JP2006192938A - Alarm device for vehicle and alarm system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an alarm device for a vehicle enabling a driver to quickly recognize an alarm. <P>SOLUTION: This alarm device 20 has an abnormal state detection means 21a1 for detecting the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle to give the alarm of the abnormal state detected by the abnormal state detection means 21a1. The device 20 has a lighting control means 21a2 for controlling a switch of a lighting state and a turning off state in an indoor lighting system 10 by being electrically connected to the indoor lighting system 10 capable of switching the lighting state for performing lighting in a cabin of the vehicle and the turning off state not to perform the lighting in the cabin from the outside. The lighting control means 21a2 switches the indoor lighting system 10 to the lighting state according to the detection of the occurrence of the abnormal state by the abnormal state detection means 21a1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular warning device and a vehicular warning system, and more particularly to a vehicular warning device that detects and warns of occurrence of an abnormal state in a vehicle, and a vehicular warning system having a vehicular warning device. Is.

  In general, a display device for a vehicle provided in a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided in an instrument panel in front of the driver's seat so that a driver seated in the driver's seat can visually recognize the display of each instrument device via the steering wheel. Has been placed. This vehicular display device has a plurality of display areas indicating the traveling speed of the vehicle, the number of revolutions of the engine per unit time, the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank, the temperature of engine coolant, and the like. . These display areas are arranged efficiently in the same case so that the driver can understand the vehicle state at a glance.

  However, in recent years, the number of warning items has increased, and a large number of items with display patterns are arranged in the warning display area of the meter panel on which speedometers, engine tachometers, etc. are displayed. For this reason, the display area of each item cannot be taken sufficiently, and the visibility has been lowered. In addition, since these indicators are rarely displayed in normal times, it seems to be a dead space in the meter panel at first glance.

  In order to reduce the portion of the meter panel that is viewed as a dead space, a display device such as a liquid crystal display is used to display a virtual image in an empty space on the dial. However, since there is a limit to the empty space on the dial, even if a large display element is used, it cannot be effectively used.

  In addition, in order to increase the display area of the warning display, there is a display in which the warning display is superimposed on a display such as a tachometer. In this way, a virtual image of an index indicating a warning is superimposed on the display of the tachometer or the like. As a result, there was a new problem that the visibility of both displays deteriorated.

Therefore, a display device for a vehicle that displays an emphasized alarm screen with high visibility has been provided. According to this vehicle display device, when the detected vehicle state is an alarm state, the alarm screen is displayed as a virtual image superimposed on the display area, and only a schematic diagram of the alarm screen is displayed when a predetermined time has elapsed. Thus, it has become possible to enlarge the alarm screen for emphasizing the display (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-46505 A

  However, even if the alarm screen is highlighted as described above, it takes time to recognize the warning displayed in the display area because the driver who is driving travels while checking the situation outside the vehicle. In particular, the tendency was strong especially for the beginner driver and the driver who does not drive on a daily basis. Therefore, it is difficult for the driver to quickly recognize the abnormality that has occurred in the vehicle, and it has been an urgent task to solve this problem in the automobile industry.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle warning device and a vehicle warning system that allow a driver to quickly recognize a warning.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the vehicle warning device according to claim 1 according to the present invention has an abnormal state detecting means 21a1 for detecting the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle, as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. In the vehicle warning device 20 that warns of an abnormal state detected by the abnormal state detection means 21a1, the room can be switched from the outside to an illumination state in which the interior of the vehicle is illuminated and an unlit state in which the interior is not illuminated. It further includes illumination control means 21a2 that is electrically connected to the illumination apparatus 10 and controls switching between the illumination state and the extinguishing state in the indoor illumination apparatus 10, and the illumination control means 21a2 detects the abnormal state. The indoor lighting device 10 is switched to the lighting state in response to detection of occurrence of an abnormal state by the means 21a1.

  According to the vehicle warning device of the present invention described in claim 1, when the occurrence of an abnormal state such as an engine or a battery in the vehicle is detected by the abnormal state detecting means 21a1, the indoor lighting device 10 is controlled by the lighting control means. The illumination state is switched by the control of 21a2. Then, the interior of the vehicle is illuminated by the interior lighting device 10 in accordance with the switching to the illumination state.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 2 is the abnormality detected by the abnormal state detecting means 21a1 in the vehicle warning device according to claim 1, as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. It further has warning display means 32 for displaying an indicator showing the state and giving the warning, and the illumination control means 21a2 further responds to the abnormal state according to the detection of the occurrence of the abnormal state by the abnormal state detection means 21a1. The warning display means 32 is instructed to display the indicator.

  According to the vehicle warning device of the present invention described in claim 2 above, when the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle is detected by the abnormal state detecting means 21a1, the room lighting device 10 is switched to the lighting state by the lighting control means 21a2. At the same time, the display of the indicator corresponding to the abnormal state is instructed to the warning display unit 32 by the illumination control unit 21a2, whereby the indicator indicating the abnormal state is displayed on the warning display unit 32.

  In order to solve the above problems, the vehicle warning system according to claim 3 according to the present invention includes the vehicle warning device 20 according to claim 1 or 2 as shown in the basic configuration diagram of FIG. A vehicle warning system that warns of the occurrence of an abnormal state in a vehicle by the vehicle warning device 20, and is provided in a room of the vehicle to illuminate the room and to turn off the room. The interior lighting device 10 can be switched from the outside, and the interior lighting device 10 can be switched to the illumination state by the control by the vehicle warning device 20 in response to the occurrence of the abnormal state. It is characterized by.

  According to the vehicle warning system of the present invention described in claim 3, when the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle is detected by the vehicle warning device 20, the room lighting device 10 is brought into an illumination state by the vehicle warning device 20. It is switched to illuminate the vehicle interior. Further, when the vehicle warning device 20 has the warning display means 32, the interior of the vehicle is illuminated and an indicator indicating an abnormal state is displayed by the warning display means 32.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 4 is as shown in a basic configuration diagram of FIG. 1. In the vehicle warning device according to claim 3, the interior lighting device 10 further includes the abnormality. A warning state in which the interior of the vehicle is illuminated with a warning color indicating the occurrence of the state, and the lighting control unit 21a2 of the vehicle warning device 20 further responds to the detection of the occurrence of the abnormal state by the abnormal state detection unit 21a1. The indoor lighting device 10 is switched to the warning state.

  According to the vehicle warning system of the present invention described in claim 4 above, when the indoor lighting device 10 has a warning state, when the vehicle warning device 20 detects the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle, The interior lighting device 10 is switched to a warning state by the vehicle warning device 20 and illuminates the vehicle interior with a warning color.

  As described above, according to the vehicle warning device of the first aspect of the present invention, the interior lighting device is switched to the illumination state in response to the detection of the occurrence of the abnormal state in the vehicle. The change can make the driver recognize the occurrence of an abnormal condition. In addition, by using the vehicle interior lighting device as a means for warning the occurrence of an abnormal condition, it is possible for a passenger or a nearby person to recognize the occurrence of an abnormal condition in the vehicle. Therefore, since the driver can quickly recognize the warning by using the interior lighting device of the vehicle, an accident can be prevented in advance.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the vehicle interior lighting device is illuminated in response to the detection of the occurrence of the abnormal state in the vehicle, and the abnormal state is dealt with. Since the display of the indicator is linked, the driver and passengers can recognize the occurrence of the abnormal state by the indoor lighting, and the driver can recognize the abnormal state by the displayed indicator. Therefore, accidents can be prevented more reliably.

  As described above, according to the vehicle warning system of the present invention described in claim 3, when the vehicle warning device detects the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle, the indoor lighting device is switched to the lighting state to illuminate the room. As a result, the driver can be made aware of the occurrence of an abnormal condition due to changes in room lighting. Further, by using room lighting as a means for warning the occurrence of an abnormal condition, it is possible for a passenger or a nearby person to recognize the occurrence of an abnormal condition in the vehicle. Furthermore, since the indoor lighting device mounted on the vehicle can be used, the system configuration is not complicated. Therefore, since the driver can quickly recognize the warning by using the interior lighting device of the vehicle, an accident can be prevented in advance.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the third aspect of the invention, if the indoor lighting device has a warning state in which illumination is performed with a warning color, the vehicle responds to the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle. Thus, since the vehicle warning device switches the indoor lighting device to the warning state, the driver can be made to recognize the occurrence of the abnormal state more quickly due to the change to the warning color of the indoor lighting. Moreover, since the interior lighting device is illuminated with a warning color, it is possible to easily distinguish between normal illumination and illumination in response to the occurrence of an abnormal state. Accordingly, the driver can be made to recognize the warning even more quickly, so that an accident can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle warning device and a vehicle warning system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS.

  Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of warning in the in-vehicle warning system according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display example of a warning light on the meter in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a vehicle warning device according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of warning control processing executed by the CPU of FIG.

  2 to 4, an in-vehicle warning system 100 according to the present invention includes a plurality of indoor lighting devices 10 provided in a vehicle 1 and a combination meter provided in an instrument panel (instrument) 2 of the vehicle 1. (Meter) 3 has a vehicle warning device 20 that displays a warning indicating an abnormal state of the vehicle in a display area and issues a warning.

  In the best mode, the front personal lamp that illuminates the front seat of the vehicle 1 is provided with the interior lighting device 10A, the rear personal lamp that illuminates the rear seat of the vehicle 1 is provided with the interior illumination device 10B, and the assistant is provided in the passenger seat of the vehicle 1. A case will be described in which the interior illumination device 10C is used as a vanity lamp that illuminates a seat, and the interior illumination device 10 is used as an interior illumination device 10D as a footlamp that illuminates the feet of a passenger compartment.

  The indoor lighting device 10 is not limited to the above-described configuration, and the indoor lighting device 10 of the present invention can be used for other lamps provided in the room such as a map lamp and a door courtesy lamp of the vehicle 1.

  The interior lighting devices 10A to 10D are configured to be switchable from the outside between an illumination state in which the interior of the vehicle 1 is illuminated according to each installation location and an unlit state in which the interior illumination is not performed. The circuit 23 is electrically connected. And in this best form, interior lighting device 10A-D has the warning state which performs indoor lighting by the warning color which shows the said lighting state, the said light extinction state, and the occurrence of the abnormal state in vehicles 1. And a switching unit that switches to one of an illumination state, a warning state, and a light-off state in accordance with an instruction from the control circuit 23. In addition, when setting it as the illumination color same as the warning color of the warning display apparatus 32, a light source part is comprised so that it can light-emit by switching the several light source corresponding to those display colors.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the combination meter 3 includes a speedometer 31A indicating the traveling speed of the vehicle 1, a tachometer 31B indicating the number of revolutions of the engine per unit time, and a fuel meter indicating the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank. 31C, a configuration having various known instruments such as a thermometer 31D indicating the temperature of cooling water of the engine, and a warning display device 32 for displaying various indicators (warning icons) indicating abnormal states of devices and the like in the vehicle It has become. And each apparatus apparatus which comprises the meter 1 is efficiently arrange | positioned in the same case so that a driver | operator can understand the state of a vehicle at a glance. Note that the warning display device 32 can have various configurations such as a display by lighting a lamp and a display by a liquid crystal display as long as various indicators can be displayed.

  The vehicle warning device 20 includes a well-known microprocessor (MPU) 21. The MPU 21 stores a central processing unit (CPU) 21a that performs various processes and controls according to a predetermined program, a ROM 21b that is a read-only memory that stores programs for the CPU 21a, and various data. A RAM 21c, which is a readable / writable memory having an area necessary for processing operations of the CPU 21a, is provided.

  The ROM 21b further includes an abnormal state detection means for detecting the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle 1, and controls the switching between the illumination state and the extinguishing state in the indoor lighting device 10, and the abnormal state detection means generates the abnormal state. Various programs for causing the CPU 21a to function as various means according to the present invention, such as an illumination control means for switching the indoor lighting device 10 to the illumination state in response to detection of the above, are stored.

  The vehicular warning device 20 further has a storage unit 22 made of an EEPROM or the like having various storage areas necessary for the processing work of the CPU 21a, capable of holding various stored data even when the power supply is cut off. The MPU 21 is connected so as to be readable and writable. And the memory | storage part 22 is the warning item information which shows each warning state of the warning items (for example, engine abnormality, battery abnormality, etc.) predetermined in the vehicle 1, and whether indoor lighting apparatus 10A-10D is an illumination state. Various information such as an indoor lighting state flag indicating the above is stored.

  The vehicle warning device 20 further includes a control circuit 23 that controls the display of the warning display device 32 that is incorporated in the meter 3 so as to be visible to the driver, and this control circuit 23 is connected to the MPU 21. Note that the warning display device 32 is configured to display indicators indicating various abnormalities in the vehicle state by a warning light, a liquid crystal display, or the like.

  The control circuit 23 is electrically connected to the warning display device 32, and the control circuit 23 controls the display of the warning display device 32 in accordance with an instruction signal input from the MPU 21. Further, the control circuit 23 is electrically connected to each of the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D described above, and switches the lighting state between the lighting and extinguishing of any indoor lighting device 10 from the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D. The configuration is possible.

  In the best mode, the case where the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D are controlled by using the control circuit 23 will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an in-vehicle LAN provided in the vehicle 1 is used. Various forms such as switching the illumination state by communication, wireless communication, or the like can be employed. Further, the warning display device 32 may be configured to be incorporated in the vehicle warning device 20.

  Then, the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D described above change to the warning state according to the input of the warning illumination start signal from the control circuit 23, perform illumination with the warning color, and input the warning illumination end signal. Accordingly, the state changes to the illumination state or the extinguishing state, and the warning illumination is terminated.

  The vehicle warning device 20 further includes an interface unit 24, and the interface unit 24 is connected to the MPU 21. The interface unit 24 includes a plurality of ports for connecting a plurality of electronic devices 40A to 40N mounted on the vehicle 1. And the sensor output according to the vehicle state which the electronic devices 40A-N connected to those ports output is input into MPU21 via the interface part 24. FIG.

  For example, the electronic devices 40A to 40N are devices having various switches that indicate states of a park brake, a seat belt, a headlight, and the like, various sensors that indicate states of engine oil pressure, brake fluid level, and the like. Then, the CPU 21a determines whether or not an abnormal state has occurred in the vehicle 1 by comparing the input sensor output with a predetermined determination condition.

  In the best mode, the case where the vehicular warning device 20 detects an abnormal state based on sensor outputs from the electronic devices 40A to 40N will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, The electronic devices 40A to 40N detect an abnormal state, and an abnormal signal indicating abnormality detection is input to the vehicle warning device 20 according to this detection, and the vehicle warning device 20 detects the occurrence of the abnormal state according to the input. For example, various forms can be adopted.

  Next, an example of warning control processing according to the present invention executed by the CPU 21a of the vehicle warning device 20 in the vehicle warning system 100 described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In order to simplify the description, here, a warning control process corresponding to an engine abnormality will be described.

  When the warning control process shown in FIG. 5 is executed by the CPU 21a, in step S11, the sensor output is read from the electronic device 40A that monitors the engine abnormality via the interface unit 24, stored in the RAM 21c, and then proceeds to step S12. .

  In step S12 (abnormal state detection means), the sensor output of the RAM 21c is compared with a predetermined determination condition, and it is determined whether the sensor output is normal based on the determination result. If it is determined to be normal (Y in S12), the process proceeds to step S21. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is not normal, that is, abnormal (N in S12), the process proceeds to step S13.

  In step S13 (illumination control means), the item of engine abnormality in the warning item information of the storage unit 22 is set during warning, and display instruction information for instructing display of an index corresponding to the engine abnormality is generated to the control circuit 23. As a result, the display instruction information is input (transmitted) to the warning display device 32, and an indicator (warning icon) corresponding to the engine abnormality is displayed on the warning display device 32 as shown in FIG. Proceed to S14.

  In step S <b> 14, it is determined based on the indoor lighting state flag in the storage unit 22 whether or not the interior of the vehicle 1 is turned off. If it is determined that the light is not turned off (N in S14), it is considered that the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D are already in the lighting state due to the occurrence of another abnormal state, and the process proceeds to step S16. On the other hand, if it is determined that the light is off (Y in S14), the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S15 (lighting control means), the indoor lighting state flag in the storage unit 22 is set during lighting, warning lighting instruction information for instructing the start of warning lighting is generated and output to the control circuit 23, thereby warning. Lighting instruction information is input (transmitted) to each of the room lighting devices 10A to 10D, and each of the room lighting devices 10A to 10D starts lighting based on the warning lighting instruction information, and then proceeds to step S16.

  In step S16, as in step S11, the sensor output is read from the electronic device 40A via the interface unit 24 and stored in the RAM 21c. In step S17 (abnormal state detecting means), the sensor output of the RAM 21c is predetermined. The determination condition is compared, and based on the determination result, it is determined whether the sensor output is normal. If it is determined that it is not normal (N in S17), the process returns to step S16, and a series of processing is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the engine is normal (Y in S17), it is considered that the engine abnormality has been resolved, and the process proceeds to step S18.

  In step S18 (illumination control means), the item of engine abnormality in the warning item information of the storage unit 22 is set to be turned off, and display end instruction information for instructing the end of display of the indicator corresponding to the engine abnormality is generated to generate the control circuit. 23, the display end instruction information is input (transmitted) to the warning display device 32, and the display of the indicator (warning light) corresponding to the engine abnormality displayed on the warning display device 32 is ended. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S19.

  In step S19, the warning item information in the storage unit 22 is referred to determine whether there are other warning items that are in a warning state. Based on the determination result, whether there are other warning state items. Is determined. If it is determined that there are others (Y in S19), since there are others in the alarm state, it is considered that an instruction to turn off the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D is unnecessary, and the process proceeds to step S21. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no other alarm state (N in S19), the process proceeds to step S20.

  In step S20 (lighting control means), the indoor lighting state flag in the storage unit 22 is set to be turned off, warning lighting end information for instructing the end of warning lighting is generated and output to the control circuit 23, thereby warning. Lighting end information is input (transmitted) to each of the room lighting devices 10A to 10D, and each of the room lighting devices 10A to 10D ends lighting based on the warning lighting end information, and then proceeds to step S21.

  In step S21, it is determined whether an end request has been received. If it is determined that an end request has not been received (N in S21), the process returns to step S11 and a series of processes are repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined that an end request has been received (S21Y), the process ends.

  As is clear from the above description, in the present best mode, the CPU 21a functions as an abnormal state detection means and an illumination control means in the claims.

  Next, an example of the operation (action) of the interior lighting devices 10A to 10D and the vehicle warning device 20 constituting the vehicle warning system 100 of the present invention will be described below.

  When an abnormality occurs in the engine of the vehicle 1, the vehicle warning device 20 detects the occurrence of the abnormality based on the sensor output input from the electronic device 40 </ b> A, and displays an indicator (warning The display of the icon) is instructed, and the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D are switched to the warning state. As a result, the warning device 32 displays an index indicating engine abnormality as in the prior art, and the interior of the vehicle 1 is illuminated by the interior illumination devices 10A to 10D of the vehicle 1.

  As described above, when the vehicle warning device 20 detects the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle 1, the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D are switched to the warning state (illumination state) to illuminate the room. It is possible to make the driver recognize the occurrence of an abnormal condition by changing the illumination. Further, by using the room lighting devices 10A to 10D as means for warning the occurrence of the abnormal state, it is possible for the passengers and the surrounding people to recognize the occurrence of the abnormal state in the vehicle 1. Furthermore, since the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D mounted on the vehicle 1 can be used, the system configuration is not complicated. Accordingly, since the driver can be made to recognize the warning quickly, an accident can be prevented in advance.

  Further, when the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D have a warning state in which illumination with warning colors is performed, the vehicle warning device 20 switches the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D to the warning state in response to the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle 1. Since it did in this way, it can make a driver | operator recognize more rapidly generation | occurrence | production of an abnormal condition by the change to the warning color of interior lighting. Accordingly, the driver can be made to recognize the warning even more quickly, so that an accident can be prevented.

  In the above-described best mode, a case has been described in which when the vehicle warning device 20 detects the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle 1, all of the room lighting devices 10A to 10D are illuminated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a level may be set for each warning item, and only the indoor lighting devices 10A to 10D corresponding to the level may be illuminated.

It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the warning system for vehicles which has the warning device for vehicles of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the warning example in the warning system for vehicles based on this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the example of a display of the warning lamp in the meter in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the warning device for vehicles which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the warning control process which CPU of FIG. 4 performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Interior lighting apparatus 20 Warning device for vehicles 21a1 Abnormal state detection means (CPU)
21a2 Illumination control means (CPU)
32 Warning display means (warning display device)
100 Vehicle warning system

Claims (4)

In a vehicle warning device that has an abnormal state detection means for detecting occurrence of an abnormal state in a vehicle and warns of an abnormal state detected by the abnormal state detection means,
Electrically connected to an indoor lighting device that can be switched from outside to an illumination state in which the interior of the vehicle is illuminated and an unlit state in which the indoor illumination is not performed, and the illumination state and the unlit state in the indoor illumination device Lighting control means for controlling switching between and
The vehicle warning device, wherein the lighting control unit switches the indoor lighting device to the lighting state in response to detection of occurrence of an abnormal state by the abnormal state detecting unit. Warning display means for displaying the index indicating the abnormal state detected by the abnormal state detection means and performing the warning;
The illumination control unit further instructs the warning display unit to display the indicator corresponding to the abnormal state in response to detection of occurrence of the abnormal state by the abnormal state detection unit. The vehicle warning device according to 1. A vehicle warning system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicle warning device warns the occurrence of an abnormal state in the vehicle by the vehicle warning device,
An indoor lighting device that is provided in the interior of the vehicle and that can be switched from the outside to an illumination state that illuminates the room and an unlit state that does not illuminate the room;
The vehicle warning system, wherein the room lighting device is switched to the lighting state by control by the vehicle warning device in response to the occurrence of the abnormal state. The indoor lighting device further has a warning state for lighting the room with a warning color indicating the occurrence of the abnormal state,
The illumination control means of the warning device for a vehicle further switches the indoor lighting device to the warning state in response to detection of occurrence of an abnormal state by the abnormal state detection means. Vehicle warning system.

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