mouse 65, and the wireless data communication device 66, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the confirmation device 61 may be configured using, for example, the control unit 42, the wireless unit 43, the sound unit 44, the press notification lamp 45, and the abandoned warning lamp 48 of the second embodiment. In this case, the correspondence between the hardware of the third embodiment and the second embodiment is as described above.

[0156] In the second and third embodiments described above, the wireless push button 50 is provided in one location on the rear door 19 at the rear of the passenger compartment, but multiple wireless push buttons 50 may be provided in multiple locations within the passenger compartment of the bus 10, 10a to 10c, near the child seats 12, and in positions that can be pressed by passengers. However, if there is no need to transmit a passenger signal via the wireless push button 50, the wireless push button 50 does not need to be provided.

[0157] Although specific examples of the present invention have been described above in detail, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications or changes of the above-mentioned specific examples. Furthermore, the technical elements described in this specification or drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technology exemplified in this specification or drawings achieves multiple objectives simultaneously, and has technical utility in the achievement of one of the objectives itself. Note that the description in parentheses in the [Explanation of symbols] column may clearly indicate the correspondence between the terms used in each of the above-mentioned embodiments and the terms described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0158] 10, 10a, 10b, 10c... Bus (Shuttle vehicle) 11...Passing door 12…Kindergarten seat 13…Driver’s seat 14…Steering wheel 15…Dashboard 17…Battery 19…Rear door (rear of the vehicle interior) 20, 20a, 20b, 20c... Vehicle abandonment prevention device 21...Main unit 22...Control unit (control section) 23...Wireless unit 24…Sound unit (alert section) 25...Power cutoff unit (power cutoff section) 26…Mute button (pause switch) 27…Display device (alert unit) 30...Wireless push button (push button switch) 40,60…Car left-behind prevention system 41,61…Confirmation device 42...Control unit (verification control section) 43...Wireless unit (receiving part) 44…Sound unit 45...Press notification lamp (press notification section) 46…Release button (release button switch) 48...Abandonment warning lamp (remaining warning part) 50…Wireless push button (passenger switch) 62...PC main unit (verification control unit) 63...LCD display (press notification section) 64…Keyboard (release button switch) 65…Mouse (release button switch) 66...Wireless data communication device (receiving unit) 70…Kindergarten building 71…Office

Claims

1. A vehicle abandonment prevention device that prevents passengers from being abandoned in a vehicle, a control unit that receives power from a battery provided in the vehicle; a confirmation notification unit that is provided in the vehicle and transmits a push signal to the control unit via wireless communication; an attention drawing unit that starts or ends an auditory or visual attention drawing operation in response to a start signal or a stop signal from the control unit; a power cut-off unit that cuts off the power from the battery in response to a cut-off signal from the control unit, the confirmation notification unit also transmits the identification information added to the press signal to the control unit; The control unit outputs the start signal to the warning unit in response to a power source off signal due to the vehicle stopping, and then outputs the stop signal to the warning unit and the cut-off signal to the power cut-off unit after receiving the press signal, or outputs the cut-off signal to the power cut-off unit after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start signal was output.

2. The vehicle further includes a stop notification unit, the temporary stop notification unit outputs a temporary stop signal to the control unit in response to an ON operation while the attention calling unit is operating; 2. The vehicle abandonment prevention device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit outputs the stop signal to the warning unit in response to the temporary stop signal, and if there is no power source on signal after a predetermined time has elapsed, outputs the start signal to the warning unit in response to the power source off signal without outputting the start signal in response to the power source on signal, and then outputs the stop signal to the warning unit in response to the press signal and outputs the cut-off signal to the power cut-off unit, or outputs the cut-off signal to the power cut-off unit a predetermined time after the start signal has been output.

3. A vehicle abandonment prevention system including the vehicle abandonment prevention device according to claim 1 or 2 and a confirmation device provided outside the vehicle, The confirmation device includes a confirmation control unit and a receiving unit that outputs reception information indicating that the pressing signal has been received from the confirmation notification unit to the confirmation control unit; a release notification unit that sends a release signal to the confirmation control unit; a press notification unit that starts a notification operation for notifying the user of the pressing of the confirmation notification unit through audible or visual means in response to a notification signal from the confirmation control unit, and ends the notification operation in response to a confirmation signal from the confirmation control unit, The confirmation control unit A vehicle abandonment prevention system characterized in that after the alarm signal is output to the press alarm unit based on the received information from the receiving unit, the confirmation signal is output to the press alarm unit based on the release signal from the release alarm unit.

4. and a confirmation notification unit that is provided in the vehicle and that transmits a passenger signal to the receiving unit of the confirmation device by wireless communication when turned on. The verification device a residual warning unit that starts a warning operation that can audibly or visually notify that the other confirmation notification unit has been turned on in response to a residual signal from the confirmation control unit; the receiving unit outputs residual information indicating that the passenger signal transmitted from the other confirmation notification unit has been received to the confirmation control unit; 4. The system for preventing an individual from being left in a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the confirmation control unit outputs the residual signal to the residual warning unit in response to the residual information from the receiving unit.

5. A vehicle abandonment prevention system including the vehicle abandonment prevention device according to claim 1 or 2 and a confirmation device provided outside the vehicle, The confirmation device includes a confirmation control unit and a receiving unit that outputs, to the confirmation control unit, reception information indicating that the pressing signal has been received from the confirmation notification unit and the identification information; a release notification unit that sends a release signal to the confirmation control unit; a press notification unit that starts a notification operation to notify the user of pressing the confirmation notification unit audibly or visually in response to a notification signal indicating the identification information from the confirmation control unit, and ends the notification operation in response to a confirmation signal indicating the identification information from the confirmation control unit, The confirmation control unit A vehicle abandonment prevention system characterized in that the alarm signal and the identification information are output to the press alarm unit based on the received information and the identification information from the receiving unit, and then the confirmation signal and the identification information are output to the press alarm unit based on the release signal and the identification information from the release alarm unit.

6. and a confirmation notification unit that is provided in the vehicle and that, when turned on, transmits the passenger signal and other identification information added thereto to the receiving unit of the confirmation device by wireless communication. The verification device a residual warning unit that starts a warning operation that can audibly or visually notify that the other confirmation notification unit has been turned on in response to a residual signal indicating the other identification information from the confirmation control unit; the receiving unit outputs residual information indicating that the passenger signal transmitted from the other confirmation notification unit has been received and the other identification information to the confirmation control unit; The vehicle abandonment prevention system according to claim 5, characterized in that the confirmation control unit outputs the residual signal and the other identification information to the residual warning unit based on the residual information and the other identification information from the receiving unit.

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