JP2004148871A - Operating state monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operating state monitor for giving a warning by a display easy to intuitively understand by a driver. <P>SOLUTION: A warning determination value to a reckless drive is obtained from a vehicle, and the opening degree of an eyelid of a pupil to be displayed on a display unit is changed according to the warning determination value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a driving state monitoring apparatus, and more particularly to a driving state monitoring apparatus that detects a driver's arousal level, concentration level, and the like by some method and issues an alarm according to a dangerous driving state such as a drowsy driving.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as the driving condition monitoring device as described above, various types of devices, such as a device that measures the shaking of a steering wheel during driving and determines that the driver is dozing when a certain amount of shaking continues, and issues a warning, etc. A proposal has been made.
[0003]
As a main method of transmitting a warning in such an operation state monitoring device, there are many types that emit a warning sound, but a method of displaying a warning with characters or a graph on an instrument panel inside the vehicle together with the warning sound has been proposed. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-267660 (page 4, FIG. 5)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Even if the warning state is displayed in characters or graphs as in the conventional example described above, the driver's awakening degree is low, and in the state where the consciousness is far away, even if such a warning is displayed, it is effective for the driver. There was a problem that there was no.
[0006]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a driving state monitoring device capable of issuing a warning with a display that is intuitively understandable by a driver.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a driving state monitoring device according to the present invention includes a vehicle behavior detection unit that detects a behavior of a vehicle, a display unit that displays an image simulating a pupil and eyelids, and a behavior of the vehicle. A calculating unit for determining an alarm determination value for dangerous driving, and changing the degree of eye opening of the eyelids displayed on the display unit according to the alarm determination value.
[0008]
That is, in the present invention, the calculation unit first obtains an alarm determination value for dangerous driving from the vehicle behavior detected by the vehicle behavior detection unit. Then, according to this alarm determination value, for example, if the alarm determination value indicates a normal state, the degree of eye opening of the eyelids of the pupil to be displayed on the display unit is an image indicating the normal state, Controls the display unit to change the degree of eye opening of the eyelid according to the degree.
[0009]
In this way, by making the image on the display unit a screen simulating the human pupil, it is possible to present a more effective warning by making it easier for the driver to intuitively understand the dangerous driving.
As the alarm determination value, an average value of the movement integral value of the behavior data of the vehicle can be used.
[0010]
Therefore, the operation unit can input the behavior data of the vehicle as the alarm determination value.
[0011]
Further, the calculation unit has an alarm threshold value which is set in advance or calculated based on the behavior of the vehicle, and when the alarm determination value exceeds the alarm threshold value, the image of the display unit is displayed for a certain period of time. Interrupts can be changed.
Therefore, the more the alarm threshold value is used, the more finely the eyelid opening degree can be displayed, and if the alarm determination value fluctuates continuously, the eyelid opening degree is continuously changed in accordance with this, and the multiple eyelid opening degree is changed. Warning display can be performed.
[0012]
Further, any one of the steering wheel rotation angle detecting means, the yaw direction angular velocity detecting means, the lateral acceleration detecting means, and the traveling locus measuring means can be used as the vehicle behavior detecting section.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the operating state monitoring device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the detection of drowsy driving is particularly targeted as dangerous driving.
In the figure, 1 is a main switch for starting the operation of the device, 2 is a vehicle wheel, 3 is a vehicle speed sensor that generates a vehicle speed pulse signal from the rotation of the wheel 2, and 4 is a vehicle behavior detection. Reference numeral 5 denotes a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheel 4, and reference numeral 6 denotes an alarm threshold adjustment switch for manually adjusting an alarm threshold.
[0014]
Reference numeral 7 denotes a signal processing unit (ECU) which is operated by the main switch 1, receives respective pulse signals from the vehicle speed sensor 3 and the steering angle sensor 5, and adjusts an alarm threshold described later by an alarm threshold adjustment switch 6. Reference numeral 8 denotes a display unit for displaying an image simulating a human pupil by inputting a result of the arithmetic processing by the signal processing unit 7, and preferably a display panel such as an instrument panel or a windshield which is "a position that is easy for the driver to recognize. Is set up.
[0015]
In addition, as the vehicle behavior detecting unit, a yaw direction angular velocity sensor of the vehicle, a lateral acceleration sensor of the vehicle, or a running locus measuring unit may be used. However, in this embodiment, the steering angle is representative. Using a sensor.
FIGS. 2 to 4 show flowcharts of control programs stored and executed in the signal processing unit 7 shown in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to these flowcharts. Will be described.
[0016]
First, when the signal processing unit 7 is turned on by the main switch 1, the signal processing unit 7 inputs output data of the steering angle sensor 5 as vehicle behavior detection data (step S1 in FIG. 2). Then, the alarm thresholds Ath1 and Ath2 are calculated based on the vehicle behavior detection data thus input (step S2).
[0017]
The calculation of the alarm threshold has been conventionally proposed in various ways, and will be described below as an example with reference to FIG. 4 showing the invention of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-227489 by the present applicant.
First, the signal processing unit 7 receives an output signal of the vehicle speed sensor 3 (step S40), and determines whether or not a state in which the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined vehicle speed has continued for a predetermined time (step S41). This is a step of checking whether or not the vehicle speed is stable, and an accurate threshold value cannot be obtained until the vehicle speed is stabilized after the vehicle starts.
[0018]
Next, a timer t ′ and a variable n described later are reset (step S43), and thereafter, an output signal of the steering angle sensor 5 is input (step S44).
The steering angle input in this manner is subjected to a smoothing process for obtaining a desired frequency component signal using a band-pass filter or the like (step S45). This is to obtain a frequency component for detecting a drowsy driving in the present embodiment.
[0019]
The moving integration process is performed on the data extracted by the smoothing process (step S46). This moving integration process itself is a well-known method, and the normal integration range is performed without overlapping at regular intervals as shown in FIG. 5A, but the moving integration processing shown in FIG. In this case, the integration is performed in such a manner that the integration ranges overlap for the same time.
[0020]
The moving integral value An thus obtained is stored in the signal processing unit 7 (step S47), and it is determined whether or not the timer t 'has exceeded a certain learning time _TL (step S48). Does not exceed the learning time _TL , the timer t 'is incremented by "1" and the variable n is also incremented by "1" (step S49), and the process returns to step S44.
[0021]
If the processing of steps S44 to S47 is continued in this way, the threshold value Ath is calculated when the timer t 'exceeds the learning time _TL as a result of executing the movement integration times shown in FIG. Step S50).
Here, the threshold value Ath can be obtained by summing the moving integral value An obtained in step S47 for the learning time _TL , obtaining the average value, and further multiplying the average value by a constant coefficient.
[0022]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, two threshold values are prepared, and the alarm threshold value Ath1 = the average value × 1.3, and the alarm threshold value Ath2 = the average value × 1.6. The coefficients 1.3 (= 1.6 × 0.85) and 1.6 can be manually adjusted by the alarm threshold adjustment switch 6 shown in FIG. In addition, these alarm thresholds may be constant values separately obtained in advance through experiments or the like.
[0023]
After determining the alarm thresholds Ath1 and Ath2 in this way, an alarm determination value is calculated (step S3).
This alarm determination value is constantly obtained from the latest one. However, since the average value has already been obtained when step S2 is executed, this average value may be used at first in step S3.
[0024]
The following steps can be roughly divided into (1) a monitor display using a still image and (2) a moving image display accompanied by an alarm output, and each will be described below.
(1) Still image monitor display (when normal or slight decrease in concentration)
The signal processing unit 7 first determines whether or not an alarm (2) or (1) described later is being output (steps S4 and S5). This is because, when the alarm (2) or (1) is being output, the monitor display by the still image in step S6 and thereafter is not executed. The reason why the alarm (2) is checked before the alarm (1) is that the alarm (2) has a higher degree of danger.
[0025]
If it is determined in these steps S4 and S5 that the determination result is “No”, the process proceeds to step S6, where the alarm determination value calculated in step S3 is set to the above-mentioned alarm threshold value Ath2 (average value × 1). .6) multiplied by 0.7 (average value × 1.6 × 0.7 ≒ average value × 1.1) or less.
[0026]
This is the lowest value to be compared with the alarm threshold value Ath2. As a result, if "Yes", the current operation state is considered to be normal. Then, the monitor display MD1 with the green background and the eyelid opened as shown in step S7 is performed, and thereafter, the process proceeds to the flow 2 shown in FIG.
[0027]
In the flow 2, in step S21, the alarm determination value is naturally "No" because it is not larger than the alarm threshold value Ath2. In step S27, the alarm determination value is also the alarm threshold value Ath1 (= average value x 1.3). Since it is not larger, "No" is obtained, and the process proceeds to step S30.
[0028]
In step S33, the timers t2 and t1 are each incremented by "1", and the process returns to step S3 in FIG. 2 via steps S34 to S37.
In step S3, the newest alarm determination value at this point is calculated, and the process proceeds to step S6 through steps S4 and S5 in the same manner.
[0029]
In this step S6, if the alarm judgment value is larger than the alarm threshold value Ath2 × 0.7, the result is “No”, and in step S8, the alarm judgment value is compared with the alarm threshold value Ath2 × 0.8. .
As a result, when it is determined that the alarm determination value ≦ the alarm threshold value Ath2 × 0.8, the result is “Yes”, and in step S9, the monitor display MD2 (green with a slight decrease in concentration) with a green background and 3/4 open eyelids ) Is performed, and the process proceeds to the flow 2 in FIG. 3 to skip each step and return to the step S3 as in the case of the step S7.
[0030]
If it is determined that the alarm determination value calculated in step S3 is larger than the alarm threshold value Ath2 × 0.8, the result is “No”, and the process proceeds from step S8 to step S10. Ath2 × 0.9 is compared.
When it is determined in step S10 that the alarm determination value ≦ the alarm threshold value Ath2 × 0.9, the result is “Yes”, and the monitor display MD3 with the green background and the eyelid １ ／ opened is displayed on the display unit 8 again. Then, the process returns to step S3 while skipping each step in the flow 2 of FIG. 3 as described above.
[0031]
Then, when it is determined that the alarm determination value has exceeded the alarm threshold value Ath2 × 0.9, the signal processing unit 7 displays on the display unit 8 a monitor display in which the background is orange and the eyelids are １ ／ opened in step S12. It instructs to perform MD4 and proceeds to flow 2.
As shown, the flow 1 indicates that any one of the monitor displays MD1 to MD4 is performed and the process proceeds to the flow 2 unless the alarms (2) and (1) are being output.
[0032]
Further, although the monitor displays MD1 to MD4 themselves are still images, the degree of eye opening of the eyelids fluctuates in accordance with the fluctuation of the alarm determination value, so that multi-warning is performed as if a blinking moving image is displayed. .
(2) Moving image display for alarm output (when concentration is low)
In flow 2, when the alarm determination value is compared with the alarm threshold value Ath1 in step S27, the alarm threshold value Ath1 = the average value × 1.3. Therefore, when the determination result in step S10 is “No”, Means that the determination result in step S27 is always "Yes".
[0033]
Therefore, the process proceeds to step S28, where it is determined whether or not the alarm (1) output flag K1 is "0". Since K1 is initially 0, the signal processing unit is configured to output the alarm (1) in step S29. 7 controls the display unit 8.
That is, in this case, as shown in step S30, an alarm (1) is displayed in which the background is orange and the eyelids are １ ／ opened.
[0034]
Thereafter, the alarm (1) output flag K1 is set to "1" (step S31), and the timer t1 is reset to "0" (step S32).
Thereafter, in step S33, the timers t2 and t1 are incremented by "1", and the process proceeds to steps S34 to S37. At first, each of these steps is skipped as described above.
[0035]
Then, returning to step S3, after calculating the alarm determination value, the process proceeds to step S4. Since the alarm (2) is not being output, the process proceeds from step S4 to step S5, but the alarm (1) is output in step S29. Since it is in the middle, the process proceeds from step S5 to step S13.
In step S13, since the timer t2 has not exceeded the threshold value T2 ', the result is "No", and the process proceeds to step S15. However, also in this case, since the timer t1 has not exceeded the threshold value T1', the result is "No". The process proceeds to Step S21 in Flow 2 of Step 3.
[0036]
If the alarm determination value is not equal to or greater than the alarm threshold value Ath2 in step S21, the process also proceeds to step S27, and further proceeds to step S28. At this time, since the flag K1 has been set to 1 in the previous process of step S31, the result is "No", and the process skips to step S33. At this time, the alarm (1) keeps outputting.
[0037]
If it is determined in step S33 that the timers t2 and t1 have each been incremented by "1", and if the timer t2 has not exceeded the threshold T2 (which is larger than the threshold T2 ') in step S34, the process proceeds to step S36. Similarly, if the timer t1 does not exceed the threshold T1, the process returns to step S3.
[0038]
Then, similarly, when the process proceeds from step S4 to step S5 and further proceeds to step S13, even if the timer t2 does not exceed the threshold T2 ', the timer t1 has exceeded the threshold T1' in step S15. In this case, that is, when the alarm (1) continues to output for the time T1 ', the output of the alarm (1) is stopped in step S16.
[0039]
Thereafter, when the process proceeds from step S21 to step S28 via step S27, the alarm {circle around (1)} output flag K1 is set to 1, so the process skips to step S33 and sets the timers t2 and t1 to "1". As a result of the increment, when the process proceeds from step S34 to step S36, if the timer t1 exceeds the threshold value T1, the alarm (1) output flag K1 is reset to "0" (step S37).
[0040]
That is, regarding the alarm (1), the timer t1 is output only for the time T1 ', and thereafter, the alarm (1) is not output (alarm suppression) for the time T1-T1'.
In this way, the process returns to step S3 again to calculate the alarm determination value. However, since neither of the alarms (1) and (2) is in the output state, the process proceeds from step S4 to step S6 via step S5. .
[0041]
If the alarm determination value at this time is extremely large, the monitor MD4 is displayed in step S12 via steps S6, S8, and S10, and the flow shifts to flow 2 in FIG.
Then, proceeding to step S21, assuming that the alarm determination value ≧ the alarm threshold value Ath2, the process proceeds to step S22 to determine whether or not the alarm (2) output flag K2 = 0.
[0042]
At this time, since the alarm (2) output flag K2 is still 0, the process proceeds to step S23, and an alarm (2) indicating a severe decrease in concentration is output. The alarm (2) in this case is such that the signal processing unit 7 displays the display unit so that the background is red and the eyelids are closed and opened alternately as shown in step S24, so that a multi-warning is performed as a moving image. 8 is controlled.
[0043]
Then, similarly to the case of the alarm (1), the output flag K2 of the alarm (2) is also set to "1", the timer t2 is reset to "0", and the process proceeds to step S33, where the value is incremented by "1". Thereafter, initially, steps S34 to S37 are skipped and the process returns to step S3. Then, since the alarm (2) is being output, the process proceeds from step S4 to steps S13 to S16.
[0044]
The output state of the alarm (2) is continued for the threshold value T2 'defined in steps S13 and S14, similarly to the case of the alarm (1), and when the threshold value T2' is reached, the output of the alarm (2) is performed. Is stopped (step S14).
From this, the alarm (2) output flag K2 remains "1" (alarm suppression period) until the threshold value T2 determined in step S34 is reached, so that the process does not proceed from step S22 to step S23, but proceeds to step S33. Only when the time T2 has passed through the same step S34, the alarm output flag K2 is reset to "0" (step S35).
[0045]
Therefore, after the elapse of the alarm suppression period, when the process proceeds to step S22, the process further proceeds to step S23, and the alarm (2) can be output.
In the above-described embodiment, five types of eyes are opened, 3/4 opened, 1/2 opened, 1/4 opened, and closed, and the display color is adjusted according to the decrease in the degree of concentration (increase in risk). Although they are different, when these are combined to express blinks at random timing, the effect is different from a state in which the same display is constantly displayed, and the driver can be further alerted.
[0046]
Blinks are displayed in the order of opening the eyes, closing the eyes, 1/2 opening the eyes, 3/4 opening the eyes, and opening the eyes, and it becomes more natural if the eyelids take longer to open than to close.
In addition, according to the change in the driver's degree of concentration, the display is made to correspond to five levels. However, when the degree of concentration in the fifth level is the lowest, it is highly likely that the display with the closed eyes cannot call attention. By repeating the display of the closed eyes, the display can be made more conspicuous, and can be used for raising the attention and raising the concentration.
[0047]
In addition, regarding the above-mentioned alarm (1) which is determined to have caused a slight decrease in the degree of concentration, in addition to the above-mentioned multi-warning, an alarm output (for example, 10 seconds) combining a refresh lamp, a refresh air conditioner, and the like is performed. good. In this case, in the multi-warning, when another display is selected, an interrupt may be performed in accordance with a prescribed priority.
[0048]
Further, in the case of the alarm (2) in which it is determined that a serious decrease in the degree of concentration has occurred, an alarm output combining a refresh lamp, a refresh air conditioner, and an alarm sound may be performed in addition to the multi-warning. .
In this case, the multi-warning may be performed according to a specified priority when another display such as a fuel weight meter is selected. The content of the sound alarm may be "concentrate on driving" or "concentrate on operating the steering wheel" or a similar content.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the driving state monitoring device of the present invention, an alarm determination value for dangerous driving is obtained from the vehicle, and the degree of eye opening of the pupil of the pupil displayed on the display unit is changed according to the alarm determination value. Therefore, the driver can intuitively sense the warning from the image of the pupil, and the safety can be further improved.
[0050]
Furthermore, since the movement of the eyelids of the pupil changes in accordance with the change in the alarm determination value, it is possible to intuitively inform the driver of the change in the degree of driving concentration.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an operating state monitoring device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flowchart 1 of a program executed by a signal processing unit used in the operation state monitoring device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart 2 of a program executed by a signal processing unit used in the operating state monitoring device according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the specific contents of an alarm threshold calculation step shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a moving integral value used in the operating state monitoring device according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main switch 2 Wheel 3 Vehicle speed sensor 4 Steering wheel 5 Steering angle sensor 6 Alarm threshold adjustment switch 7 Signal processing unit 8 In the drawing, the same symbols indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (4)

A vehicle behavior detector that detects the behavior of the vehicle;
A display unit for displaying an image simulating the pupil and its eyelids,
A calculating unit that obtains an alarm determination value for dangerous driving from the behavior of the vehicle, and changes the degree of eye opening of the eyelids displayed on the display unit according to the alarm determination value;
An operating condition monitoring device comprising: In claim 1,
A driving state monitoring device, wherein the alarm determination value is an average value of a moving integral value of behavior data of the vehicle. In claim 1,
The arithmetic unit has an alarm threshold that is set in advance or calculated based on the behavior of the vehicle. When the alarm determination value exceeds the alarm threshold, the image on the display unit is interrupted for a certain period of time. An operating state monitoring device characterized in that the operating state is monitored. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The driving state monitoring device, wherein the vehicle behavior detecting unit is any one of a steering wheel rotation angle detecting unit, a vehicle yaw direction angular velocity detecting unit, a lateral acceleration detecting unit, and a traveling locus measuring unit.

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