JP2006298245A - Alarm device for vehicle and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively and efficiently call off an alarm to remind a person around a vehicle, which is detected by a personnel sensor mechanism, of the dangers. <P>SOLUTION: When a personnel sensor attached to a vehicle detects a person as a target to be alarmed around a vehicle (a step S100), a control command of an alarm output terminal is issued after performing directivity operation processing for outputting an alarm toward the target (a step S200). Since each alarm output terminal calls off a predetermined alarm according to the control command to output the alarm with directivity is output to the target (a step S300), the alarm is efficiently called off against the person around the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an alarm device for a vehicle, and more particularly to an alarm device that alerts people around the vehicle and a vehicle including the alarm device.

  In recent years, attention has been focused on hybrid vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, electric vehicles, and the like that travel by driving force from a motor as one of countermeasures for environmental problems. In such a vehicle, when the vehicle is driven by a motor, the operation sound of the motor is smaller than the operation sound of the engine, so it is necessary to make other vehicles or pedestrians around the vehicle recognize the presence of the vehicle. Occurs.

  In view of such a problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-2424 (Patent Document 1) discloses a pedestrian danger detection system mounted on an electric vehicle or the like. This pedestrian danger detection system executes object detection by a laser beam detection device and a radio wave detection device provided at a front portion of an electric vehicle and generation of a variable sound volume simulation running sound from a speaker by computer control. When an emergency accident is avoided, an emergency danger is emitted from a speaker to a pedestrian or the like, and when an emergency accident is avoided, a mobile phone is transmitted from a vehicle to warn by voice.

According to the pedestrian danger detection system disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to introduce the prevention of pedestrian accidents caused by the reduction of running noise due to the introduction of an electric vehicle with an inexpensive device. In particular, it is an apparatus that can be easily manufactured even with an existing apparatus, and the system itself is advantageous in that the new technology can be used immediately even if a car navigation system or a new technology is introduced.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-2424

  However, the pedestrian danger detection system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is for detecting a danger caused by the approach of the vehicle to a person around the vehicle sensed by a laser beam or radio wave more reliably and efficiently. There is a lack of specific disclosure regarding the mechanism of alarm generation. In particular, if it is configured to notify the approach of the vehicle throughout the traveling direction of the vehicle, depending on the type of alarm, excessive discomfort may be given around the vehicle when an effective alarm is issued to the person who is the target of warning output. There is a possibility that.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to effectively and efficiently alert people around a vehicle detected by an interpersonal sensing mechanism. An alarm device for a vehicle for issuing an alarm for prompting the vehicle and a vehicle equipped with the alarm device are provided.

  The alarm device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a human sensing means, an alarm output means, and a directivity calculation means. The person sensing means senses a person around or in the vicinity of the vehicle. An alarm output means is provided for outputting a directional alarm to the outside of the vehicle. The directivity calculating means generates a control instruction for issuing an alarm toward the person sensed by the person sensing means based on the information acquired by the person sensing means. The alarm output means outputs an alarm according to the control instruction generated by the directivity calculation means.

  In the vehicle alarm device, when a person around or in the vicinity of the vehicle is detected, a directional alarm can be output to the detected person. Therefore, it is possible to effectively alert the person who is the target of warning output. Moreover, the discomfort given to the whole vehicle periphery by warning output can be suppressed.

  Preferably, the vehicle alarm device according to the present invention further includes a risk determination unit and an alarm selection unit. Further, the alarm output means can output a plurality of types of directional alarms. The risk level determination means determines the risk level of the person sensed by the human sensing means based on the traveling direction and speed of the vehicle, and the alarm selection means is based on the risk level determined by the risk level determination means. Select one of these. The alarm output means includes means for outputting the alarm selected by the alarm selection means in accordance with the control instruction generated by the directivity calculation means.

  According to the alarm device for a vehicle, the type of alarm (for example, music, melody, horn sound, siren, etc.) can be selectively output as a directional alarm according to the degree of danger. Therefore, it is possible to issue a warning that urges high-risk people to be alerted, while giving a warning that does not cause discomfort to low-risk people. it can. Accordingly, it is possible to more effectively and surely prompt attention to a warning output target with a high degree of danger without causing excessive discomfort to the surroundings.

  Preferably, in the vehicle alarm device according to the present invention, the alarm is an alarm sound in a predetermined mode.

  According to the above-described vehicle alarm device, the vehicle is generated without generating discomfort to the people around the vehicle by generating a warning sound (for example, a melody) in a predetermined mode for the people around the vehicle. Recognize the existence of and call attention.

  More preferably, the vehicle alarm device according to the present invention further includes a reception instruction unit, a storage unit, and an alarm setting unit. In addition, the vehicle includes a communication unit that can communicate with a base station outside the vehicle. The reception instruction means is provided for receiving data corresponding to the form of the alarm sound through the communication means. The storage means accumulates the received data. The alarm setting unit sets the mode of the alarm sound based on the data accumulated in the storage unit when the alarm is output by the alarm output unit.

  In the vehicle alarm device, data corresponding to an alarm sound mode (for example, melody, electronic sound, music, etc.) is received via the communication means, and the alarm sound mode is set based on the received data. Can do. As a result, the driver's desired melody and the like that can be acquired by downloading from the base station can be set as the warning sound mode.

  Preferably, the alarm device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a plurality of alarm output means and further includes an alarm selection means. The plurality of alarm output units can output different types of directional alarms, and the alarm selection unit selects one of the plurality of alarm output units based on the surrounding situation of the vehicle. The alarm output unit selected by the alarm selection unit among the plurality of alarm output units outputs a directional alarm according to the control instruction generated by the directivity calculation unit.

  According to the vehicle alarm device, based on the vehicle surroundings (illuminance, whether there is rainfall, noise, etc.), a warning that can effectively draw attention in the surroundings is divided into multiple types of warnings (sound, Light, smell, etc.) can be selectively output.

  More preferably, the vehicle alarm device according to the present invention further includes an alarm determination means. An electric motor and an internal combustion engine are mounted on the vehicle as a driving force source, and the alarm determination unit determines the necessity of alarm output from the alarm output unit according to the traveling state of the vehicle. The alarm output means outputs a directional alarm when the alarm determination means determines that alarm output is necessary.

  Particularly in such a configuration, the alarm determination unit determines that the alarm output from the alarm output unit is necessary when the sound generated during the self-running of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. Alternatively, the determination by the alarm determination means is performed based on the rotational speed of at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor.

  According to the vehicle alarm device described above, in a so-called hybrid vehicle in which an electric motor and an internal combustion engine are mounted as a driving force source, the alarm output means outputs a signal depending on the vehicle running state (travel mode, motor / internal combustion engine speed). After determining the necessity of alarm output, it is determined whether or not to output an alarm to people around the vehicle. Therefore, when it is determined that the sound (running sound level) generated during the self-running of the vehicle is small (when the vehicle is running with the driving force of only the electric motor, or at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor) When it is determined that the running sound of the vehicle is low based on the number of rotations of the vehicle), a directivity alarm can be automatically generated to alert the people around the vehicle. In addition, when the running sound of the vehicle is loud, a directivity alarm is not automatically generated for people around the vehicle, so that it is possible to prevent the vehicle from being uncomfortable.

  A vehicle according to the present invention includes a horn generating means and the vehicle alarm device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The first horn is generated in response to the operation of the horn generating means and the first operating element. Furthermore, the alarm device outputs an alarm as a second horn that satisfies at least one of the first condition that the volume is equal to or lower than the first horn and the second condition that is different from the first horn. Output.

  According to the vehicle, the first horn (for example, a horn that satisfies the statutory standard of the related art) can be generated in response to the operation of the first operation element (the horn switch) by the vehicle occupant. The presence of the vehicle can be recognized by the generation of the second horn having directivity for the person around or near the vehicle detected by the person detection mechanism (person detection means). Satisfying at least one of the conditions that the second horn is lower than the volume of the first horn and the condition that the second horn is different from the first horn (for example, a gentle tone with a small stimulus to human hearing) Therefore, it is possible to prompt attention to the approach of the vehicle without causing discomfort to people around the vehicle.

  Preferably, the vehicle according to the present invention further includes a second operating element for generating the second horn. In response to an input to the second operating element, the alarm device outputs an alarm as the second horn.

  According to the vehicle described above, a directional alarm can be output from the alarm output device by operating a second operation element (alarm switch) provided in the vehicle. For this reason, when the vehicle occupant detects a person who needs to be alerted around the vehicle, the alert can be more reliably performed.

  In particular, if the second operating element is arranged at a position where it can be operated from the passenger seat, the second operating element can be operated in the passenger seat of the vehicle. For this reason, for example, the presence of the vehicle can be recognized by generating a directional warning to people around the vehicle by the operation of the passenger sitting in the passenger seat.

  Or if it is set as the structure which outputs a warning as a 2nd horn in response to the input to a 1st operation element, with generation | occurrence | production of the conventional horn (1st horn). A directional warning (second horn) can be output to people around the vehicle. As a result, it is possible to make a person around the vehicle recognize the approach of the vehicle more reliably.

  More preferably, the vehicle according to the present invention further includes notification means for notifying the inside of the vehicle of the output of the alarm by the alarm output means. Preferably, the notification means notifies the inside of the vehicle of the output of the alarm by the alarm output means when a predetermined sound is generated.

  According to the vehicle alarm device, the output of the directivity alarm by the alarm output means can be notified to the inside of the vehicle. Thereby, the driver | operator can confirm that the alarm generate | occur | produced. Further, the notification by the notification means enables the driver to recognize that there are people around the vehicle.

  More preferably, the vehicle according to the present invention further includes a communication means capable of communicating with a base station outside the vehicle, and the alarm device is a reception instruction means for receiving data corresponding to a predetermined sound mode via the communication means. Is further provided. The notification means includes a storage means for storing the received data, and a means for setting a predetermined sound mode based on the data stored in the storage means when an alarm is output by the notification means.

  According to the vehicle alarm device, the driver's desired melody obtainable by downloading from the base station is set as a sound mode for notifying the inside of the vehicle of the output of the directivity alarm to the inside of the vehicle by the communication means. be able to.

  According to the vehicle alarm device and the vehicle according to the present invention, it is possible to issue an alarm for effectively and efficiently calling attention to people around the vehicle detected by the interpersonal sensing mechanism.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[Embodiment 1]
As shown in FIG. 1, a hybrid vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as a vehicle) 10 equipped with a vehicle alarm device 1000 according to the present embodiment includes an engine 100 and a motor generator (hereinafter abbreviated as MG). Description) (1) 200, PCU (Power Control Unit) 300, battery 400 as a power storage device, MG (2) 500, communication device 650, display device 660, and HV connected to all of them -ECU (Hybrid Vehicle-Electronic Control Unit) 600 is included.

  Engine 100 burns an air-fuel mixture of fuel and air to rotate a crankshaft (not shown) to generate driving force. The driving force generated by engine 100 is divided into two paths by power split mechanism 700. On the other hand, this is a path for driving the wheel 900 via the speed reducer 800. The other is a path for driving MG (1) 200 to generate power.

  MG (1) 200 generates power by being driven by the power of engine 100 divided by power split device 700. The electric power generated by MG (1) 200 is selectively used depending on the driving state of the vehicle and the state of charge (SOC) of battery 400. For example, during normal traveling or sudden acceleration, the electric power generated by MG (1) 200 is supplied to MG (2) 500 via PCU 300.

  On the other hand, when the SOC of battery 400 is lower than a predetermined value, the power generated by MG (1) 200 is converted from AC power to DC power by inverter 302 of PCU 300, and the voltage is adjusted by converter 304. And then stored in the battery 400.

  A battery 400 that is a power storage device is an assembled battery that is configured by further connecting a plurality of battery modules in which a plurality of battery cells are integrated in series. Note that a capacitor (capacitor) may be used instead of the battery 400 as the power storage device.

  MG (2) 500 is a three-phase AC rotating electric machine. MG (2) 500 is driven by at least one of the electric power stored in battery 400 and the electric power generated by MG (1) 200.

  The driving force of MG (2) 500 is transmitted to wheel 900 via reduction gear 800. Thus, MG (2) 500 assists engine 100 to cause the vehicle to travel, or causes the vehicle to travel only by the driving force from MG (2) 500.

  At the time of regenerative braking of the vehicle, MG (2) 500 is driven by wheels 900 via reduction gear 800, and MG (2) 500 is operated as a generator. Thereby, MG (2) 500 operates as a regenerative brake that converts braking energy into electric power. The electric power generated by MG (2) 500 is stored in battery 400 via inverter 302 and converter 304.

  The HV-ECU 600 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 602 and a memory 604. The CPU 602 performs arithmetic processing based on the traveling state of the vehicle, the accelerator opening, the amount of depression of the brake pedal, the shift position, the SOC of the battery 400, the map and program stored in the memory 604, and the like. Thereby, HV-ECU 600 controls devices mounted on the vehicle so that the vehicle is in a desired driving state.

  Communication device 650 communicates information with a base station (not shown) outside vehicle 10 in both directions. For example, the communication device 650 receives information from the communication network via the base station. The communication network may be the Internet or a dedicated communication line. In the present embodiment, the communication device 650 may use a well-known technique, and therefore details thereof will not be described. The display device 660 is provided in the vehicle compartment and displays various information. Display device 660 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

  The navigation system 670 detects the current position of the vehicle 10 using GPS (Global Positioning System). A signal corresponding to the detected current position is transmitted to HV-ECU 600. The navigation system 670 stores map information around the current position of the vehicle in advance. Further, the navigation system 670 stores a position on a map registered by an input from an operation unit (not shown) provided in the navigation system 670 or a position on a map registered in advance.

  Next, the configuration of the alarm device 1000 shown in FIG. 1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 2, alarm device 1000 includes a control device 1010, a human sensor 1020, an alarm setting device 1040 including a storage unit 1050, and a directional alarm 1110 (hereinafter referred to as a directional alarm). For example, an in-vehicle notification device 1300 including a storage unit 1350, and an in-vehicle speaker 1400.

  The vehicle 10 is provided with a horn generating device 1200. The horn generating device 1200 generates the horn 1210 when connected to the power source 625 in response to the operation of the horn switch 680. For example, the horn 1210 is a horn that is played when the horn generator 1200 supplies compressed air in response to the supply of the power source 625. That is, the horn 1210 is provided as a so-called “crankion” in a general vehicle other than a hybrid vehicle, and has a volume higher than the legal standard. Further, an alarm switch 690 for operating the alarm output device 1100 is provided.

  Control device 1010 is communicably connected to HV-ECU 600 and controls the output of directional alarm 1110 from alarm device 1000. Further, the control device 1010 is configured to be able to sense the operation of the alarm switch 690 by being connected to the power source 625 in response to the operation of the alarm switch 690.

  The human detection sensor 1020 includes a detection end (not shown) that detects information outside the vehicle, and detects a person around or near the vehicle. For example, the human detection sensor 1020 is a camera that acquires an image around the vehicle 10, and is configured to detect a person based on the shape or movement of an object by analyzing the image acquired by the camera. The Alternatively, the person detection sensor 1020 may be an infrared sensor, and may detect a person by detecting the shape or temperature distribution of an object based on a detection signal received from the sensor. As described above, the person detection sensor 1020 is not particularly limited as long as it can detect a person such as a pedestrian existing around the vehicle 10, and any mechanism well known to those skilled in the art can be arbitrarily employed.

  The alarm setting device 1040 controls the alarm output from the alarm output device 1100 based on the control instruction from the control device 1010. The alarm setting device 1040 can set the mode of the directivity alarm 1110 output from the alarm output device 1100 based on the data stored in the storage unit 1050. In particular, if the directional warning 1110 is set so as to satisfy at least one of the condition that the volume of the horn 1210 is lower than the volume of the horn 1210 and the condition that the stimulus given to the human hearing is a gentle tone, the person around the vehicle Can be alerted without causing discomfort. From this point of view, for example, the directivity alarm 1110 can be a melody, music (music), running pseudo-sound, siren sound, or the like based on data stored in the storage unit 1050.

  In the vehicle alarm device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the alarm 1110 output from the alarm output device 1100 is an alarm having directivity for a person detected by the human sensor 1020. Here, an example of the output mechanism of the directivity alarm will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  Referring to FIG. 3, vehicle 10 including driver's seat 20 and passenger seat 30 includes a plurality of alarm output elements 1150 (1) to 1150 (5) that constitute alarm output device 1100. Alarm output elements 1150 (1) to 1150 (4) are provided on the vehicle forward direction side, and alarm output element 1150 (5) is provided on the vehicle 10 backward direction side. For example, each of the alarm output elements 1150 (1) to 1150 (5) is a speaker that outputs an alarm sound. Note that the number and position of the alarm output elements 1150 are not particularly limited.

  Referring to FIG. 4, each alarm output element 1150 (i) (i: natural number) is configured to be rotatable at an arbitrary angle corresponding to control instruction Sφ with respect to rotation shaft 1160.

  Referring to FIG. 3 again, the control device 1010 senses the signal by generating a control instruction Sφ to at least a part of the alarm output element 1150 (i) in response to the person sensed by the person sensing sensor 1020. It is possible to output a warning 1110 having directivity for a person who has been born. Alternatively, an alarm sound is generated from a plurality of alarm output elements among the alarm output elements 1150 (i) corresponding to the person sensed by the human sensor 1020, and an alarm sound is generated between these alarm output elements. It is also possible to have a configuration in which directivity is given to alarm sounds that interfere with each other by giving a change in the phase of the alarm. Note that a known mechanism for outputting a directional alarm can be arbitrarily applied to the alarm output device 1100 in the present embodiment, and the configuration thereof is not particularly limited.

  Referring to FIG. 2 again, HV-ECU 600 can communicate with a base station (not shown) via communication device 650 in response to a download instruction input 655 from the vehicle occupant. Through communication with the base station, it is possible to receive (download) digital data for generating melody, music, simulated running noise control, and the like used as the directivity alarm 1110. The downloaded data can be stored in the storage unit 1050 in the alarm setting device 1040 via the control device 1010. Thereby, the directivity alarm 1110 from the alarm output device 1100 can be set in a driver's desired mode by downloading.

  The in-vehicle notification device 1300 notifies the inside of the vehicle that the alarm 1110 has been generated when the directivity alarm 1110 is generated from the alarm output device 1100 in response to a control instruction from the control device 1010. For example, the in-vehicle notification device 1300 generates a predetermined sound 1410 from the in-vehicle speaker 1400. The predetermined sound 1410 can also be a melody or music based on the data stored in the storage unit 1350. Also, digital data for generating the predetermined sound 1410 can be received (downloaded) from a base station (not shown) via the communication device 650 in response to the download instruction input 655.

  Here, the correspondence relationship between the configuration shown in FIG. 2 and the configuration of the present invention will be described. The human detection sensor 1020 corresponds to the “human detection means” in the present invention, and the alarm output device 1100 corresponds to “ Corresponds to "alarm output means". The storage units 1050 and 1350 correspond to “storage means” in the present invention, and the alarm setting device 1040 corresponds to “alarm setting means” in the present invention. Further, the horn switch 680 corresponds to the “first operation element” in the present invention, the alarm switch 690 corresponds to the “second operation element” in the present invention, and the horn generation device 1200 corresponds to the “horn operation” in the present invention. Corresponds to “means”. Further, the in-car notification device 1300 corresponds to “notification means” in the present invention, the communication device 650 corresponds to “communication means” in the present invention, and the download input instruction 655 corresponds to “reception instruction means” in the present invention. .

  As described above, the alarm device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention can automatically output the directivity alarm 1110 to the people around or in the vicinity of the vehicle in accordance with the information detected by the human sensor 1020. In addition, since the directivity alarm 1110 can be output in a desired manner from the alarm output device 1100 provided separately from the conventional horn output device 1200, excessive attention should be paid to people around or near the vehicle. It is possible to sense the approach of the host vehicle without arousing it and causing discomfort. Therefore, alarm device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention is suitable for mounting on a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, and a fuel cell vehicle having a traveling mode with a small traveling sound.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a program control structure executed by control device 1010 of alarm device 1000 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. In particular, the program shown in FIG. 5 has a control structure suitable for mounting on a hybrid vehicle (or an electric vehicle or a fuel cell vehicle) having a driving mode with a low driving sound.

  In step S100, the control device 1010 processes the data detected by the human sensor 1020 to detect the presence of a person who is an alarm output target. At this time, taking into account the current traveling direction and speed of the vehicle 10, a relative position calculation between the vehicle 10 and the sensed person in the future is executed.

  In step S <b> 150, control device 1010 determines the necessity of generating directional alarm 1110 according to the traveling state of vehicle 10. Specifically, the necessity of alarm generation is determined according to the traveling sound level of the vehicle 10. For example, when the vehicle 10 is in a travel mode using only the driving force of the MG (2), which is a driving motor, or when the speed of the engine 100 is equal to or lower than a predetermined speed, the sound (travel) When the sound state is less than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that the directional alarm 1110 needs to be generated.

  As an example, if the traveling sound parameter PS calculated according to the following equation (1) based on the rotational speed of MG (2) and the rotational speed of the engine 100 is equal to or less than a reference value, a directivity warning is issued in step S150. It can be determined that generation of 1110 is necessary.

PS = k1 · NE1 + k2 · NE2 (1)
Here, k1 and k2 are predetermined weight constants, NE1 is the rotational speed of engine 100, and NE2 is the rotational speed of MG (2). It is possible to estimate the vehicle running sound based on the running sound parameter PS by setting appropriate constants k1 and k2 for the relationship between the rotational speeds NE1 and NE2 and the running sound in advance through experiments or the like.

  Further, in step S155, control device 1010 determines the risk level of the person detected as the alarm output target in step S100. For example, the degree of risk is determined based on the result of the relative position calculation between the future alarm output target (person) and the vehicle in step S100.

  In step S160, control device 1010 selects the type of alarm according to the degree of risk determined in step S150. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the risk level is classified into level 1 to level 3, and at level 1 where the risk level is low, the vehicle is approached so as not to give discomfort to the surroundings due to melody, music, or the like. An alarm to be recognized is output. On the other hand, at level 2 or level 3 where the degree of danger increases, a horn sound or a siren sound that calls attention more is generated by adjusting the volume if necessary. Thereby, the approach of the vehicle 10 can be more effectively detected by the alarm output target (person). Data for generating these different types is stored in the storage unit 1050, and data according to the selection result in step S160 is selectively read from the storage unit 1050 by the alarm setting device 1040.

  Referring to FIG. 5 again, in step S200, control device 1010 is directed to the alarm output target based on the future alarm output target (sensed person) in step S100 and the relative position calculation result of the own vehicle. Then, a directivity calculation for generating an alarm is executed, and a control instruction to each alarm output element 1150 (i) reflecting the directivity calculation result is generated. That is, in this control instruction, an instruction on the type of alarm selected in step S160, and an instruction on the directivity such as the control instruction Sφ regarding the rotation angle at each alarm output element 1150 (i) or the output phase of the alarm sound. include.

  In step S300, in response to the control instruction generated in step S200, each alarm output element 1150 (i) constituting the alarm output device 1100 outputs an alarm sound, so that an alarm output around or near the vehicle 10 is output. A directional warning 1110 is output to the target (a sensed person).

  Furthermore, in step S310, in-vehicle notification device 1300 notifies the inside of the vehicle that directional alarm 1110 has been output from alarm output device 1100 in response to an operation instruction from control device 1010. The notification to the inside of the vehicle may be configured to display on the display device 660 in addition to the configuration in which the predetermined sound 1410 is generated from the in-vehicle speaker 1400 as described above. Thereby, the occupant (especially the driving vehicle) of the vehicle 10 can confirm that the directional warning 1110 is output, or can recognize that there is a person around the vehicle 10. .

  According to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the alarm generation device 1100 according to the present embodiment automatically has directivity with respect to a person sensed by the human sensor 1020 when the hybrid vehicle or the like travels with a low traveling sound. By outputting a certain alarm, it is possible to recognize the approach of the vehicle and call attention.

  The correspondence relationship between the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 and the configuration of the present invention will be described. Step S150 corresponds to “alarm determination means” in the present invention, and step S200 corresponds to “directivity calculation means” in the present invention. Correspond. Further, step S155 corresponds to the “risk degree determination unit” of the present invention, and step S160 corresponds to the “alarm selection unit” of the present invention.

  Here, a process when a plurality of people are detected around the vehicle 10 by the human detection sensor 1020 will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 7, it is assumed that pedestrians M1 to M4 are detected by human detection sensor 1020 around vehicle 10 traveling at vehicle speed vector V. Further, it is assumed that the distances from the vehicle 10 to the pedestrians M1 to M4 at the time of sensing are l1 to l4 (l1 <l2 <l3 <l4), respectively.

  In this case, the pedestrian M3 is determined as having a minimum risk based on the future relative position calculation result considering the vehicle speed vector V, and is excluded from the alarm output target. On the other hand, since the pedestrians M1, M2, and M4 are located in the traveling direction of the vehicle 10 from the vehicle speed vector V, they are determined as alarm output targets.

  According to the relative position calculation result in the future taking into account the movement of the vehicle 10 until the actual alarm output, it is determined that the risk level is greater in the order of the pedestrians M1, M2, M4 in the order of short distance at the time of sensing. It is not something. The pedestrian M4 present in the traveling direction of the vehicle 10 is determined to have the maximum risk although the sensing distance is long. Hereinafter, it is determined that the degree of risk is large in the order of pedestrians M2 and M1.

  When there are a plurality of warning output targets, a control instruction to the warning output device 1100 is generated so that the directional warning 1110 is output preferentially toward a warning output target with a higher degree of danger. In addition, when a plurality of warning output targets exist within a certain range, a control instruction to the alarm output device 1100 is generated so that the directional alarm 1110 is output toward the center of the range. Good.

  In this way, by reflecting the relative value calculation that takes into account the movement of the vehicle 10 during the elapsed time from the time of sensing by the human sensor 1020 to the time of actual alarm output, it is possible for people who are more dangerous and need attention. On the other hand, a directional warning can be generated with priority.

  In addition, when the vehicle 10 is started from a stopped state, a plurality of warning output targets (persons) corresponding to the same alarm output element 1150 (i) are detected by the human sensor 1020 as shown in FIG. As described above, the constant alarm output time T (time t0 to t1) is divided into a plurality (three in the example of FIG. 8). Then, in each of the divided period T1 (time t0 to ta), period T2 (time ta to tb), and period T3 (time tb to t1), the warning output target (person) is switched to generate an alarm having directivity. Output. When a plurality of warning output targets (persons) corresponding to different alarm output elements 1150 (i) are detected, directivity alarms may be output in parallel from these alarm output elements 1150 (i). . With the above configuration, it is possible to alert each person around the vehicle when the vehicle 10 starts.

[Modification of Embodiment 1]
In FIG. 9, a modified example of the control structure of the execution program in the control device 1010 in the alarm device 1000 according to the first embodiment will be described.

  9 is compared with FIG. 5, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, steps S110 to S130 are executed in addition to the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. Since other control structures are the same as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, detailed description will not be repeated.

  In step S110, control device 1010 determines whether or not an operation switch (for example, alarm switch 690 shown in FIG. 10) is operated. If the operation switch is operated and turned on (YES determination in step S110), it is further confirmed in step S120 whether or not a person who is a warning output target is detected by the human detection sensor 1020.

  When a person who is a warning output target is sensed (YES in step S120), control device 1010 executes necessity determination of directivity alarm 1110 according to the traveling state of vehicle 10 in step S150. Instead, step S155 to step S310 are executed. That is, by the operation of the occupant of the vehicle 10, the directivity warning 1110 similar to that in the first embodiment is output regardless of the traveling sound level of the vehicle 10.

  On the other hand, when a person who is a warning output target is not sensed (NO in step S120), a warning is issued from each alarm output element 1150 (i) without performing any directivity calculation in step S130. Is output. Thereby, a test output of the alarm 1110 can be performed by operating the operation switch. Alternatively, the alarm 1110 can be output separately from the horn 1210 when the human sensor 1020 is malfunctioning.

  On the other hand, when there is no input to the operation switch (NO determination in step S110), the control device 1010 executes step S150 and subsequent steps in the same manner as the flowchart shown in FIG. Thereby, the output control for the directivity alarm 1110 similar to that in the first embodiment is executed.

  The alarm switch 690 is preferably arranged at a position where it can be operated from the passenger seat 30 shown in FIG. By disposing the alarm switch 690 at such a position, an alarm can be generated for people around the vehicle by the operation of a passenger seated in the passenger seat.

  Alternatively, the control device 1010 may be configured to be connected to the power source 625 in response to the operation of the horn switch 680 by providing a path 685 indicated by a dotted line in FIG. In such a configuration, the horn switch 680 can be handled as an “operation switch” in the flowchart of FIG. 9. Therefore, in response to an operation on the horn switch 680, the alarm 1110 can be output together with the horn 1210.

  According to the control structure according to the flowchart of FIG. 9 described above, warning output to the people around the vehicle by the warning output device 1100 can be performed more reliably, so that the approach of the vehicle 10 can be recognized more surely and alerting is urged. Can do.

  In the first embodiment, the directional alarm 1110 has been described as an alarm sound. However, if the directional alarm 1110 can make a person around the vehicle recognize the presence of the vehicle, the mode is as follows. It is not limited. For example, the directional alarm 1110 may be light or smell output toward a person sensed by the person sensing sensor 1020. In such a configuration, each alarm output element 1150 is provided as a device that generates light or smell with directivity.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of alarm device 1000 # according to the second embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 10, alarm device 1000 # according to the second embodiment further includes an alarm generation device 1500 as compared with alarm device 1000 shown in FIG. The alarm generator 1500 includes an alarm output element (not shown) for outputting a directional alarm 1510.

  The form of the alarm 1510 from the alarm generation device 1500 is different from that of the alarm 1110 output from the alarm output device 1100. For example, when the alarm 1110 output from the alarm output device 1100 is an alarm sound or a whistle sound, the alarm 1510 generated from the alarm generation device 1500 may be generated by means other than sound, such as generation of light or smell. The people around the vehicle 10 are made aware of the approach of the vehicle.

  Since the configuration of other parts of alarm device 1000 # is the same as that of alarm device 1000 shown in FIG. 2, detailed description will not be repeated.

  Next, a program control structure executed by control device 1010 of alarm device 1000 # according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described using FIG.

  11 is compared with FIG. 5, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, steps S155 # and S160 # are executed in place of steps S155 and S160 in the flowchart shown in FIG. Since other control structures are the same as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, detailed description will not be repeated.

  In step S155 #, control device 1010 determines the surrounding situation of the vehicle using a rain sensor (not shown), an illuminance sensor (not shown), a temperature sensor (not shown), or the like.

  In step S160 #, control device 1010 determines, based on the determination result in step S155 #, which alarm should be selected, that is, whether alarm 1110 by alarm output device 1100 or alarm 1510 by alarm generation device 1500 should be generated. .

  For example, when the light is not turned on in the evening in the event of rain, it is difficult to hear the alarm sound and the surroundings are relatively dark. By generating directional light instead of sound, the approach of the vehicle 10 can be recognized more effectively.

  Even in the program according to the second embodiment, as a control flow for further executing steps S110 to S130 shown in FIG. 9, a directivity alarm is more reliably generated in response to an operation switch that can be operated by a vehicle occupant. It is possible to provide a control structure.

  In the flowcharts shown in FIG. 5 (Embodiment 1) and FIG. 11 (Embodiment 2), the execution of step S150 is omitted, so that human detection is performed regardless of the vehicle state (for example, vehicle running sound). A mode for automatically generating the directivity alarm 1110 from the alarm output device 1100 may be set based on the detection result of the sensor 1020.

  In the above description, an example in which the alarm device according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a hybrid vehicle has been shown, but the application of the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. That is, the alarm device according to the present invention can automatically output a directivity alarm to a person around the vehicle detected by a human detection mechanism such as a sensor mounted on any vehicle regardless of its type. it can. In addition, if it is set as the structure which mounts the alarm device according to this invention independently from the conventional horn as shown in FIG. 2, etc., it will be applied to the hybrid vehicle, the electric vehicle, and the fuel cell vehicle having a driving mode with a low driving sound. Suitable for mounting.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the hybrid vehicle carrying the alarm device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the alarm device of the vehicle which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a 1st figure explaining the structure for outputting a directional warning. It is a 2nd figure explaining the structure for outputting a directional warning. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed with the control apparatus of the alarm device of the vehicle which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram explaining selection of the alarm kind according to a risk. It is a conceptual diagram explaining a process in case a some person is detected around the vehicle. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the output of the directivity warning at the time of vehicle start. It is a flowchart which shows the control structure of the program performed with the control apparatus of the alarm device of the vehicle which concerns on the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the alarm device of the vehicle which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control apparatus of the program performed with the control apparatus of the alarm device of the vehicle which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Hybrid vehicle (vehicle), 20 Driver's seat, 30 Passenger seat, 100 Engine, 302 Inverter, 304 Converter, 400 Battery, 600 HV-ECU, 625 Power supply, 650 Communication device, 655 Download instruction input, 660 Display device, 670 Navigation System, 680 Alarm switch, 690 Alarm switch, 700 Power split mechanism, 800 Reducer, 900 Wheel, 1000 Alarm device, 1010 Control device, 1020 Human detection sensor, 1040 Alarm setting device, 1050, 1350 Storage unit, 1100, 1500 Alarm Output device, 1110, 1510 alarm (directivity alarm), 1150 (i) alarm output device, 1200 horn generating device, 1210 horn, 1300 in-vehicle notification device, 1400 in-vehicle speaker, 1410 Teioto, 1500 alarm device, 1510 an alarm, M1 to M4 pedestrian, MG (1), MG (2) motor generator, Esufai control instruction (rotation angle), V speed vector.

Claims (15)

A human sensing means for sensing people in or around the vehicle;
An alarm output means for outputting a directional alarm to the outside of the vehicle;
Directivity calculation means for generating a control instruction for issuing an alarm toward the person sensed by the person sensing means based on the information acquired by the person sensing means,
The warning device for a vehicle outputs the warning according to the control instruction generated by the directivity calculating means. The warning output means can output a plurality of types of warnings with directivity,
The alarm device is
A risk determination means for determining a risk level of a person detected by the human detection means based on the traveling direction and speed of the vehicle;
Alarm selection means for selecting one of the plurality of types based on the risk determined by the risk determination means;
The vehicle warning device according to claim 1, wherein the warning output means includes means for outputting the warning selected by the warning selection means in accordance with the control instruction generated by the directivity calculation means.   The vehicle alarm device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm is an alarm sound in a predetermined mode. The vehicle includes communication means capable of communicating with a base station outside the vehicle,
The alarm device is
A reception instruction means for receiving data corresponding to the form of the alarm sound via the communication means;
Storage means for accumulating the received data;
5. The vehicle alarm device according to claim 4, further comprising: an alarm setting unit configured to set a mode of the alarm sound based on data stored in the storage unit when the alarm is output by the alarm output unit. . The alarm device comprises a plurality of the alarm output means,
The plurality of alarm output means are capable of outputting different types of the directional alarms,
The alarm device is
Further comprising an alarm selection means for selecting one of the plurality of alarm output means based on the surrounding situation of the vehicle;
The alarm output unit selected by the alarm selection unit among the plurality of alarm output units outputs the directional alarm according to the control instruction generated by the directivity calculation unit. Vehicle warning device. In the vehicle, an electric motor and an internal combustion engine are mounted as driving force sources,
The alarm device is
According to the running state of the vehicle, further comprising alarm determination means for determining the necessity of alarm output from the alarm output means,
The vehicle alarm device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the alarm output means outputs the directional alarm when the alarm determination means determines that the alarm output is necessary. .   The vehicle alarm device according to claim 6, wherein the alarm determination unit determines that an alarm output from the alarm output unit is necessary when a sound generated during self-running of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.   The vehicle alarm device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the determination by the alarm determination means is performed based on the rotational speed of at least one of the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. Horn generating means for generating a first horn in response to an operation on the first operating element;
The vehicle alarm device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The alarm device as the second alarm whistle satisfying at least one of the first condition that the volume is equal to or lower than the first alarm whistle and the second condition that is different from the first alarm whistle. Output the vehicle. A second operating element for generating the second horn,
The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the alarm device outputs the alarm as the second horn in response to an input to the second operation element.   The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the second operation element is disposed at a position operable from the passenger seat.   The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the alarm device outputs the alarm as the second horn in response to an input to the first operation element.   The vehicle according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the alarm device further includes notification means for notifying the inside of the vehicle of an alarm output from the alarm output means.   The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the notification means notifies the inside of the vehicle of an alarm output from the alarm output means when a predetermined sound is generated. Further comprising communication means capable of communicating with the base station outside the vehicle,
The alarm device is
A reception instruction means for receiving data corresponding to the predetermined sound mode via the communication means;
The notification means includes
Storage means for accumulating the received data;
15. The vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising means for setting a mode of the predetermined sound based on data stored in the storage means when the alarm (predetermined sound) is output by the notification means.

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