JP2005001582A - Direction indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a direction indicator capable of promoting a driver to check his surroundings when the advancing direction of a vehicle is changed. <P>SOLUTION: The flash timing 32 of a side turning signal installed on a side mirror part of a vehicle is different in phase from the flash timing 31 of a rear turning signal installed on a rear part of the vehicle. The flash timing 32 of the side turning signal is also different in phase from the operation timing 33 of an indicator to indicate the operational state of the turning signal to a driver of the vehicle and an operation sound output unit. The consciousness of the driver is directed to the side mirror part with the side turning signal installed thereon, and the driver is promoted to check his surroundings by the side mirror thereby. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a direction indicating device that informs surroundings of a change in the course of a vehicle by a blinking operation of a light emitting unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is known a vehicle direction indicator that improves visibility from the surroundings by flashing a plurality of light emitters with a time difference (Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-301345
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the direction indicator of patent document 1 cannot always be visually recognized with respect to the circumference | surroundings, the change of the advancing direction of the own vehicle may not be recognized in other surrounding vehicles. In such a case, the driver may not change the traveling direction of the host vehicle without noticing other vehicles approaching the host vehicle by not checking the surroundings.
[0005]
The present invention provides a direction indicating device that can prompt the driver to check the surroundings when changing the traveling direction of the vehicle.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A vehicle direction indicating device according to the present invention is provided at a rear end portion of a vehicle, and includes a first light emitting means having a pair of left and right light emitting portions that periodically flash and emit light at a first timing, and left and right side mirrors of the vehicle. The driver selects a second light-emitting means that has a pair of left and right light-emitting parts that are installed in the part and periodically blinks at a second timing, and either the left or right light-emitting part of the first and second light-emitting means. When the operating means for flashing and the left and right light emitting units selected by the operating means are flashing, the driver periodically operates at the third timing to notify the driver of the flashing. The second timing is different in phase from the first and third timings.
[0007]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the second timing at which the second light emitting means installed on the left and right side mirror portions of the vehicle flashes and emits light is the first light emitting means installed at the rear end of the vehicle flashes and emits light. The first timing is different from the phase, and the phase is also different from the third timing at which the notification means for notifying the driver of the flashing light emission of the first and second light emitting means is operated. Since it did in this way, since a driver | operator's consciousness can be turned to the side mirror part in which the 2nd light emission means is installed, when changing the advancing direction of a vehicle, the surrounding confirmation by a side mirror is made to a driver | operator. Can be urged.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
-First embodiment-
One embodiment of a vehicle-mounted direction indicating device according to the present invention is shown in FIG. The direction indicating device is operated by the driver when the traveling direction of the host vehicle changes, and blinkers emit light at the rear end portion and the side mirror portion, respectively, and the vehicle is automatically transmitted to other surrounding vehicles. Notify changes in the direction of vehicle travel. At this time, the driver is made aware of the side mirror by changing the phase of the blinking cycle of the blinker installed in the side mirror portion. The direction indicating device of FIG. 1 includes a direction indicating lever 1, a control unit 2, a rear blinker 3, a side blinker 4, an indicator 5, and an operating sound output unit 6.
[0009]
When the direction indicator lever 1 is operated by the driver, the control unit 2 detects that the own vehicle changes its traveling direction in either the left or right direction corresponding to the operation direction, and the rear blinker 3 and the side blinker are detected. 4, the indicator 5 and the operation sound output part 6 are each operated. The rear winker 3 is installed at a rear end portion of the vehicle, that is, at a position where it can be easily seen from the other vehicle behind, and has a pair of left and right light emitting portions. Similarly to the rear winker 3, the side winker 4 has a pair of left and right light emitting portions, which are respectively installed on side mirrors (door mirrors) provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle. Since it is installed in the side mirror portion, the side blinker 4 is in a position where it can be easily seen from other vehicles on the rear side and also in a position where it can be easily seen by the driver.
[0010]
The indicator 5 is installed at a position that is easy to see from the driver in the driver's seat of the vehicle. For example, the operation of the rear blinker 3 and the side blinker 4 is notified to the driver by a blinking operation of a light emitter such as a pair of left and right LEDs. To do. The operating sound output unit 6 notifies the driver of the operation of the rear winker 3 and the side winker 4 by operating sound.
[0011]
When a change in the traveling direction of the host vehicle is detected by operating the direction indicating lever 1, the rear blinker 3 and the side blinker 4 correspond to the direction in which the traveling direction changes in one of the left and right light emitting units. Flashing. When the advancing direction changes to the left, the left light-emitting part flashes and when it changes to the right, the right light-emitting part flashes. This blinking light emission is periodically performed at a certain timing. At this time, the indicator 5 and the operating sound output unit 6 are also periodically operated at a certain timing, thereby notifying the driver of the operation of the rear blinker 3 and the side blinker 4.
[0012]
FIG. 2 shows an example of a state when the direction indicating device described above is mounted on the host vehicle 100 and operated by the driver. FIG. 2 shows only the rear winker 3 and the side winker 4 in FIG. When the direction indicator lever 1 provided in the driver's cab is operated by the driver to change the lane of the host vehicle 100 to the right side, the right side light emitting portions of the rear winker 3 and the side winker 4 are shown in the figure. Flashes and emits light. As a result, the driver of the other vehicle 200 traveling on the right rear side of the host vehicle 100 can recognize that the host vehicle 100 changes the lane to the right side, and therefore can perform a deceleration operation as necessary. . At this time, the operation of the indicator 5 and the operating sound output unit 6 causes the driver of the host vehicle 100 to recognize that the rear winker 3 and the side winker 4 are operating. The driver can also visually recognize that the side blinker 4 is operating.
[0013]
FIG. 3 shows the timing at which the rear blinker 3 and the side blinker 4 blink, and the timing at which the indicator 5 and the operating sound output unit 6 operate. The rear winker 3 and the side winker 4 each turn on and off once with the respective timings indicated by reference numerals 31 and 32 as lighting start phases, thereby periodically flashing and emitting light. The indicator 5 and the operation sound output unit 6 operate periodically by performing the operation on / off once during this period with the timing indicated by the reference numeral 33 as the operation start phase. Here, the blinking timing 32 of the side blinker 4 is different in phase from the blinking timing 31 of the rear blinker 3 and the operation timing 33 of the indicator 5 and the operating sound output unit 6 as shown in the figure.
[0014]
Thus, by making the blinking timing of the side blinker 4 different in phase from other blinking and operation timings, the driver's consciousness is directed to the portion where the side blinker 4 is installed, that is, the side mirror portion. be able to. In particular, when a driver beginner, an elderly person, or the like is a driver, the driver's consciousness is concentrated only in the front, and the surroundings may be neglected when changing the course of the vehicle. However, by doing so, the driver's consciousness can be directed to the side mirror portion where the side winker 4 is installed.
[0015]
According to the embodiment described above, the blinking timing of the side blinker 4 is different in phase from the blinking timing of the rear blinker 3 and the operation timing of the indicator 5 and the operating sound output unit 6. Since it did in this way, when changing the advancing direction of a vehicle, since a driver | operator's consciousness can be turned to the side mirror part in which the side part blinker 4 is installed, the surrounding confirmation by a side mirror, especially rear side The driver can be prompted for confirmation.
[0016]
In the above embodiment, the indicator 5 and the operating sound output unit 6 may have at least one of them, and the operation timing may be different from the blinking timing of the rear blinker 3. Good. In the above embodiment, the blinking timing phase of the rear blinker 3 and the side blinker 4 is different, and the operation timing of either the indicator 5 or the operation sound output unit 6 is different from that of the side blinker 4. As long as the effects described above can be obtained.
[0017]
-Second embodiment-
A second embodiment which is another embodiment of the direction indicating device according to the present invention will be described below. This embodiment is configured as shown in FIG. 4 and has a vehicle detection unit 7 in addition to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The vehicle detection unit 7 detects the relative position and relative speed of the other vehicle existing behind the host vehicle, thereby calculating the approach degree of the other vehicle, and outputs the operation sound according to the value of the approach degree. The operation sound output of the unit 6 is switched.
[0018]
As described above, when the direction indicator lever 1 is operated by the driver, either the left or right light emitting portion of the rear winker 3 or the side winker 4 flashes and emits light according to the operation direction. For example, when the traveling direction is changed to the right side, the right side light emitting unit of the host vehicle 100 flashes and emits light as shown in FIG. At this time, by the vehicle detection unit 7 provided at a position (not shown) of the vehicle 100, the other vehicle 200 existing within a certain range on the right rear side of the host vehicle 100, for example, a range indicated by reference numeral 51 surrounded by a dotted line, A relative position and a relative speed with respect to the host vehicle 100 are detected.
[0019]
When the relative position and relative speed of the other vehicle 200 with respect to the host vehicle 100 are detected, the control unit 2 calculates the approach degree of the other vehicle 200 to the host vehicle 100 based on the detected relative position and relative speed. It is determined whether or not it is greater than or equal to the value. For example, the estimated arrival time required for the other vehicle 200 to reach the position of the host vehicle 100 is used as the approach degree. When the estimated arrival time is less than or equal to the predetermined time, it is determined that the approach degree is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. In addition, also when changing the advancing direction of the vehicle 100 to the left side, an approach degree is similarly calculated about the other vehicle 100 which exists in the fixed range of the left rear side, and it is determined whether this is more than predetermined value. The vehicle detection unit 7 is installed at an arbitrary position of the host vehicle 100, and detects the relative position and relative speed of the other vehicle 200 by a known method using, for example, image processing, radio waves, light, or the like. .
[0020]
FIG. 6 shows the timing at which the rear winker 3 and the side winker 4 flash in the second embodiment, and the timing at which the indicator 5 and the operating sound output unit 6 operate. FIG. 6A shows the respective timings when the calculated degree of approach is less than a predetermined value. The rear blinker 3 and the side blinker 4 periodically flash and emit light at respective timings indicated by reference numerals 61 and 62 having different phases from each other. At this time, the indicator 5 operates periodically with the timing indicated by reference numeral 63, that is, the timing synchronized with the blinking timing of the rear blinker 3 as the operation start phase. Further, the operation sound output unit 6 periodically outputs an operation sound with the timing indicated by reference numeral 64, that is, the timing synchronized with the blinking timing of both the rear winker 3 and the side winker 4 as the operation start phase. Here, the operation sound A output in synchronization with the blinking operation of the rear winker 3 and the operation sound B output in synchronization with the blinking operation of the side winker 4 are different operation sounds. For example, a sound volume, sound quality, pitch, or the like that is changed to a level that can be recognized by the driver is used.
[0021]
When the calculated approach degree becomes a predetermined value or more, the control unit 2 changes the timing at which the operation sound is output from the operation sound output unit 6 to the timing indicated by reference numeral 65 in FIG. At the timing 65 after the change, the operating sound output unit 6 outputs only the operating sound A synchronized with the rear winker 3 and does not output the operating sound B synchronized with the side winker 4. At this time, the blinking timing of the rear blinker 3 and the side blinker 4 and the operation timing of the indicator 5 do not change even if the calculated approach degree exceeds a predetermined value.
[0022]
The blinking timing 61 of the rear winker 3 and the blinking timing 62 of the side winker 4 are preferably the same in lighting cycle and in a phase range of 45 ° or less. By doing in this way, a fixed rhythm feeling can be produced between the blinking of the rear blinker 3 and the side blinker 4 and the operation of the indicator 5 and the operation sound output unit 6.
[0023]
In this way, when the degree of approach exceeds a predetermined value, the driver outputs only the operation sound A synchronized with the blinking timing of the rear blinker 3, so that the driver approaches the rear side of the own vehicle. Can be recognized. When the degree of approach is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, contrary to the above description, only the operation sound B synchronized with the side winker 4 is output, and the operation sound A synchronized with the rear winker 3 is not output. It may be.
[0024]
According to the second embodiment described above, the vehicle detection unit 7 detects the relative position and relative speed of the other vehicle existing behind the host vehicle, and based on the detected relative position and relative speed. Calculate the degree of approach. And when the calculated approach degree becomes more than a predetermined value, either one of the two types of operation sounds that the operation sound output unit 6 outputs in synchronization with the blinking of the rear winker 3 and the side winker 4 No operation sound was output. Since it did in this way, when changing the advancing direction of the own vehicle to either the left or right direction, it is possible to make the driver recognize that another vehicle is approaching the rear side of that direction.
[0025]
-Third embodiment-
A third embodiment, which is another embodiment of the direction indication device according to the present invention, will be described below. The configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment shown in FIG. In this embodiment, in the second embodiment described above, the side blinker 4 blinks a plurality of times in accordance with the degree of approach of another vehicle located further to the rear side of the host vehicle. .
[0026]
FIG. 7 shows the timing at which the rear blinker 3 and the side blinker 4 blink in the third embodiment and the timing at which the indicator 5 and the operating sound output unit 6 operate. FIG. 7A shows the respective timings 71 to 74 when the calculated degree of approach is less than the set predetermined value, all of which are shown in FIG. 6A. The timing is the same as the timings 61 to 64 in the second embodiment.
[0027]
When the calculated degree of approach becomes a predetermined value or more, the control unit 2 causes the audio output unit 6 to output only the operation sound B with the timing 75 shown in FIG. Further, at this time, the light emission portion of the side blinker 4 is caused to blink and emit light with the timing 76 as the lighting start phase, so that the blinking light emission of a plurality of times different in phase within 45 ° with respect to one blink emission of the rear blinker 3. Is performed by the side blinker 4. In this way, the side blinker 4 performs flashing light emission a plurality of times, so that the driver can recognize that another vehicle is approaching the rear side of the host vehicle.
[0028]
According to the third embodiment described above, when the calculated degree of approach is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the side blinker 4 emits a plurality of blinking lights for one blinking light emission of the rear blinker 3. As in the case of the second embodiment, when changing the traveling direction of the host vehicle to either the left or right direction, it is assumed that the other vehicle is approaching the rear side of that direction. Can be recognized.
[0029]
-Fourth embodiment-
A fourth embodiment which is still another embodiment of the direction indicating device according to the present invention will be described below. The configuration of the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 4, which is the same as that of the second and third embodiments described above, and will not be described below. In the present embodiment, the blinking timing of the side blinker 4 and the operation sound output timing of the operation sound output unit 6 are changed according to the calculated value of the approach degree.
[0030]
In the fourth embodiment, when the traveling direction of the host vehicle 100 is changed to the right side in FIG. 8, the relative position areas A to C are set in the rear side range 51 of the host vehicle 100. When the other vehicle 200 is detected in any of the relative position areas A to C, the blinking timing of the side blinker 4 and the operation sound output timing of the operation sound output section 6 are changed according to the relative position area. . At this time, the positions of the relative position areas A to C are changed according to the relative speed of the other vehicle 200 with respect to the host vehicle 100. As the relative speed of the other vehicle 200 increases, the relative position areas A to C move rearward with respect to the host vehicle 100. Conversely, as the relative speed decreases, the relative position areas AC move further forward. By doing in this way, relative position area | region AC can be set according to the value of the approach degree calculated by a relative position and a relative speed.
[0031]
FIG. 9 shows the timing at which the rear blinker 3 and the side blinker 4 respectively flash and emit light and the timing at which the indicator 5 and the operating sound output unit 6 operate in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, when the other vehicle 200 is located in the relative position region B, the phase angle of the blinking timing 92 of the side winker 4 with respect to the blinking timing 91 of the rear winker 3 is set to 30 °, for example. Similarly, for the operation timing 94 of the operating sound output unit 6, the phase angle with respect to the blinking timing 91 of the rear winker 3 is set to 30 °. At this time, only the operation sound B synchronized with the blinking operation of the side blinker 4 is output from the operation sound output unit 6.
[0032]
When the other vehicle 200 is located at the relative position A, the phase angle with respect to the blinking timing of the rear blinker 3 is set to 45 ° with respect to the blinking timing of the side blinker 4 and the operation timing of the operating sound output unit 6. When the other vehicle 200 is located at the relative position C, the phase angle is set to 15 °. By doing in this way, according to the value of the approach degree of the other vehicle 200, the phase of the blink timing of the side blinker 4 and the operation sound output timing of the operation sound output unit 6 can be changed.
[0033]
According to the fourth embodiment described above, the blinking timing of the side blinker 4 and the operation sound output of the operation sound output unit 6 according to the value of the degree of approach of the other vehicle located behind the host vehicle. Since the timing phase is changed, the driver can recognize how close the other vehicle is.
[0034]
In the above embodiment, the three relative position areas A to C are set. However, a plurality of different relative position areas may be set. Further, the amount of change in the phase angle between the blinking timing of the side blinker 4 and the operating sound output timing of the operating sound output unit 6 is not limited to that described in the above embodiment. For example, the phase angles of the relative position areas A to C may be changed by 15 °, 30 °, and 45 °, respectively. The amount of change in the phase angle at this time is preferably within a range of 45 ° as described above.
[0035]
In the above embodiment, the first light emitting means is the rear blinker 3, the second light emitting means is the side blinker 4, the operating means is the direction indicator lever 1, the notifying means is the indicator 5 or the operating sound output section 6, and the detecting means. Is realized by the vehicle detection unit 7 and the calculation means by the control unit 2. However, these are merely examples, and each component is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as the characteristics of the present invention are not impaired.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a direction indicating device.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of the direction indicating device when changing the lane to the right side of the vehicle.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing blinking timings of rear and side blinkers and operation timings of an indicator and an operating sound output unit in the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of second to fourth embodiments of a direction indicating device.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the direction indicating device and a detection range of another vehicle when the vehicle is changed to the right lane.
6A and 6B are diagrams showing the blinking timing of the rear and side blinkers and the operation timing of the indicator and the operating sound output unit in the second embodiment, and FIG. 6A shows the approach degree of another vehicle less than a predetermined value. (B) shows the time when the degree of approach of the other vehicle is a predetermined value or more.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the blinking timing of the rear and side blinkers and the operation timing of the indicator and the operating sound output unit in the third embodiment, and (a) shows the approach degree of another vehicle being less than a predetermined value. (B) shows the time when the degree of approach of the other vehicle is a predetermined value or more.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation of the direction indicating device and a relative position area set when the vehicle is changed to the right lane.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing blinking timings of rear and side blinkers and operation timings of an indicator and an operation sound output unit when another vehicle is detected in the relative position area B in the fourth embodiment. .
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Direction indication lever 2: Control unit 3: Rear winker 4: Side winker 5: Indicator 6: Operating sound output unit 7: Vehicle detection unit 100: Own vehicle 200: Other vehicle

Claims (4)

A first light emitting means installed at the rear end of the vehicle and having a pair of left and right light emitting portions that periodically flash and emit light at a first timing;
A second light emitting means installed on each of the left and right side mirror portions of the vehicle, and having a pair of left and right light emitting portions that periodically flash and emit light at a second timing;
An operation means for the driver to select either one of the left and right light emitting portions of the first and second light emitting means to cause the light to flash;
A notification means for periodically operating at a third timing to notify the driver of the flashing light emission when either the left or right light emitting unit selected by the operation means is flashing light emission;
The vehicle direction indicating device, wherein the second timing is different in phase from the first and third timings. The direction indicating device according to claim 1,
Detecting means for detecting a relative position and a relative speed between the other vehicle existing on the rear side of the vehicle and the vehicle;
A computing means for computing an approach degree of the other vehicle based on the detected relative position and relative speed;
An operation sound output means for periodically outputting a first operation sound at the first timing and outputting a second operation sound different from the first operation sound at the second timing; In addition,
The phase of the first timing and the second timing is different within a range of 45 degrees,
The operation sound output means outputs both the first and second operation sounds when the degree of approach is less than a predetermined value.
When the degree of approach is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, only one of the first and second operating sounds is output. The direction indicating device according to claim 2,
When the degree of approach is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the operating sound output means outputs only the first operating sound, and the second light emitting means has a plurality of flashing lights for one flashing light emission of the first light emitting means. A vehicular direction indicating device characterized by performing flashing light emission once. The direction indicating device according to claim 2,
The second light emitting means and the operating sound output means change the phase of the second timing within a range of 45 degrees or less with respect to the first timing in accordance with the degree of approach. Direction indicator.

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