JP2011240854A - Control system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reliably prevent drunk driving without impairing comfortability.SOLUTION: A control system (100) for a vehicle, is provided in a vehicle (10) with an air conditioner (500). The control system includes: a start up control device for remotely starting up a power source of the vehicle in response to a remote start up request from a distant place; an air conditioner control device for controlling the air conditioner to be started up coincidentally with the remote start up of the power source; an intention detection device for detecting a driver's intention to start the vehicle; a stop control device for stopping the power source that is remotely started up when detecting the intention to start the vehicle; an alcohol content detection device for detecting a breath alcohol content of the driver; and a permission device for permitting a restart up of the power source according to the detected alcohol content.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technical field of a vehicle control system for preventing drunk driving of a vehicle.

  As an apparatus of this type, Patent Document 1 discloses an engine start control system that stores drinking information on an electronic key. According to this system, in an engine start control system that performs authentication by wireless communication between an electronic key carried by a user and an in-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle, the in-vehicle device is allowed to perform the engine start of the vehicle. It is said that drunk driving can be prevented by providing the start prohibition control means for acquiring the drinking service use information from the base station and performing the engine start prohibition control based on the transaction content.

  As this type of apparatus, Patent Document 2 includes an intelligent key having an alcohol detector and a display unit. If no alcohol is detected by the alcohol detector, a key ID is transmitted. A key system is disclosed that displays that the alcohol has been detected on the display unit without transmitting the key ID in the case where it is detected.

JP 2008-260393 A JP 2008-155848 A

  However, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the history of transactions involving drinking is present in the drinking liquor usage information acquired from the electronic key, the remote start is performed regardless of whether the driver is drinking or not. Starting the engine is prohibited.

  In the device disclosed in Patent Document 2, although the intelligent key itself is provided with an alcohol detector, there is no guarantee that the person operating the intelligent key and the driver of the vehicle are the same. Alcohol interlock (in this specification, means one or more measures including prohibiting starting of the power source of the vehicle for the purpose of preventing drunk driving) by operating the intelligent key by three parties It is easy to illegally avoid the operation of.

  In addition, in order to prevent the occurrence of such malfunction or illegal avoidance of alcohol interlocks, when various identification functions such as biometric authentication are attached to the intelligent key itself, the cost increases and the user is Convenience may be reduced, such as being limited.

  As described above, it is desirable that alcohol detection is performed by the vehicle-mounted device from the viewpoint of accurately activating the alcohol interlock for the person who attempts the drunk driving.

  By the way, normally, various air conditioners can be mounted on the vehicle. An air conditioner is a device that adjusts the state of air in the passenger compartment. For example, the air conditioner can have various practical aspects such as an air conditioner, a cooler, a heater, a humidifier, and an air purifier. Although this type of device can also be operated by taking out electric power from a power storage means such as a battery, for example, when considering the power balance of the power storage means, it is a matter of course that a power source (e.g. Operation of an internal combustion engine, a motor generator, etc.).

  For this reason, when relying on the vehicle-mounted device for detection of drinking for the reasons described above, for example, when the passenger compartment is hot or cold, or when the passenger compartment air is not clean, the driver is in an environment with reduced comfort. Therefore, it is necessary to wait for the progress of the drinking detection process, and in particular, there is a possibility that the driver may feel uncomfortable for a normal driver who does not have any intention of performing drunk driving.

  As described above, in the conventional devices including the devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, it is difficult to achieve both the accuracy of drinking detection and the comfort of the passenger compartment during the drinking detection period. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control system that can reliably prevent drunk driving without impairing comfort.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a vehicle control system according to the present invention can be installed in a vehicle equipped with an air conditioner, and starts a power source of the vehicle remotely in response to a remote start request from a remote location. Control means, air conditioning control means for controlling the air conditioner so as to start in synchronism with remote starting of the power source, intention detection means capable of detecting a driver's start intention, and the start intention detected A stop control means for stopping the remotely started power source, an alcohol concentration detection means capable of detecting the alcohol concentration in the driver's breath, and the power source is reactivated according to the detected alcohol concentration. And a permission unit that permits starting.

  The “remote place” according to the present invention means an arbitrary position outside the vehicle. The “remote start request” according to the present invention that can occur in such a remote place is, for example, an artificial remote start operation performed on various remote start devices called electronic keys or intelligent keys. (For example, an operation such as pressing a switch attached to a key).

  When a remote start operation is performed, as a preferred embodiment, a remote start signal including at least a signal corresponding to a remote start request is generated on the remote starter side, and various communication environments such as wireless communication and infrared communication are used. Is sent to the vehicle. In this case, the vehicle control system according to the present invention may be provided with various communication means capable of receiving the remote start signal and corresponding to the form of the remote start signal. Alternatively, the vehicle according to the present invention may be provided with this type of communication means, and the vehicle control system according to the present invention may appropriately refer to the presence or absence of the remote start signal.

  According to the vehicle control system of the present invention, the start control means starts the power source in response to the remote start request. In other words, according to the present invention, there is no restriction on the start of the power source for the remote start operation from the standpoint of preventing drunk driving, and the start of the power source is permitted regardless of whether or not the driver is drunk.

  On the other hand, according to the vehicle control system of the present invention, the air conditioner is started under the control of the air conditioning control means in synchronization with the remote start of the power source accompanying the remote start operation. In this case, “synchronization” means that a remote start request is used as a trigger for control, and either the power source or the air conditioner may be started earlier in time series. is there. According to the air conditioning control means, even if the air conditioner is intentionally or accidentally turned off at the previous stop of the power source, the air conditioner is compulsory with the start of the power source according to the remote start request. Can be started.

  “Starting the air conditioner” related to the air conditioning control means preferably means maintaining the air conditioning state of the passenger compartment at the target air conditioning state. In this case, more specifically, with the start of the air conditioner, for example, the temperature in the vehicle interior is adjusted to the target temperature, the humidity in the vehicle interior is adjusted to the target humidity, or the air in the vehicle interior is cleaned. Is done. This type of target air conditioning state may be set in advance as a value specialized at the time of remote start, or may be in accordance with the setting state of the air conditioner at that time. Moreover, it may be set artificially in advance or may be automatically assigned on the system. In any case, when the air conditioner is started, the passenger compartment is ideally maintained in an air conditioning state in which the driver does not feel uncomfortable.

  In this case, the air volume, the wind direction, the state of the air outlet, and the like related to the air conditioner may be controlled so that various target states such as the target temperature can be obtained in as short a time as possible. Specifically, for example, when a remote start request is generated for a vehicle having a room temperature of 40 ° C. or higher and the target air conditioning state is, for example, 25 ° C., the air conditioning control means can set the control target in as short a time as possible. Measures such as increasing the capacity of the refrigerant, increasing the air volume, controlling the air direction so that the cool air circulates efficiently in the room, and changing all the air outlets provided in the vehicle to the fully open state so as to be obtained. May be taken.

  On the other hand, the vehicle control system according to the present invention is provided with intention detection means capable of detecting the intention of the vehicle to start by the driver. When the intention detection means detects the driver's intention to start, the stop control means stops the power source in the remote start state corresponding to the remote start request. In other words, the power source is forcibly shifted to the operation stop state in accordance with the detection of the driver's intention to start (of course, there may be information associated with various aspects). Such a measure is a drunk driving prevention measure from a preventive viewpoint due to the fact that the driver is not determined to be in a drunk state (the possibility of being in a drunk state is not excluded). Part of the interlock.

  The driver's intention to start is detected using, for example, the driver's state or action as a determination factor. For example, the intention detection means may open and close a vehicle door as an example of a driver's action corresponding to a start intention (which may be a specific door opening and closing such as a driver side door), or You may detect the seating operation | movement to a driver's seat, etc. The latter can be determined based on, for example, a change in the load on the driver's seat. In addition, the intention detection unit may detect that the driver is seated in the driver's seat as an example of the driver's state indicating the intention to start. In this case, for example, the intention detection unit applies various known image recognition or pattern recognition techniques to the image or video of the driver's seat space obtained through an appropriate imaging device, so that the driver is seated in the driver's seat. You may make the judgment to the effect. Alternatively, the intention detection unit may detect that the driver is seated in the driver's seat based on various sensor outputs sent from various optical sensors such as an infrared sensor. In addition, such a detection operation related to the intention detection unit may be performed regardless of whether or not the remote start control according to the remote start request described above is executed.

  The vehicle control system according to the present invention includes alcohol concentration detection means that can directly or indirectly detect the alcohol concentration in the breath of the driver. The restart of the power source that has been forcibly stopped by the stop control unit is permitted according to the detected alcohol concentration by the permission unit. Note that “restart is permitted” means that the forced stop of the power source (that is, alcohol interlock) related to the stop control means is released. This means that the restart of the power source when input (for example, operation of the ignition key or start button) is not disturbed (or the power source is restarted in such a case), etc. However, when a remote start operation is performed, the driver can determine that the start input has already been given, and it can be treated that the restart of the power source is in accordance with the driver's intention. It is. In view of this point, the permission unit may automatically restart the power source without waiting for an artificial restart input in addition to the release of such a forced stop measure.

  The permitting unit permits the restart of the power source when it is determined that there is no reason to prohibit the start of the power source from the viewpoint of preventing drunk driving based on the detected alcohol concentration. In other words, the permission means is preferably such that the detected alcohol concentration is preliminarily established experimentally, empirically, theoretically or based on simulation, or based on legal regulations. When the driver is in the concentration range where it can be determined that the driver is not in a drunk state or is estimated to be present, the restart of the power source is permitted. In this case, the permission means may determine whether or not the detected alcohol concentration is less than an upper limit value that defines this type of concentration range. If permission to restart is not granted by the permission means, the power source will remain in a forced stop state (in this case, the measure is not a precautionary measure, it means that drunk driving is truly prohibited) Alcohol interlock at).

  The alcohol concentration detection means may be a direct detection means, such as various known alcohol concentration sensors, or information corresponding to the alcohol concentration detected from this type of direct detection means. Indirect detection means (for example, various controllers, computer devices, etc.) acquired as various signals may be used, and the detection method is not limited in any way.

  Further, the alcohol concentration detection means sets the expiration of the driver as the detection target of the alcohol concentration, but whether or not the detection target is truly the expiration of the driver (for example, expiration or balloons of a third party other than the driver) For example, the vehicle, the vehicle control system, or the alcohol concentration detection means according to the present invention appropriately makes this type of determination or function. May be provided. In this case, immediately before the detection of the alcohol concentration according to the alcohol concentration detection means, a determination process for determining whether or not the detection target is truly the driver's breath may be additionally executed.

  Thus, according to the vehicle control system of the present invention, the power source of the vehicle is from the time corresponding to the time when the remote start operation is performed to the time corresponding to the time when the driver's start intention is detected. Only during this period (hereinafter referred to as “remote start period” as appropriate), the start is permitted irrespective of the driver's drinking state, and the air conditioner can take an operating state at least during this remote start period. . By using a time delay that occurs between the time when the remote start request is generated and the time when the driver's intention to start is detected, the passenger compartment can be maintained in a comfortable air conditioning state for the driver. .

  That is, in the vehicle control system according to the present invention, the meaning of starting the power source is different before and after detection of the driver's intention to start. The start of the power source before the start intention detection is a start for starting the air conditioner and maintaining the passenger compartment in a comfortable space. The start of the power source permitted by the permission means after the start intention detection is the vehicle It is a start to start. In other words, in the vehicle control system according to the present invention, the priority order between the start measure and the stop measure related to the power source is appropriately switched at the detection of the start intention.

  As a result, on the other hand, when alcohol detection is performed at the stage where the driver performs a remote starting operation, the above-described decrease in detection accuracy (decrease in alcohol concentration detection accuracy and invalidation of alcohol detection due to impersonation of others) On the other hand, the above-mentioned decrease in comfort when alcohol detection is performed by the vehicle-mounted device (high temperature, low temperature, air pollution caused by the air conditioner not starting until the power source is started) Etc.) is preferably avoided. That is, drunk driving can be reliably prevented without impairing comfort. Such coexistence of comfort and accuracy provides a high practical benefit in that the burden on a normal driver who has no hair, such as the intention to perform drunk driving, can be significantly reduced.

  When the power source is temporarily forcibly stopped by the stop control means, the air conditioner can ideally be temporarily stopped by the action of the air conditioning control means. Whether or not the air conditioner is in operation is essentially irrelevant to drunk driving, but considering the fact that the power source must be operated for the permanent operation of the air conditioner, various energy required for the operation of the air conditioner such as electric power It is desirable to temporarily stop the air conditioner so as not to deteriorate the balance.

  However, the risk caused by operating the air conditioner differs greatly between the time when the remote start request is generated and the time when the start intention is detected. That is, in the former, it is practically impossible to foresee the length of the remote start period, and the risk that the energy balance is deteriorated by starting the air conditioner without starting the power source is relatively high. Become bigger. On the other hand, at the start intention detection time, unless the driver is in a drinking state, the time until the power source is restarted is short and can be predicted accordingly. Therefore, it is not always necessary to stop the air conditioner with the forced stop of the power source by the stop control means.

  In one aspect of the vehicle control system according to the present invention, the intention detection means detects the driver's seating on the driver's seat as the start intention.

  The driver's seating in the driver's seat can have a high correlation with the driver's intention to start. Therefore, according to this aspect, it is possible to accurately detect the driver's intention to start.

  In one aspect of the vehicle control system according to the present invention in which seating in the driver's seat is detected as an intention to start, the intention detector detects seating in the driver's seat based on the load on the driver's seat.

  According to this aspect, it is possible to accurately detect the driver's seating on the driver's seat by referring to the load value of the driver's seat or a change in the load value.

  In another aspect of the vehicle control system according to the present invention in which seating in the driver's seat is detected as an intention to start, the intention detector is seated in the driver's seat based on a seat belt wearing state in the driver's seat. Is detected.

  Since the driver is obliged to wear the seat belt, the seat belt wearing state (in short, the binary state of whether or not it is worn) is a reference value for detecting the driver's seating on the driver's seat. It is effective as

  In another aspect of the vehicle control system according to the present invention in which seating in the driver's seat is detected as an intention to start, the vehicle includes an imaging unit that images the interior of the vehicle, and the intention detection unit includes the indoor unit. Seating on the driver's seat is detected based on the imaging result.

  According to this aspect, since it is possible to detect the driver's seating on the driver's seat based on the indoor imaging result by the imaging means such as the in-vehicle camera, it is possible to suitably prevent illegal avoidance of alcohol interlock. .

  In another aspect of the vehicle control system according to the present invention, the intention detection means detects opening / closing of a door of the vehicle as the start intention.

  When a driver who has performed a starting operation in a remote place gets on the vehicle, opening and closing of the door is an essential element. Therefore, the driver's intention to start can be accurately detected by detecting the opening / closing operation of a specific door such as the door on the driver's seat side.

  Such an operation and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below.

1 is a block diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front top view of the user interface part in the vehicle of FIG. It is a schematic side sectional view of the drinking detection unit in the vehicle of FIG. 3 is a flowchart of remote start control executed by an ECU in the vehicle of FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart of drunk driving prevention control executed by an ECU in the vehicle of FIG. 1.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment of the Invention>
Hereinafter, a vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

<Configuration of Embodiment>
First, the configuration of the vehicle 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the vehicle 10.

  In FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 is an example of a “vehicle” according to the present invention that includes an ECU 100, a drinking detection unit 200, a user interface unit 300, an engine system 400, an air conditioner 500, and a remote start system 600.

  The ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and is configured to be able to control the operation of the vehicle 10. 1 is an example of a “vehicle control system”. The ECU 100 is configured to execute remote start control and drunk driving prevention control, which will be described later, according to a control program stored in the ROM.

  Such a configuration is merely an example, and the vehicle control system according to the present invention includes, for example, each means or the entire apparatus, one or a plurality of CPUs, MPUs (Micro Processing Units), ECUs, various processors. Or you may be comprised as various controllers.

  A drinking detection unit 200 corresponding to “exhalation detection means” in the present invention will be described. The drunk detection unit 200 is a detection unit that performs various detection operations related to drunk driving prevention control executed by the ECU 100. The detection unit 200 includes an imaging device 210, an image processing device 220, a blower fan 230, and a sensor group 240, each of which is electrically connected to the ECU 100 and controlled by the ECU 100 to the upper level.

  The imaging device 210 is a digital recording video camera, and includes a lens 211 and an image processing unit 212.

  The lens 211 is an optical device that is installed in an interface unit 300 described later and collects input light from a subject.

  The image processing unit 212 is an imaging unit that includes a large number of imaging elements and generates image information related to the subject based on input light from the subject obtained through the lens 211.

  The image processing device 220 performs a process of determining whether or not the breath input person and the vehicle driver are the same based on the image information of the subject obtained by the imaging device 210 and a known pattern recognition algorithm. It is configured to be possible. Information corresponding to the execution result of the determination process, that is, information regarding whether or not the breath input person and the driver are the same is appropriately sent to the ECU 100 in response to a request from the ECU 100 side. Yes.

  The blower fan 230 is a stirring device that includes an impeller unit that is rotatably installed in a detection space 200B, which will be described later, and a drive unit (not shown) that drives the impeller unit. The drive unit is electrically connected to the ECU 100, and its operation is controlled by the ECU 100. The positional relationship between the impeller portion and the detection space 200B will be described later.

  The sensor group 240 is composed of a plurality of sensors whose sensor values are referred to when the ECU 100 executes drunk driving prevention control. The sensor group 240 includes a temperature sensor 241, a CO 2 sensor 242, an alcohol sensor 243, an interference gas sensor 244, a door sensor 245, and a driver seat load sensor 246.

  The temperature sensor 241 is a sensor configured to be able to detect the temperature of a detection space 200B described later. The temperature sensor 241 is electrically connected to the ECU 100, and the detected temperature is appropriately referred to by the ECU 100.

  The CO2 sensor 242 is a sensor configured to be able to detect the carbon dioxide concentration in the detection space 200B. The CO2 sensor 242 is electrically connected to the ECU 100, and the detected carbon dioxide concentration is appropriately referred to by the ECU 100.

  The alcohol sensor 243 is a sensor configured to be able to detect the alcohol concentration Dalc of the input gas guided to the detection space 200B. The alcohol sensor 243 is electrically connected to the ECU 100, and the detected alcohol concentration Dalc is configured to be referred to by the ECU 100 mainly during the execution period of the drunk driving prevention control.

  As will be described later, when the driver's breath is input as the input gas in the drunk driving prevention control, the detection space 200B is substantially uniformly filled with the driver's breath. Therefore, the alcohol concentration Dalc of the driver breath is substantially synonymous with the alcohol concentration Dalc of the detection space 200B.

  The alcohol sensor 243 has a gas sensitive body made of a semiconductor material, and detects the alcohol concentration based on a change in the electrical resistance value of the gas sensitive body caused by the adsorption of alcohol on the surface of the gas sensitive body. This is a so-called semiconductor alcohol concentration sensor.

  The interference gas sensor 244 is a sensor configured to be able to detect the interference gas concentration in the detection space 200B. The interfering gas sensor 245 is electrically connected to the ECU 100, and the detected interfering gas concentration is appropriately referred to by the ECU 100.

  The interfering gas means a gas having an effect of interfering with alcohol concentration detection by the alcohol sensor 243 as a result, and mainly refers to VOC (volatile organic compound) in the present embodiment. When the detection space 200B is filled with a disturbing gas, the electric resistance value of the gas sensitive body of the alcohol sensor 243 changes depending on the disturbing gas, so that the detection accuracy of the alcohol concentration in the driver's breath is lowered. It is.

  The door sensor 245 is a sensor configured to be able to detect the open / closed state of the door on the driver's seat side of the vehicle 10 (in particular, in this embodiment, a binary state indicating whether the door is open or closed). The door sensor 245 is electrically connected to the ECU 100, and the detected opening / closing state is appropriately referred to by the ECU 100.

  The driver's seat load sensor 246 is a sensor that is embedded in a plurality of locations in the driver's seat and configured to be able to detect the value of the load applied to the embedded portion. The driver seat load sensor 246 is electrically connected to the ECU 100, and the detected load value is configured to be referred to by the ECU 100 mainly during the execution period of the drunk driving prevention control. The ECU 100 can analyze the load values at the plurality of locations based on a preset discrimination algorithm, and finally determine whether or not the driver is seated in the driver's seat.

  However, whether or not the driver is seated in the driver's seat may be determined by the image processing device 220 described above executing various pattern recognition processes. In this case, the driver seat load sensor 246 may only detect that a load corresponding to the driver is applied to the driver seat.

  The user interface unit 300 is an interface unit that is interposed between the driver and the drinking detection unit 200, and includes the lens 211, the breath input unit 310, the display unit 320, and the operation unit 330 of the imaging device 210 described above.

  The exhalation input unit 310 is an inlet for the driver to inhale exhalation when the drunk driving prevention control is executed. The positional relationship between the breath input unit 310 and each part belonging to the drinking detection unit 200 will be described later.

  The display unit 320 is an indicator that includes an LED as a light emitting element, and is a device that notifies the driver of various types of information according to the lighting state of the LED. The display unit 320 is electrically connected to the ECU 100, and the ECU 100 controls the light emission state of the LED.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the user interface unit 300 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the user interface unit 300. FIG. In the figure, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions as those in FIG. 1, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  In FIG. 2, the user interface unit 300 has a case 300A as an outer body, and has a configuration in which the lens 211, the breath input unit 310, the display unit 320, and the operation unit 330 are accommodated in the case 300A.

  In the user interface unit 300, the lens 211 indicates whether or not an exhalation input person who inputs exhalation to the exhalation input unit 310 is seated in the driver's seat at the time of the exhalation input (that is, whether or not he is a driver). ) Is detected. In addition, the specifications and installation mode of the optical system are determined so that the breath input person can be imaged to the extent that the image processing apparatus 220 can determine whether or not the breath has been input without fraud from the sitting posture. Yes.

  As shown in the figure, the exhalation input unit 310 has a lattice shape in plan view, and in a gap portion where no lattice is formed, the interior of the vehicle and a detection space 200B (which extends in the depth direction in the drawing) to be described later. It is configured to communicate.

  In the drunk driving prevention control, the driver who is prompted to input exhalation can determine that the exhalation input unit 310 is in close proximity (more specifically, the image processing device 220 is executing normal exhalation input). It is configured to inhale exhalation from a position within the range.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the drinking detection unit 200 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view conceptually showing the configuration of the drinking detection unit 200. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate. FIG. 3 shows a schematic side sectional view of the detection space 200 </ b> B described above that communicates with the breath input unit 310 in the drinking detection unit 200.

  In FIG. 3, the exhalation input unit 310 and the detection space 200B are defined by the detection box 200A. The detection box 200A is a substantially cylindrical member, and the hollow portion forms a detection space 200B as an example of the “space” according to the present invention.

  The detection box 200A is connected to an exhalation input unit 310 of the interface unit 300 at one end in the longitudinal direction thereof. When the driver exhalation is input via the exhalation input unit 310, the input driver exhalation is detected. The structure is guided to the space 200B.

  The above-described impeller of the blower fan 230 is installed in the vicinity of the entrance of the detection space 200B, and when it is driven to rotate, the input driver exhalation is agitated (see the broken line in the drawing) and sent downstream. It has a configuration. For this reason, the detection space 200B is maintained in a substantially uniform gas state during the operation period of the blower fan.

  On the other hand, in the sensor group 240, four sensors excluding the door sensor 245 and the driver seat load sensor 246 (that is, the temperature sensor 241, the CO2 sensor 242, the alcohol sensor 243, and the interference gas sensor 244) are part of the detection terminals. Is exposed to the detection space 200B and is fixed to the detection box 200A.

  Next, the engine system 400 will be described in detail. The engine system 400 includes an engine 410 and a cell motor 420 as shown in FIG.

  The engine 410 is a gasoline engine as an example of the “power source” according to the present invention that can supply a driving force to an axle connected to a driving wheel of the vehicle 10. The engine 400 is an example of a so-called internal combustion engine that can finally extract thermal energy associated with fuel combustion as rotational motion of various engine output shafts such as a crankshaft. In the internal combustion engine as an example, the detailed configuration including the fuel type, the number of cylinders, the cylinder arrangement, the fuel supply mode, the intake / exhaust system configuration, the valve operating system configuration, and the like is not limited at all. In addition, the “power source” according to the present invention may be various rotating electrical machines such as a motor and a motor generator having various known modes, instead of such an internal combustion engine. In this case, the vehicle according to the present invention may be a so-called EV (Electric Vehicle). Alternatively, the vehicle according to the present invention may be a so-called HV (Hybrid Vehicle) including various internal combustion engines and various rotating electrical machines.

  The cell motor 420 is a DC motor in which the rotor is connected to the engine output shaft of the engine 410 described above via a reduction gear. The driving circuit of the cell motor 420 is electrically connected to the ECU 100, and the cell motor 420 can apply a driving force for urging the engine output shaft to rotate with respect to the engine output shaft under the control of the ECU 100. The cell motor 420 is a so-called cranking motor mainly used for cranking when the engine 410 is started.

  Next, air conditioning control means will be described. The air conditioner 600 has various air conditioning functions such as a cooling function, a heating function, and a dehumidifying function, and is capable of adjusting the air conditioning state in the room of the vehicle 10 and is a known vehicle air conditioner as an example of the “air conditioner” according to the present invention. Shona (so-called car air conditioner). The air conditioner 600 is electrically connected to the ECU 100, and the operating state is controlled by the ECU 100 to the upper level. Note that the air conditioning information in the vehicle interior (herein, the vehicle interior temperature) necessary for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 600 is detected by a vehicle interior temperature sensor (not shown), and the ECU 100 appropriately refers to it. ing.

  Next, the start control means will be described.

  The remote start system 600 is a system for remotely starting the engine 410 including an in-vehicle antenna 610, an authentication unit 620, and an electronic key 630.

  The vehicle interior antenna 610 is an antenna device for weak wireless communication that is installed in the vehicle interior of the vehicle 10 and uses a predetermined frequency band as a communication band. The vehicle interior antenna 610 is configured to be able to receive a key ID, which will be described later, as a remote start request transmitted from the space outside the vehicle 10 via the electronic key 630.

  Authentication unit 620 is a processing unit that performs a collation process between a key ID transmitted from electronic key 630 and a key ID written in advance in ROM of ECU 100. The result of the key ID verification process is transmitted to the ECU 100.

  The electronic key 630 includes a transmission unit 632 and a memory 633, and is a key unit for remote starting operation having portability. The electronic key 630 is assumed to be carried by the driver and operated mainly in the space outside the vehicle.

  The transmission unit 632 is a communication device that acquires a key ID representing the individual identification information of the electronic key 630 from the memory 633 and transmits it as a remote start request via an antenna unit (not shown). The transmission intensity of the transmission unit 632 is defined in advance so as not to cause malfunction of other electronic devices around the driver, and the communicable distance between the electronic key 630 and the vehicle interior antenna 610 is also substantially equal. Limited to a predetermined range.

  The memory 633 is a storage device that stores the key ID.

<Operation of Embodiment>
Next, details of remote start control and drunk driving prevention control executed by the ECU 100 will be described as operations of the present embodiment.

  First, the remote start control will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the remote start control.

  In FIG. 4, the ECU 100 determines whether or not the engine 410 is in an engine stop state (step S101). When engine 410 is not in a stopped state (step S101: NO), that is, when engine 410 is already in an operating state, step S101 is repeatedly executed, and the process is controlled to be in a substantially standby state.

  When engine 410 is in the engine stop state (step S101: YES), ECU 100 determines whether or not there is a remote start request (step S102). Here, the remote start request is a start request for the engine 410 made via the electronic key 630 described above, and in the present embodiment, means the key ID described above. That is, “whether or not there is a remote start request” practically has the same meaning as “whether or not a key ID is received”.

  In step S102, the ECU 100 determines whether or not the key ID is received via the in-vehicle antenna 610. If the key ID is not received (step S102: NO), the process returns to step S101.

  When the key ID as the remote start request is received (step S102: YES), the ECU 100 acquires a verification result between the received key ID and the key ID stored in the ROM from the authentication unit 620. Are matched (step S103). If the key IDs do not match (step S103), the process returns to step S101.

  When the key IDs match (step S103: YES), the ECU 100 controls the cell motor 420 to start cranking the engine 410, and controls the fuel injection electronic control injector and ignition device provided in the engine 410. Then, fuel injection control and ignition control are started, and the engine 410 is started (step S104). Step S104 is an example of the operation of the start control means to “start the power source of the vehicle in response to the remote start request” according to the present invention.

  When engine 410 is started, ECU 100 further starts air conditioner 500 (step S105). Step S105 is an example of the operation of the air conditioning control means of “controlling the air conditioner to start in synchronization with the remote start of the power source” according to the present invention. When the air conditioner 500 is started, the process returns to step S101. The remote start control is executed in this way.

  As described above, according to the remote start control according to the present embodiment, when a remote start request using the electronic key 630 is generated, the engine 410 is started regardless of whether the driver is drinking or not. Is allowed. In addition, since the air conditioner 500 is reliably started when the engine is started, the inside of the vehicle can be maintained in a desired air condition even when the air conditioner 500 is turned off at the previous engine stop.

  In step S105, when the air conditioner 500 has already been started with the start of the engine 410, the processing may be substantially skipped. In step S105, the ECU 100 not only simply starts the air conditioner 500 but also sets the air conditioning state optimized as the air conditioning state at the time of the remote start request as a control target, and performs air conditioning according to the set control target. The apparatus 500 may be controlled.

  Next, details of drunk driving prevention control will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of drunk driving prevention control. The drunk driving prevention control is a control executed when the engine 410 is in the engine stop state or in the remote start state by the remote start control.

  In FIG. 5, the ECU 100 refers to the opening / closing state of the driver's seat side door detected by the door sensor 245, and determines whether or not the driver's seat opening / closing operation has occurred (step S201). More specifically, the ECU 100 determines whether or not the open / close state of the driver's seat side door has changed in the order of closed → open → close. While the opening / closing operation of the driver's seat side door does not occur, step S201 is repeatedly executed, and the process is substantially in a standby state.

  When the opening / closing operation of the driver's seat side door occurs (step S201: YES), the ECU 100 determines whether the driver is seated on the driver's seat based on the sensor output of the driver's seat load sensor 246 (step S202). . If driver seating is not detected (step S202: NO), step S202 is repeatedly executed, and the process is substantially in a standby state.

  When the driver's seating in the driver's seat is detected (step S202: YES), the ECU 100 determines whether or not the engine 410 is being remotely started in response to the remote start request (step S203). If engine 410 is being remotely started (step S203: YES), ECU 100 forcibly stops engine 410 (step S204). In the present embodiment, the forced stop of the engine 410 is realized by forcibly stopping the fuel injection through the fuel injection device. The operation in step S204 is an example of the operation of the “stop control unit” according to the present invention. That is, in this embodiment, at least the driver's seating on the driver's seat is detected as the “driver's intention to start” according to the present invention.

  When a forced stop measure is taken for engine 410 or when it is determined in step S203 that engine 410 is not being remotely started (step S203: NO), ECU 100 prohibits starting engine 410 (step S205). ).

  Here, “prohibiting the start of the engine 410” means that the start control for a normal start operation (for example, turning the ignition key or pressing the start button) is not performed, or the start operation itself is physically It means to lock to.

  If the engine start is prohibited in step S205, the drunk detection process for the driver is started after step S206. First, the ECU 100 controls the lighting or blinking of the display unit 320 to prompt the driver to input to the exhalation input unit 310 (step S206).

  On the other hand, at the same time as prompting input to the exhalation input unit 310, the ECU 100 controls the imaging device 210 to start imaging of the driver (step S207). When the imaging of the driver is started, the ECU 100 further controls the image processing device 220 so that the input person to the input unit 310 (note that exhalation is not necessary at this stage) is the driver. An authentication process is executed to determine whether or not the input person is a driver (step S208). If the input person is a driver (step S208: YES), the ECU 100 determines whether or not an input to the exhalation input unit has been made (step S209), and puts the process into a standby state until the input is made. Whether or not an input has been made can be determined based on changes in various sensor values, pattern recognition results by the image processing apparatus 220, and the like.

  When the driver inputs to the expiration input unit 310 (step S209: YES), the ECU 100 executes an expiration determination process (step S210). The exhalation determination process is a process of determining whether or not the input by the driver is truly human exhalation. That is, in addition to the process of determining whether or not the input person is a driver according to step S208, the driver who is authenticated as the input person uses an unauthorized tool to supply gas other than exhalation to the exhalation input unit 310. It is determined whether it is not input.

  Specifically, in step S210, ECU 100 determines whether or not the input to exhalation input unit 310 is truly human exhalation based on the temperature detected by temperature sensor 241 and the concentration detected by CO2 sensor 242. Is determined. More specifically, reference values for temperature and CO2 concentration that can be determined as human expiration are stored in advance in the ROM of the ECU 100, and the ECU 100 compares each sensor value with these various reference values. Thus, the determination is performed. Note that various known aspects can be applied to the detailed aspects of the expiration determination process.

  When the input gas is expiration (step S211: YES), that is, when the detection space 200B is filled with the driver expiration, the ECU 100 refers to the alcohol concentration Dalc detected by the alcohol sensor 243 (that is, this It is an example of the operation of the “alcohol concentration detection means” according to the invention), and it is determined whether or not the alcohol concentration of the driver exhalation is less than a preset reference value (step S212). Here, the reference value used for comparison with the alcohol concentration Dalc is set in a form corresponding to the reference value according to the law at that time.

  In executing step S212, the ECU 100 also determines whether or not the disturbing gas concentration detected by the disturbing gas sensor 244 is less than a reference value. The alcohol sensor 243 has poor gas selectivity due to the nature of the semiconductor alcohol concentration sensor, and both the interfering gas such as VOC and the alcohol component in the driver's exhalation change in the electric resistance value of the gas sensitive body. appear. For this reason, in the environment where the interference gas exists in a predetermined amount or more, the reliability related to the determination of the alcohol concentration of the driver's breath is reduced. When the disturbing gas concentration is equal to or higher than the reference value, the execution of step S212 is waited until the disturbing gas concentration falls below the reference value.

  In step S212, when the alcohol concentration Dalc of the driver's breath is less than the reference value (step S212: YES), the ECU 100 allows the engine 410 to be restarted assuming that no drinking has been detected (step S213).

  Note that the fact that drinking has not been detected is immediately notified to the driver by lighting control or blinking control of the display unit 320. Of course, the display mode of the display unit 320 in this case may be different from that used when prompting an input to the exhalation input unit 310. When restart of engine 410 is permitted, drunk driving prevention control is terminated.

  On the other hand, whether the input to the expiration input unit 310 is not the driver (step S208: NO), the input gas is not expiration (step S211: NO), or the alcohol concentration Dalc of the driver expiration is equal to or higher than the reference value (Step S212: NO), the ECU 100 ends the drunk driving prevention control.

  In this case, the starting prohibition measure for engine 410 according to step S205 is not released, and the state where the alcohol interlock is activated is maintained. That is, the series of operations according to steps S208, S211 and S212 is an example of the operation of the “permission unit” according to the present invention.

  When the forced stop of the engine 410 is executed in step S204, the ECU 100 may restart the engine 410 without waiting for the driver's starting operation in step S213. Such a measure is extremely reasonable in view of the fact that the engine 410 was remotely started based on the driver's intention as a conventional state.

  As described above, according to the drunk driving prevention control according to the present embodiment, the engine 410 started in response to the remote start request is forcibly stopped at least temporarily as the driver sits on the driver's seat. . This compulsory suspension will be released quickly if it is determined that the driver is not in a drunk state, but the situation in which the driver cannot determine that he is not in a drunk state (in addition to when the driver is drinking, (Including cases where it can be considered that fraud has occurred). Therefore, drunk driving can be reliably prevented.

  On the other hand, according to the remote start control, before the driver is seated in the driver's seat, there is no restriction on the start of the engine 410, and the remote start function attached to the electronic key 630 carried by the driver is provided. When the engine 410 is remotely started using the engine 410, the engine 410 is started. For this reason, it becomes possible to start the air conditioner 500 which requires engine start for the permanent operation | movement maintenance before driver | operator seating. In particular, in the present embodiment, the ECU 100 forcibly starts the air conditioner 500 as the engine starts.

  In other words, according to the present embodiment, from the time when the driver operates the electronic key 630 for remotely starting the engine 410 to the time when the driver is seated in the driver's seat (“start intention” according to the present invention). Compared to the case where at least no measures are taken, the vehicle compartment of the vehicle 10 can be shifted to a comfortable space for the driver by using the time delay until the detection time). Therefore, during the period in which the ECU 100 executes a series of processes related to drinking detection in the drunk driving prevention control, the degree to which the driver endures a situation such as high temperature, low temperature, high humidity, or dryness is alleviated, and ideally There is no need for such patience.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, the remote start control and the drunk driving prevention control suitably coordinate the remote start function attached to the electronic key 630 and the drunk driving prevention function while ensuring the benefits brought about by both, It is possible to reliably prevent drunk driving without impairing comfort.

  In the present embodiment, the alcohol sensor 243 as a means for detecting the alcohol concentration of the driver's breath is a semiconductor alcohol concentration sensor, and in particular, the vehicle interior temperature (more specifically, the above-described detection space communicating with the vehicle interior space). It is also conceivable that the detection accuracy is influenced by the temperature of 200B. Therefore, when the air-conditioning control before the detection of drinking as exemplified in the present embodiment is not performed, the alcohol concentration detection accuracy may be lowered during the drinking detection process in step S206. In that respect, in the present invention in which the air-conditioning state can be controlled by the air-conditioning apparatus 500, it is not necessary to consider this kind of decrease in detection accuracy, and the present invention can be further improved in its original function as a vehicle control system. The invention is extremely useful in practice.

  Note that step 207 and step 208 are not necessarily required operations, and even if the processing shifts from step 206 to step 209, the essential effects according to the present embodiment are not changed.

  In the present embodiment, the opening / closing detection and the seating detection are performed as the operation of the intention detection means according to the present invention, but the start intention may be detected by detecting either one of them. In the present embodiment, the seating is detected based on the sensor value of the driver seat load sensor 246, but instead of or in addition to the driver seat load sensor 246, the seat belt on the driver seat side is attached. A sensor capable of detecting the state may be provided. Alternatively, the driver's seating on the driver's seat may be detected based on the image around the driver's seat captured by the imaging device 210.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and a vehicle control system with such a change. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The present invention can be used for preventing drunk driving in various vehicles, for example.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle, 100 ... ECU, 200 ... Drinking detection part, 200B ... Detection space, 210 ... Imaging device, 220 ... Image processing device, 230 ... Blower fan, 240 ... Sensor group, 241 ... Temperature sensor, 242 ... CO2 sensor, 243 ... Alcohol sensor, 244 ... Interfering gas sensor, 245 ... Door sensor, 246 ... Driver seat sensor, 300 ... User interface unit, 310 ... Exhalation input unit, 320 ... Display unit, 330 ... Input unit, 410 ... Engine, 420 ... Cell motor, 500 ... Air conditioner, 600 ... Remote start system, 610 ... Car interior antenna, 620 ... Authentication unit, 630 ... Electronic key.

Claims (6)

It can be installed in a vehicle equipped with an air conditioner,
Start control means for remotely starting the power source of the vehicle in response to a remote start request from a remote place;
Air conditioning control means for controlling the air conditioner to start in synchronization with the remote start of the power source;
An intention detection means capable of detecting the driver's intention to start;
Stop control means for stopping the remotely-started power source when the intention to start is detected;
Alcohol concentration detection means capable of detecting the alcohol concentration in the driver's breath;
A vehicle control system comprising: permission means for permitting restart of the power source according to the detected alcohol concentration. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein the intention detection unit detects the driver's seating on the driver's seat as the intention to start. The vehicle control system according to claim 2, wherein the intention detection unit detects seating on the driver seat based on a load on the driver seat. 4. The vehicle control system according to claim 2, wherein the intention detection unit detects seating on the driver seat based on a seat belt wearing state in the driver seat. 5. The vehicle includes imaging means for imaging the interior of the vehicle,
The vehicle control system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the intention detection unit detects seating on the driver's seat based on a result of imaging in the room. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein the intention detection unit detects opening / closing of the door of the vehicle as the start intention.

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