Reporting device for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a reporting device for a vehicle capable of calling attention to wrong-way traveling at an early stage.SOLUTION: A reporting device of a vehicle includes: a vehicle speed detection section 2 for detecting a speed of a vehicle 1; a steering angle detection section 3 for detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle 1; a road type detection section 4 for detecting a type of a road on which the vehicle 1 travels; a reporting section 5 for reporting various kinds of information to a driver; and a control section 6 for issuing a second report to report that an own vehicle is at a confluence point and has to be careful not to perform wrong-way traveling when a second condition that the vehicle speed is equal to or less than a first vehicle speed threshold and also the steering angle is equal to or less than a first steering angle threshold continues for a predetermined time after the road kind detection section 4 detects that the road on which the vehicle 1 travels is an express high way and also a first condition that the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the first vehicle speed threshold and also a steering amount is equal to or more than the first steering angle threshold is established.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an alarm device for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 describes that when it is determined that the vehicle has deviated from the driving route, if the vehicle's deceleration is equal to or greater than a threshold value or if the vehicle speed is lower than a threshold value, a message is given to the driver prohibiting reverse driving. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-44109 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with such a driving assistance device, unless it can confirm that the vehicle is decelerating, it is not possible to alert the driver.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle warning device that can promptly alert a driver to wrong-way driving. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises a vehicle speed detection unit that detects the speed of a vehicle, a steering angle detection unit that detects the steering angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle, a road type detection unit that detects the type of road on which the vehicle is traveling, a notification unit that notifies the driver of various information, and a control unit that performs a second notification that notifies the driver that the vehicle is at a merging point and to be careful not to drive in the wrong direction when the road type detection unit detects that the road on which the vehicle is traveling is an expressway and a first condition that the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a first vehicle speed threshold and the steering amount is greater than or equal to a first steering angle threshold is met, and then a second condition that the vehicle speed is less than or equal to the first vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is less than or equal to a first steering angle threshold is met for a predetermined period of time. Effect of the Invention

[0007] In this way, according to the present invention, it is possible to warn of wrong-way driving at an early stage. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle notification device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of a notification of a merging onto a main lane of an expressway by the vehicle notification device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a merging time notification process of the vehicle notification device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A vehicle notification device according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to include a vehicle speed detection unit that detects the speed of the vehicle, a steering angle detection unit that detects the steering angle of the vehicle's steering wheel, a road type detection unit that detects the type of road on which the vehicle is traveling, a notification unit that notifies the driver of various information, and a control unit that performs a second notification that notifies the driver that the vehicle is at a merging point and to be careful not to drive in the wrong direction when the road type detection unit detects that the road on which the vehicle is traveling is an expressway and a first condition that the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a first vehicle speed threshold and the steering amount is greater than or equal to a first steering angle threshold is met, and then a second condition that the vehicle speed is less than or equal to the first vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is less than or equal to the first steering angle threshold is met for a predetermined period of time.

[0010] As a result, the vehicle warning device according to one embodiment of the present invention can warn of wrong-way driving at an early stage. EXAMPLES

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a vehicle alarm device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0012] In FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 equipped with a vehicle notification device according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to include a vehicle speed detection unit 2, a steering angle detection unit 3, a road type detection unit 4, a notification unit 5, and a control unit 6.

[0013] The vehicle speed detection unit 2 detects the speed of the vehicle 1. The vehicle speed detection unit 2 is configured with, for example, a vehicle speed sensor.

[0014] The steering angle detection unit 3 detects the steering angle of a steering wheel (not shown) of the vehicle 1. For example, the steering angle detection unit 3 defines the straight-ahead direction of the vehicle 1 as zero degrees, and defines the angle steered to the right or left as a positive value for both the right and left steering angles. The steering angle detection unit 3 is composed of, for example, a steering angle sensor.

[0015] The road type detection unit 4 detects the type of the road on which the vehicle 1 is traveling. The road type detection unit 4 detects the road type from, for example, a toll collection system, the current position of the vehicle 1 from a navigation system, road information, and the like.

[0016] The notification unit 5 is composed of, for example, a monitor device, a speaker, a lamp, a meter, a buzzer, etc., and notifies the driver of various information visually, audibly, etc.

[0017] The control unit 6 is composed of a computer unit equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory for storing backup data, etc., an input port, and an output port.

[0018] The ROM of this computer unit stores various constants, various maps, and the like, as well as a program for causing the computer unit to function as the control unit 6.

[0019] That is, the CPU executes the programs stored in the ROM using the RAM as a working area, and these computer units function as the control unit 6 in this embodiment.

[0020] To the input port of the control unit 6, various sensors including the vehicle speed detection unit 2, steering angle detection unit 3, and road type detection unit 4 described above are connected.

[0021] On the other hand, to an output port of the control unit 6, various control targets including the notification unit 5 described above are connected.

[0022] In this embodiment, when the road type detection unit 4 detects that the road on which the vehicle 1 is traveling is an expressway and a first condition is met that the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the first vehicle speed threshold and the steering amount is equal to or greater than the first steering angle threshold, the control unit 6 executes a second notification to notify the driver that the vehicle is at a merging point and to be careful not to drive in the wrong direction when a second condition that the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the first vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or less than the first steering angle threshold continues for a predetermined period of time.

[0023] The second notification may be, for example, "Your speed is low as you join the expressway. Be careful not to drive in the wrong direction."

[0024] While the first condition is satisfied, the control unit 6 executes a first notification that notifies the driver that a merging point is located in the vehicle's travel direction.

[0025] The first notification may be, for example, "A junction point is ahead. Please be careful."

[0026] The control unit 6 performs a third notification to notify the driver that the vehicle may be traveling in the wrong direction when a third condition is satisfied after the first condition is satisfied, that is, the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a first vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or higher than a second steering angle threshold.

[0027] As a third notification, for example, it may notify, "Are you driving in the wrong direction? Please check your route."

[0028] The control unit 6 ends all notifications when a fourth condition is satisfied, that is, the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the second vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or lower than the first steering angle threshold.

[0029] The first vehicle speed threshold is set, for example, to a speed higher than the speed limit of the ramp section from the toll gate to the main road of the expressway.

[0030] The second vehicle speed threshold is set, for example, to a speed higher than the first vehicle speed threshold and lower than the speed limit of the main highway.

[0031] The first steering angle threshold is set to, for example, an upper limit of the steering angle at which it can be determined that the vehicle 1 is traveling straight.

[0032] The second steering angle threshold is set to, for example, a lower limit of the steering angle at which the vehicle 1 runs in the wrong direction when merging onto a main lane.

[0033] The notification process for merging onto a main lane of an expressway will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Note that merging onto a main lane of an expressway will be described here in four stages.

[0034] First stage: Control at the ramp before merging In the range of the arrow indicated by the "lamp section" in the figure, when a first condition is met that the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a first vehicle speed threshold and the steering amount is equal to or greater than a first steering angle threshold, the control unit 6 issues a warning such as "Merge point ahead, be careful not to drive in the wrong direction."

[0035] That is, when the steering angle is equal to or greater than the first steering angle threshold, it is recognized that the vehicle is in a ramp section facing the acceleration lane, and the notification is continued as long as the first condition is satisfied.

[0036] Second stage: Control in merging and acceleration lanes In the range of the arrow indicated as "merging lane" in the figure, if the second condition, that is, the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the first vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or less than the first steering angle threshold, continues for a predetermined period of time after the first condition is met, the control unit 6 will issue a warning such as "Speed ​​is low as the vehicle merges onto the expressway. Be careful of driving in the wrong direction."

[0037] Third stage: Control in merging and acceleration lanes In the range of the arrow indicated as "merging lane" in the figure, if the third condition is met, that is, the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the first vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or greater than the second steering angle threshold, and if the steering angle reaches the second steering angle threshold that is greater than the first steering angle threshold, the control unit 6 will provide a stronger warning, indicating that there is an increased risk of wrong-way driving.

[0038] Stage 4: Control after merging and on the main line In the range indicated by the "main line" arrow in the figure, when a fourth condition is satisfied in which the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the second vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or less than the first steering angle threshold, the control unit 6 ends all notifications.

[0039] The merging notification process performed by the vehicle notification device according to this embodiment configured as above will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The merging notification process described below is started when the control unit 6 starts its operation, and is executed at preset time intervals.

[0040] In step S1, the control unit 6 determines whether or not the road on which the vehicle 1 is traveling is a motorway.

[0041] If it is determined that the road is a motorway, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S2. If it is determined that the road is not a motorway, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S1.

[0042] In step S2, the control unit 6 determines whether or not a first condition is satisfied, that is, the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a first vehicle speed threshold and the steering amount is equal to or higher than a first steering angle threshold.

[0043] If it is determined that the first condition is satisfied, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S3. If it is determined that the first condition is not satisfied, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S2.

[0044] In step S3, the control unit 6 performs the first notification described above. After executing the process of step S3, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S4.

[0045] In step S4, the control unit 6 determines whether or not a second condition is satisfied, that is, the vehicle speed is equal to or less than a first vehicle speed threshold and the steering amount is equal to or less than a first steering angle threshold.

[0046] If it is determined that the second condition is satisfied, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S5. If it is determined that the second condition is not satisfied, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S4.

[0047] In step S5, the control unit 6 performs the above-mentioned second notification. After executing the process of step S5, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S6.

[0048] In step S6, the control unit 6 determines whether or not a fourth condition is satisfied, that is, the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the second vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or less than the first steering angle threshold.

[0049] If it is determined that the fourth condition is satisfied, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S9. If it is determined that the fourth condition is not satisfied, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S7.

[0050] In step S7, the control unit 6 determines whether or not a third condition is satisfied, that is, the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the first vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or higher than the second steering angle threshold.

[0051] If it is determined that the third condition is satisfied, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S8. If it is determined that the third condition is not satisfied, the control unit 6 executes the process of step S6.

[0052] In step S8, the control unit 6 performs the above-mentioned third notification. After executing the process of step S8, the control unit 6 ends the merging time notification process.

[0053] In step S9, the control unit 6 ends all notifications. After executing the process of step S9, the control unit 6 ends the merging time notification process.

[0054] Thus, in this embodiment, when the road type detection unit 4 detects that the road on which the vehicle 1 is traveling is an expressway and the first condition that the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the first vehicle speed threshold and the steering amount is equal to or greater than the first steering angle threshold is met, the control unit 6 executes a second notification to notify the driver that the vehicle is at a merging point and to be careful not to drive in the wrong direction when the second condition that the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the first vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or less than the first steering angle threshold continues for a predetermined period of time.

[0055] As a result, if the second condition continues for a predetermined period of time after the first condition is satisfied, the vehicle is notified that it is at a merging point and that it should be careful not to run in the wrong direction. This makes it possible to recognize and notify the user that there is a risk of running in the wrong direction based on the driving state in the acceleration lane, and to provide an effective notification to prevent running in the wrong direction at an early stage.

[0056] Further, while the first condition is satisfied, the control unit 6 executes a first notification to notify the driver that a merging point is located in the vehicle's travel direction.

[0057] As a result, while the first condition is satisfied, the user is notified that there is a merging point in the direction in which the vehicle is traveling. This makes it possible to notify the user that there is a merging point, and thus makes it possible to provide an effective notification to prevent the user from traveling in the wrong direction at an early stage.

[0058] In addition, when a third condition is met that the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the first vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or higher than the second steering angle threshold, the control unit 6 performs a third notification to notify the driver that the vehicle may be traveling in the wrong direction.

[0059] As a result, when the third condition is satisfied, the possibility that the vehicle is traveling in the wrong direction is notified to the user. This makes it possible to recognize and notify the user that the vehicle is traveling in the wrong direction, and to provide an effective notification to the user at an early stage to prevent the vehicle from traveling in the wrong direction.

[0060] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which the control unit 6 performs various determinations and calculations based on various sensor information, but this is not limited thereto. The vehicle 1 may be provided with a communication unit capable of communicating with an external device such as an external server, and various determinations and calculations may be performed by the external device based on the detection information of the various sensors transmitted from the communication unit. The determination results and calculation results may be received by the communication unit, and various controls may be performed using the received determination results and calculation results.

[0061] Although an embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended that all such modifications and equivalents be included in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 vehicle 2 Vehicle speed detection section 3 Steering angle detector 4 Road type detection section 5. Notification Department 6. Control Unit

Claims

1. a vehicle speed detection unit that detects the speed of a vehicle; a steering angle detection unit that detects a steering angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle; a road type detection unit that detects the type of road on which the vehicle is traveling; A notification unit that notifies the driver of various information; and a control unit that implements a second notification that the vehicle is at a merging point and that caution should be exercised against driving in the wrong direction when the road type detection unit detects that the road on which the vehicle is traveling is an expressway and, after a first condition that the vehicle speed is equal to or less than a first vehicle speed threshold and the steering amount is equal to or greater than a first steering angle threshold is satisfied, a second condition that the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the first vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or less than a first steering angle threshold is satisfied for a predetermined period of time.

2. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit performs a first notification to notify the driver that a merging point is present in a traveling direction of the vehicle while the first condition is satisfied.

3. 3. The vehicle warning device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit issues a third warning to warn that the vehicle may be traveling in the wrong direction when a third condition is satisfied, that is, the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a first vehicle speed threshold and the steering angle is equal to or higher than a second steering angle threshold.

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