JP2007257211A - Driving support system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system allowing a driver to check external sound without opening a window when a vehicle stops in front of a predetermined crossing. <P>SOLUTION: This driving support system is provided with a detection means, which detects approach of the vehicle to a first distance to the predetermined crossing and outputs a control signal, and a window control means receiving the control sinal and opening the window of the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a driving support system. Specifically, the present invention relates to a driving support system that opens a window when a vehicle is stopped at a predetermined level crossing.

When a vehicle equipped with car navigation approaches a railroad crossing, an icon is output on the screen to alert the driver.
On the other hand, a device that outputs a warning or a deceleration command to a driver when a vehicle equipped with car navigation approaches an intersection has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this apparatus, when approaching a railroad crossing, a warning and a deceleration command are output in the same manner.
JP 2004-086363 A

By the way, the driver changes the vehicle to a predetermined level crossing (in the present invention, including a level crossing that requires a window to be opened to check the external sound when paused and includes a level crossing without a traffic light or a flashing traffic light). It is required by laws and regulations such as the Road Traffic Law to confirm safety (open windows and check external sounds (such as sound of approaching trains) when the vehicle is stopped. However, when the driver stops the vehicle at a railroad crossing, it is troublesome to open the window in order to check the external sound.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a system that allows a driver to check external sound without opening a window when the vehicle stops at a predetermined level crossing.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the first configuration of the present invention detects that the vehicle has approached a predetermined level crossing up to the first distance and outputs a control signal, and receives the control signal to receive a window of the vehicle. And a window control means for opening the door.

  According to the first configuration, the first distance is associated with the predetermined level crossing. When the vehicle approaches this first distance, a control signal is output, and the control signal is received to open the window. Therefore, it is possible to open the window in a predetermined open state when passing through the first distance and stopping at a predetermined level crossing. Therefore, when the driver stops the vehicle at the railroad crossing, the driver can check the external sound without performing the operation of opening the window, and thus can comply with the law.

According to a second configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the detection means includes map data storage means for storing a first point at a first distance from the railroad crossing, and the position of the vehicle is the first point. When they match, a control signal is output.
The map data has a first point associated with a predetermined level crossing, and a control signal can be output when the position of the vehicle coincides with this point. Similarly, the driver can confirm the external sound when the vehicle is stopped at the railroad crossing.

According to a third configuration of the present invention, in the first or second configuration, the detection means includes means for calculating a distance from the crossing to the vehicle, and the control is performed when the calculated distance coincides with the first distance. Output a signal.
A distance from the railroad crossing to the vehicle is calculated, and a control signal can be output when the position of the vehicle coincides with the first distance.

According to a fourth configuration of the present invention, in the first to third configurations, when the window control means receives the control signal, if the vehicle window is open, the window control means maintains the open state of the vehicle window.
If the window is open when the control signal is received, the open state of the window can be maintained by prohibiting the operation of closing the window. Therefore, the window opening operation may be performed only when the window is closed.

According to a fifth configuration of the present invention, in the first to fourth configurations, after the vehicle passes through the railroad crossing, the window control means returns the vehicle window to a state before reaching the first distance.
After passing the level crossing, the vehicle interior can be maintained before and after passing the level crossing by returning the vehicle window to the state before reaching the first distance.

According to a sixth configuration of the present invention, in the first configuration, the second detection means for detecting the vehicle speed and acceleration of the vehicle, the vehicle speed and acceleration detected by the second detection means, and the first distance. And a time calculating means for calculating the time for the vehicle to reach the railroad crossing, and the window control means opens the vehicle window to a predetermined open state after the time calculated by the time calculating means has elapsed.
As a result, the time to reach the railroad crossing is calculated based on the first distance and the vehicle speed and acceleration detected by the second detection means, and after the time has elapsed (when the vehicle stops at the railroad crossing), the vehicle window Can be brought into a predetermined open state. Therefore, the driver can confirm the external sound without performing the operation of opening the window.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a driving support system 10 used in an embodiment of the present invention.
The driving support system 10 includes a control unit 11, a navigation unit 20, a detection unit 31, a window control unit 32, a distance calculation unit 33, a second detection unit 34, a time calculation unit 35, and a storage unit 40. .
The control unit 11 includes a CPU 12. Each element constituting the driving support system 10 is connected to the CPU 12 via a bus and is controlled. The CPU 12 controls each element by reading and executing the control program stored in the control program storage area 41 of the storage unit.
The navigation unit 20 includes a navigation system 21, a GPS receiver 22, a beacon receiver 23 and an FM multiplex receiver 24, a display unit 25, an operation unit 26, a speaker unit 27, various sensors (such as a gyro sensor) 28, and the like. The navigation system 21 performs overall control of other elements provided in the navigation unit 20. The GPS receiver 22 receives a signal output from a GPS satellite via a GPS antenna, and supplies the current vehicle position and vehicle direction to the navigation. The display unit 25 is a device that displays the contents of navigation, and a liquid crystal monitor or the like is used. The operation unit 26 is a device for operating navigation. The speaker unit 27 is a device that conveys navigation guidance, warnings, and the like using voice.

The detection unit 31 detects that the vehicle has reached the first distance or the first point, and outputs a control signal. At this time, the detection unit 31 reads the window opening / closing data stored in the window opening / closing data storage area 45, and generates a control signal according to the current window opening / closing state. If the window of the vehicle is open, a control signal for maintaining the open state of the window is generated. On the other hand, if the window is closed, a control signal for opening the window is generated. The output control signal is transmitted to the window control unit.
The window control unit 32 receives the control signal output from the detection unit 31 and opens / closes the window. If the type of the control signal is a signal that maintains the open state of the window, the window is not driven and the open state is maintained. On the other hand, if the type of the control signal is a control signal for opening the window, the window control unit 32 performs the window opening operation. It should be noted that the degree of opening of the window that is opened when the railroad crossing is stopped may be such that an external sound can be heard, and may be half open.
The distance calculation unit 33 calculates a distance from a predetermined level crossing to the vehicle. When the calculated distance coincides with the first distance, the detection unit 31 outputs a control signal. The method for calculating the distance is not particularly limited. For example, distance data between the crossing and the vehicle on the map data may be used.
The second detection unit 34 detects the speed and acceleration of the vehicle. The detected speed and acceleration are used to calculate the time until the vehicle reaches the railroad crossing.
Based on the speed and acceleration detected by the second detector 34 and the first distance data stored in the first distance data storage area 43, the time calculator 35 determines the time until the vehicle reaches the railroad crossing. Calculate time. The vehicle completes the opening operation of the window when the calculated time has elapsed.

As the storage unit 40, a general storage medium such as a DVD or CD-ROM, a storage device such as a hard disk, or the like is used. The storage unit 40 includes a control program storage area 41, a map data storage area 42, a first distance data storage area 43, a first point data storage area 44, and a window opening / closing data storage area 45.
The control program storage area 41 stores a control program for operating the CPU 12.
The map data storage area 42 stores map data used for navigation. This map data is composed of general map data, and includes, for example, road distance and width, coordinates of intersections and railroad crossings, coordinates of road markings, and the like. The map data storage area 42 includes a crossing data storage area 421. The level crossing data is data related to a predetermined level crossing and includes data related to a position on map data.
The first distance data storage area 43 stores a predetermined distance from a railroad crossing (including a railroad stop line). This distance data becomes a trigger for outputting a control signal when the vehicle reaches the first distance. The first distance can be arbitrarily set depending on the size of the vehicle, the vehicle type, and the like.
The first point data storage area 44 is an area for storing first point data associated with a predetermined level crossing. The first point is preferably located at the first distance, but can be arbitrarily set. The first point data includes data related to the approach direction of the vehicle, and a control signal is output when the vehicle enters the direction approaching the railroad crossing from the first point.
The window opening / closing data storage area 45 is an area for storing the opening / closing state of a vehicle window (for example, a driver's side window) as data. The means for reading the open / close state of the window is not particularly limited, and the state of the power window switch and the operation of the window drive motor may be detected. This window opening / closing data is used as information for maintaining the state if the window is open when the vehicle approaches the first distance (that is, information for prohibiting the operation of closing the window). On the other hand, if the window is closed, it is used as information for opening the window. It is also used as information for maintaining the open / closed state of the window before and after passing the railroad crossing.

Next, the opening / closing operation of the window of the vehicle equipped with the driving support system will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
The vehicle that has started traveling starts searching for a crossing (steps 1 and 3). When a crossing is retrieved, it is determined from the map data whether the crossing is a predetermined crossing. If it is a predetermined level crossing (step 5: Y), the process proceeds to the next step. If it is not a predetermined level crossing (step 5: N), the next level crossing is searched.
After a predetermined level crossing is searched, the level crossing is confirmed (step 7). Next, the first distance associated with the crossing is read (step 9). Then, when the vehicle reaches the first distance, the process proceeds to the next step (step 11: Y). When the vehicle does not reach the first distance, it is repeated until it reaches (step 11: N).
When the vehicle reaches the first distance, window opening / closing data is read. If the window is open (step 13: Y), the control unit generates a control signal that prohibits the operation of closing the window (step 15). On the other hand, if the window is not open (step 13: N), the control unit generates a control signal for starting the window opening operation.
After the opening operation of the window is started, an arrival time until the crossing is calculated based on the vehicle speed and acceleration of the vehicle and the first distance data (step 19). Then, after the arrival time has elapsed, the window is opened so that the window is in a predetermined open state (step 23). Accordingly, the driver can check the external sound without performing the window opening operation when the driver stops at the crossing.
Then, after the vehicle stops at the level crossing (step 25), passes through the level crossing (step 27), and if the window is open before the vehicle reaches the first distance, the open state of the window is set. Maintain (step 31). On the other hand, if the window is closed, the window closing operation is performed. Thereby, the vehicle interior environment can be maintained before and after the passage of the railroad crossing.

The opening / closing operation | movement of the window of a vehicle before and behind a level crossing is demonstrated using FIG. 4 (A).
When the vehicle 401 reaches the first distance (point (2)), the arrival time to the railroad crossing (temporary stop line) 402 is calculated based on the first distance, the vehicle speed, and the acceleration. At this time, if the window of the vehicle 401 is in an open state at the point (1), an operation for closing the window is prohibited. On the other hand, if it is in the closed state, the window opening operation is started from the point (2), and the window is set to a predetermined opening state in accordance with the time when the vehicle 401 reaches the point (3). . As a result, the driver can check the external sound at the point (3) without performing the window opening operation.
After that, after passing through the track (point (4)), the window of the vehicle 401 at the point (1) is returned to the state of the window at the point (1). The closing operation will be performed.

In this example, the time is used as a measurement parameter from when the vehicle reaches the first distance until it stops at the level crossing, and the window opening operation is performed in accordance with the time to reach the level crossing. A distance may be used as a measurement parameter.
When distance is used as a measurement parameter, the distance is counted after the point (2) (first distance) in FIG. 4A is reached and the first distance is moved accordingly. A window opening operation may be performed. The method for performing the window opening operation in accordance with the moving distance is not particularly limited. For example, the first distance is divided equally, and the window opening operation is advanced each time the divided distance is moved. ) When stopping at a point (crossing), the window may be controlled to be in a predetermined open state.

Other embodiments are shown below.
In FIG. 1, the storage unit 40 includes a first point data storage area 44. The first point data storage area 44 stores a point (position data) for starting the window opening operation. This first point data is individually associated with each level crossing stored in the level crossing data storage area 421. When the vehicle approaching the railroad crossing reaches this first point, the window opening operation is started.

The opening / closing operation of the window before and after passing through the level crossing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 3, steps having the same operations as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is partially omitted. When traveling is started and the first point is reached (step 43: Y ), It is determined whether the first point is reached from the direction approaching the railroad crossing. When the first point is reached from the direction approaching the railroad crossing (step 45: Y), the process proceeds to the next step. On the other hand, when the first point is reached from the crossing (step 45: N), the process returns to step 43.
When the first point is reached from the direction approaching the railroad crossing, the open state of the window is confirmed. If the window is open (step 47: Y), an operation for closing the window is prohibited. On the other hand, if the window is not open (step 47: N), the window opening operation is started (step 51).
Next, the arrival time until the railroad crossing is calculated based on the distance from the first point to the railroad crossing (first distance) and the vehicle speed and acceleration detected by the second detector (step 53). . Then, after the arrival time elapses, the window is opened so that the window is in a predetermined open state. Therefore, the driver can confirm the external sound without performing the opening operation of the window when pausing at the crossing.
As described above, even when the vehicle is not in the search mode, the window can be opened when the vehicle reaches the first point.

The opening / closing operation | movement of the window of the vehicle 501 before and behind passage of a level crossing is demonstrated using FIG. 4 (B).
When the vehicle 501 reaches the first point (point (6)), the arrival time to the level crossing 502 based on the distance from the first point to the level crossing (temporary stop line) 502, the vehicle speed and the acceleration. Is calculated. (5) If the window of the vehicle 501 is open at the point, the operation of closing the window is prohibited. On the other hand, in the closed state, the opening operation of the window is started from the point (6), and the window is brought into a predetermined open state in accordance with the time when the vehicle 501 reaches the point (7). The driver checks the external sound at the point (7) without opening the window. Then, after passing the track, at point (8), the window of the vehicle 501 at point (5) is returned to the state of the window at the point (5). The closing operation will be performed.

  The present invention is not limited to the description of the embodiments and examples of the invention described above. Various modifications are also included in the present invention as long as those skilled in the art can easily conceive without departing from the scope of the claims.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a driving support system used in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the opening / closing operation of the window in the vicinity of the level crossing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the opening / closing operation of the window in the vicinity of the railroad crossing according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship of vehicles passing through a railroad crossing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Driving assistance system, 20 Navigation part, 31 Detection part, 32 Window control part, 33 Distance calculation part, 34 2nd detection part, 35 time calculation part, 40 Storage part

Claims (6)

Detecting means for detecting that the vehicle has approached a first level crossing to the first distance and outputting a control signal;
Window control means for receiving the control signal and opening the window of the vehicle;
A driving support system comprising:   The detection means includes map data storage means for storing a first point at the first distance from the railroad crossing, and outputs the control signal when the position of the vehicle coincides with the first point. The driving support system according to claim 1.   The detection means includes means for calculating a distance from the railroad crossing to the vehicle, and the control signal is output when the calculated distance matches the first distance. The driving support system according to 1 or 2.   The said window control means will maintain the open state of the window of this vehicle, if the window of the said vehicle is an open state, when the said control signal is received. Driving support system.   The driving according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein after the vehicle passes through the railroad crossing, the window control means returns the window of the vehicle to a state before reaching the first distance. Support system. Second detection means for detecting the vehicle speed and acceleration of the vehicle;
A time calculation means for calculating a time for the vehicle to reach the railroad crossing using the vehicle speed and acceleration detected by the second detection means and the first distance;
2. The driving support system according to claim 1, wherein the window control unit sets the window of the vehicle to a predetermined open state after the time calculated by the time calculation unit elapses.

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