Failure notification system

Abstract

To provide a failure notification system capable of notifying a driver of a preceding vehicle of a failure of a brake lamp.SOLUTION: A failure notification system installed in a vehicle includes an imaging device, processor, and transmitter. The processor acquires data of video of a preceding vehicle imaged by the imaging device (step S100). The processor performs failure determination on the basis of the acquired data of video (step S110). When a failure of a brake lamp of the preceding vehicle is detected as a result of the failure determination by the processor (Yes at step S120), the processor prompts the transmitter to transmit information which notifies a receiver of the preceding vehicle of the fact that the brake lamp has failed (step S130).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a fault notification system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a malfunction notification device that notifies a driver that a brake lamp bulb has burned out. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-200456 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The brake lights installed in vehicles inform the vehicles behind that the vehicle is slowing down, enabling safe driving. Therefore, drivers must maintain their vehicles so that the brake lights always function properly. However, drivers often do not notice a malfunction of the brake lights of the vehicle they are driving. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The means for solving the above problems and their effects will be described below. A malfunction notification system for solving the above problems is mounted on a vehicle and includes a photographing device, a processing device, and a transmitter. In the malfunction notification system, the processing device judges an image of a forward vehicle photographed by the photographing device to detect a malfunction of the brake lamp of the forward vehicle, and when the processing device detects a malfunction of the brake lamp of the forward vehicle, causes the transmitter to transmit information notifying that the brake lamp is malfunctioning to a receiver of the forward vehicle. Effect of the Invention

[0006] The malfunction notification system can notify the driver of the vehicle ahead of the vehicle of a malfunction of the brake lamp, which in turn makes it easier for the driver of the vehicle ahead to notice the malfunction of the brake lamp. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a fault notification system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image captured by the image capturing device of the fault notification system of the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by a processing device in the malfunction notification system of the embodiment when the processing device acquires image data of a forward vehicle. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the process executed by the processing device when the receiver in the fault notification system of the embodiment receives information notifying a fault. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a fault notification system according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a fault notification system will be described with reference to FIGS. <Configuration of the fault notification system 100> 1, the malfunction notification system 100 is installed in each of a plurality of vehicles 10. The malfunction notification system 100 includes an image capturing device 110, a processing device 120, a transceiver 130, and a notification device 140.

[0009] 2 shows an example of an image captured by the image capturing device 110. The image capturing device 110 captures an image of the area in front of the vehicle 10, as shown in FIG. The image capturing device 110 and the processing device 120 are connected so as to be able to exchange image data. The processing device 120 can acquire data of the image captured by the image capturing device 110.

[0010] The transceiver 130 and the processing device 120 are connected so as to be able to exchange information. The transceiver 130 performs inter-vehicle communication for exchanging information with surrounding vehicles 10. The notification device 140 and the processing device 120 are connected so as to be able to exchange information. The notification device 140 notifies the driver by sound, display, etc. The processing device 120 causes the notification device 140 to execute a notification by sending a signal to the notification device 140.

[0011] <Processing Executed by Processing Device 120 in Fault Notification System 100> Fig. 3 shows the flow of a series of processes executed in vehicle-to-vehicle communication. This series of processes is executed by the processing device 120 of the vehicle 10. As shown in Fig. 2, this series of processes is executed when the image capturing device 110 captures an image of the leading vehicle 11. The leading vehicle 11 is a vehicle among the multiple vehicles 10 that is traveling in front of the vehicle 10 equipped with the processing device 120 that executes this series of processes.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 3, when this series of processes is started, the processing device 120 first acquires image data of the vehicle 11 ahead captured by the image capturing device 110 in the process of step S100.

[0013] Next, in the process of step S110, the processing device 120 performs a malfunction determination based on the acquired image data of the forward vehicle 11. Specifically, the processing device 120 performs a malfunction determination for the brake lamp 150 of the forward vehicle 11 using image recognition. In the malfunction determination, the processing device 120 first recognizes the brake lamp 150 of the forward vehicle 11 by image recognition from the image of the forward vehicle 11 captured by the imaging device 110. In FIG. 2, the position of the recognized brake lamp 150 of the forward vehicle 11 is surrounded by a solid line. When only one of the recognized left brake lamp 150 and right brake lamp 150 is turned on, the processing device 120 determines that the brake lamp 150 of the forward vehicle 11 is malfunctioning. FIG. 2 shows a state in which only the right brake lamp 150 is turned on.

[0014] In the process of step S120, the processing device 120 determines whether or not a malfunction has been detected through the malfunction determination in the brake lamp 150 of the forward vehicle 11. If a malfunction has been detected (step S120: YES), the process proceeds to step S130.

[0015] In the process of step S130, the processing device 120 causes the transceiver 130 to transmit information notifying the user of the malfunction. Specifically, the processing device 120 causes the transceiver 130 to transmit information notifying the user of the malfunction to the transceiver 130 of the vehicle 11 ahead.

[0016] In this manner, the transceiver 130 transmits information notifying the failure to the transceiver 130 of the preceding vehicle 11, and this series of processing ends. In the process of step S120, if the processing device 120 determines that a malfunction of the brake lamp 150 of the forward vehicle 11 has not been detected (step S120: NO), the processing device 120 ends this series of processes without executing the process of step S130. In other words, if a malfunction has not been detected, the processing device 120 ends this series of processes without causing the transceiver 130 to transmit information addressed to the transceiver 130 of the forward vehicle 11.

[0017] <Processing Executed by the Processing Device 120 When Information Notifying a Fault is Received> 4 shows the flow of a series of processes executed by the processing device 120 when information notifying a malfunction is received. This series of processes is executed by the processing device 120 of the vehicle 10 when the transceiver 130 receives information notifying a malfunction.

[0018] 4, when this series of processes is started, the processing device 120 first determines whether or not the switch of the vehicle 10 is OFF in the process of step S200. If the switch of the vehicle 10 is ON (step S200: NO), the process of step S200 is repeated. If the switch of the vehicle 10 is OFF (step S200: YES), the process proceeds to step S210.

[0019] In the process of step S210, the processing device 120 sends a signal to the notification device 140. The notification device 140 that receives the signal executes a notification that the brake lamp 150 is broken.

[0020] In this manner, the processing device 120 causes the notification device 140 to execute a notification to inform the driver that the brake lamp 150 is malfunctioning, and this series of processes is then completed.

[0021] <Action of this embodiment> In the malfunction notification system 100, the image capturing device 110 captures an image of the vehicle 11 ahead.

[0022] Next, the processing device 120 causes the transceiver 130 to transmit information notifying the failure to the transceiver 130 of the vehicle 11 ahead through the series of processes described with reference to FIG. The transceiver 130 of the leading vehicle 11 then receives the transmitted information notifying of the failure.

[0023] Furthermore, the processing device 120 of the forward vehicle 11 causes the notification device 140 to execute a notification that the brake lamp 150 is malfunctioning through the series of processes described with reference to FIG.

[0024] <Effects of this embodiment> (1) The processing device 120 of the malfunction notification system 100 acquires image data of the vehicle ahead 11 captured by the photographing device 110 while the vehicle is traveling. The processing device 120 determines whether or not the brake lamps 150 of the vehicle ahead 11 captured in the image are malfunctioning based on the acquired image data. If a malfunction is detected, the transceiver 130 transmits information to the transceiver 130 of the vehicle ahead 11 notifying that the brake lamps 150 are malfunctioning. This enables the malfunction notification system 100 to inform the driver of the vehicle ahead 11 of the malfunction of the brake lamps 150. This in turn makes it easier for the driver of the vehicle ahead 11 to notice the malfunction of the brake lamps 150.

[0025] (2) The malfunction notification system 100 includes a notification device 140. When the transceiver 130 receives information addressed to the transceiver 130 informing the driver that the brake lamp 150 is malfunctioning, the processing device 120 causes the notification device 140 to execute a notification informing the driver that the brake lamp 150 is malfunctioning. This notification makes it easier for the driver to notice the malfunction of the brake lamp 150 of the vehicle 10 that the driver is driving. In other words, the malfunction notification system 100 enables the driver to inform the vehicle 11 in front whose brake lamp 150 is malfunctioning of the malfunction of the brake lamp 150. In addition, the malfunction notification system 100 enables the driver to be informed by another vehicle 10 that the brake lamp 150 of the vehicle 10 that the driver is driving is malfunctioning.

[0026] (3) The processing device 120 of the malfunction notification system 100 judges whether the switch of the vehicle 10 is turned OFF. Even if the processing device 120 receives information informing that the brake lamp 150 is malfunctioning, the processing device 120 does not cause the notification device 140 to execute a notification that the brake lamp 150 is malfunctioning while the switch of the vehicle 10 is ON. When the processing device 120 receives information informing that the brake lamp 150 is malfunctioning and judges that the switch of the vehicle 10 is OFF, the processing device 120 causes the notification device 140 to execute a notification that the brake lamp 150 is malfunctioning. A driver who is driving concentrates on driving. Therefore, even if a notification is made by the notification device 140 while driving, the driver may miss the notification. The above malfunction notification system 100 issues a notification when the switch of the vehicle 10 is turned OFF. In other words, the malfunction notification system 100 issues a notification when driving is finished and the driver is not driving. Therefore, the possibility that the driver misses the notification can be reduced.

[0027] (4) The processing device 120 of the malfunction notification system 100 recognizes the right brake lamp 150 and the left brake lamp 150 of the forward vehicle 11 by image recognition from the image of the forward vehicle 11 captured by the photographing device 110. The processing device 120 detects a malfunction of the brake lamp 150 of the forward vehicle 11 when only the right brake lamp 150 is on or when only the left brake lamp 150 is on. If the brake lamp 150 is not malfunctioning, the left and right brake lamps 150 will be on at the same time. If the brake lamp 150 is malfunctioning, only the right brake lamp 150 will be on or only the left brake lamp 150 will be on. With the above configuration, the malfunction notification system 100 can detect such a malfunction of the brake lamp 150 from the image.

[0028] <Example of change> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that there is no technical contradiction.

[0029] The above-described fault notification system 100 includes the transceiver 130 having the functions of a transmitter and a receiver. However, the transmitter and receiver may be separate devices. The above-mentioned fault notification system 100 includes an imaging device 110, a processing device 120, a transceiver 130, and a notification device 140. In contrast, the fault notification system 100 may be a system that includes a processing device 120, a transmitter, and a notification device 140, and that only transmits information notifying of a fault.

[0030] The notification device 140 performs a notification when the switch of the vehicle 10 is turned off. Furthermore, the notification device 140 may also perform a notification when the transceiver 130 receives information notifying of a malfunction.

[0031] The notification device 140 may provide notification only when the transceiver 130 receives information notifying of a malfunction, and may not provide notification when the vehicle 10 is switched off. In the above-mentioned malfunction notification system 100, the photographing device 110, the processing device 120, the transceiver 130, and the notification device 140 are each mounted on a vehicle. In contrast, as shown in Fig. 5, the malfunction notification system may be configured as a drive recorder 200 including a photographing device 210, a processing device 220, a transceiver 230, and a notification device 240. According to such a malfunction notification system configured as the drive recorder 200, it becomes possible to notify a malfunction by simply introducing the drive recorder 200. Furthermore, even an older vehicle that does not include the malfunction notification system 100 can use the malfunction notification system by introducing the drive recorder 200. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10...vehicle, 11...forward vehicle, 100...fault notification system, 110...image capture device, 120...processing device, 130...transmitter / receiver, 140...notification device, 150...brake lamp, 200...drive recorder, 210...image capture device, 220...processing device, 230...transmitter / receiver, 240...notification device

Claims

1. Mounted on the vehicle, The system includes an imaging device, a processing device, and a transmitter, The processing device judges an image of the forward vehicle captured by the imaging device and detects a failure of a brake lamp of the forward vehicle; When the processing device detects a failure of the brake lamp of the forward vehicle, the processing device causes the transmitter to transmit information notifying the fact that the brake lamp is malfunctioning to the receiver of the forward vehicle; The processing device executes a fault notification system.

2. A receiver and a notification device are provided, The fault notification system of claim 1, wherein when the receiver receives information sent to the receiver informing that the brake light is malfunctioning, the processing device causes the notification device to execute a notification informing that the brake light is malfunctioning.

3. The processing device determines whether a vehicle switch is turned OFF; The processing device does not cause the notification device to execute a notification that the brake lamp is malfunctioning while a switch of the vehicle is ON even if the processing device receives information notifying the user that the brake lamp is malfunctioning; 3. The fault notification system of claim 2, wherein the processing device, when receiving information notifying that the brake lamp is faulty and determining that the vehicle switch is OFF, causes the notification device to execute a notification that the brake lamp is faulty.

4. The fault notification system according to claim 2 , which is configured as a drive recorder including the photographing device, the processing device, the transmitter, the receiver and the notification device.

5. The processing device recognizes the right and left brake lights of the vehicle in front by image recognition from the image of the vehicle in front captured by the photographing device, and detects a malfunction of the brake lights of the vehicle in front when only the right brake light is on or when only the left brake light is on.

Images