JP2007196854A - Driving support system and driving support method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method which groups a plurality of driving support functions based on contents of driving support and operate the driving support functions as directed by a user. <P>SOLUTION: The driving support system comprises: an inter-vehicle distance sensor; an in-vehicle camera; a speed sensor; a group of operation switches; a throttle actuator; a brake actuator; a steering wheel actuator; a display; a speaker; and a vehicle controller. A function of supporting driver's driving comprises: a preceding vehicle follow-up running function; a constant speed running function; a curve excessive speed adjusting function; a surrounding vehicle detecting function; and a pedestrian in a traveling direction detecting function, and the functions are grouped, based on contents of driving support. The vehicle controller operates the grouped functions depending on the operation status of the groups of the operation switches consisting of a view sight assisting switch, a driving assisting switch, and a peripheral monitoring switch. The vehicle controller displays, the operation status of the groups of the operation switches on the display. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a driving support device and a driving support method for driving driving a vehicle.

  Conventionally, operation switches for operating a plurality of driving support functions can be used for a plurality of driving support functions to prevent an increase in the number of operation switches and effectively use a limited space. A technique is known (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-260704 A

  However, in the conventional technology, since the operation conditions of a plurality of driving support functions are exclusive, the user needs to turn on / off each driving support function individually and which driving support function at which timing. There was a problem that it was difficult to know if it should be activated.

  The driving support device and the driving support method according to the present invention include a plurality of driving support functions that support driving of the driver, group the plurality of driving support functions based on the driving support contents, and based on instructions from the user, The grouped driving support function is turned on / off in units of groups.

  According to the driving support device and the driving support method of the present invention, since the driving support functions grouped according to the driving support contents can be turned on / off collectively, the convenience for the user is improved.

-First embodiment-
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a driving support apparatus according to the first embodiment. The driving support device in the first embodiment includes an inter-vehicle distance sensor 1, an in-vehicle camera 2, a vehicle speed sensor 3, an operation switch group 4, a throttle actuator 5, a brake actuator 6, a handle actuator 7, and a display. 8, a speaker 9, and a vehicle controller 10.

  The inter-vehicle distance sensor 1 includes a radar device, sends a laser beam to a predetermined range in front of the vehicle at predetermined intervals, and receives reflected light that is reflected back to the preceding vehicle, thereby allowing the inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle. Is detected. A plurality of in-vehicle cameras 2 are provided so as to image the periphery of the vehicle. The vehicle speed sensor 3 detects the speed of the host vehicle. The operation switch group 4 includes at least a plurality of switches for turning on / off a plurality of driving support functions described later.

  The throttle actuator 5 opens and closes the throttle valve based on a command from the vehicle controller 10 described later. The brake actuator 6 controls the brake based on a command from the vehicle controller 10. The handle actuator 7 controls the handle based on a command from the vehicle controller 10. The display 8 performs display or the like indicating the operation status of the driving support function based on a command from the vehicle controller 10. The speaker 9 emits a warning sound or the like based on a command from the vehicle controller 10.

  The vehicle controller 10 controls the operation / non-operation of various driving support functions, which will be described later, on the basis of signals input from the operation switch group 4, and the contents of the driving support function to be activated when the driving support function is activated. Based on this, a control command is issued to each of the actuators 5-7.

  The driving support device according to the first embodiment includes a front vehicle following function, a constant speed traveling function, a curve overspeed adjustment function, a surrounding vehicle detection function, and a traveling direction pedestrian detection function as functions for supporting a driver's driving. The five driving support functions are provided. The front vehicle following function is a function for automatically traveling following the preceding vehicle while maintaining a predetermined inter-vehicle distance with the preceding vehicle traveling in front of the host vehicle. When the front vehicle following function is activated, the vehicle controller 10 issues a control command to the throttle actuator 5 and the brake actuator 6 so that the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle detected by the inter-vehicle distance sensor 1 becomes a predetermined inter-vehicle distance. put out.

  The constant speed traveling function is a function for automatically traveling while maintaining the speed of the host vehicle at a predetermined speed. When the constant speed running function is activated, the vehicle controller 10 issues a control command to the throttle actuator 5 and the brake actuator 6 so that the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 3 becomes a predetermined speed.

  The curve overspeed adjustment function is a function that limits the vehicle speed so that the speed of the vehicle traveling on the curved road does not exceed a predetermined speed limit, and controls the steering wheel so that the vehicle does not deviate from the own lane. is there. Information on the curved road can be obtained from a car navigation device (not shown). When the curve overspeed adjustment function is activated, the vehicle controller 10 issues a control command to the throttle actuator 5, the brake actuator 6 and the handle actuator 7 according to the state of the vehicle. The function of controlling the steering wheel so that the vehicle does not deviate from the own lane is a known control function.

  The surrounding vehicle detection function detects the other vehicle approaching the host vehicle, in particular, the other vehicle approaching from the rear of the host vehicle based on the image around the vehicle imaged by the in-vehicle camera 2, and is necessary. In response, this is a function that issues a warning to the driver. For example, when the distance between the other vehicle approaching from the rear of the host vehicle and the host vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, a warning sound is emitted from the speaker 9. A technique for detecting another vehicle approaching based on the captured image is a known technique.

  The traveling direction pedestrian detection function detects a pedestrian existing in front of the host vehicle based on an image in front of the vehicle imaged by the in-vehicle camera 2, and issues a warning to the driver as necessary. For example, if the distance between the pedestrian existing in front of the host vehicle and the host vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, a warning sound is emitted from the speaker 9. In addition, the technique which detects a pedestrian based on a captured image is a known technique.

  In the driving support device according to the first embodiment, the five driving support functions described above are classified into three groups based on the driving support content. Here, according to the purpose of driving support, it is classified into three groups: a driving support function group that performs driving assistance, a driving support function group that performs peripheral monitoring, and a driving support function group that performs visibility assistance.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram in which five driving support functions are classified (grouped) into the three driving support function groups described above. Since the front vehicle following function, the constant speed traveling function, and the curve overspeed adjusting function are functions that perform driving assistance, they belong to a driving assistance function group that performs driving assistance. The surrounding vehicle detection function belongs to a driving support function group that performs surrounding monitoring, and the traveling direction pedestrian detection function belongs to a driving support function group that performs visibility assistance.

  FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a position where the operation switch group 4 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the operation switch group 4 is provided in a handle (steering) portion, and each switch constituting the operation switch group has the thumb 1 of the right hand in a state where the driver holds the handle. It is possible to operate with a book. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating various switches constituting the operation switch group 4. The operation switch group 4 includes at least a visual field auxiliary switch 41, a driving auxiliary switch 42, and a periphery monitoring switch 43.

  The visual field assistance switch 41 is a switch for operating a driving assistance function group that performs visual field assistance among the three driving assistance function groups described above. Since the driving support function group that performs visibility assistance includes the traveling direction pedestrian detection function, when the driver turns on the visibility assistance switch 41, the traveling direction pedestrian detection function operates. The driving assistance switch 42 is a switch for operating a driving assistance function group that performs driving assistance. The driving assistance function group that performs driving assistance includes a front vehicle following function, a constant speed traveling function, and a curve overspeed adjusting function. Therefore, when the driver turns on the driving assistance switch 42, the front vehicle following function is provided. The constant speed running function and the curve overspeed adjusting function are activated. The periphery monitoring switch 43 is a switch for operating a driving support function group that performs periphery monitoring. Since the driving support function group that performs surrounding monitoring includes the surrounding vehicle detection function, when the driver turns on the surrounding monitoring switch 43, the surrounding vehicle detection function is activated.

  In the driving support device in the first embodiment, the arrangement of the three switches 41 to 43 for turning on / off each driving support function group is also devised. That is, the three switches 41 to 43 are arranged in a column, the visibility auxiliary switch 41 is arranged at the top, and the periphery monitoring switch 43 is arranged at the bottom.

  The traveling direction pedestrian detection function included in the visibility assisting function group is a function of detecting a pedestrian existing in front of the vehicle. Therefore, among the three switches for the user to turn on / off each driving support function group, the visual assistance switch arranged at the top is the visual assistance switch 41 related to visual assistance in front of the vehicle. Can be recognized intuitively.

  Moreover, the surrounding vehicle detection function included in the surroundings monitoring function group is a function for detecting other vehicles approaching mainly from the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, the user intuitively realizes that the switch arranged at the bottom of the three switches for turning on / off each driving support function group is the surrounding monitoring switch 43 related to surrounding monitoring behind the vehicle. Can be recognized.

  The vehicle controller 10 displays the operation state of each driving support function group on the display 8 in accordance with the on / off of the visibility auxiliary switch 41, the driving auxiliary switch 42, and the periphery monitoring switch 43. FIG. 4A is a display example when all the driving support function groups of the visibility assisting function group, the driving assisting function group, and the peripheral monitoring function group are not in operation, and FIG. It is an example of a display when the driving support function group of is operating. The mark 21 is lit when the visibility assisting function group is operating, the mark 22 is lit when the driving assisting function group is operating, and the mark 23 is activated when the peripheral monitoring function group is operating. Lights up. The mark 20 represents the host vehicle.

  When displaying the operation state of each driving support function group on the display 8, the mark 21 indicating the operation state of the visibility assisting function group for assisting the visibility in front of the vehicle is displayed in front of the mark 20 indicating the host vehicle. Therefore, the driver can intuitively recognize that the mark 21 is a mark related to the visibility assisting function group. In addition, since the mark 23 indicating the operating state of the periphery monitoring function for monitoring the surroundings of the vehicle is displayed so as to surround the mark 20 indicating the host vehicle, the driver must confirm that the mark 23 is a mark related to the periphery monitoring function. Can be recognized intuitively.

  According to the driving support apparatus in the first embodiment, a plurality of driving support functions that support driving of a driver are grouped based on the contents of driving support, and are grouped based on an instruction from a user. Since the driving support functions are turned on / off in units of groups, the driver can collectively operate the driving support functions grouped according to the content of the driving support. For example, when a user wants to activate a driving assistance function related to driving assistance, the user turns on the driving assistance switch 42 to turn on the front vehicle following function, the constant speed traveling function, and the curve overspeed adjusting function at a time. Can do. Therefore, it is not necessary to individually turn on / off the front vehicle following function, the constant speed traveling function, and the curve overspeed adjusting function.

  In conventional devices that provide operation switches that individually operate multiple driving support functions, the number of operation switches increases as the number of driving support functions increases, so which switch supports which driving support function. Although there is a problem that it is difficult to grasp, according to the driving support device in the first embodiment in which a plurality of driving support functions are grouped according to the content of driving support, the number of operation switches is reduced. be able to. In addition, in the conventional apparatus provided with the operation switch that can also be used for the operation operations of a plurality of driving support functions, there is a problem that the operation method for operating the individual driving support functions is complicated, but the driving in the first embodiment According to the support device, the driving support functions are grouped according to the purpose of driving support and the grouped driving support functions are operated together, so that the operation of the driving support function is not complicated.

  According to the driving support apparatus in the first embodiment, the operation switches 41 to 43 for turning on / off the grouped driving support functions in units of groups are arranged based on the contents of the grouped driving support functions. did. For example, among the three switches 41 to 43 arranged in the column, the visual field auxiliary switch 41 is arranged at the top, so that the user can set the visual field auxiliary switch arranged at the uppermost position in the field of view in front of the vehicle. It can be intuitively recognized that it is the visual field assistance switch 41 related to assistance. Further, by arranging the periphery monitoring switch 43 at the bottom, the user intuitively recognizes that the switch disposed at the bottom is the periphery monitoring switch 43 related to the periphery monitoring behind the vehicle. Can do.

-Second Embodiment-
In the driving support device according to the first embodiment, five driving support functions including a front vehicle following function, a constant speed traveling function, a curve overspeed adjustment function, a surrounding vehicle detection function, and a traveling direction pedestrian detection function are provided. According to the purpose of support, it was grouped into three parts: a vision assistance function, a driving assistance function, and a peripheral monitoring function. In the driving support device in the second embodiment, the five driving support functions described above are divided into three groups based on driving support purposes different from those in the first embodiment.

  In the driving support apparatus according to the second embodiment, the five driving support functions are classified into three groups according to the type of actuator used when the driving support function is activated. That is, a driving support function group using the throttle actuator 5 and the brake actuator 6 without using the handle actuator 7, a driving support function group using the handle actuator 7, and a driving support function group not using the actuators 5-7. It is classified into three groups.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram in which five driving support functions are classified into three driving support function groups. The front vehicle following function and the constant speed traveling function belong to a driving support function group that uses the throttle actuator 5 and the brake actuator 6 without using the handle actuator 7, and the curve overspeed adjustment function uses the handle actuator 7. It belongs to the driving support function group. Further, the surrounding vehicle detection function and the traveling direction pedestrian detection function belong to a driving support function group that only presents information to the driver without using the actuators 5 to 7.

  In the driving support apparatus according to the second embodiment, the driving support functions classified for each group can be collectively turned on / off by the operation switches constituting the operation switch group 4. For example, the switches 41, 42, and 43 shown in FIG. 3 are assigned to the three driving support function groups described above, respectively. For example, the accelerator operation and the brake operation are left to the machine, but a user who wants to perform the steering operation himself turns on the switch 41 to activate the front vehicle following function and the constant speed traveling function. Also, a user who wants to utilize the driving support function when traveling on a curved road activates the curve overspeed adjustment function by turning on the switch 42. Further, a driver who wants to drive himself but wants information on the surroundings of the vehicle turns on the switch 43 to activate the surrounding vehicle detection function and the traveling pedestrian detection function.

  Also in the driving support device in the second embodiment, a plurality of driving support functions that support the driving of the driver are grouped based on the content of driving support, and are grouped based on an instruction from the user. Since the driving support function is turned on / off in units of groups, the driver can collectively operate the driving support functions grouped according to the content of the driving support.

-Third embodiment-
In the driving support devices in the first and second embodiments, a plurality of driving support functions are grouped in advance based on the content of the driving support function, and the user turns on / off the driving support function in units of groups. We were able to. In the driving support apparatus according to the third embodiment, the user can make various adjustments of the grouped driving support functions. In the following, as in the first embodiment, the front vehicle following function, the constant speed traveling function, and the curve overspeed adjusting function are set as one driving support function group, and the surrounding vehicle detection function and the traveling direction pedestrian detection function are respectively set. One driving support function group.

  FIG. 6 is a screen for adjusting the grouped driving support functions displayed on the display 8. In the driving support apparatus according to the third embodiment, the user can adjust on / off of the driving support function, the operating condition of the driving support function, and the on / off of the alarm.

  The user can delete the driving support function determined to be unnecessary among the driving support functions included in each driving support function group. For example, the driving assistance function group includes three driving assistance functions, a front vehicle following function, a constant speed traveling function, and a curve overspeed adjustment function. If it is determined that the function is not necessary, the curve overspeed adjustment function can be deleted from the driving assistance function group. Also in the example shown in FIG. 6, the curve overspeed adjustment function is deleted (function off) among the driving support functions in the driving assistance function group. In this case, when the driver turns on the driving assistance switch 42, only the front vehicle following function and the constant speed traveling function are turned on.

  Adjustment of the operating conditions of the driving support function can be performed for the front vehicle following function, the constant speed traveling function, and the surrounding vehicle detection function, as shown in FIG. For example, in the front vehicle following function, the inter-vehicle distance when traveling following the preceding vehicle can be set and changed at intervals of 10 m within a range of 40 m to 70 m. In the example shown in FIG. 6, it is set to 60 m. In the constant speed traveling function, the vehicle speed for automatic traveling can be selected from 50 km / h, 70 km / h, 90 km / h, and 110 km / h. In the example shown in FIG. 6, 70 km / h is selected. In the surrounding vehicle detection function, the detection range of another vehicle approaching the host vehicle can be selected from 10 m, 20 m, 30 m, and 40 m. In the example shown in FIG. 6, 40 m is selected.

  An alarm is issued when it is necessary to alert the driver when each driving support function is activated. For example, when the front vehicle following function or the constant speed traveling function is activated, when another vehicle has interrupted in front of the host vehicle and the inter-vehicle distance between the interrupted vehicle and the host vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined inter-vehicle distance, Raise an alarm. When the curve overspeed adjustment function is activated, an alarm is issued when the speed of the vehicle traveling on the curve road exceeds a predetermined speed limit. When the peripheral vehicle detection function is activated, an alarm is issued if the distance between the other vehicle approaching the host vehicle and the host vehicle is equal to or less than the set distance. When the traveling direction pedestrian detection function is activated, an alarm is generated when a pedestrian is detected within a predetermined distance in front of the host vehicle. The user can set / change on / off of these alarm functions. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the alarm for the constant speed traveling function is off, and the alarms for other driving support functions are on.

  According to the driving support device in the third embodiment, since the user can delete unnecessary driving support functions among a plurality of driving support functions belonging to one driving support function group, the driving support function When operating the driving support functions belonging to the group together, only the necessary driving support functions can be operated.

  In addition, according to the driving support device in the third embodiment, the user can set the operating condition and the presence / absence of an alarm regarding the driving support function, so that a system that is highly convenient for the user can be provided.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, as an example of the driving support function, there are five functions of a front vehicle following function, a constant speed traveling function, a curve overspeed adjustment function, a surrounding vehicle detection function, and a traveling direction pedestrian detection function. There is no limit. Further, the method of grouping a plurality of driving support functions based on the driving support content is not limited to the method described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. For example, it can be classified into a driving support function group that uses the actuators 5 to 7 and a driving support function group that only presents information to the driver without using the actuator.

  In the first embodiment, with respect to the operation switches 41 to 43 for turning on / off each driving support function group, the visual field auxiliary switch 41 is arranged at the top and the periphery monitoring switch 43 is arranged at the bottom. Thus, the user can intuitively know which function the switch is for (see FIG. 3B). However, the arrangement method of the operation switch is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3B, and the shape of the switch is not limited to that shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation switches 41a to 41c whose shapes have been changed. By making the shape of the visual field auxiliary switch 41a “eye”, the user can intuitively understand that the switch 41a is a switch related to the visual field auxiliary function. Further, by setting the shape of the driving assistance switch 41b to the shape of the “handle”, the user can intuitively understand that the switch 41b is a switch relating to driving assistance. Furthermore, by setting the shape of the periphery monitoring switch 41c to a “face” shape, the user can intuitively understand that the switch 41c is a switch related to the periphery monitoring.

  The method for displaying the ON / OFF state of the driving support function group is not limited to the display method shown in FIGS. For example, when the driving support function group is turned on, display may be performed so that the user can recognize the driving support function included in the turned on driving support function group.

  In the third embodiment, an example in which an alarm is issued when the distance between the other vehicle approaching the host vehicle and the host vehicle is equal to or smaller than the set distance when the surrounding vehicle detection function is activated has been described. Speakers may be provided at various locations in the vehicle interior, and a warning may be issued from a speaker arranged in the direction in which the other vehicle is approaching to inform the driver of the approaching direction of the other vehicle. In addition, a warning that is generated when each driving support function is activated may be a warning sound prepared in advance, or a sound such as “the vehicle is approaching from behind” may be played.

  When the front vehicle following function is activated, the accelerator pedal may be vibrated so that the driver does not step on the accelerator pedal. Further, when the curve overspeed adjustment function is activated, the rotation direction of the handle may be limited so that the driver does not cut the handle in the direction opposite to the curve direction. Similarly, when the surrounding vehicle detection function is activated, if it detects that another vehicle is approaching from the rear of the adjacent lane, the direction of rotation of the handle should be limited so that the driver does not cut the handle in the direction of the adjacent lane. May be.

  In the third embodiment, the user can delete the driving support function determined to be unnecessary among the driving support functions included in each driving support function group. However, the driving support function is added to the driving support function group. The user may be able to add a driving support function to be performed.

  The correspondence between the constituent elements of the claims and the constituent elements of the first to third embodiments is as follows. That is, the vehicle controller 10 constitutes control means and adjustment means, the switches 41 to 43 constitute operation means, and the display 8 constitutes display means. In addition, the above description is an example to the last, and when interpreting invention, it is not limited to the correspondence of the component of said embodiment and the component of this invention at all.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the driving assistance device in 1st Embodiment. Diagram of five driving support functions classified into three groups FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a position where the operation switch group is provided, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating various switches constituting the operation switch group. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a display example when all driving support functions are inactive, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing a display example when all driving support functions are operating. A diagram that categorizes five driving support functions into three driving support function groups The figure which shows an example of the screen of the display for adjusting the grouped driving assistance function The figure which shows each operation switch which changed shape

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle distance sensor, 2 ... Car-mounted camera, 3 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 4 ... Operation switch group, 5 ... Throttle actuator, 6 ... Brake actuator, 7 ... Handle actuator, 8 ... Display, 9 ... Speaker, 10 ... Vehicle controller, 41 ... Visibility auxiliary switch, 42 ... Driving auxiliary switch, 43 ... Ambient monitoring switch

Claims (8)

In the driving support device having a plurality of driving support functions for supporting the driving of the driver,
Driving comprising: a control means for grouping the plurality of driving support functions based on driving support contents, and turning on / off the grouped driving support functions in groups based on an instruction from a user. Support device. The driving support device according to claim 1,
In order to turn on / off the grouped driving support functions in units of groups, the driving support apparatus further includes the same number of operation means as the number of groups. In the driving assistance device according to claim 2,
The driving support apparatus, wherein the plurality of operation means are arranged based on driving support contents when grouped. In the driving assistance device according to claim 3,
The plurality of operation means are arranged in a column, the operation means related to the function of detecting an obstacle ahead of the host vehicle is arranged forward, and the operation means related to the function of detecting an obstacle behind the host vehicle is arranged rearward. Driving assistance device. In the driving assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A driving support apparatus further comprising an adjusting unit that deletes a driving support function belonging to a group based on an instruction from a user. The driving support device according to claim 5,
The adjustment means adds a driving support function that did not belong to the group to the group based on an instruction from the user. In the driving assistance device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A driving support apparatus further comprising display means for displaying an on / off state of the driving support function group. In the driving support method having a plurality of driving support functions for supporting the driving of the driver,
A driving support method, wherein the plurality of driving support functions are grouped based on driving support contents, and the grouped driving support functions are turned on / off in units of groups based on an instruction from a user.

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