JP2007288440A - Bicycle communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a rider to easily obtain information useful to ride a bicycle, such as a video image of a blind spot without disturbing safe bicycle riding. <P>SOLUTION: In a bicycle 4, a camera 7-1 for acquiring a video image corresponding to a back mirror while keeping backwardness of the bicycle 4 is installed near a seat 2, and a camera 7-2 for acquiring a video image corresponding to a side mirror while keeping respective blind spots of left and right sides of the bicycle 4 is installed near a handle 3. Image data photographed by the camera 7-1 and the camera 7-2 are transmitted to an HMD (head mount display) 1 through a human body 50 that comes into contact with at least one of the seat 2, the handle 3 and a pedals 8 made of a conductive member. The HMD 1 is provided with communication equipment 1a for receiving various data of image data, a traveling speed and the like from an image processor 18 through the human body 50 of the user and a display device 1b for projecting a video image on the basis of the received image data and is configured so as to be attachable to a head part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for communicating bicycle travel information by biometric communication.

  In recent years, a technique for displaying an image for assisting driving of a vehicle has been developed. For example, according to Patent Document 1, the blind spot direction is imaged according to the direction of the driver's head and displayed in front of the driver. According to Patent Document 2, position information corresponding to the driver's line-of-sight direction is displayed on the head-mounted display device.

In recent years, various technologies have been developed to provide various information related to bicycle travel to users in an easy-to-understand manner. Patent documents 3 to 5 relate to such a technique.
JP-A-10-206789 JP 2004-219664 A JP 2003-16567 A JP 2004-306926 A JP 2004-256047 A

  By the way, most bicycles are not usually equipped with rearview mirrors or side mirrors, and there is a problem that it is difficult to avoid jumping out onto the roadway. It is desirable that the driver can check the blind spots such as the side and the rear while looking forward.

  In this regard, in the technique of Patent Document 2, it is possible to display an image in the blind spot direction. However, since the display device and the imaging device must be connected by wire, the wiring may interfere with traveling, which is safe. It is not preferable from the aspect.

  Further, wireless communication as in Patent Document 1 may cause interference with an unspecified communication device existing in the vicinity during traveling, which is also not preferable.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to make it easy for a driver to obtain information useful for traveling such as a blind spot image without hindering safe traveling. .

  In the bicycle communication system according to the present invention, an imaging unit that captures the periphery of a bicycle, a first contact unit that contacts a bicycle driver, and images and other travel information acquired by the imaging unit are modulated into electrical signals. A bicycle including a first communication unit to be transmitted from one contact unit, a second contact unit in contact with a driver, an image received by an imaging unit by receiving an electrical signal from the second contact unit, and other travel information A second communication unit for demodulating, and a display unit for displaying the demodulated video and other traveling information demodulated by the second communication unit, and a video display device configured to be worn by a bicycle driver. .

  According to the present invention, a camera installed on a bicycle photographs the back, sides, and other surroundings of the bicycle, and sends travel information including the obtained image to the image display device via the driver's human body. The video display device receives the travel information via the driver's human body and displays it.

  The driver can continue traveling while looking at the traveling information of the video display device without looking back. In particular, if the driving information includes an image of a blind spot of a bicycle, the course can be changed safely. In addition, since traveling information is transmitted and received via the human body, there is no possibility of cross-connection with an unspecified radio device that is in the middle of traveling, and wiring does not hinder traveling.

  The bicycle includes a travel detection unit that detects whether or not the bicycle is traveling, and a communication control unit that controls transmission of travel information from the first communication unit in response to the travel detection unit detecting the travel of the bicycle. It is preferable to further comprise.

  In this way, since the travel information is transmitted after the bicycle has started traveling, it is possible to avoid transmitting meaningless travel information when the bicycle is not traveling, and to suppress wasteful power consumption.

  The bicycle further includes a contact detection unit that detects contact between the first contact unit and the driver, and the communication control unit transmits travel information from the first communication unit in response to the contact detection unit detecting contact. It is preferable to control to start.

  In this way, since the travel information is transmitted from the first communication unit in which human body contact is detected, it is possible to avoid transmitting the travel information without meaning even when the human body is not in contact, and to suppress wasteful power consumption. it can.

  The communication control unit preferably controls to stop transmission of travel information from the first communication unit in response to the travel detection unit detecting stoppage of the bicycle travel.

  In this way, since the travel information is transmitted only while the bicycle is traveling, power consumption due to meaningless communication can be suppressed.

  In addition, it is preferable that a 1st contact part is provided in at least any one among a steering wheel of a bicycle, a saddle, or a pedal.

  According to the present invention, a camera installed on a bicycle photographs the back, sides, and other surroundings of the bicycle, and sends travel information including the obtained image to the image display device via the driver's human body. The video display device receives the travel information via the driver's human body and displays it.

  The driver can continue traveling while looking at the traveling information of the video display device without looking back. In particular, if the driving information includes an image of a blind spot of a bicycle, the course can be changed safely. In addition, since traveling information is transmitted and received via the human body, there is no possibility of cross-connection with an unspecified radio device that is in the middle of traveling, and wiring does not hinder traveling.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a communication system 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The communication system 100 includes a head mounted display (hereinafter referred to as “HMD”) 1 and a bicycle 4. The bicycle 4 includes a saddle 2, a handle 3, a wheel 6, a pedal 8, and the like.

  The bicycle 4 has a camera 7-1 that captures the rear view of the bicycle 4 at an angle of view near the saddle 2 and acquires an image corresponding to a rearview mirror, and a camera 7- that fits the left and right sides of the bicycle 4 at an angle of view near the handle 3. 2L and camera 7-2R (collectively represented by camera 7-2) are installed. Image data photographed by the camera 7-1 and the camera 7-2 (collectively represented by the camera 7) is transmitted to the HMD 1 via the human body 50 of the user who is in contact with the handle 3 made of a conductive member. .

  FIG. 2 shows an installation example of the camera 7-2 with respect to the handle 3. Here, as an example, the camera 7-2L has an angle of view of the diagonally left rear side of the bicycle 4 and the camera 7-2R has the diagonally right rear side of the bicycle 4 within the angle of view, and respectively acquires images corresponding to the left and right side mirrors. . However, the illustrated angle of view is only a preferable example and is not an essential element of the present embodiment. Therefore, for example, the camera 7-2R may be set to the right diagonal front and the camera 7-2L may be set to the left diagonal forward.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the communication system 100. The bicycle 4 includes an analog front end circuit for processing an analog image continuously read from an image sensor incorporated in the camera 7 into a digital signal, and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) for processing the digital image signal from the analog front end circuit. The image processing apparatus 18 including a signal processing circuit or the like is provided.

  In addition, the bicycle 4 is a sensor for detecting the rotation of the wheel 6 and the rotation number per unit time, the wheel rotation number detection device 11, the image data from the image processing device 18, the traveling speed calculated by the calculation device 12, and other various types. The communication apparatus 13 which transmits data (these may be collectively represented by driving | running | working information) to HMD1 via a user's human body 50, and the arithmetic unit 12 comprised by CPU etc. are provided.

  The arithmetic unit 12 controls the start of acquisition of image data by the camera 7 and the start of transmission / reception of data by the communication device 13 in response to the detection of the rotation of the wheel 6 by the wheel rotation number detection device 11. Supervises motion control. Further, the arithmetic device 12 calculates the traveling speed of the bicycle 4 from the rotational speed of the wheel 6 per unit time detected by the wheel rotational speed detection device 11.

  The camera 7, the image processing device 18, the arithmetic device 12, the wheel rotation speed detection device 11, and the communication device 13 are connected by wiring inside the frame of the bicycle 4. The image processing device 18, the arithmetic device 12, and the communication device 13 are configured on a single substrate, for example, and are installed on the handle 3 (preferably configured integrally with the handle 3).

  The HMD 1 displays images based on the received image data, the traveling speed, and other traveling information, and the communication device 1a that receives the image data, traveling speed, and other traveling information from the image processing device 18 via the human body 50 of the user. A display device 1b is provided.

  The HMD 1 has a shape like a helmet. When the HMD 1 is mounted on the head, the communication device 1a formed of a conductive member comes into contact with the frontal head, the temporal region, and other parts of the human body 50. The display device 1b provided in the visor portion of the HMD 1 displays the video received by the communication device 1a in front of the left and right eyes of the user. The video image displayed by the display device 1b is at least one of the video images from the camera 7-1 and the camera 7-2. That is, only one of the images from the camera 7-1 or the camera 7-2 may be displayed, or both of the images may be displayed. Furthermore, if the communication device 1a receives data such as travel speed, temperature, and humidity, it may be visualized by an OSD circuit (not shown) and displayed on the display device 1b.

  The communication device 13 modulates image data, traveling speed, and other traveling information as a weak current of about several hundred microamperes to several tens of kHz to several hundreds of kHz, and transmits the modulated data to the communication device 1a via the contacted human body 50. The communication device 1a receives a weak current from the communication device 13 via the human body 50 that has come into contact, and demodulates it into travel information. Thereby, data communication at several tens of kbps is possible between the communication device 1a and the communication device 13, and for example, 128-bit information can be transmitted in several tens of milliseconds. Since this communication state depends on the contact state between the human body 50, the communication device 1a, and the communication device 13, it is desirable to transmit information by overlapping several times to several tens of times.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the communication system 100. This process starts when the wheel rotation speed detection device 11 detects the rotation of the wheel.

  In S <b> 1, the arithmetic device 12 controls the camera 7 and the image processing device 18 and starts acquiring image data.

  In S <b> 2, the arithmetic device 12 controls the communication device 13 and starts transmission of travel information by the communication device 13. The communication device 13 modulates travel information including image data, travel speed, and the like into a digital signal and sends the digital signal from the handle 3. This digital signal reaches the communication device 1a of the HMD 1 through the human body 50 that has touched the handle 3.

  In S3, the communication device 1a receives a digital signal from the communication device 13 via the human body 50 that has contacted the HMD1. The communication device 1a demodulates the received digital signal into travel information including image data, travel speed, and the like, and outputs the travel information to the display device 1b.

  In S4, the display device 1b displays images of the left and right sides and the rear side of the bicycle 4 taken by the camera 7 based on the image data from the communication device 1a. The traveling speed may be displayed superimposed on the video.

  In S5, the arithmetic unit 12 continuously determines whether or not the wheel rotation speed detection device 11 has stopped detecting the rotation of the wheel. If it is not determined that the wheel rotation is no longer detected, the process returns to S1 and the processes of S1 to S4 are repeated. When it is determined that the rotation of the wheel is no longer detected, the camera 7, the image processing device 18 and the communication device 13 are controlled to stop the acquisition and transmission of the image data.

  According to the above processing, when the user wears the HMD 1, gets on the bicycle 4, grasps the handle 3, and travels, the left and right side images projected from the HMD 1 and the rear image can be viewed. You don't have to look back. Since transmission / reception of image data is not performed by wired communication or wireless communication, but is performed via the user's human body 50, the wiring of the communication line does not interfere with the traveling of the bicycle 4 and is safe, and the surrounding wireless communication is performed during traveling. There is no risk of interference with communications.

  Further, since the HMD 1 is worn not by the bicycle 4 but by the user, there is little risk of being stolen.

Second Embodiment
5 and 6 are configuration diagrams of the communication system 100 according to the second embodiment. The communication device 13 of the bicycle 4 transmits an image to the HMD 1 via the user's human body 50 that is in contact with the saddle 2 made of a conductive member. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the communication system 100. This process starts when the wheel rotation speed detection device 11 detects the rotation of the wheel.

  S11 is the same as S1 of the first embodiment.

  In S <b> 12, the arithmetic device 12 controls the communication device 13 and starts image data transmission by the communication device 13. However, the communication device 13 transmits the digital signal not from the handle 3 but from the saddle 2.

  S13 to S15 are the same as S3 to 5 of the first embodiment.

  According to the above processing, if the user wears the HMD 1, rides on the bicycle 4, and sits on the saddle 2, the user can watch the left and right side images and the rear images projected from the HMD 1. Since transmission / reception of image data is not performed by wired communication or wireless communication, but is performed via the user's human body 50, the wiring of the communication line does not interfere with the traveling of the bicycle 4 and is safe, and the surrounding wireless communication is performed during traveling. There is no risk of interference with communications.

  Further, since the HMD 1 is worn not by the bicycle 4 but by the user, there is little risk of being stolen.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the image data is transmitted through the human body 50 that is in contact with the handle 3, and therefore the image data cannot be transmitted when the user performs a letting operation. However, in the present embodiment, since the image data is transmitted through the human body 50 in contact with the saddle 2, the image data can be transmitted to the HMD 1 as long as the user is in contact with the saddle 2 without gripping the handle 3.

<Third Embodiment>
8 and 9 are configuration diagrams of a communication system 100 according to the third embodiment. The communication device 13 of the bicycle 4 transmits an image to the HMD 1 via the user's human body 50 that is in contact with the pedal 8 made of a conductive member. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the communication system 100. This process starts when the wheel rotation speed detection device 11 detects the rotation of the wheel.

  S21 is the same as S1 of the first embodiment.

  In S <b> 22, the arithmetic device 12 controls the communication device 13 and starts image data transmission by the communication device 13. However, the communication device 13 sends the digital signal from the pedal 8.

  S23 to S25 are the same as S3 to 5 of the first embodiment.

  According to the above processing, when the user wears the HMD 1, rides on the bicycle 4, and depresses the pedal 8, the user can view the left and right side images and the rear images projected from the HMD 1. Since transmission / reception of image data is not performed by wired communication or wireless communication, but is performed via the user's human body 50, the wiring of the communication line does not interfere with the traveling of the bicycle 4 and is safe, and the surrounding wireless communication is performed during traveling. There is no risk of interference with communications.

  Further, since the HMD 1 is worn not by the bicycle 4 but by the user, there is little risk of being stolen.

  Furthermore, since the image data is transmitted through the human body 50 in contact with the handle 3 in the first embodiment and through the human body 50 in contact with the saddle 2 in the second embodiment, the user can perform a hand-off operation or stand up. If you do, you cannot send image data. However, in this embodiment, since image data is transmitted through the human body 50 in contact with the pedal 8, even if the user does not hold the handle 3 or sits on the saddle 2, Image data can be sent to the HMD 1.

<Fourth embodiment>
11 and 12 are configuration diagrams of a communication system 100 according to the fourth embodiment. The communication device 13 of the bicycle 4 transmits an image to the HMD 1 via the user's human body 50 in contact with the saddle 2 or the pedal 8 made of a conductive member.

  The communication device 13 of the bicycle 4 includes a communication device 13 a that contacts the saddle 2 and a communication device 13 b that contacts the pedal 8. The bicycle 4 includes a touch sensor 16. The touch sensor 16 is a capacitance type sensor formed on the human body contact surface of the saddle 2 and the pedal 8. When the touch sensor 16 detects that the human body 50 is in contact with the saddle 2 or the pedal 8 or the contact of the human body 50 is released based on a change in capacitance or the like, the touch sensor 16 calculates a contact detection signal or a contact release detection signal. 12 is output. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the communication system 100. This process starts when the wheel rotation speed detection device 11 detects the rotation of the wheel.

  S31 is the same as S1 of the first embodiment.

  In S <b> 32, the arithmetic device 12 determines whether or not a signal (saddle contact detection signal) indicating that the human body 50 has contacted the saddle 2 has been output from the touch sensor 16. When the saddle contact detection signal is output, the process proceeds to S33, and when the saddle contact detection signal is not output, the process proceeds to S34.

  In S <b> 33, the arithmetic device 12 controls the communication device 13 a and starts image data transmission from the saddle 2.

  In S <b> 34, the arithmetic device 12 determines whether or not a signal (pedal contact detection signal) indicating that the human body 50 has contacted the pedal 8 has been output from the touch sensor 16. If the pedal contact detection signal is output, the process returns to S35, and if the saddle contact detection signal is not output, the process returns to S31.

  In S <b> 35, the arithmetic device 12 controls the communication device 13 b and starts transmitting image data from the pedal 8.

  S36 to S38 are the same as S3 to 5 of the first embodiment.

  In the above processing, even if both the saddle contact detection signal and the pedal contact detection signal are detected, the detection of the saddle contact detection signal is prioritized, but this is not essential, and the detection of the pedal contact detection signal is not performed. Priority may be given to communication from the pedal 8.

  The touch sensor 16 may output a signal (handle contact detection signal) indicating that the human body 50 is in contact with the handle 3. When the steering wheel contact detection signal is output, the arithmetic device 12 may control the communication device 13 that contacts the steering wheel 3 so as to transmit travel information from the steering wheel 3. In any case, the communication device 13 selectively transmits travel information from the part of the bicycle 4 where the touch of the human body 50 is detected by the touch sensor 16, thereby preventing transmission of meaningless data that cannot reach the human body 50. It is essential to do.

  According to the above processing, when the user wears the HMD 1, gets on the bicycle 4, sits on the saddle 2, or depresses the pedal 8, the left and right side and rear images projected from the HMD 1 can be viewed. Since transmission / reception of image data is not performed by wired communication or wireless communication, but is performed via the user's human body 50, the wiring of the communication line does not interfere with the traveling of the bicycle 4 and is safe, and the surrounding wireless communication is performed during traveling. There is no risk of interference with communications.

  Further, since the HMD 1 is worn not by the bicycle 4 but by the user, there is little risk of being stolen.

  Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the image data is transmitted through the human body 50 that is in contact with the pedal 8, and therefore the image data cannot be transmitted when the user lifts the foot from the pedal 8 on the downhill. However, in the present embodiment, if the human body 50 is in contact with either the saddle 2 or the pedal 8, the image data can be transmitted to the HMD 1 through that. That is, the communication path of the image data from the camera 7 to the HMD 1 can be switched in accordance with the usage status of the bicycle 4, and the video transmission path to the HMD 1 can be secured flexibly.

Configuration diagram of a communication system according to the first embodiment Camera installation example 1 is a block diagram of a communication system according to a first embodiment. The flowchart which shows the flow of the communication processing which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Configuration diagram of communication system according to second embodiment Block diagram of a communication system according to the second embodiment The flowchart which shows the flow of the communication processing which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Configuration diagram of communication system according to third embodiment Block diagram of a communication system according to the third embodiment The flowchart which shows the flow of the communication processing which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. Configuration diagram of communication system according to fourth embodiment Block diagram of a communication system according to the fourth embodiment Flowchart showing the flow of communication processing according to the fourth embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1: Head Mount Display (HMD), 1a: Communication Device, 1b: Display Device, 2: Saddle, 3: Handle, 4: Bicycle, 6: Wheel, 7: Camera, 8: Pedal, 11: Wheel Rotation Number Detection Device , 12: arithmetic device, 13: communication device, 50: human body

Claims (5)

An imaging unit that captures the periphery of the bicycle, a first contact unit that contacts the bicycle driver, and images and other travel information acquired by the imaging unit are modulated into electrical signals and transmitted from the first contact unit A bicycle equipped with a first communication unit,
A second contact unit that contacts the driver; a second communication unit that receives the electrical signal from the second contact unit and demodulates the image and other travel information acquired by the imaging unit; and the second A display unit that displays the demodulated video and other travel information of the communication unit, and is configured to be worn by the driver of the bicycle; and
A bicycle communication system comprising:   The bicycle starts to transmit travel information from the first communication unit in response to detection of the travel of the bicycle by the travel detection unit detecting whether or not the bicycle is traveling. The bicycle communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a communication control unit for controlling. The bicycle further includes a contact detection unit that detects contact between the first contact unit and the driver,
The bicycle communication system according to claim 2, wherein the communication control unit controls to start transmission of travel information from the first communication unit in response to the contact detection unit detecting the contact.   The bicycle according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the communication control unit controls to stop transmission of travel information from the first communication unit in response to the travel detection unit detecting stoppage of travel of the bicycle. Communications system. 5. The bicycle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the first contact portion is provided on at least one of a handle, a saddle, and a pedal of the bicycle.

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