Notification system

Abstract

To notify people around a vehicle that an abnormality has occurred.SOLUTION: A notification system S comprises: a light-emitting device 1 and a sound generating device 2 which are provided in a vehicle V; and a notification control unit 323 that, when an abnormality occurs and the vehicle V stops, outputs a light-emitting signal in which abnormality information indicating the abnormality is coded in a predetermined format to the light-emitting device 1, and that outputs a sound signal in which the abnormality information is coded in a format to the sound generating device 2. The notification control unit 323 outputs the light-emitting signal and the sound signal at the same time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a notification system for notifying a driver of an abnormality in a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a technique for notifying a driver of an abnormality that hinders the driver from driving a vehicle. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for outputting a sound from a horn when an abnormal state of the driver is detected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-23115 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, simply emitting a sound from the horn may not always be enough for people around the vehicle to know whether something is wrong or whether the horn is broken.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and has an object to notify people around the vehicle that an abnormality has occurred. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides an alarm system comprising a light-emitting device and a sound-generating device provided in a vehicle, and an alarm control unit which, when an abnormality occurs causing the vehicle to stop, causes the light-emitting device to output a light-emitting signal that corresponds to abnormality information indicating the abnormality and is encoded in a predetermined format, and causes the sound-generating device to output an acoustic signal that corresponds to the abnormality information encoded in the predetermined format, wherein the alarm control unit outputs the light-emitting signal and the acoustic signal at the same timing.

[0007] The predetermined format may be a Morse code, and the notification control unit may output the light emitting signal and the acoustic signal that correspond to the abnormality information and are encoded in the Morse code.

[0008] The notification control unit may output the light emitting signal and the acoustic signal at the same timing when the vehicle is stopped due to the occurrence of the abnormality by a driver of the vehicle.

[0009] The notification control unit may cause all of the plurality of light-emitting devices mounted on the vehicle to output the light-emitting signal at the timing.

[0010] The notification control unit may cause all of the plurality of sound generating devices mounted on the vehicle to output the acoustic signal at the timing.

[0011] When the abnormality occurs while the vehicle is traveling, the notification control unit may execute at least one of a process of flashing the light-emitting device in a second light-emitting pattern different from a first light-emitting pattern indicating the light-emitting signal, and a process of outputting sound from the sound generating device in a second sound output pattern different from a first sound output pattern indicating the acoustic signal, and when the vehicle is stopped, may output the light-emitting signal and the acoustic signal at the timing.

[0012] When an abnormality occurs while the vehicle is traveling, the notification control unit may transmit abnormality information to an external device, and when an instruction to stop the light emitting signal and the acoustic signal is received from the external device while the light emitting signal and the acoustic signal are being output, the notification control unit may cause the light emitting device to stop outputting the light emitting signal and the sound generating device to stop outputting the acoustic signal. Effect of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to notify people around the vehicle that an abnormality has occurred. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a notification system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a notification system. [Diagram 3] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for reporting an abnormality. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] [Configuration of the Notification System S] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the notification system S. The notification system S is mounted on a vehicle V and controls the traveling of the vehicle V. When an abnormality occurs during traveling of the vehicle V ((1) in FIG. 1), the notification system S stops the vehicle V ((2) in FIG. 1). For example, when an abnormality occurs that makes the driver of the vehicle V unable to drive the vehicle V or that makes it impossible to continue traveling of the vehicle V, the notification system S stops the vehicle V on the shoulder of the road on which the vehicle V is traveling. An abnormality that makes it impossible for the driver to drive the vehicle V is, for example, an abnormality that makes the driver lose consciousness. An abnormality that makes it impossible for the vehicle V to continue traveling is, for example, an abnormality in a device that controls the vehicle V or an abnormality in a sensor that detects the state or surrounding conditions of the vehicle V, but is not limited thereto.

[0016] The notification system S notifies the driver of an abnormality when an abnormality occurs and the vehicle V stops ((3) in FIG. 1). The notification system S causes a light-emitting device and a sound-emitting device mounted on the vehicle V to synchronously output a signal that indicates abnormality information encoded in a predetermined format. As an example, the notification system S causes the light-emitting device and the sound-emitting device to output, at the same time, a signal that indicates that the driver needs to be rescued from the abnormality and is encoded in Morse code (.··--.··), to the light-emitting device and the sound-emitting device. That is, in this example, encoding in Morse code format is adopted as the predetermined format of encoding.

[0017] This allows a person outside the vehicle V to confirm that the same signal is being output by sound and light at the same time. Therefore, a person outside the vehicle V can understand that a more urgent abnormality has occurred in the vehicle V than when only a sound such as a horn is being output, when only a light such as a hazard lamp is flashing, or when different patterns of sound and light are being output.

[0018] The following describes the configuration of the notification system S. Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the notification system S. The notification system S has a light emitting device 1, a sound generating device 2, and a notification control device 3.

[0019] The light-emitting device 1 is a light-emitting device that emits light. The light-emitting device 1 is, for example, at least one of a headlight 11, a small light 12, a fog light 13, a tail light 14, a brake light 15, and a turn signal 16 provided on a vehicle V. The light-emitting device 1 emits light under the control of a notification control device 3.

[0020] The sound generating device 2 is a device that generates a sound. The sound generating device 2 is, for example, at least one of a horn 21 and a speaker 22 provided on the vehicle V. The sound generating device 2 generates a sound under the control of the notification control device 3.

[0021] The notification control device 3 includes a storage unit 31 and a control unit 32. The storage unit 31 is a storage medium including a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk, etc. The storage unit 31 stores a program executed by the control unit 32.

[0022] The control unit 32 is a computation resource including a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 32 executes a program stored in the storage unit 31 to realize functions as an acquisition unit 321, an encoding unit 322, and a notification control unit 323.

[0023] The acquisition unit 321 acquires abnormality information indicating an abnormality occurring in the vehicle V from a device that detects an abnormality occurring in the vehicle V. The device that detects an abnormality (hereinafter referred to as the "abnormality detection device") has, for example, an imaging unit that generates an image of the driver, and an image processing unit that analyzes the image. The abnormality detection device outputs information indicating whether the above-mentioned abnormality has occurred from the driver information included in the image. The abnormality detection device is not limited to a method of detecting an abnormality based on the driver information included in the image, but may detect an abnormality by detecting and analyzing the driver's pulse, body temperature, etc. Furthermore, the abnormality detection device may include sensors that detect abnormalities in instruments and driving devices provided in the vehicle V. The abnormality information is, for example, information indicating an abnormality that makes the driver of the vehicle V unable to drive the vehicle V, information indicating an abnormality that makes it impossible to continue driving the vehicle V, or information indicating that the driver needs to be rescued from the abnormality. The acquisition unit 321 outputs the abnormality information to the encoding unit 322.

[0024] The encoding unit 322 outputs signal information that corresponds to the abnormality information and is encoded in a predetermined format to the notification control unit 323. For example, the encoding unit 322 generates signal information by encoding the abnormality information in Morse code. Specifically, when the encoding unit 322 acquires information indicating that the driver needs to be rescued from an abnormality as abnormality information, the encoding unit 322 encodes the abnormality information in Morse code to generate light signal information indicating a first light emission pattern of a light signal (SOS) indicating that the driver needs to be rescued from an abnormality. The light signal (first light emission pattern) indicating SOS in Morse code is a light signal that flashes including three short periods of light, followed by three long periods of light, and then further flashes including three short periods of light. The encoding unit 322 also generates audio signal information indicating a first sound output pattern of an audio signal (SOS) indicating that the driver needs to be rescued from an abnormality.

[0025] The sound signal (first sound output pattern) indicating SOS in Morse code is one in which three short sounds are output, followed by three long sounds, and then three short sounds. The encoding unit 322 may output signal information corresponding to the input abnormality information by referring to a table in which abnormality information and encoded signal information are associated with each other and stored in advance in the storage unit 31.

[0026] The encoding unit 322 may generate signal information according to the abnormality that has occurred, not limited to the above-mentioned light emission signal (SOS) and sound signal (SOS). The encoding unit 322 generates light emission signal information indicating a light emission signal and sound signal information indicating a sound signal that indicate information about the abnormality that has occurred, such as an object in which the abnormality has occurred, the importance of the abnormality, and the urgency of the abnormality.

[0027] The above Morse code is based on the so-called English Morse code, but the encoding unit 322 may generate the signal information by encoding the abnormality information with Japanese Morse code instead of the English Morse code. The encoding unit 322 may generate the signal information by encoding the abnormality information with other encoding methods, not limited to the Morse code. For example, since it is known that a predetermined signal is repeated three times at regular intervals as a signal calling for help, the encoding unit 322 generates light signal information that repeats a predetermined signal three times at regular intervals and acoustic signal information that indicates an acoustic signal instead of the Morse code SOS. In this way, the encoding unit 322 can generate signal information that indicates a signal calling for help by repeating light or sound three times at regular intervals. It is preferable that the encoding unit 322 generates the signal information by encoding the abnormality information with a well-known encoding method. The encoding unit 322 outputs the light signal information and the acoustic signal information to the notification control unit 323.

[0028] The notification control unit 323 notifies the vehicle V of an abnormality when an abnormality occurs. For example, when an abnormality occurs while the vehicle V is traveling, the notification control unit 323 executes at least one of a process of blinking the light-emitting device 1 in a second light-emitting pattern different from the first light-emitting pattern and a process of causing the sound generating device 2 to output a sound in a second sound output pattern different from the first sound output pattern. Specifically, the notification control unit 323 continues to blink the turn signal 16 in the second light-emitting pattern at a constant cycle of 50 times or more and 120 times or less per minute while traveling, and continues to output a sound from the horn 21 in the second sound output pattern in which the volume of the sound does not change. The second light-emitting pattern is a so-called hazard. The second sound output pattern is a so-called alarm. The notification control unit 323 continues to blink the light-emitting device 1 in the second light-emitting pattern and causes the sound generating device 2 to output a sound in the second sound output pattern until the vehicle V stops. This allows the notification control unit 323 to notify people around the traveling vehicle V that an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle V.

[0029] When an abnormality occurs and the vehicle V stops, first, the notification control unit 323 stops the flashing in the second light emission pattern and the output of the sound in the second sound output pattern. Next, the notification control unit 323 causes the light-emitting device 1 to output a light-emitting signal and the sound generation device 2 to output an acoustic signal at the same timing. Specifically, the notification control unit 323 causes the light-emitting device 1 to output a light-emitting signal (SOS) indicating abnormality information indicating that the driver needs to be rescued from the abnormality, and causes the sound generation device 2 to output an acoustic signal (SOS) indicating abnormality information at the same timing. That is, the notification control unit 323 causes the light-emitting device 1 to flash in the first light-emitting pattern, and causes the sound generation device 2 to output sound in the first sound output pattern at the same timing as the light-emitting timing of the light-emitting device 1.

[0030] The notification control unit 323 outputs a light emitting signal at the same timing to two or more different types of light emitting devices 1 among the plurality of light emitting devices 1. For example, the notification control unit 323 outputs a light emitting signal to the headlights 11 and the taillights 14 among the light emitting devices 1 at the same timing. The notification control unit 323 may also output a light emitting signal to all the light emitting devices 1 provided in the vehicle V at the same timing. In this case, the notification control unit 323 outputs a light emitting signal to the headlights 11, the small lights 12, the fog lights 13, the taillights 14, the brake lights 15, and the turn signals 16 at the same timing. As a result, all the plurality of light emitting devices 1 output an SOS at the same timing, so that people around the vehicle V can understand that it is necessary to rescue the driver from an abnormality.

[0031] The notification control unit 323 causes the sound generating device 2 to output an acoustic signal at the same timing as the light emitting signal emitted by the light emitting device 1. For example, the notification control unit 323 causes the horn 21 to output an acoustic signal to either the horn 21 or the speaker 22 at the same timing as the light emitting timing of the light emitting signal emitted by the light emitting device 1. The notification control unit 323 may also cause all the sound generating devices 2 provided in the vehicle V to output an acoustic signal at the same timing as the light emitting timing of the light emitting signal emitted by the light emitting device 1. In this case, the notification control unit 323 causes the horn 21 and the speaker 22 to output a light emitting signal at the same timing. As a result, all of the multiple light emitting devices 1 and the multiple sound generating devices 2 output an SOS at the same timing, so that people around the vehicle V can understand that it is necessary to rescue the driver from an abnormality.

[0032] The acquisition unit 321 further acquires a stop instruction to stop the light emission signal and the sound signal. Specifically, the acquisition unit 321 acquires the stop instruction when a switch for instructing the stop of the light emission signal and the sound signal is pressed. The acquisition unit 321 outputs the acquired stop instruction to the notification control unit 323. It is assumed that the acquisition unit 321 acquires the stop instruction after the notification control unit 323 causes the light emission device 1 and the sound generation device 2 to output the light emission signal and the sound signal. In this case, the notification control unit 323 continues to output the light emission signal and the sound signal until the stop instruction is acquired, and stops the output of the light emission signal and the sound signal in response to the input of the stop instruction from the acquisition unit 321. This allows the notification control unit 323 to suppress the continuation of the output of the light emission signal and the sound signal after the driver is rescued from an abnormality occurring in the vehicle V.

[0033] The notification control unit 323 may stop outputting the light emitting signal and the sound signal when the engine of the vehicle V is stopped. Specifically, the notification control unit 323 stops outputting the light emitting signal and the sound signal when the engine is stopped due to the operation of the ignition key of the vehicle V. In this manner, the notification control unit 323 stops outputting the light emitting signal and the sound signal when, for example, a person who rescues the driver from an abnormality occurring in the vehicle V stops the engine of the vehicle V, so that it is possible to prevent the output of the light emitting signal and the sound signal from being continued after the driver is rescued.

[0034] When an abnormality occurs during the traveling of the vehicle V, the notification control unit 323 may transmit abnormality information to an external device using a wireless communication module for transmitting and receiving information via a wireless communication line. For example, the notification control unit 323 transmits abnormality information to an external device that manages the vehicle V. When the notification control unit 323 receives an instruction from the external device to stop the light emitting signal and the sound generating device 2 from outputting the sound signal while the light emitting signal and the sound generating device 2 are outputting the light emitting signal and the sound generating device 2 from outputting the sound signal, respectively. In this way, the notification control unit 323 can suppress unnecessary notification to people around the vehicle V when, for example, the manager of the external device is able to rescue the driver from the abnormality that has occurred in the vehicle V.

[0035] [Process to notify abnormality] Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for notifying an abnormality executed by the notification control device 3. The flowchart in Fig. 3 is started when the acquisition unit 321 acquires abnormality information while the vehicle V is traveling.

[0036] The notification control unit 323 causes the light emitting device 1 to flash in the second light emitting pattern (step S1). Specifically, the notification control unit 323 causes the turn signal 16 to flash in the second light emitting pattern (so-called hazard). The notification control unit 323 causes the sound generating device 2 to output sound in the second sound output pattern (step S2). Specifically, the notification control unit 323 causes the horn 21 to output sound in the second sound output pattern (so-called horn) in which the volume of the sound does not change. The notification control unit 323 may execute step S2 before step S1, or may execute steps S1 and S2 in parallel.

[0037] The notification control unit 323 determines whether the vehicle V has stopped (step S3). If the vehicle V is traveling (No in step S3), the notification control unit 323 continues to cause the light-emitting device 1 to flash in the second light-emitting pattern and causes the sound generating device 2 to output sound in the second sound output pattern until the vehicle V stops.

[0038] When the vehicle V is stopped (Yes in step S3), the encoding unit 322 generates light signal information and sound signal information corresponding to the abnormality information (step S4). Specifically, the encoding unit 322 generates light signal information corresponding to the abnormality information indicating that the driver needs to be rescued from the abnormality and indicating a light signal (SOS) of a first light emission pattern encoded in Morse code. The encoding unit 322 also generates sound signal information indicating a sound signal (SOS) of a first sound output pattern in which abnormality information indicating that the driver needs to be rescued from the abnormality is encoded in Morse code. Note that this process may be executed before the determination of Yes in step S3 is made.

[0039] The notification control unit 323 causes the light emitting device 1 and the sound generating device 2 to output the light emitting signal of the first light emitting pattern and the sound signal of the first sound output pattern at the same timing (step S5). Specifically, the notification control unit 323 causes all of the multiple light emitting devices 1 mounted on the vehicle V to output the light emitting signal (SOS) at the same timing, and causes all of the multiple sound generating devices 2 mounted on the vehicle V to output the sound signal (SOS) at the same timing.

[0040] The notification control unit 323 determines whether or not a stop instruction has been acquired (step S6). If a stop instruction has not been acquired (No in step S6), the notification control unit 323 continues to output the light emission signal and the sound signal until a stop instruction is acquired. If a stop instruction has been acquired (Yes in step S6), the notification control unit 323 stops outputting the light emission signal and the sound signal (step S7).

[0041] (Variation 1) When an abnormality occurs and the vehicle V stops, the notification control unit 323 outputs a light emission signal and an audio signal at the same timing. However, if a notification is received that abnormality information has been received between the time when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle V and the time when the vehicle V stops, the notification control unit 323 may not output a light emission signal and an audio signal after the vehicle V stops. Even in this case, the notification control unit 323 causes the turn signal 16 to flash in the second light emission pattern and outputs a sound in the second sound output pattern between the time when the abnormality occurs and the time when the vehicle V stops. Then, after the vehicle V stops, the notification control unit 323 does not output a light emission signal and an audio signal, but continues to flash the turn signal 16 in the second light emission pattern and stops outputting the sound in the second sound output pattern. In this way, for example, when the manager of the external device or a person requested by the manager is able to rescue the driver of the vehicle V, the light emission signal and the audio signal are not output, so that unnecessary notification to people around the vehicle V can be suppressed.

[0042] (Variation 2) The notification control unit 323 can also make the light emission pattern of the light-emitting device 1 after the vehicle V stops and the sound output pattern of the sound generating device 2 different according to the content of the abnormality information acquired by the acquisition unit 321. For example, an abnormality in an instrument of the vehicle V is relatively less urgent than an abnormality in which the driver loses consciousness. Therefore, when an abnormality occurs in the driver, the notification control unit 323 in the second modification causes the light-emitting device 1 and the sound generating device 2 to output the above-mentioned first light emission pattern and the first sound output pattern at the same timing after the vehicle stops when the driver is abnormal. In addition, when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle, the notification control unit 323 causes the light-emitting device 1 and the sound generating device 2 to output different signals. For example, the light-emitting device 1 is controlled to blink in the second light emission pattern. In this way, the notification control unit 323 can output a signal according to the urgency or importance of the abnormality that has occurred. As a result, a person who sees the signal output by the notification control unit 323 can understand whether an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle V or in the driver of the vehicle V.

[0043] [Effects of the Notification System S] As described above, the notification system S outputs a light emitting signal and an audio signal in which abnormality information is coded in the same format at the same timing. That is, the notification system S synchronizes the light emitting device 1 and the sound generating device 2 to output the same signal. This allows a person outside the vehicle V to confirm that the same signal is being output by sound and light at the same timing. Therefore, a person outside the vehicle V can understand that a more urgent abnormality has occurred in the vehicle V than when only sound is being output or light is only flashing, or when sound and light of different patterns are being output.

[0044] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination combines the effect of the original embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] S Notification System 1 Light emitting device 2. Sound Generator 3. Notification control device 11 Headlight 12 Small Light 13. Fog lights 14 Taillight 15 Brake Light 16 Turn Signal 21 Horn 22 Speaker 31 Storage section 32 Control section 321 Acquisition Department 322 Encoding section 323 Notification control section V Vehicle

Claims

1. A light emitting device and a sound emitting device provided in a vehicle; a notification control unit that, when an abnormality occurs and the vehicle stops, causes the light emitting device to output a light emitting signal that corresponds to abnormality information indicating the abnormality and that is coded in a predetermined format, and causes the sound generating device to output an acoustic signal that codes the abnormality information in the predetermined format; having The notification control unit outputs the light emitting signal and the acoustic signal at the same timing.

2. the predetermined format is Morse code; The notification control unit outputs the light emitting signal and the acoustic signal encoded in the Morse code in response to the abnormality information. The notification system according to claim 1 .

3. The notification control unit outputs the light emitting signal and the sound signal at the same timing when the vehicle stops due to the occurrence of the abnormality to a driver of the vehicle. The notification system according to claim 1 .

4. The notification control unit causes all of the plurality of light-emitting devices mounted on the vehicle to output the light-emitting signal at the timing. The notification system according to claim 1 .

5. The notification control unit causes all of the plurality of sound generating devices mounted on the vehicle to output the acoustic signal at the timing. The notification system according to claim 1 .

6. The notification control unit is When the abnormality occurs while the vehicle is traveling, at least one of a process of blinking the light emitting device in a second light emitting pattern different from a first light emitting pattern indicating the light emitting signal and a process of outputting a sound from the sound generating device in a second sound output pattern different from a first sound output pattern indicating the acoustic signal is executed; When the vehicle is stopped, the light emitting signal and the sound signal are output at the timing. The notification system according to claim 1 .

7. The notification control unit is If the abnormality occurs while the vehicle is running, the abnormality information is transmitted to an external device; When an instruction to stop the light emitting signal and the acoustic signal is received from the external device while the light emitting signal and the acoustic signal are being output, the light emitting device stops outputting the light emitting signal and the sound generating device stops outputting the acoustic signal. The notification system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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