JP2005092727A - Vehicle surroundings monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide vehicle surroundings monitoring system extracting only a person behaving in a suspicious way possibly proceeding to criminal conduct such as vehicle burglary and destruction on an object detected by a sensor and giving a warning only to the person. <P>SOLUTION: Based on an output signal from an electric wave sensor 24, an abnormal condition of the inside/outside of a vehicle is detected by an abnormal condition detection part 29. By a crime preparative behavior determination part 30, crime preparative conduct such as lingering, unnecessary staying, and peeping is extracted from the detected abnormal condition. An alert/warning is made toward only the person doing the extracted crime preparative conduct by a warning control part 31 via an LED 25 or a speaker 26. In this way, reliability of this vehicle surroundings monitoring system can be improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle periphery monitoring system that detects an abnormal state that may develop into a vehicle theft, storm, mischief, etc., and issues a warning / alarm.

  Some car security systems use a non-contact sensor such as a radio wave sensor to detect the approach and unauthorized intrusion of a suspicious person to a vehicle. The radio wave sensor is installed in the vehicle interior of the vehicle, etc., and radiates electromagnetic waves around the vehicle to detect low-frequency disturbance components of electromagnetic waves generated when an object around the vehicle moves. By exceeding the set threshold, the presence of the object is detected, and a detection signal is output to a security processing device installed at a predetermined position of the vehicle. The car security system is in a monitoring state by performing a monitoring start operation with a portable device owned by the driver after all the passengers get off, but when the radio wave sensor outputs a detection signal in this monitoring state, The security processing device determines that an abnormality has occurred and attempts to prevent the suspicious person from approaching and unauthorized intrusion by performing predetermined alarm actions such as flashing lights, outputting sound from a speaker, or sounding a siren. .

  In such a car security system, the monitoring area of the radio wave sensor extends to the outside of the vehicle so that a warning can be promptly issued when a suspicious person approaches the vehicle. For this reason, when there is a tree around the vehicle, the radio wave sensor may react to the shaking of the tree and output a detection signal even though there is no suspicious person approaching. In such a case, it is conceivable that an unnecessary alarm operation adversely affects the surroundings and deteriorates the reliability of the car security system itself.

  As a solution to the above-described false alarm, a car security system as shown in Patent Document 1 is shown. This car security system detects a human movement in a monitoring area and outputs a detection signal, a variable sensitivity radio sensor, a monitoring control means for controlling the sensitivity of the radio sensor, and a predetermined control based on the output of the radio sensor. The abnormality monitoring / alarm control means for performing the abnormal monitoring / alarm control of the vehicle and the alarm means for performing the predetermined alarm operation according to the alarm control are each installed at a predetermined location of the vehicle. When the sensitivity control for the radio sensor is performed at the start, the maximum sensitivity is set in a range where the radio sensor does not output the detection signal. After the sensitivity setting of the radio sensor is completed by the monitoring control means, the abnormality monitoring / alarm control means When a detection signal is input from the radio wave sensor, sensitivity control is realized by determining that an abnormality has occurred and performing predetermined alarm control.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-16764 (pages 3 to 8, FIG. 1)

However, even within the monitoring area adjusted as described above, for example, detecting an event that is extremely unlikely to cause criminal acts such as a person getting on and off a vehicle parked adjacently, a person walking near the vehicle, There is a risk of alarming.
In other words, it is not possible to identify whether the detected object is a truly suspicious person by simply changing the sensor monitoring area according to the surrounding environment, and it is not possible to eliminate the false alarm described above. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and acts that may develop into criminal acts such as vehicle theft, storming on the vehicle, and mischief against the object detected by the sensor (hereinafter referred to as “theft”). By extracting only those who perform crime preparatory actions) and performing warnings only for those who may cause such criminal acts, there was even less false alarms and high reliability The purpose is to obtain a vehicle periphery monitoring system.

  In the vehicle periphery monitoring system according to the present invention, an abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormal condition around the vehicle, a crime preliminary act determining means for determining whether the abnormal condition detected by the abnormality detecting means is a crime preliminary act for the vehicle, And when this crime preliminary act determination means determines that it is a crime preliminary act for the vehicle, it is provided with a limited alarm generating means for warning only to the actor of the crime preliminary act.

  As described above, the present invention includes an abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormal condition around the vehicle, a crime preliminary action determination means for determining whether the abnormal condition detected by the abnormality detection means is a crime preliminary action for the vehicle, and When this crime reserve act determination means determines that it is a crime reserve act against the vehicle, it is equipped with a limited alarm generation means that warns only to the crime reserve act actor, so the crime reserve act actor is extracted However, a warning can be given to the actor limited to the system, and the system can be made more reliable.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, embodiments of a vehicle periphery monitoring system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a basic configuration diagram showing a vehicle periphery monitoring system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the vehicle periphery monitoring system includes an abnormality detection unit 1 that detects an abnormal state around the vehicle, and when the abnormality detection unit 1 detects an abnormal state around the vehicle, the detected abnormal state is a crime reserve against the vehicle. The crime preliminary act determination means 2 for determining whether or not it is an act, and when this crime preliminary act determination means 2 determines that it is a crime preliminary act for a vehicle It is comprised with the limited alarm generation means 3 which performs warning and alarm operation | movement.
Here, the abnormality detection means 1 is configured using a sensor (a radio wave sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, etc.) that realizes detection of an object by applying some physical phenomenon, but exists around the vehicle. In order to acquire detailed environmental information such as the position (distance / direction) of the object, relative speed, and the size (shape) of the object in a non-contact manner, it is preferable to use a radio wave sensor. Below, the case where a radio wave sensor is used as the abnormality detection means 1 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a specific configuration of the vehicle periphery monitoring system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In FIG. 2, the vehicle periphery monitoring system includes a processing unit 21, a storage unit 22 accessed by the processing unit 21, an infrared sensor 23 for detecting a suspicious person in the vehicle interior, and a radio wave sensor for detecting a suspicious person outside the vehicle interior. 24, an LED 25 for warning / warning / intimidating a suspicious person, a speaker 26 and a horn 27.
The processing unit 21 includes a monitoring control unit 28 that controls the monitoring operation of the sensor when the vehicle is parked, and an abnormality detection unit 29 that detects an abnormal state inside or outside the vehicle based on an output signal from the sensor. Crime preliminary act determination unit 30 (criminal) that extracts criminal preparatory activities such as obscene acts, unnecessary staying acts, and peeping acts by suspicious persons from abnormal states around the vehicle based on information detected by the anomaly detection unit 29 Preliminary action determination means) and an alarm that generates a warning / alarm using means that can be recognized only by a suspicious person by a predetermined warning / alarm means when the crime preparatory action determination unit 30 determines a preliminary crime action It is comprised by the control part 31 (limited alarm generation means).
The abnormality detection unit 1 includes an infrared sensor 23, a radio wave sensor 24, and an abnormality detection unit 29.

The infrared sensor 23 detects infrared rays in the vicinity of a wavelength range (10 to 15 [μm]) emitted from a human body. However, since the window glass of a vehicle does not transmit infrared rays in this wavelength range, not only the door is opened but also the glass. It is possible to detect the suspicious person intruding into the vehicle interior including the crack in a limited manner.
The radio wave sensor 24 is installed inside or / and outside the vehicle, and the transmission antenna that constitutes the radio wave sensor 24 radiates a modulated or non-modulated electromagnetic wave. By receiving the electromagnetic wave reflected by the object in, detailed environmental information such as the position (distance / direction) of the object existing around the vehicle, the relative speed, and the size (shape) of the object is acquired. For this reason, for example, a pulse-modulated radio wave is emitted from a directional antenna to the space, and the radio wave reflected by the target is detected to detect the target, and the distance from the reception time delay to the target is measured. The target azimuth can be measured from the angle of the antenna beam.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the basic operation of the vehicle periphery monitoring system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing initialization processing of the vehicle periphery monitoring system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the criminal preliminary action determination processing of the vehicle periphery monitoring system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the stage warning process of the vehicle periphery monitoring system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the limited alarm processing of the vehicle periphery monitoring system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating suspicious points of the vehicle periphery monitoring system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In FIG. 8, the azimuth θ and the distance r of the target from the vehicle center are shown.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing setting of suspicious points in the vehicle periphery monitoring system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
In FIG. 9, an azimuth θ and a distance r are set for each area.

Next, the basic operation will be described with reference to FIG.
When the system is activated, first, initialization processing is performed, and information necessary for monitoring operation and criminal preliminary action determination processing is set from the parking position and time of the host vehicle (S301). Details of S301 (initialization processing) will be described later. Next, the monitoring control unit 28 activates the radio wave sensor 24, and the radio wave sensor 24 detects an abnormal state in the detection area around the vehicle (S302). Based on the abnormal state in the detection area around the vehicle detected by the radio wave sensor 24, the abnormality detection unit 29 searches for the presence or absence of a target that enters the monitoring area (S303). The monitoring area is defined inside the detection area of the radio wave sensor 24. When an abnormal state detected by the radio wave sensor 24 enters the monitoring area, the system tracks this abnormal state as a target.

The anomaly detection unit 29 continues to search for a target until a target that has entered the monitoring area is generated. When a target that has entered the monitoring area is found, the abnormality detection unit 29 proceeds to a pre-processing for a crime preparatory action determination process (S304). ). Here, the crime preliminary act determination unit 30 reads information necessary for the subsequent crime preliminary act determination process (coefficients and warning thresholds necessary for calculating a suspicious point, which will be described later) from the storage unit 22 as a preprocess ( S305).
Next, the crime preparatory action determination unit 30 calculates a suspicious point as an index representing the degree of suspiciousness according to the motion state of the target that has entered the monitoring area, and executes warning processing corresponding to the suspicious point step by step. Of the abnormal conditions around the vehicle, a gradual and limited warning is given to suspicious persons who make a preliminary criminal act that does not lead to unnecessary stays such as obscenity (S306). Details of the suspicious point and S306 (crime preliminary act determination processing) will be described later.

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a target determined to be an unnecessary stay by the crime preliminary act determination process (S306) (S307). Here, when a target determined to be an unnecessary stay occurs, the process proceeds to a limited alarm process (S308) in the subsequent stage, but when all targets deviate from the monitoring area, the target enters the monitoring area again. The search is continued until (S303).
Next, warning / alarm processing is executed for the target for which the alarm control unit 31 has been judged to be unnecessary stay (S308). Details of S308 (limited alarm processing) will be described later. After the predetermined warning / alarm processing is completed, the monitoring operation is continued until a monitoring cancellation instruction is input by the user (S309).

Next, the initialization process will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 4, the processing unit 21 of the system first reads information on the parking position of the host vehicle and the time from the outside (S401, 402). Next, the crime preparatory action determination unit 30 determines the allowable stay time Tc, the monitoring area as the determination criterion for the target intrusion, and the unnecessary stay as the determination criteria for the unnecessary stay based on the information on the parking position and the time. Information related to areas such as neighboring areas necessary for definition is referenced from the storage unit 22 (S403, S404).

Next, the crime preliminary act determination process (S306) will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 5, first, the abnormality detection unit 29 records detailed information on the positions and velocities of all targets that have entered the monitoring area from the detection result of the radio wave sensor 24 in the storage unit 22 as an action history, and performs criminal preliminary actions. Information necessary for the determination process is sequentially accumulated (S501). If there is no target that enters the monitoring area, the criminal preliminary action determination process is exited and the process proceeds to S307 in FIG. 3 (S502).
Next, by performing a quantitative examination of the suspicious degree of each target based on the action history of all the targets that have entered the monitoring area stored in the storage unit 22, the act of obscene act and the act of peeping A stepwise warning corresponding to the level of suspiciousness is given to the person (S503). The details of S503 (stage warning processing) will be described later. Next, it is determined whether there is a target existing in the vicinity area (S504). If there is a target that has entered the neighboring area, the stay time ts is added for each target (S505). If the target deviates from the neighboring area, the stay time is reset to zero. As long as there are targets in the monitoring area, steps S501 to S504 are executed for each target every cycle time (Δt).
It is determined whether the accumulated stay time ts accumulated for all targets existing in the vicinity area exceeds the allowable time tc set in S403 of the initialization process (S506). When a target whose continuous stay time ts exceeds the allowable time Tc is generated, an unnecessary stay determination is performed on the target (S507). Here, the steps S505 and S506 are additionally performed only for targets existing in the vicinity area.

Next, calculation of suspicious points necessary for the stage warning process (S503) will be described with reference to FIG.
The suspicious point is an index for quantitatively extracting the degree of suspiciousness from the motion state of the target detected by the system. When the suspicious point exceeds a predetermined threshold, a corresponding warning process is performed. .
For example, the suspicious point SNj when N cycles have elapsed (Δt × N [sec]) after the j-th target starts to enter the monitoring area is calculated as follows. However, the integration is performed before M cycles (Δt × M [sec]), and the integration cycle number M can be arbitrarily changed.

Here, αij is a coefficient of motion of the jth target at the i-cycle, and when the jth target is approaching or resting on the vehicle, αij = α1 (approach)> α3 (stationary)> 0 and the integrated value Will increase. When the jth target is away from the vehicle, αij = α2 <0 and the integrated value decreases.
Aij is the area coefficient of the j-th target at the time of i cycle, and its value is determined in a stepwise manner according to the distance from the vehicle surface. For example, the value increases as it approaches the vehicle.
Tij is the azimuth coefficient of the j-th target at the i-cycle, and its value is determined in stages according to the azimuth angle θ around the vehicle. For example, the value is set to be large in the angular range around the window. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the distance definition and the angle definition, and FIG. 9 illustrates an example of stepwise setting of αij, Aij, and Tij.
Since the area coefficient Aij, the direction coefficient Tij, the threshold value of the suspicious point and the warning content corresponding thereto vary depending on the parking location and time, as a pre-processing of the crime preliminary action determination process immediately after the target has entered the monitoring area The crime preliminary act determination unit 30 reads from the storage unit 22 (S305).

Next, a detailed flow of the stage warning process (S503) will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 6, first, the crime preliminary act determination unit 30 prepares for the calculation of suspicious points by referring to the action history of each target stored in the storage unit 22 (S601). And the crime preliminary act determination part 30 calculates the suspicious point used as the standard of crime preliminary act determination for every process cycle (S602). Furthermore, the crime preliminary act determination unit 30 refers to a database relating to a warning method stored in the storage unit 22, so that warning means when the suspicious point calculated in S602 exceeds a threshold value (read in S305), The contents such as the warning time are determined (S603). Then, in accordance with the contents of the decision, a limited warning is given to the target that performs the act of staying, unnecessary staying, peeping, etc. (S604).

  As a visual warning means, for example, the light emission pattern of the LED display used for the purpose of threatening the suspicious person or the purpose of confirming the operation is changed only in the direction in which the criminal preliminary act is present. In addition, by controlling the visible light transmittance of the window on the existing side, only the window on the side where the peeping action was detected is clouded or shielded, so that the warning is limited to the actors who conduct criminal acts. Recognize implementation.

As an auditory warning means, a weak acoustic signal is generated through a window, and a whispering voice is limited to a peeping person. Further, by changing the type and volume of the acoustic signal according to the suspicious degree, more effective warning can be performed.
In addition, for example, by generating a beam-like sound field using ultrasonic waves, warning / alarm sound may be propagated limited to a specific area. In principle, when audible sound is placed on directional ultrasonic waves, it is possible to listen to sound generated by distortion due to spatial propagation only in a specific area. As a method, a warning / alarm sound (audible sound) is taken into a digital envelope modulator and converted into an ultrasonic wave (non-audible sound). By amplifying the converted ultrasonic signal and radiating it with a radiator installed outside the vehicle, a warning can be given only to the area where the actor of the criminal preliminary act exists. That is, a sound source is provided either inside or outside the vehicle to give a warning.

  Multiple thresholds for suspicious points are set, and only the lowest level warning is executed when the first threshold is exceeded, but each time the suspicious point exceeds a higher threshold, Perform corresponding higher level warnings step by step. Warning actions that change according to the degree of suspiciousness can not only give more suspicious warnings to suspicious individuals, but can also provide limited warnings to suspicious targets under low suspicious conditions. It can be abandoned at an early stage just by implementing it. In this manner, the reliability of the system can be improved by eliminating unnecessary alarms, and power consumption for generating an excessive alarm sound for a target with a low suspicious degree can be reduced.

Next, the detailed flow of the limited alarm process (S308) will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 7, the alarm control unit 31 refers to the action history and the suspicious point history after the target to be alarmed enters the monitoring area in order to determine the level to be alarmed, until the unnecessary stay is made. Recognize the circumstances that led to (S701). This makes it possible to generate a stronger alarm when, for example, an unnecessary stay near the vehicle occurs due to repeated suspicious acts such as obscenity.
Next, the alarm control unit 31 refers to the alarm means corresponding to the history and the time Ta for which the alarm is continued from the storage unit 22 based on the action history and the suspicious point history referred to in S701 (S702). Then, the alarm control unit 31 uses the alarm means (the LED 25, the speaker 26, or the horn 27) referred to in S702 to generate an alarm limited to the direction of the target that is the alarm target for the alarm duration ta (see FIG. S703). After completing the alarm for the predetermined alarm duration Ta, the current positions of all targets in the monitoring area are observed again, and the action history is added (S704).

  If the alarmed target still remains in the vicinity area, the process returns to S703 to generate a limited alarm again (S705). On the other hand, if there are no targets in the neighboring area, the limited alarm process is terminated and the process proceeds to S309 in FIG. When an instruction to cancel monitoring is input by the user, the monitoring state of the system is canceled regardless of the timing. Until this monitoring cancellation instruction is input by the user, the process returns to S303 in FIG. 3 and the monitoring operation is continued.

A specific means for giving a warning only to a target determined to be a criminal act is realized by transmitting it to human vision or hearing. In particular, for a target with a high degree of suspiciousness, it is possible to transmit a stronger alarm by making both the audiovisual sense recognize.
As a visual warning means, for example, there is a criminal preparatory act such as a peeping action using a light emitting means installed inside or outside the vehicle, for example, an indicator such as an LED or strobe light. Only the direction (side) emits light (lights up / blinks) or changes the light emission state (flashing pattern) to give an alarm limited to a criminal act. Compared with the generation of the limited warning (S604), it is implemented by a stronger transmission means.

  As a warning means by hearing, a weak acoustic signal is generated through the window as in the case of the limited warning occurrence (S604), and a whispering sound is limited to a peeping person and recognized. In addition, for example, an alarm sound may be propagated limited to a specific area by creating a beam-like sound field using ultrasonic waves.

  In the above, the focus has been given on the detection of suspicious persons outside the vehicle by the radio wave sensor. However, if the intrusion into the vehicle interior by opening the door or splitting the window glass is monitored and detected using the infrared sensor 3. The alarm may be performed using the strongest alarm means without going through the crime preparatory judgment and the like as in the past.

  According to the first embodiment, it is possible to judge a criminal preliminary act such as vehicle theft, storming on the vehicle, mischief, etc. with respect to the object detected by the sensor, and perform a warning / alarm limited to the actor And a more reliable system.

1 is a basic configuration diagram showing a vehicle periphery monitoring system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the specific structure of the vehicle periphery monitoring system by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the basic operation | movement of the vehicle periphery monitoring system by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the initialization process of the vehicle periphery monitoring system by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the crime preliminary act determination processing of the vehicle periphery monitoring system by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the stage warning process of the vehicle periphery monitoring system by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the limited alarm process of the vehicle periphery monitoring system by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the suspicious point of the vehicle periphery monitoring system by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the setting of the suspicious point of the vehicle periphery monitoring system by Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Abnormality detection means 2 Crime preliminary act determination means 3 Limited alarm generation means 21 Processing part 22 Storage part 23 Infrared sensor 24 Radio wave sensor 25 LED
26 Speaker 27 Horn 28 Monitoring Control Unit 29 Abnormality Detection Unit 30 Crime Preliminary Action Determination Unit 31 Alarm Control Unit

Claims (12)

  An abnormality detection means for detecting an abnormal condition around the vehicle, a crime preliminary action determination means for determining whether the abnormal condition detected by the abnormality detection means is a criminal preliminary action for the vehicle, and the crime preliminary action determination means for the vehicle A vehicle periphery monitoring system, comprising: a limited alarm generating means for giving a warning only to an actor of the crime preliminary act when it is determined that the crime is a preliminary crime act.   2. The vehicle periphery monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the crime preliminary act determined by the crime preliminary act determining means is an unnecessary stay around the vehicle.   3. The vehicle periphery monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the criminal preliminary action determination means determines the unnecessary stay based on a measurement result of a position where the abnormal state is detected and a stay time.   2. The vehicle periphery monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the crime preparatory action determined by the crime preparatory action determining means is a criminal act around the vehicle.   5. The criminal act determination means determines the cunning act based on the detected movement distance range of the abnormal state and the measurement result of the staying time within the distance range. Vehicle periphery monitoring system.   6. The vehicle periphery monitoring according to claim 1, wherein the limited alarm generating means gives a visual warning by a light emitting means installed inside or outside the vehicle. system.   The visual warning by the limited alarm generating means is performed by irradiating light different from a normal light emission pattern only in a direction in which an actor of the criminal preliminary act exists. 6. The vehicle periphery monitoring system according to 6.   The said limited alarm generation means changes the visible light transmittance of the window looked at by the actor of the above-mentioned peeping action when the said criminal preparatory action is a peeping action. 6. The vehicle periphery monitoring system according to 6.   The vehicle periphery monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the limited alarm generating means performs an audible warning by a sound source installed either inside or outside the vehicle. .   The auditory warning by the limited alarm generation means is performed by generating an acoustic signal only in an area where the actor of the criminal preliminary act exists using the distortion phenomenon of the ultrasonic wave propagating in the air. The vehicle periphery monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein   10. The limited alarm generating means generates a weak acoustic signal at a level recognizable only by an operator of the peeping action when the criminal preparatory action is a peeping action. Vehicle periphery monitoring system.   The vehicle periphery monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the limited alarm generating unit changes a warning according to a degree of an abnormal state detected by the abnormality detecting unit.

Images