JP2002283844A - Vehicle-installed smell generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a newly emitted smell from mixing with a previously emitted smell. SOLUTION: At the scene of bread, a smell of bread A is emitted (S110), and the emission is halted when the scene of bread is over (S120). When the status of air-conditioning is an internal air circulation mode, a signal for switching to a fresh air introduction mode is sent to an air-conditioning system to automatically switching to the fresh air introduction mode (S130, S140). Fresh air is introduced under the maximum wind force for enhancing a ventilating capacity and ventilation is carried out (S150), then the air-conditioning status is returned to the internal air circulation mode after a prescribed time has passed away (S160). Wind volume is returned to a normal preset value (S170) and a smell for a different scene, for example a smell of flowers, is emitted (S180). At this step, if the status of air-conditioning is the fresh air introduction mode, the status is maintained, the maximum wind force operation is performed, and ventilation is carried out as fresh air is introduced (S180). After the prescribed time has passed away, the wind volume is returned to the normal preset value (S190), and a smell for a different scene, for example the smell of flowers B, is emitted (S200).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an odor generator mounted on an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since the interior of an automobile is a small closed room, various odors such as odor of body components, odor of body, odor of cigarette, odor of transportable cargo, odor of outside air and the like are likely to be muffled. Perfume for vehicles is widely used to remove these or to give a favorite scent. These have a structure in which the odor component is naturally vaporized and evaporated from a volatile liquid containing a fragrance, and can be called a passive odor generator.

In this odor generating device, the odor intensity is usually adjusted by manually changing the area of the opening to change the transpiration amount of the odor component. However, if the windshield is not adjusted frequently due to the open / closed state of the windshield, the presence or absence of outside air, or changes in the temperature, etc., when the windshield is hot in summer or when the windshield is closed, a strong smell fills up. In the winter, when the windshield is left open, it does not smell.

On the other hand, JP-A-9-292824, JP-A-9-284273, and JP-A-7-557.
No. 42, encoding odors,
An active odor generation function has been recently proposed in which the odor is transmitted together with other information or recorded on a recording medium, and various odors are synthesized in an odor reproducing device. As described above, it is becoming possible not only to fill the vehicle interior with a certain odor but also to emit various odors adaptively according to the situation.

[0005]

By the way, if the above-mentioned active odor generating device is applied to an automobile, for example,
In a television broadcast received in a car, various odors can be generated according to the video scene, and the sense of presence can be enhanced. In addition, in commercials, it is expected that the advertisement effect will be greatly improved by adding an odor that touches the viewer's harp, and that it will be possible to have the customer come to the store as it is by providing route guidance to the store.

[0006] In addition, a vehicle with enhanced safety and comfort can be carried by generating an odor that increases arousal level or generating an odor that relieves fatigue depending on the condition of the occupant.

There is no particular problem if the occupant strongly senses or does not sense the odor if it merely serves as a car perfume. However, when providing a meaningful odor as information, it is necessary to reliably provide the odor according to the situation in the vehicle interior. For example, Skatole
It is an odorant that constitutes the odor of manure, but it is also used as a perfume component at a concentration of about 1 / 10,000. That is, in the application of the various odors to be emitted adaptively according to the situation as described above, the mixing with the previously released odor is eliminated or the appropriate concentration is transmitted to the occupants.
That is necessary.

The present invention has been made to address such a problem.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided ventilation means (300) for ventilating the interior of a vehicle, and several types of ventilation means in the interior of the vehicle. Odor releasing means (7) for releasing odor
2) and control means (71) for controlling the ventilation means so as to ventilate the interior of the vehicle before releasing the different odor, when the odor different from the odor previously released is released by the odor releasing means. It is characterized by.

[0010] Thus, by ventilating the interior of the vehicle, the previously released odor can be removed, so that mixing of the previously released odor with the different odor can be prevented. Further, as in the second aspect of the present invention, the ventilator can efficiently remove the odor previously released by forcibly introducing the outside air into the vehicle compartment and ventilating the vehicle compartment.

[0011] Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driving means (310) for driving the windshield so as to open the windshield. May be performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the ventilation means (300) for performing one of the inside air circulation mode for circulating the air in the vehicle compartment and the outside air introduction mode for introducing the outside air into the vehicle compartment. ), Odor releasing means (72) for releasing odor into the vehicle interior, and control means (71) for controlling the odor releasing means so as to change the intensity of odor generation between the inside air circulation mode and the outside air introduction mode. It is characterized by having. Thereby, the generation intensity of the odor can be appropriately changed according to the ventilation state such as the inside air circulation mode and the outside air introduction mode.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, if the generation intensity of the odor is set to be smaller in the inside air circulation mode than in the outside air introduction mode, it is possible to provide the occupants with the appropriate intensity. . Further, as in the invention as set forth in claim 6, if the intensity of odor generation is set so as to increase in the outside air introduction mode as the amount of introduced air of the outside air increases, the odor of appropriate intensity is set. Can be provided to the crew.

According to the present invention, a window detecting means (320) for detecting an open / close state of a windshield of an automobile, an odor emitting means (72) for emitting an odor into a vehicle cabin, and a window are provided. Control means (71) for controlling the odor emission means so as to change the intensity of odor generation according to the open / closed state detected by the detection means;
And characterized in that:

Thus, the control means controls the odor emission means so as to change the odor generation intensity in accordance with the open / closed state. Therefore, the control means appropriately changes the odor generation intensity in accordance with the open / closed state of the windshield. A strong odor can be provided to the crew.

According to the present invention, in consideration of a change in ventilation when the vehicle is running with the windshield open, the intensity of the odor emitted from the odor emission means when the vehicle is running is reduced by the window. If it is set to increase as the opening of the shield increases, the odor of appropriate strength can be provided to the occupant.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, when the windshield is open, the intensity of odor emitted from the odor emission means is set to increase as the speed of the vehicle increases. Features. This makes it possible to provide an occupant with an appropriate intensity of odor by increasing the intensity of odor generation as the speed increases.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the humidity detecting means (340) for detecting the humidity in the cabin of the automobile and the odor releasing means (72) for releasing the odor into the cabin.
And control means (71) for controlling the odor emission means so as to change the generation intensity of the odor according to the humidity detected by the humidity detection means. This makes it possible to correct the change in human olfactory sensitivity due to the temperature by changing the intensity of odor generation in accordance with the temperature in the vehicle compartment, and to provide the occupant with an odor of appropriate strength.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the generation intensity of the odor released from the odor releasing means is set so as to increase as the detected humidity decreases. As a result, the change in the human olfactory sensitivity due to the humidity can be corrected by increasing the odor generation intensity as the humidity in the vehicle interior decreases, and the odor having an appropriate strength can be provided to the occupant. In addition, if the same odor is continuously smelled for a certain period of time or more, the sense of smell of humans becomes dull. Therefore, as in the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the odor releasing means (72) releases the odor into the cabin of the automobile, and the control means (71) changes the odor releasing condition over time. By controlling the odor release means, by changing the odor release conditions with time, it is possible to prevent a decrease in human sense of smell when continuing to smell the same odor for a certain period of time or more, and to provide an odor of appropriate strength to the occupant. it can.

Specifically, as in the invention according to the thirteenth aspect, as the change in the odor emission condition, the emission intensity of the odor may be increased with the passage of time. Alternatively, as the change in the odor release condition, the odor may be generated intermittently by the odor release means.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided means (3) for providing information to the occupant of the vehicle, and the control means intermittently emits different odors in accordance with the timing at which the information is provided. The odor releasing means is controlled as described above. Thereby, the reality of the information provided from the providing means can be enhanced.

According to the present invention, there is provided the living body detecting means (8, 70) for detecting the living body information of the occupant of the automobile, and the control means intermittently changes the odor according to the detected living body information. The odor releasing means is controlled so as to release the odor. Thereby, for example, by releasing odor effective for improving the arousal level and the feeling of comfort based on the biological information, it is possible to improve safety and comfort in the vehicle compartment according to the individual.

According to the present invention, a preceding vehicle detecting means (9, 9) for detecting an inter-vehicle distance and a relative speed with a preceding vehicle.
91), and the control means controls the odor releasing means so as to release the odor that draws the driver's attention in accordance with the detected inter-vehicle distance and the relative speed. Thus, by emitting the odor, the driver can be alerted according to the following distance and the relative speed, so that driving safety can be improved.

[0024] The invention according to claim 18 is characterized in that the odor releasing means is controlled so as to release the odor which draws the driver's attention when the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed. As a result, the driver can be alerted of the overspeed by the odor, so that the safety can be improved.

According to the invention described in claim 19, there is provided means (31) for determining the road condition in the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the control means pays attention to the driver according to the determined road condition in the traveling direction. The odor releasing means is controlled so as to release the odor promoting the odor. Thus, the driver can be alerted to the road condition in the traveling direction by the odor, so that the safety can be improved.

According to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, the odor releasing means is provided with an air blowing passage (2) of the vehicle air conditioner.
By installing it in 1), odors can be efficiently provided to occupants.

By the way, the reference numerals in parentheses of the above means are examples showing the correspondence with the concrete means described in the embodiments described later.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The first embodiment relates to an air conditioning system for preventing various odors from being mixed in a system for generating odors in accordance with images and sounds in order to enhance the information value of programs and commercials provided through a vehicle-mounted television. FIG. 1 shows a concept of a system in which an odor is generated along with an image or sound in order to enhance the information value of a program or a commercial provided through an on-vehicle television.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an on-vehicle television receiver;
2 is an air outlet of an air conditioner, 3 is an image receiving display of an in-vehicle television, 4 is an odor emitted in accordance with images and sounds, 5
Is a vehicle steering system.

In the example of FIG. 1, it is assumed that one scene in a home drama program is "a mother gives homemade bread as a snack to a child". In this scene, the fragrance of freshly baked bread is released. You.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a block configuration of a system for transmitting odor information in synchronization with video information and audio information to a television. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 6 denotes a television station for transmitting a television broadcast, and reference numeral 7 denotes an odor reproducer for reproducing odor.

The digital odor code 621 synchronized with the video / audio information 61 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 63 and multiplexed with the video / audio information 61 by the multiplexer 64. Further, the signal is FM-modulated by a modulator 65, amplified and frequency-converted by a transmitter 66, and then transmitted as airwaves from a transmitting antenna 67 to the air. This is a method similar to that in which, for example, the original language audio is multiplex-broadcasted on the sub audio channel in the Western broadcasting.

On the other hand, on the receiving side, the receiving antenna 11
The signal is demodulated by a demodulator 13 after the receiver 12 performs amplification and frequency conversion in the receiver 12. After the multiplexed signal is separated by the device 14, the transmitted video information / audio information 16 is sent to the television receiving display 3 to transmit the video / audio information.
Play audio.

Further, the restored odor code 111
Is input to the odor regenerator 7, converted into a signal of an appropriate form for synthesizing the odor by the odor CPU 71, and synthesized by the odor synthesizer 72. Here, the odor code is, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-292824, in which a target odor I is converted into digital information of type and density for each basic component and associated.

In the above description, analog television broadcasting is assumed, but digital television broadcasting may be used.

The input / output of the odor control CPU 71 is shown in FIG. A mode signal indicating a setting mode of the air conditioner is input to the odor control CPU 71, and the mode signal indicates an outside air introduction mode and an inside air circulation mode in the air conditioner. Further, a fan intensity signal indicating the intensity of the fan is input to the odor control CPU 71, and the fan intensity signal indicates the amount of air blown by the air conditioner.

A sensor signal is input from the windshield position sensor 320 to the odor control CPU 71, and the sensor signal is used to determine whether the windshield is open or closed (opening degree).
Is shown. At the same time, a biological information monitoring device signal such as a pulse wave and a body temperature of the driver and an in-vehicle information device signal from the navigation are input.

The odor control CPU 71 receives sensor outputs from the radar sensor 9, the humidity sensor 330, and the vehicle speed sensor 340. The odor control CPU 71 controls the odor synthesizer 72. The odor control CPU 71 controls the actuator 300 of the air conditioning system to switch from one of the inside air circulation mode and the outside air mode to the other. Further, the odor control CPU 71 controls the power window actuator 310 to open and close the wind shield.

Next, an example of the configuration of the odor synthesizer 72 is shown in FIG. Reference numeral 721 denotes an original odor cartridge group which is a basic component of odor. Here, an example in which eight types of original odor cartridges are mounted is shown. The raw odor material in the raw odor cartridge is discharged in an amount specified by the odor code by a discharge device 722 provided in each cartridge.

Although the basic components of odor necessary to represent all the odors in the world are not certain,
It is said that there are ~ 500 types. It is not easy to incorporate all of these, but for example, if 50 kinds of original odor cartridges are built in and the discharge amount is controlled in 10 steps, 10
It becomes possible to synthesize a kind of odor 50 square (10 ⁵⁰⁾ of the.

The raw odor material discharged from the discharge device 722 is heated by the heat source 724, evaporates and vaporizes on the vaporizing plate 723, and is carried out of the odor synthesizer 72 while being mixed by the wind generated by the blower 725. Generates odor. Further, the structure described in FIG. 5 of JP-A-9-292824 can also be used.

With such a system, it is possible to generate an odor in accordance with a program or a commercial provided through an on-vehicle television. However, in many cases, the inside of a car is generally a narrow closed room. As you release a variety of different odors into a tightly closed room, the newly released odor mixes with the previously released odor, and the occupants will be provided with a different odor than originally intended .

To prevent this, the air-conditioning system mounted on most vehicles is linked with the system that also generates odor in accordance with the image and sound, and is controlled as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, it is assumed that the air conditioning system is operating with the set air volume (S100). Then, in the bread scene in FIG. 1, the odor A of the bread is released (S1).
10) When the scene of the bread is over, the release of the odor A of the bread is stopped (S120).

Next, if the state of air conditioning is the inside air circulation mode, the odor control CPU 71 sends a signal for switching to the outside air introduction mode to the air conditioning system, and automatically switches to the outside air introduction mode (S130, S140).

Next, in order to enhance the ventilation capacity, ventilation is performed by introducing outside air at the maximum wind power (S150), and after a lapse of a set time, the mode is returned to the inside air circulation mode (S160). Then, the air volume is returned to the normal set value (S170), and for example, the odor of a flower in a different scene is released (S180).

If the condition of the air conditioner is the outside air introduction mode, the maximum wind power operation is performed as it is, and the outside air is introduced to perform ventilation (S180). After the elapse of the set time, the air volume is returned to the normal set value (S190), and the odor B of, for example, a flower in a different scene is released (S200).

As a result, the odor of the scene generated in accordance with the program or commercial provided through the on-vehicle television is not mixed, and the occupant can receive the originally intended odor. In this case, it is assumed that the ventilation is performed with the maximum wind power, but the invention is not limited to this.
An appropriate set value may be set in consideration of the ventilation capacity of the vehicle and fan noise.

Further, in the first embodiment, the system in which the odor is generated in accordance with the image or sound of the vehicle-mounted television is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration in this case. FIG. 6 shows an example of a block configuration of a system for transmitting odor information in synchronization with audio information.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a radio station for transmitting an audio broadcast, 2 denotes a receiver for receiving an audio broadcast, 3 denotes a speaker for reproducing an audio signal, and 4 denotes an odor reproducer for reproducing an odor.

In a normal FM broadcast, an analog audio signal 11 is FM-modulated by a modulator 12, amplified and frequency-converted by a transmitter 13, and then transmitted as airwaves from a transmitting antenna 14 to the air.

On the receiving side, a radio wave is received by the receiving antenna 21, amplified and frequency-converted by the receiver, demodulated by the demodulator 23, and supplied with sufficient electric power to drive the speaker 3 by the audio amplifier 24. And the audio information is reproduced by the sneaker 3.

The odor code, which is digital information, is MSK-modulated by a modulator 17 and transmitted as a radio wave multiplexed with audio information by a multiplexer 18. On the receiving side, the information multiplexed by the multiplex broadcast receiver 22 is separated. Digital information is reproduced as described above.

The multiplexed odor information is sent to the demodulator 2
In step 5, MSK demodulation is performed, and the original odor code 261 is reproduced. The odor code is input to the odor reproducer 4,
The odor is converted into an appropriate signal for synthesizing the odor by the odor CPU 41, and the odor is synthesized by the odor synthesizer 42.

Thus, radio broadcasting accompanied by odor can be realized. Also, it is possible to realize a movie with odor in a movie theater in which a car is parked in a parking lot like an open theater, and a movie is watched in a car while reproducing sound on a car radio.

Although the FM broadcast has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be an AM broadcast or a medium-wave broadcast. Further, although the modulation scheme of the multiplex signal is MSK modulation, the modulation scheme is not limited to this, and any modulation scheme may be used. (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The second embodiment relates to a system for performing ventilation by opening and closing a windshield of a car in conjunction with a system that also generates odors in accordance with the above-described images and sounds. In the first embodiment, the air-conditioning system mounted on the car is used.
In the embodiment, ventilation is performed by opening a windshield. 1 to 4 are the same in the second embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a control flowchart.

First, the odor A of the bread is released in the panning scene in FIG. 1 (S110), and the release of the odor 1A of the bread is stopped when the panning scene ends (S120).
Next, if the windshield is closed, the odor control CPU 71 sends a signal to open the windshield to the actuator 300 of the power window, and automatically opens the windshield (S240). Ventilation is performed in that state, and after the set time has elapsed, the windshield is closed by the actuator 300 (S250, S260).

Next, for example, the odor B of a flower in a different scene is released (S270). If the windshield is open, for example, the odor B of the flower in a different scene is released (S230). As a result, the odor of the scene generated according to the program or commercial provided through the in-vehicle television is not mixed,
The crew can be provided with the originally intended odor.

Here, in the above-described second embodiment, it is assumed that the released odor changes into a different odor in a relatively short time, but the same odor may continue for a relatively long time. It is known that the sense of smell of a human is easily fatigued, and if the same odor is continuously smelled, it becomes difficult to feel the odor.

Therefore, even when the same odor continues for a relatively long time, it is effective to interrupt the supply of the odor on the way, supply the same odor again after ventilating, and thereby reduce the olfactory fatigue. Can be prevented.
If ventilation is not performed on the way, the odor sensitivity can be corrected by sequentially increasing the release amount of the odor material, and the odor with a constant strength can be provided to the occupant. (Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the third embodiment, the amount of the odor material released from the odor synthesizer 72 is changed in accordance with the operation state of the air conditioning system ram, that is, the amount of ventilation, and the intensity of the odor felt by the occupant is corrected. 1 to 4 are the same in the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the operating state of the air conditioning system and the amount of the odor material released. Compared to the outside air introduction mode (high air flow, medium air flow, low air flow), when running in the inside air circulation mode, the ventilation volume is small. Emissions also need to be minimized.

Here, the outside air introduction mode refers to a mode in which, in the air conditioning system, a fan introduces outside air into the vehicle interior while releasing and ventilating the interior air inside the vehicle interior. It is a mode to circulate.

Accordingly, when a signal indicating the inside air circulation mode is input, the odor control CPU 71
Releases a small amount of odor raw materials as specified. On the other hand, in the outside air introduction mode, the amount of ventilation of the fan depends on the intensity of the fan.

Therefore, when the signal indicating the outside air introduction mode is input, the odor control CPU 71
Based on the fan intensity signal, control is performed to increase the release of the odor material as the fan intensity increases. This allows the occupant to receive the odor of the scene generated in accordance with the program or commercial provided through the in-vehicle television at a constant intensity regardless of the operating state of the air conditioning system, that is, regardless of the difference in ventilation volume. Can be.

FIG. 8 shows an example in which the air flow rate of the fan in the outside air introduction mode is three steps. However, the number is not limited to this, and the number of air flows may be adjusted in a stepless manner. it can. (Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the fourth embodiment, the intensity of the odor perceived by the occupant is reinforced by changing the amount of the odor material released from the odor synthesizer 72 in accordance with the open / close state of the windshield, that is, the difference in the amount of ventilation.

FIGS. 1 to 4 are the same in the present embodiment. FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the open / closed state of the windshield, the vehicle speed, and the amount of the odor material to be released. When the windshield is running in a fully closed state, since the ventilation is the smallest, it is necessary to minimize the emission amount of the odor material in order to keep the intensity of the odor felt by the occupant constant. Therefore, when a signal indicating that the windshield is in the fully closed state is input to the odor control CPU 71, a small amount of odor material is discharged as determined.

On the other hand, when the windshield is in the open state, the degree of ventilation varies depending on the degree thereof. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the emission amount of the odor material as the windshield opens. Further, when both the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side are in the open state, the amount of ventilation is further increased. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the release amount of the odor material in accordance with the total opening degree. Therefore, when a signal indicating that the windshield is in the open state is input to the odor control CPU 71, the odor control CPU 71 performs control to increase the release of odor material as the opening increases based on the opening.

When the windshield is open,
The amount of ventilation depends on the speed of the vehicle, and the higher the speed of the vehicle, the greater the amount of ventilation. Therefore, the release amount of the odor material is also changed according to the speed, and control is performed so that the release speed of the odor material increases as the speed increases. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the release of odor is stopped halfway. This is because the odor cannot be efficiently delivered to the occupants when the ventilation volume exceeds a certain value.

Since the relationship between the opening degree and speed of the windshield and the amount of ventilation differs depending on the type of vehicle, it is necessary to make settings in accordance with the type of vehicle, and it is not always necessary to stop the release of odor on the way. This allows the occupant to receive the odor of the scene provided in accordance with the program or commercial provided through the on-vehicle television at a constant strength regardless of the open / closed state of the windshield, that is, regardless of the difference in ventilation volume. Can be. (Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the fifth embodiment, the amount of the odor material released from the odor synthesizer 72 is changed in accordance with the humidity in the vehicle interior, and the odor intensity felt by the occupant is corrected. That is, as a report on the relationship between human olfaction and humidity, for example, the 26th Taste and Odor Symposium Transactions P341 to P344, "Effects of Humidity on Odor Sensors and Olfactory Sensation" (1992).

According to this, it is shown that the odor intensity varies depending on the environmental humidity, and the odor is felt weak at low humidity except for some odors. FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the vehicle interior humidity and the amount of the released odor material. When the humidity is low as described above, the odor is perceived to be weak. Therefore, in order to keep the odor perceived by the occupant constant, it is necessary to set a large amount of the odor material to be released. Therefore, the odor control CPU 71 controls the release of the odor material based on the humidity information provided from the humidity sensor. (Sixth Embodiment) Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The sixth embodiment relates to a system that provides an appropriate odor to an occupant based on a biological information signal of a pulse wave and a body temperature, thereby preventing dozing and improving a feeling of comfort. FIG. 11 shows an example.

The occupant A wears a wearable biological signal sensor 8. The biological signal sensor 8 has a function of measuring biological signals such as a pulse wave and body temperature and transmitting the signals by radio waves. The device 70 having the receiving function and the biological signal processing function receives the radio wave from the biological signal sensor 8 and
Is determined to be in a state of excitement or falling asleep, and sends a signal to the odor CPU 71. The odor CPU 71 determines an appropriate odor based on the map, such as an odor having an awakening effect in a sleeping state, an odor having a calming effect in an excited state, and an odor increasing comfort in a normal state. The signal is sent to the odor synthesizer 72 to generate the odor 4. (Seventh Embodiment) Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The seventh embodiment relates to a system in which odors are provided to an occupant based on an inter-vehicle distance and a relative speed, and safety is improved by an odor alarm. FIG. 12 shows an example.

At the front of the vehicle, a radar sensor 9 for measuring the distance and relative speed to the preceding vehicle using millimeter waves is provided, and its signal is input to a radar processing circuit 91. As the millimeter wave, a frequency in the band of 76 to 77 GHz is mainly used. The millimeter wave radar sensor 9 emits a radio wave whose frequency is swept in a sawtooth shape in the frequency band.
When this is reflected back to the preceding vehicle and returned, the frequency of the reflected radio wave differs from the frequency of the emitted radio wave at the present time by the time delay corresponding to the distance.

Therefore, this frequency difference is calculated by the radar processing circuit 9.
By performing the analysis in step 1, the distance to the preceding wave and the relative velocity can be measured. When the inter-vehicle distance is smaller than a predetermined value and approaching at a relative speed equal to or greater than a predetermined value, an alarm signal is generated from the radar processing circuit 91. The odor CPU 71 instructs the odor synthesizer 72 to generate a different odor according to the level of the alarm signal, and generates an odor.

In this embodiment, a radar sensor using millimeter waves is used. However, a radar sensor using light or sound waves, or an inter-vehicle distance measurement sensor using image processing may be used. (Eighth Embodiment) Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The eighth embodiment relates to a system that provides an appropriate odor to an occupant based on a traveling state such as a vehicle speed and a traveling direction, and improves safety by an odor alarm. FIG. 13 shows an example.
Reference numeral 31 denotes an on-vehicle navigation system, 51 denotes a speed meter, 2 denotes an air conditioning outlet, and 4 denotes an odor that calls the driver's attention.

By using the navigation system, it is possible to know how many meters ahead in the traveling direction and how much the curve has a curvature. The CPU analyzes the navigation information and the speed information in total, and if it is estimated that a situation such as a lane departure occurs if the vehicle enters the curve with the current speed, the driver is alerted by the odor 4. . Thereby, safety can be improved.

Although the odor synthesizer 72 shown in FIG. 4 has its own blower, as shown in FIG. 14, if the odor synthesizer 72 is installed in the air conditioning duct 21 of the automobile, the odor synthesizer 72 is already mounted. Since the blower for the air conditioning system described above can be shared, it is effective in reducing the size and cost of the odor synthesizer 72.

In FIG. 14, reference numeral 2 denotes an air-conditioning outlet,
2 is an odor synthesizer, 21 is an air conditioning duct, and 22I is a blower for an air conditioning system. If the odor synthesizer 72 is installed near the air-conditioning outlet 2, the problem that the released odor substance is adsorbed in the duct can be reduced, and the generation of the mixture with the adsorbed odor substance can be reduced.

On the other hand, if the odor synthesizer 72 is installed on the back side (near the blower), a plurality of odor constituents can be easily mixed, and a uniform odor can be provided to the occupant. That is, the position where the odor synthesizer 72 is installed in the air conditioning duct 21 needs to be determined in consideration of these.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system for generating odor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a system for transmitting odor information to a television in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing inputs and outputs of an odor control CPU shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an odor synthesizer illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a system for transmitting odor information in synchronization with audio information.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between an operating state of an air conditioning system and an amount of odor raw materials to be released in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the open / closed state of the windshield, the vehicle speed, and the amount of odor material released in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the vehicle interior humidity and the amount of odor material released in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a system for generating odor according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a system for generating odor according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a system for generating odor in the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example in which an odor synthesizer is installed in an air conditioning duct.

[Explanation of symbols]

 72: odor synthesizer.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takamasa Suzuki 1-1-1 Showa-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi F-term in DENSO Corporation (Reference) 3D127 CB05 CC05 DF04 DF36 FF05 FF06 FF08

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A ventilation means (300) for ventilating the interior of an automobile, an odor emission means (72) for emitting several kinds of odors into the interior of the automobile, and an odor different from the odor previously emitted. The vehicle-mounted odor generation device, further comprising: a control unit (71) for controlling the ventilation unit so as to ventilate the interior of the vehicle before releasing the different odors when the odor is released by the odor release unit. 2. The on-vehicle odor generation device according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation means ventilates the vehicle interior by forced ventilation using a fan. 3. A driving means (310) for driving the windshield so as to open the windshield, wherein the ventilation in the vehicle interior is performed by opening the windshield by the driving means. The vehicle-mounted odor generator according to claim 1. 4. A ventilation means (3) for performing one of an inside air circulation mode for circulating air in a cabin of an automobile and an outside air introduction mode for introducing outside air into the cabin.
00); odor releasing means (72) for releasing odor into the vehicle interior; and control for controlling the odor releasing means so as to change the intensity of generation of the odor between the inside air circulation mode and the outside air introduction mode. Means for in-vehicle odor generation, comprising means (71). 5. The on-vehicle odor generating device according to claim 4, wherein the generation intensity of the odor is set to be smaller in the inside air circulation mode than in the outside air introduction mode. 6. The on-vehicle odor according to claim 4, wherein the generation intensity of the odor is set to increase in the outside air introduction mode as the amount of the introduced air of the outside air increases. Generator. 7. A window detection means (320) for detecting an open / closed state of a windshield of an automobile, an odor emission means (72) for emitting an odor into a vehicle cabin of the automobile, and the window detection means. Control means (71) for controlling the odor emission means so as to change the generation intensity of the odor according to the open / close state. 8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, when the vehicle is running, the intensity of the odor emitted from the odor emitting means is set to increase as the opening degree of the windshield increases. 8. The in-vehicle odor generator according to 7. 9. When the windshield is open,
9. The odor generation intensity of the odor emitted from the odor emission means is set to increase as the speed of the vehicle increases.
2. The on-vehicle odor generator according to 1. 10. A humidity detecting means (340) for detecting humidity in a vehicle cabin of an automobile, an odor releasing means (72) for releasing odor into the vehicle cabin, and a humidity detected by the humidity detecting means. Control means (71) for controlling the odor emission means so as to change the intensity of odor generation in response thereto. 11. The on-vehicle odor generation device according to claim 10, wherein the generation intensity of the odor released from the odor release means is set to increase as the detected humidity decreases. apparatus. 12. An odor releasing means (72) for releasing an odor into a vehicle cabin, and a control means (71) for controlling the odor releasing means so as to change the odor releasing condition over time. An on-vehicle odor generator characterized by having: 13. The on-vehicle odor generation device according to claim 12, wherein the change in the odor release condition is to increase the release intensity of the odor over time. 14. The on-vehicle odor generating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the change in the odor releasing condition is to cause the odor releasing means to generate the odor intermittently. 15. An odor release means for providing information to an occupant of an automobile, wherein the control means emits different odors intermittently in accordance with the timing at which the information is provided. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: controlling means.
4. The on-vehicle odor generator according to any one of 4. 16. A living body detecting means (8, 70) for detecting living body information of an occupant of an automobile, wherein the control means intermittently emits different odors in accordance with the detected living body information. The on-vehicle odor generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the odor releasing device is controlled. 17. A preceding vehicle detecting means (9, 91) for detecting an inter-vehicle distance and a relative speed with respect to a preceding vehicle, wherein the control means notifies a driver according to the detected inter-vehicle distance and relative speed. The in-vehicle odor generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the odor releasing means is controlled so as to release an odor that calls attention. 18. The odor releasing means according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said odor releasing means so as to release an odor which draws a driver's attention when a vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined speed. An in-vehicle odor generator according to any one of the above. 19. A means (31) for determining a road condition in a traveling direction of an automobile, wherein the control means emits an odor to call attention to a driver according to the determined road condition in a traveling direction. The on-vehicle odor generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the odor releasing means is controlled as described above. 20. The on-vehicle odor generating device according to claim 1, wherein the odor releasing means is provided in an air blowing passage (21) of the on-vehicle air conditioner. apparatus.