Warning device

Abstract

To provide a warning device capable of warning a driver at an appropriate timing.SOLUTION: A warning device 100 is the device for measuring an inter-vehicle distance from a preceding vehicle so as to issue a warning when a vehicle approaches the preceding vehicle. The warning device includes: an inter-vehicle distance detection section 20 for detecting an inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle; a driver state detection section 30 for detecting a state of a driver; a vehicle state detection section 40 for detecting a vehicle state of the vehicle driven by the driver; a prediction section 60 for predicting whether a state is the one where a difference tends to be generated between the inter-vehicle distance sensorily recognized by the driver and the detected inter-vehicle distance based on the detected driver state and the detected vehicle state; and a warning section 80 for issuing a warning at a timing earlier than the timing when it is predicted that the generation of the difference is suppressed in a case where it is predicted that the difference tends to be generated between the inter-vehicle distance to be sensorily recognized by the driver and the detected inter-vehicle distance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an alarm device.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, there has been a demand for the development of technologies for preventing collision accidents during vehicle driving. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for measuring the distance between a vehicle and a preceding vehicle and issuing an alarm when approaching the preceding vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is known that when the height of the driver's line of sight, i.e., the eye point, sitting in the driver's seat is different, the driver perceives the distance from the preceding vehicle differently. In a situation where a difference is likely to occur between the distance from the preceding vehicle felt by the driver and the actual distance, it is preferable to issue an alarm at an earlier timing than usual. Therefore, there was room for improvement in order to alarm the driver at an appropriate timing.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of such problems, and provides an alarm device capable of alarming the driver at a more appropriate timing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The alarm device according to the present disclosure is an alarm device that measures the distance from a preceding vehicle and issues an alarm when approaching the preceding vehicle, including a distance detection unit that detects the distance from the preceding vehicle, and a driver situation detection unit that detects the situation of the driver. A vehicle condition detection unit that detects the vehicle condition of the vehicle driven by the driver; Based on the detected driver condition and the detected vehicle condition, a prediction unit that predicts whether it is a situation in which a difference is likely to occur between the inter-vehicle distance sensibly recognized by the driver and the detected inter-vehicle distance; An alarm unit that gives an alarm at a timing earlier than when it is predicted that it is not a situation in which a difference is likely to occur, when it is predicted that it is a situation in which a difference is likely to occur between the inter-vehicle distance sensibly recognized by the driver and the detected inter-vehicle distance.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, an alarm device capable of alarming a driver at a more appropriate timing can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] <Embodiment 1> With reference to FIG. 1, the configuration of the alarm device 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. The alarm device 100 is a device that measures the inter-vehicle distance from a preceding vehicle and alarms the driver when approaching the preceding vehicle, and may be an in-vehicle device. As shown in FIG. 1, the alarm device 100 includes an inter-vehicle distance detection unit 20, a driver condition detection unit 30, a prediction unit 60, and an alarm unit 80.

[0010] The inter-vehicle distance detection unit 20 is a measuring device that measures the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the vehicle driven by the driver. The method for measuring the inter-vehicle distance is not particularly limited and may be measured by a known method. The driver situation detection unit 30 is a detection device that detects the situation of the driver. The situation of the driver is information regarding the driver during driving. Specifically, for example, it is the driver's eye point or the driver's behavior, etc. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the eye point. As shown in FIG. 2, the eye point A of the driver 500 sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle 400 is the height of the driver 500's eyes based on the height of the ground 600 with which the vehicle 400 is in contact. The driver's behavior may include the driver's awareness, etc. that is inferred by analyzing sounds and images indicating the driver's attributes, skills, and the driver's speech, movements, expressions, etc. The method for detecting the driver situation is not particularly limited and may be detected by a known method.

[0011] The vehicle situation detection unit 40 is a detection device that detects the vehicle situation of the vehicle driven by the driver. Here, the situation of the vehicle is, for example, vehicle type, vehicle height, vehicle size, vehicle shape, and vehicle speed, etc. Specific examples of the vehicle shape include a bonnet, a cab-over, and a truck crane, etc. The method for detecting the vehicle situation is not particularly limited and may be measured by a known method.

[0012] The prediction unit 60 is an information processing device that predicts whether a situation is likely to cause a difference between the inter-vehicle distance that the driver perceives intuitively and the actual inter-vehicle distance, i.e., the inter-vehicle distance detected by the inter-vehicle distance detection unit 20, based on the driver's situation detected by the driver situation detection unit 30 and the vehicle situation of the vehicle driven by the driver detected by the vehicle situation detection unit 40. Hereinafter, the case where the driver's situation detected by the driver situation detection unit 30 is the driver's eye point will be described. When the vehicle driven by the driver is a vehicle with a high vehicle height such as a large vehicle, the driver's eye point becomes higher. In this case, the driver is likely to feel that the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle is long. Also, when the vehicle driven by the driver is a vehicle with a low vehicle height, the driver's eye point becomes lower. In this case, it is difficult for the driver to understand the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle. Therefore, when the eye point detected by the driver situation detection unit 30 is outside the predetermined range, the prediction unit 60 predicts that a situation is likely to cause a difference between the inter-vehicle distance that the driver perceives intuitively and the actual inter-vehicle distance, that is, a situation where an illusion is likely to occur. The predetermined range of the eye point is set as appropriate. For example, it may be determined that when the eye point is less than 1.1 m, it is "low eye point", when the eye point is 1.1 m or more and less than 1.2 m, it is "ordinary eye point", and when the eye point is 2 m or more, it is "high eye point". In this case, when the eye point is low or high, the prediction unit 60 predicts that it is a situation where an illusion is likely to occur for the driver. Also, when the eye point is ordinary, the prediction unit 60 predicts that it is not a situation where an illusion is likely to occur for the driver.

[0013] The warning unit 80 is a device that warns the driver when approaching the preceding vehicle, i.e., when the inter-vehicle distance becomes less than or equal to a predetermined value. The warning unit 80 warns the driver, for example, by emitting a voice of a message prompting the driver, such as "You are approaching the vehicle ahead. Please slow down and maintain a safe inter-vehicle distance." Also, in a situation where an illusion is likely to occur for the driver, the warning unit 80 may issue a warning that conveys to the driver that there may be an illusion, such as a message guiding the line of sight or a message informing the measured value of the inter-vehicle distance.

[0014] When the prediction unit 60 predicts that the situation is not likely to cause an illusion for the driver, the warning unit 80 warns the driver when the inter-vehicle distance becomes less than or equal to the safe inter-vehicle distance. Here, the safe inter-vehicle distance is usually the minimum inter-vehicle distance required for safe driving, for example, a distance equal to or greater than the sum of the coasting distance and the stopping distance. When the prediction unit 60 predicts that the situation is likely to cause an illusion for the driver, the warning unit 80 warns the driver at a timing earlier than when it is predicted that the situation is not likely to cause an illusion, that is, when the inter-vehicle distance becomes less than a reference value greater than the safe inter-vehicle distance. For example, when it is predicted that the situation is not likely to cause an illusion, the warning unit 80 warns when the inter-vehicle distance becomes 25 m or less, which is the normal safe inter-vehicle distance. Also, when it is predicted that the situation is likely to cause an illusion, the warning unit 80 warns when the inter-vehicle distance becomes 50 m or less, which is a reference value greater than the normal safe inter-vehicle distance. Here, the normal safe inter-vehicle distance and the reference value greater than the normal safe inter-vehicle distance may be appropriately set according to vehicle conditions (such as vehicle speed) and surrounding conditions (such as traffic jams). Also, the warning unit 80 may give a warning based on the inter-vehicle time instead of the inter-vehicle distance.

[0015] Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the flow of an alarm method for performing an alarm using the alarm device 100 will be described. The alarm method shown in FIG. 3 is constantly executed while the vehicle is moving. In other words, the alarm device 100 constantly measures the inter-vehicle distance and detects the driver's situation, and alarms the driver according to the measurement result and the detection result. In the alarm method using the alarm device 100, the inter-vehicle distance detection unit 20 constantly detects the inter-vehicle distance, and the driver situation detection unit 30 and the vehicle situation detection unit 40 constantly measure the driver's eye point. Then, the prediction unit 60 determines whether the eye point detected by the driver situation detection unit 30 and the vehicle situation detection unit 40 is within a predetermined range (step S101). When the eye point is within the predetermined range (step S101 Yes), the alarm unit 80 alarms the driver when the inter-vehicle distance becomes equal to or less than the reference value B (step S102 Yes) (step S103). Note that the reference value B is a normal safe inter-vehicle distance and is a value smaller than the reference value C described later. When the eye point is outside the predetermined range (step S101 No), the alarm unit 80 alarms the driver when the inter-vehicle distance becomes equal to or less than the reference value C (step S104 Yes) (step S103). In this way, when the eye point is outside the predetermined range, the alarm device 100 alarms at a timing when the inter-vehicle distance is longer compared to the case where the eye point is within the predetermined range. In other words, an alarm is issued earlier in a situation where the driver is likely to have an illusion. By issuing an alarm at an early timing, the driver can increase the inter-vehicle distance by taking appropriate measures even in a situation where an illusion is likely to occur, and can suppress the risk of sudden braking and collision. Therefore, the driver can drive more safely and can also relieve traffic congestion. In addition, it is expected that the driver can acquire a driving habit of maintaining an appropriate inter-vehicle distance according to the situation by being alarmed by the alarm device 100, that is, a learning effect is expected.

[0016] Note that the alarm device 100 includes a processor, a memory, and a storage device as components not shown in the figures. Further, the storage device stores a computer program in which the processing of the alarm method according to the present disclosure is implemented. Then, the processor causes the memory to read the computer program from the storage device and executes the computer program. Thereby, the processor realizes some or all of the functions of each component included in the alarm device 100.

[0017] Moreover, each component included in the alarm device 100 may be realized by dedicated hardware respectively. Also, some or all of the components of each device may be realized by general-purpose or dedicated circuitry, processors, etc., or combinations thereof. These may be constituted by a single chip or by a plurality of chips connected via a bus. Some or all of the components of each device may be realized by a combination of the above-described circuitry, etc. and a program. Also, as the processor, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), etc. can be used.

[0018] <Embodiment 2> Embodiment 2 is a modification of Embodiment 1. Referring to FIG. 4, the configuration of the alarm device 200 according to Embodiment 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the alarm device 200 includes a vehicle condition detection unit 40, a surrounding condition detection unit 50, and a driving tendency data generation unit 70.

[0019] The vehicle condition detection unit 40 is a detection device that detects the vehicle condition of the vehicle driven by the driver and further detects the vehicle condition of the preceding vehicle. The method for detecting the vehicle condition of the preceding vehicle is not particularly limited and may be measured by a known method.

[0020] The surrounding situation detection unit 50 is a detection device that detects the situation around the vehicle driven by the driver. Here, the surrounding situation refers to, for example, information regarding time, weather, road, road surface, traffic jam, and side scenery. Specific examples of the road include highways, general roads, slopes, curves, intersections, and tunnels, etc.

[0021] The prediction unit 60 predicts whether it is a situation in which the driver is likely to have an illusion based on at least one of the driver situation detected by the driver situation detection unit 30, the vehicle situation detected by the vehicle situation detection unit 40, and the surrounding situation detected by the surrounding situation detection unit 50. For example, when the vehicle size of the preceding vehicle is large like a truck or a bus, etc., the driver is likely to feel that the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle is short. Therefore, it is easy to take too long an inter-vehicle distance and for other vehicles to cut in. Thus, when the vehicle size of the preceding vehicle is large, the prediction unit 60 predicts that it is a situation in which the driver is likely to have an illusion, and the warning unit 80 warns the driver to shorten the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle. Also, when the side scenery does not change for a long time, such as when driving in a tunnel, etc., the driver is likely to feel that the vehicle speed is slower than the actual speed. Therefore, the risk of speeding is high. Thus, when there is little variation in the side scenery, the prediction unit 60 predicts that it is a situation in which the driver is likely to have an illusion, and the warning unit 80 warns the driver to pay attention to speeding.

[0022] The driving tendency data generation unit 70 is an information processing device that generates driving tendency data for each driver. Here, the driving tendency data indicates driving tendencies such as the way of maintaining the inter-vehicle distance in steady driving (including cases where there is no significant difference between the inter-vehicle distance perceived by the driver and the actual inter-vehicle distance), and the measured values such as the inter-vehicle distance change due to driving behaviors including the driver's attributes, skills, and awareness. That is, the driving tendency data is data indicating driving tendencies such as the way of maintaining the inter-vehicle distance, which is aggregated by associating various data detected by the inter-vehicle distance detection unit 20, the driver situation detection unit 30, the vehicle situation detection unit 40, etc. The warning unit 80 may take into account the driving tendency data generated by the driving tendency data generation unit 70 and change the timing and content of the warning to the driver. For example, when the driver tends to keep a shorter inter-vehicle distance compared to the safe inter-vehicle distance, the driver may be warned at an earlier timing than when the driver tends to maintain the safe inter-vehicle distance to prevent sudden approach, or the warning content may be changed to improve the way of maintaining the inter-vehicle distance. For example, when the driver tends to always stably maintain the safe inter-vehicle distance, the warning timing may be delayed or the warning frequency may be reduced to reduce the driver's annoyance.

[0023] Also, the warning unit 80 may change the warning content based on the driver situation indicating the driver's behavior before the warning. For example, when the driver's behavior matches the behavior regarded as aggressive driving, the warning unit 80 may change the warning content to prevent aggressive driving. Also, the warning unit 80 may change the next warning content based on the change in the vehicle situation of the vehicle driven by the driver after the warning. For example, when the change in the vehicle situation after the warning matches the behavior regarded as aggressive driving, the warning unit 80 may change the next warning content to prevent aggressive driving.

[0024] Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist. Also, the present disclosure may be implemented by appropriately combining the embodiments and examples thereof.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0025] 20 Inter-vehicle distance detection unit 30 Driver condition detection unit 40 Vehicle condition detection unit 50 Surrounding condition detection unit 60 Prediction unit 70 Driving tendency data generation unit 80 Warning unit 100, 200 Warning device 400 Vehicle 500 Driver 600 Ground

Claims

1. An alarm device that measures the distance between a vehicle and a preceding vehicle and issues an alarm when approaching the preceding vehicle, comprising: a distance detection unit that detects the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle; a driver situation detection unit that detects the situation of the driver; a vehicle situation detection unit that detects the situation of the vehicle driven by the driver; a prediction unit that predicts whether a situation is likely to cause a difference between the distance between vehicles perceptually recognized by the driver and the detected distance between vehicles based on the detected driver situation and the detected vehicle situation; an alarm unit that issues an alarm at a timing earlier than when it is predicted that the situation is not likely to cause a difference, when it is predicted that a situation is likely to cause a difference between the distance between vehicles perceptually recognized by the driver and the detected distance between vehicles; An alarm device.

2. The driver situation detection unit detects at least the driver's eye point as the situation of the driver, and the prediction unit predicts that a situation is likely to cause a difference between the distance between vehicles perceptually recognized by the driver and the detected distance between vehicles when the detected eye point is outside a predetermined range. The alarm device according to Claim 1.

3. The alarm device further comprises a vehicle situation detection unit that detects the situation of the preceding vehicle, and a surrounding situation detection unit that detects the situation around the vehicle driven by the driver, and the prediction unit predicts whether a situation is likely to cause a difference between the distance between vehicles perceptually recognized by the driver and the detected distance between vehicles based on at least one of the detected vehicle situation and the detected surrounding situation and the detected driver situation. The alarm device according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The alarm device further comprises a driving tendency data generation unit that generates driving tendency data for each driver, and the alarm unit changes the alarm content in consideration of the driving tendency data. The alarm device according to Claim 1 or 2.

5. The alarm unit changes the next alarm content based on a change in the situation of the vehicle driven by the driver after the alarm. The alarm device according to Claim 1 or 2. ​

Images