JP2000168468A - Information transmitting device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely transmit the information to be transmitted to a driver to the driver without using an auditory/visual senses. SOLUTION: An information transmitting device for vehicle is provided in a grip part 11 of a steering 10 for vehicle, and provided with a vibration motor 16 as a vibration generating means 12 for generating the vibration in the steering and a control means 13 for operating the vibration motor 16 in response to the information to be transmitted to a driver. The steering is vibrated by the operation of the vibration motor 16 so as to transmit the information to the driver.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information transmission apparatus for a vehicle, which transmits various information such as danger prediction information such as "short distance between vehicles" to a driver by vibrating a vehicle steering wheel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automobiles have warning lights and buzzers as means for transmitting information to occupants. For example, when the fuel level is low, the fuel level warning light provided in the meter unit is turned on, and information indicating that the fuel level is low is transmitted to the driver.
The warning buzzer sounds and the driver is informed that "the vehicle is running too fast." Further, in some cases, such information is warned by voice.

[0003]

However, in a vehicle information transmission device using a warning light or a warning buzzer,
There are the following problems.

That is, in the case of the warning light, predetermined information is transmitted to the driver only after the occupant visually confirms whether the warning light is on or off. If you do not check the warning light visually,
There is a possibility that a slight time delay may occur in information transmission.

On the other hand, in the case of a warning buzzer or voice transmission,
Since there is no delay in information transmission as described above, urgent information can be reliably transmitted to the driver, but an occupant other than the driver feels a loud warning sound or the like. In addition, it is difficult for a driver with hearing impairment to recognize information.

The present inventor pays attention to the fact that the driver always holds the steering wheel while driving the car, and if the vehicle steering is vibrated, predetermined information is reliably transmitted to the driver. They have found that they can do this and have completed the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle information transmission device capable of transmitting information to be transmitted to a driver to the driver without relying on vision or hearing.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vibration generating means provided on a grip portion of a vehicle steering for generating vibrations in the steering, and transmitting the vibration to a driver. Control means for operating the vibration generating means in accordance with the information to be provided, wherein the steering is vibrated by the operation of the vibration generating means to transmit the information to a driver. This is an information transmission device for a vehicle.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the control means changes a vibration level and / or an operation cycle of the vibration generation means according to information to be transmitted to a driver.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a driving condition detecting means for detecting a driving condition of the vehicle, wherein the control means detects a driving condition of the vehicle based on the driving condition of the vehicle detected by the driving condition detecting device. The vibration generating means is operated so that vibration of the steering caused by traveling and vibration of the steering caused by operation of the vibration generating means can be determined.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means changes a vibration level and / or a vibration frequency of the vibration generating means based on a running state of the vehicle detected by the running state detecting means. Features.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the information to be transmitted to the driver includes danger prediction information such as "the inter-vehicle distance is short", vehicle information such as "the fuel level is low", and
It is characterized in that it includes at least one piece of notification information such as "incoming call of vehicle-mounted telephone".

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a driver's seat portion of an automobile in which a vehicle information transmission device according to the present invention is incorporated, and FIG.
Schematic block diagram showing a control system of an information transmission device for a vehicle,
FIG. 3 is a diagram provided for describing the operation of the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle information transmission device according to the present embodiment is briefly described. A vibration generating means 12 provided on a grip portion 11 of a vehicle steering wheel 10 to generate vibrations on the steering wheel 10, Control means 13 for operating said vibration generating means 12 according to information to be transmitted to
have. The steering 10 is vibrated by the operation of the vibration generating means 12 to transmit the information to the driver.

As the vibration generating means 12, for example,
A vibration motor 16 configured by attaching an eccentric weight 15 for generating vibration to the output shaft of the micromotor 14 is used. The vibration motor 16 is built in the hollow grip 11. In addition, the vibration motor 16 can change the intensity of the generated vibration, that is, the vibration level, in accordance with the magnitude of the applied voltage. The number of the vibration motors 16 may be one, but it is preferable to provide a pair of vibration motors 16 on the left and right as shown in the example shown in FIG.

The information to be transmitted to the driver is not particularly limited, and is danger prediction information such as "short inter-vehicle distance", vehicle information such as "low fuel level", and "vehicle-mounted telephone". It is sufficient that at least one of the notification information such as "incoming call" is included. In this embodiment, as information to be transmitted to the driver, danger prediction information,
A case where vehicle information and notification information are included will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the danger prediction information includes not only information on the following distance, but also drowsiness, excessive speed,
Information about the existence of an obstacle is included. The vehicle information includes information on the charge of the battery, the oil pressure and oil temperature of the oil, the temperature of the engine cooling water, and the like, in addition to the information on the remaining fuel amount. In addition, notice information includes
In addition to the information on the incoming call of the vehicle-mounted telephone, a warning when the vehicle deviates from the recommended route or the set route in the navigation function, direction guidance, and other information are included.

In order to detect the danger prediction information, although not shown, a drowsiness detection device for detecting a drowsiness state based on a driver's eye movement, an inter-vehicle distance detection device having an infrared sonar, an ultrasonic sonar, or the like, or an obstacle. The detection device is mounted on the vehicle. Although not shown, an automobile telephone and a navigation device are also mounted on the vehicle. The vehicle speed and other vehicle information are detected using a fuel gauge, a speedometer, a water temperature gauge, an oil pressure gauge, and the like generally provided in an automobile. When vehicle information needs to be transmitted to the driver, a warning lamp 18 provided on the meter unit 17 is turned on by a relay circuit or a control unit separate from the control unit 13 as in a general automobile, A warning is issued to the driver. However, it goes without saying that the turning on / off of the warning light 18 may be controlled by the control means 13.

In this embodiment, there is further provided a traveling state detecting means 20 for detecting the traveling state of the vehicle. The control means 13 controls the vibration so that the vibration of the steering wheel 10 due to the running of the vehicle and the vibration of the steering wheel 10 due to the operation of the vibration motor 16 can be determined based on the running condition of the vehicle detected by the running condition detecting means 20. The operation of the motor 16 is controlled. That is, the control means 13
Changes the vibration level and / or the vibration frequency of the vibration motor 16 based on the traveling state of the vehicle detected by the traveling state detecting means 20 so as not to be synchronized with the vibration of the steering 10 itself caused by the vibration of the vehicle.

The running condition detecting means 20 is used in an active suspension device or the like, and includes, for example, an ultrasonic road surface sonar for detecting a relative distance between a running road surface and a vehicle body, and a lateral acceleration generated on the vehicle body. It comprises a lateral acceleration sensor, a longitudinal acceleration sensor for detecting longitudinal acceleration occurring in the vehicle body, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU as the control means 13 includes a signal from a danger prediction information detecting device 21 such as an inter-vehicle distance detecting device, a signal from a vehicle information detecting device 22 such as a fuel gauge, A signal from a notification information detecting device 23 such as an in-vehicle telephone or a navigation device, and a signal from a speedometer or a water temperature gauge are input. Further, detection signals of the respective sensors constituting the driving condition detecting means 20 are also input, and the CPU 13 determines the driving condition of the vehicle based on these signals. From the CPU 13, a control signal for turning on and off the vibration motor 16 and a control signal for determining an applied voltage and a vibration frequency are output to the vibration motor drive circuit 24.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, when information to be transmitted to the driver is generated, the CPU 13
Operating at a predetermined vibration level and a predetermined operation cycle,
The steering 10 is vibrated. Since the driver always holds the steering wheel 10 while driving the automobile, the vibration of the steering wheel 10 ensures that predetermined information is transmitted to the driver. Further, since the information is not transmitted using the visual sense as in the related art, there is no time delay in the transmission of information, and eyestrain can be reduced. Furthermore, since it is not information transmission using hearing, the occupants other than the driver do not feel noisy and do not disturb the listening to radio and audio. In addition, since information can be reliably transmitted to a driver who has a hearing impairment, there is an advantage that opportunities for driving a car can be increased. In addition, since the information transmission destination is limited to the driver, confidential information can be transmitted.

Here, as for danger prediction information such as "the distance between vehicles is short", it is desired to transmit the information to the driver with strong intention. Therefore, when the danger prediction information is transmitted, the vibration level of the vibration motor 16 is set higher than when the vehicle information and the notification information are transmitted. Thereby, the driver can quickly take measures according to the danger prediction information.

Further, according to the information to be transmitted to the driver,
The operation cycle of the vibration motor 16 may be different. For example, when information about dozing out of the danger prediction information is transmitted, as shown in FIG. 4A, the steering wheel 10 is vibrated at the shortest operation cycle Δt (for example, t = 1 second). At this time, the vibration level may be changed according to the sleep depth. When transmitting information about the following distance, the vibration motor 16 is operated at an operating cycle proportional to the following distance, and the operating cycle is shortened as the following distance becomes shorter as shown in FIG. The shortest operation cycle at this time is equal to the operation cycle Δt when transmitting information about dozing. Similarly, when information about speed is transmitted, the operation cycle is shortened as the speed increases, and when information about obstacles is transmitted, the operation cycle is shortened as the distance to the obstacle becomes shorter.

For vehicle information such as "the fuel level is low", when the information needs to be transmitted to the driver, the warning lamp 18 provided on the meter unit 17 has already been turned on. The driver may be alerted to look at 17. Therefore, when transmitting vehicle information, compared to transmitting danger prediction information,
The vibration level of the vibration motor 16 is reduced. Also,
Since the content of the vehicle information can be determined by checking which warning light 18 is lit, the vibration motor 16
Is set to be constant. As described above, if the steering wheel 10 is vibrated when transmitting the vehicle information to the driver, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the driver forgets to visually check the warning light 18 and a time delay occurs in transmitting the information. There is no.

As for the notification information such as “incoming call of vehicle-mounted telephone”, it is sufficient if the driver can be alerted to confirm the vehicle-mounted telephone or the like as in the case of vehicle information. Therefore, when transmitting the notification information, the vibration level of the vibration motor 16 is reduced and the operation cycle of the vibration motor 16 is set to be constant. However, it is preferable that the incoming call of the vehicle-mounted telephone is set in accordance with the ringing period of the telephone. As described above, if the steering wheel 10 is vibrated when transmitting the notification information to the driver, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the driver forgets to visually check the vehicle-mounted telephone or the navigation device,
There is no time delay in transmitting information.

By the way, the vibration of the steering wheel 10 due to the running of the vehicle greatly depends on the unevenness of the running road surface, and is different between when running on a rough road and when running on a paved road. It will be very different. Since the running condition of the vehicle changes as described above, it may be difficult to determine whether the vibration of the steering wheel 10 is caused by the running of the vehicle or by the operation of the vibration motor 16.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, based on the traveling state of the vehicle detected by the traveling state detecting means 20,
The vibration level and / or vibration frequency of the vibration motor 16 is changed. For example, when traveling on a bad road, the vibration level of the vibration motor 16 is set higher than when traveling on a paved road, even if the information to be transmitted to the driver is the same.

In this manner, the vibration of the steering wheel 10 due to the running of the vehicle and the vibration of the steering wheel 10 due to the operation of the vibration motor 16 can be determined regardless of the running condition of the vehicle, and the predetermined information can be reliably transmitted to the driver. Can be transmitted to

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified as appropriate. For example, instead of the vibration motor 16, a vibration element as a vibration generating means may be attached to the cover of the steering so that the information transmission device for the vehicle can be easily attached. Further, each of the pair of left and right vibration motors 16 may be operated alternately, or only the right vibration motor 16 or only the left vibration motor 16 may be operated according to information to be transmitted to the driver. Control is also possible.

It is also possible to use means 25 for selecting and setting in advance the information desired by the driver and the vibration mode (vibration level, operation cycle, etc.) according to the driver's intention (FIG. 4). 2). However, as for the prediction information for avoiding danger, it is preferable that the vibration level can be largely fixed.

[0034]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the information to be transmitted to the driver can be reliably transmitted to the driver by the vibration of the steering wheel without using the visual sense or the auditory sense. Can communicate. Further, since the information is not transmitted using the visual sense, there is no time delay in the transmission of the information. Since the information is not transmitted using the auditory sense, occupants other than the driver do not feel noisy. In addition, information can be reliably transmitted to a driver who has a hearing impairment.

According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to distinguish the urgency, importance, and content of information to be transmitted to the driver.

According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to determine the vibration of the steering caused by the running of the vehicle and the vibration of the steering caused by the operation of the vibration generating means regardless of the running condition of the vehicle. Information can be reliably transmitted to the driver.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, at least one of danger prediction information, vehicle information, and notification information can be transmitted to the driver.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a driver's seat portion of an automobile in which a vehicle information transmission device according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a control system of an information transmission device for a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a diagram provided for describing an operation of the present embodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing vibration of a steering. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Steering for vehicles 11 ... Grasping part 12 ... Vibration generation means 13 ... Control means (CPU) 16 ... Vibration motor (vibration generation means) 20 ... Running state detection means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme coat ゛ (Reference) G08B 21/00 G08G 1/16 C G08G 1/16 B60R 21/00 626A

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vibration generating means (12) provided on a grip portion (11) of a vehicle steering (10) to generate vibrations in the steering (10), and the vibration is generated according to information to be transmitted to a driver. Generation means (1
Control means (13) for operating 2), wherein the steering (10) is vibrated by the operation of the vibration generating means (12) to transmit the information to a driver. Information transmission device for vehicles. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control means changes a vibration level and / or an operation cycle of the vibration generating means according to information to be transmitted to a driver. An information transmission device for a vehicle according to claim 1. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a traveling state detecting unit configured to detect a traveling state of the vehicle;
The vibration of the steering (10) due to the traveling of the vehicle and the steering (10) due to the operation of the vibration generating means (12), based on the traveling state of the vehicle detected in (0).
The vibration generating means (1)
The information transmission device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein 2) is operated. 4. The control means (13) changes a vibration level and / or a vibration frequency of the vibration generating means (12) based on a driving state of the vehicle detected by the driving state detecting means (20). The information transmission device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The information to be transmitted to the driver includes danger prediction information such as “the distance between vehicles is short”, vehicle information such as “the fuel level is low”, and information such as “an incoming call from the vehicle”. The information transmission device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the information transmission device includes at least one of the information.