Notification control device and notification system

Abstract

To provide a notification control device and a notification system capable of reducing an annoyance felt by a user for notification of washing implementation in notifying the user of a vehicle of the washing implementation of a periphery monitoring device.SOLUTION: A notification control device for controlling a notification device which notifies a user of a vehicle is configured that when a periphery monitoring device mounted on the vehicle is being washed, the notification control device causes the notification device to notify that the periphery monitoring device is being washed; and when a washing frequency of the periphery monitoring device is equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency, the notification control device controls the notification device so that the notification frequency of the washing is lower than the washing frequency, or that the notification of the implementation of the washing is less conspicuous than when the washing frequency is less than the predetermined frequency.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a notification control device for controlling a notification device that notifies a vehicle user, and a notification system including the notification control device. [Background technology]

[0002] With the development of electrification and automation technologies, vehicles are equipped with perimeter monitoring devices to perform automatic driving and driving assistance. Here, dirt, water droplets, and other attachments adhere to the lens of the perimeter monitoring device or the cover or glass in front of the lens. Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for cleaning the perimeter monitoring device with a cleaning device when the perimeter monitoring device becomes dirty with attachments. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-104365 A [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-086787 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, if a notification of cleaning is sent to the user of the vehicle when the surroundings monitoring device is being cleaned, the user will be able to know that the surroundings monitoring device is being cleaned, and the user can be encouraged to drive more carefully.

[0005] However, when a vehicle is traveling in an environment where the periphery monitoring device is likely to become soiled, cleaning of the periphery monitoring device is repeatedly performed within a short period of time, in other words, cleaning of the periphery monitoring device is performed frequently. Accordingly, notifications of cleaning of the periphery monitoring device are also performed frequently, which may be annoying for some users.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a notification control device and notification system that can reduce the annoyance felt by the vehicle user when notifying the user that a surrounding monitoring device needs to be cleaned. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A notification control device according to one aspect of the present invention includes: A notification control device for controlling a notification device that notifies a user of a vehicle, When the surroundings monitoring device mounted on the vehicle is being washed, the notification device is caused to notify that the surroundings monitoring device is being washed; When the cleaning frequency of the periphery monitoring device is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency, the notification device is controlled so that the frequency of the notification to perform cleaning is lowered relative to the cleaning frequency, or the notification to perform cleaning is made less noticeable compared to when the cleaning frequency is less than the predetermined frequency. The present invention relates to a notification control device.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention is The notification control device; A notification device that is controlled by the notification control device and that provides a notification to a user of the vehicle; The notification system includes: Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, when the cleaning frequency of the surrounding monitoring device is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency, the frequency of the notification to perform cleaning is lowered relative to the cleaning frequency, or the notification to perform cleaning is made less noticeable compared to when the cleaning frequency is less than the predetermined frequency. Therefore, when notifying the vehicle user that the surrounding monitoring device needs to be cleaned, the annoyance felt by the user by the notification to perform cleaning can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the main control operations of the ECU. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of the display screen of the center display. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the following description and drawings are appropriately simplified for clarity of explanation.

[0012] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a washing system 100 of the first embodiment. The washing system 100 is a system for washing an on-board camera 102. The on-board camera 102 is an example of a surroundings monitoring device mounted on a vehicle. Image data acquired by the on-board camera 102 is used for controlling automatic driving and driving assistance of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, the washing system 100 includes an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as "ECU") 101, the on-board camera 102, a dirt detection sensor 103, a washing device 104, a head-up display 105, and a notification setting device 106. The ECU 101 is connected to each of the dirt detection sensor 103, the washing device 104, the head-up display 105, and the notification setting device 106 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0013] The dirt detection sensor 103 is a sensor for detecting dirt on the lens of the vehicle-mounted camera 102 or on a cover or glass in front of the lens. The cleaning device 104 is a device for cleaning the vehicle-mounted camera 102. The ECU 101 is functionally equipped with a cleaning control unit 1011. When the dirt detection sensor 103 detects dirt on the vehicle-mounted camera 102, the cleaning control unit 1011 operates the cleaning device 104 to clean the vehicle-mounted camera 102. The head-up display 105 is an example of a notification device that notifies the user of the vehicle, and when the cleaning device 104 is cleaning the vehicle-mounted camera 102, the head-up display 105 notifies the user of the vehicle that the cleaning device 104 is cleaning the vehicle-mounted camera 102. When the cleaning of the vehicle-mounted camera 102 is being performed, the head-up display 105 displays that the cleaning is being performed. The notification setting device 106 is a device that allows the user to change the setting of the notification mode of the cleaning performed by the head-up display 105 by a user operation. The ECU 101 functionally includes a determination unit 1012 and a notification control unit 1013 in order to cause the head-up display 105 to notify the driver that the in-vehicle camera 102 should be cleaned, that is, to control the head-up display 105 .

[0014] When a notification is issued to clean the vehicle-mounted camera 102, if the vehicle is traveling in an environment where the vehicle-mounted camera 102 is likely to become soiled, the vehicle-mounted camera 102 is repeatedly cleaned within a short period of time, in other words, the vehicle-mounted camera 102 is cleaned frequently, and accordingly, the notification to clean the vehicle is also issued frequently. In this case, some users may find the notification to clean the vehicle annoying.

[0015] The notification setting device 106 is provided to reduce the annoyance felt by the user in response to the notification of cleaning, and is a device that enables the user to change the setting from a notification mode that notifies the user of cleaning every time the in-vehicle camera 102 is cleaned (hereinafter referred to as a "normal notification mode") to a notification mode for reducing the annoyance felt by the user (hereinafter referred to as a "specific notification mode"). The notification setting device 106 of this embodiment is configured so that the user can select whether to allow or not allow the setting change of the notification mode from the normal notification mode to the specific notification mode. Also, in this embodiment, the specific notification mode is set to a notification mode that lowers the frequency of the notification of cleaning compared to the cleaning frequency, as described later.

[0016] The determination unit 1012 included in the ECU 101 determines whether or not the notification setting device 106 is permitted to change the setting of the notification mode from the normal notification mode to the specific notification mode.

[0017] Furthermore, the determination unit 1012 determines whether the cleaning frequency of the vehicle-mounted camera 102 is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency.

[0018] Furthermore, the determination unit 1012 determines whether the driving state of the vehicle is a predetermined driving state. Here, the predetermined driving state is a driving state in which it is desirable to notify the user of the cleaning execution in a normal notification manner, and is a driving state in which the user is assumed to be paying attention to the driving of the vehicle. Examples of the predetermined driving state include a driving state in which the user holds the steering wheel while driving, a driving state on a highway, and a driving state in a traffic jam.

[0019] The notification control unit 1013 included in the ECU 101 controls the head-up display 105 based on the result of the determination by the determination unit 1012 .

[0020] FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the main control operations of the ECU 101, which are executed every time the vehicle-mounted camera 102 is washed.

[0021] 2, first, in step S11 (hereinafter, "step" will be omitted) corresponding to the function of the determination unit 1012, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is in a predetermined driving state, for example, whether or not the vehicle is in a driving state in which the user is gripping the steering wheel to drive. If a positive determination is made in S11, the process proceeds to S15, and if a negative determination is made in S11, the process proceeds to S12.

[0022] In S12, which corresponds to the function of the determination unit 1012, it is determined whether the cleaning frequency of the in-vehicle camera 102 is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency. Whether the cleaning frequency is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency may be determined by whether the elapsed time from the previous cleaning to the current cleaning is less than a predetermined time, or by whether the number of cleanings performed within a predetermined time is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. If a positive determination is made in S12, the process proceeds to S13, and if a negative determination is made in S12, the process proceeds to S15.

[0023] In S13, which corresponds to the function of the determination unit 1012, it is determined whether or not a change in setting from a normal notification mode to a specific notification mode is permitted by the notification setting device 106. If a positive determination is made in S13, the process proceeds to S14, and if a negative determination is made in S13, the process proceeds to S15.

[0024] In S14, which corresponds to the function of the notification control unit 1013, a process of notifying the execution of cleaning is executed in a specific notification mode. Specifically, the head-up display 105 is caused to display that cleaning is being executed for a predetermined time longer than the time that cleaning is repeated. This makes it possible to lower the frequency of notification of cleaning execution relative to the cleaning frequency. After the process of S14 is executed, the current routine is returned.

[0025] In S15, which corresponds to the function of the notification control unit 1013, the head-up display 105 is caused to display that washing is being performed. That is, the notification process of washing is executed in a normal notification mode. After the process of S14 is executed, the current routine is returned.

[0026] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the cleaning frequency of the vehicle-mounted camera 102 is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency, the frequency of the notification to perform cleaning is lowered relative to the cleaning frequency. This reduces the annoyance felt by the user of the vehicle in receiving the notification to perform cleaning of the vehicle-mounted camera 102.

[0027] According to the present embodiment, when the vehicle is in a predetermined driving state, the notification to perform cleaning is given in a normal notification manner regardless of the cleaning frequency. This makes it possible to appropriately notify the user to perform cleaning when it is assumed that the user is paying attention to driving the vehicle, thereby encouraging the user to drive more carefully.

[0028] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the user can select whether or not to permit a change in the notification mode setting from a normal notification mode to a specific notification mode, thereby improving user convenience.

[0029] Second embodiment 3 is a schematic diagram of a cleaning system 200 according to the second embodiment. The following mainly describes the parts that are different from the first embodiment. The cleaning system 200 according to the second embodiment is a system that cleans an on-board camera 202 and an optical sensor 203. The on-board camera 202 and the optical sensor 203 are examples of a surroundings monitoring device mounted on a vehicle. Image data acquired by the on-board camera 202 and measurement data acquired by the optical sensor 203 are used for controlling automatic driving and driving assistance of the vehicle. 3, the cleaning system 200 includes an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as "ECU") 201, an in-vehicle camera 202, an optical sensor 203, a first dirt detection sensor 204 that detects dirt on the in-vehicle camera 202, a second dirt detection sensor 205 that detects dirt on the optical sensor 203, a first cleaning device 206 that cleans the in-vehicle camera 202, a second cleaning device 207 that cleans the optical sensor 203, a center display 208, and a notification setting device 209. The ECU 201 is connected to each of the first dirt detection sensor 204, the second dirt detection sensor 205, the first cleaning device 206, the second cleaning device 207, the center display 208, and the notification setting device 209 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0030] The ECU 201 functionally includes a cleaning control unit 2011, and when the first dirt detection sensor 204 detects dirt on the vehicle-mounted camera 202, the cleaning control unit 2011 activates the first cleaning device 206 to clean the vehicle-mounted camera 202, and when the second dirt detection sensor 205 detects dirt on the optical sensor 203, the cleaning control unit 2011 activates the second cleaning device 207 to clean the optical sensor 203. The center display 208 is an example of a notification device that notifies the user of the vehicle, and notifies the user of the execution of cleaning. The notification setting device 209 is a device that allows the user to change the setting of the notification mode of the cleaning execution by the center display 208 through a user's operation, and is configured to allow the user to select whether or not to allow the setting change of the notification mode from the normal notification mode to a specific notification mode, as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the specific notification mode is set to a notification mode that lowers the notification frequency of the cleaning execution relative to the cleaning frequency, as in the first embodiment.

[0031] The ECU 201 functionally includes a determination unit 2012 similar to that of the first embodiment. The center display 208 functionally includes a notification control unit 2081 similar to that of the first embodiment. The center display 208 includes an electronic control unit, and the electronic control unit included in the center display 208 functions as the notification control unit 2081.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of the display screen 301 of the center display 208. The display screen 301 is provided with an icon 302 for displaying that the periphery monitoring device is being washed and a counter 303 for displaying the frequency of washing of the periphery monitoring device. In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, a plurality of periphery monitoring devices are washed. In this case, the notification device notifies the washing of the periphery monitoring device without distinguishing which periphery monitoring device is being washed. That is, in this embodiment, when the on-board camera 202 is being washed or the optical sensor 203 is being washed, the icon 302 lights up to display that the periphery monitoring device is being washed, without distinguishing whether the on-board camera 202 is being washed or the optical sensor 203 is being washed. In other words, the center display 208 regards the on-board camera 202 and the optical sensor 203 as one (integrated) periphery monitoring device, and displays that the periphery monitoring device is being washed.

[0033] As in the first embodiment, the determination unit 2012 provided in the ECU 201 determines whether or not the notification setting device 209 has permitted a change in the notification mode from a normal notification mode to a specific notification mode, whether or not the cleaning frequency of the periphery monitoring device is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency, and whether or not the driving state of the vehicle is a predetermined driving state. The cleaning frequency of the periphery monitoring device is the combined cleaning frequency of the in-vehicle camera 202 and the optical sensor 203. The determination unit 2012 obtains the cleaning frequency of the periphery monitoring device (the number of cleanings performed within a predetermined time), which is the combined cleaning frequency of the in-vehicle camera 202 and the optical sensor 203, and determines whether or not the cleaning frequency is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency.

[0034] The ECU 201 transmits the determination result of the determination unit 2012 and the cleaning frequency of the periphery monitoring device to the center display 208. The communication control unit 2081 provided in the center display 208 turns on the icon 302 based on the determination result of the determination unit 2012, similar to the first embodiment. The communication control unit 2081 also causes the counter 303 to display the cleaning frequency of the periphery monitoring device. Note that the cleaning frequency of the periphery monitoring device is always displayed and is not repeatedly turned on and off, so that the impact on the annoyance felt by the user is small.

[0035] This embodiment also provides the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0036] (Modification) In the first and second embodiments, as a specific notification mode for lowering the frequency of notification of cleaning execution relative to the cleaning frequency, the display is made to display that cleaning is being performed for a predetermined time longer than the time that cleaning is repeated, but it is also possible to make the display display that cleaning is being performed when the elapsed time from the notification of cleaning execution is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, and not to make the display display that cleaning is being performed when the elapsed time is less than the predetermined time. This also makes it possible to lower the frequency of notification of cleaning execution relative to the cleaning frequency.

[0037] In the first and second embodiments, the specific notification mode is set to a notification mode in which the frequency of notification of cleaning execution is lowered relative to the cleaning frequency, but the specific notification mode may be set to a notification mode in which the notification of cleaning execution is less noticeable than when the cleaning frequency is less than a predetermined frequency, that is, compared to the normal notification mode. For example, the specific notification mode may be a notification mode in which the display color of an icon provided on the display for indicating that cleaning is being performed is made lighter or less noticeable than the normal notification mode. Also, the specific notification mode may be a notification mode in which the display position of the indication that cleaning is being performed is changed to a position less noticeable than the normal notification mode, and then the indication that cleaning is being performed is displayed.

[0038] In the first and second embodiments, a display is used as the notification device to visually notify the vehicle user that cleaning is to be performed, but the notification device is not limited to a display and may be a speaker or the like that notifies the vehicle user that cleaning is to be performed audibly. In this case, an example of a notification mode that makes the notification that cleaning is to be performed less noticeable than a normal notification mode is to make the notification sound quieter than the normal notification mode.

[0039] In the first and second embodiments, the notification setting device is configured to allow the user to select whether to allow or not allow the setting change of the notification mode from a normal notification mode to a specific notification mode, but in addition to this configuration, the notification setting device may be configured to allow the user to arbitrarily limit the notification frequency by setting. In this case, the predetermined frequency in S12 and the predetermined time in S14 of the flowchart in FIG. 2 may be variably set according to the user's setting.

[0040] In the first and second embodiments, the determination unit determines whether or not the notification setting device is permitted to change the notification mode from a normal notification mode to a specific notification mode and whether or not the driving state of the vehicle is a predetermined driving state, but these determinations may be omitted. That is, S11 and S13 in the flowchart of Fig. 2 may be omitted. Also, the order of the determinations of S11, S12, and S13 may be interchanged.

[0041] In the first and second embodiments, an in-vehicle terminal such as a head-up display or a center display is used as the notification device, but the notification device may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

[0042] In the second embodiment, the frequency of cleaning of the perimeter monitoring device is displayed, but this display may be omitted.

[0043] In the second embodiment, when multiple periphery monitoring devices are cleaned, the notification device notifies the user that the periphery monitoring devices are to be cleaned without distinguishing which periphery monitoring devices are being cleaned. However, the notification device may notify each of the multiple periphery monitoring devices that the periphery monitoring devices are to be cleaned. In this case, the notification control unit may change the notification mode for each of the multiple periphery monitoring devices so that when the cleaning frequency is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency, the notification frequency of the cleaning is lower than the cleaning frequency, or the notification of the cleaning is less noticeable than when the cleaning frequency is less than the predetermined frequency. This also has the effect of reducing the annoyance felt by the user in response to the cleaning notification.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 100 Cleaning System 101 Electronic Control Unit (ECU) 1011 Cleaning control section 1012 Judgment section 1013 Notification control section 102 Car Camera 103 Dirt detection sensor 104 Notification setting device 105 Head-up display 106 Cleaning Equipment 200 Cleaning System 201 Electronic Control Unit (ECU) 2011 Cleaning control unit 2012 Judgment Department 202 In-vehicle camera 203 Optical Sensor 204 First dirt detection sensor 205 Second dirt detection sensor 206 First Cleaning Device 207 Second Cleaning Device 208 Center Display 2081 Notification control section 209 Notification setting device 301 Display screen 302 Icon 303 Counter

Claims

1. A notification control device for controlling a notification device that notifies a user of a vehicle, When the surroundings monitoring device mounted on the vehicle is being washed, the notification device is caused to notify that the surroundings monitoring device is being washed; When the cleaning frequency of the periphery monitoring device is equal to or greater than a predetermined frequency and the driving state of the vehicle is not a predetermined driving state, the notification device is controlled so that the frequency of the notification of cleaning execution is lowered relative to the cleaning frequency, or so that the notification of cleaning execution is less noticeable than when the cleaning frequency is less than the predetermined frequency, The predetermined driving state is a driving state in which the user is driving with his / her hands on the steering wheel. A notification control device comprising:

2. The notification control device according to claim 1 ; A notification device that is controlled by the notification control device and that provides a notification to a user of the vehicle; A notification system comprising:

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