JPH02206783A - Collision alarm device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the device by providing a transmitter-receiver for transmitting and receiving a distance measuring signal for measuring a distance to an obstacle in the advance direction of a vehicle, and a transmitter-receiver for transmitting and receiving the distance measuring signal by being coupled to this transmitter-receiver. CONSTITUTION:In the case when a vehicle goes straight on, a transmitter-receiver 19 transmits a distance measuring signal (transmitting signal) for measuring a distance to an obstacle 82 to a transmitter-receiver 17, and the transmitter-receiver 17 for receiving the distance measuring signal from the transmitter-receiver 19 emits forward a distance measuring signal whose directivity is narrow. Subsequently, when the distance measuring signal emitted from the transmitter-receiver 17 hits against the obstacle 82 and reflected, the reflected distance measuring signal is received by the transmitter-receiver 17, and the transmitter-receiver 17 transmits the distance measuring signal to the transmitter-receiver 19. As a result, the transmitter-receiver 19 calculates a distance extending from the transmitter-receiver 17 to the obstacle 82 due to a difference of a transmitting signal and a receiving signal of the distance measuring signal and sends it out to an alarm 20. In this case, since the transmitter- receiver is turned so as to transmit and receive the distance measuring signal in the steering direction by interlocking with a steering mechanism of a vehicle, only the obstacle in the steering direction can be detected, and the device is simplified.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] This invention emits a distance measurement signal using radio waves, sound waves, light, etc. in front of a vehicle, and detects an obstacle by using the distance measurement signal that hits the obstacle and is reflected. This invention relates to a vehicle collision warning system that detects a collision and issues a warning.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a vehicle collision warning system emits a distance measurement signal using radio waves, sound waves, light, etc. in front of the vehicle, detects the obstacle based on the distance measurement signal reflected by hitting the obstacle, and issues a warning. This device detects obstacles in the direction of travel of the vehicle by emitting ranging signals from a transducer fixed to the vehicle body, and when the obstacle approaches a predetermined distance, A warning is set to be issued.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In order to detect obstacles on the road while traveling on a curved road using the above-mentioned vehicle collision warning system, it is necessary to emit ranging signals with wide directivity to detect obstacles within the range in which the vehicle can be steered. Although methods such as detecting all obstacles within the vehicle can be considered, the amount of data would be large, and the need to process this large amount of data at high speed and in a sophisticated manner would make the device complex and expensive, making it difficult to use in general vehicles. The problem was that it couldn't be done.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive collision warning device for a vehicle that detects obstacles only in the steering direction of the vehicle and does not require high-speed and sophisticated data processing. With the goal.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances. A rotatable transducer that transmits and receives a ranging signal with a narrow range, a transducer that is coupled to the transducer and transmits and receives a ranging signal, an alarm that issues an alarm, and a signal that the transceiver outputs. an alarm that issues an alarm when distance information to the obstacle satisfies predetermined alarm conditions;
A rotating means is provided for rotating the transducer so as to transmit and receive the ranging signal in the steering direction in conjunction with the steering mechanism of the vehicle. The transmitter/receiver is rotated in the steering direction by a rotating means to measure the distance to an obstacle in the steering direction of the vehicle.

Further, one of the transducers may be provided at both front end portions of the vehicle.

Furthermore, a switching device may be provided that alternately switches and connects the transducer/receiver disposed at each front end portion of the vehicle to the transmitter/receiver.

[Operation] Based on the above configuration, when steering the vehicle, the rotating means rotates the transducer in conjunction with the steering mechanism so as to transmit and receive ranging signals in the steering direction, and the transceiver is connected to the transducer. Send ranging signal. The transducer that receives the ranging signal emits the ranging signal in the steering direction of the vehicle, and the transducer receives the ranging signal that hits an obstacle and is reflected.1. The ranging signal received by the transducer is transmitted to the transceiver. Furthermore, the alarm device issues an alarm when the ranging signal received by the transceiver satisfies a predetermined alarm condition. Further, when the vehicle is traveling straight, the transducer emits a ranging signal to the front of the vehicle, detects an obstacle in front of the vehicle, and issues a warning in the same manner as described above.

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

The collision warning system 10 for a vehicle includes a vehicle body 1 as shown in FIG.
The vehicle body 11 is supported by front wheels 12.13 and rear wheels 14.15. And front wheel 1
2.13 is connected to the handle 16 via a gear (not shown), etc.
The steering wheel can be steered by rotating the limit handle 16. Further, the vehicle collision warning system 10 is equipped with a rotatable transducer 17 in front of the vehicle body 11, and the transducer 17 transmits a narrow-directional ranging signal using radio waves, sound waves, light, etc. It is now possible to send and receive.

Note that 100 indicates the directivity of the ranging signal. Further, the transducers 1 and 7 are connected to a rotating means 18,
The rotating means 18 moves the transducer 17 at the same angle (θ) as the steering angle (θ) of the front wheels 12°13 in conjunction with the rotation of the handle 16.
). Then, the transducer 1
7 is connected to a transceiver 19 that transmits and receives ranging signals, and the transceiver 19 is connected to an alarm 20 that issues an alarm when an obstacle 81 or 82 approaches a predetermined distance.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the vehicle travels straight, the transceiver 19 sends an n1 distance signal (transmission signal) to the transceiver 17 to determine the distance to the obstacle 82, and transmits and receives the distance measurement signal from the transceiver 19. The device 17 emits a ranging signal with narrow directivity forward. When the ranging signal emitted from the transducer 17 hits the obstacle 82 and is reflected, the reflected ranging signal is received by the transducer 17, and the transducer 17 sends the ranging signal (receiver) to the transducer 19. signal). Then, the transceiver 19 calculates the distance from the transducer 17 to the obstacle 82 based on the difference between the transmitted distance measurement signal and the received signal, and sends it to the alarm 20. Then, the alarm device 20 receives the distance information inputted from the transceiver 19, that is, from the transducer 17 to the obstacle 8.
2 is shorter than a predetermined threshold value and the rate of change in the distance from the transducer 17 to the obstacle 82 is greater than the predetermined rate of change, an audio warning is issued to alert the driver. Warns of the approach of object 82.

Further, when changing the traveling direction of the vehicle, for example, when the driver turns the steering wheel 16 to steer the front wheels 12.13 by θ from the straight forward direction, the turning means 18 moves the transducer 18 in conjunction with the rotation of the steering wheel 1G. is rotated by θ, and the transducer 18
The pointing direction of the all distance signal emitted from the base is rotated by θ. Then, by the same operation as described above, an obstacle 81 in the steering direction is detected and a warning is issued. At this time, even if there is an obstacle 82 in front of the vehicle, the front wheels 12, 13 are steered by θ and the vehicle turns in the steering direction, so the obstacle 82 does not become an obstacle to the vehicle's running, and the collision warning is issued. The device 10 will not issue a false alarm in response to the obstruction 82.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the transducer 17 is connected to the vehicle body 11.
Only one was placed in front of the
As shown in the figure, a transducer 17 is installed at both front ends of the vehicle body 11.
a, 17b may be provided. In this way, an obstacle can be detected with a width equal to the width of the vehicle body 11, and an obstacle slightly protruding from the end of the vehicle's travel trajectory can be easily detected.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, two transducers 17a and 1
7b may be connected to the transmitter/receiver 19 by being alternately switched by the switch 21 at a fast enough period to avoid a delay in detecting an obstacle.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the transducer is rotatably supported, and the transducer has narrow directivity a>
The transducer is configured to transmit and receive + pressure signals, and is provided with a rotating means for rotating the transducer so as to transmit and receive distance measurement signals in the steering direction in conjunction with the steering mechanism of the vehicle, and the rotating means allows the steering to be performed. The system is configured to measure the distance to obstacles in the steering direction of the vehicle using a transducer rotated in the direction of the vehicle, so only obstacles in the steering direction are detected, preventing the amount of data from increasing. Obstacles can be detected without the need for high-speed, sophisticated data processing, making it possible to simplify the device and reduce costs while maintaining reliability.

In addition, if one transducer is installed at each front end of the vehicle, it will be able to detect obstacles with a width equal to the width of the vehicle, making it easy to detect obstacles that slightly protrude at the edges of the vehicle's travel path. Can be detected.

Furthermore, if a switch is provided that alternately connects the transducer to the transceiver, one at each end of the front end of the vehicle, the amount of data can be reduced by using the two transducers alternately. This can be prevented from increasing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a collision warning system for a vehicle according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams showing a collision warning system for a vehicle according to the present invention. 10... Vehicle collision warning device 16... Steering mechanism 17... Transmitter/receiver 18... Rotating means 19... Transmitter/receiver O... Alarm device 21... Switching device

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A transducer that transmits and receives a ranging signal for measuring the distance to an obstacle in the forward direction of the vehicle, a transducer that is coupled to the transducer and transmits and receives the ranging signal, and the transceiver A vehicle collision warning device comprising: an alarm that issues an alarm when output distance information to an obstacle satisfies predetermined alarm conditions; The transducer is configured to transmit and receive ranging signals with narrow directivity, and the transducer is rotated so as to transmit and receive ranging signals in the steering direction in conjunction with a steering mechanism of the vehicle. 1. A collision warning system for a vehicle, comprising a moving means, and a transducer rotated in the steering direction by the rotating means to measure a distance to an obstacle in the steering direction of the vehicle. (2) The collision warning system for a vehicle according to claim (1), wherein one of the transducers is disposed at each of the front end portions of the vehicle. (3) The collision warning system for a vehicle according to claim (2), further comprising a switch that alternately switches and connects the transceiver to the transceiver, one of which is disposed at each front end portion of the vehicle.