Vehicle Start Notification Control Device for Sloped Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle start notification systems struggle to provide timely alerts when a vehicle with a braking force holding function is stationary, as the deactivation of the brake pedal effort does not indicate a vehicle start, potentially losing the significance of the notification for surrounding pedestrians.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle start notification control device that includes a control section to apply and hold braking force even when the brake applying operation is deactivated, triggering start notification when specific releasing conditions are met, and utilizes a braking force holding flag to ensure notifications occur at appropriate times, including when the vehicle is on a slope or in a state where the probability of starting is high.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If start notification is triggered when brake pedal effort is deactivated, then notification timing is improved, but false notifications occur when braking force holding function is active
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a determination section that acts as an intermediary between the brake pedal effort deactivation signal and the start notification trigger. This determination section checks whether the braking force holding function is currently active before allowing the start notification to be triggered, thereby preventing false notifications while maintaining timely alerts when appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the state of the braking force holding function and using this information to modulate the start notification trigger condition. The determination section receives feedback about the braking force holding state and adjusts the notification behavior accordingly, enabling notifications only when the vehicle is actually starting rather than merely holding brake force.
2Ease of operation
If braking force holding function is used to reduce driver load, then ease of operation is improved, but start notification significance is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The determination section serves as an intermediary that distinguishes between brake force holding operations and actual vehicle start operations. By checking the state of the braking force holding function, it prevents start notifications from being triggered during mere brake force holding, thereby preserving the informational significance of the notification to indicate actual vehicle starting.
Data Source
AI summary
Start notification is performed at appropriate timing by vehicle having braking force holding function to hold braking force even if brake application operation by driver is deactivated. Vehicle start notification control device includes speaker for performing start notification to notify behavior related to start of vehicle to surroundings of vehicle, control section for applying braking force to vehicle, corresponding to brake applying operation by driver of vehicle and performing control to hold braking force of vehicle even if brake applying operation is deactivated, and braking force holding flag setting section for setting ON or OFF of braking force holding flag for holding braking force of vehicle even if brake applying operation is deactivated. Control section controls speaker to perform start notification if both brake applying operation and ON setting of braking force holding flag are deactivated.