JP2002260173A - Device and method for providing vehicle information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the safety when a vehicle advances into a cruising lane from a merging lane of a freeway. SOLUTION: A first traveling vehicle detector A1, a second traveling vehicle detector A2 and an information display device a1 are disposed successively along the advancing direction of a traveling vehicle X1 before a merging point G of the cruising lane A. A first merging vehicle detector B1, a second merging vehicle detector B2 and an information display device b1 are also disposed on a merging lane B successively along the advancing direction of a merging vehicle Y1. The first traveling vehicle detector A1 and the second merging vehicle detector B1 detect the speed and the acceleration of the traveling vehicle X1 passing the side and the merging vehicle Y1, and detect each number of the vehicles X1 and Y1. The positional relationship of the vehicles X1 and Y1 when the vehicles X1 and Y1 reach the merging point G is estimated based on the detection data, and displayed on the information display devices a1 and b1, respectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to information on road conditions near a merging point in a driving lane, in order to secure safety when a vehicle enters the driving lane from the merging lane of an automobile road. The present invention relates to a vehicle information providing apparatus and a vehicle information providing method that can be provided in advance to a vehicle approaching a junction from a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art On an automobile road such as a highway,
When the merging lane merges with the traveling lane, pay sufficient attention to other traveling vehicles traveling at high speed in the traveling lane in order for the merging vehicle to enter the traveling lane from the merging lane. Meanwhile, it is necessary to sufficiently accelerate the merging vehicle so that the speed of the merging vehicle is adjusted to the speed of another vehicle traveling in the traveling lane. However, at the merging point of the merging lane and the traveling lane, since the merging lane is diverging from the traveling lane, the driver of the merging vehicle is usually at the point where the traveling lane and the merging lane merge. Until the vehicle reaches the vicinity, it is not possible to know the existence of the traveling vehicle traveling in the traveling lane. For this reason, when the vehicle enters the traveling lane from the merging lane, a great mental burden is imposed on the driver.

[0003] In order to reduce the burden on the driver when the vehicle enters the traveling lane from the merging lane, the driver of the merging vehicle entering the traveling lane is asked to give a road near the merging point in the traveling lane. It is effective to inform the driver of the situation in advance.

Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-56894 discloses an automobile road display device that informs a driver of a vehicle joining a traveling lane of a road condition at a junction.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle display equipment is provided for detecting a traveling vehicle before a junction G in a traveling lane 10 of an automobile road.
Vehicle detection means 11, a second vehicle detection means 21 installed to detect a merged vehicle in front of a merging point on a merging lane 20 of an automobile road, and a second vehicle detection means 21 An information display means 22 is provided at a position close to the merging point so as to be confirmed by a driver of the merging vehicle traveling on the merging lane 20.

[0006] The first vehicle detecting means 11 installed in the traveling lane 10 detects the traveling vehicle 1 in the traveling lane 10 a predetermined distance before the junction G. Merging lane 2
0, the second vehicle detecting means 21 is located at the junction G
A predetermined distance from the vehicle, a merging vehicle 2 traveling on the merging lane 20 is detected. The information display unit 22 displays a message that calls attention when the traveling vehicle 1 and the merged vehicle 2 are detected by the first and second vehicle detection units 11 and 21.

[0007] When the message is displayed by the information display means 22, the driver of the traveling vehicle 2 who wants to enter the traveling lane 10 from the merging lane 20 can enter the traveling lane 10.
That the traveling vehicle 1 is approaching the merging point G when the vehicle is traveling on the merging lane 20. Therefore,
Since the driver of the merging vehicle entering the traveling lane 10 from the merging lane 20 can know the road condition of the traveling lane 10 in advance, the mental burden on the driver of the merging vehicle is reduced. .

[0008]

However, the vehicle display equipment disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 6-56894 has the following problems.

At the merging point G of the traveling lane 10, since many traveling vehicles sequentially pass through the traveling lane at a high speed, the road conditions near the merging point G change every moment. In the above-described display device for a car, the traveling vehicle 1 approaching the junction G is detected. However, when a large number of traveling vehicles 1 approach the junction G in a short time, information is displayed. The presence of traveling vehicles approaching the merging point G is sequentially displayed on the display means 22, so that the driver of the merging vehicle 2 traveling on the merging lane 20 grasps an accurate road condition in the traveling lane 10. There is a problem that it is not easy.

Also, when a large number of merging vehicles 2 run sequentially on the merging lane 20, the drivers of the plurality of merging vehicles 2 must confirm the information displayed on the information display means 22. Therefore, the driver of the merged vehicle may not be able to accurately grasp the accurate road condition in the traveling lane 10.

The fact that the traveling vehicle 1 is approaching the merging point G of the traveling lane 10 is displayed by the information display means 22, but the speed of the traveling vehicle 1 is not displayed. The driver of the merging vehicle 2 traveling on the vehicle cannot determine the relative position between the traveling vehicle 1 in the traveling lane 10 and the merging vehicle 2 driving.

Further, the information display means 22 displays the merging lane 2
For the driver of the traveling vehicle 1 traveling in the traveling lane 10, the information is only displayed to the driver of the merging vehicle 2 traveling in the traveling lane 10. Since the information about the merging vehicle entering the vehicle 10 is not provided, the mental load may not be reduced for the driver of the traveling vehicle 1 in the traveling lane 10.

[0013] As described above, the display equipment for automobiles comprises:
There is a problem that the safety of the merging vehicle merging from the merging lane to the traveling lane is not sufficiently ensured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a driver of a vehicle traveling in a traveling lane and a merging lane, respectively, when approaching a merging point of the traveling lane and the merging lane. To convey accurate information,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle information providing device and a vehicle information providing method capable of improving safety at a junction.

[0015]

A vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present invention detects a vehicle traveling on a first lane toward a junction on an automobile road where the first and second lanes have joined. First predicting means for predicting the time to reach the junction, and a second predicting means for detecting a merging vehicle traveling in the second lane toward the junction at a predetermined position and predicting the time to reach the junction. (2) calculating means for calculating relative position information between a vehicle traveling in a second lane and the junction at the time predicted by the first predicting means, based on an output of the second predicting means; And information providing means for providing the calculation result of the calculation means to the vehicle in the first lane.

The first lane is a driving lane, and the second lane is
The lane is a merging lane.

The first lane is a merging lane, and the second lane is
The lane is the driving lane.

The first predicting means predicts the time based on the detected speed and acceleration of the vehicle.

The first predicting means can specify the detected vehicle.

[0020] The information providing means provides information to the vehicle specified by the first predicting means.

According to the vehicle information providing method of the present invention, a vehicle traveling on a first lane toward a junction on an automobile road where the first and second lanes merge is detected, and a time at which the vehicle reaches the junction is detected. And a second predicting unit that detects a merging vehicle traveling in the second lane toward the junction at a predetermined position and predicts a time at which the vehicle will reach the junction. Calculating, at a time, relative position information between a vehicle traveling in a second lane and the junction; and providing the calculation result to a vehicle in the first lane. .

[0022]

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an embodiment of a vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this vehicle information providing device is located near a junction G, which is an intersection of a traveling lane A on an automobile road such as a highway and a merging lane B where a vehicle merging with the traveling lane A travels. Vehicle Y from the merging lane B to the driving lane A
The information for smoothly entering the vehicle 1 is provided to the driver of the traveling vehicle X1 in the traveling lane B and the driver of the merging vehicle Y1 in the merging lane.

The vehicle information providing device is arranged such that, before the merging point G in the traveling lane A in the vehicle traveling direction, the traveling lane A
Has the first traveling vehicle detection device A1 installed to detect the traveling vehicle X1. At a position closer to the junction G by a predetermined distance than the first traveling vehicle detection device A1, a second traveling traveling vehicle detection device A2 for detecting the traveling vehicle X1 traveling in the traveling lane A is provided. I have.
Further, the traveling lane A is located at a position closer to the junction G by an appropriate distance than the second traveling traveling vehicle detection device A2.
A traveling vehicle information display device a1 for displaying predetermined information on the traveling vehicle X1 is provided.

Further, a first merged vehicle detecting device B1 installed for detecting a merged vehicle Y1 traveling on the merging lane B is provided in front of the merging point G on the merging lane B in the vehicle traveling direction. ing. At a position closer to the merging point G by a predetermined distance than the first merging vehicle detecting device B1, a second merging vehicle detecting device B2 for detecting a merging vehicle Y1 traveling on the merging lane B is provided. . Further, the merging point G is higher than that of the second merging vehicle detection device B2.
A merging vehicle information display device b1 for displaying predetermined information on the merging vehicle Y1 in the merging lane B is provided at a position close to the merging lane B by an appropriate distance.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the first traveling vehicle detection device A1 provided in the traveling lane A. As shown in FIG. 2, the first traveling vehicle detection device A1
1 are equipped with three vehicle detection sensors A1-1, A1-2, and A1-3 arranged along the traveling direction, and each of the vehicle detection sensors A1-1, A1-2, and A1-3 runs. The traveling vehicles X1 traveling in the lane A are sequentially detected. Also,
The first traveling vehicle detection device A1 also has a function of reading a license plate number provided on the traveling vehicle X.

The first merging vehicle detecting device B1 provided on the merging lane B has the same configuration, and travels on the merging lane B by three vehicle detection sensors arranged along the traveling direction of the merging vehicle Y1. In addition to detecting the merging vehicle Y1, the number of the license plate provided on the merging vehicle Y1 can be read.

The second traveling vehicle detection device A2 provided in the traveling lane A has one vehicle detection sensor, which detects the traveling vehicle X1 traveling in the traveling lane A by using this vehicle detection sensor. The number of the license plate provided on the traveling vehicle X1 can also be read. Similarly, the second merging vehicle detection device B2 provided on the merging lane B also has one vehicle detection sensor, and detects the merging vehicle Y1 traveling on the merging lane B with this vehicle detection sensor. The number of the license plate provided on the merging vehicle Y1 can also be read.

The traveling vehicle information display device a1 provided in the traveling lane A and the merging vehicle information display device b1 provided in the merging lane B both include a signal lamp combining a red lamp, a yellow lamp and a blue lamp, and a traveling lamp. A display for displaying a license plate number of each of the vehicle X1 and the merged vehicle Y1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle information providing apparatus of the present invention. The information (passing information) of the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 obtained by the first traveling vehicle detection device A1 and the first merging vehicle detection device B1, respectively, together with the read number information as shown in FIG. Are output to the merging information analyzer P. The merging information analyzing device P is configured by a computer or the like, and based on the passing information and the number information obtained from the first traveling vehicle detecting device A1 and the first merging vehicle detecting device B1, a traveling vehicle information display device. a1 and the combined vehicle information display device b1 are operated. And
The traveling vehicle information display device a1 and the merged vehicle information display device b1 correspond to the traveling vehicles X obtained by the second traveling vehicle detection device A2 and the second merged vehicle detection device B2, respectively.
1 based on the passage information and the number information of the merged vehicle Y1.

Next, the operation of the traveling vehicle information display device a1 installed in the traveling lane A will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

At the beginning of the operation, the traveling vehicle information display device a
Reference numeral 1 denotes an initial state in which the blue lamp is turned on (see step S1 in FIG. 4, the same applies hereinafter). In such an initial state, the traveling vehicle X1 traveling in the traveling lane A passes the side of the first traveling vehicle detection device A1, and the three vehicle detections provided in the first traveling vehicle detection device A1 are detected. When the traveling vehicle X1 is detected by the sensors A1-1, A1-2, A1-3 (step S2), based on the detection results of the vehicle detection sensors A1-1, A1-2, A1-3, The speed and acceleration of the traveling vehicle X1 are calculated. At this time, the license plate number of the traveling vehicle X1 is also detected (step S3). Then, a time t1 at which the traveling vehicle X1 passes the junction G is predicted based on the calculated speed and acceleration.

The specific procedure in this case is as follows. When the traveling vehicle X1 reaches the side of the first traveling vehicle detection device A1, the traveling vehicle X1 is first detected by the vehicle detection sensor A1-1 located on the upstream side in the traveling direction.
At this time, the merging information analysis device P stores the passing time of the traveling vehicle X1. Next, the vehicle detection sensor A1-2
When the traveling vehicle X1 is detected, the merging information analysis device P stores the passing time. Further, when the traveling vehicle X1 is detected by the vehicle detection sensor A1-3 located on the downstream side in the traveling direction, the merging information analysis device P stores the passing time.

As described above, when the traveling vehicle X1 is detected by the first traveling vehicle detection device A1, the merging information analysis device P determines the distance between the vehicle detection sensors A1-1 and A1-2 and the distance between them. The speed and acceleration of the traveling vehicle X1 are calculated based on the time required to pass, the distance between each of the vehicle detection sensors A1-2 and A1-3, and the time required to pass between them. X1 is the junction G
Is calculated at the time t1 when the time t is reached. Then, the traveling vehicle X1 detected by the first traveling vehicle detection device A1 is specified by the license plate number information read by the first traveling vehicle detection device A1. Thus, at any time, the traveling vehicle X travels between the first and second traveling vehicle detection devices A1 and A2 in the traveling lane A.
1 is running.

At this time, when the merging vehicle Y1 is detected in the merging lane B by the first merging vehicle detecting device B1, the speed and acceleration of the merging vehicle Y1 are calculated by the merging information analyzing device P, It is stored together with the number information of the merging vehicle Y1.

When the traveling vehicle X1 is detected by the first traveling vehicle detection device A1 in the traveling lane A, the merging information analysis device P calculates the merging information based on the output data of the first merging vehicle detection device B1 at that time. The first in merging lane B
And whether or not the merged vehicle Y1 is traveling between the second merged vehicle detection devices B1 and B2 (step S).
4). When the merged vehicle Y1 is not traveling between the first and second merged vehicle detection devices B1 and B2 in the merged lane B, the traveling vehicle X1 is detected in the traveling lane A by the second traveling vehicle detection device A2. Is detected (step S5), the number of the traveling vehicle X1 is displayed on the traveling vehicle information display device a1 (step S6), and the lighting of the blue lamp is continued.

The lighting of the blue lamp on the traveling vehicle information display device a1 indicates that there is no merging vehicle Y1 entering the merging point G from the merging lane B, and the traveling vehicle X1 can safely pass the merging point G. .

The driver of the traveling vehicle X1 enters the junction G from the junction lane B when the traveling vehicle X1 reaches the junction G by turning on the blue lamp on the traveling vehicle information display device a1. It recognizes that the merging vehicle Y1 does not exist. Further, it is also confirmed from the number displayed on the traveling vehicle information display device a1 that the information is for the traveling vehicle X1 being driven. These displays on the traveling vehicle information display device a1 continue for a predetermined time, and thereafter, the display of the number is turned off.

On the other hand, the traveling vehicle X1 in the traveling lane A
While traveling toward the junction G, the junction vehicle Y travels between the first and second junction vehicle detection devices B1 and B2.
When the vehicle 1 is traveling, the merging information analysis device P determines that the traveling vehicle X1 in the traveling lane A is based on the speed and acceleration of the merging vehicle Y1 obtained from the output of the first merging vehicle detection device B1. The position of the merging vehicle Y1 at time t1 when the vehicle reaches the merging point G is calculated, and the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 are calculated.
Is predicted (step S7).

In this case, assuming that the safe inter-vehicle distance is 100 m, the predicted positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 is within 100 m of the merging vehicle Y1, that is, at the merging point G. When it is located within 100 m before the vehicle or within 100 m after passing the merging point G (step S8), the merging information analysis device P turns on the red lamp of the traveling vehicle information display device a1 (step S9). ), When the traveling vehicle X1 is detected by the second traveling vehicle detection device A2 in the traveling lane A, the number of the traveling vehicle X1 is displayed (step 6).

Lighting of the red lamp in the traveling vehicle information display device a1 is almost instantaneous when the traveling vehicle X1 in the traveling lane A passes the junction G while maintaining the current speed and acceleration. This shows that the traveling merging vehicle Y1 enters the merging point G and encounters the traveling vehicle X1.

The driver of the traveling vehicle X1 confirms from the lighting of the red lamp and the displayed number on the traveling vehicle information display device a1 that the lighting of the red lamp is for the traveling vehicle X1 being driven. It recognizes that the merging vehicle Y1 enters the merging point G from the merging lane B.
As a result, the driver avoids encountering with the merged vehicle Y1 by rapidly accelerating or decelerating the traveling vehicle X1 promptly. Note that these displays on the information display device a1 are turned off after a predetermined period of time.

On the other hand, in step S8, the traveling vehicle X
When the predicted positional relationship between the vehicle 1 and the merging vehicle Y1 is not within 100 m of the merging point G, the merging information analysis device P uses the yellow lamp of the traveling information display device a1. (Step S1)
0), the second traveling vehicle detection device A2 in the traveling lane A
When the traveling vehicle X1 is detected, the number of the traveling vehicle X1 is displayed (step S6).

Lighting of the yellow lamp in the traveling information display device a1 indicates that the traveling vehicle X1 in the traveling lane A passes the junction G before and after the junction vehicle Y1 enters the junction G from the junction lane B. If the speed and acceleration are maintained, the traveling vehicle X1 can safely pass the junction G.

The driver of the traveling vehicle X1 confirms that the number and the yellow lamp displayed on the traveling vehicle information display device a1 are displayed for the traveling vehicle being driven, and the merging lane B Recognizes that the merging vehicle Y1 enters the merging point G. As a result, the traveling vehicle X
The driver 1 passes the junction G while paying attention and maintaining the current speed and acceleration. The display of the number and the yellow lamp on the traveling vehicle information display device a1 is turned off after a predetermined period of time.

The same operation is performed in the merging vehicle information display device b1 installed in the merging lane B, and the merging vehicle Y1 running on the merging lane B is connected to the first merging vehicle detection device B.
1, the time at which the merging vehicle Y1 reaches the merging point G is calculated based on the speed and acceleration of the merging vehicle Y1. When the traveling vehicle X1 in the traveling lane A is approaching the junction G, the relative position between the traveling vehicle X1 and the junction vehicle Y1 is checked, and the traveling vehicle X1 merges with the junction vehicle information display device b1. One of a blue lamp, a yellow lamp and a red lamp is turned on together with the license plate number of the vehicle.

As described above, in the merging vehicle information display device b1, the merging vehicle Y1 in the merging lane B maintains the current speed and acceleration, so that the traveling vehicle X in the traveling lane A
1 can be recognized by lighting of the blue, yellow, and red lamps, and the driver of the merging vehicle Y1 merges based on the relative position of the traveling lane A with the traveling vehicle X1. Executes deceleration, acceleration, etc. of the vehicle.

As described above, in the vehicle information providing apparatus of the present invention, when the merging vehicle Y1 enters the traveling lane A from the merging lane B, the positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 at the merging point G is determined. The information is the merging vehicle Y1
The driver is given before the junction G in advance. For this reason, the driver of the merging vehicle Y1 can enter the traveling lane A from the merging lane B with a mental margin.

In addition, the traveling vehicle X1 at the junction G
In addition, since information about the positional relationship of the merging vehicle Y1 is displayed in a state where the merging vehicle Y1 traveling in a predetermined section of the merging lane B is displayed, a plurality of merging vehicles Y are merged on the merging lane B
Even when the vehicle 1 is running continuously, the driver of the merged vehicle Y1 can accurately recognize the information on the positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the merged vehicle Y1. Accordingly, the safety of the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 when the merging vehicle Y1 joins the traveling lane A from the merging lane B is significantly improved.

In predicting the positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 at the junction G, not only the speed of the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 but also the acceleration is taken into consideration. Therefore, the prediction accuracy of the positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 at the merging point G is improved, and the safety at the time of merging is further improved.

The information on the positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 at the merging point G is obtained not only by the driver of the merging vehicle Y1 traveling on the merging lane B but also by the traveling vehicle traveling on the traveling lane A. Since it is also displayed to the driver of X1, the safety of traveling vehicle X1 and merging vehicle Y1 at the time of merging is further improved.

The installation positions of the first and second traveling vehicle detecting devices A1 and A2, the first and second merging vehicle detecting devices B1 and B2, the traveling vehicle information display device a1 and the merging vehicle information display device b1 are, for example, It looks like this:

The speed of the traveling vehicle X1 traveling on the traveling lane A is 90 km / h, and the speed at which the merging vehicle Y1 traveling on the merging lane B is detected by the second merging vehicle detection device B2 is 40 km / h. And When the acceleration of the merging vehicle Y1 is to be accelerated by 1 km / h per second, the first traveling vehicle detection device A starts from the merging point G.
1 is 750 m, the distance from the junction G to the second traveling vehicle detection device A2 is 350 m, the distance from the junction G to the traveling vehicle information display device a1 is 250 m, and the junction G is the first junction vehicle. The distance to the detection device B1 is 6
00m, the distance from the junction G to the second junction vehicle detection device B2 is 250 m, and the distance from the junction G to the junction vehicle information display device b1 is 200 m. This allows
About 30 seconds before the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 reach the merging point G, information about the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 can be obtained.
1 and information on the positional relationship between the merged vehicle Y1 and the traveling vehicle information display device a1 and the merged vehicle information display device b1.
Can be displayed respectively.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of the embodiment of the vehicle information providing apparatus according to the present invention. In this vehicle information providing device, a traveling vehicle information transmitting device a2 and a merging vehicle information transmitting device b2 are used instead of the traveling vehicle information display device a1 and the merged vehicle information display device b1 in the vehicle information providing device shown in FIG. ing. Traveling vehicle information transmitting device a2 and merged vehicle information transmitting device b2
Are the traveling vehicle X1 and the junction vehicle Y at the junction G
The information about the positional relationship 1 is transmitted to the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 by an infrared signal together with the license plate number information of each of the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1.

A function of transmitting the license plate number information of each vehicle to the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 by an infrared signal, and an infrared signal received from the traveling vehicle information transmitting device a2 and the merging vehicle information transmitting device b2. In the case where the number information of another vehicle is included, an infrared transmitting / receiving device having a function of not inputting information included in the infrared signal is provided. Information about the positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 at the merging point G is received using a car navigation device provided for the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1.

The first and second traveling vehicle detecting devices A1 and A2 and the first and second merging vehicle detecting devices B1 and B2 respectively have the numbers corresponding to the detected traveling vehicle X1 and merging vehicle Y1. It has a function of transmitting an infrared signal for instructing to transmit information, and a function of receiving number information transmitted by the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1.

Other structures and functions are substantially the same as those of the vehicle information providing apparatus shown in FIG.

In the vehicle information providing device having such a configuration,
Information on the positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the junction vehicle Y1 at the junction G is provided to the traveling vehicle X1 and the junction vehicle Y1 as follows.

When the traveling vehicle X1 traveling in the traveling lane A is detected by the first traveling vehicle detection device A1, the speed and acceleration of the traveling vehicle X1 are calculated, and the traveling vehicle X1 passes the junction G. Is required. The traveling vehicle X1 transmits license plate number information, and the number information is received by the first traveling vehicle detection device A1, so that the traveling vehicle X1
1 is specified.

At this time, in the merging lane B, the merging vehicle Y1 is detected by the first merging vehicle detection device B1, the speed and acceleration of the merging vehicle Y1 are calculated, and the merging vehicle Y1 is calculated based on the number information. Is specified. Thereby, the merged vehicle Y1 traveling between the first and second merged vehicle detection devices B1 and B2 is detected at an arbitrary time.

When the traveling vehicle X1 is detected in the traveling lane A by the first traveling vehicle detecting device A1, the first and second merging vehicle detecting devices B1 in the merging lane B are detected.
When the merged vehicle Y1 is not traveling between the second traveling vehicle detection device A2 and the traveling vehicle X1
Is detected, the traveling vehicle information transmission device a2 outputs an infrared signal including the number information of the traveling vehicle X1 to 0.5.
Send at intervals of seconds.

This infrared signal indicates that the merging vehicle Y1 does not travel in a predetermined section of the merging lane B and can safely pass the merging point G of the traveling lane A. Traveling vehicle X1
Receives this infrared signal and displays it on the car navigation device provided in the traveling vehicle X1.

When the merged vehicle Y1 is traveling between the first and second merged vehicle detection devices B1 and B2, the speed and the speed of the merged vehicle Y1 obtained from the output of the first merged vehicle detection device B1 From the acceleration, the position of the merging vehicle Y1 at the time when the traveling vehicle X1 reaches the merging point G is calculated, and the positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 is predicted.

The predicted traveling vehicle X1 and the merged vehicle Y
The positional relationship of 1 is that the merging vehicle Y1 is located 10 times before and after the merging point G.
If the traveling vehicle X1 is not located within 0 m, the traveling vehicle information transmitting device a2 detects the infrared signal including the number information of the traveling vehicle X1 when the traveling vehicle X1 is detected by the second traveling vehicle detection device A2 in the traveling lane A. Is transmitted at intervals of 0.3 seconds.

This infrared signal indicates that the merging vehicle Y1 is traveling on the merging lane B in a predetermined section, but can safely pass the merging point G of the traveling lane A if the current speed and acceleration are maintained. . The traveling vehicle X1 receives this infrared signal and displays it on a car navigation device provided in the traveling vehicle X1.

On the other hand, when the predicted positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the merging vehicle Y1 is that the merging vehicle Y1 is located within 100 m before and after the merging point G, the second traveling vehicle detection device A2 in the traveling lane A At the time when the traveling vehicle X1 is detected by the traveling vehicle X1, the traveling vehicle information transmitting device a2 outputs an infrared signal including the number information of the traveling vehicle X1 to 0.
Send at 1 second intervals.

This infrared signal indicates that the traveling vehicle X1 traveling in the traveling lane A passes the junction G before and after the junction vehicle Y1 enters the junction G from the junction lane B.
Indicates acceleration or deceleration. Traveling vehicle X1
Receives this infrared signal and displays it on the car navigation device provided in the traveling vehicle X1.

When the traveling vehicle X1 is detected by the second traveling vehicle detection device A2, the traveling vehicle X1 is instructed to transmit number information from the second traveling vehicle detection device A2, and based on the instruction, To transmit number information. Based on this, the traveling vehicle information transmitting device a2 transmits information on the positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the merged vehicle Y1 together with the number information of the traveling vehicle X1 to be transmitted. Therefore, the traveling vehicle X1 of the corresponding number information
Can receive information about the positional relationship between the traveling vehicle X1 and the merged vehicle Y1, but there is no risk that other traveling vehicles will receive information about the positional relationship. Therefore, since the information at the junction G for the predetermined traveling vehicle X1 is received only for the traveling vehicle X1, the driver of the traveling vehicle X1 can accurately recognize the information about the junction G. it can.

The same operation is performed in the merged vehicle information transmitting device b2 installed on the merged lane B, and the merged vehicle Y1 traveling on the merged lane B is detected by the first merged vehicle detection device B.
1, the time at which the merging vehicle Y1 reaches the merging point G is calculated based on the speed and acceleration of the merging vehicle Y1. Then, when the traveling vehicle X1 in the traveling lane A is approaching the junction G, the relative position between the traveling vehicle X1 and the junction vehicle Y1 is predicted, and the junction vehicle information transmission device b2 joins the junction. A predetermined infrared signal is transmitted together with the license plate number information of the vehicle Y1. In the merged vehicle Y1, information indicating the relative position to the traveling vehicle included in the infrared signal transmitted from the merged vehicle information transmitting device b2 toward the merged vehicle signal Y1 is provided in the car navigation device provided in the merged vehicle Y1. Displayed by

The driver of the merging vehicle Y1 is the traveling vehicle X1 in the traveling lane A displayed by the car navigation system.
Will be decelerated or accelerated based on the relative position with respect to the vehicle.

Also in this case, the second combined vehicle detecting device B2
As a result, since the number information of the merged vehicle Y1 is obtained, the merged vehicle information transmitting device a2 receives the information on the positional relationship between the merged vehicle Y1 and the traveling vehicle X1 because only the corresponding merged vehicle Y1 can receive the information. The driver of the vehicle X1 can accurately recognize information about the junction G. Thereby, the safety at the junction G is further improved.

[0072]

As described above, the vehicle information providing apparatus and the vehicle information providing method according to the present invention provide the driver of the vehicle entering the traveling lane from the merging lane by identifying the vehicle in the road condition near the merging point. Even if multiple vehicles enter the merging lane continuously and the merging lane is congested, the road conditions near the merging point can be accurately communicated to the driver of the target vehicle. You can get. Therefore, safety when the merging vehicle enters the traveling lane is significantly improved.

Further, by detecting the speed and acceleration of the vehicle at the junction, the road conditions near the junction are more accurately transmitted to the driver, and the safety is further improved.

Further, since information on the road condition at the junction is provided not only to the merging vehicle traveling in the merging lane but also to the traveling vehicle traveling in the traveling lane,
This also improves the safety when the merged vehicle enters the traveling lane.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an embodiment of a vehicle information providing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle detection device used in the vehicle information providing device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle information providing device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the vehicle information providing device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of the embodiment of the vehicle information providing device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a conventional vehicle information providing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A traveling lane B merging lane G merging point A1, A2 traveling vehicle detecting device B1, B2 merging vehicle detecting device a1 traveling vehicle information display device b1 composite vehicle information displaying device a2 traveling vehicle information transmitting device b2 merging vehicle information transmitting device P merging information Analysis device X1 Running vehicle Y1 Merging vehicle

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A first predicting means for detecting a vehicle traveling on a first lane toward a junction on an automobile road where the first and second lanes merge, and predicting a time at which the vehicle reaches the junction. A second predicting unit that detects a merging vehicle traveling in the second lane toward the junction at a predetermined position, and predicts a time to reach the junction; At a predetermined time, calculating means for calculating relative position information between a vehicle traveling in a second lane and the junction based on an output of the second predicting means; and calculating the calculation result of the calculating means in the first lane. A vehicle information providing device, comprising: an information providing unit that provides the vehicle with the information. 2. The vehicle information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the first lane is a traveling lane, and the second lane is a merging lane. 3. The vehicle information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the first lane is a merging lane, and the second lane is a traveling lane. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first predictor predicts the time based on the detected speed and acceleration of the vehicle.
A vehicle information providing device according to claim 1. 5. The vehicle information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the first predicting unit can specify a detected vehicle. 6. The vehicle information providing device according to claim 5, wherein the information providing unit provides information to the vehicle specified by the first prediction unit. 7. A step of detecting a vehicle traveling on a first lane toward a junction on an automobile road where the first and second lanes have joined, and predicting a time of arrival at the junction. A second predicting unit that detects a merging vehicle traveling in the second lane toward the junction at a predetermined position and predicts a time to reach the junction; and a second lane at the predicted time. Calculating the relative position information between the vehicle traveling on the road and the junction, and providing the calculation result to the vehicle in the first lane.