JP2008018896A - Pedestrian warning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pedestrian warning device capable of giving an alarm to a pedestrian by a means other than sound or light by providing an air ejection means for ejecting air from an ejection port toward at least one of a front side and a rear side of a vehicle body. <P>SOLUTION: A car 10 approaches a pedestrian H from his back side. A driver of the car 10 operates an operation switch 52 of a steering wheel 50, and shoots air K from a pedestrian alarming device 100. When the shot air K hits the pedestrian H, the pedestrian H receives a tactile stimulation. The pedestrian H calls attention to his back side by the tactile stimulation and notices the approach of the car 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pedestrian warning device.

When the surrounding environment of the vehicle is detected by an in-vehicle camera, etc., and there are pedestrians or people riding bicycles on the vehicle's travel route, a warning sound or warning light is automatically issued to alert the pedestrian and There has been proposed a vehicle warning device and a warning method for notifying a person on a bicycle that a vehicle is approaching (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-263012 A

  Now, with the spread of portable audio in recent years, an increase in the number of people listening to music with headphones, an increase in the number of elderly people whose hearing loss has declined due to aging, or the reduction of automobile noise (such as running electric motors due to environmental measures) ), There are cases where the car approaching is not noticed.

  In addition, in order to notify the approach of a car, even if a warning is given to a pedestrian or a person riding a bicycle by giving a horn (notice), headphones are attached as described above. People who are listening to music or people with weak hearing such as elderly people may not be aware. Moreover, it is necessary to refrain from making horns or making louder sounds unnecessarily because it causes noise. Furthermore, loud sounds such as horns will surprise pedestrians and people riding bicycles more than necessary.

  Although it is conceivable to warn with light such as turning on the head ride, the light warning is less effective in the daytime. In addition, it is difficult to notice even if a pedestrian or bicycle is illuminated later.

  In the present specification, a pedestrian or a person riding a bicycle is simply referred to as a “pedestrian”.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to give a warning to a pedestrian by means other than sound and light.

  In order to achieve the above object, a pedestrian warning device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes air emission means for emitting air from a discharge port toward at least one of a front of the vehicle body and a rear of the vehicle body.

  In the pedestrian warning device according to the first aspect, the air launching unit launches air from the launch port toward at least one of the front of the vehicle body and the substantially rear of the vehicle body, and hits the pedestrian. The pedestrian receives a tactile stimulus when the air blows. By this tactile stimulus, the pedestrian notices the approach of the car (recognizes the approaching car).

  That is, unlike the conventional case (for example, sound or light), a warning is given to the pedestrian by a tactile stimulus caused by the emitted air hitting the pedestrian.

  And by giving such a tactile stimulus and giving a warning, it is possible to call attention to a person with weak hearing ability or a person who listens to music with headphones attached.

  Furthermore, for example, it does not become a noise like a warning by sound such as a horn, and the pedestrian is not surprised more than necessary. Further, for example, unlike a warning by light such as a headlight, a warning can be given even in the daytime or after a pedestrian.

  The pedestrian warning device according to a second aspect is the configuration according to the first aspect, wherein the air emitting means pressurizes the air chamber communicated with the discharge port, and pressurizes the air chamber. And pressurizing means for extruding and firing.

  In the pedestrian warning device according to the second aspect, the air chamber communicated with the launch port is pressurized by the pressurizing means, and air is pushed out from the launch port to be fired. In other words, air is emitted by a simple mechanism.

  A pedestrian warning device according to a third aspect is the configuration according to the second aspect, wherein the pressurizing means vibrates a diaphragm provided on the inner surface of the air chamber to change the volume of the air chamber. It is characterized by pressurizing.

  In the pedestrian warning device according to the third aspect, the diaphragm provided on the inner surface of the air chamber is vibrated and the volume of the air chamber is continuously pressurized, whereby air can be continuously emitted.

  As described above, according to the pedestrian warning device according to claim 1 of the present invention, a warning can be given to the pedestrian by tactile stimulation caused by the fired air hitting the pedestrian. .

  Moreover, according to the pedestrian warning device of Claim 2 which concerns on this invention, air can be discharged with a simple mechanism.

  Moreover, according to the pedestrian warning device of the third aspect of the present invention, air can be easily and continuously emitted.

  An automobile 10 including a pedestrian warning device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In each figure, the front is indicated by arrow F, the rear is indicated by arrow R, the upper side is indicated by arrow UP, the left side is indicated by arrow LH, and the right side is indicated by arrow RH. The width direction of the vehicle body is the direction of arrows LH and RH.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a pedestrian warning device 100 that discharges air K from a discharge port 122 is disposed in a space in front of the left front tire 18 </ b> F of the vehicle body 12 of the automobile 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the launch port 122 is provided in the lower part on the left (walking side) side of the front surface of the front bumper 14.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the pedestrian warning device 100 includes a rectangular parallelepiped box portion 102. Speakers 150LH and RH for heavy bass are provided on the left and right side walls 102LH and RH in the vehicle body width direction of the box portion 102, respectively. The diaphragms 152LH and RH of the pair of speakers 150LH and RH are exposed to the inside of the box portion 102 and face each other.

  The pair of speakers 150LF and RH vibrate at a low frequency by the driving device 20 (see FIG. 2). The pair of diaphragms 152LH and RH vibrate in synchronization. That is, when the diaphragm 152LH of the left speaker 150LH moves inward of the box portion 102 (arrow RH direction), the diaphragm 152RH of the right speaker 150RH also moves inward of the box portion 102 (arrow LH direction).

  A cylindrical pipe 120 is connected to the wall surface 102 </ b> F on the front side of the vehicle body of the box portion 102. The tip of the pipe 120 serves as a launch port 122.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the pedestrian warning device 100 is fixed to the side bonnet 16 by a vibration isolation member 182 made of an elastic body such as rubber and a mounting arm 180. Note that the pedestrian warning device 100 may be fixed to a body panel other than the side bonnet 16. Or you may fix the pedestrian warning device 100 to another site | part.

  Next, a method for firing air K from the launch port 122 of the pedestrian warning device 100 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the driver of the automobile 10 operates the operation switch 52 provided on the handle 50 of the driver's seat, the drive device 20 is provided with a pair of side walls 102 </ b> LH and RH provided on the box portion 102. The diaphragms 152LH and RH of the speakers 150LH and RH are vibrated synchronously. That is, the internal volume of the box portion 102 is instantaneously reduced. Then, pressure is instantaneously applied to the air inside the box portion 102. Then, the air K is pushed out from the launch port 122 at the tip of the pipe 120 and fired by the instantaneously applied pressure.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, air K is launched aiming at a target T about 15 m ahead and about 1 m high.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the launch port 122 is provided in the lower part of the front bumper 14 at the front portion of the vehicle body 12. That is, since the launch port 122 is at a position of about several tens of centimeters from the ground, the air K travels obliquely upward. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 10 travels in the same direction as the traveling direction of the vehicle 10 or slightly toward the left side (the sidewalk side).

  Further, the diaphragms 152LH and RH of the speakers 150LH and RH continuously vibrate in synchronization. That is, the air K is not fired continuously but continuously.

  Note that vibrations of the diaphragms 152RH and LH, impact caused by the emission of the air K, and the like are hardly transmitted to the side bonnet 16 by the vibration isolation member 182.

  Now, the principle of such air emission utilizes the principle of so-called “air cannon”. Therefore, the principle of the “air cannon” will be described next.

  A part of the container (corresponding to the box portion 102 in this embodiment) is deformed to change the volume instantaneously (corresponding to the vibration of the diaphragm 152 of the speaker 150 in this embodiment), etc. Air is pushed out from the opening (corresponding to the launch port 122 in this embodiment). The extruded air forms a donut-shaped air ring, that is, a vortex ring (corresponding to the air K in the present embodiment). This ring of air (vortex ring) flies while rotating. By flying while rotating in this way, the resistance to the surrounding air is reduced, unlike the flow of air that is fanned by a fan. An air ring (vortex ring) with reduced air resistance (spirit) flies farther away than ordinary air.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the automobile 10 approaches the pedestrian H from behind. The driver of the automobile 10 operates the operation switch 52 of the steering wheel 50 to emit air K from the pedestrian warning device 100. The emitted air K hits the pedestrian H, and the pedestrian H receives a tactile stimulus. Due to the tactile stimulation caused by the air K hitting, the pedestrian H is alerted to the rear and notices the approach of the automobile 10 (recognizes the approaching automobile 10).

  In addition, since the pedestrian H receives a continuous tactile stimulus that is not usually felt in the natural world by firing the air K continuously instead of in a single shot as in the present embodiment, more attention is drawn. . Note that the air K may be intermittently fired (ie, the air K is fired multiple times) instead of continuously. Of course, it may be a single shot.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the air K is launched so as to advance obliquely upward, aiming at the target T having a height of about 1 m ahead of 15 m. Therefore, even an elderly person with a bent waist or a short child can be surely exposed to the air K. Moreover, by firing the air K in this way, the place where the air K hits the lower body with little change in clothes (tactile stimuli are hardly absorbed by the clothes). That is, the air hits a place where a tactile stimulus can be easily recognized.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the launch port 122 is provided on the left side, that is, on the sidewalk side, and air K is launched in the same direction as the traveling direction of the automobile 10 or slightly on the left side (sidewalk side). It is easy to hit the pedestrian H coming out of the sidewalk.

  In this way, by giving a tactile stimulus to the pedestrian H and giving a warning, it is possible to call attention to a person with weak hearing ability such as an elderly person or a person listening to music with headphones.

  Furthermore, the warning by the tactile stimulus caused by the air K does not become noise or surprise the pedestrian H more than necessary unlike the warning by sound such as horn. Further, unlike a warning by light such as a headlight, the warning can be given even during the daytime or after the pedestrian H.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment.

  For example, air may be emitted by a method different from that in the above embodiment.

  For example, the speakers may be provided in addition to the left and right side walls 102LH and RH (see FIG. 4), or other than two (one or three or more) speakers may be provided. Furthermore, air may be emitted by generating an instantaneous volume change in the box 102 by a method other than the vibration of the speaker. Further, air may be fired by means other than the so-called “air cannon”. For example, a method may be used in which air is discharged by accumulating pressure in a box portion using a compressed air cylinder or a compressor and instantaneously opening and closing the discharge port. In short, it is only necessary to give a warning to the pedestrian by tactile stimulation by blowing air and hitting the pedestrian (it is only necessary to alert the pedestrian).

  Further, for example, in the above embodiment, the driver operates the operation switch 52 provided on the handle 50 to discharge the air K, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the operation switch 52 may be provided at a place other than the handle 50. Further, for example, when the driver approaches the pedestrian H, the air K may be automatically emitted without the driver operating the operation switch 52. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control unit 62 determines that the vehicle 10 is approaching the pedestrian H based on the monitoring results of the front monitoring device such as the camera 60 and the radar (not shown). Then, without the driver operating the operation switch 52, the control unit 62 may drive the drive device 20 to emit air K from the pedestrian warning device 100.

  For example, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the pedestrian warning device 100 is provided on the left side (the sidewalk side) of the front portion of the vehicle body 12, but this is not a limitation.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a pedestrian warning device 200 is also provided on the right side of the front part of the vehicle body 12 of the automobile 10 in consideration of overseas (when the sidewalk is on the right side) or a narrow road where there is no sidewalk. Also good. Alternatively, a plurality of pedestrian warning devices 202, 203, also in the center of the front part of the vehicle body 12 so that air can be emitted over a wider range for pedestrians already on the roadway, etc. 204 may be provided.

  Although not shown in the drawings, a pedestrian warning device may be provided at the rear part of the vehicle body in consideration of when moving backward, and air may be emitted toward the rear of the vehicle body.

It is a side view showing typically a car provided with a pedestrian warning device concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view showing typically a car provided with a pedestrian warning device concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view showing typically a front part of a car provided with a pedestrian warning device concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the pedestrian warning device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view showing typically a car provided with two or more pedestrian warning devices concerning an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 car 12 car body 102 box (air chamber)
122 Launch Port 152RH Diaphragm 152LH Diaphragm 100 Pedestrian Warning Device 200 Pedestrian Warning Device 202 Pedestrian Warning Device 203 Pedestrian Warning Device 204 Pedestrian Warning Device
K air

Claims (3)

  A pedestrian warning device comprising air launching means for launching air from a launch port toward at least one of a front side of a vehicle body and a rear side of a vehicle body. The air emission means includes
An air chamber in communication with the launch port;
Pressurizing means for pressurizing the air chamber and forcing air to be ejected from the launch port;
The pedestrian warning device according to claim 1, comprising:   3. The pedestrian warning device according to claim 2, wherein the pressurizing unit vibrates a diaphragm provided on an inner surface of the air chamber to pressurize the air chamber by changing a volume of the air chamber.

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