JP2005178536A - Vehicular obstacle detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular obstacle detection device capable of paying attention to an obstacle around a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular obstacle detection device comprises a control circuit 1, a sonar sensor 2, an LED 3, a buzzer 4 and a vehicle speed sensor 5. The control circuit 1 determines whether or not the distance d from a vehicle (the sonar sensor 2) to an obstacle (for example, a person) is equal to or less than a predetermined value (e.g., 50 cm) based on the distance d transmitted from the sonar sensor 2. The control circuit 1 determines that the obstacle is present if the distance d from the vehicle to the obstacle is equal to or less than the predetermined value, transmits the control signal to at least either the LED 3 or the buzzer 4, and informs that the vehicle is approaching toward the external part of the vehicle from at least either the LED 3 or the buzzer 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an obstacle detection device for a vehicle.

  Conventionally, as an obstacle detection device that detects an obstacle around a vehicle, for example, there is an obstacle detection device disclosed in Patent Document 1.

The obstacle detection apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 detects a steering angle sensor that detects a steering angle, a wheel speed sensor that detects a wheel speed, a shift position sensor that detects a shift position, and an obstacle in the right direction of the vehicle. From an FR sensor that is an ultrasonic sensor for detecting an obstacle in the left direction of the vehicle, an FL sensor that is an ultrasonic sensor for detecting an obstacle in the left direction of the vehicle, and a steering angle sensor, a wheel speed sensor, a shift position sensor, an FR sensor, and an FL sensor ECU which receives the signal of and performs an obstacle detection process. When the position of the vehicle approaches the obstacle by a predetermined value or more, a warning is notified from the speaker with a buzzer sound or voice, or the fact that the obstacle is nearby is displayed on the display.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 15-114276

  However, although the obstacle detection device described in Patent Document 1 can notify the driver that there is an obstacle around the vehicle, for example, when the obstacle is a person, It is not possible to call attention to a person.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle obstacle detection device that can call attention to obstacles around the vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above object, an obstacle detection device for a vehicle according to claim 1 is an obstacle detection means for detecting a distance to an obstacle around the vehicle, and a notification for informing vehicle approach toward the outside of the vehicle. And a control means for notifying the approach of the vehicle by the notification means when the distance to the obstacle around the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined notification distance.

  According to this, when the distance to the obstacle around the vehicle is equal to or less than the predetermined notification distance, the approach of the vehicle is notified toward the outside of the vehicle, so that it is possible to call attention to the obstacle around the vehicle.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle obstacle detection device, wherein the notification means and the obstacle detection means are provided integrally.

  According to this, since the notification means and the obstacle detection means are provided integrally, wiring connection between the notification means and the obstacle detection means can be easily performed.

  The vehicle obstacle detection device according to claim 3 is characterized in that the notification means includes at least one of sound output means for outputting sound and light output means for outputting light. In this way, attention can be drawn to obstacles around the vehicle by outputting at least one of sound and light.

  Further, in the vehicle obstacle detection device according to claim 4, the obstacle detection means is provided at a plurality of locations of the vehicle, and the control means is an obstacle in which the distance to the obstacle around the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined notification distance. The notification means provided integrally with the object detection means notifies the approach of the vehicle.

  According to this, since the approach of the vehicle is notified by the notification means provided integrally with the obstacle detection means in which the distance to the obstacle around the vehicle is equal to or less than the predetermined notification distance, the notification closest to the obstacle Since the approach of the vehicle can be notified by the means, the approach of the vehicle can be recognized more easily.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle obstacle detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of the vehicle obstacle detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention attached to the vehicle. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a sonar sensor of the vehicle obstacle detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The vehicle obstacle detection device includes a control circuit 1, a sonar sensor 2, an LED 3, a buzzer 4, and a vehicle speed sensor 5. The control circuit 1 is an electronic control device that includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a bus line that connects them. A sonar sensor 2, an LED 3, a buzzer 4, and a vehicle speed sensor 5 are connected to the control circuit 1.

  The sonar sensor 2 is installed in bumpers on the front and rear sides of the vehicle. The sonar sensor 2 includes a transmission / reception unit 2a, an LED 3, a bethel 2b, and the like.

  The transmission / reception unit 2a includes transmission and reception piezoelectric elements made of PZT (piezoelectric ceramic) as a vibrator. The LED 3 notifies that the vehicle is approaching toward the outside of the vehicle based on the control signal from the control circuit 1. The vessel 2b houses the transmission / reception unit 2a and the LED 3, and is formed of a light-transmitting member so that the light of the LED 3 leaking from the gap with the transmission / reception unit 2a can be output to the outside.

  The sonar sensor 2 transmits an ultrasonic wave having a frequency in the inaudible range toward the outside of the vehicle by applying an AC voltage to the transmitting piezoelectric element of the transmission / reception unit 2a to vibrate the piezoelectric element, and is reflected by an obstacle. Sound waves are received by the receiving piezoelectric element of the transmitting / receiving unit 2a and converted into electrical signals. The sonar sensor 2 measures a time T required from transmission to reception of ultrasonic waves by a control device (not shown). Further, based on the time T, the control device calculates a distance d from the vehicle (sonar sensor 2) to the obstacle using the following formulas 1 and 2, and transmits the distance d to the control circuit 1.

(Equation 1) d = C (T) / 2
(Equation 2) C = 3.31 + 0.6F
F: Outside temperature (° C)
C: Propagation speed of ultrasonic pulse (m / s)
The outside air temperature (° C.) according to the above formula may be set to about 25 ° C. (room temperature) in advance. When it is necessary to calculate the distance d precisely, the control circuit 1 may measure the outside air temperature with a temperature sensor (not shown) and use the outside air temperature.

  The buzzer 4 comprises a sound emission mechanism such as a speaker, for example, and notifies that the vehicle is approaching toward the outside of the vehicle based on a control signal from the control circuit 1.

  The vehicle speed sensor 5 includes a rotor provided on a rotating shaft of a wheel and having a plurality of protrusions formed on the outer periphery thereof, and an electromagnetic pickup provided on the vehicle body side and having a coil formed around a permanent magnet. When the rotor rotates, a change occurs in the strength of the magnetic field passing through the rotor and the permanent magnet according to the rotation speed, and an AC voltage is generated in the coil accordingly. This AC voltage signal (detection signal) is input to the control circuit 1, and the control circuit 1 calculates the vehicle speed by obtaining the rotational speed of the rotor (wheel) from the frequency of the AC voltage signal (detection signal).

  Next, the processing operation of the vehicle obstacle detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the vehicle obstacle detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The flow shown in FIG. 4 starts when the vehicle speed of the vehicle calculated by the detection signal from the vehicle speed sensor 5 becomes 10 km / h or less.

  In step S1, based on the distance d transmitted from the sonar sensor 2, the control circuit 1 determines whether the distance d from the vehicle (sonar sensor 2) to the obstacle (for example, a person) is a predetermined value (for example, 50 cm) or less. Determine whether.

  In step S2, the control circuit 1 determines that there is an obstacle when the distance d from the vehicle to the obstacle is not more than a predetermined value, and proceeds to step S3. On the other hand, if the distance d from the vehicle to the obstacle is not less than the predetermined value, the control circuit 1 considers that there is no obstacle and ends the process.

  In step S3, the control circuit 1 transmits a control signal to at least one of the LED 3 or the buzzer 4 to notify that the vehicle is approaching from at least one of the LED 3 or the buzzer 4 toward the outside of the vehicle.

  In addition, it is preferable that the sonar sensor 2 is installed in about four places at predetermined intervals on each of the front and rear bumpers. In this case, the control circuit 1 determines whether the distance d from the vehicle to the obstacle is not more than a predetermined value for each of the plurality of sonar sensors 2. When the control circuit 1 determines that the distance d from the vehicle to the obstacle is equal to or less than the predetermined value and there is an obstacle, the control circuit 1 transmits a control signal to the LED 3 provided in the sonar sensor 2 that transmits the distance d. LED3 which received the control signal alert | reports that the vehicle is approaching toward the vehicle exterior similarly to the above-mentioned.

  In this way, by notifying that the vehicle is approaching toward the outside of the vehicle from the LED 3 provided in the sonar sensor 2 where the distance d to the obstacle is a predetermined value or less, Since the approach of the vehicle can be notified by the near LED 3, the approach of the vehicle can be more easily recognized.

  In the present embodiment, the determination as to whether or not the distance d from the vehicle to the obstacle is equal to or less than a predetermined value has been described using an example calculated by the control circuit 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. Is not to be done. Whether the distance d from the vehicle (sonar sensor 2) to the obstacle is calculated by using the time T required from transmission to reception of the ultrasonic pulse by the sonar sensor 2, and is the distance d equal to or less than a predetermined value (for example, 50 cm)? It may be determined whether or not.

  In the present embodiment, the example in which the sonar sensor 2 is provided with the LED 3 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an existing lighting device may be used for a vehicle such as a headlight or a tail lamp.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which both the LED 3 and the buzzer 4 are provided has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. There is no need to provide the buzzer 4 when notifying that the vehicle is approaching with the LED 3, and there is no need to provide the LED 3 when notifying that the vehicle is approaching with the buzzer 4.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the obstacle detection apparatus for vehicles in embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the example of attachment to the vehicle of the obstacle detection apparatus for vehicles in embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the sonar sensor of the obstacle detection apparatus for vehicles in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation of the obstacle detection apparatus for vehicles in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 control circuit, 2 sonar sensor, 2a transceiver, 2b vessel, 3 LED, 4 buzzer, 5 vehicle speed sensor

Claims (4)

Obstacle detection means for detecting the distance to obstacles around the vehicle;
An informing means for informing the approach of the vehicle toward the outside of the vehicle;
An obstacle detection apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a control unit that notifies the approach of the vehicle by the notification unit when a distance to an obstacle around the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined notification distance. The vehicle obstacle detection device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit and the obstacle detection unit are integrally provided. The vehicle obstacle detection device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit includes at least one of a sound output unit that outputs sound and a light output unit that outputs light. The obstacle detection means is provided at a plurality of locations of the vehicle, and the control means is a vehicle that is provided with the notification means provided integrally with the obstacle detection means in which the distance to the obstacle around the vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined notification distance. The vehicle obstacle detection device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the approach of the vehicle is notified.

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