JP2017065277A - Steering handle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering handle capable of assisting driving for starting a vehicle, by displaying an appropriate steering handle position.SOLUTION: A steering handle comprises: a grip 20 to be gripped by a driver for steering a steering wheel; a display device 21 disposed on a surface on a driver side of the grip 20; and a control unit 30 configured to display, on the display device 21, at starting time, a current direction of the wheel steering angle detected using a wheel angle sensor 41, as well as, to calculate target wheel steering angles to avoid collision against an obstacle around the vehicle, by performing image processing to images captured by a camera 45 mounted onto a vehicle, and to display, on the display device 21, a range of the calculated target wheel steering angles.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering wheel, and more particularly to a steering wheel that can provide driving assistance when starting.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes that various types of vehicle information are displayed on a steering wheel.

Japanese Patent No. 5495355

  After the vehicle was parked with the steering wheel largely turned off, even if the vehicle was started with forgetting to return the steering wheel, or the steering handle was going to be returned straight (to the standard position), it was not actually returned. When a vehicle is started in a state, it may collide with an adjacent vehicle or the like, resulting in an accident. This is because it is difficult for the driver to recognize the wheel steering angle (wheel angle) of the steering wheel of the vehicle by a method other than actual traveling. Therefore, it is desired to provide driving assistance to the driver by warning the driver that he / she has forgotten to return the steering wheel, and recognizing the current wheel angle and the target wheel angle to avoid a collision. Yes.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering handle capable of displaying a suitable steering handle position and assisting driving when the vehicle starts.

  A steering handle according to a first aspect of the present invention that solves the above-described problem includes a gripping portion that is gripped by a driver to steer a steering wheel of a vehicle, a display portion that is provided on the driver-side surface of the gripping portion, and a start Sometimes, the current wheel steering angle direction of the steered wheel is displayed on the display unit, and a target for avoiding a collision with an obstacle around the vehicle by image processing of an image by a photographing unit provided in the vehicle And a display control unit that calculates a range of the wheel steering angle and displays the calculated range of the target wheel steering angle on the display unit.

  A steering handle according to a second invention for solving the above-described problems is the steering handle according to the first invention, wherein the display control unit has the current wheel steering angle overlapping a range of the target wheel steering angle. If not, a warning is displayed on the display portion of the current wheel steering angle.

  A steering handle according to a third aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is the steering handle according to the second aspect, wherein the display control unit has the current wheel steering angle overlapping the range of the target wheel steering angle. If not, a warning is displayed using at least one of the color, shape and lighting pattern of the display portion of the current wheel steering angle.

  A steering handle according to a fourth invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is the steering handle according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the display control unit is configured to control the current wheel by steering the grip unit. When the steering angle is overlapped with the range of the target wheel steering angle, at the overlapped position, at least one of the color, shape, and lighting pattern is changed from the display when not overlapping, to a different one. And

  A steering handle according to a fifth aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is the steering handle according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the display control unit determines the target wheel from the current wheel steering angle. The steering direction to the steering angle is displayed.

  A steering handle according to a sixth aspect of the present invention that solves the above-described problem is the steering handle according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the display control unit is configured to move the vehicle outward from an initial parking area. Until the vehicle exits, the current wheel steering angle direction and the target wheel steering angle range are continuously displayed on the display unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the direction of the current wheel steering angle of the steered wheel and the range of the target wheel steering angle are displayed on the driver side surface of the steering handle grip when starting off, and the steering wheel forgets to return. In some cases, the driver can grasp that fact by displaying the range of the target wheel steering angle. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from colliding with an obstacle and start the vehicle safely. That is, it is possible to provide driving assistance to the driver when starting.

  According to the second invention, when the current wheel steering angle does not overlap with the range of the target wheel steering angle, that is, when there is a risk of colliding with an obstacle around the vehicle, the current wheel steering is performed. Since a warning is displayed on the corner display portion and steering steering to the target wheel steering angle is guided, collision with an obstacle can be prevented in advance, and the vehicle can be started more safely. That is, it is possible to clearly provide driving assistance to the driver when starting.

  According to the third invention, since the warning is displayed on the display portion of the current wheel steering angle using at least one of the color, shape and lighting pattern, the direction of the current wheel steering angle is recognized by the driver. In addition, the driver can be made aware that there is a risk of collision with an obstacle if the vehicle is started as it is.

  According to the fourth invention, when the current wheel steering angle overlaps the target wheel steering angle range, at least one of the color, shape, and lighting pattern differs from the display when there is no overlap. As a result of steering, it becomes clear that the current wheel steering angle overlaps the range of the target wheel steering angle.

  According to the fifth invention, since the rotation direction from the current wheel steering angle to the target wheel steering angle is displayed, the steering direction of the steering wheel becomes clear, and the driver can perform steering steering without hesitation. .

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the current wheel steering angle and the target wheel steering angle are continuously displayed until the vehicle leaves the original parking area, so that the current wheel steering angle direction and the target wheel steering angle range are continuously displayed. Thus, the driver can visually recognize the change amount of the current wheel steering angle and the target wheel steering angle while keeping the line of sight forward.

It is a block diagram explaining an example of an embodiment of a steering handle concerning the present invention. It is the schematic which shows an example of a structure of the steering handle shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement at the time of start. It is a figure which shows the state of the steering wheel before steering. It is a figure which shows HUD which displays the state of the steering wheel before steering shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state of the steering wheel after steering.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a steering handle according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Example 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a steering handle according to the present embodiment. First, the steering handle of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The steering handle of this embodiment includes a grip 20 (gripping portion) that is gripped by a driver and steers the steering wheel of the vehicle, and a display device 21 (display portion) provided on the entire circumference of the driver-side surface of the grip 20. And a control device 30 (display control unit) that displays a direction of a current wheel angle A (current wheel steering angle), which will be described later, and a range of a target wheel angle T (target wheel steering angle) on the display device 21.

  As the display device 21, for example, an annular display panel (for example, a liquid crystal panel) or a touch panel provided on the entire periphery of the grip 20 may be used, or a plurality of variable devices provided at equal intervals on the entire periphery of the grip 20. A color light emitting element (for example, a variable color LED) may be used.

  The control device 30 includes a wheel angle sensor 41 that detects the wheel angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle, a handle angle sensor 42 that detects the handle angle of the steering handle of the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor 43 that detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle, and a vehicle A shift position sensor 44 for detecting the shift position of the vehicle and a camera 45 (photographing means) for photographing the surroundings of the vehicle are connected. The camera 45 is composed of a plurality of cameras provided at the front, rear and side of the vehicle, and these are used to photograph the surroundings of the vehicle.

  The control device 30 includes a calculation unit 31 and a processing unit 32. Although details will be described later, input from a wheel angle sensor 41, a handle angle sensor 42, a vehicle speed sensor 43, a shift position sensor 44, and a camera 45. Based on the input information, the calculation unit 31 performs a predetermined calculation, and the processing unit 32 performs a predetermined process to output output information to the display device 21 or the like.

  Output information from the processing unit 32 of the control device 30 is mainly output to the display device 21 provided on the grip 20, but not only the display device 21 but also a HUD (Head-UP Display provided on the driver's line of sight). ) Or the like, or may be output to the alarm device 52 when the driver is warned.

  The control device 30 may be provided in the grip 20 together with the display device 21, may be provided in a steering handle portion other than the grip 20 (for example, a steering pad portion), or a portion other than the steering handle ( For example, it may be provided on a support portion that rotatably supports the steering handle.

  Next, basic display on the display device 21 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the steering handle shown in FIG.

  Based on the input information from the wheel angle sensor 41, the control device 30 calculates the current wheel angle θw (see the dotted line) of the steering wheel of the vehicle in the calculation unit 31, and the calculated wheel angle θw in the processing unit 32. The output information of the current wheel angle A corresponding to is output to the display device 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the display device 21 displays the direction of the current wheel angle A on the display device 21 based on the output information from the processing unit 32. As the current wheel angle A, as will be described later, a color, shape, and lighting pattern region corresponding to the situation may be displayed on the display device 21.

  At this time, the control device 30 calculates the current steering wheel angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle in the calculation unit 31 based on the input information from the steering wheel angle sensor 42, and the processing unit 32 considers the calculated steering wheel angle. Thus, the output information of the current wheel angle A is corrected, and the direction of the current wheel angle A is displayed at a correct position on the display device 21.

  This is because the change amount of the steering wheel handle angle and the change amount of the wheel angle of the steering wheel are not the same (not corresponding one-to-one), and the current wheel angle A is displayed at the same position on the display device 21. This is because the current wheel angle A will deviate from the position that should be displayed if left untouched. Therefore, the direction of the current wheel angle A is displayed at the correct position on the display device 21 in consideration of the calculated steering wheel angle. The display in consideration of the steering wheel angle is the same for the target wheel angle T described later.

  The above is the description of the basic display on the display device 21. At the time of starting, the range of the target wheel angle T is also displayed as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, display on the display device 21 at the time of starting will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the start. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the state of the steering handle before steering, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the HUD displaying the state of the steering handle before steering shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the state of the steering handle after steering.

(Step S1)
The control apparatus 30 confirms whether the start start conditions of the own vehicle are satisfied. For example, the vehicle speed sensor 43 is used to check whether the host vehicle is stopped, and the shift position sensor 44 is used to check whether the gear is in the D range. That is, when the host vehicle is stopped and the driver puts the gear in the D range, the following driving support starts. Note that, for example, after the ignition is turned on or after the side brake is released, the vehicle speed and gear of the host vehicle may be confirmed, and driving assistance may be started when the above conditions are satisfied.

(Steps S2 to S3)
When driving assistance starts, the control device 30 uses the camera 45 to photograph the surroundings of the host vehicle, and performs image processing on an image obtained by photographing an obstacle (an adjacent vehicle, guardrail, fence, etc.) with the camera 45. recognize. At this time, based on the current position of the host vehicle and the recognized position of the obstacle, a range of the target wheel angle T in which the host vehicle can be started without colliding with the obstacle is calculated. When calculating the range of the target wheel angle T, the road surface condition, that is, whether or not the road surface is slippery may be considered. At this time, the obstacle recognized together with the video photographed by the camera 45 may be displayed on a display device 51 such as an HUD described later.

(Step S4)
It is checked whether the current wheel angle A overlaps with the calculated range of the target wheel angle T. If it does not overlap, the process proceeds to step S5, and if it overlaps, the process proceeds to step S6.

(Step S5)
When the current wheel angle A does not overlap the range of the target wheel angle T, the range of the target wheel angle T is displayed on the display device 21 together with the direction of the current wheel angle A, as shown in FIG. At this time, as described above, the display is performed at the correct position on the display device 21 in consideration of the steering wheel angle.

  As a display portion of the target wheel angle T, for example, a blue-lighted area is displayed on the display device 21 in a band shape. On the other hand, as the display portion of the current wheel angle A, a warning corresponding to the situation (risk level) is displayed using the color, shape and lighting pattern. For example, when the risk level is large (the steering direction is changed). If it does not change immediately, the area blinking red will be displayed as a band. If the degree of danger is small (the steering direction does not have to be changed immediately, it will collide with the obstacle as it is) If there is a possibility of this, the yellow blinking area is displayed in a band shape.

  Further, when the degree of danger is high, the warning device 52 may be used to warn the driver by sound or voice.

  In addition, an arrow S indicating the steering direction (rotation direction) from the current wheel angle A to the target wheel angle T is displayed between the current wheel angle A and the target wheel angle T. The steering direction becomes clear and the driver can steer without hesitation. Note that the steering direction of the steering wheel may be displayed by performing blinking display from the current wheel angle A toward the target wheel angle T instead of the arrow S.

  Thus, since the display device 21 displays the current wheel angle A, the target wheel angle T, and the arrow S of the steering wheel of the host vehicle on the driver side surface of the grip 20 of the steering handle, the driver Steering may be performed according to the display.

  The current wheel angle A, the target wheel angle T, and the arrow S may be displayed on a display device 51 such as a HUD as shown in FIG.

(Step S6)
When the current wheel angle A overlaps the range of the target wheel angle T, for example, when the current wheel angle A overlaps the range of the target wheel angle T by steering operation according to the display of the display device 21, for example, FIG. Thus, the position where the range of the current wheel angle A and the target wheel angle T overlaps is changed to, for example, a green-lit area. Thereby, the driver can visually recognize that the current wheel angle A overlaps the range of the target wheel angle T. At this time, the arrow S is deleted.

  After the current wheel angle A overlaps the range of the target wheel angle T, steering may be performed to maintain this state and the host vehicle may be started.

  If the current wheel angle A and the target wheel angle T are deviated after the vehicle starts, the current wheel angle A and the target wheel angle T are again displayed on the display device 21 as shown in FIG. And an arrow S may be displayed to instruct the driver to perform correct steering.

  Also, if the driver turns the steering wheel too much or accidentally turns it in the opposite direction, that is, if it is likely to deviate from the driving line for starting, as described above, the current wheel angle The driver may be warned by changing A to the blinking area of yellow or red. At this time, the warning device 52 may be used to warn the driver by sound or voice.

(Step S7)
It is confirmed whether or not the host vehicle has gone out of the initial parking area. When the vehicle has gone out of the initial parking area, the series of operations described above is terminated. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the start of the own vehicle has been completed. On the other hand, when the own vehicle has not gone out of the initial parking area, the process returns to step S2, and the above-described steps S2 to S6 are repeated until the vehicle leaves the original parking area. Whether or not the host vehicle has gone out of the initial parking area is, for example, if the host vehicle has moved out of the original parking area if the moving distance of the host vehicle is longer than its total length, i.e. What is necessary is just to judge that it was completed.

  As described above, since the display device 21 displays the current wheel angle A, the target wheel angle T, and the arrow S when starting, the amount of change in the current wheel angle A and the target wheel angle T accompanying steering steering. Thus, the driver can visually recognize the amount of change in the current wheel angle A and the target wheel angle T while keeping the line of sight ahead. Then, the driver steers the vehicle so that the current wheel angle A overlaps the range of the target wheel angle T according to the display of the current wheel angle A, the target wheel angle T, and the arrow S on the display device 21. The vehicle can be started safely without causing the vehicle to collide with an obstacle. That is, the display of the current wheel angle A, the target wheel angle T, and the arrow S on the display device 21 provides driving assistance to the driver at the start.

  Note that the display device 21 displays the current wheel angle A and the target wheel angle T in different colors, shapes, and lighting patterns from each other. It becomes clear and their visibility can be improved.

  In addition, when the current wheel angle A and the range of the target wheel angle T overlap, the display device 21 displays at least one of the color, the shape, and the lighting pattern at the overlapping position when not overlapping. Therefore, it is clear that the current wheel angle A overlaps the range of the target wheel angle T, and the visibility can be improved.

  As the above-mentioned colors, for example, blue, red, yellow, green, and the like are used. As the shapes, for example, strips, lines, and the like are used. As the lighting patterns, lighting, blinking, and the like are used.

  Here, the current wheel angle A, the target wheel angle T, and the arrow S are displayed on the upper part of the display device 21 so that the driver can acquire information while keeping the line of sight ahead. The present wheel angle A, the target wheel angle T, and the arrow S may be displayed not only at the lower part of the display device 21.

  In addition, here, description has been made taking forward start as an example, but in the case of starting backward, in step S1, if the R range is confirmed instead of the D range, the same procedure as described above is performed. Thus, driving assistance can be performed.

  The present invention is suitable as a steering handle.

20 grip 21 display device 30 control device 41 wheel angle sensor 42 handle angle sensor 45 camera

Claims (6)

A gripping part that is gripped by a driver and steers the steering wheel of the vehicle;
A display unit provided on the driver side surface of the gripping unit;
At the time of departure, the direction of the current wheel steering angle of the steered wheel is displayed on the display unit, and collision with obstacles around the vehicle is avoided by image processing of an image by a photographing unit provided in the vehicle. A steering handle, comprising: a display control unit that calculates a range of a target wheel steering angle and displays the calculated range of the target wheel steering angle on the display unit. The steering handle according to claim 1,
The display control unit displays a warning on a display portion of the current wheel steering angle when the current wheel steering angle does not overlap the range of the target wheel steering angle. The steering handle according to claim 2, wherein
The display control unit, when the current wheel steering angle does not overlap with the range of the target wheel steering angle, at least one of the color, shape, and lighting pattern of the display portion of the current wheel steering angle A steering wheel characterized by displaying a warning using The steering handle according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In the case where the current wheel steering angle overlaps the range of the target wheel steering angle by the steering of the gripping unit, the display control unit has at least one of a color, a shape, and a lighting pattern at the overlapping position. The steering wheel is characterized in that the display is changed from the display when there is no overlap to a different one. In the steering handle according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The steering control device, wherein the display control unit displays a steering direction from the current wheel steering angle to the target wheel steering angle. The steering handle according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The display control unit continues to display the current wheel steering angle direction and the target wheel steering angle range on the display unit until the vehicle goes out of the initial parking area. .

Images