On-vehicle reporting device and control unit of on-vehicle reporting device

Abstract

To provide an on-vehicle reporting device useful for preventing a child from being left in a vehicle.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle reporting device 10 includes: a microphone 12 that collects sound in a vehicle to generate in-vehicle audio D1; a sound emitting device 14 that emits a report sound to the outside of the vehicle; and a controller 20 that receives the in-vehicle audio D1, detects presence or absence of a child left behind in the vehicle based on the in-vehicle audio D1, and controls the sound emitting device 14 to emit the report sound when the child left behind in the vehicle is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle reporting device, for example, a reporting device suitable for mounting on a vehicle such as an automobile, and also to a control unit for the in-vehicle reporting device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a control device for a vehicle lamp that controls the vehicle lamp in response to the driver's voice. This control device can perform light distribution control such as automatic switching of the light distribution pattern formed by the vehicle lamp, movement of the light distribution pattern, and increase / decrease in brightness, as well as cleaning of the light emission surface of the vehicle lamp, depending on the content of the voice (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 158391 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when a driver parks a vehicle and leaves it, due to carelessness on the part of the driver, a child, such as an infant, may be left behind in the vehicle. Such cases are often reported in which no one notices that a child has been left behind in the vehicle for a long time, causing the child to languish inside the vehicle and, in the worst case, to die, and have become a social problem.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one exemplary purpose of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle reporting device that helps prevent children from being left behind in a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the in-vehicle reporting device of the present invention comprises a microphone that collects sound inside the vehicle and generates in-vehicle voice data, a sound generating device that generates a warning sound outside the vehicle, and a controller that receives the in-vehicle voice data, detects whether a child has been left in the vehicle based on the in-vehicle voice data, and controls the sound generating device to emit a warning sound if a child has been detected left in the vehicle.

[0007] According to this embodiment, it is possible to detect a child being left behind in the vehicle from a voice inside the vehicle and to report it to the outside of the vehicle, thereby urging an adult outside the vehicle, such as the driver, to check inside the vehicle, thereby preventing a child from being left behind in the vehicle.

[0008] The in-vehicle reporting device may further include a power supply circuit that supplies power to the controller in conjunction with the power being turned off for the vehicle. In this way, the in-vehicle reporting device has a separate power source for operating the controller without relying on the power supply circuit when the vehicle's power is turned off. When the power switch is operated to turn off the power supply for the vehicle, the controller is supplied with power from the power supply circuit and can be started up. The controller can perform an operation to detect a child being left behind in the vehicle without requiring assistance from the vehicle.

[0009] The power supply circuit may include a notification device power supply and a first switch that connects the notification device power supply to the controller in conjunction with turning off the vehicle power supply, so that when the vehicle power supply is turned off, power can be supplied to the controller from the notification device power supply.

[0010] The first switch may disconnect the notification device power supply from the controller in conjunction with turning on the vehicle power supply. In this way, when the vehicle power supply is on, the power supply from the notification device power supply to the controller is cut off, thereby reducing consumption of the notification device power supply.

[0011] The power supply circuit may include a second switch that connects the power supply of the notification device to the vehicle battery when the vehicle power is turned on. In this way, when the vehicle power is on, the vehicle battery can be used to charge the power supply of the notification device.

[0012] The second switch may disconnect the notification device power supply from the vehicle battery in conjunction with turning off the vehicle power supply, thereby stopping charging of the notification device power supply by the vehicle battery when the vehicle power supply is turned off.

[0013] The warning sound may include a voice message indicating that a child has been left behind in the vehicle. The use of the voice message helps to ensure that a child has been left behind in the vehicle.

[0014] The sound producing device may be mounted in a vehicle lamp. By incorporating the sound producing device 14 in the vehicle lamp, compared to a case where the sound producing device 14 is provided separately from the vehicle lamp, it is expected that the installation space can be saved, leading to an overall space saving.

[0015] The controller may control the vehicle lamp to emit light when a child is detected to be left in the vehicle.

[0016] Another aspect of the present invention is a control unit for an in-vehicle reporting device, the control unit for the in-vehicle reporting device including a controller that receives in-vehicle voice data and detects whether or not a child has been left behind in the vehicle based on the in-vehicle voice data, and a power supply circuit that supplies power to the controller in conjunction with turning off the power supply of the vehicle.

[0017] According to this embodiment, the in-vehicle reporting device has a separate power supply provided by the power supply circuit for operating the controller of the in-vehicle reporting device without relying on the power supply of the vehicle when the power supply of the vehicle is turned off. When a power switch such as an accessory switch is operated to turn off the power supply of the vehicle, the controller is powered by the power supply circuit and can be started up. The controller can detect the abandonment of a child in the vehicle from the voice inside the vehicle without requiring assistance from the vehicle. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle reporting device that is useful for preventing children from being left behind in a vehicle. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an in-vehicle reporting device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 2(a) and 2(b) are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the power supply circuit of the in-vehicle reporting device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a modified example of the in-vehicle reporting device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing an exemplary reporting operation of the in-vehicle reporting device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a vehicle lamp linked to an in-vehicle reporting device according to an embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings based on preferred embodiments. The embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the invention, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are omitted as appropriate. The scale and shape of each part shown in each drawing are set for convenience to facilitate explanation, and are not to be interpreted as being limiting unless otherwise specified. In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc. used in this specification or claims do not indicate any order or importance, but are intended to distinguish one configuration from another. In addition, some of the members that are not important in explaining the embodiment in each drawing are omitted.

[0021] 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an in-vehicle reporting device 10 according to an embodiment. The in-vehicle reporting device 10 may be mounted on a vehicle such as a bus used to transport passengers to and from a facility for caring for infants or children, such as a nursery school, kindergarten, daycare center, or school, or on any other vehicle. As described below, the in-vehicle reporting device 10 is configured to collect voices from inside the vehicle, analyze the voices, and determine whether or not a child, such as an infant, has been left behind in the vehicle, and if it determines that a child has been left behind, to notify the outside of the vehicle of such an emergency by voice.

[0022] The in-vehicle reporting device 10 includes a microphone 12, a sound generating device 14, and a control unit 18. The control unit 18 includes a controller 20 and a power supply circuit 30. The control unit 18 may include a control circuit board 19, such as a printed circuit board, on which the controller 20 and at least a part of the power supply circuit 30 are mounted.

[0023] The microphone 12 is configured to collect sound in the vehicle, generate in-vehicle voice data D1, and output the in-vehicle voice data D1 to the controller 20. The in-vehicle voice data D1 may include voices emitted by people in the vehicle (e.g., adults such as the driver, children such as infants, or other passengers). The microphone 12 may be installed at an appropriate location in the vehicle cabin so as to effectively collect human voices in the vehicle cabin. Only one microphone 12 may be installed in the vehicle cabin, or multiple microphones 12 may be installed in the vehicle cabin.

[0024] The sound generating device 14 is configured to receive a first control signal S1 representing a warning sound from the controller 20 and perform a sound generating operation to generate a warning sound. The sound generating device 14 is a device for generating a warning sound outside the vehicle, and may include, for example, a speaker. The sound generating device 14 is installed in the vehicle so as to generate a sound toward the outside of the vehicle so that the warning sound can be effectively delivered to a person outside the vehicle (for example, an adult such as the driver or the manager of the vehicle). The warning sound may include, for example, an alarm sound such as a siren sound or a buzzer sound to inform that an emergency such as a child being left behind in the vehicle has occurred. Additionally or instead of this, the warning sound may include a voice message indicating that a child has been left behind in the vehicle, as described below.

[0025] Optionally, the in-vehicle notification device 10 may include a notification device 16. The notification device 16 is installed in the vehicle cabin. The notification device 16 is configured to receive a second control signal S2 from the controller 20, which indicates a notification to be made, and to make the notification. The notification device 16 may, for example, notify the vehicle interior by voice that the in-vehicle notification device 10 is operating, that a child has been detected as being left in the vehicle, and that the child's leaving in the vehicle is being notified to the outside of the vehicle. The notification device 16 may include a sound device, such as a speaker, different from the sound device 14. When the sound device 14 and the notification device 16 are both speakers, the sound device 14 may be called an outside speaker and the notification device 16 may be called an inside speaker for distinction. In addition to or instead of such use of voice, the notification device 16 may include a notification device that enables visual notification, such as a display.

[0026] The controller 20 is configured to receive the in-vehicle voice data D1 from the microphone 12, detect whether a child has been left in the vehicle based on the in-vehicle voice data D1, and control the sound generating device 14 to emit an alarm sound when the child has been detected as being left in the vehicle. Thus, the controller 20 may include an audio signal processing unit 22 that performs the function of detecting the child being left in the vehicle based on the in-vehicle voice data D1, and an audio output control unit 24 that controls the sound generating device 14 according to the result of the detection by the audio signal processing unit 22. The controller 20 can be implemented as a combination of a processor (hardware) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microcomputer, and a software program executed by the processor (hardware).

[0027] The audio signal processing unit 22 may be configured to analyze the in-vehicle audio data D1 and determine whether or not the in-vehicle audio data D1 includes audio resulting from a child being left behind in the vehicle based on the analysis result. It is assumed that a child left behind in the vehicle may emit some kind of audio, such as crying, screaming, or a voice calling for help. The audio signal processing unit 22 may be configured to detect the presence of a child left behind in the vehicle when the in-vehicle audio data D1 includes such audio, and to detect the absence of a child left behind in the vehicle when the in-vehicle audio data D1 does not include such audio. In addition, the audio signal processing unit 22 may be configured to determine whether or not an adult's voice is included in the in-vehicle audio data D1 based on the analysis result of the in-vehicle audio data D1, as described later. The audio signal processing unit 22 may be configured to perform such audio signal processing in real time.

[0028] For example, the audio signal processor 22 may be configured to perform frequency analysis on the in-vehicle audio data D1 and determine whether or not the in-vehicle audio data D1 contains audio resulting from a child being left behind in the vehicle, based on the frequency analysis result. For example, the frequency components contained in the child's voice may be contained in a specific frequency band, for example, a band higher than that of the adult's voice. The audio signal processor 22 may determine that a child is present in the vehicle when the sound pressure level of such a frequency component exceeds a threshold value, and may determine that a child is not present in the vehicle when the sound pressure level does not exceed the threshold value.

[0029] Alternatively, the audio signal processing unit 22 may include a voice recognition algorithm capable of recognizing voices resulting from a child being left behind in the vehicle. Such a voice recognition algorithm may be, for example, a voice recognition algorithm based on machine learning such as deep learning. In addition, the voice recognition algorithm may be based on pattern matching between a large number of sample sound data prepared in advance and the in-vehicle voice data D1. The audio signal processing unit 22 may employ such an existing voice recognition algorithm.

[0030] The sound production control unit 24 is configured to obtain the result of the child abandonment detection by the audio signal processing unit 22, and control the sound production device 14 according to the result of the abandonment detection. When the sound production control unit 24 detects that a child has been left in the vehicle, it generates a first control signal S1 and outputs it to the sound production device 14. This causes the sound production device 14 to operate to emit a warning sound. Moreover, when the sound production control unit 24 does not detect that a child has been left in the vehicle, it does not generate the first control signal S1. Therefore, in this case, the sound production device 14 does not emit a warning sound.

[0031] Furthermore, the sound control unit 24 may be configured to control the notification device 16 depending on the result of the abandonment detection. When it is detected that a child has been left in the vehicle, the sound control unit 24 generates a second control signal S2 and outputs it to the notification device 16. This causes the notification device 16 to operate to provide a notification. When it is not detected that a child has been left in the vehicle, the sound control unit 24 does not generate the second control signal S2. Thus, in this case, the notification device 16 does not operate.

[0032] The power supply circuit 30 is configured to supply power to the controller 20 in conjunction with the power off of the vehicle. As an exemplary configuration, the power supply circuit 30 includes a notification device power supply 32, a first switch 34, and a second switch 36, and connects the controller 20 to a vehicle power switch 40 and an on-board battery 42 via these circuit components. The vehicle power switch 40 is a main switch, such as an accessory switch, for switching on and off the power supply of the entire vehicle including the on-board battery 42.

[0033] The notification device power supply 32 may be, for example, a secondary battery, i.e., a rechargeable battery. The first switch 34 is configured to connect the notification device power supply 32 to the controller 20 in conjunction with the power being turned off of the vehicle. The first switch 34 may also be configured to disconnect the notification device power supply 32 from the controller 20 in conjunction with the power being turned on of the vehicle.

[0034] As an example, the first switch 34 may be a first relay installed on a power supply path from the notification device power supply 32 to the controller 20. The first relay may be connected to a vehicle power switch 40 via a NOT circuit 38 for on / off control. An output signal S3 from the power switch 40 indicating the on / off state of the power switch 40 is first input to the NOT circuit 38, inverted by the NOT circuit 38, and input to the first switch 34. Thus, the on / off state of the first switch 34 is inverted by the NOT circuit 38 with respect to the on / off state of the vehicle power switch 40. That is, when the power switch 40 is on, the first switch 34 is turned off, and when the vehicle power switch 40 is off, the first switch 34 is turned on.

[0035] The second switch 36 is configured to connect the notification device power supply 32 to the vehicle battery 42 in conjunction with the power-on of the vehicle. The second switch 36 may also be configured to disconnect the notification device power supply 32 and the vehicle battery 42 in conjunction with the power-off of the vehicle. As an example, the second switch 36 may be a second relay installed on a power supply path from the vehicle battery 42 to the notification device power supply 32. The second relay may be connected to the power switch 40 so that the output signal S3 from the power switch 40 is input as is. Therefore, when the power switch 40 is on, the second switch 36 is also on, and when the power switch 40 is off, the second switch 36 is also on.

[0036] In this example, some of the components of the power supply circuit 30, such as the first switch 34 and the NOT circuit 38, are mounted on the same control circuit board 19 as the controller 20. The remaining circuit components, such as the reporting device power supply 32 and the second switch 36, are provided outside the control circuit board 19, are wired and connected to the control circuit board 19, and are electrically connected to the components on the control circuit board 19. This is only one example, and other configurations are possible. For example, the entire power supply circuit 30 may be provided on the control circuit board 19. Alternatively, the power supply circuit 30 may be provided on a circuit board separate from the control circuit board 19, and this circuit board may be wired and connected to the control circuit board 19.

[0037] 2(a) and 2(b) are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the power supply circuit 30 of the in-vehicle reporting device 10 according to the embodiment. Fig. 2(a) shows a state in which the power switch 40 of the vehicle is off, and Fig. 2(b) shows a state in which the power switch 40 of the vehicle is on.

[0038] When the power switch 40 of the vehicle is off, as shown in FIG. 2(a), the output signal S3 from the power switch 40 is inverted to an on signal by the NOT circuit 38, thereby turning on the first switch 34. Thus, the controller 20 is supplied with power from the notification device power supply 32 via the first switch 34. The controller 20 also supplies power to the microphone 12, the sounding device 14, and the notification device 16. At this time, the second switch 36 is turned off together with the power switch 40 in accordance with the output signal S3 from the power switch 40. Thus, power is not supplied from the vehicle battery 42 to the vehicle-mounted notification device 10. In this way, the vehicle-mounted notification device 10 can operate to detect a child left behind in the vehicle by being supplied with power from the notification device power supply 32.

[0039] On the other hand, when the vehicle's power switch 40 is on, as shown in Fig. 2(b), the output signal S3 from the power switch 40 is inverted to an off signal by the NOT circuit 38, and the first switch 34 is turned off. Power is not supplied from the reporting device power supply 32 to the controller 20, and operation is stopped. At this time, the second switch 36 is turned on together with the power switch 40. Therefore, power is supplied from the vehicle battery 42 to the reporting device power supply 32, and the reporting device power supply 32 can be charged.

[0040] Therefore, according to the embodiment, the in-vehicle reporting device 10 has a power supply provided by the power supply circuit 30 separate from the in-vehicle battery 42. When the power switch 40 is operated to turn off the vehicle power supply, the controller 20 is supplied with power from the power supply circuit 30 and can be started up. The in-vehicle reporting device 10 can perform an operation to detect a child left behind in the vehicle without requiring assistance from the vehicle.

[0041] Also, when the power switch 40 is operated again to switch the vehicle power on, there should be an adult in the vehicle, so there is no need to detect that a child has been left behind in the vehicle. At this time, power supply from the reporting device power supply to the controller is cut off, making it possible to reduce consumption of the reporting device power supply. At the same time, by charging the power supply circuit 30 from the vehicle battery 42, the in-vehicle reporting device 10 can prepare for the detection of a child being left behind when the vehicle power is subsequently turned off.

[0042] 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic diagram of a modified example of the in-vehicle reporting device 10 according to the embodiment. As shown in the figure, the power supply circuit 30 of the in-vehicle reporting device 10 does not have to be provided with the reporting device power supply 32 and the second switch 36. The first switch 34 may be a relay installed on the power supply path from the in-vehicle battery 42 to the controller 20. This relay may be connected to the vehicle power switch 40 via a NOT circuit 38 for on / off control.

[0043] When the power switch 40 of the vehicle is off, the output signal S3 from the power switch 40 is inverted to an ON signal by the NOT circuit 38, thereby turning on the first switch 34. Thus, the controller 20 is supplied with power from the vehicle battery 42 via the controller 20. The microphone 12 and the sound generating device 14 are also supplied with power from the vehicle battery 42 via the controller 20. Thus, the vehicle-mounted reporting device 10 can operate to detect a child left behind in the vehicle by the power supply from the vehicle battery 42. On the other hand, when the power switch 40 of the vehicle is on, the output signal S3 from the power switch 40 is inverted to an OFF signal by the NOT circuit 38, thereby turning off the first switch 34. Power is not supplied from the vehicle battery 42 to the controller 20, and the operation of the vehicle-mounted reporting device 10 is stopped.

[0044] 4 is a flowchart showing an exemplary reporting operation of the in-vehicle reporting device 10 according to the embodiment. This control process by the in-vehicle reporting device 10 can be started when the in-vehicle reporting device 10 is started. As described above, when the in-vehicle reporting device 10 is powered by the power supply circuit 30 in conjunction with the power off of the vehicle, this process is started by turning off the power switch 40 of the vehicle. This process is continuously executed by the controller 20 while the in-vehicle reporting device 10 is being powered. In addition, this process is interrupted and ended at any timing during the process by turning on the power switch 40.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4, this process broadly comprises a step (S10) of acquiring in-vehicle voice data D1, a step (S20) of detecting whether or not a child has been left in the vehicle based on the in-vehicle voice data D1, and a step (S30) of reporting to the outside of the vehicle if it is detected that a child has been left in the vehicle.

[0046] At S10, in-vehicle audio data D1 is generated by microphone 12 and provided to controller 20, as described above.

[0047] S20 includes several sub-steps. First, the in-vehicle voice data D1 acquired in S10 is analyzed (S21). This analysis may be performed by the voice signal processing unit 22 of the controller 20.

[0048] It is determined whether or not a child's voice is uttered inside the vehicle (S22). The audio signal processing unit 22 may determine whether or not a child's voice is included in the in-vehicle audio data D1 based on the analysis result of the in-vehicle audio data D1.

[0049] If it is determined that the voice of a child is not being emitted inside the vehicle (No in S22), the acquisition of the in-vehicle voice data D1 (S10) and the analysis of the in-vehicle voice data D1 (S21) are executed again. In this case, since it is assumed that there is no child inside the vehicle (i.e., the vehicle is unoccupied or only adults are present), the process does not proceed to the reporting operation described below, and steps S10 to S22 are repeated.

[0050] If it is determined that a child's voice is uttered in the vehicle (Yes in S22), it is then determined whether or not an adult's voice is uttered in the vehicle (S23). The audio signal processing unit 22 may determine whether or not an adult's voice is included in the in-vehicle audio data D1 based on the analysis result of the in-vehicle audio data D1.

[0051] If it is determined that an adult's voice is heard inside the vehicle (Yes in S23), the acquisition of the in-vehicle voice data D1 (S10) and the analysis of the in-vehicle voice data D1 (S21) are executed again. In this case, since it is assumed that there is a child in the vehicle together with an adult, the process does not proceed to the reporting operation described below, and steps S10 to S23 are repeated.

[0052] If it is determined that no adult voice is being heard inside the vehicle (No in S23), it is determined again whether or not a child's voice is being heard inside the vehicle (S24). This determination may be made immediately after the No determination in S23, or may be made after a predetermined waiting time (for example, about 1 to 5 minutes) has elapsed since the No determination in S23.

[0053] If it is determined that the child's voice is not being emitted inside the vehicle (No in S24), the acquisition of the in-vehicle voice data D1 (S10) and the analysis of the in-vehicle voice data D1 (S21) are executed again. This may be performed immediately after the determination of No in S24, or may be performed after a predetermined waiting time (for example, about 5 to 15 minutes) has elapsed since the determination of No in S24.

[0054] If it is determined that a child's voice is heard inside the vehicle (Yes in S24), it can be assumed that the child has been left behind inside the vehicle because the child's voice continues without the voice of an adult being heard. Therefore, in this case, a step (S30) of reporting that the child has been left behind inside the vehicle may be executed.

[0055] However, as an option, before executing the reporting step (S30), an in-vehicle notification step (S25) and / or a confirmation step (S26) may be executed. In S25, the notification device 16 may be used to provide an audio (and / or visual) notification in the vehicle that a child has been detected as being left behind in the vehicle.

[0056] Also, in S26, it is determined again whether or not an adult's voice is heard inside the vehicle. If it is determined that an adult's voice is heard inside the vehicle (Yes in S26), the acquisition of the in-vehicle voice data D1 (S10) and the analysis of the in-vehicle voice data D1 (S21) are executed again. That is, in this case, since there is an adult inside the vehicle, there is no need to report to the outside of the vehicle. Therefore, the detection result of the child being left behind inside the vehicle is reset. On the other hand, if it is determined that an adult's voice is not heard inside the vehicle (No in S26), the process proceeds to a reporting step (S30). The reporting may be performed immediately following the determination of No in S26, or may be performed after a predetermined waiting time (for example, within one minute) has elapsed since the determination of No in S26.

[0057] In S30, a warning sound is generated from the sound generating device 14 (S31). This causes a warning to be issued to the outside of the vehicle that a child has been left behind. The warning sound may include a voice message indicating that a child has been left behind in the vehicle, such as, for example, "A child may have been left behind in the vehicle. Please check the vehicle interior immediately." The use of such a voice message is useful for a reliable warning of a child being left behind in the vehicle. For example, if an alarm sound from a horn mounted on the vehicle were used to report the child, it would not be immediately clear what situation caused the alarm sound to be sounded. The voice message can distinguish the child being left behind in the vehicle from other situations and specifically inform the person, which can lead to an effective prevention of the child being left behind in the vehicle.

[0058] In one embodiment, the sound generating device 14 may comprise a warning sound. The warning sound may include a horn sound.

[0059] Even while the warning sound is being emitted from the sound generating device 14, it may be determined whether or not an adult's voice is being heard inside the vehicle (S32). If it is determined that an adult's voice is not being heard inside the vehicle (No in S32), the warning continues (S31).

[0060] On the other hand, if it is determined that an adult's voice is uttered inside the vehicle (Yes in S32), the alert sound is stopped (S33), and the acquisition of the in-vehicle voice data D1 (S10) and the analysis of the in-vehicle voice data D1 (S21) are executed again. In this manner, the alert to the outside of the vehicle may be cancelled. The alert may be cancelled immediately following the determination of Yes in S32, or may be cancelled after a predetermined waiting time has elapsed since the determination of Yes in S32. Note that the alert may be cancelled based on the satisfaction of another cancellation condition, such as the operation of a cancellation switch provided in the in-vehicle reporting device 10, instead of the alert being cancelled based on the voice of an adult.

[0061] Therefore, according to the embodiment, it is possible to detect a child being left behind in the vehicle from a voice inside the vehicle and to report it to the outside of the vehicle, thereby urging an adult outside the vehicle, such as the driver, to check inside the vehicle, thereby preventing a child from being left behind in the vehicle.

[0062] As another method for detecting whether a child has been left behind in a vehicle, a method using an image of the interior of the vehicle is also conceivable. In this case, a camera is required inside the vehicle to obtain the image data of the interior of the vehicle. Alternatively, a seat design that enables the detection of a child in each seat in which the child sits can be adopted, and a configuration for determining whether a child has been left behind can be considered. However, these alternative configurations tend to be expensive. In comparison, the in-vehicle reporting device 10 according to the embodiment is advantageous in that it is expected to be manufactured relatively inexpensively.

[0063] In the above-described embodiment, the sound generating device 14 can be installed in any location on the vehicle that is suitable for reporting to the outside of the vehicle. Therefore, the sound generating device 14 may be incorporated in any on-board device installed in the vehicle, for example, in a vehicle lamp. Such an example is described below. Compared to a case where the sound generating device 14 is installed separately from other on-board devices, by incorporating the sound generating device 14 in the other devices, it is expected that the installation space can be saved, leading to an overall space saving.

[0064] 5 is a block diagram showing a vehicle lamp 100 in cooperation with an in-vehicle reporting device 10 according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, the vehicle lamp 100 is, as an example, a headlamp, and includes a first lamp unit 100a as a left headlamp and a second lamp unit 100b as a right headlamp. Therefore, the first lamp unit 100a and the second lamp unit 100b are provided on the left and right sides of the front of the vehicle, and have substantially the same configuration except that they have a symmetrical structure.

[0065] Each of the first lamp unit 100a and the second lamp unit 100b includes a light source 102, an outer lens 104 arranged so that light emitted from the light source 102 passes through toward the front of the vehicle, and a lamp body 106 as a partition wall separating the light source 102 from the vehicle body. The configuration of the light source 102 is not particularly limited, and may include, for example, a semiconductor light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a lighting circuit that drives the light emitting element to light it. The outer lens 104 is integrated with the lamp body 106 so as to close the opening of the lamp body 106 on the vehicle front side, and constitutes a lamp housing 108 in which the light source 102 is arranged. In addition, the lamp housing 108 may house, for example, an inner lens for guiding the light of the light source 102 to the outer lens 104, optical components such as a reflector, a heat dissipation member for cooling the light source 102, and other lamp components.

[0066] The vehicle lamp 100 includes a lamp ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 110 that controls the first lamp unit 100a and the second lamp unit 100b. The ECU can be implemented as a combination of a processor (hardware) such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microcomputer, and a software program executed by the processor (hardware).

[0067] As in the above-described embodiment, the in-vehicle reporting device 10 includes a microphone 12, a sound generating device 14, and a control unit 18. The control unit 18 includes a controller 20 and a power supply circuit 30.

[0068] The sound producing device 14 is provided in at least one of the first lamp unit 100a and the second lamp unit 100b, and in the illustrated example, in each of the two lamp units. In order to effectively produce sound toward the outside of the vehicle, the sound producing device 14 may be attached to the lamp housing 108 on the outside of the lamp housing 108. The control unit 18 may also be mounted in at least one of the lamp units, and may be attached to the lamp housing 108, for example.

[0069] The controller 20 of the in-vehicle reporting device 10 is implemented in the lamp ECU 110. The controller 20 includes a sound signal processing unit 22, a sound output control unit 24, and a light emission control unit 112 that controls the light source 102.

[0070] Therefore, the controller 20 may control the vehicle lamp 100 to emit light when it is detected that a child has been left behind in the vehicle. The light emission control unit 112 may be configured to obtain a result of the child leaving detection by the audio signal processing unit 22, and control the light source 102 according to the result of the child leaving detection.

[0071] In this way, when the in-vehicle reporting device 10 detects that a child has been left behind in the vehicle, it can emit a warning sound from the sound generating device 14 and turn on the light source 102. By using light in addition to sound, more effective reporting becomes possible.

[0072] To indicate an emergency situation such as a child being left behind in a vehicle, the light source 102 may be illuminated differently from the normal illumination of the vehicle lamp 100. For example, a lamp that is normally illuminated continuously, such as a headlight, may be flashed to indicate that a child has been left behind in a vehicle. A lamp that flashes as a normal operation, such as a turn signal lamp, may be flashed at a different flashing cycle than normal (e.g., at a faster rate and with a shorter cycle than the normal cycle). Alternatively, the light source 102 may be illuminated at a brightness and / or color different from the normal illumination.

[0073] The power supply circuit 30 is configured to supply power to the controller 20, i.e., the lamp ECU 110, in conjunction with the power off of the vehicle. As described with reference to Fig. 1, the power supply circuit 30 may include a notification device power supply 32, a first switch 34, a second switch 36, and other circuit components, and connects a power switch 40 and an on-board battery 42 of the vehicle to the lamp ECU 110. The power supply circuit 30 can supply power to the controller 20 and the light emission control unit 112 at the same time.

[0074] Therefore, in this embodiment too, by supplying power to the lighting fixture ECU 110 using the power supply circuit 30, the in-vehicle reporting device 10 can perform the operation of detecting a child left behind in the vehicle without requiring assistance from the vehicle.

[0075] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and modifications, but may be combined with the embodiments and modifications, or may be further modified, such as various design changes, based on the knowledge of a person skilled in the art, and the scope of the present invention also includes the embodiments and modifications to which such combinations or further modifications have been added. The above-mentioned embodiment and modifications, and new embodiments resulting from the combination of the above-mentioned embodiment and modifications with the following modifications, each have the effects of the combined embodiment, modification, and further modification.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the in-vehicle reporting device 10 reports to the outside of the vehicle that a child has been left behind inside the vehicle using the sound device 14 and / or the vehicle lamp 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. The in-vehicle reporting device 10 may be configured to report that a child has been left behind inside the vehicle through a device installed outside the vehicle, such as a portable device such as a smartphone carried by the driver or a computer used by the manager of the vehicle.

[0077] In one embodiment, the control unit of the in-vehicle reporting device may include a controller that receives in-vehicle situation data (e.g., in-vehicle voice data D1 and / or in-vehicle image data) acquired inside the vehicle and indicating the situation inside the vehicle, and detects whether a child has been left behind inside the vehicle based on the in-vehicle situation data. The control unit may include a power supply circuit that supplies power to the controller in conjunction with turning off the power of the vehicle. The in-vehicle reporting device may include a sensor (e.g., a microphone and / or a camera that captures the inside of the vehicle) that monitors the interior of the vehicle and generates in-vehicle situation data. In this way, the state inside the vehicle can be grasped and a child left behind inside the vehicle can be detected.

[0078] The present invention has been described using specific terms based on the embodiments, but the embodiments merely show one aspect of the principles and applications of the present invention, and many modifications and changes in arrangement are permitted to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 10 in-vehicle reporting device, 12 microphone, 14 sound generating device, 18 control unit, 20 controller, 30 power supply circuit, 32 reporting device power supply, 34 first switch, 36 second switch, 40 power switch, 42 in-vehicle battery, 100 vehicle lighting fixture.

Claims

1. A microphone that collects sound inside the vehicle and generates in-vehicle voice data; A sound generating device for emitting a warning sound outside the vehicle; a controller that receives the in-vehicle voice data, detects whether or not a child has been left in the vehicle based on the in-vehicle voice data, and controls the sound generating device to emit the warning sound when it is detected that a child has been left in the vehicle.

2. 2. The in-vehicle reporting device according to claim 1, further comprising a power supply circuit that supplies power to the controller in conjunction with turning off a power source of the vehicle.

3. 3. The vehicle-mounted reporting device according to claim 2, wherein the power supply circuit includes a reporting device power supply, and a first switch that connects the reporting device power supply to the controller in conjunction with turning off a power supply of the vehicle.

4. 4. The vehicle-mounted reporting device according to claim 3, wherein the first switch disconnects the reporting device power supply from the controller in conjunction with turning on a power source of the vehicle.

5. 4. The vehicle-mounted reporting device according to claim 3, wherein the power supply circuit includes a second switch that connects the reporting device power source to an in-vehicle battery in response to turning on the vehicle power source.

6. 6. The vehicle-mounted reporting device according to claim 5, wherein the second switch disconnects the reporting device power supply from the vehicle battery in conjunction with turning off the power supply of the vehicle.

7. 2. The vehicle-mounted reporting device according to claim 1, wherein the warning sound includes a voice message indicating that a child has been left behind in the vehicle.

8. The vehicle-mounted reporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sound generating device is mounted in a vehicle lamp.

9. 9. The vehicle-mounted reporting device according to claim 8, wherein the controller controls the vehicle lamp so that light is emitted from the vehicle lamp when a child is detected to have been left behind in the vehicle.

10. a controller that receives in-vehicle voice data and detects whether a child has been left behind in the vehicle based on the in-vehicle voice data; a power supply circuit that supplies power to the controller in conjunction with turning off a power source of the vehicle.

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