JP2019080127A - Notification device and notification method - Google Patents

Abstract

To adjust a vibration level of an alarm vibration with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A notification device 1 includes: signal conversion means 50 for converting an input vibration input to vibration transmission means 80 from an outer side into a detection signal; adjustment level determination means 30 for determining an adjustment level on the basis of a detection signal when notification information is not output by notification state detection means 90; notification signal generation means 10 for generating a notification signal when notification information is output; notification signal adjustment means 20 for adjusting a signal level of a notification signal on the basis of an adjustment level; and vibration conversion means 50 for converting a notification signal where a signal level is adjusted into a notification vibration and outputting the vibration to the vibration transmission means 80. When notification information is output, the adjustment level determination means 30 keeps a value of an adjustment level that has been determined immediately before the output of the notification information. The notification signal adjustment means 20 adjusts a signal level of a notification signal on the basis of a value of the kept adjustment level during outputting the notification information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a notification device and a notification method, and more particularly, to a notification device and a notification method that performs notification by generating vibration via a vibration transmission unit.

  Conventionally, a seat audio system has been proposed in which the acoustic effect is enhanced by installing a speaker on a vehicle seat (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). The seat audio system has a full-range speaker installed near the headrest of the vehicle seat, and a subwoofer installed from the middle to the lower part of the vehicle seat. The full range speaker is capable of outputting sound from low to high frequencies. In addition, the subwoofer is capable of performing low-range sound output and vibration output. The subwoofer is installed in the interior of the vehicle seat. Sound and vibration are output from the subwoofer according to the signal level in the low range of the acoustic signal to vibrate the vehicle seat, thereby making it possible to enhance the realism of the acoustic effect.

  Further, the subwoofer is used as a means for notifying various alarms in the vehicle. By combining the alarm sound and the alarm vibration and outputting it by the subwoofer, it is possible to improve the awareness of the alarm to the driver. For example, in a traveling vehicle, when the vehicle deviates from the lane, there is proposed a device for notifying the driver of a warning that the vehicle deviates from the lane due to vibration (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  In a device that transmits an alarm by vibration while the vehicle is traveling, vibration from the road surface, engine vibration, and the like are transmitted to the vehicle seat through the vehicle body. For this reason, there is a possibility that the alarm vibration may not be noticeable (it may be masked) depending on the road surface condition, the traveling speed, the number of revolutions of the engine and the like.

  There has been proposed a method of changing the volume level of the alarm sound according to the speed information of the vehicle and the rotation speed information of the engine in order to more reliably transmit the alarm by the alarm sound to the driver (for example, see Patent Document 4) ). By applying the technology of changing the volume level of the alarm sound according to the speed information of the vehicle and the engine speed information to the volume control of the subwoofer that generates the vibration in the vehicle seat, the vibration is It can be expected to improve awareness.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-065038 JP, 2008-072165, A JP, 2008-129716, A JP 2004-345556 A

  However, the vibration of the vehicle seat generated when the vehicle travels changes largely due to the change of the road surface condition and the like. For this reason, the vibration input to the vehicle seat does not necessarily fluctuate in accordance with the changes in the traveling speed of the vehicle and the rotational speed of the engine.

  Also, the vibration detection sensor for detecting the vibration of the vehicle seat detects the vibration level of the vibration input to the vehicle seat, and changes the vibration level of the alarm vibration according to the detected vibration level of the vibration. A configuration is also conceivable. However, it is not easy to identify the vibration due to the road surface condition and the vibration due to the alarm with one vibration detection sensor. For this reason, it becomes necessary to newly provide a sensor that detects only the output of the alarm vibration, and there is a problem that the cost of the apparatus is increased.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a notification device and a notification method capable of performing vibration level adjustment of alarm vibration with a simple configuration in a notification device that performs notification by vibration. I assume.

  In order to solve the above problems, a notification device according to the present invention detects signal information that converts input vibration input to the vibration transmission device from the outside into a detection signal, and detects notification information when a condition to be notified is detected. Adjustment level determination means for acquiring the detection signal from the signal conversion means and determining the adjustment level based on the detection signal when the notification information is not output from the notification situation detection means to be output; When the notification information is output, the notification signal generation unit generates the notification signal based on the notification information, and the notification signal generation unit generates the notification signal based on the adjustment level determined by the adjustment level determination unit. Notification signal adjustment means for adjusting the signal level of the notification signal; and converting the notification signal adjusted by the notification signal adjustment means into The adjustment level determination means, when the notification information is output, maintaining the value of the adjustment level determined immediately before the notification information is output; The notification signal adjustment means adjusts the signal level of the notification signal based on the value of the adjustment level maintained by the adjustment level determination means while the notification information is output.

  Further, the informing method according to the present invention is an informing method for outputting an informing vibration through the vibration transmitting means, wherein the signal conversion means detects and detects the input vibration inputted to the vibration transmitting means from the outside. If the notification information is not output from the notification condition detection unit that outputs the notification information when the signal conversion step of converting into a signal and the condition to be notified is detected, the adjustment level determination unit converts the signal in the signal conversion step. An adjustment level determination step of acquiring the detected detection signal and determining an adjustment level based on the detection signal; and when the notification information is output, the notification signal generation unit notifies based on the notification information The notification signal adjusting unit is configured to generate the notification signal based on the adjustment level determined in the notification signal generation step of generating the signal and the adjustment level determination step. A notification signal adjustment step for adjusting a signal level of the notification signal generated in the knowledge signal generation step; and a vibration conversion means converting the notification signal adjusted in the notification signal adjustment step into the notification vibration; And a vibration conversion step of outputting the vibration information to the vibration transmission means, wherein, in the adjustment level determination step, the adjustment level determination means determines the immediately before the notification information is output when the notification information is output. The value of the adjustment level is maintained, and in the notification signal adjustment step, the notification signal adjustment means is based on the value of the adjustment level maintained in the adjustment level determination step while the notification information is being output. The signal level of the notification signal is adjusted.

  In the notification device and the notification method according to the present invention, the input vibration input to the vibration transmission means from the outside is converted into a detection signal, the adjustment level is determined based on the detection signal, and the notification signal is determined based on the determined adjustment level. After adjusting the signal level, the adjusted informing signal is converted into informing vibration and output to the vibration transmitting means. As described above, since the vibration level of the informing vibration can be adjusted according to the vibration level of the vibration actually input from the outside, even when the vibration level of the input vibration changes, the intelligibility of the informing vibration It will be possible to raise

  Further, in the notification device and the notification method according to the present invention, when the notification information is output, the value of the adjustment level determined immediately before the output of the notification information is maintained, and while the notification information is output, The signal level of the broadcast signal is adjusted based on the value of the maintained adjustment level. For this reason, even when the notification information is output and the detection signal can not be detected, the signal level of the notification signal can be adjusted based on the value of the adjustment level determined immediately before. For this reason, it becomes possible to adjust the signal level of a broadcast signal appropriately irrespective of the presence or absence of the output of alerting | reporting information.

Further, in the above-mentioned notification device, the adjustment level determination means acquires the detection signal from the signal conversion means, and detects the signal level of the detection signal;
A change amount calculation means for differentiating the signal level detected by the signal level detection means to calculate the change amount of the signal level, an adjustment level for calculating the adjustment level by adding the signal level and the change amount It may have a calculating means.

  Further, in the notification method described above, the adjustment level determination unit includes a signal level detection unit, a change amount calculation unit, and an adjustment level calculation unit, and in the adjustment level determination step, the signal level detection unit is A signal level detection step of acquiring the detection signal from the signal conversion means and detecting a signal level of the detection signal; and the change amount calculation means differentiating the signal level detected by the signal level detection means. A change amount calculation step of calculating the change amount of the signal level, and an adjustment level calculation step of calculating the adjustment level by adding the signal level and the change amount by the adjustment level calculation means. May be

  In the notification device and the notification method according to the present invention, when determining the adjustment level based on the detection signal, the detection signal is increased not only by determining the signal level of the detection signal but also by differentiating the signal level of the detection signal. Find the amount of change that indicates whether there is a trend or a decline. Then, the adjustment level is calculated by adding the signal level of the detection signal and the amount of change, thereby determining the adjustment level that has been corrected with the amount of change taking into account the increasing / decreasing tendency of the detection signal (that is, the input vibration). be able to.

  Therefore, when adjusting the signal level of the notification signal while the notification information is output, the signal of the notification signal is adjusted using an adjustment level in consideration of the increase / decrease tendency of the detection signal acquired at the immediately preceding timing. You can adjust the level.

  Further, in the notification device described above, the signal conversion means and the vibration conversion means are constituted by the same conversion means, the conversion means converts the input vibration into a detection signal, and the notification signal is It may be converted to a notification vibration.

  Furthermore, in the notification method described above, the signal conversion means and the vibration conversion means are constituted by the same conversion means, and in the signal conversion step, the conversion means converts the input vibration into a detection signal, In the vibration conversion step, the conversion means may convert the notification signal into the notification vibration.

  In the notification device and the notification method according to the present invention, by configuring the signal conversion means and the vibration conversion means by the same conversion means, the device can be simplified. Furthermore, since one reversible conversion process can be performed by converting one electrical signal into vibration (vibration output) and converting one vibration into an electrical signal (vibration detection), the signal level of the detection signal can be reduced. Based on the value, it is possible to appropriately adjust the signal level (vibration level) of the notification signal (notification vibration) that is actually output.

  Further, in the above-mentioned notification device, the signal conversion means detects traveling vibration inputted from the outside into the vibration transmitting means while the vehicle is traveling as the input vibration and converts it into the detection signal. It is also good.

  Further, in the above-mentioned notification method, in the signal conversion step, the signal conversion means detects traveling vibration input from the outside to the vibration transmission means from the outside as the input vibration during the traveling of the vehicle, and generates the detection signal. It may be converted.

  In the notification device and the notification method according to the present invention, the signal conversion means detects, as the input vibration, the traveling vibration input from the outside to the vibration transmission device while the vehicle is traveling. Therefore, in a situation where the vibration level in the vehicle compartment is likely to change due to the traveling of the vehicle, the signal level (vibration level) of the notification signal (notification vibration) can be appropriately and quickly adjusted.

  In the notification device and the notification method according to the present invention, the input vibration input to the vibration transmission means from the outside is converted into a detection signal, the adjustment level is determined based on the detection signal, and the notification signal is determined based on the determined adjustment level. After adjusting the signal level, the adjusted informing signal is converted into informing vibration and output to the vibration transmitting means. As described above, since the vibration level of the informing vibration can be adjusted according to the vibration level of the vibration actually input from the outside, even when the vibration level of the input vibration changes, the intelligibility of the informing vibration It will be possible to raise

  Further, in the notification device and the notification method according to the present invention, when the notification information is output, the value of the adjustment level determined immediately before the output of the notification information is maintained, and while the notification information is output, The signal level of the broadcast signal is adjusted based on the value of the maintained adjustment level. For this reason, when alerting | reporting information is output and it can not detect a detection signal, the signal level of a alerting | reporting signal can be adjusted based on the value of the adjustment level determined immediately before. For this reason, it becomes possible to adjust the signal level of a broadcast signal appropriately irrespective of the presence or absence of the output of alerting | reporting information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is the block diagram which showed schematic structure of the vibration warning device for vehicles which concerns on embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed schematic structure of the vehicle body vibration signal detection part which concerns on embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the processing content of the alarm information determination part which concerns on embodiment. It is the figure which showed the timing which a warning information determination part acquires warning information, the presence or absence of the output of warning information, and the timing which a warning information determination part outputs an update signal. (A) is a figure which showed the signal level characteristic of a vehicle body vibration signal, (b) is a figure which showed the signal level characteristic of the variation. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a vibration pattern set when the warning vibration signal setting unit receives lane boundary line deviation information. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the vibration signal level in vibration gain, and the signal level of an alarm vibration signal. (A) is a figure which showed the amplitude characteristic of the sweep signal for 1 period, (b) is a figure which showed the amplitude characteristic of the warning oscillation signal based on lane boundary line deviation information.

  The notification device according to the present invention will be described in detail using the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vibration warning device for a vehicle, which is an example of a notification device according to the present invention. The vehicle vibration alarm device 1 includes an alarm vibration signal setting unit (notification signal generation means) 10, an alarm vibration signal adjustment unit (notification signal adjustment means) 20, and a vehicle body vibration signal detection unit (adjustment level determination means) 30. An amplification unit 40 and a speaker (signal conversion means, vibration conversion means, conversion means) 50 are included. The vehicle vibration alarm device 1 is installed in a vehicle.

[Exciter, amplification part]
In the vehicle vibration alarm device 1 according to the present embodiment, an exciter that outputs a vibration by vibrating a contact surface is used as an example of a speaker. The exciter 50 is embedded in a cushion of a seat portion (vibration transmitting means) 81 which constitutes a vehicle seat (vibration transmitting means) 80. The exciter 50 functions as a vibration generation unit that generates an alarm vibration (notification vibration) by converting an input electric signal (alarm vibration signal: notification signal) into a vibration.

  The exciter 50 also functions as a vibration detection unit (vibration sensor) that detects a vehicle vibration (input vibration) transmitted to the vehicle seat 80 and converts it into a vehicle vibration signal (detection signal). The vehicle body vibration signal converted by the exciter 50 is output to the vehicle body vibration signal detection unit 30.

  The amplification unit 40 amplifies an alarm vibration signal for causing the exciter 50 to output an alarm vibration. The alarm vibration signal amplified by the amplification unit 40 is output to the exciter 50 with low impedance.

[Car body vibration signal detection unit 30]
The vehicle body vibration signal detection unit 30 receives a vehicle body vibration signal from the exciter 50 with high impedance when no alarm vibration is output from the exciter 50. By receiving the vehicle body vibration signal with high impedance, the influence from the amplification unit 40 can be reduced.
When the alarm vibration is output from the exciter 50, the vibration component of the alarm vibration is included in the vehicle vibration signal, so that only the vibration level of the vehicle vibration can not be detected. Therefore, the vehicle body vibration signal detection unit 30 receives a vehicle body vibration signal when the alarm vibration is not output from the exciter 50.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle body vibration signal detection unit 30. As shown in FIG. The vehicle body vibration signal detection unit 30 includes an alarm information determination unit 31, an envelope detection unit 32, a smoothing unit 33, a decibel conversion unit (signal level detection unit) 34, and a differentiation unit (change amount calculation unit) 35. And a signal level determination unit (adjustment level calculation means) 36.

  The alarm information determination unit 31 can acquire alarm information (notification information). The alarm information is information issued by an on-vehicle alarm condition detection device (electronic control unit: notification condition detection means) 90. The alarm condition detection device 90 continuously outputs, for example, alarm information such as lane boundary line deviation information, vehicle approach information, and drowsiness detection information only while the alarm conditions are met. For example, when the alarm condition detection device 90 detects that the vehicle is traveling by stepping on the left and right lane boundaries, the alarm condition detection device 90 continuously continues only while the vehicle is stepping on the lane boundary. Output lane boundary line deviation information. When it does not correspond to the alarm condition, the alarm condition detection device 90 stops the output of the alarm information.

[Process of alarm information determination unit]
The alarm information determination unit 31 outputs and stops the update signal to the envelope detection unit 32, the smoothing unit 33, the decibel conversion unit 34, the differentiation unit 35, and the signal level determination unit 36.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the output / stop processing of the update signal in the alarm information determination unit 31. The alarm information determination unit 31 performs processing (sampling processing) for acquiring alarm information from the alarm situation detection device 90 (S. 1). Then, the alarm information determination unit 31 determines whether the alarm information has been acquired (S. 2). When the alarm information can not be acquired (in the case of No in S. 2), the alarm information determination unit 31 includes the envelope detection unit 32, the smoothing unit 33, the decibel conversion unit 34, the differentiation unit 35, and the signal level An update signal is output to the determination unit 36 (S. 3), and the output / stop process of the update signal is ended.

  On the other hand, when the alarm information can be acquired (Yes in S. 2), the alarm information determination unit 31 includes the envelope detection unit 32, the smoothing unit 33, the decibel conversion unit 34, the differentiation unit 35, The update signal is not output to the signal level determination unit 36 (the update signal is stopped) (S. 4), and the output signal / stop process of the update signal is ended. The output / stop process of the update signal in the alarm information determination unit 31 shown in FIG. 3 is repeatedly executed at a constant update timing.

  FIG. 4 shows the execution timing of the process (sampling process, S. 1) in which the alarm information determination unit 31 acquires the alarm information, the presence or absence of the output of the alarm information, and the process in which the alarm information determination unit 31 outputs the update signal ( It is the figure which showed the execution timing of S. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the process (sampling process, S. 1) in which the alarm information determination unit 31 acquires alarm information is periodically executed at a constant update timing. Further, the alarm information is output from the alarm situation detection device 90 only during a period corresponding to the alarm situation. Therefore, the process of outputting the update signal from the alarm information determination unit 31 is a period during which the alarm information is not output, and the update information determination unit 31 performs the process (sampling process) of acquiring the alarm information Only run when. In FIG. 4, the alarm information determination unit 31 outputs an update signal at the update timing up to time t11.

  However, the alarm information determination unit 31 does not output the update signal (stops the update signal) from time t11 to time t12 when the alarm information is output. Then, the alarm information determination unit 31 resumes the output of the update signal at the update timing after time t12 when the output of the alarm information ends.

  While the update signal is periodically output from the alarm information determination unit 31, the envelope detection unit 32, the smoothing unit 33, the decibel conversion unit 34, the differentiation unit 35, and the signal level determination unit 36 Execute the processing described. When the output of the periodic update signal by the alarm information determination unit 31 is stopped, the envelope detection unit 32, the smoothing unit 33, the decibel conversion unit 34, the differentiation unit 35, and the signal level determination unit 36 The data (value) of the result (value of signal level of vehicle vibration signal, value of variation, etc.) of the processing executed when the update signal is received is maintained. Then, while the output of the update signal is stopped (a section from time t11 to time t12 shown in FIG. 4), that is, while the alarm information is input to the alarm information determination unit 31, the envelope detection unit 32, the smoothing unit 33, the decibel conversion unit 34, the differentiation unit 35, and the signal level determination unit 36 continue processing based on the maintained data (value).

[Envelope detection unit, smoothing unit, decibel conversion unit, differentiation unit]
The envelope detection unit 32 acquires a vehicle body vibration signal from the exciter 50 and detects an envelope of the vehicle body vibration signal. The smoothing unit 33 performs a smoothing process on the envelope detected by the envelope detection unit 32 using a low pass filter. By the smoothing processing by the smoothing unit 33, it is possible to reduce the fluctuation level of the unsteady vehicle body vibration that occurs when the vehicle passes through the road surface gap or the like.

  The decibel converting unit 34 converts the linear vehicle body vibration signal (linear signal) smoothed by the smoothing unit 33 into a signal in decibel units (decibel signal). The differentiating unit 35 performs a differentiation process using a high pass filter on the vehicle body vibration signal converted into the decibel signal by the decibel converting unit 34. By the differentiation processing by the differentiation unit 35, it is possible to obtain the amount of change in signal level in the vehicle body vibration signal (hereinafter referred to as the amount of change).

  In the envelope detection unit 32, the smoothing unit 33, the decibel conversion unit 34, the differentiation unit 35, and the signal level determination unit 36, the alarm information determination unit 31 periodically outputs the update signal as described above. While the process is being performed, each process is executed, and while the output of the update signal is stopped, the process is executed while maintaining the data (value) when the update signal was last received. Then, when the input of the alarm information to the alarm information determination unit 31 is stopped and the output of the update signal by the alarm information determination unit 31 is resumed, an envelope is newly generated based on the vehicle body vibration signal received from the exciter 50. The detection unit 32, the smoothing unit 33, the decibel conversion unit 34, the differentiation unit 35, and the signal level determination unit 36 execute respective processes.

[Signal level determination unit]
The signal level determination unit 36 determines the signal level of the alarm vibration signal (alarm vibration signal based on the sum of the signal level value of the vehicle vibration signal determined by the decibel conversion unit 34 and the value of the change amount determined by the differentiation unit 35). Calculate the vibration level of Hereinafter, the signal level of the alarm vibration signal calculated is referred to as a vibration signal level (adjustment level). FIG. 5 (a) is a diagram showing the signal level characteristics (time change of signal level) of the vehicle body vibration signal acquired from the decibel conversion unit 34, and FIG. 5 (b) is the change amount acquired from the differentiation unit 35. The signal level characteristic of (a temporal change of a differential value of a vehicle body vibration signal, a change of an offset level of the vehicle body vibration signal).

  Times t11 and t12 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B correspond to the times t11 and t12 of the update timing of the update signal shown in FIG. Time t11 indicates the timing immediately before the alarm information determination unit 31 receives the alarm information. The value of the signal level of the vehicle body vibration signal converted into the digital signal at the timing of time t11 is G1 (dB). Further, the value (differential value) of the amount of change obtained at the timing of time t11 is G1s (dB). After time t11, the alarm information determination unit 31 outputs the update signal at time t12. Therefore, during the period from time t11 to immediately before time t12, the value of the signal level of the vehicle body vibration signal is maintained (held) at G1, and the value of the variation (differential value) is maintained (held) at G1s. Then, when the alarm information determination unit 31 outputs the update signal at time t12, the decibel conversion unit 34 obtains a new signal level value of the vehicle body vibration signal, and the differentiation unit 35 obtains a new change value (differential value) Is required.

  As described above, the value of the variation shown in FIG. 5B is a value obtained by differentiating the vehicle body vibration signal to obtain an offset of the signal level. The amount of change G1s at time t11 shown in FIG. 5B is offset (G1s> 0) on the positive side because the signal level G1 immediately before time t11 shown in FIG. 5A is in the increasing direction. Since the value of the vehicle body vibration signal at time t11 is G1 and the value of the change (offset) is G1s, the signal level determination unit 36 determines the value G1d of the vibration signal level (vibration level of vehicle vibration, adjustment level) at time t11. (DB) is calculated by G1d = G1 + G1s (determined by adding G1 and G1s). The vibration signal level value G1d is maintained from time t11 to time t12, and is output to the alarm vibration signal adjustment unit 20.

  5 (a) and 5 (b), similarly to time t11 and time t11, after the alarm information determination unit 31 outputs the update signal at the timing of time t21, the output of the update signal is performed immediately before time t22. Is not performed, and the state in which the reception of the update signal is resumed at the timing of time t22 is shown. Since the signal level G2 immediately before time t21 shown in FIG. 5A is in the decreasing direction, the value -G2s of the change amount of time t21 shown in FIG. 5B is a negative offset (-G2d <0). It becomes. Since the value of the vehicle body vibration signal at time t21 is G2 and the value of the amount of change (offset) is -G2s, the signal level determination unit 36 determines the value G2d of the vibration signal level at time t21 as G2d = G2 + (-G2s) It calculates by (It calculates | requires by adding G2 and-G2s). Since the value of the amount of change (offset) is a negative value, the value G2d of the vibration signal level is substantially a value obtained by subtracting | -G2s | (absolute value of -G2s) from G2. The value G2d of the vibration signal level of the vehicle body vibration is maintained from time t21 to time t22, and is output to the alarm vibration signal adjustment unit 20.

  The signal level determination unit 36 determines the vibration signal level of the vehicle vibration including the variation amount of the vehicle vibration signal in addition to the signal level of the vehicle vibration signal at the timing of time t11 and time t21. Therefore, even when the alarm detection unit 90 outputs alarm information and the envelope detection unit 32 can not directly receive the vehicle vibration signal, the vibration signal in a section (time) in which the vehicle vibration signal is not received It becomes possible to predict the level, and to calculate the value of the vibration signal level that approximates the vibration level of the actual vehicle vibration.

[Alarm vibration signal setting unit]
The alarm vibration signal setting unit 10 generates a vibration pattern signal based on the alarm information acquired from the alarm situation detection device 90. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a vibration pattern set when the alarm vibration signal setting unit 10 receives lane boundary line deviation information as alarm information. The vibration pattern in the lane boundary line deviation information is configured such that a vibration pattern for one pattern is configured by setting a signal having a period of 0.5 sec for three cycles. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the signal level is set to ON (signal level 1 in FIG. 6) continuously for two cycles, and then the signal level is turned off for one cycle (FIG. 6). By setting the signal level to 0), a vibration pattern of one pattern is generated. The vibration pattern of one pattern has a length of 1.5 seconds. While the alarm information is being input from the alarm condition detection device 90, the alarm vibration signal setting unit 10 continuously generates a vibration pattern signal composed of a vibration pattern shown in FIG. The vibration pattern signal generated by the alarm vibration signal setting unit 10 is output to the alarm vibration signal adjustment unit 20.

[Alarm vibration signal adjustment unit]
The alarm vibration signal adjustment unit 20 generates an alarm vibration signal based on the vibration pattern signal acquired from the alarm vibration signal setting unit 10 and the value of the vibration signal level of the vehicle vibration acquired from the vehicle vibration signal detection unit 30. . FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the vibration signal level and the signal gain in the vibration gain. The signal gain (dB) shown in FIG. 7 is a value (gain) used to determine the signal level of the alarm vibration signal and the signal level of the sweep signal described later. FIG. 7 shows three types of vibration gains P1, P2, and P3 indicating the increase ratio of the signal gain to the vibration signal level. When the vibration signal levels of the vibration gains P1, P2 and P3 increase by a constant signal level, the increase amount of the signal gain is larger in the vibration gain P2 than in the vibration gain P1 The increase amount (effect amount) of the signal gain is larger. The alarm vibration signal adjustment unit 20 can select one of the vibration gains P1, P2 and P3 in advance, or can select at any desired timing.

  The alarm vibration signal adjustment unit 20 obtains a value of a signal gain corresponding to the vibration signal level based on the selected vibration gain (one of P1 to P3 in FIG. 7) and the vibration signal level. Then, the alarm vibration signal adjustment unit 20 generates a sweep signal for one cycle of the vibration pattern based on the obtained signal gain.

  FIG. 8A shows the amplitude characteristic of the sweep signal for one period (0.5 sec). FIG. 8A shows an amplitude characteristic for one cycle in the case where the alarm information is lane boundary line deviation information. Further, in FIG. 8A, the vibration gain of P1 shown in FIG. 7 is selected as the vibration gain, and based on the signal gain (that is, the signal gain is also 0 dB) obtained when the vibration signal level is 0 dB. The amplitude value of the sweep signal is set. The sweep signal shown in FIG. 8 (a) changes the frequency continuously in the frequency range where the center frequency is 44 Hz, the lower frequency limit is 36 Hz, and the upper frequency limit is 52 Hz ( It is a signal that has been swept.

  Next, the alarm vibration signal adjustment unit 20 generates an alarm vibration signal in which the vibration level is set to ON / OFF by combining the generated sweep signals for one cycle according to the vibration pattern of the vibration pattern signal. . FIG. 8B shows the amplitude characteristic of the alarm vibration signal based on the lane boundary line deviation information. As shown in FIG. 8B, in the vibration pattern of the alarm vibration signal, a signal of 1.5 seconds is repeatedly generated in one pattern.

  When the vibration gain of P3 shown in FIG. 7 is selected as the vibration gain and the vibration signal level is 6 dB, 6 dB is detected as the signal level. When the alarm vibration signal is generated based on the 6 dB signal level, the amplitude of the alarm vibration signal becomes a value twice as large as that shown in FIG.

  The alarm vibration signal generated by the alarm vibration signal adjustment unit 20 in this manner is output to the amplification unit 40 only while the alarm information is received in the alarm vibration signal setting unit 10. Then, the alarm vibration signal for which the signal level adjustment has been performed by the amplification unit 40 is converted into alarm vibration in the exciter 50 to generate vibration on the vehicle seat 80.

  As described above, in the vehicle vibration alarm device 1 according to the embodiment, the vehicle body vibration actually transmitted to the vehicle seat 80 is converted into a vehicle body vibration signal by the exciter 50, and the vibration level of the actual vehicle interior is obtained. You can ask for Therefore, it is possible to adjust the signal level of the alarm vibration signal according to the actual vibration level of the vehicle body vibration, not the traveling speed of the vehicle or the engine rotation speed. Therefore, the magnitude of the alarm vibration can be set to a size corresponding to the actual vehicle body vibration, and it becomes possible to improve the alertness of the alarm.

  In particular, in the vehicle vibration alarm device 1, the alarm information is output by the alarm condition detection device 90, and even if the vehicle body vibration signal can not be obtained from the exciter 50, the signal level of the immediately preceding vehicle vibration signal The value of the vibration signal level (the vibration level of the vehicle vibration) is calculated by adding the amount of change (differential value) of the immediately preceding vehicle vibration signal to the value of. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the signal level of the alarm vibration signal by using the value of the vibration signal level in consideration of the increase and decrease tendency of the signal level in the vehicle body vibration signal.

  Moreover, in the vibration alarm device 1 for a vehicle according to the present embodiment, one process is reversible processing of conversion from an electrical signal to vibration (vibration output) and conversion from vibration to an electrical signal (vibration detection). Performed with exciter 50. For this reason, it becomes possible to achieve simplification of the device, and even when adjusting the signal level of the alarm vibration signal that is actually output based on the value of the signal level of the vehicle body vibration signal to be detected, It is possible to perform vibration output appropriately at the signal level that has been set.

  The alerting device and the alerting method according to the present invention have been described in detail above by way of an example. However, the notification device and the notification method according to the present invention are not limited to the examples shown in the embodiments.

  In the alarm device 1 for a vehicle according to the embodiment, the case where the exciter 50 is provided inside the cushion of the seat portion 81 constituting the vehicle seat 80 has been described. However, the installation position of the exciter 50 is not limited to the seat portion 81, and may be installed on the backrest portion or the headrest portion. The installation position of the exciter 50 is not particularly limited as long as the driver can be warned by vibration.

  Moreover, in the alarm device 1 for vehicles which concerns on embodiment, the case where the exciter 50 was used as a vibration output means and a vibration detection means was shown and demonstrated as an example. However, those used as the vibration output means and the vibration detection means are not necessarily limited to the exciter 50. If it is possible to perform reversible processing of conversion from an electrical signal to vibration (vibration output) and conversion from vibration to an electrical signal (vibration detection) by one means, other speakers, microphones, etc. Even if it is, it is possible to use as a signal conversion means and a vibration conversion means of a notification device and a notification method concerning the present invention.

  Further, in the vehicle alarm device 1 according to the embodiment, the case where the alarm vibration signal is generated using the sweep signal has been described, but the alarm vibration signal is not necessarily limited to one generated based on the sweep signal The signal may be generated based on a signal of a predetermined frequency that is not swept. Further, even in the case of using a sweep signal, the frequency range to be swept is not limited to the frequency range (frequency range from 36 Hz to 52 Hz) described in the embodiment.

  In the vehicle body vibration signal detection unit 30 according to the embodiment, the envelope detection unit 32, the smoothing unit 33, and the decibel conversion unit when the output of the continuous update signal by the alarm information determination unit 31 is stopped. The case where the data (value) of the process executed when the update signal is finally received by the signal processing unit 34, the differentiation unit 35, and the signal level determination unit 36 is maintained is described as an example. Further, while the output of the update signal is stopped, that is, while the alarm information is input to the alarm information determination unit 31, the envelope detection unit 32, the smoothing unit 33, and the decibel conversion unit 34; The case where the differentiation unit 35 and the signal level determination unit 36 continue the processing based on the maintained data (value) has been described.

  However, in the notification device and the notification method according to the present invention, when the output of the periodic update signal is stopped by the alarm information determination unit 31 according to the embodiment, all of the functional units 32-36 are finally The present invention is not limited to the configuration in which data (value) of the process when receiving the update signal is maintained, and while the output of the update signal is stopped, the process is continued based on the data (value). It is sufficient if at least the value of the vibration signal level calculated immediately before the stop of the update signal is output from the signal level determination unit 36 to the alarm vibration signal adjustment unit 20 when the output of the update signal is stopped. It is.

  Therefore, for example, even when the output of the periodic update signal is stopped, the processing may be stopped by the envelope detection unit 32, the smoothing unit 33, the decibel conversion unit 34, and the differentiation unit 35. Good. As described above, even when each of the functional units 32-35 has stopped processing, the alarm information is input to the alarm information determination unit 31 (the update signal is stopped) and the vibration signal level calculated immediately before With the configuration in which the signal level determination unit 36 continuously outputs the value of the vibration signal level to the alarm / vibration signal adjustment unit 20 while maintaining the value (in the held state), the effects shown in the embodiment are obtained. It is possible to achieve the same effect as Further, one of the functional units 32 to 36 stops the process, and the other one executes the process using data (value) when the update signal was last received. Even in this case, it is sufficient that the signal level determination unit 36 can output the value of the vibration signal level calculated immediately before the input of the alarm information to the alarm information determination unit 31 to the alarm vibration signal adjustment unit 20. .

1 ... Vibration warning device for vehicles (notification device)
10 ... Alarm vibration signal setting unit (notification signal generation means)
20 ... Alarm vibration signal adjustment unit (notification signal adjustment means)
30 ... Body vibration signal detection unit (adjustment level determination means)
31 ... alarm information determination unit 32 ... envelope detection unit 33 ... smoothing unit 34 ... decibel conversion unit (signal level detection means)
35 ... differentiation part (change amount calculation means)
36 ... Signal level determination unit (adjustment level calculation means)
40 ... amplification unit 50 ... exciter (signal conversion means, vibration conversion means, conversion means)
80 ... Vehicle seat (vibration transmission means)
81 ... Seat surface (vibration transmission means)
90 ... Alarm situation detection device (notification situation detection means)

Claims (8)

Signal conversion means for converting an input vibration inputted from outside into the vibration transmission means into a detection signal;
When the notification information is not output from the notification condition detection unit that outputs notification information when the condition to be notified is detected, the detection signal is acquired from the signal conversion unit, and adjustment is performed based on the detection signal Adjustment level determining means for determining the level;
Notification signal generation means for generating a notification signal based on the notification information when the notification information is output;
Notification signal adjustment means for adjusting the signal level of the notification signal generated by the notification signal generation means based on the adjustment level determined by the adjustment level determination means;
Vibration converting means for converting the informing signal adjusted by the informing signal adjusting means into an informing vibration and outputting it to the vibration transmitting means;
The adjustment level determination unit, when the notification information is output, maintains the value of the adjustment level determined immediately before the notification information is output,
The notification signal adjusting unit adjusts the signal level of the notification signal based on the value of the adjustment level maintained by the adjustment level determination unit while the notification information is output. apparatus. The adjustment level determination means
Signal level detection means for acquiring the detection signal from the signal conversion means and detecting the signal level of the detection signal;
Change amount calculation means for differentiating the signal level detected by the signal level detection means to calculate the change amount of the signal level;
Adjustment level calculation means for calculating the adjustment level by adding the signal level and the change amount;
The notification device according to claim 1, comprising: The signal conversion means and the vibration conversion means are constituted by the same conversion means, and the conversion means convert the input vibration into a detection signal and convert the notification signal into the notification vibration. The alerting | reporting apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2. The signal conversion means detects traveling vibration input to the vibration transmission means from the outside while the vehicle is traveling as the input vibration, and converts it into the detection signal. The notification device according to any one of the above. A notification method for outputting notification vibration via vibration transmission means, comprising:
A signal conversion step in which a signal conversion means detects an input vibration inputted to the vibration transmission means from the outside and converts it into a detection signal;
The adjustment level determination means acquires the detection signal converted in the signal conversion step, when the notification information is not output from the notification situation detection means that outputs the notification information when the situation to be notified is detected. An adjustment level determination step of determining an adjustment level based on the detection signal;
A notification signal generating step of generating a notification signal based on the notification information when the notification information is output;
A notification signal adjusting step of adjusting a signal level of the notification signal generated in the notification signal generating step on the basis of the adjustment level determined in the adjustment level determining step;
A vibration converting step of converting the informing signal adjusted in the informing signal adjusting step into the informing vibration and outputting the informing signal to the vibration transmitting means;
In the adjustment level determination step, when the notification information is output, the adjustment level determination means maintains the value of the adjustment level determined immediately before the notification information is output,
In the notification signal adjustment step, the notification signal adjustment means adjusts the signal level of the notification signal based on the value of the adjustment level maintained in the adjustment level determination step while the notification information is output. A notification method characterized by The adjustment level determination means includes signal level detection means, change amount calculation means, and adjustment level calculation means.
The adjustment level determination step is
A signal level detection step in which the signal level detection means acquires the detection signal from the signal conversion means and detects the signal level of the detection signal;
A change amount calculation step in which the change amount calculation means calculates a change amount of the signal level by differentiating the signal level detected by the signal level detection means;
An adjustment level calculation step in which the adjustment level calculation means calculates the adjustment level by adding the signal level and the change amount;
The notification method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The signal conversion means and the vibration conversion means are constituted by the same conversion means,
In the signal conversion step, the conversion means converts the input vibration into a detection signal;
The informing method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, in the vibration converting step, the converting means converts the informing signal into the informing vibration. In the signal conversion step, the signal conversion means detects, as the input vibration, traveling vibration input to the vibration transmission means from the outside during traveling of the vehicle, and converts the detected vibration into the detection signal. A notification method according to any one of claims 5 to 7.

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