Driving assistance systems

Abstract

By allowing drivers to quickly and easily disable false or unnecessary warnings, the system reduces the annoyance of warnings for drivers. [Solution] A driver assistance device 100 that warns the driver of a vehicle about driver assistance functions such as PCS and LDA when the driver assistance functions of the vehicle are turned on, and is equipped with a warning cancellation switch 3 on the steering wheel of the vehicle, and when the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed while a warning is being executed, the warning is stopped.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a driving assistance device. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-140646 is known as a technical document related to driving assistance devices. This publication discloses a device that clearly warns a driver of a departure direction when there is a possibility that the vehicle will depart from the driving lane. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-140646 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] However, in practice, a warning may be output in a situation where the vehicle does not actually depart from the lane. In such a case, even if the driver wants to stop the warning, the warning cannot be easily canceled, and there is a possibility that the driver feels annoyed. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is a driving assistance device that issues a warning related to a driving assistance function to a driver of a vehicle when the driving assistance function of the vehicle is in an on state, the driving assistance device comprising a warning cancel switch provided on a steering wheel of the vehicle, and stops the warning when the warning cancel switch is pressed during execution of the warning. [Effect of the Invention]

[0006] According to each aspect of the present invention, when a driver receives a false warning or an unnecessary warning, the driver can quickly and easily stop the warning, thereby reducing the annoyance caused by the warning. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A block diagram showing a driver assistance device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of a warning cancellation switch and a warning display for driver assistance control. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows an example of the warning cancellation process for a driver assistance system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0009] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing a driver assistance device 100 according to one embodiment. The driver assistance device 100 shown in Figure 1 is a device that performs driver assistance control to assist the driver of a vehicle, and also warns the driver about the driver assistance function when the vehicle's driver assistance function is turned on. The driver assistance control includes PCS (Pre-Collision System) or LDA (Lane Departure Alert). The state in which the driver assistance function is turned on means that the execution of the vehicle's driver assistance control is permitted by the driver's settings operation or the like.

[0010] The driver assistance system 100 emits a warning sound or display to the driver when the PCS function or LDA function is activated. This warning is an important function for informing the driver of danger, but false warnings or unnecessary warnings may be issued.

[0011] The driver assistance system 100 includes an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 10. The ECU 10 is an electronic control unit having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory unit. The memory unit consists of, for example, ROM (Read-Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). The ECU 10 realizes various functions by, for example, executing a program stored in the memory unit with the CPU. The ECU 10 may be composed of multiple electronic units, or it may be part of another ECU.

[0012] The ECU10 is connected to an external sensor 1, an internal sensor 2, a warning cancellation switch 3, a MID (Multi Information Display) 4, and a speaker 5.

[0013] External sensor 1 is a detection device that detects the surrounding conditions of the vehicle. External sensor 1 includes at least one of a camera and a radar sensor. The camera is an imaging device that captures images of the external conditions of the vehicle. The camera is installed, for example, behind the vehicle's windshield and captures images of the area in front of the vehicle. The camera transmits the captured images of the external conditions of the vehicle to the ECU 10. The radar sensor is a detection device that detects objects around the vehicle using radio waves (e.g., millimeter waves) or light. Radar sensors include, for example, millimeter-wave radar or LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). The radar sensor transmits information about the detected objects to the ECU 10.

[0014] Internal sensor 2 is a detection device that detects the vehicle's driving state. Internal sensor 2 includes a vehicle speed sensor and a yaw rate sensor. The vehicle speed sensor is a detector that detects the vehicle's speed. The vehicle speed sensor transmits the detected vehicle speed information to the ECU 10. The yaw rate sensor is a detector that detects the yaw rate (rotational angular velocity) around the vertical axis of the vehicle's center of gravity. For example, a gyro sensor can be used as the yaw rate sensor. The yaw rate sensor transmits the detected vehicle yaw rate information to the ECU 10.

[0015] The warning cancellation switch 3 is used to stop a warning issued to the driver regarding a driver assistance function when the driver assistance function is turned on. For example, if the PCS function or LDA function issues a false warning, the driver can stop the warning by pressing the warning cancellation switch 3.

[0016] The warning cancellation switch 3 is located on the vehicle's steering wheel and is positioned in a location accessible to the driver while driving. Specifically, it can be located in the center or on the spokes of the steering wheel. It may also be located in the same place as the steering wheel's volume switch. The warning cancellation switch 3 can be positioned in a location that does not require the driver to change their grip on the steering wheel. The warning cancellation switch 3 may be a touch switch or a contactless switch, rather than a hard switch.

[0017] Here, Figure 2 shows an example of a warning cancellation switch 3 and a warning display for driver assistance control. Figure 2 shows the warning cancellation switch 3, MID 4, and the warning display 50 shown on the MID 4. As shown in Figure 2, the warning cancellation switch 3 can be positioned in the center of the steering wheel, for example.

[0018] MID4 is a display that forms part of the instrument panel within the driver's field of view. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, MID4 is incorporated in the meter panel of a vehicle and displayed together with other driving information such as a speedometer and a fuel gauge. On MID4, as a warning for driving assistance control, for example, a warning display 50 in which an exclamation mark is drawn in a triangular frame is displayed. The warning display 50 may be in a blinking mode.

[0019] The warning display 50 is displayed, for example, when the PCS function or the LDA function is activated. When the PCS function is activated, a warning for an obstacle ahead is displayed, and when the LDA function is activated, a warning for lane departure is displayed. This allows the driver to quickly take appropriate action according to the current driving situation.

[0020] The speaker 5 is a device for outputting voice guidance and warning sounds to the driver. As an example, the speaker 5 is provided inside a vehicle door or on the back side of a meter panel. The speaker 5 outputs a warning sound such as "beep beep" as a warning in driving assistance control. The speaker 5 may be configured to warn the driver by means of a voice message.

[0021] Next, the functional configuration of the ECU 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the ECU 10 includes a driving assistance control unit 11 and a warning cancellation unit 12.

[0022] The driving assistance control unit 11 executes various types of driving assistance control based on information from the external sensor 1 and the internal sensor 2. The driving assistance control unit 11 executes driving assistance control according to the vehicle situation when the driving assistance function is turned on by the driver.

[0023] The driving support control unit 11 integrates information from the external sensor 1 and the internal sensor 2 to grasp the current situation of the vehicle. For example, when there is an obstacle ahead or when the vehicle is about to deviate from the lane, the driving support control unit 11 executes appropriate driving support control. Specifically, it activates the PCS function and the LDA function, and issues an alarm sound or an alarm display to the driver. In addition, automatic braking or steering assist may be performed as necessary. Well-known techniques can be employed for the details of the driving support control.

[0024] The warning cancellation unit 12 detects whether the warning cancellation switch 3 has been pressed when a warning related to driving support control is issued by the driving support control unit 11. When the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed, the warning cancellation unit 12 stops the warning related to driving support control. For example, the warning cancellation unit 12 turns off the display of the warning display 50 and stops the warning sound.

[0025] In addition, when the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed and the warning is stopped, the warning cancellation unit 12 monitors the time elapsed after the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed. The warning cancellation unit 12 prohibits warnings related to driving support control from when the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed until a first set time elapses. The first set time is a preset time. The first set time may be customizable by a driver. The first set time may be 5 minutes or 10 minutes. The first set time is not particularly limited.

[0026] The warning cancellation unit 12 may change the duration for which the warning is prohibited according to how the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed. For example, when the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed and held, or when the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed twice in succession, the warning cancellation unit 12 prohibits warnings related to driving support control from when the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed until a second set time elapses.

[0027] A long press means that the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed and held for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period may be 3 seconds or 5 seconds. The predetermined period is not particularly limited. The second set time is longer than the first set time. The second set time may be customizable by the driver. The second set time may be 15 minutes or 30 minutes.

[0028] The warning cancellation unit 12 may set a cancellation period during which the warning can be canceled. The warning cancellation unit 12 may, for example, accept a request to stop the warning by the warning cancellation switch 3 only for a certain cancellation period (e.g., 5 seconds) after the warning has started. If the cancellation period has elapsed, the warning may be output to completion even if the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed.

[0029] The warning cancellation unit 12 may also be able to release the warning prohibition if the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed and the warning is prohibited for a first set time or a second set time. The warning cancellation unit 12 will release the warning prohibition if it can determine the driver's intention to release the warning prohibition, for example, by pressing and holding the warning cancellation switch 3, pressing it twice in a row, or pressing it three times in a row while the warning is prohibited. Separately from the warning cancellation switch 3, a switch for releasing the warning prohibition may be provided near the driver's seat. The warning prohibition may also be released by the user customization function in MID4.

[0030] Next, the control method of the driver assistance device 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 3 shows a flowchart of the warning cancellation process of the driver assistance device according to one embodiment of the present invention. This flowchart explains in detail the processing procedure when the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed.

[0031] First, in step S10, the ECU10 determines whether the warning cancellation switch 3 has been pressed. If the warning cancellation switch 3 has not been pressed (NO), the ECU10 continues the warning. On the other hand, if the warning cancellation switch 3 has been pressed (YES), the ECU10 proceeds to step S11 and stops the warning.

[0032] Next, in step S12, the ECU 10 determines whether the warning cancellation switch 3 was pressed and held down or pressed twice in quick succession. If the warning cancellation switch 3 was pressed and held down or pressed twice in quick succession (YES), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S13. In step S13, the ECU 10 performs a warning disabling process, which prevents the warning from being issued until the second set time has elapsed. Since the second set time is set to be longer than the first set time, the driver can continue driving without receiving a warning for a certain period of time. After that, the ECU 10 terminates this process.

[0033] On the other hand, if the warning cancellation switch 3 is not pressed and held down and not pressed twice in a row (NO), the ECU 10 proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the ECU 10 performs a warning disabling process, which prevents the warning from being issued until the first set time has elapsed. The first set time is set to a relatively short period, allowing the driver to continue driving without receiving a warning for a short time. After that, the ECU 10 terminates this process.

[0034] According to the driver assistance device 100 of this embodiment described above, when the vehicle's driver assistance function is turned on, the warning cancellation switch 3 is provided so that the driver can stop the warning by pressing this switch while the warning is being issued. With this configuration, the driver can quickly and easily stop warnings when they are false or unnecessary, reducing the annoyance of warnings. Furthermore, since the warning cancellation switch 3 is located on the steering wheel, the driver can operate it without having to move their eyes or take their hands off the steering wheel, thus ensuring driver convenience.

[0035] Furthermore, according to the driver assistance device 100, when the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed, no warning is issued until a first set time has elapsed from the time the warning cancellation switch is pressed. This configuration allows the driver to continue driving without receiving a warning for a short period of time if they receive a false or unnecessary warning, thereby improving the driver's driving comfort.

[0036] Furthermore, according to the driver assistance device 100, when the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed and held or pressed twice in quick succession, no warning is issued until a second set time has elapsed from the time the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed. The second set time is longer than the first set time. This configuration allows the driver to continue driving without receiving warnings for a longer period of time, even if false or unnecessary warnings continue to occur.

[0037] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. The present invention can be implemented in various forms, starting with the embodiments described above, by making various changes and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0038] The driver assistance device 100 may be configured to stop only the warning when the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed, and not to prohibit any warnings that occur afterward. Alternatively, the driver assistance device 100 may be configured to prohibit warnings after the warning cancellation switch 3 is pressed, until the vehicle's engine is stopped. In this case, neither the first setting time nor the second setting time is necessary.

[0039] The driver assistance device 100 does not necessarily need to detect that the warning cancellation switch 3 has been pressed for a long time or pressed twice in quick succession. The driver assistance device 100 does not need to set a second setting time. The driver assistance device 100 may also stop the warning by recognizing the driver's voice command to stop the warning through voice recognition. The warning display may be shown on the center display or head-up display instead of the MID4. The warning display may also be an indicator.

[0040] The driver assistance device 100 may have a function to learn the history of warning cancellations, automatically recognize patterns of false warnings, and suppress warnings. This function stores the history of false or unnecessary warnings when the driver receives them, and suppresses similar false warnings the next time a warning occurs.

[0041] The driver assistance device 100 has a built-in database for accumulating a history of warning cancellations. This database records information such as the date and time a warning occurred, the type of warning, and when the warning cancellation switch 3 was pressed. The driver assistance device 100 is equipped with an algorithm for learning false warning patterns based on the accumulated history data. This algorithm uses machine learning technology to extract characteristics of false warnings from past warning cancellation history and detects similar patterns when warnings occur in the future.

[0042] When the learning algorithm recognizes a pattern of false warnings, the driver assistance system 100 automatically suppresses warnings that match that pattern the next time a warning occurs. Specifically, if a warning is determined to be a false warning, it controls the system so as not to emit a warning sound or display a warning. This function enables the driver assistance system 100 to reduce false warnings. By learning the patterns of false warnings based on past warning cancellation history, the system can automatically suppress false warnings in the future, thus reducing the frequency with which the driver receives unnecessary warnings and alleviating the hassle of driving.

[0043] Furthermore, by reducing false warnings, drivers can concentrate on driving without feeling stressed by warnings. This improves driving comfort and promotes safe driving. In addition, the learning algorithm allows the driver assistance system 100 to adapt to the driver's driving style and environment. This enables warning control optimized for each individual driver, resulting in more effective driver assistance.

[0044] For example, if the driver assistance system 100 is equipped with an LDA (Lane Departure Alert) function, a history of warning cancellations exceeding a certain value under specific conditions (e.g., a predetermined section on a map) has been accumulated. In this case, the driver assistance system 100 learns the warning cancellation history under those conditions, and when similar conditions occur in the future, it determines that it is a false warning and suppresses the warning or reduces the volume of the warning. In this way, the driver can continue driving without experiencing the annoyance of false warnings. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1...External sensor, 2...Internal sensor, 3...Warning cancellation switch, 4...MID, 5...Speaker, 10...ECU, 11...Driving support control unit, 12...Warning cancellation unit, 100...Driving support device.

Claims

1. A driver assistance device that, when the driver assistance function of the vehicle is turned on, provides a warning to the driver of the vehicle regarding the driver assistance function, The vehicle is equipped with a warning cancellation switch located on the steering wheel, A driver assistance device that stops the warning when the warning cancellation switch is pressed while the warning is being issued.

2. The driving support device according to claim 1, wherein when the warning cancellation switch is pressed, the warning is not executed until a first set time has elapsed from the time the warning cancellation switch is pressed.

3. When the warning cancellation switch is pressed and held down, or when the warning cancellation switch is pressed twice in quick succession, the warning will not be executed until the second set time has elapsed from the time the warning cancellation switch is pressed. The driving support device according to claim 2, wherein the second setting time is longer than the first setting time.

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