JP2002056484A - Vehicle accident information system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that transmission may become impossible, when transmission becomes disabled caused by disconnection or the like of a signal line of a circuit resulted from collision by any chance. SOLUTION: This system is equipped with a position information control circuit for reading present position information based on positioning data from an automotive navigation system, and accumulating the present position information in a memory circuit, a collision state determination circuit for executing collision primary judgment and collision main judgment based on an impact detection signal from an impact detection sensor, a passenger protection device operated based on the collision main judgment, a first-aid signal transmission command circuit for outputting the present position information accumulated in the memory circuit as first-aid signal transmission data after execution of the collision primary judgment, and a communication means for informing a prescribed radio facility having a first-aid command system of the first-aid signal transmission data outputted from the first-aid, signal transmission command circuit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle accident reporting system, and more particularly to a vehicle capable of performing a quick and accurate rescue operation by reporting an accident occurrence position information as an emergency signal when an automobile collision occurs. It relates to an accident notification system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of apparatus will be described below with reference to a system configuration diagram of a vehicle accident notification system shown in FIG.
A display 4 is connected to the car navigation system 1 shown in FIG. 1 so that a passenger can check the current position information on a map, and a GPS obtained by capturing a GPS satellite 2 is obtained.
The signal (positioning data) is received by the antenna 3 attached to the roof of the vehicle body. When the navigation system 1 is used during traveling, a switch of a remote controller (not shown) is turned on and the display 4 is turned on.
The current location information is displayed above. The control unit 5 includes an initial diagnosis circuit, a current position information request circuit, a collision state determination circuit, and a rescue signal transmission command circuit. The initial diagnosis circuit confirms normal operation of the inside and outside of the control unit 5 before traveling. . The current position information request circuit outputs a signal requesting the current position information to the navigation system 1 at predetermined time intervals, so that the current position information is supplied from the navigation system 1 side. The collision state determination circuit performs a determination for operating the airbag device 6, and outputs a squib ignition signal to the inflator 6a when the detection signal from the acceleration sensor 7 exceeds a predetermined threshold value. .

In order to operate the airbag device 6, a deformation detection sensor 8 is connected to the collision state determination circuit of the control unit 5 as an additional sensor for obtaining collision state information at the time of reporting an accident. This grasps an accident situation in which a door or a frame is greatly distorted due to a side collision or the like. In addition, an attitude detection sensor 9 is connected to detect a case where the vehicle rolls over, and the attitude detection sensor 9 detects an abnormal inclination of the vehicle and recognizes that the vehicle is in an accident state.

[0004] A memory circuit 10 stores a RAM for storing current position information, a vehicle body number, a vehicle type, owner information, and a collision state corresponding to detection signals obtained from various detection sensors 7, 8, and 9 when an accident occurs. Are stored systematically as collision mode information.
In the emergency signal transmission command circuit of the control unit 5,
After the squib ignition signal of the inflator 6aON is output, or even if no inflator 6aON determination is made, the detection signal from the detection sensor 7 exceeds a predetermined threshold,
If it can be recognized that a serious accident has occurred, the latest current position information stored in the RAM and EEPRO
The collision mode information at the time of collision stored in M is read, and data is sent to the communication means 11.

[0005] The communication means 11 is composed of an automobile telephone. The 110 is automatically dialed to the transmission destination wireless facility 12 by the output from the emergency signal transmission circuit, and the EE is transmitted.
Vehicle number, vehicle type, owner information, collision mode information as initial data stored in the PROM, and RAM
Is repeatedly transmitted as a tone signal until it is confirmed that reception of the other party has been correctly performed. The backup power supply 15
Is a backup power supply for the vehicle-mounted battery 14. A large-capacity capacitor is used and is always charged.

Next, the operation sequence of the control unit 5 will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the driver turns on the ignition switch 13, the battery 1 is turned on.
4 and the initial diagnosis circuit program is executed (steps ST100 and ST110). If an abnormality is found at this time, the system notifies the driver of the system abnormality by, for example, continuously turning on a warning light on the instrument panel. Next, the positioning data update circuit of the navigation system 1 is automatically started (step ST12).
0).

When the control unit 5 outputs a position information request signal to the navigation system 1 (step ST130), the latest current position information is read from the navigation system 1 and written over the RAM. During traveling, the output signals from the sensors 7 to 9 can be sequentially taken into the collision state determination circuit. In the collision state determination circuit, the sensor detection signal from the deformation detection sensor 8 is compared with a threshold value V corresponding to the sensor detection signal and recognized as a collision (step ST160). If it is more than the threshold value V, it is judged as a serious accident requiring an accident report,
It is determined whether or not the collision is a serious collision corresponding to inflator 6aON (step ST190).

If the inflator 6a is ON, a squib ignition signal is output to the inflator 6a (step ST200). On the other hand, even if the collision does not inflate the airbag device 6, it is determined that the accident is a serious accident. Therefore, the position information and the collision mode information written in the RAM are read, and a predetermined emergency system is provided by the communication means. A command to transmit an emergency signal to a wireless facility or the like is output (step ST220). On the other hand, when the detection signal from the sensor 8 is less than the threshold value Thi, the position information request is continuously updated during traveling, and the position information in the RAM is updated to the latest one. When the vehicle ends traveling and gets off, the ignition switch 13 is turned off. At this time, the positioning data updating circuit of the navigation system 1 is also turned off (steps ST170 and ST180).

[0009]

However, in such a configuration, the collision state determination circuit causes the detection signal supplied from the acceleration sensor 26 to exceed a predetermined threshold value, and a serious collision occurs. If it is determined that the accident has occurred, the wireless facility with the emergency command system obtains the position information obtained by the car navigation system as the position information of the accident vehicle and the degree of collision from the onboard sensor, and uses this information as an emergency signal. Since the transmission is performed to the station, if the signal line of the circuit is disconnected due to a collision and transmission becomes impossible, there is a possibility that transmission cannot be performed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.
The purpose of the present invention is to improve the reliability of the apparatus by performing early transmission to the wireless means at the initial stage of a collision with a low probability of occurrence of disconnection due to the collision.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle navigation system having positioning data obtained by capturing GPS satellites, and a current navigation system based on the positioning data. A position information control circuit that reads position information and stores the read current position information in a memory circuit; a collision state determination circuit that performs initial collision determination and main collision determination based on an impact detection signal from an impact sensor;
An occupant protection device that is activated based on the main collision determination in the collision state determination circuit, and transmits an emergency signal to the current position information stored in the memory circuit after performing a collision initial determination in the collision state determination circuit. An emergency signal transmission command circuit for outputting as data, and communication means for notifying emergency signal transmission data output from the emergency signal transmission command circuit to a predetermined wireless facility having an emergency command system. This is a vehicle accident notification system.

The emergency signal transmission command circuit is configured to supply the emergency signal transmission data to the communication means when receiving a signal indicating a collision initial determination from the collision state determination circuit. Is preferred.

The emergency signal transmission command circuit receives a signal indicating a collision initial preliminary determination from the collision state determination circuit, and then does not supply a signal indicating the main collision determination within a predetermined time. Preferably, a signal for canceling the emergency signal transmission data supplied to the communication means is supplied to the communication means.

Further, the emergency signal transmission command circuit follows the signal indicating the initial collision judgment from the collision state judgment circuit,
It is preferable that the emergency signal transmission data is supplied to the communication means when a signal indicating the main collision determination is supplied during a predetermined time.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a vehicle accident notification system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1 FIG. In FIG. 1, a vehicle navigation system (hereinafter, referred to as a navigation system 20) 20 has a display attached to an instrument panel of a vehicle so that an occupant can check current position information of the vehicle on a map. 23 is connected, GPS
GPS signal (positioning data) obtained by capturing satellite 21
Is received by an antenna 22 attached to the roof of the vehicle body. When the navigation system 20 is used during traveling, when a switch of a remote controller (not shown) of the navigation system 20 is turned ON, the current position information is displayed on a map displayed on the display 23.

The control unit 24 is roughly composed of an initial diagnosis circuit, a current position information request circuit, a collision state determination circuit, and an emergency signal transmission command circuit. The initial diagnosis circuit operates after the ignition switch 32 is turned on. Before the vehicle travels, a circuit for confirming whether or not various circuits and sensors inside and outside the control unit are operating normally. When a driver turns on an ignition switch 32, a diagnostic current is supplied to an initial diagnostic circuit. Flows, and it is checked whether the circuit is open or short-circuited or whether each part is abnormal.

Next, when the ignition switch 32 is turned on, the current position information request circuit outputs a signal requesting the current position information based on the GPS signal to the navigation system 20 at predetermined time intervals. On the other hand, the navigation system 20 supplies the current position information to the control unit 24, displays the current position on the display 23 based on the current position information, and indicates the latitude and longitude of the current traveling position. A signal is provided.

The collision state judging circuit compares the acceleration signal G supplied from the acceleration sensor 26 with a first threshold value V1 and a second threshold value V2 (> first threshold value V1). When G first exceeds the first threshold value V1 (see the waveform of the acceleration signal in FIG. 2), the timer circuit 3 described later
4 and the gate circuit 36, it is determined that any of a light collision, a medium collision, and a serious collision has occurred (collision initial determination), and a preliminary signal (L1 in FIG. 2) is output from the output line L1. At the same time, the spare signal starts a timer operation instruction to the timer circuit 34 (the timer in FIG. 2).

Thereafter, when the collision judging circuit judges that the magnitude of the acceleration signal G has exceeded the second threshold value V2 (collision judgment), it is judged that a serious collision has occurred, and the control unit The squib ignition signal (the pulse of L2 in FIG. 2) is supplied to the inflator 25a from the output line L2 of the S24 and the squib ignition signal is also supplied to the gate circuit 36. For the communication means 30, it means an emergency signal notifying that an accident has occurred.

When the timer circuit 34 receives the supply of the spare signal from the collision state determination circuit of the control unit 24 via the signal line L1, the timer circuit 34 sets the value for a predetermined time (this value is equal to the value of the squib ignition after the generation of the spare signal). The timer operation is started during the time until the signal is generated, which is experimentally obtained, and when this time elapses in one collision, the squib ignition signal is not generated.) During this period, the gate circuit 36 is instructed to open the gate. The gate circuit 36 waits for a squib ignition signal to be supplied when a signal indicating the opening of the gate is supplied from the timer circuit 34, and then supplies the signal to the communication means 30 via the signal line L3. To supply an emergency communication signal (emergency signal transmission data). If the squib ignition signal is not supplied during the timer time, the control unit 24 determines that a light collision has been determined, and determines that the airbag 26b does not need to be deployed, and issues a cancel signal from the control unit 24. The signal is supplied to the timer circuit 34 via the signal line L1, the timer time is extended by the amount indicated by the broken line in FIG. 2, the gate circuit 36 is opened, and this cancel signal is transmitted to the communication means 30 via the signal line L3. Supplied and then close the gate.

When the vehicle speed sensor 35 detects that the vehicle is running continuously for a predetermined time, the detection signal is supplied to the gate circuit 36 after the timer circuit 34 stops the timer operation. Gate circuit 36
Output a cancel signal for closing the gate (see FIG. 2). The communication means 30 receives the trigger signal from the gate circuit 36 when the gate circuit 36 is supplied with the preliminary signal from the collision state determination circuit of the control unit 24 as a signal for emergency transmission (the first signal of L3 in FIG. 2). Pulse). As a result, the communication means 30 reads the emergency communication destination telephone number from the second memory circuit 30a and starts communication.

On the other hand, the detection sensors 27 and 28 are not directly related to the determination of the operation of the airbag device 25, but are used to obtain collision state information at the time of reporting an accident. Attached to the frame or side door beam of the body, it detects when the door or frame is greatly distorted due to side collision, etc., and when the vehicle rolls over, the posture detection sensor 28 detects the inclination of the vehicle I do.

The first memory circuit 29 systematically classifies collision states based on a RAM for storing current position information and detection signals obtained from the detection sensors 27 and 28 at the time of occurrence of an accident, as collision mode information. And an EEPROM for storage.

The emergency signal transmission command circuit of the control unit 24 determines that the acceleration signal of the predetermined acceleration sensor 26 exceeds the threshold value V1 even if the inflator 25a is not ON. The latest current position information is read, a signal including the data is sent as a preliminary signal to the communication means 30 via the gate circuit 36, and the emergency signal transmission command circuit of the control unit 24 performs the determination, If the determination is incorrect or the collision is not determined, a cancel signal is supplied to the communication means 30 via the gate circuit 36. The backup power supply 37 is a standby power supply.

When the collision state determination circuit of the control unit 24 determines that the inflator is ON and the squib ignition signal is output via the signal line L2, the inflator 25a operates according to the squib ignition signal from the control unit 24. , Airbag 25
b is expanded and deployed.

When the signal for emergency communication output from the emergency signal transmission circuit of the control unit 24 is supplied via the gate circuit 36, the communication means 30 as a car telephone is connected to the second memory circuits 30a to 110. Read the number dialing signal and send it to the wireless facility 3 that is the destination
Auto-dial to 1. Also, this communication means 30
When the cancel signal is supplied from the gate circuit 36, a signal indicating that the previous dial 110 was an erroneous report is supplied to the wireless facility 31. Until the cancel signal is output, for example, 10
Since this is seconds, there is no practical problem.

When the communication means 30 receives a signal corresponding to the squib ignition signal from the gate circuit 36, the communication means 30 reads the vehicle number, vehicle type and owner information as initial data from the second memory means 30a. Then, the collision mode information stored in the first memory circuit 29 is read and transmitted to the wireless facility 31 during the automatic dialing.

Next, the operation sequence of the circuit centering on the control unit 24 will be described with reference to FIG. First,
When the driver turns on the ignition switch 32, power is supplied from the vehicle-mounted battery 33 and the initial diagnosis circuit program is executed (steps ST100 and ST100).
10). If an abnormality is found at this time, the system notifies the driver of the system abnormality by, for example, continuously turning on a warning light on the instrument panel. Next, the positioning data update function of the navigation system 20 is automatically activated (step ST120). The positioning data is updated based on the current position information supplied from the navigation system 20. A request signal for the current position information is output from control unit 24 to navigation system 20 (step ST130).

The latest current position information is read from the navigation system 20 and the EEP of the first memory circuit 29 is read.
The data is written to the ROM (step ST140). Also, when the vehicle starts traveling, the collision state determination circuit during traveling,
Output signals are sequentially taken from the respective sensors 26, 27, 28 (step ST150). The collision state determination circuit compares the acceleration signal G with the first threshold value V1 for recognizing that there has been any collision based on the acceleration signal G from the acceleration sensor 26 (step ST230). If it is equal to or smaller than the threshold value V1, the process proceeds to step ST170. A command signal is supplied, dial 110 is performed (step ST240), and the timer circuit 34 is operated (step ST250).

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step ST260, in which the latest current position information is output to the outside. In step ST270, the acceleration signal from the acceleration sensor 26 and the second threshold value V2 are output.
When it is determined that the acceleration signal G has exceeded the second threshold value V2, the process proceeds to step ST190, and after the timer operation of the timer circuit 34 ends in this step ST270, the input acceleration signal G Is determined not to exceed the second threshold value V2, step S
It returns to T130.

In step ST270, it is determined that the input acceleration signal G has exceeded the second threshold value V2, and in step ST190, the control unit 24 determines whether or not the inflator 0N has been determined. If it is determined to be ON, a squib ignition signal is output and the inflator is turned ON. The process proceeds to step ST280 via step ST200. If it is determined in step ST280 that the vehicle has not been running continuously for the estimated time based on the signal from the vehicle speed detection sensor 35, the process proceeds to step ST210, where the latest one stored in the first memory circuit 29 is stored. Read the current location information,
It is transmitted to the inside in step ST220. If it is determined that the vehicle is traveling, there is a possibility of an accidental explosion. In step ST290, a cancel signal is supplied from the gate circuit 36 to the communication unit 30, and the process returns to step ST130. If the control unit 24 does not determine that the inflator is ON in step ST190, the process returns to step ST130.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the transmission to the radio means is performed early in the initial stage of a collision in which the probability of occurrence of disconnection due to the collision is small. In this case, the transmission can be reliably performed, and the reliability of the apparatus can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a vehicle accident notification system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the circuit block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the circuit block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram for explaining a conventional device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the circuit block shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,20 car navigation system 2,21 GPS satellite 3,22 antenna 4,23 display 5,24 control unit 6,25 airbag device (occupant protection device) 6a, 25a inflator 7,26 acceleration sensor 8,27 deformation detection Sensor 9, 28 Attitude detection sensor 10, 29 Memory circuit 11, 30 Communication means 12, 31, Wireless facility 13, 32 Ignition switch 14, 33 On-board battery 15, 37 Backup power supply 34 Timer circuit 35 Vehicle speed detection sensor 36 Gate circuit

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) G08B 25/10 G08B 25/10 D G08G 1/09 G08G 1/09 F F term (reference) 5C087 AA02 BB12 BB18 BB65 BB74 DD03 DD08 DD13 EE05 EE06 EE07 GG13 GG19 GG30 GG31 GG39 GG52 GG67 5H180 AA01 BB05 CC12 CC27 EE02 EE08 FF05 FF10 FF13 FF22 FF27

Claims (4)

[Claims] An automobile navigation system having positioning data obtained by capturing a GPS satellite, and current position information based on the positioning data are read, and the read current position information is stored in a memory circuit. A position information control circuit, and a collision state determination circuit that performs initial collision determination and main collision determination based on an impact detection signal from an impact sensor;
An occupant protection device that is activated based on the main collision determination in the collision state determination circuit, and transmits an emergency signal to the current position information stored in the memory circuit after performing a collision initial determination in the collision state determination circuit. A vehicle accident notification system comprising: an emergency signal transmission command circuit that outputs data as data; and communication means that notifies emergency signal transmission data output from the emergency signal transmission command circuit to a predetermined wireless facility having an emergency command system. 2. The rescue signal transmission command circuit supplies the rescue signal transmission data to the communication means when receiving a signal indicating a collision initial determination from the collision state determination circuit. The vehicle accident notification system according to claim 1. 3. The rescue signal transmission command circuit, when receiving a signal indicating a collision initial determination from the collision state determination circuit, and when a signal indicating a main collision determination is not supplied within a predetermined time, 3. The vehicle accident notification system according to claim 2, wherein a signal for canceling the emergency signal transmission data supplied to the communication unit is supplied to the communication unit. 4. The rescue signal transmission command circuit, when a signal indicating main collision determination is supplied for a predetermined period of time following a signal indicating initial collision determination from the collision state determination circuit, transmits the rescue signal transmission data. Is supplied to the communication means.