JP2007276501A - Opening and closing roof device of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an opening and closing roof device of a vehicle capable of automatically guiding a proper parking point in this side of a raining area when a roof is opened, and capable of closing the roof by safely stopping the vehicle before a raining area. <P>SOLUTION: This device comprises raining determination means for determining whether a traveling road of an own vehicle X is in a raining state or not by a traveling road setting means 20 or 24 setting the traveling road of the own vehicle X and raining information fetch means 31, 20 fetching raining information, and a guide means 16 or 34 for guiding a stopping point allowing the stopping of the own vehicle before the raining area of the traveling road of its own vehicle X when the raining state is determined by the raining determination means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an open / close roof device for a vehicle such as an open car provided with an open / close roof capable of selecting an upper portion of a passenger compartment between an open state and a closed state.

  Conventionally, a driver support information providing system that provides a driver with driver support information (such as weather information and parking lot information) required by the driver (driver) has already been invented (see Patent Document 1).

  In this conventional driver assistance information providing system, weather information is provided when the occupant selects a request for weather information, and parking information is provided when the occupant selects a request for parking information. There is an advantage that it is possible to improve the performance.

When this conventional system is used in an open car and the vehicle is opened with an openable roof, and the vehicle is to be stopped in response to rain, the occupant provides weather information through his own request input operation. In addition to obtaining parking information, it is necessary for passengers to determine the appropriate stopping point by themselves, and it is not possible to automatically guide the appropriate stopping point before the rain area when the roof of the open car is opened was there.
JP 2004-5493 A

  In view of this, the present invention is based on the fact that when the open state of the roof is detected by the roof opening / closing detection means for detecting the opening / closing of the openable / closable roof, it is determined that the traveling path of the own vehicle is raining. It is configured to guide the stopping point where the vehicle can stop before the raining area on the road, and when the roof is open, it can automatically guide the appropriate stopping point before the raining area and stop safely before the raining area. An object of the present invention is to provide an open / close roof device for a vehicle capable of closing a roof.

  An open / close roof device for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises a roof open / close detection means for detecting an open / close state of the roof in a vehicle having an open / close roof capable of selecting an upper part of a passenger compartment between an open state and a closed state. A rain that determines whether or not the travel path of the host vehicle is in a rain state by a travel path setting means that sets a travel path, a rain information acquisition means that acquires rainfall information, and the travel path setting means and the rain information acquisition means. When the roof opening / closing detection means detects the open state of the roof, the vehicle can stop before the rain area on the traveling path of the own vehicle when the rain determination means determines that the rain is in the rain state. It is provided with a guide means for guiding a stop point.

  The above openable roof may be a hood (so-called soft top) or a hard top (detachable hard top so-called DHT).

  According to the above configuration, the roof open / close detection means detects the open / closed state of the roof, the travel path setting means sets the travel path of the host vehicle, the rain information acquisition means acquires the rain information, and the rain determination means It is determined whether or not the traveling path of the host vehicle is in a rain state by both the travel path setting means and the rain information acquisition means. When the roof open / close detection means detects the roof open state, the rain determination is performed. When it is determined that the vehicle is in a rainy state, the guiding unit performs automatic guidance of a stop point where the host vehicle can stop before the rain area on the traveling path of the host vehicle.

  As described above, when the roof is opened, an appropriate stop point in front of the raining area can be automatically guided. As a result, the occupant can safely stop before the raining area and close the roof.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the traveling path setting means is constituted by a route setting means of a navigation unit that guides a route to a predetermined destination.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to determine the rainfall of the entire route on the route guidance route to the destination set by the route setting means.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the guiding means is constituted by voice generating means for guiding a stop point where the host vehicle can stop by voice.
The sound generation means described above may be constituted by a speaker.
According to the said structure, since a stop point is voice-guided, a passenger | crew (driver) can concentrate on a driving | operation.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the guide means is constituted by image display means for displaying a stop point at which the host vehicle can stop on an image provided on a vehicle interior.
The above-described display is preferably a head-up display (so-called HUD). The head-up display forms a part of the front window as a half mirror, and projects a display image on the half mirror. Thus, it is possible to achieve both ensuring of a forward view and visual recognition of display contents.

According to the said structure, the stop point displayed on the display as an image can be guided visually intelligibly.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle is provided with travel path determination means for determining whether or not the host vehicle is traveling on an automobile-dedicated road, and the guide means is configured to cause the host vehicle to travel on the automobile-dedicated road. Guidance is executed when it is determined that it is in the middle.

  According to the above configuration, on an automobile-only road that cannot be parked on the roadside, a stop point (service area, parking area, etc.) that can be stopped before the rain area is guided, so the vehicle can be stopped safely at the stop point. Can be closed.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a guidance request means for requesting guidance by the guidance means and a request propriety judgment means for judging the presence or absence of a passenger's guidance request by the guidance request means. The guidance of the said stop point is performed.

According to the above configuration, since the stop point guidance is executed in response to the passenger's guidance request (so-called needs), it is possible to eliminate the troublesomeness when the passenger does not request the stop point guidance.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a roof opening point guide means is provided for guiding a stop point where the host vehicle can stop to open the roof ahead of the rain area on the traveling path.

  According to the above configuration, the roof opening point guide means guides the stopping point where the host vehicle can stop before the rain area of the traveling path, so that the occupant can stop at this point and safely open the roof. It is possible to satisfy the occupant's original request (roof opening request).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the roof opening point guide means performs guidance when the roof is closed or after the roof is closed.
According to the above configuration, when the occupant closes the roof in response to rain, the stop point where the vehicle can stop is guided to open the roof ahead of the rain area on the traveling path. Can be achieved.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, a keyless portable device capable of communicating with the host vehicle is provided. When the roof open / close detection unit detects the open state of the roof and the rain determination unit determines that the vehicle is in the rain state, The keyless portable device is provided with notifying means for notifying the approach of rainfall.

  According to the above configuration, when the occupant is away from the host vehicle and cannot recognize the approach of rainfall, the notifying unit notifies the keyless portable device of the approach of rainfall, so that the convenience can be improved.

  According to the present invention, when the open state of the roof is detected by the roof closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the openable / closable roof, the traveling of the host vehicle is determined when it is determined that the traveling path of the host vehicle is raining. Since it is configured to guide the stopping point where the vehicle can stop before the rain area on the road, it can automatically guide the appropriate stop point before the rain area when the roof is opened, and it can stop safely before the rain area. This has the effect of closing the roof.

  Opening and closing the roof to detect the open / closed state of the roof in a vehicle with an openable / closable roof that allows the vehicle upper part to be opened or closed for the purpose of stopping the vehicle before the rain area and closing the roof By the detection means, the travel path setting means for setting the travel path of the host vehicle, the rainfall information acquisition means for acquiring the rain information, and the travel path setting means and the rain information acquisition means, the travel path of the host vehicle is A rain judging means for judging whether or not it is raining, and when the roof open / close detecting means detects the open state of the roof, when the rain judging means judges that it is raining, the traveling path of the host vehicle This is realized by providing a guide means for guiding a stop point where the own vehicle can stop in front of the rain zone.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The drawing shows an open / close roof device of a vehicle. In FIG. 1, a vehicle 1 (an open car as a host vehicle) includes a seat 5 (driver's seat) provided with a seat cushion 3 and a seat back 4 on a floor panel 2. 1 and the passenger seat, but only one driver seat is shown in the drawing, while the upper portion of the passenger compartment 6 is opened (solid line state in FIG. 1) and closed (shown in FIG. 1). It has an openable and closable roof that can be selected in a virtual line state.

  In this embodiment, a hood 7 is shown as an openable roof. This hood 7 (so-called soft top) has a link assembly 8 as a framework composed of a plurality of link members and a top cloth 9, and when the roof is opened manually or automatically (when the hood 7 is folded and stored). As shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, the hood 7 is stored in a folded state in a hood storage chamber 11 formed in the body 10 behind the seat back 4.

When the roof is closed (when the hood 7 is unfolded), the top cross 9 is unfolded by the movement of the link assembly 8 by manual operation or automatically as shown in phantom lines in FIG. A striker (not shown) provided on the hood 7 side is locked with a hook 12 on the front header side while covering the upper part.
In the vicinity of the hook 12, a roof opening / closing sensor 13 (roof opening / closing detection means) for detecting the open state of the hood 7 as a roof is provided.

On the other hand, a part of the front window 14 is formed by a half mirror 15, and a head-up display 16 that projects a display image on the half mirror 15 is configured. This head-up display 16 (so-called HUD) is a display (image display means) capable of achieving both a front view and a visual confirmation of display contents.
In FIG. 1, 17 is an instrument panel, 18 is a steering wheel, and 19 is a meter hood.

  FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the layout of various devices as viewed from the inside of the passenger compartment. The instrument panel 17 is provided with a navigation unit 20 and an audio unit 21, and is covered with a meter hood 19. Is provided with a meter portion 23 formed by an LCD display or the like, and a steering wheel 18 has a built-in microphone 24.

  The center console unit 25 is provided with a controller 29 having a direction key 26, an execution key 27, and a cancel key 28, and a mobile phone 31 (communication device) having an antenna 30 and a shift lever 32. On the other hand, a speaker 34 is built in the front pillar 33 on the driver's seat side.

  Here, the navigation unit 20 described above sets the destination by using the direction key 26, the execution key 27, the cancel key 28 of the controller 29, or by using the voice command from the microphone 24, and this predetermined purpose. This is a device that guides a route (route guidance route) to the ground with the head-up display 16 and / or the speaker 34. That is, the controller 29 or the microphone 24 described above also serves as a route setting unit of the navigation unit 20.

The meter unit 23 includes an input unit that can display a vehicle speed, air conditioning settings, and other vehicle states, and can perform a touch operation in accordance with display contents.
The mobile phone 31 is connected to the navigation unit 20 via the adapter 35 and the connection line 36, and is configured to acquire rainfall information from the other vehicle Y or the weather information center 37 shown in FIG. Yes.
Moreover, the above-mentioned microphone 24 inputs the instruction | indication by the voice of a passenger | crew (driver) to the navigation unit 20 via a voice recognition interface (not shown).
The speaker 34 described above is sound generating means for outputting sound information from the navigation unit 20 via a sound output interface (not shown).

  FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the control circuit, in which the CPU 40 of the navigation unit 20 in the host vehicle X has the current position information of the host vehicle X from the positioning sensor 38, the road map information from the map memory 39 formed by a CD-ROM or the like. , A command signal from the controller 29, a roof opening / closing signal from the roof opening / closing sensor 13, a parking signal from the parking sensor 41, information from the database (storage means) 42, a voice command signal from the microphone 24, a vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor 43 The head-up display 16, the speaker 34, the mobile phone 31, and the keyless communication device 44 are driven and controlled based on various signals such as signals, rainfall information from the mobile phone 31 as a communication device, and command signals from the keyless communication device 44. To do. The positioning sensor 38 described above may be used in combination with a dead reckoning navigation and a GPS sensor that receives radio waves from GPS satellites and measures the absolute position of the host vehicle X.

  The above-described mobile phone 31 transmits / receives to / from the weather information center 37 by wireless communication to acquire rain information, and also transmits / receives to / from other vehicles Y via the mobile phone base station 45 to obtain rain information. To get.

  On the other hand, the keyless communication device 44 transmits and receives wirelessly to and from the keyless portable device 46 carried by the passenger, and locks and unlocks the door of the vehicle via a door lock actuator (not shown). .

  The weather information center 37 includes a CPU 47, a database 48, a radar site 49 as a rain cloud radar site, and a communication device 50. The database 48 stores rainfall information, rainfall forecast data, and the like for communication. Information about rainfall is provided to the host vehicle X via the machine 50, and more detailed rainfall data is stored in the database 48 based on the wiper drive signal, the raindrop sensor signal, and the current position information input from the other vehicle Y.

  The CPU 40 of the host vehicle X described above includes a travel path setting unit (see the navigation unit 20 or the microphone 24) that sets the travel path of the host vehicle X and a rain information acquisition unit (see the mobile phone 31 and the navigation unit 20). It also serves as rain determination means (see step S5 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4) for determining whether or not the traveling path of the host vehicle X is in a rain state, and the hood 7 is opened by the roof open / close detection means (see roof open / close sensor 13). When the state is detected, if it is determined by the above-described rain determination means (see step S5) that it is raining, the speaker 34 as the sound generation means and / or the head-up display 16 as the image display means are driven, Guidance of stopping points where the host vehicle X can stop before the rain zone Z (see FIGS. 7 and 8) on the traveling path of the host vehicle X They are configured to Migihitsuji.

  The CPU 40 described above also serves as travel path determination means (see step S13 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4) for determining whether the host vehicle X is traveling on an automobile-only road such as an expressway. The up-display 16 and / or the speaker 34) determines the stopping point at which the host vehicle X can stop when the traveling path determination means (see step S13) determines that the host vehicle X is traveling on an automobile road. It is configured to provide guidance.

  Furthermore, the above-described CPU 40 further detects that the open state of the hood 7 is detected by the roof opening / closing detection means (see the roof opening / closing sensor 13), and the occupant further determines that it is in the raining state by the rain determination means (see step S5). When the vehicle is away from the host vehicle X, it also serves as notifying means (see step S11 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4) for notifying the keyless portable device 46 outside the vehicle of approaching rainfall.

  In addition, the CPU 40 described above is a roof opening point guide means for guiding a stopping point where the host vehicle X can stop for opening the hood 7 ahead of the rain zone Z on the traveling path (steps of the subroutine shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). (See S22 and S34).

The operation of the vehicle opening / closing roof apparatus configured as described above will be described in detail below with reference to the main routine shown in FIG. 4 and the subroutines shown in FIGS.
In step S1 of the main routine shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the hood 7 is open based on the input from the roof opening / closing sensor 13, and when the hood 7 is closed (when NO is determined). Then, the process proceeds to the next step S2, and when the hood 7 is opened (YES determination), the process proceeds to another step S3.

  In step S2, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the occupant is requesting guidance based on whether or not there is an input from the microphone 24 or the controller 29, and when NO is determined (when the occupant is not requesting guidance). On the other hand, when the determination is YES (when the occupant requests guidance), the process proceeds to step S3.

  In this step S3, the CPU 40 drives the mobile phone 31, communicates with the weather information center 37 or another vehicle Y, and acquires rainfall information. The acquired rainfall information can be stored in the database 42 so as to be readable.

In the next step S <b> 4, the CPU 40 sets and acquires a traveling path by an input from the controller 29 or the microphone 24.
The travel path is set by setting a guide route to a predetermined destination P (see FIG. 7) using the controller 29 or the microphone 24. When the destination P is set, the CPU 40 As shown in FIG. 7, the current position x of the host vehicle X and the guidance route to the destination P are visually displayed on the up-display 16 on the road map. The navigation unit 20 guides the route to the destination P with the head-up display 16 and / or the speaker 34 as the host vehicle X travels.

  Next, in step S5, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the rain zone Z exists in the entire path on the travel path to the current position x of the host vehicle X and the destination P, and at the time of NO determination (the rain zone Z on the travel path). If NO exists, the process proceeds to step S6. If YES is determined (when the rain zone Z exists on the traveling path), the process proceeds to another step S9.

  In step S <b> 6 described above, the CPU 40 visually displays “no rain approaching” on the head-up display 16 in response to the absence of the rain zone Z on the traveling path. In the next step S7, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the occupant requests voice guidance based on whether there is an input from the microphone 24 or the controller 29, and when NO is determined (when the occupant does not request voice guidance). On the other hand, when the determination is YES (when the occupant requests voice guidance), the process proceeds to the next step S8, and in this step S8, the CPU 40 drives the speaker 34 as the voice generating means, After voice guidance of “no rain approaching”, return.

On the other hand, in step S9 described above, the CPU 40 notifies the occupant of “approaching rainfall” through the head-up display 16 and / or the speaker 34 in response to the presence of the rain zone Z on the traveling path.
In the next step S10, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the keyless portable device 46 is in the passenger compartment 6, in other words, whether or not the occupant is in the passenger compartment 6. If the vehicle is away from the vehicle, the process proceeds to step S11. If YES is determined (when the occupant is in the host vehicle X), the process proceeds to another step S12.

  In step S <b> 11 described above, the CPU 40 drives the keyless communication device 44 to notify the keyless portable device 46 outside the vehicle of “approaching rain” and then returns.

  On the other hand, in step S12 described above, the CPU 40 compares the current position X of the host vehicle X from the positioning sensor 38 with the road map in the map memory 39 to search for the travel route of the host vehicle X, that is, the host vehicle X. It is searched whether the vehicle is traveling on a general road or on a car-only road.

  In the next step S13, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the host vehicle X is traveling on an automobile exclusive road by the search in step S12, and when NO is determined (when the host vehicle X is traveling on a general road). The process proceeds to step S14, and when YES is determined (when the host vehicle X is traveling on an automobile exclusive road), the process proceeds to another step S16.

  In step S14 described above, the CPU 40 drives the head-up display 16 in response to traveling on a general road (a general road where a vehicle can be stopped at any time, such as a convenience store with a shoulder or a parking lot). As shown in FIG. 7, the stop warning and the display of the rain zone Z are executed. For example, as shown in the figure, the message “Rain cloud is approaching. Please stop at point A and close the top” is displayed in text. In the next step S15, the CPU 40 drives the speaker 34 to give a voice message saying "Rain cloud is approaching. Stop at the point A and close the hood." A point A shown in FIG. 7 is a stop point 61 where it is guided that the own vehicle X can stop before the rain zone Z, and the point B is in the rain zone Z or close to the rain zone Z. Is a point other than the traveling path, and point C is a stop point 62 where it is guided that the host vehicle can be stopped in order to open the hood 7 before the rain zone Z.

  On the other hand, in step S16 described above, the CPU 40 executes the guidance of the stop point corresponding to the time when the vehicle travels on an automobile exclusive road (an automobile exclusive road where the stop point of the vehicle is limited to a service area, a parking area, or the like). The stop point guidance is executed by either one of the subroutine shown in FIG. 5 or the subroutine shown in FIG.

  First, the processing contents of the subroutine shown in FIG. 5 will be described. In step S21, the CPU 40 is a point where the vehicle can stop on the traveling path between the current position x of the host vehicle X and the destination P, and the rain zone Z Search for points other than. In this case, since the own vehicle X is traveling on the automobile exclusive road, the stop point can be specified as a place such as a service area or a parking area.

  Next, in step S22, based on the search result in step S21, the CPU 40 heads up both the stop point before the rain zone Z where the host vehicle X can stop and the stop point before the rain zone Z. Guidance is provided by the display 16 or / and the speaker 34.

  The display content on the above-described head-up display 16 may be a simple display as shown in FIG. 8, for example, or may be the same display content as the display during traveling on a general road shown in FIG. 7.

  In the simplified display illustrated in FIG. 8, the rain zone Z is Δ △ South IC, the stop 61 before the rain zone Z is the A service area, and the stop 62 ahead of the rain zone Z is the C parking area. As an example, the message to inform the passengers is “Rain cloud is approaching. Stop at the A service area and close the hood. After that, you can stop at the C parking area and open the hood. You can do it. "

  Therefore, the occupant can stop the own vehicle X in response to the rain in the A service area (stop point 61) and close the hood 7, and the C parking area (stop point) ahead of the rain zone Z. The vehicle X can be stopped at 62), and the hood 7 can be opened in response to the original request of the passenger.

  Next, the processing contents of the subroutine shown in FIG. 6 will be described. In step S31, the CPU 40 can stop the vehicle on the traveling path between the current position x of the host vehicle X and the destination P (service area or parking). Area, etc.) and a point other than the rain zone Z is searched.

  Next, in step S32, based on the search result in step S31, the CPU 40 selects the stop point 61 (see the service area A in FIG. 8) before the rain zone Z where the host vehicle X can stop, the head-up display 16 or / And the speaker 34 guides the user.

  Next, in step S33, the CPU 40 determines from the roof opening / closing sensor 13 whether or not the hood 7 has been closed in response to the approach of rain, and returns NO when the determination is NO (when the hood 7 is not closed). On the other hand, when the determination is YES (when the hood 7 is closed in response to the approach of rain), the process proceeds to the next step S34, where the CPU 40 is more than the rain zone Z where the host vehicle X can stop. The previous stop point 62 (see C parking area in FIG. 8) is guided by the head-up display 16 and / or the speaker 34.

  In addition to the fact that the hood 7 is closed, the guidance of the stop point 62 ahead of the rain zone Z is that the vehicle speed of the host vehicle X exceeds a predetermined value by a signal from the vehicle speed sensor 43, that is, the host vehicle X You may comprise so that guidance may be performed at the time of starting.

  As described above, the vehicle open / close roof device of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 includes a vehicle (see the hood 7) having an openable / closable roof (see the hood 7) capable of selecting the upper portion of the vehicle compartment 6 between the open state and the closed state. In an open car, a roof open / close detection means (see the roof open / close sensor 13) for detecting the open / closed state of the roof (top 7) and a travel path setting means (the navigation unit 20 or the microphone 24) for setting the travel path of the host vehicle X. Reference), rainfall information acquisition means for acquiring rainfall information (see mobile phone 31 and navigation unit 20), travel path setting means (navigation unit 20 or microphone 24), and rainfall information acquisition means (mobile phone 31 and navigation unit). 20), and a rain judgment means (step S5) for judging whether or not the traveling path of the host vehicle X is in a rain state. When the open state of the roof (top 7) is detected by the roof open / close detection means (roof open / close sensor 13), if the rain determining means (step S5) determines that it is raining, it is raining on the traveling path of the host vehicle X. Guide means (see the head-up display 16 and / or the speaker 34) for guiding the stop point 61 where the own vehicle can stop before the zone Z is provided.

  According to this configuration, the above-described roof opening / closing detection means (roof opening / closing sensor 13) detects the open / closed state of the roof (top 7), and the traveling path setting means (navigation unit 20 or microphone 24) is the traveling path of the host vehicle X. The rain information acquisition means (the mobile phone 31 and the navigation unit 20) acquires the rain information, and the rain determination means (step S5) is the travel path setting means (the navigation unit 20 or the microphone 24) and the rain information acquisition means ( The mobile phone 31 and the navigation unit 20) determine whether the traveling path of the host vehicle X is raining or not. The roof opening / closing detection means (roof opening / closing sensor 13) described above determines whether the roof (top 7) When the open state is detected, if the rain determining means (step S5) determines that it is raining, the guide (Head-up display 16 and / or speaker 34), the vehicle X in front of the rain zone Z of the traveling lane of the subject vehicle X to perform automatic guidance of the stop can stop point 61.

  As described above, when the roof is opened, an appropriate stop point 61 in front of the rain zone Z can be automatically guided. As a result, the occupant safely stops in front of the rain zone Z and closes the roof (top 7). be able to.

  The traveling path setting means (navigation unit 20 or microphone 24) is constituted by the route setting means (controller 29 or microphone 24) of the navigation unit 20 that guides the route to a predetermined destination P.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to determine the rainfall of the entire route on the route guidance route to the destination P set by the route setting means (the controller 29 or the microphone 24).

  Further, the guiding means is constituted by voice generating means (see the speaker 34) for guiding the stop point 61 where the host vehicle X can stop by voice.

  According to this configuration, since the stop point 61 is voice-guided, the occupant (driver) can concentrate on driving.

  In addition, the guide means is constituted by an image display means for displaying, as an image, a stop point 61 where the host vehicle X can stop on a display (see the head-up display 16) provided in the passenger compartment 6. .

  According to this configuration, the stop point 61 displayed as an image on the display (head-up display 16) can be visually and easily guided.

  Further, the vehicle is provided with travel path determination means (see step S13) for determining whether or not the host vehicle X is traveling on an automobile exclusive road, and the guide means (head-up display 16 or / and speaker 34) is configured to determine the travel path. Guidance is executed when it is determined by means (see step S13) that the host vehicle X is traveling on an automobile exclusive road.

  According to this configuration, on an automobile-only road that cannot be stopped on the roadside, a stop point 61 (service area, parking area, etc.) that can stop before the rain zone Z is guided, so the vehicle stops at the stop point 61. The roof (top 7) can be closed safely.

  Further, a roof opening point guide means for guiding a stop point 62 where the host vehicle X can stop for the roof opening (opening of the hood 7) ahead of the rain zone Z of the traveling path (see steps S16, S22, S34). It is equipped with.

  According to this configuration, the roof opening point guide means (steps S16, S22, S34) guides the stop point 62 where the host vehicle X ahead of the rain zone Z on the traveling path can stop. The roof (the hood 7) can be safely opened and the occupant's original request (roof opening request) can be satisfied.

  The roof opening point guide means (step S34) performs guidance when the roof (top 7) is closed or after the roof (top 7) is closed.

  According to this configuration, when the occupant closes the roof in response to rain (see YES determination in step S33), the vehicle is used to open the roof ahead of the rain zone Z on the traveling path (open the hood 7). Since the stop point 62 where X can stop is guided, it is possible to optimize the guidance.

  Further, a keyless portable device 46 capable of communicating with the host vehicle X is provided, the open state of the roof (top 7) is detected by the roof open / close detecting means (roof open / close sensor 13), and the rain determining means (step S5). When it is determined that it is raining, it is provided with notifying means (see step S11) for notifying the keyless portable device 46 outside the vehicle of approaching rain.

  According to this configuration, when the occupant cannot move away from the host vehicle X and recognize the approach of rainfall, the notification means (step S11) notifies the keyless portable device 46 of the approach of rainfall, thereby improving convenience. be able to.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart (main routine) showing another embodiment of the vehicle opening / closing roof apparatus, and the circuit apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is also used in this embodiment shown in FIG.

  Further, in this embodiment, the navigation unit CPU 40 (see FIG. 3) provides a guidance request for a passenger (refer to the microphone 24 or the controller 29) to guide the stop point where the host vehicle can stop before the rain area. It also serves as request availability determination means (see step Q2 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9) for determining whether or not there is a request to execute, and when the guidance request is made, the stop point 61 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) described above is used. It is configured to execute guidance.

  Further, in this embodiment, the CPU 40 described above also determines a rain judging means (see step Q5) for judging whether or not the traveling path of the host vehicle X is in a rain state, and the host vehicle X is a motorway such as an expressway. A travel route determination means (see step Q14) for determining whether or not the vehicle is traveling, and a notification means for notifying the keyless portable device 46 outside the vehicle of a rain approach when the rain determination means (see step Q5) determines that it is raining. (See step Q11).

  In addition, also in this embodiment, as the processing contents of step Q17, the subroutine of FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 is used as in the previous embodiment, so that the CPU 40 described above opens the hood 7 ahead of the rain zone Z of the traveling path. Therefore, it also serves as a roof opening point guide means (see steps S22 and S34 in FIGS. 5 and 6) for guiding a stop point 62 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) where the host vehicle X can stop.

The operation of the vehicle open / close roof apparatus configured as described above will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
In step Q1 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the hood 7 is open based on the input from the roof opening / closing sensor 13, and when the hood 7 is closed (NO determination). Returns to the next step Q2 when the hood 7 is opened (YES determination).

  In step Q2, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the occupant requests guidance based on whether or not there is an input from the microphone 24 or the controller 29, and returns when NO is determined (when the occupant does not request guidance). On the other hand, when the determination is YES (when the occupant requests guidance), the routine proceeds to the next step Q3.

  In this step Q3, the CPU 40 drives the mobile phone 31, communicates with the weather information center 37 or another vehicle Y, and acquires rainfall information. The acquired rainfall information can be stored in the database 42 so as to be readable.

  In the next step Q4, the CPU 40 sets and acquires a traveling path by an input from the controller 29 or the microphone 24. The travel path is set by setting a guide route to a predetermined destination P (see FIG. 7) using the controller 29 or the microphone 24. When the destination P is set, the CPU 40 As shown in FIG. 7, the current position x of the host vehicle X and the guidance route to the destination P are visually displayed on the road map on the up display 16. The navigation unit 20 guides the route to the destination P with the head-up display 16 and / or the speaker 34 as the host vehicle X travels.

  Next, in step Q5, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the rain zone Z exists on the traveling path to the current position x of the host vehicle X and the destination P, and when NO is determined (the rain zone Z does not exist on the traveling path). In the case), the process proceeds to step Q6. If YES is determined (when the rain zone Z exists on the traveling path), the process proceeds to another step Q9.

  In Step Q6 described above, the CPU 40 visually displays “no rain approaching” on the head-up display 16 in response to the fact that the rain zone Z does not exist on the traveling path. In the next step Q7, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the occupant requests voice guidance based on whether there is an input from the microphone 24 or the controller 29. When NO is determined (when the occupant does not request voice guidance) On the other hand, when the determination is YES (when the occupant requests voice guidance), the routine proceeds to the next step Q8, where the CPU 40 drives the speaker 34 and “no rain approach”. After voice guidance to the effect, return.

  On the other hand, in step Q9 described above, the CPU 40 notifies the occupant that “rain approaching” by the head-up display 16 and / or the speaker 34 in response to the presence of the rain zone Z on the traveling path.

  In next step Q10, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the keyless portable device 46 is in the passenger compartment 6, in other words, whether or not the occupant is in the passenger compartment 6. When the vehicle is away from the vehicle, the process proceeds to step Q11. When YES is determined (when the occupant is in the host vehicle X), the process proceeds to another step Q13.

In step Q11 described above, the CPU 40 drives the keyless communication device 44 to notify the keyless portable device 46 outside the vehicle that “rain approaching”.
Next, when a passenger turns on a roof closing switch (not shown) provided in the keyless portable device 46 in step Q12, this signal is transmitted to the keyless communication device 44, and the CPU 40 opens the hood 7 having an automatic opening / closing structure. Returns automatically after closing. When the hood 7 has a manual opening / closing structure, this step Q12 is omitted.

  On the other hand, in step Q13 described above, the CPU 40 collates the current position x of the host vehicle X from the positioning sensor 38 with the road map in the map memory 39, and the traveling path of the host vehicle X, that is, the host vehicle X is a general road. Or whether the vehicle is traveling on a car-only road.

  In the next step Q14, the CPU 40 determines whether or not the host vehicle X is traveling on an automobile-only road based on the search in step Q13, and when NO is determined (when the host vehicle X is traveling on a general road). The process proceeds to step Q15, and when YES is determined (when the host vehicle X is traveling on an automobile exclusive road), the process proceeds to another step Q17.

In step Q15 described above, the CPU 40 drives the head-up display 16 in response to driving on a general road, and executes a stop warning and a display of the rain zone Z on the display 16 as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in the figure, the message “Rain cloud is approaching. Please stop at point A and close the top” is displayed in text. In the next step Q16, the CPU 40 drives the speaker 34 to give a voice message "Rain cloud is approaching. Stop at the point A and close the hood."
A point A shown in FIG. 7 is a stop point 61 where it is guided that the own vehicle X can stop before the rain zone Z, and the point B is in the rain zone Z or close to the rain zone Z. Is a point other than the traveling route, and point C is a stop point 62 where it is guided that the own vehicle X can be stopped for the purpose of opening the hood 7 before the rain zone Z. Similar to the example.

  On the other hand, in step Q17 described above, the CPU 40 executes guidance for the stop point in response to traveling on the automobile exclusive road. The stop point guidance in step Q17 is either the subroutine shown in FIG. 5 or the subroutine shown in FIG. Since one process is executed in the same manner as in the previous embodiment, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Thus, the vehicle opening / closing roof device of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 (however, the circuit device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is used, and the display contents shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are used. The subroutine shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 is used in a vehicle equipped with an openable / closable hood 7 that allows the upper portion of the passenger compartment 6 to be selected between an open state and a closed state. A roof opening / closing sensor 13 to detect, a travel path setting means (navigation unit 20 or microphone 24) for setting the travel path of the host vehicle X, and a rain information acquisition means (mobile phone 31 and navigation unit 20) for acquiring rain information; The traveling path setting means (the navigation unit 20 or the microphone 24) and the rainfall information acquisition means (the mobile phone 31 and the navigation unit 20) And a rain determining means (step Q5) for determining whether or not the traveling path of the host vehicle X is in a rain state. When the roof open / close sensor 13 detects the open state of the hood 7, the rain determining means (step If it is determined in Q5) that it is raining, the guide means (head-up display 16 and / or speaker 34) guides the stop point 61 where the host vehicle X can stop before the rain zone Z on the traveling path of the host vehicle X. ).

  According to this configuration, the roof open / close sensor 13 detects the open / closed state of the hood 7, the travel path setting means (the navigation unit 20 or the microphone 24) sets the travel path of the host vehicle X, and the rain information acquisition means ( The mobile phone 31 and the navigation unit 20) acquire rainfall information, and the rain determination means (step Q5) is a travel path setting means (navigation unit 20 or microphone 24) and a rain information acquisition means (mobile phone 31 and navigation unit 20). It is determined whether or not the traveling path of the host vehicle X is in a rain state by both means. When the roof open / close sensor 13 detects the open state of the hood 7, the rain determination means (step Q5) When it is determined that the above-mentioned guidance means (head-up display 16 or / and speaker 34) is Vehicle X to perform automatic guidance of the stop can stop point 61 in front of the rain zone Z of the traveling path of the vehicle X.

  Thus, when the hood 7 is opened, an appropriate stop point 61 in front of the rain zone Z can be automatically guided. As a result, the occupant can safely stop in front of the rain zone Z and close the roof. it can.

  The traveling path setting means (navigation unit 20 or microphone 24) is constituted by the route setting means (controller 29 or microphone 24) of the navigation unit 20 that guides the route to a predetermined destination P.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to determine the rainfall of the entire route on the route guidance route to the destination P set by the route setting means (the controller 29 or the microphone 24).

Further, the guiding means is constituted by voice generating means (speaker 34) for guiding the stop point 61 where the host vehicle X can stop by voice.
According to this configuration, since the stop point 61 is voice-guided, the occupant (driver) can concentrate on driving.

  In addition, the guide means is constituted by an image display means for displaying, as an image, a stop point 61 where the host vehicle X can stop on a display (head-up display 16) provided in the passenger compartment 6.

  According to this configuration, the stop point 61 displayed as an image on the display (head-up display 16) can be visually and easily guided.

  In addition, the vehicle is provided with travel path determination means (step Q14) for determining whether or not the host vehicle X is traveling on an automobile exclusive road, and the guide means (head-up display 16 or / and speaker 34) includes the travel path determination means. The guidance is executed when it is determined in (Step Q14) that the host vehicle X is traveling on an automobile-only road.

  According to this configuration, on an automobile-only road that cannot be stopped on the roadside, a stop point 61 (service area, parking area, etc.) that can stop before the rain zone Z is guided, so the vehicle stops at the stop point 61. The hood 7 can be safely closed.

  Further, guidance request means (microphone 24 or controller 29) for requesting guidance by the guidance means (head-up display 16 or / and speaker), and presence / absence of passenger guidance request by the guidance request means (microphone 24 or controller 29) And a request availability determination means (step Q2) for determining whether or not the stop point 61 is guided when a guidance request is made.

  According to this configuration, since the guidance of the stop point 61 is executed according to the passenger's guidance request (so-called needs), it is possible to eliminate the troublesomeness when the passenger does not request the guidance of the stop point 61.

  Further, roof opening point guide means (steps Q17, S22, S34) for guiding a stop point 62 where the host vehicle X can stop to open the hood 7 ahead of the rain zone Z of the traveling path is provided. .

  According to this configuration, the roof opening point guide means (steps Q17, S22, S34) guides the stop point 62 where the host vehicle X ahead of the rain zone Z on the traveling path can stop, so The hood 7 can be safely opened and the hood 7 can be safely opened, and the passenger's original request (roof opening request) can be satisfied.

  Further, the roof opening point guide means (step S34) performs guidance when the hood 7 is closed or after the hood 7 is closed.

  According to this configuration, when the occupant closes the hood 7 in response to rain, the stop point 62 where the own vehicle X can stop is guided to open the hood 7 ahead of the rain zone Z of the traveling path. Therefore, it is possible to optimize the guidance.

  In addition, a keyless portable device 46 that can communicate with the host vehicle X is provided. When the roof open / close sensor 13 detects the open state of the hood 7 and the rain determining means (step Q5) determines that it is raining, This is provided with notifying means (step Q11) for notifying the keyless portable device 46 outside the vehicle of approaching rainfall.

  According to this configuration, when the occupant is away from the host vehicle X and cannot recognize the approach of rainfall, the notification means (step Q11) notifies the keyless portable device 46 of the approach of rainfall, so that the convenience is improved. be able to.

In the correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment,
The openable roof according to the present invention corresponds to the hood 7 (so-called soft top) of the embodiment.
The roof open / close detection means corresponds to the roof open / close sensor 13,
The travel path setting means corresponds to the navigation unit 20 or the microphone 24,
The rainfall information acquisition means corresponds to the mobile phone 31 and the navigation unit 20 as a communication device,
The rain determining means corresponds to steps S5 and Q5,
The guiding means corresponds to the head-up display 16 or / and the speaker 34,
The route setting means corresponds to the controller 29 or the microphone 24,
The sound generating means corresponds to the speaker 34,
The image display means and display correspond to the head-up display 16,
The travel path determination means corresponds to steps S13 and Q14,
The roof opening point guide means corresponds to steps S16, S22, S34, Q17,
The notification means corresponds to steps S11 and Q11,
The guidance request means corresponds to the microphone 24 or the controller 29,
The request availability determination unit corresponds to step Q2,
The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

  For example, the openable roof may be a hard top (detachable hardtop so-called DHT) instead of the hood 7, and the display may be a meter formed by an LCD display or the like instead of the head-up display 16. The unit 23 may be used. Further, for setting the destination P by the navigation unit 20, a numeric keypad (not shown) may be provided, and the destination P may be set by inputting a telephone number using the numeric keypad. Furthermore, each step of the flowchart shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 9 constitutes a means corresponding to the processing content.

The side view which shows the opening-and-closing roof apparatus of the vehicle of this invention Explanatory drawing showing the layout of various devices as seen from the passenger compartment side Control circuit block diagram Flow chart showing stop point guidance processing Subroutine showing stop point guidance processing Subroutine showing another embodiment of stop point guidance processing Explanatory drawing showing an example of stop point guidance display Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the simple display of stop point guidance The flowchart which shows the other Example of a stop point guidance process

Explanation of symbols

6 ... Car compartment 7 ... Top (open / close roof)
13. Roof open / close sensor (roof open / close detecting means)
16. Head-up display (guide means, image display means)
20. Navigation unit (travel path setting means, rainfall information acquisition means)
24. Microphone (travel path setting means, route setting means, guidance request means)
29 ... Controller (route setting means, guidance request means)
31 ... Mobile phone (rainfall information acquisition means)
34 ... Speaker (guidance means, sound generation means)
46: Keyless portable device S5, Q5: Rainfall judging means S11, Q11 ... Notifying means S13, Q14 ... Traveling road judging means S16, S22, S34, Q17 ... Roof opening point guiding means Q2: Request availability judging means

Claims (9)

In a vehicle equipped with an openable and closable roof that allows the upper part of the passenger compartment to be selected between an open state and a closed state,
A roof open / close detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of the roof;
A travel path setting means for setting the travel path of the host vehicle;
Rainfall information acquisition means for acquiring rainfall information;
A rain determining means for determining whether or not the traveling path of the host vehicle is in a rainy state by the traveling path setting means and the rainfall information acquiring means;
When the roof open / close detection means detects the open state of the roof, if the rain determination means determines that the roof is in a rainy state, it guides the stop point where the host vehicle can stop before the rain area on the traveling path of the host vehicle. An opening / closing roof apparatus for a vehicle, comprising guide means for performing. 2. The opening / closing roof apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the traveling path setting means is constituted by a route setting means of a navigation unit for guiding a route to a predetermined destination. The opening / closing roof apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide means comprises voice generating means for guiding a stop point where the host vehicle can stop by voice. The opening / closing roof apparatus for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide means includes image display means for displaying, as an image, a stop point where the host vehicle can stop on a display provided in a vehicle interior. . A travel path judging means for judging whether or not the host vehicle is traveling on an automobile-only road;
The opening / closing roof apparatus for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the guide means performs guidance when the travel path determination means determines that the host vehicle is traveling on an automobile exclusive road. Guidance request means for requesting guidance by the guidance means;
Request availability determination means for determining whether or not there is a passenger guidance request by the guidance request means,
The opening / closing roof apparatus for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein guidance of the stop point is executed when a guidance request is made. The opening / closing roof apparatus for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a roof opening point guide means for guiding a stopping point where the host vehicle can stop in order to open the roof before the rain area of the traveling path. 8. The opening / closing roof apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the roof opening point guide means performs guidance when the roof is closed or after the roof is closed. It has a keyless portable device that can communicate with its own vehicle,
2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying means for notifying the keyless portable device outside the vehicle of approaching rainfall when the roof open / close detecting means detects the open state of the roof and the rain determining means determines that it is raining. Opening and closing roof device.

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