JP2002337638A - Vehicle driving assistance device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle driving assistance device capable of reducing uncomfortable feeling and troublesomeness caused by an alarm sound. SOLUTION: The vehicle driving assistance device 1 recognizes a driving condition of the vehicle and carries out, if necessary, an alarm by a sound against the driver. A sound volume switching part 24 capable of switching alarm sound volume outputted from a speaker 21 to two stages is provided. The sound volume switching part 24 variably sets the alarm sound volume from a first sound volume (large sound volume) to a second sound volume (small sound volume) or from the second sound volume to the first sound volume based on an operation of a sound volume changeover switch 24 (based on driver' s intension).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a driving support system for a vehicle which issues a warning to a driver as necessary based on the driving condition of the vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for the purpose of improving safety during running of a vehicle, various driving assistance devices for a vehicle which recognize the driving condition of the vehicle and emit a warning sound to a driver as necessary have been proposed and put into practical use. Have been. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-104976 discloses that a lateral displacement of a vehicle from a traveling zone detected using a camera is detected, and when the vehicle deviates from a traveling road, the lateral displacement within a predetermined time is detected. There is disclosed a technique for outputting different types of warnings according to the driver's consciousness level determined based on a comparison between the standard deviation of the driver and a threshold value.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
Japanese Patent No. 28745 discloses that a driver recognizes a road or a traveling vehicle based on images captured by a pair of cameras, and when it is determined that a warning is necessary based on the information, a warning device such as a speaker warns the driver. Is disclosed.

[0004]

By the way, this kind of warning sound is intended to simulate various noises from inside and outside of the vehicle during running and to awaken the driver's consciousness lowered during running of the vehicle. In general, the volume is set relatively high.

However, for example, when the driver's consciousness is awakened, an excessively loud alarm is issued when driving in a suburb where the noise outside the vehicle is relatively low, or when driving with the car audio turned off. It may cause the driver to feel uncomfortable or annoying.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle driving support device that can reduce discomfort and annoyance caused by an alarm sound.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an alarm determining means for determining an output of an alarm based on a recognized driving condition of a vehicle; A driving means for a vehicle, comprising: a warning means for giving a warning to the driver at least by voice based on the signal of the driver. Volume switching means that can be switched in multiple stages based on will.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle driving support apparatus according to the first aspect, the volume switching means sets an alarm volume immediately after an ignition switch is turned on to a predetermined basic volume. It is characterized by doing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle driving support apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the sound volume switching means includes an alarm sound based on a newly set sound volume when the alarm sound volume is switched. Is output through the audio output means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle driving support apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the alarm control by the alarm determining means is interrupted, the sound volume switching means outputs the alarm sound volume. Switching is not performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle driving support apparatus according to the first to fourth aspects, the volume switching means switches the alarm volume when an alarm is output from the audio output means. Is not performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle driving support apparatus according to the first to fifth aspects, the alarm means has a volume display means, and the volume switching means has at least an alarm. When the volume is switched, the fact is displayed through the volume display means.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main part of a vehicle driving assistance device, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a volume switching routine, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a combination meter, FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a transition state of volume display.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle driving assistance device. The vehicle driving assistance device 1 has a stereo optical system including a main camera 2 and a sub camera 3 each having an image sensor such as a CCD. It is configured.
The pair of cameras 2 and 3 are attached at predetermined intervals in the vehicle width direction of a vehicle such as an automobile, and capture an image of a scene in front of the vehicle. The main camera 2 captures a reference image (right image) necessary for performing stereo processing, and the sub camera 3 captures a comparison image (left image) in this processing. In a state where they are synchronized with each other, the analog images output from the cameras 2 and 3 are converted into A / D converters 4 and 5.
As a result, the image is converted into a digital image having a predetermined luminance gradation (for example, 256 gray scales).

The digitized image is subjected to luminance correction, geometric conversion of the image, and the like in an image correction unit 6. Usually, since the mounting positions of the pair of cameras 1 and 2 have an error to some extent, a shift caused by the error exists in the left and right images. In order to correct this displacement, geometric transformation such as rotation or translation of the image is performed using affine transformation or the like. The reference image and the comparison image corrected in this way are stored in the original image memory 9.

On the other hand, the stereo image processing unit 7 calculates the three-dimensional position (including the distance from the vehicle to the object) of the same object in the image from the reference image and the comparison image corrected by the image correcting unit 6. calculate. This distance can be calculated based on the principle of triangulation from the relative displacement of the position of the same object in the left and right images. The distance information of the image calculated in this way is stored in the distance data memory 8.

The microcomputer 10 has a function as an alarm determining means, and recognizes a driving condition of the vehicle based on each information stored in the original image memory 9 and the distance data memory 8. Specifically, it recognizes a road condition in front of the vehicle (road recognition unit 11), or a three-dimensional object (running vehicle) in front of the vehicle.
(The three-dimensional object recognition unit 12). Here, a navigation device (not shown) is connected to the microcomputer 10, and the road recognition unit 11 recognizes a road state and the like in consideration of node data of the own vehicle traveling road and the like input from the navigation device. Then, the processing unit 14 determines the recognition unit 1
When it is determined that an alarm is necessary based on the information from 1, 12 the driver is alerted through the alarm device 20,
Alternatively, it controls various control units 15 to 19 as necessary. For example, for an AT (automatic transmission) control unit 15,
Instructs to execute downshift. Further, it may instruct the engine control unit 19 to reduce the engine output. In addition, a vehicle suitable for the ABS (anti-lock brake system) control unit 16, the TCS (traction control system) control unit 17, or the vehicle behavior control unit 18 for controlling the torque distribution and the rotation speed of each wheel. It is also possible to instruct control.

Here, the microcomputer 10 is connected to the failure determining unit 1
The failure determination unit 13 performs a failure determination based on the original image information stored in the original image memory 9.
As the failure determination, for example, it is determined whether or not smear has occurred on the original image (for example, JP-A-2001-287).
No. 45) and a determination as to whether or not the road surface is wet (see, for example, JP-A-2001-41741). When such a failure determination is performed,
The failure determination unit 13 includes an alarm device 20 and various control units 1.
It instructs the processing unit 14 to temporarily suspend the control for 5 to 19 or to perform control more gently than usual.

Further, the microcomputer 10 has its own failure determining function, and when a failure or defect occurs in the microcomputer 10 itself (when it is determined as a failure), the alarm device 2 is activated.
0 and the control of the various control units 15 to 20 are interrupted.

Next, a detailed configuration of the alarm device 20 will be described. The alarm device 20 has a speaker 21 as a sound output unit, a monitor 22, and a volume indicator 23 as a volume display unit.
The main part is configured to include a volume switching unit 24 as volume switching means capable of switching the alarm volume output from the unit 1.

The monitor 22 is also used as, for example, a monitor of a navigation device (not shown).
The display screen is switched as necessary based on the signal from the CPU, thereby displaying an alarm. The monitor 22
Functions as volume display means when the alarm volume is switched by the volume switching unit 24, and displays a newly set alarm volume on the screen for a predetermined time.

The volume indicator 23 constantly displays the alarm volume based on the signal from the volume switching section 24.

The volume switching unit 24 can selectively set two different alarm volumes based on the driver's intention. When a signal for generating an alarm sound is input from the processing unit 14, The alarm sound at the set volume is sent to speaker 2
Output through 1. That is, the volume changeover switch 24 is connected to the volume changeover switch 25, and when the volume changeover switch 25 is operated by the driver, the alarm volume output from the speaker 21 is changed from the first volume to the second volume or the second volume. The volume is switched from the volume 2 to the first volume. Also,
When switching the alarm volume, the volume switching unit 24 outputs an alarm sound (confirmation sound) of a newly set volume from the speaker 21.

Here, the first volume is, for example, a loud volume that is equal to or higher than a predetermined noise level assumed when the vehicle is running, and is set to a volume that can awaken the driver's consciousness lowered during the vehicle running. . For this reason, in consideration of safety and the like, the first volume is a basic volume that is always set by the volume switching unit 24 in an initial stage immediately after the ignition switch is turned on.

On the other hand, the second volume is lower than the first volume (small volume) and is set to a predetermined volume that does not make the driver feel troublesome. Here, the second volume set by the volume switching unit 24 may be a fixed value. However, in order to make the alarm sound function more effectively, the second volume is within a range that does not cause the driver to feel troublesome. May be variably set. In this case, the volume set by the volume switching unit 24 is, for example,
Based on the signal from the noise detection unit 26, the sound volume is set to the minimum necessary level at which the driver can recognize the alarm sound. In addition,
Such a noise detection unit 26 may be constituted by sensors for directly detecting the noise in the vehicle compartment, or may be constituted by a volume switch or the like of a car audio. .

Here, in the present embodiment, the volume indicator 23 and the volume changeover switch 25 are connected to the combination meter 3 provided on the instrument panel.
0. That is, on the combination meter 30, various indicators and the like indicating the operation state and the like of the vehicle driving support device 1 are provided, and the volume indicator 23 and the volume changeover switch 25 are similarly provided on the combination meter 30. Is established.

To explain a specific example, as shown in FIG. 3, the combination meter 30 has a speedometer 32 and a tachometer 33, which are arranged side by side. A fuel meter 34 is provided on the left side of the speedometer 32, and a water temperature gauge 35 is provided on the right side of the tachometer 33. In addition, around the meters 32 to 35, indicators indicating the operation states of the various control units 15 to 19 and the like are arranged, and the driving state of the vehicle recognized by the vehicle driving support device 1 is displayed. Indicators are provided. For example, between the speedometer 32 and the tachometer 33,
An indicator indicating that the vehicle driving assistance device 1 has captured the preceding vehicle and an indicator indicating the possibility of lane departure are provided. Furthermore, the tachometer 33 and the water temperature gauge 3
5, a volume indicator 23 and a volume changeover switch 25 are arranged close to each other.

Next, the switching control of the alarm volume by the volume switching section 24 will be described according to the routine of the volume switching program of FIG. This routine is executed at predetermined time intervals. In the program of the volume switching unit 24, first,
In step S101, it is determined whether or not this routine is the first processing immediately after the ignition switch is turned on.

If it is determined in step S101 that the current routine is a routine immediately after the ignition switch is turned on, the program proceeds to step S101.
Proceed to 108. Then, in step S108, after the alarm volume is set to the first volume (that is, high volume), the program exits the routine.

On the other hand, in step S101, when it is determined that the current routine is not the routine immediately after the ignition switch is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S102, it is determined whether or not the alarm control by the microcomputer 10 has been interrupted. Will be

When it is determined that the alarm control by the microcomputer 10 has been interrupted and the process proceeds from step S102 to step S103, the alarm volume set previously is maintained. That is, in the first place, the alarm sound is not output when the alarm control is interrupted, and in such a case,
When the alarm volume is switched based on the operation of the volume switch 25 by the driver and a confirmation sound is emitted, the driver may misunderstand that the alarm control is functioning effectively. Therefore, when the alarm control is interrupted, the alarm volume is not switched by the volume switching unit 24 even if the driver operates the volume switch 25.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S102 that the alarm control has not been interrupted, the program proceeds to step S104, in which it is determined whether or not an alarm sound is currently being output from the speaker 21.

If it is determined in step S104 that an alarm sound is currently being output, the program proceeds to step S103. That is, if the confirmation sound is output during the output of the alarm sound, the driver may erroneously recognize the instruction by the alarm sound. Therefore, during the output of the alarm sound, the sound volume switching unit 24 does not switch the alarm sound even if the driver operates the volume change switch 25.

On the other hand, in step S104,
If it is determined that no alarm sound has been output, the program proceeds to step S105. In step S105, it is checked whether or not the volume switch 25 has been operated by the driver. If it is determined that the volume switch 25 has not been operated, the program proceeds to step S1.
Go to 03.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S105 that the volume changeover switch 25 has been operated, the program proceeds to step S106, in which the switching setting for the alarm volume set up to the previous time is performed. That is, if the previously set alarm volume is the first volume, the alarm volume is set to the second volume, and if the previously set alarm volume is the second volume, the alarm volume is set to the second volume. The volume is set to the first alarm volume.

Thereafter, in step S107, the program outputs a confirmation sound based on the newly set alarm volume through the speaker 21 and displays a volume through the monitor 22 and the volume indicator 23.
Exit the routine. Here, when the alarm volume is switched, for example, a transition of the volume display mark in the form shown in FIG. 4 is performed on the monitor 22 and the volume indicator 23.

According to such an embodiment, the vehicle driving assistance device 1 is provided with the volume switching unit 24 capable of switching the alarm volume output from the speaker 21 in multiple stages based on the driver's intention. Thereby, the uncomfortable feeling and troublesomeness due to the alarm sound can be reduced when the vehicle is running. That is, it is possible to switch the alarm volume according to the noise condition in the vehicle or the like based on the driver's will, so that it is possible to prevent the generation of an excessively large alarm sound at the time of low noise or the like. It is possible to reduce discomfort and annoyance due to the alarm sound.

In this case, at the initial stage when the ignition switch is turned on, the volume switching unit 24 sets the alarm volume to the first volume of the loud volume. Oversight and the like can be reduced.

When the alarm volume is switched, the volume switching unit 24 outputs a confirmation sound based on the newly set volume through the speaker 21, so that the driver can recognize the current alarm volume. it can.

When the alarm volume is switched, the volume switching unit 24 displays the newly set volume through the monitor 22 and the volume indicator 23, so that the current alarm volume can be more reliably displayed to the driver. Can be recognized.

Further, when the alarm control is interrupted, the volume switching unit 24 does not perform the alarm volume switching control. Therefore, it is assumed that the alarm control is functioning effectively when the alarm control is interrupted by the confirmation sound. Can be prevented.

When the alarm sound is output,
Since the volume switching unit 24 does not perform switching control of the alarm volume,
When outputting the alarm sound, the confirmation sound can prevent the driver from erroneously recognizing the instruction of the alarm sound.

Further, since the volume change switch 25 and the volume indicator 23 are arranged close to the combination meter 30, the operability and visibility of the driver at the time of volume change can be improved.

In the embodiment described above, the volume switching unit 2
Although an example has been described in which the alarm volume switched by step 4 is set in two stages, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to set an alarm volume in three or more stages.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the alarm volume can be variably set based on the driver's intention, it is possible to reduce discomfort and annoyance due to the alarm sound.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main part of a vehicle driving support device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a volume switching routine;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a combination meter.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a transition state of volume display.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 driving support device for vehicle 10 microcomputer (alarm determination unit) 20 alarm device (alarm unit) 21 speaker (alarm output unit) 22 monitor (volume display unit) 23 volume indicator (volume display unit) 24 volume switch unit (beverage switching unit) )

Claims (6)

[Claims] An alarm determining means for determining an output of an alarm based on a recognized driving condition of a vehicle, and an alarm means for issuing an alarm to a driver at least by voice based on a signal from the alarm determining means. In the vehicle driving support device, the warning means includes: a voice output means; and a volume switching means capable of switching a warning volume output from the voice output means in multiple stages based on a driver's intention. Driving support device for vehicles. 2. The vehicle driving support device according to claim 1, wherein said volume switching means sets an alarm volume immediately after an ignition switch is turned on to a predetermined basic volume. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said sound volume switching means outputs an alarm sound at a newly set sound volume via said audio output means when said alarm sound volume is switched. Driving support device. 4. The driving support device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the volume switching means does not switch the alarm volume when the alarm control by the alarm determination means is interrupted. 5. The vehicle driving support device according to claim 1, wherein the sound volume switching means does not switch the alarm sound volume when outputting an alarm from the audio output means. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said alarm means has a volume display means, and said volume switching means displays at least said volume when said alarm volume is switched, through said volume display means. The vehicle driving support device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.