JP2002260190A - Safe operation support system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safe operation support system capable of realizing a safe operation support at a cross-point by accurately performing the prediction and identification of an advancing route at the cross-point which was difficult in a conventional safe operation support system and warning an operator when a safe running speed is not observed before advancing to a curve. SOLUTION: This safe operation support system comprises a voice warning unit 92, a display warning unit 93, an automatic control unit 94, an electronic throttle control unit 95, a speed detector 96, an indicating direction detector 97, a navigation unit 91, and an unshown route identification device and a safe running speed judgment device incorporated in the navigation unit 91.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a safe driving support system for a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a driving safety improvement system at an intersection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The mounting ratio of a navigation system in an automobile is increasing year by year. Particularly, in recent years, based on the map information used in the navigation system, the curvature of the curve approaching ahead of the traveling route and the current traveling speed of the vehicle, at a critical speed that can not turn the curve near the front, based on the current traveling speed of the vehicle. Some vehicles are equipped with a safe driving support system that alerts the driver with a warning display or warning sound when it is determined that there is a driver. Further, in the case of an automatic vehicle, there is a case where a vehicle having a function of automatically shifting down to apply engine braking and closing the throttle in the case of an electric throttle control vehicle is provided.

[0003]

However, the conventional safe driving support system is compatible with a single road having a curve, but when the vehicle turns right or left at an intersection (for example, a three-way intersection, a crossroad, etc.), Since there are a plurality of options for the traveling route other than the traveling direction, it is difficult to predict and specify the traveling route. Therefore, the curvature of the curve in front of the vehicle cannot be determined (when traveling straight ahead at an intersection, the road is in the same state as a straight road), and the speed of the own vehicle can be determined. Since it is not possible to judge whether the vehicle is safe or not, there is a problem that it is difficult to support safe driving. Also, when the navigation system is guiding the route to the destination, it is possible to predict the direction of travel at the intersection where the vehicle is about to enter, but the navigation system does not necessarily recommend The direction in which the driver is traveling may not always match the driver's intended course. (Current navigation systems generally do not guide narrow roads, so-called “back roads,” as recommended routes. In some cases, it is difficult to provide safe driving support. in this way,
The conventional safe driving support system has a problem that it is difficult to perform safe driving support at an intersection having the highest accident occurrence probability.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and more accurately predicts and specifies a traveling route at an intersection, which has been difficult with a conventional safe driving support system.
An object of the present invention is to provide a safe driving support system capable of realizing safe driving support at an intersection by warning a driver when the vehicle does not have a safe driving speed before entering a curve.

[0005]

A safe driving support system according to the present invention is equipped with a navigation system for detecting a current position of a host vehicle and displaying related information together with surrounding map information in a vehicle interior based on the current position. A speed detecting means for detecting a current running speed of the own vehicle, an indicating direction detecting means for detecting a direction indicated by a direction indicating switch, and the peripheral map information, Route specifying means for predicting and specifying a traveling route based on the designated direction and the current position of the vehicle, and an upper limit value of a safe traveling speed when traveling on the curve based on the curvature of the curve reserved for the traveling route. A safe traveling speed determining means for recognizing the vehicle as a maximum speed; and a warning action to the driver when the current traveling speed of the vehicle is higher than the safe maximum speed. Characterized by comprising a warning means for performing.

According to the safe driving support system of the present invention, by adding the state of the direction indicating switch to the conventional safe driving support system as an input signal, the prediction / identification of the traveling route at the intersection becomes more accurate, The driver is warned before entering the curve to travel at the safe speed on the curve ahead of the traveling route, and is encouraged to maintain an appropriate traveling speed, so that the accident occurrence rate at the intersection can be reduced.

[0007] The navigation system further includes a recommended route search function for searching and displaying a recommended route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination, and when the recommended route search function is being used, the recommended route search function is provided. It is preferable that the specifying means uses the information on the recommended route in conjunction with the specification of the traveling route. In this way, for example, even when the intersection is a five-way intersection, the traveling route can be accurately specified.

It is preferable that the warning operation is performed, for example, by voice.

Preferably, the warning operation is accompanied by a screen display of warning contents.

[0010] In addition, it is preferable that a brake control unit for operating a brake is further provided, and the brake is operated by the brake control unit to reduce a traveling speed in response to a warning operation by the warning means. In this way, even if the driving speed is higher than the safe driving speed due to, for example, the driver being dozing off, the vehicle is automatically decelerated, thereby contributing to a reduction in the accident rate. be able to.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
1 shows a configuration of a safe driving support system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the safe driving support system according to the present invention includes a voice warning unit 92, a display warning unit 93, an automatic control unit 94, an electronic throttle control unit 95, a speed detection device 96,
Pointing direction detection device 97, navigation unit 91,
And a route identification device (not shown) built in the navigation unit 91 and a safe traveling speed determination device. Car interior or navigation unit 9
An audio warning unit 92 composed of a speaker or the like built in 1 issues a voice warning to the driver.
The display / warning unit 93 gives an image warning to the driver using a screen or the like mounted in the vehicle interior or the navigation unit 91. In the case of an automatic vehicle, the automatic control unit 94 automatically shifts down in response to the warning and activates the engine brake. The electronic throttle control unit 95 has a function of closing the throttle of the electronic throttle control vehicle in response to a warning. The speed detecting device 96 detects the current running speed of the host vehicle and transmits the obtained running speed signal to the navigation unit 91. The pointing direction detecting device 97 detects the pointing direction of the direction indicating switch, and transmits the obtained direction indicating switch signal to the navigation unit 91 in the same manner. The navigation unit 91 detects the current position of the own vehicle, controls each of the above-described units based on the current position, the above-mentioned traveling speed signal and the direction indication switch signal, and also transmits the related information together with the surrounding map information. Display indoors.

When the route specifying device incorporated in the navigation unit 91 receives the pointing direction switch signal detected by the pointing direction detecting device 97, the route specifying device displays the surrounding map information, the detected pointing direction switch signal, and the current position of the host vehicle. Predict and specify a travel route based on the route. The safe traveling speed determination device recognizes the upper limit value of the safe traveling speed when traveling on the curve based on the curvature of the curve reserved in the traveling direction of the predicted and specified traveling route as the safe maximum speed. When the current traveling speed of the vehicle detected by the speed detection device 96 exceeds the safe maximum speed, a warning operation is performed to the driver. As this warning operation, a combination of the warning operations of both the voice warning unit 92 and the display warning unit 93 is desirable. Of course, as a warning operation, a voice warning by the voice warning unit 92,
Alternatively, a warning by screen display or the like by the display / warning unit 93 may be issued by each unit alone.

According to the safe driving support system of the present invention, by adding the state of the directional switch as an input signal to the conventional safe driving support system, the prediction / identification of the traveling route at the intersection becomes more accurate. The driver is warned before entering the curve so as to travel at a safe speed on the curve ahead of the traveling route, and is encouraged to maintain an appropriate traveling speed, thereby contributing to a reduction in the incidence of accidents at intersections.

Next, a safe driving support system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the safe driving support system according to the present embodiment. This aspect is an application of the first embodiment described above. In this embodiment, the same components as those in the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. This system differs from the safe driving support system according to the first embodiment in that a brake control unit 98 for operating a brake is added. In this system, the brake control unit 9
8 operates the brake in response to the warning operation when the running speed of the own vehicle exceeds the safe maximum speed, and reduces the running speed to the safe maximum speed. By doing so, in addition to the effects of the above-described embodiment, even if the traveling speed is higher than the safe traveling speed due to, for example, the driver being dozing, the vehicle is automatically decelerated. This can contribute to a reduction in the accident rate. This is particularly effective when spontaneous deceleration is delayed due to a decrease in the driver's arousal level.

Further, instead of the navigation unit 91 in the above-described safe driving support system, a navigation unit further provided with a recommended route search function for searching and displaying a recommended route from the current position of the vehicle to the destination is adopted. When the recommended route search function is used, the information on the recommended route may be used together with the specification of the traveling route. In this way, in addition to the effects of the above-described embodiment, even when an intersection with many branches, such as a five-way junction, is encountered, the traveling route can be accurately specified.

[0016]

As described above, according to the safe driving support system according to the present invention, the state of the direction indicating switch is added as an input signal to the conventional safe driving support system, thereby predicting the traveling route at the intersection.・ Because the identification is more accurate, the driver is warned before entering the curve to drive at the safe speed on the curve ahead of the traveling route, and the driver is encouraged to maintain an appropriate driving speed, thereby reducing the accident occurrence rate at the intersection. it can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a safe driving support system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is for explaining a safe driving support system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference numeral 91: a navigation unit, 92: a voice warning unit, 93: a display warning unit, 94: an automatic control unit, 95: an electronic throttle control unit, 96: a speed detection device, 97: a pointing direction detection device, 98: a brake control unit.

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Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A system for supporting safe driving in an automobile equipped with a navigation system that detects a current position of a host vehicle and displays related information together with surrounding map information in a vehicle interior based on the current position. Speed detecting means for detecting the current traveling speed of the own vehicle; indicating direction detecting means for detecting the direction indicated by the direction indicating switch; and a traveling route based on the surrounding map information, the detected indicating direction and the current position of the own vehicle. Route identification means for predicting / identifying the vehicle; safe traveling speed determination means for recognizing an upper limit value of a safe traveling speed when traveling on the curve as a safe maximum speed based on the curvature of the curve reserved for the traveling route; When the current traveling speed of the vehicle is higher than the safe maximum speed, a warning means for performing a warning operation to the driver is provided. Driving support system. 2. The navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising a recommended route search function for searching for and displaying a recommended route from a current position of the vehicle to the destination, wherein the recommended route search function is used. The safe driving support system according to claim 1, wherein the route specifying unit uses information on the recommended route in conjunction with specifying the traveling route. 3. The safe driving support system according to claim 1, wherein the warning operation is performed by voice. 4. The warning operation according to claim 1, wherein the warning operation is accompanied by a screen display of warning contents.
The safe driving support system described in the section. 5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a brake control unit for operating a brake, wherein the brake is operated by the brake control unit to reduce a traveling speed in response to a warning operation by the warning means. The safe driving support system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.