Device and program

Abstract

To provide a device that can be easily installed without the need to install a redundant mechanism, and is used to reduce damage caused by improper operation.SOLUTION: A device according to the present invention comprises a misoperation detection part which detects improper operation on a vehicle where on-vehicle equipment is installed to be utilized, and a damage suppression control part which performs control to suppress damage caused by improper operation when the misoperation detection part detects the improper operation. Then at least one of the misoperation detection part and damage suppression control part transmits or receives an input signal to the on-vehicle equipment or an output signal from the on-vehicle equipment so as to utilize it for uses different from uses by the on-vehicle equipment.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and a program that utilizes, for example, on-board equipment installed in a vehicle to perform control to suppress damage caused by inappropriate operation. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to reduce damage and losses caused by vehicle operation errors, technologies have been developed to prevent sudden acceleration of a vehicle that occurs when the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that controls the throttle to prevent sudden acceleration when the accelerator pedal is suddenly depressed in a parking lot. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-107602 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such conventional methods, it was necessary to newly install in the vehicle a mechanism for detecting erroneous operations and a mechanism for suppressing damage and losses caused by erroneous operations. For example, even if the on-board equipment already installed in the vehicle has a function for detecting erroneous operations, a new mechanism for detecting erroneous operations must be installed separately from the on-board equipment, which makes the installation complicated and results in a functionally redundant configuration.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for reducing damage caused by improper operation, which does not require the installation of redundant mechanisms and can be easily installed. This object is achieved, for example, by the combination of features set forth in the independent claims in the appended claims. The dependent claims, for example, define further advantageous embodiments of the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) The device of the present invention includes an erroneous operation detection unit that detects an inappropriate operation of a vehicle in which an in-vehicle device is installed and available for use, and a damage suppression control unit that, when the erroneous operation detection unit detects an inappropriate operation, performs control to suppress damage caused by the inappropriate operation. At least one of the erroneous operation detection unit and the damage suppression control unit transmits or receives an input signal to or an output signal from the in-vehicle device so that the input signal to or the output signal from the in-vehicle device can be used for a purpose other than the purpose of the in-vehicle device.

[0007] In this way, the functions of existing in-vehicle devices can be effectively utilized, and a mechanism for suppressing damage caused by improper operation can be introduced into the vehicle without installing redundant mechanisms. For example, if the existing in-vehicle device has a detection means that can be used to detect improper operation, the detection means can be diverted to detect improper operation instead of its original purpose in the in-vehicle device, thereby avoiding the need to install a duplicate detection means. Furthermore, for example, if the existing in-vehicle device has a mechanism for controlling vehicle speed, the mechanism can be used to suppress damage caused by improper operation instead of its original purpose in the in-vehicle device, thereby avoiding the need to install a duplicate similar mechanism.

[0008] The "use of the in-vehicle device" may be, for example, the original use of the in-vehicle device. For example, if the in-vehicle device is an anti-theft device, the use may be to prevent theft. If the in-vehicle device is a radar detector, the use may be to notify the driver of the approach of the location of a radar speed measuring device, an automatic speed violation enforcement device (commonly known as "Orbis"), or the like.

[0009] The "different use" may be, for example, a use other than the original use of the in-vehicle device. For example, if the in-vehicle device is an anti-theft device, the anti-theft device may be used to detect excessive depression of the accelerator, or if the in-vehicle device is a radar detector, the radar detector may be used to detect whether the vehicle is located in a parking lot.

[0010] (2) Preferably, the device of the present invention further includes an activation control unit that activates the functions of the operation error detection unit and the damage prevention control unit when a predetermined condition is satisfied. (3) The predetermined condition may be that the vehicle is moving slowly or stopped. (4) In this case, the predetermined condition may be determined using at least one of the following: a predetermined time has not elapsed since the door was closed; a predetermined time has not elapsed since the engine was started; the vehicle speed is within a predetermined range; the engine speed is within an idling speed; the throttle opening is equal to or less than a predetermined value; and a predetermined time has not elapsed since the shift lever was moved. In particular, the device may further include an activation control unit that activates the functions of the operation error detection unit and the damage prevention control unit only when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

[0011] With this configuration, the in-vehicle device can be used for its intended purpose when a predetermined condition is not met, while minimizing damage caused by improper operation only when the predetermined condition is met. For example, if the in-vehicle device is an anti-theft device, the predetermined condition can be set to "the vehicle is moving slowly or stopped." When the condition is not met, the anti-theft device can be used for its intended purpose of preventing theft, but when the predetermined condition is met, the anti-theft device can be used for detecting excessive accelerator pedal depression, which is a different purpose from the original purpose. In this way, if the predetermined condition is set to "the vehicle is moving slowly or stopped," damage caused by improper operation can be minimized only in situations where sudden acceleration or sudden starts are unlikely, such as when the vehicle is in a parking lot. "The vehicle being moving slowly or stopped" can be determined based on a list of conditions. When the predetermined condition is set to "the vehicle is moving slowly or stopped," an improper operation can be, for example, excessive accelerator pedal depression.

[0012] (5) Preferably, in the device of the present invention, the validation control unit acquires at least one of engine speed, vehicle speed, throttle opening, gear position, and door open / close status from the vehicle side, and determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied based on the acquired value. Acquisition from the vehicle side can be performed, for example, by acquiring a signal from the vehicle's computer. In particular, acquisition can be performed from a signal line within the vehicle to which the vehicle's computer is connected. A signal line of the vehicle's diagnostic connector can be used as the connector containing such a signal line. In particular, a device-side connector connectable to the vehicle's diagnostic connector can be provided, and acquisition can be performed by inserting the device-side connector into the vehicle's diagnostic connector. An OBD connector can be used as such a connector.

[0013] With this configuration, it is possible to obtain information from the vehicle side that is necessary to determine whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied. The validation control unit may obtain the information from the vehicle side at predetermined time intervals, for example.

[0014] (6) Preferably, in the device of the present invention, the activation control unit may be connected to a device having a location information acquisition function for acquiring the current location of the vehicle and a map matching function for correcting the current location acquired by the location information acquisition function based on map information, and the activation control unit may determine that a predetermined condition is satisfied when the current location is other than a road.

[0015] With this configuration, when the acquired current location is off-road, the misoperation detection unit and the damage prevention control unit can be activated, enabling control to prevent damage. In a vehicle equipped with a device having a location information acquisition function and a map matching function, such as a navigation system or a radar detection device, the misoperation detection unit and the damage prevention control unit can be activated, enabling control to prevent damage, only when the acquired current location is off-road. If the system is configured to determine that a predetermined condition is met when the current location is, for example, the location of a parking facility registered in map data or the location of a facility set as a destination, as a "off-road" location, control to prevent damage can be performed only in parking lots or near destinations where slow driving is required, while avoiding affecting normal driving operations in other situations. In this case, the inappropriate operation may be, for example, excessive accelerator pedal depression.

[0016] (7) Preferably, in the device of the present invention, the activation control unit is connected to an apparatus having an air pressure detection means, and the activation control unit determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied based on a change in air pressure.

[0017] With this configuration, when a device including a pressure detection unit is provided, it is possible to determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied based on changes in pressure. For example, in a location where sudden changes in pressure occur when going up or down floors, such as a multi-story parking garage, the misoperation detection unit and the damage reduction control unit can be activated, enabling control to reduce damage. In this case, the improper operation can be determined to be, for example, excessive depression of the accelerator.

[0018] (8) Preferably, in the device of the present invention, the validation control unit is connected to a device having a camera that photographs the area around the vehicle, and the validation control unit determines whether predetermined conditions are satisfied by image recognition using images of the area around the vehicle photographed by the camera.

[0019] With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether a predetermined condition is satisfied based on the content of the image captured around the vehicle. For example, if a parking space in a parking lot is captured in the image, it is determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied, and the misoperation detection unit and the damage reduction control unit damage can be activated, enabling control to reduce damage. In this case, the improper operation may be, for example, excessive depression of the accelerator pedal.

[0020] (9) Preferably, in the device of the present invention, the activation control unit is connected to an apparatus equipped with a microwave detection means, and the activation control unit determines that a predetermined condition is satisfied when the microwave detection means detects an obstacle on a wall.

[0021] With this configuration, for example, when the vehicle is surrounded by walls, such as in a parking lot, it is determined that a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the misoperation detection unit and the damage suppression control unit damage are activated, making it possible to execute control to suppress damage. In this case, the improper operation may be, for example, excessive depression of the accelerator.

[0022] The "predetermined conditions" that define the operation of the validation control unit may be any combination of the conditions listed above (3) to (8), or may be a combination of these with other conditions.

[0023] (10) Preferably, in the device of the present invention, the vehicle-mounted device has an OBD connector on the vehicle-mounted device side that is connected to an OBD connector on the vehicle-mounted device side, and the erroneous operation detection unit acquires the throttle opening from the OBD connector on the vehicle-mounted device side and detects a sudden change in the throttle opening as an inappropriate operation.

[0024] This configuration allows raw throttle opening information to be obtained from the vehicle's OBD connector, making it possible to detect inappropriate operation such as excessive accelerator pressure or misapplication of the brake and accelerator. The difference between the brake and accelerator is whether the pedal pressure is light or heavy, with the brake usually requiring heavier pedal pressure. For this reason, if the brake is misapplication instead of the accelerator when attempting to brake suddenly, the accelerator may be pressed too quickly, resulting in unexpected sudden acceleration and causing damage to a collision. Therefore, this is particularly effective in detecting misapplication of the brake and accelerator.

[0025] (11) Preferably, in the device of the present invention, the on-vehicle device includes contact detection means provided on the throttle stopper, and the erroneous operation detection unit detects contact of the throttle pedal with the detection means as an inappropriate operation.

[0026] This configuration can detect improper operation such as excessive accelerator pedal pressure or misapplication of the accelerator and brake pedals. In particular, if the brake and accelerator pedals are misapplication when attempting to brake suddenly, the throttle pedal may be pressed so deeply that it hits the throttle stopper, causing unexpected sudden acceleration and resulting in a collision. Therefore, this is particularly effective in detecting misapplication of the brake and accelerator pedals.

[0027] (12) Preferably, in the device of the present invention, the on-board equipment includes equipment equipped with a shock detection means and a tilt detection means, and the erroneous operation detection unit detects that an improper operation has been performed when the shock detection means and the tilt detection means detect that the vehicle has run over an obstacle.

[0028] With this configuration, in a vehicle equipped with an anti-theft device having a shock detection means and a tilt detection means, these detection means can be used to detect running over an obstacle and perform control to mitigate damage. Running over a curb in a parking lot due to a mistaken application of the brake instead of the accelerator can be detected as an improper operation. Anti-theft devices typically function only when the vehicle is parked, so by using the detection means of the anti-theft device to detect improper operation, the potential functionality of the on-board device can be effectively utilized. The shock detection means and tilt detection means may be configured to detect improper operation, such as running over an obstacle, when shock and tilt detection matches a predetermined sequence.

[0029] (13) Preferably, in the device of the present invention, the damage reduction control unit controls the vehicle to reduce speed when the erroneous operation detection unit detects an inappropriate operation. Examples of control to reduce vehicle speed include (14) in a vehicle equipped with an on-board device having an idling stop system, the damage reduction control unit may use the idling stop system to stop the engine when the erroneous operation detection unit detects an inappropriate operation. (15) In a vehicle equipped with an anti-theft device with an immobilizer function, the damage reduction control unit may use the immobilizer function of the anti-theft device to stop the engine when the erroneous operation detection unit detects an inappropriate operation.

[0030] With this configuration, when an inappropriate operation such as a sudden accelerator pedal depression is detected, the vehicle speed can be reduced to minimize damage caused by the inappropriate operation. In particular, the vehicle can be brought to a sudden stop by forcibly stopping the engine using an idling stop system or an immobilizer function. Other control methods for reducing the vehicle speed include restricting the amount of intake air by narrowing the throttle valve butterfly, reducing the amount of fuel injected from the injector, or thinning out the ignition of the spark plugs, thereby suppressing engine output.

[0031] (16) Preferably, in the device of the present invention, when the erroneous operation detection unit detects an inappropriate operation, the damage prevention control unit controls the driver to be notified of the detection of the inappropriate operation. The method of notifying the driver may be, for example, a visual method, an auditory method, a tactile method, or a combination of these, or may be another method. For example, (17) in a vehicle equipped with a device having a monitor as an on-board device, the damage prevention control unit controls the monitor to display a warning when the erroneous operation detection unit detects an inappropriate operation. In a vehicle equipped with a navigation device or a radar detector, the driver can be visually notified of an inappropriate operation. Also, (18) in a vehicle equipped with an anti-theft device having a flash illumination function to scare off thieves as an on-board device, the damage prevention control unit controls the flash illumination when the erroneous operation detection unit detects an inappropriate operation. The driver can be visually notified of an inappropriate operation. Furthermore, (19) in a vehicle equipped with an anti-theft device that has a function of sounding an alarm inside the vehicle, the damage reduction control unit may control the anti-theft device to sound an alarm inside the vehicle when the erroneous operation detection unit detects an inappropriate operation. The alarm may be, for example, a siren, a buzzer, or a voice. The driver can be audibly notified of the inappropriate operation.

[0032] With this configuration, a driver who has performed an inappropriate operation can be prompted to perform an operation that will avoid damage caused by the inappropriate operation. In particular, if the driver is dozing or in a daze, notifying the driver that an inappropriate operation has been detected is effective in reducing damage and preventing accidents. In addition to the above, in a vehicle equipped with a mechanism that can power-adjust the position of the driver's seat (a so-called power seat), it is preferable to notify the driver by driving the driver's seat to vibrate.

[0033] (20) Preferably, in the device of the present invention, the in-vehicle equipment is an anti-theft device equipped with a means for notifying the surrounding area, and when the erroneous operation detection unit detects an inappropriate operation, the damage reduction control unit controls the notification means to notify the surrounding area that an inappropriate operation has been detected.

[0034] With this configuration, it is possible to alert people around the vehicle and encourage them to take action to avoid damage caused by inappropriate operation. The method of alerting people around the vehicle may be, for example, a visual method or an auditory method. Visual alerts may include flashing hazard lights or flashing headlights. Auditory alerts may include sounding the horn or, in the case of a vehicle equipped with an anti-theft siren, sounding the siren.

[0035] (21) In order to achieve the above object, the program of the present invention may cause a computer to function as any of the above devices.

[0036] According to the program of the present invention, it is possible to effectively utilize the functions of existing in-vehicle devices and introduce a mechanism to suppress damage caused by improper operation into a vehicle without installing redundant mechanisms. For example, if the existing in-vehicle device has a detection means that can be used to detect improper operation, the detection means can be diverted to detect improper operation instead of its original purpose in the in-vehicle device, thereby avoiding the need to install a duplicate detection means. Furthermore, for example, if the existing in-vehicle device has a mechanism that can control vehicle speed, the mechanism can be diverted to suppress damage caused by improper operation instead of its original purpose in the in-vehicle device, thereby avoiding the need to install a duplicate similar mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0037] According to the electronic device of the present invention, it is possible to provide a device for reducing damage caused by improper operation that does not require the installation of a redundant mechanism and can be easily installed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0038] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle 1 in which a number of on-board devices and an erroneous operation damage suppression device 10 of this embodiment are installed. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an operation error damage suppression device 10 according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an anti-theft device 11. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a radar detector 12. [Figure 5] 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example in which a pedal misapplication prevention device, which is an example of an operation error damage reduction device 10, is applied to a vehicle 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] A preferred embodiment of the present invention, an operation error damage suppression device 10, will be described below with reference to the drawings. The operation error damage suppression device 10 of this embodiment is installed in a vehicle 1, and when an inappropriate operation is performed on the vehicle 1, it uses other in-vehicle devices installed on the vehicle 1 to perform control to reduce damage caused by the inappropriate operation.

[0040] [Vehicle and on-board equipment configuration] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle 1 equipped with a number of on-board devices and an erroneous operation damage suppression device 10 according to this embodiment. The vehicle 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with an electronically controlled throttle system that controls the opening of the engine throttle based on the amount of depression of the throttle pedal. The on-board devices include both devices that are pre-installed in the vehicle 1 and devices that are retrofitted to the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with an anti-theft device 11, a radar detector 12, a drive recorder 13, an on-board device OBD connector 142, an idling stop system 15, an engine ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 16, and a throttle stop switch 17 as on-board devices. The anti-theft device 11, the radar detector 12, and the drive recorder 13 are retrofitted to the vehicle 1, while the on-board device OBD connector 142, the idling stop system 15, the engine ECU 16, and the throttle stop switch 17 are pre-installed in the vehicle 1.

[0041] [Misoperation damage control device] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the operation error damage reduction device 10 according to this embodiment. The operation error damage reduction device 10 according to this embodiment is implemented as an integrated part of the main unit 111 of the anti-theft device 11 and is connected to each in-vehicle device so as to be able to transmit and receive sensor signals and control signals. A computer program causes the processing device included in the main unit 111 to function as the operation error damage reduction device 10. The operation error damage reduction device 10 includes an operation error detection unit 101, a damage reduction control unit 102, and an activation control unit 103. The operation error detection unit 101 monitors sensor signals to detect inappropriate operations on the vehicle 1. When the operation error detection unit 101 detects an inappropriate operation, the damage reduction control unit 102 transmits a control signal to the appropriate in-vehicle device in response to the detection. The activation control unit 103 activates the functions of the operation error detection unit 101 and the damage reduction control unit 102 only when certain conditions are met. Activating the functions of the operation error detection unit 101 and the damage reduction control unit 102 is referred to as "standby." Details of the control by the operation error damage reduction device 10 will be described later. This control operation by the operation error damage reduction device 10 will be referred to as "main operation."

[0042] [Anti-theft device] 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the anti-theft device 11. The anti-theft device 11 includes a main unit 111, a sensor unit 112, an immobilizer 113, and an alarm unit 114. The main unit 111 is connected to the sensor unit 112 via a sensor line and is capable of receiving sensor signals. The main unit 111 is connected to the alarm unit 114 and various mechanisms of the vehicle 1 body via control lines and is capable of controlling the alarm unit and various mechanisms of the vehicle 1 body.

[0043] The sensor unit 112 includes a proximity sensor 1121, a shock sensor 1122, and a tilt sensor 1123, and detects abnormal situations such as theft or vandalism. The proximity sensor 1121 is a sensor that detects whether a nearby object is approaching or moving away. A Doppler sensor using microwaves is used as the proximity sensor 1121. A microwave Doppler sensor can sense the status of moving objects both indoors and outdoors, making it suitable as a security sensor. The shock sensor 1122 is a sensor that detects vibrations and impacts on the vehicle 1, and uses a vibration sensor and an acceleration sensor. The tilt sensor 1123 is a sensor that detects the tilt of the vehicle 1.

[0044] The immobilizer 113 is connected to the main unit 111. The immobilizer 113 is inserted by cutting the starter line that notifies that the ignition switch of the vehicle 1 has been turned on. When the ignition switch is turned on, in an armed state where security by the anti-theft device 11 is functioning, the immobilizer 113 cuts off the starter line to prevent the engine from starting, and in a disarmed state where security is not functioning, the immobilizer 113 opens the starter line to start the engine.

[0045] The alarm unit 114 is equipped with a flashlight 1141, an indoor siren 1142, and a loud siren 1143, and issues an alarm inside and outside the vehicle 1 when an abnormality is detected by the sensor unit 112. The flashlight 1141 is equipped with a light-emitting element such as an LED (light-emitting diode), and emits a flash of light using the light-emitting element based on a control signal from the main unit 111. The indoor siren 1142 is a speaker installed facing the inside of the vehicle 1, and emits a siren sound based on a control signal from the main unit 111. The loud siren 1143 is a speaker installed facing the outside of the vehicle 1, and emits a loud siren sound based on a control signal from the main unit 111.

[0046] In this embodiment, the misoperation damage prevention device 10 is implemented in the main unit 111 of the anti-theft device 11, and the sensor unit 112, immobilizer 113, and alarm unit 114 of the anti-theft device 11 send and receive sensor signals and control signals to and from the misoperation damage prevention device 10.

[0047] [Radar detector] 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of radar detector 12. Radar detector 12 is an in-vehicle device that detects radar waves emitted from a radar speed measuring device, an automatic speed violation enforcement device (commonly known as "Orbis"), etc., notifies the driver of vehicle 1 of the detection of the radar waves, and determines the proximity relationship between the pre-stored installation position of the radar speed measuring device, the automatic speed violation enforcement device (commonly known as "Orbis"), etc. and the current position of the vehicle, and notifies the driver of the proximity relationship between the radar speed measuring device, the automatic speed violation enforcement device (commonly known as "Orbis") of vehicle 1. Radar detector 12 includes a control unit 121, a radar detection unit 122, an interface unit 123, a database 124, a position information acquisition unit 125, and a sensor unit 126.

[0048] The control unit 121 controls the overall operation of the radar detector 12 by sending commands to each component of the radar detector 12 and receiving status reports from each component. The radar detection unit 122 detects radar waves of a predetermined frequency and notifies the control unit 121 of the detection. The interface unit 123 has an input function for accepting user operations and an output function for presenting information to the user. The input function is realized by operation buttons, a touch panel, a microphone, etc., and the output function is realized by a liquid crystal display device, LEDs (light-emitting diodes), a speaker, etc. The database 124 stores map information, location information of traffic monitoring points, location information of cancellation points where radar waves should be ignored even if detected, location information of points where notifications have been issued in the past, etc. The location information acquisition unit 125 is configured by a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver and acquires the current location information of the radar detector 12. The sensor unit 126 includes an acceleration sensor (G sensor) 1261 , a gyro sensor 1262 , and an atmospheric pressure sensor 1263 .

[0049] When the radar detection unit 122 detects radar waves, the control unit 121 controls the interface unit 123 to notify the driver of the vehicle 1 of the detection of radar waves by sounding a chime, flashing an LED, displaying text, making a voice announcement, or the like. The control unit 121 also identifies the current position of the vehicle 1 by so-called map matching, in which the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 125 is corrected by the output data from the sensor unit and compared with map information (road network data) stored in the database 124. Then, when the current position of the vehicle 1 approaches a traffic monitoring point, the control unit 123 controls the interface unit 123 to notify the driver of the vehicle 1 by sounding a chime, flashing an LED, displaying text, making a voice announcement, or the like.

[0050] In this embodiment, the radar detector 12 is connected to the misoperation damage prevention device 10 and transmits to the misoperation damage prevention device 10 data such as acceleration, angular velocity, air pressure, etc. detected by the sensor unit 126, as well as information that the current location of the vehicle 1 is not on a road.

[0051] [Drive recorder] The drive recorder 13 is an in-vehicle device that automatically records moving and still images and audio while driving the vehicle 1, and is equipped with a camera, a microphone, etc. The drive recorder 13 is connected to the operation error damage prevention device 10 by wire or wirelessly, and transmits the images captured by the camera to the operation error damage prevention device 10 periodically (for example, every 5 seconds).

[0052] [OBD connector on the vehicle side and OBD connector on the in-vehicle device side] A vehicle-side OBD (On-board diagnostics) connector 141 is provided near the driver's seat of the vehicle 1, and outputs various vehicle information related to the vehicle 1, such as engine speed, vehicle speed, throttle opening, gear position, and door open / close status. An in-vehicle device-side OBD connector 142 fits into the vehicle-side OBD connector 141, and transmits various information related to the vehicle 1 to the misoperation damage suppression device 10 via a cable.

[0053] [Idling Stop System] The idling stop system 15 is connected to the vehicle side OBD connector 141 via the in-vehicle device side OBD connector 142, and controls the engine to stop when it detects a decrease in vehicle speed from vehicle speed information acquired from the vehicle side OBD connector 141, and restarts the engine when it detects a start operation by the driver acquired from the vehicle side OBD connector 141. In this embodiment, the idling stop system 15 is connected to the misoperation damage suppression device 10 via a control line.

[0054] [Engine Control Unit (Engine ECU; Electronic Control Unit)] The engine ECU 16 is a microcontroller that comprehensively controls the ignition timing, fuel injection timing and injection amount, idle speed, throttle opening, supercharger boost pressure, valve timing, valve lift amount, starter motor, etc. In this embodiment, the engine ECU 16 is connected to the operation error damage suppression device 10, receives control signals from the operation error damage suppression device 10, and controls the engine based on the control signals.

[0055] [Throttle stopper switch] The throttle stopper switch 17 is provided on a throttle stopper that restricts the deepest depression of the throttle pedal (accelerator pedal) of the vehicle 1, and detects when the throttle pedal comes into contact with the throttle stopper. The sensor wire of the throttle stopper switch 17 is connected to the operation error damage suppression device 10, and transmits a sensor signal to the operation error damage suppression device 10.

[0056] [Enabling Control] As described above, the operation error damage suppression device 10 enables the functions of the operation error detection unit 101 and the damage suppression control unit 102 via the activation control unit 103 only when a predetermined condition is satisfied. For example, this predetermined condition may be "the vehicle is moving slowly or stopped." In this case, the predetermined condition is satisfied when at least one of the following is satisfied: a predetermined time (e.g., 5 minutes) has not elapsed since the door was closed; a predetermined time (e.g., 3 minutes) has not elapsed since the engine was started; the vehicle speed is within a predetermined range (e.g., 0 km / h to 5 km / h); the engine speed is within an idling speed; the throttle opening is below a predetermined value (e.g., only at 0%); or a predetermined time (e.g., 1 minute) has not elapsed since the shift lever was moved. The activation control unit 103 acquires at least one of the engine speed, vehicle speed, throttle opening, gear position, and door open / close status from the vehicle-side OBD connector 141 and determines whether the predetermined condition is satisfied based on the acquired value. Acquiring vehicle information from the vehicle-side OBD connector 141 eliminates the need for additional dedicated sensors, switches, etc.

[0057] When vehicle 1 is moving slowly or stopped, an improper operation such as mistaking the throttle pedal for the brake pedal may cause the driver to suddenly accelerate unintentionally, resulting in damage such as a collision. However, when vehicle 1 is moving slowly or stopped, the activation control unit 103 enables the functions of the erroneous operation detection unit 101 and the damage reduction control unit 102, making it possible to detect improper operation such as mistaking the throttle pedal for the brake pedal and to exercise control to reduce damage.

[0058] An example of the predetermined condition is that "the current location of the vehicle is not on a road." When the radar detector 12 notifies the vehicle 1 that the current location is not on a road, the activation control unit 103 determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied and activates the functions of the operation error detection unit 101 and the damage reduction control unit 102. If the vehicle 1 is located in a location other than a road, it is likely that the vehicle 1 is in a place such as a parking lot where slow driving is required. In this case, an improper operation such as mistaking the throttle pedal for the brake pedal may result in the driver suddenly accelerating unintentionally, potentially resulting in an accident or other such incident. The operation error damage reduction device 10 of this embodiment activates the functions of the operation error detection unit 101 and the damage reduction control unit 102 on the condition that the current location is not on a road, thereby enabling detection of an improper operation such as mistaking the throttle pedal for the brake pedal and control to reduce damage.

[0059] Another example of the predetermined condition is "a change in atmospheric pressure equal to or greater than a predetermined value." When the atmospheric pressure sensor 1263 provided in the radar detector 12 detects a change in atmospheric pressure equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the activation control unit 103 determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied and activates the functions of the operation error detection unit 101 and the damage reduction control unit 102. A sudden change in atmospheric pressure is likely to occur in a place where slow driving is required, such as an underground parking lot or a multi-story parking garage. The operation error damage reduction device 10 of this embodiment activates the functions of the operation error detection unit 101 and the damage reduction control unit 102 on the condition that the change in atmospheric pressure equals or exceeds a predetermined value, thereby making it possible to detect inappropriate operation, such as mistaking the throttle pedal for the brake pedal, and to perform control to reduce damage.

[0060] Another example of a predetermined condition is "the vehicle is in a parking lot." Images of the area around vehicle 1 captured by a camera included in drive recorder 13 are used for image recognition, and parking space boundaries and bollards drawn on the ground in the parking lot, gates at the entrances, and other similar features are recognized to determine whether vehicle 1 is in the parking lot. Other methods of determining whether vehicle 1 is in a parking lot using images include recognizing features specific to parking lots, such as a line of cars, a grid of white lines, a line of wheel chocks and bollards, a wall in the direction of travel, a location surrounded by walls on one to three sides, and a location where a person is present in the direction of travel, and determining whether vehicle 1 is in the parking lot. The direction of travel is detected based on the gear position. Vehicle 1 is determined to be in a parking lot when proximity sensor 1121 included in anti-theft device 11 detects a building obstacle, such as a wall in the parking lot. Vehicle 1 is also determined to be in a parking lot by acquiring the vehicle's current location using location information acquisition unit 125 (e.g., a GPS receiver) included in radar detector 12 and comparing the current location with map information. The misoperation damage reduction device 10 of this embodiment enables the functions of the misoperation detection unit 101 and the damage reduction control unit 102 in parking lots where there is a high possibility of damage occurring due to sudden acceleration, making it possible to detect inappropriate operations such as suddenly pressing the throttle pedal due to mistaking the throttle pedal for the brake pedal, and to perform control to reduce damage.

[0061] Another example of the predetermined condition is that "the vehicle is in a parking lot, and an obstacle such as a wall is recognized in the forward or backward direction of the vehicle." By setting such a condition, the functions of the erroneous operation detection unit 101 and the damage reduction control unit 102 can be enabled in a situation where there is a risk of the vehicle colliding with or running into an obstacle such as a wall due to an erroneous throttle operation.

[0062] When the vehicle is in standby mode due to the validation control unit 103, the vehicle-mounted device monitor displays a message such as "System in operation" and the LED lamp lights up or flashes, making it possible to recognize that the vehicle is in standby mode.

[0063] [Detection of operational errors] When the function of the erroneous operation detection unit 101 is enabled by the validation control unit 103 as described above, the erroneous operation detection unit 101 receives signals such as sensor signals output from in-vehicle devices to be used for a purpose other than that of the in-vehicle devices, and detects an inappropriate operation on the vehicle 1 based on the received signals. The erroneous operation detection unit 101 of this embodiment detects an event in which it can be inferred that the throttle pedal has been suddenly depressed as an inappropriate operation on the vehicle 1.

[0064] The erroneous operation detection unit 101 acquires the throttle opening from the vehicle-side OBD connector 141 via the in-vehicle device-side OBD connector 142, and detects a sudden change in the throttle opening as an inappropriate operation. Specifically, a sudden change in the throttle pedal depression amount, such as from 0% to 100%, is detected as an inappropriate operation. Acquiring vehicle information from the vehicle-side OBD connector 141 via the in-vehicle device-side OBD connector 142 eliminates the need for additional dedicated sensors, switches, etc. The erroneous operation detection unit also detects contact of the throttle pedal with the throttle stopper switch 17 as an inappropriate operation.

[0065] The erroneous operation detection unit 101 uses the shock sensor 1122 and tilt sensor 1123 provided in the anti-theft device 11 to detect that an obstacle (e.g., a road obstacle such as a wheel chock) has been run over, and detects that an improper operation has been performed. Specifically, if the shock sensor 1122 detects an impact and the tilt sensor detects a change in the inclination of the vehicle 1 such that the side in the vehicle's traveling direction becomes higher immediately thereafter (e.g., within one second after the impact is detected), the erroneous operation detection unit 101 determines that the vehicle 1 has run over an obstacle and detects that an improper operation has been performed. Algorithm control using the shock sensor 1122 and tilt sensor 1123 makes it possible to accurately detect obstacles in the vehicle's traveling direction.

[0066] In addition, when an acceleration sensor provided in the radar detector 12 or the drive recorder 13 detects a sudden acceleration in the traveling direction, the erroneous operation detection unit 101 detects that an inappropriate operation has been performed.

[0067] The operation error detection unit 101 may detect an inappropriate operation based on any combination of the above-mentioned methods. By combining a plurality of conditions, it is possible to improve the accuracy of detecting an inappropriate operation.

[0068] [Damage containment control] As described above, when the function of the damage reduction control unit 102 is enabled by the activation control unit 103, the damage reduction control unit 102 transmits an input signal to the in-vehicle equipment so that the input signal can be used for a purpose other than the intended purpose of the in-vehicle equipment, and controls the in-vehicle equipment to reduce damage caused by inappropriate operation.

[0069] [Reducing vehicle speed] When the erroneous operation detection unit detects an event that can be inferred as a sudden depression of the throttle pedal as an inappropriate operation of the vehicle 1, the damage reduction control unit 102 performs control to reduce the vehicle speed. Specifically, the damage reduction control unit 102 controls to reduce the vehicle speed by stopping the engine using the idling stop system 15. When the idling stop system 15 is used, not only is it easy to stop the engine, but it is also easy to restart the engine, making it easy to return to normal operation. In addition, the damage reduction control unit 102 controls to reduce the vehicle speed by stopping the engine using the immobilizer function of the anti-theft device 11. Specifically, the immobilizer function is activated to cut the ignition (IG) line, forcing the engine to stall.

[0070] By controlling the vehicle speed to be reduced as described above, damage caused by the vehicle 1 colliding with surrounding objects can be reduced.

[0071] The damage reduction control unit 102 also performs control to suppress an increase in engine speed. The damage reduction control unit 102 performs control such as reducing the amount of fuel injected from the injector to suppress engine output, closing the throttle valve butterfly to regulate the amount of intake air to suppress engine output, and cutting off sparks from the spark plug to suppress engine output. By suppressing an increase in engine speed and not allowing the vehicle to suddenly accelerate, or by accelerating slowly, damage can be reduced if the vehicle were to collide with a wall or run into a store.

[0072] [In-car notification] When the erroneous operation detection unit 101 detects an inappropriate operation, the damage reduction control unit 102 performs control to notify the driver that an inappropriate operation has been detected. The damage reduction control unit 102 controls the interface unit 123 of the radar detector 12 and the alarm unit 114 of the anti-theft device 11 to notify the driver that an inappropriate operation has been performed. If the radar detector is equipped with a monitor, the damage reduction control unit 102 performs control to display a warning on the monitor. A specific example of the warning display is the display of an arrow indicating the direction of travel and an icon of a cross (x). The damage reduction control unit 102 also controls a siren, which is an example of an interior warning sound source, such as the interior siren 1142 of the anti-theft device 11, to sound a siren sound inside the vehicle 1. The damage reduction control unit 102 also controls the flashlight 1141 of the anti-theft device 11 to emit a flash light to notify the driver. The flash light is emitted by turning on or blinking in a pattern.

[0073] By notifying the driver, the driver who has performed an inappropriate operation can be encouraged to take an operation that will avoid damage caused by the inappropriate operation. In particular, if the driver is dozing or in a daze, notifying the driver that an inappropriate operation has been detected is effective in limiting damage and preventing accidents. In addition to the above, in a vehicle 1 equipped with a mechanism that can power-adjust the position of the driver's seat (a so-called power seat), the driver's seat is driven to vibrate to notify the driver.

[0074] [Notification to outside the vehicle] When the erroneous operation detection unit detects an inappropriate operation, the damage reduction control unit 102 controls to notify those around the vehicle 1 that an inappropriate operation has been detected. By notifying those around the vehicle, it is possible to alert people around the vehicle 1 and encourage them to take action to avoid damage that may result from the inappropriate operation. The method for notifying those around the vehicle 1 may be visual or auditory. The damage reduction control unit 102 controls the loud siren 1143 of the anti-theft device 11 to emit a loud siren sound around the vehicle 1, notifying those around the vehicle 1 that an inappropriate operation has occurred.

[0075] The damage suppression control unit 102 terminates the control for suppressing damage when a predetermined operation is performed and controls the vehicle to return to a normal operating state. For example, the normal operating state is restored when the brake pedal is pumped two or three times.

[0076] Furthermore, when it is not desired to use the operation error damage suppression device 10, a predetermined operation can be performed to disable the operation error damage suppression device 10 and allow normal operation according to driving operations. For example, the operation error damage suppression device 10 can be configured to be turned off by pressing and holding the emergency switch. When sufficient engine output is required on bumps or slopes, it is effective to provide an operation method that prevents the use of the operation error damage suppression device 10.

[0077] [Specific application example] 5 is a configuration diagram showing an example in which a pedal misapplication prevention device 100, which is an example of the misoperation damage reduction device 10, is applied to a vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 is equipped with a throttle pedal 170, which is an input means for controlling the vehicle speed through operation by the driver, and a throttle sensor 171 detects the amount of depression of the throttle pedal 170. A throttle stopper switch 17 is provided at a position where the back of the pedal comes into contact when the throttle pedal 170 is fully depressed, and the throttle stopper switch 17 detects that the throttle pedal 170 has been fully depressed.

[0078] The depression amount detected by the throttle sensor 171 is transmitted to the engine ECU 16 via the throttle controller 160. The throttle controller 160 defines the correspondence relationship between the depression amount of the throttle pedal 170 and the opening of the throttle valve 161. The output signal of the throttle sensor 171 branches off from the path to the throttle controller 160 and is also input to the pedal misapplication prevention device 100. Based on the output of the throttle controller 160, the engine ECU 16 controls the amount of intake air of the throttle valve 161, the amount of fuel injected by the injector 162, the ignition timing of the spark plug 163, etc.

[0079] The engine ECU 16 outputs vehicle speed, engine RPM, throttle opening, gear position, brake switch information, etc. as OBD information for vehicle self-diagnosis. This OBD information is extracted via the vehicle-side OBD connector 141 and the in-vehicle device-side OBD connector 142 and input to the pedal misapplication prevention device 100.

[0080] In addition to the OBD information described above, the pedal misapplication prevention device 100 receives inputs from a door switch 180 that detects whether a door is open or closed, an ignition (IG) switch 181 that starts the vehicle engine, an ON / OFF switch 182 that switches between enabling and disabling the functions of the pedal misapplication prevention device 100, an emergency release switch 183 that disables or releases damage prevention control, etc. The pedal misapplication prevention device 100 also receives inputs from a front camera 130 that captures images in front of the vehicle and a back camera 131 that captures images behind the vehicle. The pedal misapplication prevention device 100 also receives inputs from various sensors (e.g., a shock sensor 1122, an inclination sensor 1123, a microwave sensor 1121, an immobilizer 113, an air pressure sensor 1263, etc.) that are included in existing in-vehicle devices such as the anti-theft device 11, the radar detector 12, the drive recorder 13, and the idling stop system 15. The front camera 130 and the back camera 131 described above can be diverted or shared with cameras provided in the drive recorder 13 mounted as an in-vehicle device.

[0081] The output of the pedal misapplication prevention device 100 is connected to a path connecting the throttle sensor 171 and the engine ECU 16, and controls the throttle controller 160 and the engine ECU 16 via the throttle controller 160. The output of the pedal misapplication prevention device 100 is also connected to and controls a hazard lamp 184 and a horn 185 to alert those around with sound and light. The output of the pedal misapplication prevention device 100 is also connected to and controls a monitor screen 127, a speaker 128, and a flashlight 129 provided in the vehicle to alert the driver visually and audibly. The monitor screen 120, the speaker 121, and the flashlight 122 provided in the on-board equipment such as the radar detector 12 can be reused or shared.

[0082] Using data on ordinary roads and / or expressways held by the radar detector 12, if the current location is determined to be a parking lot, the butterfly in the throttle body will not open even if the accelerator is suddenly depressed, and output will be limited to prevent a sudden increase in engine speed. This can reduce gear shifting and unintended runaway driving in parking lots.

[0083] Using the images from the drive recorder 13 and the front camera 130 and the rear camera 131, if an obstacle such as a wall is recognized in the parking lot in the forward or reverse direction, the system determines whether the vehicle is traveling forward or backward based on the gear position (for example, drive (D) or reverse (R)), the usage status of the rear camera 131, etc., and controls the engine so that it does not increase speed or limits output even if the accelerator is suddenly depressed in the direction of the obstacle.

[0084] If the location is determined to be other than a road or a parking lot, the driver is notified at the stage when the gear is mistakenly put into gear by displaying a large X mark on the monitor 127, sounding a warning sound, emitting a flash, vibrating the vibration motor 186, or the like.

[0085] In the case of a radar detector 12 that uses an acceleration sensor (G sensor) to detect dangerous driving such as sudden starts and stops, judges whether the driving is safe, and outputs the judgement result through a character (for example, an animated character of "Kirishima Rei") displayed on the screen, if the character judges the driving to be dangerous, the time until the accelerator is fully opened will be lengthened depending on the level of dangerous driving, thereby realizing gentle acceleration. The control level will also be changed according to the degree of danger.

[0086] The difference between the brake and the accelerator is whether the pedal force is light or heavy, with the brake usually requiring a heavier pedal force. For this reason, if you mistake the brake for the accelerator when trying to brake suddenly, you may suddenly press the accelerator all the way down, causing unexpected sudden acceleration and resulting in a collision. To prevent this from happening, the system detects the speed and stroke at which the accelerator is pressed and issues a warning to caution against sudden acceleration.

[0087] In addition to preventing dangerous erroneous operation such as accidentally stepping on the throttle pedal 170, the misoperation damage suppression device 10 can also be used for eco-driving. For example, it can be used to control the butterfly valve in the throttle body so that it does not open even when the accelerator is pressed. This reduces the amount of fuel injected by the injector and reduces fuel consumption.

[0088] [Modifications of the embodiment] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes modifications and improvements within the scope of achieving the object of the present invention.

[0089] For example, in addition to the on-board devices exemplified in the above embodiment, the vehicle 1 may be equipped with various other on-board devices such as a navigation device.

[0090] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the misoperation damage prevention device 10 is built into the anti-theft device 11, but the misoperation damage prevention device 10 may not be built into the anti-theft device 11 but may be provided separately.

[0091] In the above embodiment, a Doppler sensor using microwaves is used as the proximity sensor 1121, but an induction type sensor that uses a change in magnetic field, a capacitance type sensor that detects a change in capacitance, an infrared type sensor that uses the reflection of infrared rays, etc. may also be used. Furthermore, millimeter wave radar or sonar may be used instead of a proximity sensor.

[0092] In the above embodiment, the drive recorder 13 may have a built-in acceleration sensor, and when the acceleration sensor detects an impact of a certain magnitude or greater, it may save a predetermined period of video as an overwrite-protected file. The drive recorder 13 may include a front camera that captures images in front of the vehicle 1 and a rear camera that captures images behind the vehicle 1. The front camera and the rear camera may be, for example, an infrared-illuminating camera that can capture images even in dark places.

[0093] In the above embodiment, multiple conditions are listed as the predetermined conditions for the activation control unit 103 to activate the functions of the operation error detection unit 101 and the damage prevention control unit 102. However, any combination of these conditions may be used as the predetermined condition. By combining multiple conditions, it is possible to more appropriately determine the situation in which the function of the damage prevention control unit 102 should be activated.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the erroneous operation detection unit 101 detects a sudden depression of the throttle pedal as an inappropriate operation, but other inappropriate operations include, for example, shifting into the wrong gear. Specifically, for example, the operation of selecting a gear that moves in the direction of an obstacle such as a wall in a parking lot is detected as an inappropriate operation.

[0095] In the above embodiment, the engine is stopped to reduce the vehicle speed, but other control methods for reducing the vehicle speed may be adopted, such as restricting the intake air volume by narrowing the throttle valve butterfly, reducing the amount of fuel injected from the injector, thinning out the ignition of the spark plug, etc. In addition, if the vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, the vehicle speed may be reduced by reducing or cutting off the power supply to the motor that drives the vehicle 1.

[0096] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which an arrow indicating the direction of travel and an X mark are displayed as a warning display to notify the interior of the vehicle. However, a character (e.g., an animated "Kirishima Rei") may be used to express the warning. Using a character makes it easier to attract the attention of the driver and passengers. In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a siren sound is emitted as a warning sound from an interior warning sound source to notify the interior of the vehicle. However, the type of warning sound is not limited to a siren sound, and may be a buzzer sound, a voice sound, or the like. In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a power seat is controlled to vibrate the driver's seat as a warning to the driver by vibration. However, a configuration in which a vibration motor or the like is used to vibrate the steering wheel, accelerator pedal, or the like may also be used.

[0097] In addition, in the above embodiment, the method of audibly alerting the outside of the vehicle was described as an example of controlling the anti-theft device 11 to emit a siren sound from the loud siren 1143, but other methods such as sounding a horn may also be used.

[0098] In addition, in the above embodiment, pumping the brake pedal was used as an example of an operation to terminate control for suppressing damage and return to a normal operating state, but as another example of an operation, the normal operating state may be returned to when an emergency switch attached to the handle or the like is pressed.

[0099] In the above embodiment, the operation for disabling the operation error damage suppression device 10 is described by exemplifying the long press of the emergency switch. However, as another example, the control for suppressing the engine output may not be performed when the accelerator pedal is depressed while the emergency switch is pressed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0100] 1 vehicle 10 Misoperation damage control device 11 Anti-theft devices 12 Radar detector 13 Drive recorder 141 Vehicle side OBD connector 142 OBD connector on the in-vehicle device side 15 Idling stop system 16 ECU 17 Throttle stopper switch

Claims

1. A detection function for detecting improper operation of the vehicle; An alarm function that, when the inappropriate operation is detected, notifies not only the driver in the vehicle but also those around the vehicle that the inappropriate operation has been detected; An apparatus comprising:

2. The vehicle is provided with an anti-theft device that outputs an anti-theft sound to prevent the vehicle from being stolen, The notification function is a function for causing the anti-theft device to output an anti-theft sound even when the anti-theft purpose is not the purpose, in order to notify people around the vehicle that an improper operation has been detected.

2. The apparatus of claim 1.

3. A program that causes a computer to function as the device according to claim 1 or 2.

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