A support device that assists in pre-recognizing the position of the foot relative to the pedals during vehicle operation.

Abstract

To provide a support device and a vehicle equipped therewith that assist the driver in accurately recognizing the position of their feet relative to the accelerator and brake pedals in advance, for greater safety. [Solution] The present invention provides an assist device that supports the prior recognition of the foot position relative to the accelerator pedal and / or brake pedal during vehicle operation. The assist device comprises a ToF sensor positioned above the accelerator pedal and / or brake pedal, an infrared transmitter that transmits a detection signal from the ToF sensor, an infrared receiver that receives an infrared signal from the infrared transmitter, and a display unit that displays data based on the infrared signal from the infrared receiver.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicle driving operations, and relates to an assistance device that assists a driver (especially a beginner or an elderly person) in accurately recognizing the foot positions relative to the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal in advance, and a vehicle equipped with the same.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, various safety devices for preventing accidents caused by misoperation of the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal (hereinafter also simply referred to as pedals) have been proposed. However, many of these devices operate after an incorrect operation (such as depressing the pedal) by the driver occurs, that is, they are after-the-fact devices. Devices that aim to actively recognize the position of the foot during pedal operation of the vehicle by the driver himself / herself in advance (before the pedal depression operation) have not been sufficiently provided.

Prior Art Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

[0004]

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses an invention related to a pedal operation detection device that can be easily attached to an automobile and is relatively inexpensive. When the load-type pressure sensor described in Patent Document 1 is adopted, in order for an elderly person to determine whether their foot is currently on the accelerator pedal or on the brake pedal, it is necessary to actually depress the pedal. That is, it cannot be determined without depressing the pedal. Furthermore, if a wired system is adopted, such as the "foot detection unit" described in Patent Document 1, and the cable extending from the back of the pedal is routed along the foot, the following risks are a concern. (a) The wired portion may obstruct foot-operated driving controls, posing a risk of accidents. (b) Risk of tripping due to cables getting tangled around feet. (c) Risk of the sensor or terminal coming off due to strong pulling of the cable. (d) The risk of your foot getting caught in the cable when walking or shifting your foot, which could hinder your pedaling motion.

[0006] Patent Document 2 discloses an invention relating to a warning device that can quickly and accurately warn by voice about unintentional forward or reverse movement of a vehicle due to mistakenly pressing the wrong pedal.

[0007] Regarding the LEDs used in Patent Document 2, there are concerns about their suitability as components for use inside vehicles. Specifically, the LEDs need to be placed in a location that is easily visible to the driver, and therefore are expected to be near the dashboard. In summer, the temperature inside a car can reach around 70°C, and especially near the dashboard, it can reach around 85°C.

[0008] In the case of typical LEDs, storing or using them in environments above 60°C may accelerate degradation (decreased luminous efficiency, shortened lifespan).

[0009] The present invention provides an assistance device and a vehicle equipped therewith that help drivers (especially novice and elderly drivers) to more safely and accurately recognize the position of their feet relative to the accelerator and brake pedals in advance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention provides a support device that assists in pre-recognizing the position of the foot relative to the accelerator pedal and / or brake pedal during vehicle driving operations. The support device of the present invention comprises a ToF sensor (Time of Flight sensor) positioned above the accelerator pedal and / or the brake pedal; an infrared transmitter that transmits a detection signal from the ToF sensor; an infrared receiver that receives an infrared signal from the infrared transmitter; and a display unit that displays data based on the infrared signal from the infrared receiver.

[0011] A Time of Flight sensor is a sensor that measures the distance to a target using the following mechanism: 1. Shine light onto the target. 2. Detect the light that hits the target and bounces back. 3. Measure the flight time it takes for light to travel back and forth. 4. Speed ​​of light (approximately 3 x 10⁻⁶) 8 Calculate distance using m / s TIFF0007851514000002.tif1870 [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, the display unit allows the driver to intuitively recognize the position of their feet relative to the accelerator pedal and / or brake pedal in advance, prior to the operation of pressing the pedals. This provides a sense of reassurance to drivers who are unsure of their driving skills, especially novice drivers and the elderly, before they press the accelerator or brake pedals, contributing to a more relaxed and confident driving experience.

[0013] Furthermore, using infrared communication eliminates the need for wiring, simplifying installation. In other words, the configuration can be made simpler. Furthermore, by utilizing infrared communication and eliminating the need for wiring work, it can be easily retrofitted. Therefore, it can be universally applied to existing vehicles. Furthermore, the support device of the present invention functions even in the high-temperature environment inside a vehicle during the summer. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of the pedal sensor configuration (around the accelerator pedal and brake pedal) [Figure 2] Position relationship diagram between the infrared transmitter and receiver on the pedal [Figure 3] Position relationship diagram between the cigarette socket, receiver, and display unit

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figs. 1 to 3 are drawings for explaining the support device of the present invention. The support device of the present invention is a support device that supports prior recognition of the foot position with respect to the accelerator pedal and / or the brake pedal in vehicle driving operations, and includes the following configuration. Specifically, The ToF sensor disposed above the accelerator pedal and / or the brake pedal, An infrared transmitter that transmits the detection signal of the ToF sensor, An infrared receiver that receives the infrared signal from the infrared transmitter, A display unit that displays data based on the infrared signal from the infrared receiver, and includes.

[0016] The infrared transmitter in Fig. 1 is electrically connected to the ToF sensor on the printed circuit board and transmits the detection signal from the ToF sensor. The infrared transmitter may include the ToF sensor. That is, it may be understood that the infrared transmitter and the ToF sensor are integrated.

[0017] The infrared receiver in Fig. 2 is configured to receive the infrared signal from the infrared transmitter. The infrared receiver receives the infrared signal from the infrared transmitter. The display unit in Fig. 3 displays data based on the infrared signal from the infrared receiver.

[0018] The ToF sensor and / or infrared transmitter are preferably positioned approximately 5 cm from the contact surface of the accelerator pedal and / or brake pedal with the sole of the foot (part B in Figure 1) toward the metal rod above it (part A in Figure 1).

[0019] The support device may also include a car charger that provides a stable power supply from the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket.

[0020] The infrared receiver and display unit may be wired. For the wired connection, high heat-resistant PVC (heat-resistant grade) of approximately 80-105 degrees Celsius may be used. In the case of wired connections, cable reels may be used.

[0021] The display unit may be an LED. The display unit (LED) may include at least a heat-resistant LED lamp for the accelerator pedal and a heat-resistant LED lamp for the brake pedal. When the driver's foot approaches within approximately 3 cm of the light emitter and reflected light receiver of the accelerator pedal's ToF sensor, one heat-resistant LED lamp (blue) for the accelerator pedal may flash (flashing for 2 seconds every 0.5 seconds). Additionally, if the driver's foot approaches within approximately 1 cm of the light emitter and reflected light receiver of the brake pedal's ToF sensor, three heat-resistant red LED lamps for the brake pedal may flash (for 2 seconds at 0.5-second intervals).

[0022] [Detection and Notification] In this invention, by employing a ToF sensor, the foot can be detected at the stage before actually pressing the accelerator pedal and / or brake pedal, more specifically, at the stage when the foot is held 3cm, 2cm, and 1cm away. The display unit can then be configured to light up one LED at the 3cm position, two LEDs at the 2cm position, and three LEDs at the 1cm position.

[0023] In the case of pressure sensors, contact with the foot (sole of the shoe) is required for detection, leading to significant wear and tear. Furthermore, if contact occurs while the foot (sole of the shoe) is wet or covered in sand and dust, the sensitivity of the pressure sensor decreases. On the other hand, ToF sensors are non-contact, so problems such as wear and tear do not occur. In the support device of the present invention, there is no part of the ToF sensor that comes into contact with the sole of the foot.

[0024] The support device of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle. In a vehicle, the interior temperature is expected to reach nearly 70°C during the summer. In such an environment, the mechanical parts, resins, and substrates of the sensor expand and contract due to the temperature, which can easily affect its sensitivity. In this regard, the ToF sensor in the support device of the present invention may employ a sensor that has been certified as an in-vehicle certified product.

[0025] [Operating Mode and Communication Method] In this invention, the ToF sensor (foot detection device) may be battery-powered. The infrared transmitter and infrared receiver are connected wirelessly via infrared communication. This avoids the risks mentioned above. Specifically, the risks mentioned above are as follows: The wired portion may obstruct foot-operated controls, increasing the risk of accidents. The risk of tripping and falling due to the cable getting tangled around your feet. The risk of the sensor or terminal coming off if the cable is pulled too hard. There is a risk that your foot may get caught on the cable when walking or shifting your weight, which could in turn hinder your pedaling motion.

[0026] In automotive environments, while standard Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi® exist for wireless connectivity, there is a risk that devices may malfunction unexpectedly due to radio interference from other vehicles while driving, potentially leading to accidents. Furthermore, their high power consumption increases the frequency of battery replacements. Therefore, this invention employs infrared communication. Infrared light, like light, travels in a straight line and cannot reach obstacles, thus eliminating the risk of radio interference. Furthermore, it consumes little power, resulting in infrequent battery replacement and making it practical. This infrared communication uses "infrared + pulse modulation." More specifically, considering noise specific to the in-vehicle environment (in this case, noise from footlights is expected since the device is installed in the driver's footwell), a special modulation protocol that does not cause false detection may be adopted (a method that sends an infrared signal in NEC format with 38kHz pulse modulation and uses a specific bit pattern conversion as the communication protocol).

[0027] Furthermore, regarding the wiring for the wired portion, it is difficult to commercialize the product without determining the length (specifications) of the wiring, but since there are various types of vehicles and the shape of the driver's seat varies, standardization and productization are difficult. Therefore, for the wired portion of the wiring, we adopted wiring with a reel mechanism. This made it possible to install the system uniformly on various vehicle shapes without having to cut or extend the wires. Wiring for power supply from the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket also became easier, and it also became easier to install the display unit in a location easily visible to the driver (such as the side of the windshield).

[0028] Furthermore, by designing and mounting unprecedentedly small circuit boards in the accelerator and brake sections, and adopting a packaging structure that ensures moisture resistance and vibration resistance, the printed circuit boards are extremely small (a few centimeters wide) and achieve stable communication. In this invention, since the foot detection device is battery-powered, a low-power protocol that minimizes power consumption (such as entering sleep mode if no feet are detected for a certain period of time) may be adopted as an energy-saving measure.

[0029] [Display] The display unit has the following features: In the summer, the interior temperature of a vehicle is expected to reach nearly 70°C, and especially around 85°C near the dashboard. Therefore, this invention uses heat-resistant LEDs.

Claims

1. A support device that assists in the prior recognition of the foot position relative to the accelerator pedal and / or brake pedal during vehicle driving operations, ToF sensors are positioned on the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal, respectively. An infrared transmitter that transmits the detection signal from the ToF sensor, An infrared receiver that receives an infrared signal from the infrared transmitter, An LED display unit for displaying signals from the accelerator pedal and an LED display unit for displaying signals from the brake pedal, which can be attached to the windshield or the like, and which displays data based on the infrared signal from the infrared receiver, A support device comprising a reel-type wired connection between the infrared receiver and each of the LED display units.

2. The support device according to claim 1, further comprising a power car charger connected to the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket to supply operating power to the infrared receiver and / or the LED display unit.

3. The support device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the reel-type wired wiring is of high heat-resistant PVC.

Images