Vehicle control device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle controller which can suggest a vehicle function without causing a user to feel troublesomeness.SOLUTION: A vehicle controller comprises a processor. The processor determines whether or not a travel situation of a vehicle is a recommended travel situation for suggesting a vehicle function provided in the vehicle to a user. If it is determined that the travel situation is the recommended travel situation, the processor suggests the vehicle function to the user when predetermined time elapses after suggesting the vehicle function at previous time and the vehicle travels for predetermined distance after suggesting the vehicle function at the previous time, and if frequencies to become the recommended travel situation exceeds a predetermined number of times, shortens frequencies for suggesting the vehicle function to the user more than previously set frequencies.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that suggests to a user to use a vehicle function when the driving conditions of a vehicle driven by the user become recommended driving conditions that recommend the use of the vehicle function provided in the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-074803 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, in case the user misses a suggestion of a vehicle function, it is possible to repeatedly suggest the vehicle function to the user at predetermined time intervals or after a predetermined distance has elapsed. However, since the user may feel annoyed if the vehicle function is suggested frequently, there has been a demand for a technology that can solve such a situation.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a vehicle control device that can suggest vehicle functions without causing a user to feel bothered. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle control device of the present disclosure includes a processor, which determines whether the driving conditions of the vehicle are recommended driving conditions for suggesting a vehicle function provided in the vehicle to a user, and when it is determined that the driving conditions are the recommended driving conditions, suggests the vehicle function to the user if a predetermined time has elapsed since the last time the vehicle function was suggested and a predetermined distance has been driven since the last time the vehicle function was suggested, and if the frequency of the recommended driving conditions exceed a predetermined number of times, the frequency of suggesting the vehicle function to the user is reduced below the frequency previously set. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, vehicle functions can be suggested without bothering the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a vehicle control system including a vehicle control device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle control system including the vehicle control device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of a vehicle control method executed by the vehicle control device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A vehicle control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that components in the following embodiments include those that are replaceable and easy for a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] (Vehicle Control System) A vehicle control system including a vehicle control device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The vehicle control system includes a vehicle control device 1 and a vehicle 2. The vehicle control device 1 and the vehicle 2 are provided with a communication function and are configured to be able to communicate with each other through a network N. This network N is configured, for example, from an Internet network, a mobile phone network, or the like.

[0011] (Vehicle control device) The vehicle control device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The vehicle control device 1 proposes vehicle functions provided in the vehicle 2 to a user (e.g., the driver of the vehicle 2) by controlling the vehicle 2. The vehicle control device 1 is realized by a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or a personal computer.

[0012] Here, the vehicle functions are functions provided in the vehicle 2 to reduce the burden on the user and improve convenience. These vehicle functions are switched ON / OFF in response to an operation by the user who is the driver. Examples of such vehicle functions include "ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control)", "LKA (Lane Keeping Assist)", "Shift B", "Eco mode", "Sport mode", etc.

[0013] "ACC" is a function that automatically drives at a constant speed while maintaining a constant distance between vehicles. "LKA" is a function that prevents vehicle 2 from leaving its lane while driving. "Shift B" is a function that activates engine braking. "Eco mode" is a function that improves fuel efficiency. "Sport mode" is a function that increases the responsiveness of engine output to accelerator operation. Separate switches and the like are provided inside vehicle 2 for switching these vehicle functions ON / OFF.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle control device 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a storage unit 13.

[0015] Specifically, the control unit 11 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc., and a memory (main storage unit) such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc.

[0016] The control unit 11 executes various programs to comprehensively control the operations of various components mounted on the vehicle control device 1. In addition, the control unit 11 functions as a driving situation determination unit 111 and a vehicle function suggestion unit 112 through the execution of various programs.

[0017] The driving condition determination unit 111 determines the current driving condition of the vehicle 2 based on the current vehicle information acquired from the vehicle 2, map data of the surrounding area where the vehicle 2 is driving, weather data, traffic congestion information data, etc. The driving conditions determined by the driving condition determination unit 111 include, for example, the type of road on which the vehicle is driving, such as an expressway or a general road, road conditions on which the vehicle is driving, such as a slope, a flat road, or a straight road with good visibility, the driving location (latitude and longitude), the season, the weather, traffic congestion, etc.

[0018] Among the driving conditions, the road type, road conditions, and driving location can be specified based on the position information and map data of the vehicle 2. Also, among the driving conditions, the weather and traffic congestion conditions can be specified based on the position information of the vehicle 2, information related to the transmission date and time of the vehicle information, weather data, and traffic congestion information data. Note that the map data, weather data, and traffic congestion information data may be obtained from an external server or the like, or may be stored in advance in the storage unit 13.

[0019] Possible driving conditions of the vehicle 2 when the user uses the vehicle function of "ACC" include, for example, "highway," "daytime," "sunny," "no traffic jam," etc. Also, possible driving conditions of the vehicle 2 when the user uses the vehicle function of "Shift B" include, for example, "general road," "downhill," "driving location X," etc.

[0020] The vehicle function suggestion unit 112 suggests vehicle functions to the user based on the determination result in the driving situation determination unit 111. Specifically, the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 determines whether or not the driving situation of the vehicle 2 determined by the driving situation determination unit 111 is a recommended driving situation for suggesting a vehicle function to the user. In this case, the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 determines that the driving situation of the vehicle 2 is a driving situation set for each vehicle function and the occurrence frequency is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times, so that the recommended driving situation is the recommended driving situation. Note that this "predetermined number of times" can be determined in advance by experiments, etc.

[0021] For example, consider a case where the vehicle function is "ACC" and the recommended driving conditions are "highway" and "no traffic jams." In this case, the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 determines that the driving conditions are the recommended driving conditions when the frequency (number of times) that the driving conditions are determined to be "highway" and "no traffic jams" by the driving condition determination unit 111 is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times.

[0022] Then, when the driving situation of the vehicle 2 is the recommended driving situation and the user has not performed an operation to use the corresponding vehicle function, the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 transmits information suggesting the vehicle function (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle function information") to the vehicle 2. As a result, the vehicle function is suggested to the user through the output unit 25 of the vehicle 2.

[0023] Furthermore, when the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 determines that the driving conditions of the vehicle 2 are recommended driving conditions, if a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous vehicle function suggestion and a predetermined distance has been traveled since the previous vehicle function suggestion, the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 may transmit vehicle function information to the vehicle 2 and suggest vehicle functions to the user. Note that the "predetermined time" and "predetermined distance" can be determined in advance by experiment or the like.

[0024] For example, consider a case where the vehicle function is "ACC" and the recommended driving conditions are "expressway" and "no traffic jam." In this case, the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 transmits vehicle function information to the vehicle 2 if, after the vehicle 2 joins an expressway with no traffic jam, no operation to use "ACC" is performed even after a predetermined time (e.g., several minutes) has passed, a predetermined time has passed since the vehicle function was last proposed, and the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance since the vehicle function was last proposed.

[0025] Also, for example, assume that the vehicle function is "Shift B" and the recommended driving conditions are "general road", "downhill", and "driving location X". In this case, the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 transmits vehicle function information to the vehicle 2 if, after the vehicle 2 reaches the downhill of driving location X on the general road, no operation to use "Shift B" has been performed even after a predetermined time (e.g., several seconds) has elapsed, a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle function was previously suggested, and the vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance since the vehicle function was previously suggested.

[0026] In addition, if the user does not perform an operation to utilize the corresponding vehicle function after transmitting the vehicle function information to the vehicle 2, the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 retransmits the vehicle function information to the vehicle 2 at a preset frequency (for example, every specified time or specified mileage).

[0027] Furthermore, when the frequency of determining that a driving situation is a recommended one exceeds a predetermined number of times, the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 shortens the frequency of suggesting vehicle functions to the user from the frequency previously set. In this way, by making vehicle function suggestions frequently only when a recommended driving situation for which a vehicle function should be suggested occurs frequently, it is possible to eliminate the annoyance to the user caused by frequent function suggestions.

[0028] The communication unit 12 is composed of, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface board, a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication, etc. When acquiring current vehicle information from the vehicle 2, for example, or when acquiring various data (for example, map data, weather data, and traffic congestion information data) from an external server, the communication unit 12 communicates with the vehicle 2 and the external server by connecting to a wired or wireless network N.

[0029] The storage unit 13 is composed of recording media such as an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), and removable media. Examples of removable media include a universal serial bus (USB) memory, a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), and a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc (BD). The storage unit 13 can store an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, various databases, and the like.

[0030] The storage unit 13 stores, as necessary, for example, current vehicle information acquired from the vehicle 2, map data of the area in which the vehicle 2 is traveling, weather data, traffic congestion information data, and the like.

[0031] (vehicle) The vehicle 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The vehicle 2 proposes vehicle functions to the user based on the vehicle function information acquired from the vehicle control device 1. As shown in the figure, the vehicle 2 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, a storage unit 23, a sensor group 24, and an output unit 25. Among the components of the vehicle 2, the hardware configuration of the storage unit 23 is the same as that of the storage unit 13.

[0032] Specifically, the control unit 21 is an electronic control unit (ECU) whose main components are a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc., and executes various programs. The control unit 21 functions as a vehicle information transmission unit 211 through the execution of the various programs.

[0033] The vehicle information transmission unit 211 transmits vehicle information of the vehicle 2 to the vehicle control device 1 through the network N. Examples of the vehicle information transmitted by the vehicle information transmission unit 211 to the vehicle control device 1 include position information of the host vehicle, a traveling direction of the host vehicle, speed information of the host vehicle, and operation information of vehicle functions of the host vehicle.

[0034] The vehicle information transmission unit 211 acquires the position information, the traveling direction, and the speed information of the vehicle through the sensor group 24. The vehicle information transmission unit 211 also acquires operation information of the vehicle functions of the vehicle from, for example, a control signal that controls the on / off of the vehicle functions.

[0035] The communication unit 22 is configured by, for example, a DCM (Data Communication Module), etc. When transmitting current vehicle information to the vehicle control device 1, for example, the communication unit 22 communicates with the vehicle control device 1 by connecting to a wired or wireless network N.

[0036] The storage unit 23 stores, for example, sensor data acquired by the sensor group 24 as necessary.

[0037] The sensor group 24 is for detecting vehicle information. Examples of the sensor group 24 include a GPS sensor, an acceleration sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a laser sensor, a 3D-LiDAR, a millimeter wave sensor, an infrared sensor, and a camera.

[0038] The sensor group 24 can detect the position information of the host vehicle, the traveling direction of the host vehicle, etc., by using, for example, a GPS sensor. The sensor group 24 can also detect speed information including the acceleration and speed of the host vehicle by using, for example, an acceleration sensor and a vehicle speed sensor.

[0039] The frequency at which the sensor group 24 detects the vehicle information can be determined in advance by experiments, etc. The sensor group 24 transmits the detected vehicle information to the control unit 11 as necessary and stores it in the storage unit 13.

[0040] The output unit 25 is for outputting the proposal of vehicle functions. Examples of the output unit 25 include a speaker (audio output means) capable of outputting voice, and a display (display means) capable of outputting characters, figures, and the like. This output unit 25 may be provided as a part of a navigation system of the vehicle 2. In addition to the output function, the output unit 25 may also have an input function such as a microphone or a touch panel display that can input instructions from the user.

[0041] When the output unit 25 acquires vehicle function information from the vehicle control device 1, it outputs corresponding vehicle function proposal information by voice, text, graphics, or the like.

[0042] (Vehicle control method) An example of the processing procedure of the vehicle control method executed by the vehicle control device 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Note that, in the figure, an example is described in which the proposal of vehicle functions (steps S1 to S4) and the change in the frequency of the function proposals (steps S5 and S6) are performed consecutively in time, but the proposal of vehicle functions and the change in the frequency of the function proposals may be performed at different times.

[0043] First, the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 judges whether the function suggestion flag is ON (step S1). In step S1, if the driving situation of the vehicle 2 judged by the driving situation judgment unit 111 is the recommended driving situation, a positive judgment is made, and if not, a negative judgment is made.

[0044] In step S1, if it is determined that the function proposal flag is ON (Yes in step S1), the vehicle function proposal unit 112 determines whether the elapsed time since the last vehicle function proposal exceeds a predetermined threshold (predetermined time) (step S2).

[0045] In step S2, if it is determined that the time elapsed since the vehicle function was last proposed exceeds the threshold value (Yes in step S2), the vehicle function proposal unit 112 determines whether the distance traveled by the vehicle 2 since the vehicle function was last proposed exceeds a predetermined threshold value (specified distance) (step S3).

[0046] In step S3, if it is determined that the distance traveled by vehicle 2 since the last time a vehicle function was proposed exceeds a threshold value (Yes in step S3), the vehicle function proposal unit 112 proposes a vehicle function by sending vehicle function information to vehicle 2 (step S4).

[0047] Next, the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 judges whether the frequency of the recommended driving situation exceeds a predetermined threshold (predetermined number of times) (step S5). If it is judged that the frequency of the recommended driving situation exceeds the threshold (Yes in step S5), the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 shortens the frequency of function suggestions from the frequency previously set (step S6) and ends this process.

[0048] In addition, if it is determined in step S1 that the function proposal flag is not ON (No in step S1), if it is determined in step S2 that the time elapsed since the vehicle function was last proposed is less than a threshold value (No in step S2), if it is determined in step S3 that the distance traveled by vehicle 2 since the vehicle function was last proposed is less than a threshold value (No in step S3), or if it is determined in step S5 that the frequency at which the driving conditions are determined to be recommended is less than a threshold value (No in step S5), the vehicle function proposal unit 112 completes this process.

[0049] In the vehicle control device according to the embodiment described above, when the frequency of determining that a driving situation is a recommended one exceeds a predetermined number of times, the frequency of suggesting vehicle functions to the user is reduced from the frequency previously set. In this way, by making vehicle function suggestions frequently only when recommended driving situations for which a vehicle function should be suggested occur frequently, it is possible to eliminate the annoyance to the user caused by frequent function suggestions. In other words, according to the vehicle control device according to the embodiment, it is possible to suggest vehicle functions without causing the user to feel annoyed.

[0050] Further advantages and modifications may readily occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

[0051] For example, the vehicle control device 1 according to the embodiment has been described assuming a case where it is realized by a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or a personal computer, but for example, the functions of the vehicle control device 1 may be installed in the vehicle 2, and vehicle control may be performed by the vehicle 2 alone. In this case, the control unit 21 of the vehicle 2 may have functions corresponding to the driving situation determination unit 111 and the vehicle function suggestion unit 112 to perform vehicle control. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1 Vehicle control device 11 Control section 111 Driving condition determination unit 112 Vehicle Function Proposal Department 12 Communications Department 13 Storage section 2 Vehicles 21 Control section 211 Vehicle information transmission unit 22 Communications Department 23 Memory section 24 Sensors 25 Output section N Network

Claims

[Claim 1] A processor is provided. The processor, determining whether a driving condition of the vehicle is a recommended driving condition for suggesting a vehicle function provided in the vehicle to a user; When it is determined that the driving situation is the recommended driving situation, if a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle function was last proposed and if a predetermined distance has been traveled since the vehicle function was last proposed, the vehicle function is proposed to the user; When the number of times that the recommended driving situation occurs exceeds a predetermined number of times, a frequency of suggesting the vehicle function to the user is increased to a frequency higher than an initially set frequency. Vehicle control device.

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