Rest suggestion device

Abstract

To provide a rest proposal device capable of suppressing an excessive rest proposal and reducing discomfort of a driver.SOLUTION: A rest proposal device does not execute rest proposal control when a distance L between a rest point and a self vehicle is equal to or less than a threshold value Lth at a time point when it is determined that the rest proposal control is to be executed, and executes the rest proposal control when the rest proposal control is not executed despite determination that the rest proposal control is to be executed, and a driver has passed through the rest point without a rest at the rest point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rest proposal device that proposes to a driver of a vehicle to take a rest.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a rest proposal device (hereinafter referred to as "conventional device") mounted on a host vehicle that proposes to a driver to take a rest (see Patent Document 1 below). When a driver inputs a destination (route), the conventional device sets a route to the destination and sets a rest point on the route. When the host vehicle approaches a rest point (the distance becomes less than or equal to a threshold value), the conventional device proposes to the driver to take a rest. That is, the conventional device displays a predetermined image and reproduces a predetermined voice. Further, the conventional device has a function of recognizing the degree of fatigue of the driver. When the degree of fatigue of the driver is high, the conventional device proposes to the driver to take a rest.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0004] In a situation where the driver becomes aware that the degree of fatigue is high in the vicinity of the next rest point and tries to take a rest at the next rest point, the conventional device may propose to take a rest. In this case, the driver may feel bothered by the proposal (feel that it is an excessive proposal).

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a rest proposal device that can suppress excessive rest proposals and reduce the discomfort of the driver.

[0006] To solve the above problems, the rest suggestion device (1) of the present invention comprises: a rest point setting device (23) that sets one or more rest points (RP) on a planned route; an information output device that acquires and outputs driver information, which is information about the physical condition of the driver of the vehicle; vehicle information, which is information about the driving state of the vehicle; and location information, which is information about the position of the vehicle on the planned route; and a control device that determines whether or not to execute a rest suggestion control that proposes that the driver take a rest, based on one or more pieces of information output from the information output device. The control device will not execute the rest suggestion control if, at the time it determines that the rest suggestion control should be executed, the distance between the rest point and its own vehicle is below a threshold. However, if it has determined that the rest suggestion control should be executed but has not executed it, and the driver has passed the rest point without taking a rest, the control device will execute the rest suggestion control.

[0007] In the rest stop suggestion device according to the present invention, the control device determines whether or not to execute rest stop suggestion control based on driver information and vehicle information. If the control device determines that rest stop suggestion control should be executed, and the vehicle is relatively close to the next rest stop at that time, the driver is highly likely to intend to take a rest at the rest stop. Therefore, in this situation, the control device does not execute rest stop suggestion control. This suppresses excessive suggestions and reduces driver discomfort. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a rest suggestion device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart of the computer program executed by the break suggestion ECU. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] As shown in Figure 1, the rest suggestion device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle V (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "the vehicle").

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the rest suggestion device 1 is equipped with a rest suggestion ECU 10 (control device) and an on-board sensor 20 (information output device).

[0011] The proposed rest stop ECU 10 includes a microcomputer equipped with a CPU 10a, ROM 10b, RAM 10c, timer 10d, etc. The proposed rest stop ECU 10 is connected to other ECUs installed in the vehicle via CAN (Controller Area Network) to send and receive information to and from each other.

[0012] The in-vehicle sensor 20 includes a front camera 21, an interior camera 22, a navigation system 23, a speed sensor 24, an acceleration sensor 25, an accelerator pedal sensor 26, a brake pedal sensor 27, and a steering sensor 28.

[0013] The front camera 21 includes an imaging device and an image analysis device. The imaging device is a well-known digital camera. The imaging device is, for example, mounted on the upper part of the front windshield glass and directed forward. The imaging device captures the foreground of the vehicle at a predetermined frame rate and outputs the obtained image data to the image analysis device. The image analysis device analyzes the acquired image data to recognize, for example, the white lines of the driving lane, and calculates the position of the vehicle in the transverse direction of the driving lane (deviation from the center position) based on the position of the white lines within the field of view, and transmits the calculation result (lane departure information) to the rest suggestion ECU 10.

[0014] The in-vehicle camera 22, like the front camera 21, includes an imaging device and an image analysis device. The imaging device is, for example, mounted on the upper part of the front windshield glass and directed toward the driver's seat. The imaging device captures the driver at a predetermined frame rate and outputs the resulting image data to the image analysis device. The image analysis device analyzes the acquired image data to obtain information about the driver's physical condition from the image. The image analysis device calculates the driver's fatigue level based on, for example, the driver's posture and blinking frequency, and transmits the calculation result (driver information) to the rest suggestion ECU 10.

[0015] The navigation system 23 calculates the vehicle's current location (latitude and longitude) based on multiple GPS signals. The navigation system 23 also stores map data representing a map. When the driver inputs a destination using operation buttons, the system calculates a route to the destination based on the map data, selects one or more rest stops RP (areas where parking is permitted for resting) along that route, and displays the route and rest stops RP on the LCD display. The driver can change the route and rest stops using operation buttons. The navigation system 23 also transmits the calculation results (location information representing the positions of the vehicle and rest stops RP) to the rest suggestion ECU 10.

[0016] The speed sensor 24 detects the vehicle's speed vs (actual vehicle speed). The speed sensor 24 transmits speed information representing speed vs to the rest suggestion ECU 10.

[0017] The acceleration sensor 25 detects the acceleration G of the vehicle V (for example, the acceleration in the width direction of the vehicle V, the acceleration in the longitudinal direction, etc.). The acceleration sensor 25 transmits acceleration information representing the acceleration G to the rest suggestion ECU 10.

[0018] The accelerator pedal sensor 26 detects the depression depth AD of the vehicle's accelerator pedal (not shown). The accelerator pedal sensor 26 transmits accelerator pedal information representing the accelerator pedal depression depth AD to the rest suggestion ECU 10.

[0019] The brake pedal sensor 27 detects the depression depth BD of the vehicle's brake pedal (not shown). The brake pedal sensor 27 transmits brake pedal information representing the depression depth BD to the rest suggestion ECU 10.

[0020] The steering sensor 28 detects the steering angle θ of the steering wheel (not shown). The steering sensor 28 transmits steering information representing the detected steering angle θ to the rest suggestion ECU 10.

[0021] The rest suggestion ECU 10 acquires driver information, which is information about the driver's physical condition, and vehicle information, which is information about the vehicle's driving state (lane departure information, speed information, acceleration information, accelerator pedal information, brake pedal information, and steering information). Based on this information, the rest suggestion ECU 10 estimates the driver's fatigue level (physical condition). For example, if the driver blinks frequently, if the vehicle is prone to deviating from its lane frequently, or if the operation patterns of the accelerator pedal, steering wheel, etc., resemble a predetermined pattern (a pattern indicating high driver fatigue), the rest suggestion ECU 10 estimates that the driver is fatigued. Based on this estimation result, the rest suggestion ECU 10 determines whether or not to execute a rest suggestion control that proposes a rest to the driver. In other words, the rest suggestion ECU 10 determines that a rest suggestion control should be executed if the driver's fatigue level is higher than a threshold.

[0022] When the rest proposal ECU 10 determines that rest proposal control should be executed, it acquires position information from the navigation system 23 and calculates the distance L to the nearest rest point RP in the traveling direction. Then, when the distance L between the host vehicle and the next rest point RP is equal to or greater than the threshold value Lth, the rest proposal ECU 10 controls a display device (e.g., a display device on the instrument panel), an audio system, etc. mounted on the host vehicle to execute rest proposal control for displaying a predetermined image and playing a predetermined voice. On the other hand, when the distance L is less than the threshold value Lth (i.e., when the host vehicle is located in the vicinity of the rest point RP), the rest proposal ECU 10 does not execute the rest proposal control. In this case, when the driver passes the rest point RP without taking a rest (without stopping) at the rest point RP and a predetermined time has elapsed (or when the host vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance from the rest point RP), the rest proposal ECU 10 executes the rest proposal control. In this case, the rest proposal ECU 10 executes the rest proposal control regardless of the driver's fatigue level.

[0023] Next, referring to FIG. 2, a program P1 for realizing the operation (rest proposal function) of the CPU 10a (hereinafter simply referred to as "CPU") of the rest proposal ECU 10 will be specifically described. When the ignition switch of the host vehicle transitions from the off state to the on state, the CPU starts executing the program P1.

[0024] (Program P1) The CPU starts the program P1 from step 100 and proceeds to step 101.

[0025] When the CPU proceeds to step 101, it determines whether or not a route (destination) has been set. If the route has not been set (101: Yes), the CPU proceeds to step 102. On the other hand, if the route has been set (101: No) (e.g., when the driver turns on the ignition switch after parking and taking a rest before reaching the destination), the CPU proceeds to step 104 described later.

[0026] When the CPU proceeds to step 102, it prompts the driver to set a route (destination). Once the driver enters the destination into the navigation system 23, the CPU proceeds to step 103.

[0027] When the CPU proceeds to step 103, it prompts the navigation system 23 (driver) to determine the rest stop RP, and then proceeds to step 104.

[0028] When the CPU proceeds to step 104, it estimates (calculates) the driver's fatigue level based on the driver information and vehicle information, and then proceeds to step 105.

[0029] When the CPU proceeds to step 105, it determines whether or not to perform a rest suggestion control based on the estimated driver fatigue level. If the CPU determines that a rest suggestion control should be performed (105: Yes), it proceeds to step 106. On the other hand, if the CPU determines that there is no need to perform a rest suggestion control (105: No), it proceeds to step 110, which will be described later.

[0030] When the CPU proceeds to step 106, it calculates the distance L based on the location information. If the distance L is less than the threshold Lth (106: Yes), the CPU proceeds to step 107. On the other hand, if the distance L is greater than or equal to the threshold Lth (106: No), the CPU proceeds to step 109.

[0031] When the CPU proceeds to step 107, it waits without performing rest suggestion control until a predetermined time has elapsed since the vehicle began moving forward from the rest point RP (until it has traveled a predetermined distance from the rest point RP), and then proceeds to step 108.

[0032] When the CPU proceeds to step 108, it determines whether the driver took a rest at rest stop RP (for example, whether the stopping time (parking time) at rest stop RP exceeded the threshold). If it determines that the driver took a rest at rest stop RP (108: Yes), the CPU proceeds to step 110. On the other hand, if the driver did not take a rest at rest stop RP (for example, if the driver passed through rest stop RP without stopping, or if the stopping time at rest stop RP was shorter than the threshold (108: No)), the CPU proceeds to step 109.

[0033] When the CPU proceeds to step 109, it executes rest suggestion control and then proceeds to step 110.

[0034] When the CPU proceeds to step 110, it determines whether the vehicle has reached its destination. If the vehicle has reached its destination (110: Yes), the CPU proceeds to step 111 and terminates program P1. On the other hand, if the vehicle has not yet reached its destination, the CPU returns to step 104.

[0035] As described above, in the rest suggestion device according to this embodiment, the CPU estimates the driver's fatigue level and determines whether or not to execute rest suggestion control based on the estimation result. Even if the CPU determines that rest suggestion control should be executed, if the vehicle is relatively close to the next rest stop RP at that time (hereinafter referred to as "Situation A"), the driver is highly likely to intend to take a rest at rest stop RP. Therefore, the CPU does not execute rest suggestion control in Situation A. This suppresses excessive suggestions and reduces driver discomfort.

[0036] Furthermore, as described above, in situation A, the CPU does not execute rest suggestion control. However, if the driver then passes the rest stop RP without taking a rest, the CPU will execute rest suggestion control after a predetermined time has elapsed. In other words, in this case, there is a high possibility that the driver is unaware of being fatigued, so the CPU executes rest suggestion control as a warning to the driver. This improves safety.

[0037] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention, as described below.

[0038] <Example 1> In situation A, the CPU may not execute rest suggestion control, the driver may pass rest point RP without taking a rest, and then (after returning from step 110 to step 104), the CPU may determine, based on driver information and vehicle information, that rest suggestion control should be executed. In this case (i.e., when there is a high possibility that the driver is not aware of being fatigued), the CPU may execute rest suggestion control regardless of the distance L at the time it determined that rest suggestion control should be executed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1…Rest suggestion device, 10…Rest suggestion ECU, 20…In-vehicle sensor, L…Distance

Claims

[Claim 1] A rest stop setting device that sets one or more rest stops along the planned route, An information output device that acquires and outputs driver information, which is information regarding the driver's physical condition; vehicle information, which is information regarding the vehicle's driving status; and location information, which is information regarding the vehicle's position on the planned driving route. A control device that determines whether or not to execute a rest suggestion control that suggests the driver to take a rest, based on the driver information and vehicle information output from the information output device, A rest suggestion device equipped with, The control device is If, at the time it is determined that the aforementioned rest suggestion control should be executed, the distance between the rest point and the vehicle is below a threshold, the rest suggestion control will not be executed. If the system determines that the rest suggestion control should be executed but fails to do so, and the driver passes the rest stop without taking a rest, the system will execute the rest suggestion control. A rest suggestion device configured in such a way.

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