JP2000318445A - Vehicle submergence alarm device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically inform a third part in the circumference of submergence of a vehicle and to provide speedy rescue by the third part by providing a submergence detection element to detect the submergence of the vehicle when the vehicle submerges due to some accident and an alarm to generate an alarm when the submerging detection element detects submergence. SOLUTION: When an automobile drops in the water and submerged due to some accident, a pair of conductive metal pads 3 arranged in an exposed state with a small interval on an insulated base plate is submerged and electrically connected to each other, and a transistor 13 is conducted. Consequently, an electric power source current is applied to a horn 4 by an integrated circuit 10 for control, and the horn 4 generates voice (alarm sound). Simultaneously, the integrated circuit 10 for control controls a motor driving part 11 and revolves a window opening and closing motor 6 in the opening (lowering) direction of a window. Consequently, it is possible for an occupant to get out as the window automatically opens simultaneously when the vehicle submerges, and it is possible to expect speedy rescue by a third party in the circumference as the alarm sound is generated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle submersion alarm system, and more particularly, to a vehicle submersion alarm system in which a vehicle alarm generates an alarm when the vehicle falls under water (submersion) for some reason.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in a power window device used for an automobile, when an automobile falls into water,
A submergence detection device (sensor) provided in the vehicle detects that the vehicle has fallen into the water, and the submergence detection signal automatically connects (turns on) a window lowering switch of the power window device. Thus, the window opening / closing motor rotates in the direction of opening the window (downward movement of the window), and the rotation of the window opening / closing motor automatically opens (opens) the window.

With such a power window device,
The automatic opening of the window allows the vehicle to quickly escape from the open window in a submerged vehicle.

[0004]

As described above, conventionally,
Unless a third party happens to see the car fall into the water, no rescue by the third party is available,
Escape from a car that fell into the water had to be borne by the driver himself and his passengers.

[0005] Further, an alarm sound (for example, horn) or an alarm light (for example, turning on / off of a headlight or a hazard lamp) is generated by a driver's own operation, and it is reported to a third party that the vehicle has fallen into the water. However, there is a problem that the driver is confused during an emergency when the driver falls into the water, and the operation cannot be performed reliably.

A vehicle submersion alarm system of the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a vehicle submersion alarm system capable of automatically informing surrounding third parties that a vehicle has submerged. To provide.

[0007]

A vehicle submersion alarm system according to the present invention comprises a vehicle, a submersion detection element for detecting submersion of the vehicle when the vehicle is submerged, and an alarm when the submersion detection element detects submersion. And an alarm that emits an alarm.

A vehicle submersion alarm device of the present invention is a vehicle, a submergence detecting element for detecting submersion of the vehicle when the vehicle is submerged, and is turned on when the submersion detection element detects submersion. It comprises a semiconductor detecting element, a control circuit controlled by an ON operation of the semiconductor detecting element, and an alarm which issues an alarm by a signal of the control circuit.

Further, in the vehicle submersion alarm system of the present invention, a motor drive unit is connected to a control circuit, and the motor drive unit is driven by a signal of the control circuit to open a window.

Further, in the vehicle submersion alarm device of the present invention, the submergence detecting element is a pair of conductive metal pads arranged in an exposed state at a minute interval.

Further, in the vehicle submersion alarm device of the present invention, the alarm device comprises a horn.

Further, in the vehicle submersion alarm device of the present invention, the alarm device is arranged at a rear portion of the vehicle.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle submersion alarm system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view for explaining an embodiment of a vehicle submersion alarm device of the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the vehicle submersion alarm device of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle submersion alarm device includes a power window switch device 1, an in-vehicle power supply (battery) 2, a pair of conductive metal pads (submersion detection elements) 3, and a horn (alarm) 4. And each of these components is arranged in the automobile (vehicle) A. In the vehicle A, the horn 5 is arranged at the front of the vehicle A.

The power window switch device 1 includes a control integrated circuit (control device) 10 having a plurality of (for example, eight) terminals, a motor drive unit 11 controlled by the control integrated circuit 10, and a control It has a switch unit 12 for controlling the integrated circuit 10 and a transistor (semiconductor detection element) 13.

The motor driving unit 11, the switch unit 12, and the transistor 13 constitute the control integrated circuit 1
0. The operation of the switch unit 12 drives the motor drive unit 11 via the control integrated circuit 10, thereby opening and closing the window. This power window switch device 1
For example, it is arranged at the door on the driver's side.

The onboard power supply (battery) 2 includes, for example, 1
It has a voltage of 2 V (volts), and is arranged as a power source for driving the power window switch device 1, the window opening / closing motor 6, a car stereo (not shown), and the like, and is connected to each of them. This on-vehicle power supply 2 is arranged at the front of the vehicle A.

A pair of conductive metal pads (submersion detecting element) 3
Is made of, for example, a conductive metal material such as silver foil or copper foil, and is, for example, opposed to an insulating substrate (not shown) in an exposed state and provided with a small interval (closely arranged). The pair of conductive metal pads 3 are arranged, for example, under a driver's seat.

The transistor (semiconductor sensing element) 13 has an emitter and a collector connected to predetermined terminals of the control integrated circuit 10, and has a base connected to a pair of conductive metal pads (immersion sensing element) 3. Connected to a ground point.

The horn (alarm) 4 is disposed, for example, in a trunk room at the rear of the vehicle A, and is connected to a predetermined terminal of the control integrated circuit 10. The horn 4 is controlled by the control integrated circuit 10, and when a voltage from the vehicle-mounted power supply 2 is applied to the horn 4,
Generates a predetermined alarm sound (voice).

As described above, the submergence detecting element is disposed under the driver's seat and the horn 4 is disposed at the rear of the vehicle A because the vehicle weight is reduced when the vehicle A is submerged. This is due to the fact that the ratio of submersion from the heavy front vehicle side is high.

The above-described vehicle submergence warning device operates roughly as follows. First, the operation of the vehicle when it is normal (when it is not submerged) will be described. In a normal automobile, the pair of conductive metal pads 3 are kept in a dry state. Therefore, the pair of conductive metal pads 3 are insulated from each other, and are in a non-conductive (off) state. The transistor 13 is also non-conducting (off), so that no current flows from the vehicle-mounted power supply 2 for generating an alarm sound to the horn 4 from the control integrated circuit 10,
, A state in which no sound (alarm sound) is generated is maintained.

Next, the operation when the vehicle is submerged (in an emergency) will be described. Here, when the automobile falls into the water (submerged) for some reason, the water is provided between the conductive metal pads of the pair of conductive metal pads 3 which are disposed on the insulating substrate (not shown) at a minute interval and are exposed. Is entered, the pair of conductive metal pads 3 becomes equivalent to the connected one, and the connection turns on (turns on) the transistor 13.

When the transistor 13 is turned on, the power supply current is controlled by the control integrated circuit 10,
Applied to the horn 4, which causes the horn 4 to emit a sound (alarm sound).

Simultaneously with the generation of the alarm sound, the control integrated circuit 10 controls the motor drive unit 11 to rotate the window opening / closing motor in the direction in which the window opens (the window descends). With the above configuration, when the vehicle is submerged, the window automatically opens so that the occupant can escape,
By generating an audible alarm, quick rescue by surrounding third parties is enabled.

According to the present invention, the semiconductor detecting element is connected between the power supply terminal from the vehicle-mounted power supply (battery) and the ground terminal, and the semiconductor detecting element is turned on when the submersion detecting element detects submergence. However, the submergence detection element and the semiconductor detection element are not limited to a pair of conductive metal pads and transistors, and the same function can be exhibited even if another element having the same function is used. Of course.

Although the vehicle submergence alarm device has been described using a horn in which the alarm generates sound, the alarm is not limited to a horn. (Warning light). Further, the horn 5 of the vehicle A may be configured to simultaneously generate a sound while the alarm generates an alarm. In addition, it is needless to say that the horn 5 may be configured to also serve as an alarm.

With such a configuration, the driver and the passenger can be rescued from the submerged vehicle by a third party who knows that the vehicle has been submerged by the alarm from the alarm device.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an automobile (vehicle) is submerged, the submersion detection element for detecting submersion of the vehicle and the submersion detection element automatically detect when the submersion detection element detects submersion. An alarm device that issues an alarm allows a third party near the vehicle who has not witnessed the vehicle to be submerged to know that the vehicle is submerged, and to notify the driver or passenger from the vehicle by the alarm from the alarm device. Has the effect of being able to be rescued.

Further, since the vehicle submersion alarm device of the present invention connects the motor drive unit to the control circuit, drives the motor drive unit according to the signal of the control circuit, and automatically opens the window. With the dual safety mechanism, safety can be further improved.

Further, since the submersion detecting element of the vehicle submersion alarm device of the present invention is a pair of conductive metal pads arranged in an exposed state at a minute interval, the submersion detecting element can be easily formed. It is possible to provide a vehicle submergence alarm device.

Further, when a horn is used as an alarm device of the vehicle submersion alarm device of the present invention, it is only necessary to provide the horn with the function of an alarm device, so that the number of components is small and the configuration of the device is small. This has the effect of not becoming complicated.

Further, in the vehicle submersion alarm system of the present invention, when the vehicle is submerged, the alarm is mounted on the rear portion of the vehicle, which is relatively light in terms of the weight balance of the vehicle body and is likely to remain on the water surface until the end. The alarm can be issued for a longer period of time, so that a third party can hear the alarm, and the third party can rescue the driver etc. from the alarming vehicle (submerged vehicle). Has the effect of being higher.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view for explaining an embodiment of a vehicle submersion alarm device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle submersion alarm device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 power window switch device 2 in-vehicle power supply (battery) 3 conductive metal pad (submergence detection element) 4 horn (alarm device) 5 horn 6 window open / close motor 10 control integrated circuit (control circuit) 12 switch unit 13 transistor (semiconductor detection) element)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle; a submersion detecting element for detecting submersion of the vehicle when the vehicle is submerged; and an alarm device for issuing an alarm when the submersion detecting element detects submersion. Vehicle submersion alarm device. 2. A vehicle, a submersion detection element for detecting submersion of the vehicle when the vehicle is submerged, a semiconductor detection element that is turned on when the submersion detection element detects submersion, and the semiconductor detection element A vehicle submergence alarm device, comprising: a control circuit controlled by an ON operation of the vehicle; and an alarm device that issues an alarm according to a signal of the control circuit. 3. A motor drive unit is connected to the control circuit,
Driving the motor drive unit by a signal of the control circuit,
3. A submergence warning device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the window is opened. 4. The vehicle submersion alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the submergence detecting element is a pair of conductive metal pads arranged in an exposed state at a minute interval. 5. The vehicle submersion alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the alarm device comprises a horn. 6. The vehicle submersion alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm device is disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle.