JP2001218301A - Vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve safety in operation of running. SOLUTION: This vehicle is provided with a control means that drives a drive device, based on instructions by an accelerator and a voice generating means that outputs voices indicating running conditions. A control is performed, in such a way that an instruction from the accelerator is not accepted from the start of voice output until a given period of time elapses.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle driven and driven by a drive device, such as an electric tricycle, an electric wheelchair, and an automobile, and more particularly to a safe control at the time of a driving operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional vehicle is disclosed in, for example,
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5444 (A61G 5/02), for example, a person who cannot speak loudly, such as an elderly person, is provided with a voice synthesis speaker that emits a voice for recognizing an action during traveling and a horn on a body of a wheelchair. When a user operates a wheelchair, the sound is amplified by a sound from a speaker, or when there is a danger, a warning by horn is issued to improve the safety during traveling. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, when the user performs a wheelchair operation, a running state corresponding to the operation is emitted from a voice synthesis speaker.

However, with the above-described configuration, a sound is issued simultaneously with the start of the traveling operation simply by notifying the traveling state. Therefore, anyone approaching a wheelchair was very dangerous. Also, when the user himself / herself recognizes the running motion by voice, the user may operate without surely hearing the voice.For example, if the user mistakenly sets the vehicle to go forward and set the vehicle backward, the voice The driver is notified that the vehicle is going backwards, but if the operation is performed before hearing the sound, the vehicle does not travel in the direction expected by the user, which is dangerous.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric vehicle with improved safety during a traveling operation.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a driving device for driving a driving wheel, an accelerator for instructing a driving force of the driving device, and a driving signal for driving the driving device based on the instruction of the accelerator. And a sound generating means for outputting a sound indicating a running state, wherein the control means does not accept the instruction of the accelerator until a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the sound output. Therefore, when starting the forward running or the reverse running,
Before the start of traveling, a voice is issued to inform the user and the surroundings of the content of the traveling direction, and since the instruction of the accelerator is not accepted until a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the voice, a warning is given to the surrounding people before traveling. At the same time, the user cannot start the traveling operation until he / she hears the voice without fail, and the user starts traveling after recognizing the traveling direction, so that the safety during traveling is improved.

The sound output by the sound generation is composed of one unit of words, and the predetermined time is one unit of the sound. Therefore, when the vehicle is traveling forward or backward, One unit, for example, "Go forward" or "Go back" will not enter the running operation even if the driving operation is performed until the utterance of the "ending" is finished, so the user may enter the running operation until he / she hears the sound. Since the user cannot start traveling after recognizing the traveling direction, safety during traveling is improved.

Further, a running direction changeover switch for changing a running direction is provided, and the sound generating means repeats one unit of sound at least when the running direction changeover switch is set to the reverse side. When the user switches the traveling direction changeover switch to the reverse traveling in the case of the reverse traveling in which it is difficult for the surrounding people to recognize the traveling direction, one of the sounds for notifying the user of the switching content is provided.
Since the unit word is repeatedly emitted while the vehicle is traveling backward, it warns the surrounding people, and the instruction of the accelerator is not accepted until the one unit word of the voice is completed. Since the driver starts the backward running after recognizing the backward running direction, the safety during the backward running is further improved.

[0008] Further, an obstacle sensor for detecting an obstacle is provided, and when the obstacle sensor detects an obstacle, the control means is capable of instructing the accelerator even if a predetermined time has not elapsed from the output of the sound. In the case where an obstacle is detected during traveling, if the obstacle sensor detects the obstacle, the instruction of the accelerator is given for a predetermined time from the start of the voice, for example, one unit of words is used. Even if the utterance is not completed, the utterance is accepted, and the running operation for avoiding the obstacle is quickly started, so that the safety during running is further improved.

Further, when the obstacle sensor detects an obstacle, the voice generating means operates. Therefore, when an obstacle is detected during traveling, the obstacle sensor is operated by the obstacle sensor. Is detected, a voice is issued to notify the user or the surrounding people of the detection content, so that the user can start traveling after recognizing that an obstacle has been detected or that a collision has occurred. That fact can be known, and the detection of the obstacle and the safety of running after the collision are improved.

Further, the voice output by the voice generation is composed of one unit of words, and the voice generating means is operated continuously, and is used when an obstacle is detected during running or when a collision occurs. Since one unit of the sound that informs the user of the collision content is repeated and a sound is issued, the user can start traveling after recognizing the collision content, and Warning can be given, and the driving safety after the collision is further improved.

In addition, braking means for braking the wheel is provided, and the control means operates the braking means when the obstacle sensor detects an obstacle, does not accept the instruction of the accelerator, and returns the accelerator once. The operation of the voice uttering means is stopped and the accelerator is accepted when the accelerator is operated again, so that when the accelerator is operated and an obstacle is detected or a collision with the obstacle is detected. In the case where the sound continues to be emitted, for example, if the vehicle collides with an obstacle but returns the accelerator, that is, if the command speed is returned to zero, the sound stops, so if the vehicle restarts even if it collides with the obstacle Does not emit a sound indicating that it is colliding with an obstacle, so that the user can recognize the obstacle and when performing an operation to avoid the obstacle, the user can recognize it. And for that, unnecessary utterance is not performed, it is possible to improve safety.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, taking an electric tricycle as an example.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the electric tricycle of the embodiment as viewed from the front, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a steering wheel, a display panel, and an accelerator lever, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the embodiment. is there.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle body of an electric tricycle provided with driving wheels (rear wheels) 2 which are rotationally driven by motors on both sides of a rear portion and one front wheel 3 at a front portion. 3
A handle shaft 4 connected to the handle shaft 4 and a handle 5 whose both sides are bent in a U-shape are attached to the upper end of the handle shaft 4, and when the user gets on between the front wheel 3 and the rear wheel 2. A floor portion 6 for placing a foot on the vehicle is provided, and a cover 7 for storing a battery, a motor, and the like is provided behind the floor portion 6, and a seat 8 for a user to ride on is mounted thereon. Have been.

Reference numeral 9 denotes an obstacle sensor provided at a front portion and a rear portion of the vehicle body 1. The obstacle sensor 9 comprises a pressure-sensitive switch.
A signal is output when the obstacle collides with the obstacle sensor, and is not output when the obstacle sensor is separated from the obstacle.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a display panel provided at the center of the steering wheel 5 for displaying the remaining amount of the battery, the traveling speed, the forward / reverse movement, etc. The display panel 10 has a traveling direction switch 10a for switching the forward / reverse direction. And a power switch 11 for turning on / off the power.
And a built-in voice speaker (not shown) for outputting a voice before the start of traveling.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an accelerator lever which is provided on the left and right sides of the display panel 10 and is connected by a shaft and operates integrally.
When the accelerator lever 12 is pressed from above, the vehicle travels in the traveling direction indicated by the traveling direction switch 10a, and travels at a speed corresponding to the amount by which the accelerator lever 12 is pressed.

Next, a control circuit according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as "microcomputer") which constitutes a control means. As an input, in addition to the power switch 11 and the traveling direction changeover switch 10a, the microcomputer interlocks with the accelerator lever 12. Potentiometer 14 and motor 15 for detecting the operation amount
Signals from a motor speed detection circuit 16 for detecting the rotation speed of the motor and an obstacle sensor 9 for detecting an obstacle are input. The output includes a signal for controlling a motor drive circuit 17 for driving the motor 15, a control unit, that is, a signal for controlling an electromagnetic brake drive circuit 19 for driving an electromagnetic brake 18, and a voice for generating a voice from a voice speaker 26. A signal for controlling the circuit 25, a signal for controlling the display drive circuit 20 for driving the display panel 10, and the like are output.
The signals for controlling the motor drive circuit 17 include a normal motor drive signal for controlling the rotation speed of the motor 15, a power generation braking signal for performing power generation braking by the motor 15, and a forward / reverse rotation of the motor 15. There is a motor forward / reverse signal that switches between

The power switch 11 includes a battery 21
When the power switch 11 is turned on, the relay coil 22 connected to the power switch 11 is excited, and the power relay switch 23 is turned on. When the power relay switch 23 is turned on, the power from the battery 21 can be supplied to the motor 15, and the microcomputer 20, the traveling direction switch 10 a, and the potentiometer 14 of the accelerator lever 12 can be supplied to the motor 15. The power of the battery 21 is supplied to a power supply circuit 24 that supplies a constant voltage such as 5 V DC.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the power switch 11 is turned on,
If the power relay switch 23 is on, the process proceeds to the next step (S1).

Next, an input from the traveling direction switch 10a is detected (S2), and if the traveling direction switch 10a
If a is forward, the microcomputer 20 outputs a voice signal to the voice circuit 25, and the voice speaker 26 emits one unit of a word indicating the content of the traveling direction switch 10a, for example, the word "go forward" ( S3). Then, the voice is uttered until a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the voice utterance (S5). In the present embodiment, the time until the one unit of the word "go forward" ends is set to a predetermined time, so that the voice utterance ends when the one unit of the word "go ahead" ends ( S7). When the accelerator lever 12 is depressed, a signal from the accelerator lever 12 is input to the microcomputer 20 (S8), and the vehicle starts traveling forward (S9). That is, the instruction of the accelerator lever 12 is not accepted until a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the voice utterance.

If the traveling direction changeover switch 10a is in reverse, an audio signal is output from the microcomputer 20 to the audio circuit 33 and the traveling direction changeover switch 1 is output from the audio speaker 26.
A word of one unit that informs the contents of 0a, for example, the word "go backward" is issued (S4). Then, after the voice utterance is started, a predetermined time, that is, the word "go backward" is uttered (S6), and when the accelerator lever 12 is pressed, a signal from the accelerator lever 12 is input to the microcomputer 20 (S8). ), And start reverse running (S9). At this time, the predetermined time is, as in the case of the forward movement, the time until the end of the unit word "reverse". During backward travel, as in forward travel, an instruction from the accelerator lever 12 is not accepted until a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of voice utterance. At this time, unlike the case of forward traveling, the one-unit word "reverse" does not include a voice ending step, and is repeatedly emitted until the traveling direction switch 10a is switched to forward traveling. I have. When the accelerator lever 12 is not operated in both forward and backward running, no signal is output to the motor drive circuit 17 and stop control for operating the electromagnetic brake 18 (S1).
Enter 0).

Next, when the vehicle collides with an obstacle during traveling and the obstacle sensor 9 detects the obstacle (S11), the traveling of the vehicle is stopped by not accepting the instruction of the accelerator lever 12 even if the accelerator lever 12 is pressed. Is stopped (S1
2), an audio signal is output from the microcomputer 20 to the audio circuit 25, and a unit of a word for notifying the detection of the obstacle, for example, the word "Is an obstacle" is issued from the audio speaker 26 (S1).
3). At this time, if the state of operating the accelerator while detecting an obstacle continues, the process returns to S12, where the stop is continued and the utterance "Is an obstacle" is continued. Once the accelerator lever 12 is released, the signal from the accelerator lever 12 is not input to the microcomputer 20 (S14), and after stopping running (S15), if the accelerator lever 12 is again instructed, the signal from the accelerator is returned. A signal is received (S8), and obstacles are avoided by traveling control (S9).
Start running.

In the present embodiment, the voice is repeatedly uttered. However, the voice may be uttered at a certain time interval before the next voice utterance, or may be uttered while gradually increasing the interval time. . In this embodiment, a pressure-sensitive sensor is used as the obstacle sensor to detect contact with the electric vehicle. However, a non-collision ultrasonic sensor may be used. Further, in this embodiment, if the accelerator is operated while the voice is being emitted, the vehicle starts at the instructed speed after the voice operation is completed. After the operation of the voice, the soft start in which the speed is gradually increased to the designated speed after the voice operation is completed may be performed. In this way, sudden start can be prevented.

In this embodiment, a motor is used as the driving device, but an engine may be used.

As described above, even if the user attempts to move forward and mistakenly sets the vehicle to reverse, the accelerator is not accepted before the user is notified of the content of the traveling direction before the traveling starts. In addition, the user can notice the incorrect setting, and the user starts traveling after recognizing the traveling direction, so that safety during traveling can be improved.

Further, while the vehicle is traveling in reverse, a sound informing of the content of the traveling direction is repeatedly emitted, so that attention to surrounding people is urged, so that safety in reverse can be improved.

When an obstacle sensor detects an obstacle, an accelerator lever instruction is accepted, so that a running operation for avoiding the obstacle can be performed quickly, and a sound for notifying the obstacle is also emitted, so that the user can avoid the obstacle. You can start running after detecting an object or recognizing a collision,
In addition, the surrounding people can know that. Therefore, the safety of running after the collision can be improved.

When the accelerator is operated to detect an obstacle or when the vehicle collides with an obstacle, the sound continues to be emitted. For example, when the vehicle collides with an obstacle, the sound stops when the accelerator is returned. When the vehicle restarts even if it collides with an obstacle, it does not emit a sound indicating that it is colliding with the obstacle, so that the user recognizes the obstacle and performs an operation to avoid the obstacle. At this time, since the user is able to recognize, unnecessary utterances are not performed, and safety can be improved.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sound generating means for outputting a sound indicating the running state, and the control means controls the accelerator operation until the predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the sound output. Therefore, when starting the forward running or the reverse running, it is possible to inform the user and the surroundings of the content of the running direction by voice before the start of the running, and in addition, the instruction of the accelerator is the voice. Since it will not be accepted until the end of the predetermined time from the start,
For example, if the user mistakenly sets the vehicle in the direction that he or she wants to travel in, the user will not be able to start the driving operation until he / she hears the sound, and the user will use the wrong setting. Since the user can change the direction to the direction that the user thinks, and the user starts traveling after recognizing the traveling direction, there is an effect that safety during traveling can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the voice output by the generation of the voice includes one unit of words, and the predetermined time is one unit of the voice.
When starting the forward running or the backward running, the content of the running direction before starting the running, for example, "Go forward",
The user can easily inform the user and the surroundings of one unit of the word “reverse” by voice, and in addition, the instruction of the accelerator is not accepted until the one unit of the word is completed. Since the traveling is started after the traveling direction is surely recognized, there is an effect that the safety during traveling can be further improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a traveling direction changeover switch for switching a traveling direction, and the sound generation means repeats one unit of sound at least when the traveling direction changeover switch is set to the reverse side. Because it was
Generally, in the case of reverse traveling where it is difficult for the surrounding people to recognize the traveling direction, when the user switches the traveling direction changeover switch to reverse traveling, one unit word of a voice that informs the user of the switching content, for example, The voice of "Reverse" is repeatedly issued while the vehicle is traveling backwards, so it calls attention to the surrounding people, and the instruction of the accelerator is accepted until one word of the voice ends. Without
Since the user starts the reverse running after recognizing the reverse running direction, it is possible to improve the safety during the reverse running.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an obstacle detection sensor for detecting an obstacle, and the control means, when the obstacle sensor detects an obstacle, elapses a predetermined time from the output of the sound. Since the instruction of the accelerator is accepted without doing so, when an obstacle is detected during traveling, when the obstacle sensor detects the obstacle,
The instruction of the accelerator is received for a predetermined time from the start of the voice, for example, even if one unit of words is not uttered,
Since the running operation is quickly started to move away from the obstacle, it is possible to improve the running safety after the collision.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the obstacle sensor detects an obstacle, the voice generating means is activated. Therefore, when an obstacle is detected during traveling, the obstacle is detected. When the sensor detects the obstacle, a sound is issued to notify the user or the surrounding people of the collision content, so that the user can start traveling after recognizing that the obstacle has been detected, and The second person can know the obstacle, and has effects such as further improving the safety of traveling after the detection.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the voice output by the voice generation is composed of one unit of words, and the voice generating means operates continuously, so that an obstacle can be detected during traveling. In such a case, when the obstacle sensor detects the obstacle, one unit of a voice that informs the user of the detected content is repeatedly issued as a voice, so that the user recognizes the detected content, It is possible to start traveling, to give an alarm to a nearby person, and to improve traveling safety after detection.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, braking means for braking the wheel is provided, and the control means operates the braking means and receives an instruction from the accelerator when the obstacle sensor detects an obstacle. However, once the accelerator is returned, the operation of the voice uttering means is stopped, and when the accelerator is operated again, the operation of the accelerator is accepted, so that the sound is emitted when the accelerator is operated and an obstacle is detected. When the obstacle is detected and obstacle is detected, but the accelerator is returned, that is, when the command speed is returned to zero, the sound stops, so if the obstacle restarts even if the obstacle is detected, the obstacle is detected. Since no sound is heard to tell the user that an obstacle is being heard, the user can recognize the obstacle, and when performing an operation to avoid the obstacle, the user can recognize the obstacle. Not I, the effect of such can improve safety.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an electric tricycle showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the handle, a display panel, and an accelerator lever.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control circuit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the control circuit.

[Description of Signs] 2 Drive wheel (rear wheel) 15 Drive device (motor) 14 Accelerator 20 Control means (microcomputer) 25 Audio circuit 1 Speaker 10a Running direction changeover switch 9 Obstacle sensor 18 Braking means (electromagnetic brake)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A driving device for driving driving wheels, an accelerator for instructing a driving force of the driving device, a control means for outputting a driving signal for driving the driving device based on the instruction of the accelerator, and traveling A vehicle that includes a sound generation unit that outputs a sound indicating a state, wherein the control unit does not receive the instruction of the accelerator until a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the output of the sound. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the voice output by the voice generating means is composed of one unit of words, and the predetermined time is one unit of the voice. 3. The vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a traveling direction changeover switch for switching a traveling direction, wherein the sound generating means repeats one unit of sound at least when the traveling direction changeover switch is set to the reverse side. The vehicle described. 4. An obstacle sensor for detecting an obstacle is provided.
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the obstacle sensor detects an obstacle, the instruction of the accelerator is received even if a predetermined time has not elapsed from the output of the voice.
The vehicle described. 5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said sound generation means operates when said obstacle sensor detects an obstacle. 6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the voice output by the voice generation is composed of one unit of words, and the voice generating means operates continuously. 7. A braking means for braking the wheel, wherein the control means operates the braking means when the obstacle sensor detects an obstacle, does not accept the instruction of the accelerator, and returns the accelerator once. 7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the operation of the voice utterance means is stopped, and the operation of the accelerator is accepted when the accelerator is operated again.