Automatic brake device

Abstract

To provide an automatic brake device capable of issuing warning at warning timing according to a skill level of a driver of a vehicle.SOLUTION: An automatic brake device 10: issues warning before automatically operating a brake when an obstacle is detected in the periphery of a vehicle; determines a skill level of a driver based on a warning issuing frequency or a mirror confirmation frequency of a driver of the vehicle when the obstacle is detected; and changes timing to issue warning according to the skill level.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic braking device that changes the timing of issuing a warning depending on the driver's skill level. [Background technology]

[0002] Autonomous emergency braking (hereinafter referred to as AEB or automatic braking device) is a well-known driving support device for vehicles. When an obstacle is detected around the vehicle, the automatic braking device issues an alarm and prompts the driver to apply the brakes, and if no brake operation is performed, the automatic braking device applies the brakes automatically.

[0003] In addition, conventionally, techniques for increasing the sensitivity of driving support devices have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a driving support device that sets an early detection area by expanding a blind spot area located in a blind spot of a vehicle blocked by a blocking object detected by an object detection unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-134981 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, the risk prediction ability of vehicle drivers varies depending on the driver's driving skill level. For example, a driver with a low level of skill is likely to have a low risk prediction ability and be unable to take predictive action in advance. Therefore, a driver with a low level of skill can avoid a collision earlier, for example, by accelerating the timing of an alarm issued by an automatic braking device. However, a driver with a high level of skill may feel uncomfortable because an alarm may be issued too frequently, for example, by accelerating the timing of an alarm issued by an automatic braking device.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic braking device that can issue a warning at a timing that corresponds to the driver's skill level. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The automatic braking device of the present invention is an automatic braking device that issues an alarm before automatically applying the brakes when an obstacle is detected around the vehicle, and is characterized in that it judges the driver's level of proficiency based on the number of times the alarm has been issued or the number of times the driver of the vehicle checks the mirror when an obstacle is detected, and changes the timing of issuing the alarm depending on the level of proficiency. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the automatic braking device of the present invention, it is possible to issue a warning at a timing appropriate to the driver of the vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a system diagram showing an overall configuration of an automatic braking device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of a control unit shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 10 is a flowchart showing another operation of the control unit shown in FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing another operation of the control unit shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an automatic braking device 10 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The automatic braking device 10 is mounted on a vehicle, and when it detects an obstacle around the vehicle, it issues an alarm and prompts the driver to apply the brakes, and automatically applies the brakes if the driver does not apply the brakes.

[0011] The vehicle of this embodiment is an engine vehicle that runs on engine power. Note that the vehicle to which the vehicle brake system of the present invention is applied is not limited to an engine vehicle, and may be an electric vehicle that runs on a motor, a hybrid vehicle that runs on both an engine and a motor, or the like.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic braking device 10 includes a control unit 20, an external sensor 30, a driver monitor camera 40, and an alarm device 50, each of which will be described in detail below.

[0013] The control unit 20 is a computer having a CPU 21, which is a processor that performs information processing, and a memory 22 that stores control programs and control data. The control unit 20 is connected to each external sensor 30 and a driver monitor camera 40, and receives signals from them. The control unit 20 is also connected to an alarm device 50, and transmits a signal to issue an alarm.

[0014] The external sensor 30 includes a radar device 31 and an imaging device 32, each of which will be described in detail later.

[0015] The radar device 31 is, for example, a known millimeter wave radar that transmits high-frequency signals in the millimeter wave band. The radar device 31 is installed, for example, at the front end of a vehicle, and detects the position of an object within a detection range that is within a predetermined detection angle. Specifically, it transmits a search wave at a predetermined cycle and receives the reflected wave by multiple antennas. The distance to the object can be calculated based on the transmission time of the search wave and the reception time of the reflected wave.

[0016] The imaging device 32 may be, for example, a monocular camera such as a CCD camera, a CMOS image sensor, or a near-infrared camera, or may be a stereo camera. The imaging device 32 is attached, for example, at a predetermined height in the center of the vehicle width direction, and captures an image of an area spreading in a predetermined angular range toward the front or rear of the vehicle from a bird's-eye view. The imaging device 32 extracts feature points indicative of the presence of an object from the captured image. The imaging device 32 transmits the captured images successively to the control unit 20 as sensing information.

[0017] In addition to the above, the external sensor 30 may include a sensor that transmits an exploration wave, such as an ultrasonic sensor, a LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging / Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging), etc. A sensor that transmits an exploration wave, such as a millimeter wave radar such as the radar device 31, a laser sensor, a sonar, or a LIDAR, transmits a scanning result based on a reception signal obtained when receiving a wave reflected by an obstacle to the control unit 20 as sensing information.

[0018] The external sensor 30 may detect not only objects in front of or beside the vehicle, but also objects behind the vehicle, and use the detected information as position information. The object to be monitored may be changed depending on the type of object detection device used. For example, when the imaging device 32 is used, it is preferable to set stationary objects such as road signs and buildings as the object. When the radar device 31 is used, it is preferable to set an object with a large reflected power as the object. The object detection device to be used may be selected depending on the type, position, or moving speed of the object.

[0019] The driver monitor camera 40 is a camera that captures the face of the driver. The driver monitor camera 40 is installed in the vehicle cabin facing the driver so that the driver's face can be captured. The driver monitor camera 40 transmits information (image data) relating to the captured image of the driver's face to the control unit 20.

[0020] The warning device 50 is a device for notifying the driver, etc., and may be, for example, a device for audibly notifying, such as a speaker or buzzer installed in the vehicle cabin, or a device for visually notifying, such as a display. The warning device 50 issues a warning sound, etc. based on a control command from the control unit 20, and notifies, for example, the driver that there is a risk of collision with an object.

[0021] Next, the operation of the control unit 20 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. As shown in the flowchart of Figure 2, the control unit 20 identifies the driver of the vehicle in step 101 of Figure 2. Specifically, the control unit 20 acquires an image including the driver from the driver monitor camera 40, and identifies (specifies) the driver by analyzing the acquired image, etc. Note that information used to identify (specify) the driver is stored in advance in the memory 22, etc.

[0022] The control unit 20 judges whether the automatic braking device 10 is operable in step 102 in Fig. 2. Here, the automatic braking device 10 is set not to operate in the following cases: the vehicle is traveling at or below a predetermined speed; in bad weather such as rain, snow, fog, etc.; when the vehicle is traveling on a steep downhill slope or a slippery road; when the driver strongly depresses the accelerator pedal; etc. If the judgment is YES in step 102 in Fig. 8, the process proceeds to step 103 in Fig. 2.

[0023] In step 103 of Fig. 2, the control unit 20 detects a surrounding object using the external sensor 30, and determines whether or not there is a possibility of collision with the detected object in step 104 of Fig. 2. If the determination is YES in step 104, the process proceeds to step 105 of Fig. 2.

[0024] In step 105 of FIG. 2, the control unit 20 judges whether the "driver's skill level" is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold. Here, the "driver's skill level" is determined in the flowchart of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4. The "driver's skill level" may be set in five stages, such as level 5, level 4, ..., level 1, in descending order of skill level, or may be set in ten stages. The threshold may be level 3, for example. If YES is determined in step 105, the process proceeds to step 106 of FIG. 2. On the other hand, if NO is determined in step 105, the process proceeds to step 107 of FIG. 2.

[0025] The control unit 20 sets the timing of the warning by the warning device 50 to be earlier in step 106 of Fig. 2. Specifically, the control unit 20 may set the warning to be issued a predetermined time earlier than the normal warning timing in step 106. Furthermore, the control unit 20 may set multiple timings in step 106 that are earlier than the normal warning timing depending on the driver's skill level.

[0026] The control unit 20 does not change the timing of the alarm by the alarm device 50 in step 107 of FIG.

[0027] As described above, the automatic braking device 10 can issue an alarm at a timing that corresponds to the driver's skill level. In this embodiment, the automatic braking device 10 is configured to set the alarm timing early for a driver with low driving skill, but the automatic braking device 10 may be configured to set the alarm timing late for a driver with high driving skill.

[0028] Next, another operation of the control unit 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The operation shown in Fig. 3 is an operation for determining the above-mentioned "driver's skill level".

[0029] As shown in the flow chart of Fig. 3, the control unit 20 identifies the driver of the vehicle in step 201 of Fig. 3. Details are omitted since they are similar to step 101 of Fig. 3.

[0030] In step 202 of Fig. 3, the control unit 20 detects a surrounding object by the external sensor 30, and determines whether or not an alarm of the automatic braking device 10 has been activated in step 203 of Fig. 3. If the determination in step 203 is YES, the process proceeds to step 204 of Fig. 3.

[0031] In step 204 of FIG. 3, the control unit 20 increments (+1) the count of times the alarm of the automatic braking device 10 has been activated (hereinafter, the alarm count). In step 205 of FIG. 3, the control unit 20 determines whether the alarm count is equal to or greater than a predetermined number while the vehicle is driving for a predetermined period of time. "During driving for a predetermined period of time" may be a predetermined number of times the vehicle is driven. If the determination in step 205 is YES, the process proceeds to step 206 of FIG. 3. On the other hand, if the determination in step 205 is NO, the process proceeds to step 207 of FIG. 3.

[0032] The control unit 20 determines that the driver's driving skill level is low in step 206 of Fig. 3. Specifically, the control unit 20 lowers the above-mentioned driving skill level by one. On the other hand, the control unit 20 determines that the driver's driving skill level is high in step 207 of Fig. 3. Specifically, the control unit 20 raises the above-mentioned driving skill level by one.

[0033] Next, another operation of the control unit 20 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. The operation shown in Fig. 4 is another operation for determining the above-mentioned "driver's skill level".

[0034] As shown in the flow chart of Fig. 4, the control unit 20 identifies the driver of the vehicle in step 301 of Fig. 4. Details are omitted since they are similar to step 101 of Fig. 4.

[0035] In step 302 in Fig. 4, the control unit 20 detects surrounding objects using the external sensor 30, and in step 303 in Fig. 4, the control unit 20 determines whether the driver has performed a confirmation action using the mirrors using the driver monitor camera 40. Here, the mirrors include side mirrors and rearview mirrors. If the determination in step 303 is YES, the process proceeds to step 304 in Fig. 4.

[0036] In step 304 of FIG. 4, the control unit 20 increments (+1) the count of the number of times the driver has checked the mirror (hereinafter, the mirror check count). In step 305 of FIG. 4, the control unit 20 determines whether the mirror check count is less than a predetermined number within a predetermined time after the object is detected. If the determination is YES in step 305, the process proceeds to step 306 of FIG. 4. On the other hand, if the determination is NO in step 305, the process proceeds to step 307 of FIG. 4.

[0037] The control unit 20 determines that the driver's driving skill level is low in step 306 of Fig. 4. Specifically, the control unit 20 lowers the driving skill level described above by one level. On the other hand, the control unit 20 determines that the driver's driving skill level is high in step 307 of Fig. 4. Specifically, the control unit 20 raises the driving skill level described above by one level. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 10 automatic braking device, 20 control unit, 21 CPU, 22 memory, 30 external sensor, 31 radar device, 32 imaging device, 40 driver monitor camera, 50 warning device

Claims

[Claim 1] An automatic braking device that issues a warning before automatically applying the brakes when an obstacle is detected around the vehicle, determining a driver's skill level based on the number of times the warning is issued or the number of times the driver of the vehicle checks the mirror when the obstacle is detected; changing the timing of issuing an alarm according to the level of proficiency; Automatic braking device.

Images