JP2008097055A - Vehicle start information apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle start information apparatus that can reduce a start time delay with respect to vehicle start timing, when informing the driver of a vehicle that is to be stopped of vehicle start to trigger a vehicle start. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicle is provided with an information control part for computing a vehicle start timing of the vehicle stopped through wireless road-to-vehicle communication and image analysis. Total delay time Tdelay necessary for the driver's vehicle starting operation for a vehicle start is registered in the memory on the vehicle. When the vehicle stopped is to be restarted, by making the information control part advance the vehicle start announcement from the vehicle start timing by the total delay time Tdelay to time the driver's vehicle starting operation completion is adjusted to actual vehicle start timing. Start delay time is thus reduced, when the vehicle waits at signal or is stopped in congestion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle start notification device that notifies a passenger of vehicle start timing in advance when a vehicle is stopped.

In recent years, in order to improve the convenience of the vehicle, various functions tend to be mounted on the vehicle. As one of these types of functions, for example, there is a function intended to alleviate traffic jams. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology intended to alleviate traffic jams. In this technology, when the preceding vehicle starts to move when the vehicle is stopped and the inter-vehicle distance exceeds a predetermined value, an announcement is sent in the vehicle to prompt the driver to start the vehicle. If this technology is adopted, the driver will not be aware that the previous vehicle has started and will not start the vehicle for a while, which will be part of measures to alleviate traffic congestion.
JP-A-10-206542

  However, even if an announcement to that effect is made in the vehicle at the vehicle start timing when the distance between the vehicle and the previous vehicle exceeds the predetermined value when the vehicle is stopped, the driver will start the vehicle after receiving the announcement. Since the operation is shifted, the vehicle cannot be started immediately at the timing to start, and the time from when the driver hears the announcement until the vehicle actually starts is generated as the start delay time. Therefore, there is a demand to eliminate this kind of start delay time in order to further reduce traffic congestion.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle start notification device capable of reducing a start time delay with respect to a vehicle start timing at the time of starting a vehicle by notifying a driver that the vehicle has started when the vehicle is stopped. There is.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, in a vehicle start notification device that notifies an occupant to that effect using an output means when a stopped vehicle comes to the vehicle start timing, the vehicle start from the surrounding travel situation The gist is that the vehicle start is notified in advance by predicting the timing, and by making the notification advance from the vehicle start timing by the operation time required for the vehicle start operation performed after the driver receives the notification.

  According to this configuration, in consideration of the operation time of the vehicle start operation performed after the driver receives the vehicle start notification, the vehicle start notification is performed prior to the actual vehicle start timing by the operation time. Therefore, when starting the vehicle by informing the driver that the vehicle has started when the vehicle is stopped, the vehicle start operation is performed before the actual vehicle start timing, thus reducing the start time delay with respect to the vehicle start timing. It becomes possible to do.

In the present invention, it is provided with a preceding time registered in the storage means as the operation time corresponding to how much the notification precedes the vehicle start operation completion matches the vehicle start timing,
The gist is to recognize the remaining time from the travel state to the vehicle start timing and to advance the notification by the preceding time with respect to the vehicle start timing.

  According to this configuration, for example, when the vehicle is waiting for a signal, and the timing at which the traffic light changes from red to blue is the vehicle start timing, the vehicle start notification is switched from red to blue. The advance notification is made earlier than the changeover timing by the advance time required to complete the vehicle start operation. As a result, it is possible to start the stopped vehicle at the timing when the traffic light changes from red to blue, and it is possible to make it difficult to delay the start of the vehicle while waiting for a signal.

  In the present invention, the registered inter-vehicle distance registered in the storage means as a distance that the driver can take with the preceding vehicle when starting the vehicle, and the inter-vehicle distance that calculates the inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the calculated inter-vehicle distance. A vehicle speed calculation means for calculating a vehicle speed of the preceding vehicle, wherein the vehicle start timing is that the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle becomes the registered inter-vehicle distance, and the preceding time, the registered inter-vehicle distance, and The inter-vehicle distance after a predetermined time is predicted using the calculated inter-vehicle distance and the vehicle speed, and the completion of the vehicle start operation by the driver matches the timing when the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle becomes the registered inter-vehicle distance. Thus, the gist is to make a prior notification.

  According to this configuration, for example, when the vehicle is waiting for the start of the preceding vehicle due to traffic jam or the like, and the vehicle start timing is that the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle becomes the registered inter-vehicle distance, the vehicle starts due to traffic jam. The advance notification is performed so that the completion of the vehicle start operation in the waiting vehicle matches the timing at which the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle becomes the registered inter-vehicle distance. For this reason, when a vehicle that has stopped due to traffic jams restarts, it becomes possible to start the parked vehicle at the timing when the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle becomes the registered inter-vehicle distance. It becomes possible to make it difficult to cause a delay.

The gist of the present invention is that at least one of the preceding time and the registered inter-vehicle distance is a learning value that is periodically updated to a value unique to the driver.
According to this configuration, since the learned value is used as the preceding time or the registered inter-vehicle distance, it is possible to perform the preceding notification at the notification timing suitable for the driver, and the effect of reducing the start time delay with respect to the vehicle start timing is high.

The gist of the present invention is that at least one of the preceding time and the registered inter-vehicle distance is registered as an individual value for each driver.
According to this configuration, the preceding time and the registered inter-vehicle distance are registered individually for each driver. Therefore, even if the driver is different in the same vehicle, the preceding time and the registered inter-vehicle distance are used for each driver. Notification will be performed, which is also highly effective in reducing the start time delay with respect to the vehicle start timing.

  In the present invention, the plurality of preceding times stored in the storage means and the operation start position of the shift lever are recognized so that values are different at least at two operation start positions of the shift lever of the automatic vehicle transmission. And a shift position recognizing means, and when performing the advance notification using the advance time, the advance time according to the operation start position of the shift lever is used.

  According to this configuration, for example, when the shift lever is operated to shift to the drive position (D position), the operation time differs depending on the operation start position at that time, but the present invention is different in advance depending on the operation start position of the shift lever. Since the time is registered, it is possible to use a more accurate preceding time, which is also effective in reducing the start time delay with respect to the vehicle start timing.

  In the present invention, the vehicle includes a plurality of travel times stored in the storage unit according to a driving state of the driver at the time of starting the vehicle, and a driving state recognition unit that recognizes the driving state of the driver. When performing the advance notification using time, the gist is that the advance time corresponding to the operation state is used.

  According to this configuration, the vehicle start operation varies depending on the driving state of the driver at that time (for example, looking away, closed eyes, nap, etc.), but the present invention has registered the preceding time according to the driving state, It becomes possible to use a more accurate preceding time, which is also effective in reducing the start time delay with respect to the vehicle start timing.

  According to the present invention, when the vehicle is started by notifying the driver that the vehicle has started when the vehicle is stopped, it is possible to reduce a delay in the start time with respect to the vehicle start timing at that time.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle start notification device embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 is provided with a vehicle start notification system 2 that notifies that at the start timing when the vehicle stops due to a signal or traffic jam. The vehicle 1 is provided with a notification control unit 3 that performs overall control of the vehicle start notification system 2. The notification control unit 3 may be a dedicated control system in the vehicle start notification system 2, but when the vehicle 1 is equipped with an ETC on-board device (non-stop automatic toll collection system) or a car navigation device, these are controlled to operate. The control system that performs this may also serve as this. The notification control unit 3 constitutes a vehicle start notification device, an inter-vehicle distance calculation unit, a vehicle speed calculation unit, a shift position recognition unit, and a driving state recognition unit.

  The vehicle 1 is provided with a road-to-vehicle communication device 6 capable of wireless communication with a traffic signal communication device 5 built in the traffic signal 4. The road-to-vehicle communication device 6 is attached to the inside of the hood, for example, and is electrically connected to the notification control unit 3. The road-to-vehicle communication device 6 can receive signal information Dtr periodically transmitted by the traffic signal communication device 5 and outputs the received signal information Dtr to the notification control unit 3. The signal information Dtr is, for example, a signal using radio waves such as VHF band and UHF band, and the remaining time until the traffic light 4 changes from red to blue, or conversely, the remaining time until the traffic light 4 changes from blue to red. This is information for notifying. When the signal control unit 3 inputs the signal information Dtr via the road-to-vehicle communication device 6, the information control unit 3 sees the data content of the signal information Dtr to determine how much time the remaining color of the traffic signal 4 changes (red) → blue, blue → red) each time.

  The vehicle 1 is provided with an outside-camera shooting camera 7 made of, for example, a small CCD camera capable of shooting a landscape in front of the vehicle 1. The outside camera 7 is attached to, for example, the back side of the in-vehicle rearview mirror, and the output side is connected to the notification control unit 3. Upon receipt of the image request signal from the notification control unit 3, the outside-camera shooting camera 7 captures an image at the input timing, outputs the captured image to the notification control unit 3, and outputs a captured image every time the image request signal is received. Thus, continuous image data outside the vehicle is output to the notification control unit 3. The notification control unit 3 is not limited to the wireless communication with the traffic signal communication device 5, and can also recognize the remaining time until the lighting color of the traffic signal 4 changes using the outside image data input from the outside camera 7. It is.

  When the vehicle 1 is an automatic vehicle, this type of vehicle is provided with a shift position detection sensor 8 that detects an operation position of a shift lever that is operated when the gear position of the transmission is changed. A shift ECU 9 is connected to the shift position detection sensor 8 as a control unit of the shift position detection system. The shift position detection sensor 8 includes, for example, a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the operation position of the shift lever to the shift ECU 9. When the shift ECU 9 obtains the operation position of the shift lever based on the detection signal from the shift position detection sensor 8, the shift ECU 9 outputs shift position information that is the operation position determination result to the notification control unit 3. The notification control unit 3 recognizes the current operation position of the shift lever by looking at the shift position information input from the shift ECU 9.

  The vehicle 1 is provided with a driver identification mechanism 10 that identifies who is the driver who has boarded the vehicle 1. A plurality of specific examples of the driver specifying mechanism 10 (fingerprint detection type, sheet position detection type, face image detection type, personal portable device detection type) will be described below, but this is not necessarily limited to a plurality. At least one is sufficient.

  The vehicle 1 is provided with a fingerprint sensor 11 that detects a fingerprint such as a finger of a person to be detected. A biometric authentication ECU 12 is connected to the fingerprint sensor 11 as a fingerprint detection system control unit. The fingerprint sensor 11 is disposed, for example, in the vicinity of a steering wheel in the vehicle, and when the detected person (driver) touches the detection surface to detect the fingerprint, the fingerprint data of the detected person is output to the biometric authentication ECU 12. . The biometric authentication ECU 12 performs fingerprint collation by comparing the input fingerprint data acquired from the fingerprint sensor 11 with registered fingerprint data registered in advance, and identifies the detected person who touches the detection surface at that time. Thus, it is possible to identify the driver. When the biometric authentication ECU 12 specifies the driver from the fingerprint data, the biometric authentication ECU 12 outputs the driver information to the notification control unit 3. The notification control unit 3 recognizes who the driver is at that time by looking at the driver information input from the biometric authentication ECU 12.

  In the vehicle 1, the driver seat is provided with a seat position sensor 13 that detects the reclining position and the front-rear direction position of the driver seat. A seat position ECU 14 is connected to the seat position sensor 13 as a control unit for the seat position detection system. The seat position sensor 13 is composed of, for example, a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the displacement amount of the reclining position or the front-rear direction position to the seat position ECU 14. When the seat position ECU 14 obtains the reclining position and the front-rear direction position of the driver's seat based on the detection signal from the seat position sensor 13, the seat position ECU 14 outputs the seat position information that is the seat position determination result to the notification control unit 3. The notification control unit 3 recognizes the current reclining position and the front-rear direction position of the driver seat by looking at the seat position information input from the seat position ECU 14, and identifies the driver from these positions.

  The vehicle 1 is provided with an in-vehicle shooting camera 15 made up of, for example, a small CCD camera capable of shooting a driver sitting in the in-vehicle driver's seat. The in-vehicle shooting camera 15 is attached to the front surface side of the rearview mirror, for example, and the output side is connected to the notification control unit 3. The in-vehicle shooting camera 15 operates in the same manner as the out-of-vehicle shooting camera 7 and outputs continuously captured driver images to the notification control unit 3 as in-vehicle image data. The notification control unit 3 extracts the driver's face image from the in-vehicle image data input from the in-vehicle imaging camera 15, and compares the extracted face image with a registered face image registered in advance in advance. It is possible to identify the driver. The basic face image registered in the notification control unit 3 can be additionally registered or updated using the in-vehicle camera 15 or a dedicated tool.

  The notification control unit 3 determines what the driving state of the driver is in this example, in addition to the above driver identification, as a process using the in-vehicle image data input from the in-vehicle camera 15. Processing can also be performed. As the driving state determination process, the notification control unit 3 of this example uses the face image in the in-vehicle image data input from the in-vehicle shooting camera 15, for example, and the driver's driving state ( Recognize looking away, closed eyes, nap, etc.)

  In addition, depending on the vehicle type, there is a vehicle equipped with a hands-free system 17 that permits door locking / unlocking and engine starting without using a mechanical key if the portable device 16 is owned. This type of vehicle is provided with an ID verification ECU 18 that performs ID verification in the hands-free system 17. The ID verification ECU 18 is connected to an outside LF transmitter 19 installed outside the vehicle, an inside LF transmitter 20 installed inside the vehicle, and an RF receiver 21 also installed inside the vehicle.

  When the outside LF transmitter 19 transmits the LF band request signal Sreq, the ID verification ECU 18 receives the RF band vehicle ID signal Sid returned from the portable device 16 in response to the request signal Sreq by the RF receiver 21. Then, external verification is performed as ID verification. At this time, when the ID verification ECU 18 recognizes that the ID code of the portable device 16 matches the ID code registered in the mobile device 16 and the verification outside the vehicle is established, the ID verification ECU 18 permits or executes door lock locking / unlocking. Further, when the ID verification ECU 18 transmits the LF band request signal Sreq from the in-vehicle LF transmitter 20, the RF band vehicle ID signal Sid returned from the portable device 16 in response to the request signal Sreq is received by the RF receiver. If it receives in 21, it will perform in-vehicle collation as ID collation. At this time, when the ID verification ECU 18 recognizes that the ID code of the portable device 16 matches the ID code registered in itself and that the in-vehicle verification has been established, the ID verification ECU 18 permits the engine start.

  The ID code registered in the ID verification ECU 18 has a code string for each of the portable devices 16, 16... When the driver individually possesses the portable devices 16 as in this example. When performing ID verification with the portable device 16, the ID verification ECU 18 performs ID verification by checking whether or not the vehicle ID code received at that time is registered in itself. By checking which ID code of the vehicle ID codes is used to identify the ID, the driver who gets on the vehicle 1 at that time is specified, and the driver information is output to the notification control unit 3. The notification control unit 3 recognizes who the driver is at that time by looking at the driver information input from the ID verification ECU 18.

  The notification control unit 3 is connected to a brake switch 22 that detects that a brake pedal (not shown) is depressed. The notification control unit 3 recognizes whether or not the brake pedal is operated based on a detection signal from the brake switch 22. The notification control unit 3 is connected to an accelerator switch 23 that detects that an accelerator pedal (not shown) is depressed. The notification control unit 3 recognizes whether or not the accelerator pedal is operated based on the detection signal from the accelerator switch 23.

  In the vehicle 1, a radar 25 that measures an inter-vehicle distance ΔL (see FIG. 4) between the vehicle 1 and a preceding vehicle 24 that travels ahead is provided at the vehicle body front position. The radar 25 transmits, for example, a radio wave of several tens GHz toward the preceding vehicle 24 from itself, and measures the inter-vehicle distance ΔL with the preceding vehicle 24 by measuring the reflection of the radio wave from the preceding vehicle 24. Equipment. The radar 25 outputs the inter-vehicle distance data of the inter-vehicle distance ΔL to the notification control unit 3. The notification control unit 3 recognizes the inter-vehicle distance ΔL from the preceding vehicle 24 as the calculated inter-vehicle distance by looking at the inter-vehicle distance data input from the radar 25.

  The calculation of the calculated inter-vehicle distance ΔL may be, for example, a method using a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device (hereinafter referred to as a rear vehicle-side vehicle-to-vehicle communication device) 26 instead of the method using the radar 25. The rear vehicle side inter-vehicle communication device 26 can wirelessly communicate with the preceding vehicle side inter-vehicle communication device 27 (see FIG. 4) provided in the preceding vehicle 24, and is electrically connected to the notification control unit 3. The rear vehicle side inter-vehicle communication device 26 can receive the communication information Dse periodically transmitted by the preceding vehicle side inter-vehicle communication device 27 and outputs the received communication information Dse to the notification control unit 3. The communication information Dse is a signal using radio waves such as VHF band and UHF band, for example, and is information including current position data of the preceding vehicle 24 calculated using the GPS mounted on the preceding vehicle 24. The notification control unit 3 sequentially recognizes its current position from the GPS mounted on the vehicle 1 and inputs the communication information Dse via the rear vehicle side inter-vehicle communication device 26, and the current position of the vehicle 1 and the preceding vehicle. The calculated inter-vehicle distance ΔL with the preceding vehicle 24 is calculated each time by comparing the current position with the current position.

  The vehicle 1 is provided with a voice output device 28 capable of voice notification to a driver and an occupant in the vehicle. The audio output device 28 includes, for example, a pair of speakers and the like, and the input side is connected to the notification control unit 3. The sound output device 28 notifies the sound according to the command in accordance with the command from the notification control unit 3. Further, when a car navigation device is mounted on the vehicle 1, a speaker of the car navigation device may also serve as the audio output device 28.

  A memory 29 capable of writing and overwriting various data is connected to the notification control unit 3. The memory 29 stores a notification control program 30 for notifying the driver in advance by the voice output device 28 when the vehicle 1 can start when the vehicle 1 is stopped due to a signal waiting or traffic jam. Yes. The notification control program 30 of this example is a program that advances the announcement timing by the operation time in consideration of the time required for the vehicle start operation performed by the driver at that time. The vehicle start operation described here refers to a series of operations from understanding the start announcement to performing a shift lever operation and a pedal transfer operation. The notification control unit 3 executes the announcement control program 30 of the present example sequentially at the time of traveling, thereby performing a preceding announcement process at the time of starting. The memory 29 corresponds to a storage unit, and the notification control program 30 constitutes a vehicle start notification device, an inter-vehicle distance calculation unit, a vehicle speed calculation unit, a shift position recognition unit, and a driving state recognition unit.

  Considering how much the announcement is advanced when making a prior announcement of the vehicle start, this relates to the announcement reaction time, shift lever operation time, and pedal change operation time. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the first time Ts required for shifting the shift lever from the P position or the N position to the D position after actually hearing the announcement, and the driver's foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. The third time Tb required to start the operation of changing the vehicle and the third time Ta actually required when the driver changes the foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal are greatly related.

  Therefore, in the notification control program 30, the first time Ts, the second time Tb, and the third time Ta are registered as learning values. When the vehicle output timing is announced by the audio output device 28 in the vehicle 1 waiting for a signal, the notification control unit 3 determines the first time Ts and the first time Ts from the timing at which the vehicle 1 changes from red to blue. The advance announcement of the vehicle 1 is performed by advancing the announcement timing by the total delay time Tdelay (see FIG. 2), which is the addition time of the two hours Tb and the third time Ta. In the case of this example, the notification control unit 3 uses the road-to-vehicle communication with the traffic signal communication device 5 or the outside shooting data from the in-vehicle shooting camera 15 to determine the remaining time T0 until the traffic light 4 changes from red to blue. By calculating sequentially and making a start announcement when the remaining time T0 becomes smaller than the total delay time Tdelay, a vehicle start advance announcement is performed. The total delay time Tdelay corresponds to the operation time (preceding time).

  The first time Ts to the third time Ta are registered individually for each driver such as a user A, a user B, a user C,. As described above, the reason why the first time Ts to the third time Ta are individually registered for each user is that the first time Ts to the third time Ta are different depending on the characteristics, habits, and age of the driver. is there.

  The first time Ts is different in operation time depending on the operation start position at the time of shifting the shift lever other than the D position to the D position, and the driving state at that time when the driver performs the starting operation. The operation time also varies depending on (look away, closed eyes, nap, etc.). Therefore, the first time Ts is individually set with two parameters, the operation start position at the time when the shift lever other than the D position is shifted to the D position and the operation state when the shift operation is performed. Has been. The first time Ts in this example is the value when the shift lever at the P position is shifted to the D position, the value when the driving state at that time is looking away is Ts1, the value when the eyes are closed is Ts2, and the value when napping Is set as Ts3, and when the shift lever at the N position is shifted to the D position, the value when the driving state is looking away is Ts4, the value when the eyes are closed is Ts5, and the value when lying down is Ts6. Set.

  The value of the second time Tb varies depending on whether or not the shift lever needs to be operated when the vehicle 1 is started. That is, unlike when the shift lever is in the P position or the N position and operated to the D position, when the shift lever remains in the D position, the time until the understanding is heard and understood is included in the second time Tb. Therefore, it is necessary to set the time in consideration of this. Further, when the shift lever is in the D position at the start of the vehicle, the second time Tb is also related to the driving state at that time, so that the value depends on the driving state at that time when the pedal change is started. Set individually. For the second time Tb of this example, the value when the shift lever operation is required at the start of the vehicle is set as Tb1, and when the shift lever operation is unnecessary at the start of the vehicle, the value when the driving state at that time is looking away is set. The value when Tb2 is closed, Tb3 is set as Tb3, and the value when napping is set as Tb4.

  Further, in the notification control program 30, an ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx indicating how much the inter-vehicle interval the vehicle starts when starting the vehicle is registered as a learning value. The notification control unit 3 gives a vehicle advance announcement to the driver so that the vehicle enters a start operation when the calculated inter-vehicle distance ΔL becomes the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx. In this example, the vehicle speed Vaf of the preceding vehicle 24 is sequentially calculated from the calculated inter-vehicle distance ΔL obtained using the radar 25 or inter-vehicle communication, and the vehicle position predicted from the preceding vehicle vehicle speed Vaf and the total delay time Tdelay is ideal. By seeing whether or not the vehicle distance ΔLx is reached, a prior announcement of a re-start is made when the traffic jam stops. The ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx corresponds to the registered inter-vehicle distance, and the preceding vehicle vehicle speed Vaf corresponds to the vehicle speed.

Next, the operation of the vehicle start notification device of this example will be described.
First, taking the case where the vehicle 1 is waiting for a signal at the head as an example, when the notification control unit 3 enters the communication area of the traffic signal communication device 5 and receives the signal information Dtr, the notification control unit 3 The remaining time T0 until the traffic light 4 changes from red to blue is obtained from Dtr. Each time the remaining time T0 is calculated, the notification control unit 3 compares the remaining time T0 with the total delay time Tdelay, and constantly monitors whether the remaining time T0 is less than the total delay time Tdelay. When the remaining time T0 becomes shorter than the total delay time Tdelay (Tdelay> T0 is established), the notification control unit 3 makes a prior announcement such as “the signal will soon turn blue” as a prior announcement of the start timing.

  The driver who has received the start advance announcement shifts the shift lever to the D position if the shift lever is at the P position or the N position, changes the foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal, and starts the vehicle 1. At this time, since the vehicle start announcement is made in advance, when the foot is changed from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal, the traffic light 4 switches from red to blue at the same timing, and the pedal is put on. The vehicle 1 can be started at the time of completion of the change.

  The notification control unit 3 of the present example learns the first time Ts to the third time Ta when performing the preceding announcement process. As the learning process, first, the notification control unit 3 measures the first time Ts using its own counter 31, but the measurement start of the first time Ts is performed by checking the voice output request command to the voice output device 28. The measurement of the first time Ts is completed using the shift position determination result of the shift ECU 9. When determining the first time Ts, the notification control unit 3 updates the first time Ts through, for example, an FIR filter, an IIR filter, or the like.

  The FIR filter described here is called an average moving filter. It is a method that determines the output using a past finite number of inputs (measured values, etc.), and the information before the finite number to be calculated is used. Is not affected. For example, if the learning value is Y [N] and the past input value is U [N] (where N = 0, 1,...), The learning value Y [N + 1] of the FIR filter is, for example, the following equation (1) It is obtained by the relational expression like

Y [N + 1] = 0.25 × (U [N] + U [N−1] + U [N−2] + U [N−3]) (1)
The IIR filter is a method for determining an output using a finite number of inputs and a finite number of outputs, and is logically affected by all outputs. For example, the learning value Y [N + 1] of the IIR filter is obtained by a relational expression such as the following expression (2).

Y [N + 1] = 0.5 × (Y [N] + U [N]) (2)
The notification control unit 3 learns the time value by the same method for the second time Tb and the third time Ta. In addition, about the time measurement of 2nd time Tb, the measurement start is performed using the shift position determination result of shift ECU9, and the measurement end of 2nd time Tb is performed using the detection signal of the brake switch 22. FIG. As for the time measurement of the third time Tc, the measurement start is performed using the detection signal of the brake switch 22, and the measurement end is performed using the detection signal of the accelerator switch 23. The learning process from the first time Ts to the third time Ta (that is, the total delay time Tdelay) is performed every time a preceding announcement is made. For the first time Ts to the third time Ta, a general average value is registered as an initial value before the learning process is performed.

  Subsequently, taking as an example the case where the vehicle 1 is stopped due to traffic jams and waiting for the start of the preceding vehicle 24, the notification control unit 3 takes an operation of sequentially transmitting radio waves from the radar 25. Regardless of whether the vehicle is traveling or stopped, the calculated inter-vehicle distance ΔL with respect to the preceding vehicle 24 is sequentially calculated using the reflected radio wave of the radar 25. At this time, the notification controller 3 calculates the remaining inter-vehicle distance ΔLa (= ΔLx−ΔL) by subtracting the calculated inter-vehicle distance ΔL from the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx. Further, the notification control unit 3 sequentially calculates the vehicle speed Vaf of the preceding vehicle 24 by differentiating the calculated inter-vehicle distance ΔL, and multiplies the preceding vehicle vehicle speed Vaf by the total delay time Tdelay, thereby remaining virtual inter-vehicle distance Les. (= Vaf × Tdelay) is calculated. Then, the notification control unit 3 sequentially compares the virtual inter-vehicle distance Les and the remaining inter-vehicle distance ΔLa.

  Here, when the calculated inter-vehicle distance ΔL approaches the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx as the preceding vehicle 24 starts, the virtual inter-vehicle distance Les takes a value equal to or greater than the remaining inter-vehicle distance ΔLa at a certain point. If the announcement is made, the inter-vehicle distance ΔL is exactly the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx when the driver of the vehicle 1 completes the vehicle starting operation. Accordingly, when the notification control unit 3 sequentially compares the virtual inter-vehicle distance Les and the remaining inter-vehicle distance ΔLa, if the virtual inter-vehicle distance Les is equal to or greater than the remaining inter-vehicle distance ΔLa (Les ≧ ΔLa is established), the time is set to start. A prior announcement is made from the audio output device 28 as an announcement timing.

  The notification control unit 3 also learns the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx as in the first time Ts to the third time Ta. The learning process of the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx is the same as the learning process from the first time Ts to the third time Ta, and the value is updated by, for example, an FIR filter or an IIR filter. The learning process of the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx is performed every time a preceding announcement is made, and of course, the first time Ts to the third time Ta are similarly updated by learning at this time. Note that the learning process of the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx is the same as the learning process of the first time Ts to the third time Ta, and thus the details are omitted.

  The vehicle start notification is not limited to the audible notification using the audio output device 28. For example, the vibration device 32 is built in the driver's seat and the vibration device 32 is shaken (slightly vibrated) as the vehicle start notification. You may alert | report that. In addition to this, for example, the seat belt tightening device 33 is attached to the driver's seat belt, and one end of the seat belt is pulled in by the seat belt tightening device 33 as a vehicle start notification. May be notified. The sound output device 28, the vibration device 32, and the seat belt tightening device 33 constitute an output unit.

  Therefore, in this example, when the vehicle 1 is waiting for a signal or stopped in a traffic jam, the vehicle start announcement is performed in advance. Therefore, the driver performs the shift operation and the pedal operation after understanding the announcement, so that the vehicle 1 The timing when the vehicle starts is matched with the timing to be transmitted by the vehicle 1 such as when the traffic light 4 changes from red to blue, or the inter-vehicle distance ΔL with the preceding vehicle 24 takes the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx. become. For this reason, since it becomes possible to start the vehicle 1 immediately at the vehicle start timing, it is difficult to cause a delay in the start time when waiting for a signal or during a traffic jam. In this way, vehicles traveling on the road flow smoothly, which is highly effective in reducing traffic congestion.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) When the vehicle 1 is waiting for a traffic light or stopped in a traffic jam, the completion of the vehicle start operation by the driver in response to the vehicle start announcement is the timing at which the traffic light 4 switches from red to blue, or when the traffic jam stops. Announcement of vehicle start is performed in advance so that the distance between the vehicle 24 and the inter-vehicle distance ΔL matches the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx. Accordingly, it is possible to make it difficult for the vehicle 1 to start when the vehicle 1 waits for a signal or stops at a traffic jam, and it is possible to obtain effects such as a traffic jam alleviation.

  (2) When the start operation of the vehicle 1 stopped due to traffic jam or the like is matched with the timing when the inter-vehicle distance ΔL with the preceding vehicle 24 becomes the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx, the preceding announcement timing at this time predicts the inter-vehicle distance At this time, the total delay time Tdelay, the preceding vehicle vehicle speed Vaf, the calculated inter-vehicle distance ΔL, etc., which are highly relevant parameters, are obtained. For this reason, the announcement timing of the start advance announcement can be obtained with high accuracy, and the advance announcement can be performed more accurately.

  (3) Since the learning value is used for the total delay time Tdelay (first time Ts, second time Tb, and third time Ta) and the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx, the preceding announcement timing that matches the characteristics of the driver is calculated. For this reason, it is possible to make a prior announcement at an announcement timing suitable for the driver, and to further suppress the departure time delay with respect to the vehicle start timing.

  (4) The total delay time Tdelay (the first time Ts, the second time Tb, and the third time Ta) and the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx use individual driver values. However, the optimal preceding announcement timing corresponding to the driver is calculated. For this reason, it is possible to make a prior announcement at an announcement timing suitable for each driver, and it is possible to make it difficult to cause a situation in which a delay occurs in the start time by the driver.

  (5) The values of the first time Ts and the second time Tb are registered in the memory 29 according to the operation start position of the shift lever (the presence or absence of the shift lever operation). Therefore, when calculating the preceding announcement timing, it is possible to use the first time Ts and the second time Tb that are more accurate in accordance with the situation at that time, and it is possible to calculate the preceding announcement timing more accurately.

  (6) As the first time Ts and the second time Tb, values corresponding to the driving state of the driver at the start of the vehicle are registered in the memory 29. Therefore, when calculating the preceding announcement timing, it is possible to use the first time Ts and the second time Tb of more accurate values that match the driving situation at that time, and this also accurately calculates the preceding announcement timing. Very effective.

In addition, this embodiment is not limited to the structure so far, You may change into the following aspects.
-When setting the total delay time Tdelay, the first time Ts to the third time Ta are determined by looking at the operation switching of the shift position, the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal, and the total delay time Tdelay is determined by adding these values. It is not limited to. For example, the total delay time Tdelay may be set taking into account the switching of the side brake and reflecting the switching timing of this operation.

The total delay time Tdelay (the first time Ts to the third time Ta) and the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx are not necessarily limited to learning values, and may be fixed values.
The total delay time Tdelay (the first time Ts to the third time Ta) and the ideal inter-vehicle distance ΔLx are not necessarily registered individually for each driver, and parameters for only one driver may be registered.

  The driver specifying mechanism 10 is not limited to the above-described fingerprint detection type, sheet position detection type, face image detection type, and personal portable device detection type. For example, a setting button for each driver may be provided on the vehicle, and personal setting may be performed by operating the setting button.

  -The first time Ts and the second time Tb are not necessarily limited to registering values depending on the operation start position of the shift lever and the driving state at the time of vehicle transmission, and only one is registered regardless of these conditions. It may be done.

  ・ The driving state is not limited to looking away, closed eyes, nap, etc., but adopts various driving states such as talking with a passenger in the front passenger seat, facing back and turning back to the front. May be.

  The brake operation detection system is not limited to the brake switch 22 that detects the pedal operation of the brake pedal by switching on and off, and this may be a brake sensor that detects the depression amount of the brake pedal. The same applies to the accelerator operation detection system.

  The overall delay time Tdelay is not necessarily set to a value that allows the vehicle start operation to match the vehicle start timing when the preceding announcement is made. That is, the advance announcement execution timing is not particularly limited as long as the advance announcement timing precedes the vehicle start timing.

Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above-described embodiment and other examples will be described below together with their effects.
(1) In any one of Claims 1-7, it has a memory | storage means which memorize | stored the registration inter-vehicle distance which a driver | operator can take with a preceding vehicle at the time of vehicle start, The inter-vehicle distance with the said preceding vehicle is said registration The vehicle start timing is determined to be an inter-vehicle distance, the inter-vehicle distance after a predetermined time is predicted using the input means, and the vehicle start operation is completed by the driver, and the inter-vehicle distance becomes the registered inter-vehicle distance. Advance notification is made so as to match the timing.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle start alerting | reporting apparatus in one Embodiment. The timing chart explaining a prior announcement timing. Explanatory drawing which shows the state which the vehicle which was waiting for the signal starts. Explanatory drawing which shows the state transition at the time of the stop vehicle at the time of traffic congestion starting. The graph which shows the time change of a preceding vehicle vehicle speed and the distance between vehicles.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle, 3 ... Vehicle start notification apparatus, Inter-vehicle distance calculation means, Vehicle speed calculation means, Shift position recognition means and Driving state recognition means 24, Preceding vehicle, 28 ... Audio output constituting output means 29, a memory as a storage means, 30 ... a vehicle start notification device, an inter-vehicle distance calculation means, a vehicle speed calculation means, a shift position recognition means, and a driving state recognition means constituting a notification control program, 32 ... an output means. Structuring vibration device 33 ... Seat belt fastening device constituting output means, Tdelay ... Total delay time as operation time (preceding time), T0 ... Remaining time, ΔLx ... Ideal inter-vehicle distance as registered inter-vehicle distance, ΔL ... Calculated inter-vehicle distance (inter-vehicle distance), Vaf: preceding vehicle speed as vehicle speed.

Claims (7)

In the vehicle start notification device that notifies the occupant to that effect using the output means when the stopped vehicle is at the vehicle start timing,
Predicting the start of the vehicle by predicting the start timing of the vehicle from the surrounding driving situation and advancing the notification from the start timing of the vehicle by an operation time required for the start operation of the vehicle after the driver receives the notification. A vehicle start notification device. A preceding time registered in the storage means as the operation time corresponding to how much the vehicle start operation completion matches the vehicle start timing if the notification is advanced in advance;
2. The vehicle start according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle start is notified by recognizing a remaining time from the travel state to the vehicle start timing and advancing the notification by the preceding time with respect to the vehicle start timing. Notification device. A registered inter-vehicle distance registered in the storage means as a distance that the driver can take with the preceding vehicle when starting the vehicle;
An inter-vehicle distance calculating means for calculating an inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle as a calculated inter-vehicle distance;
Vehicle speed calculating means for calculating the vehicle speed of the preceding vehicle,
The vehicle start timing is that the inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle becomes the registered inter-vehicle distance, and the inter-vehicle distance after a certain time is predicted using the preceding time, the registered inter-vehicle distance, the calculated inter-vehicle distance, and the vehicle speed. 3. The vehicle start according to claim 2, wherein completion of the vehicle start operation by the driver performs advance notification so that an inter-vehicle distance from the preceding vehicle coincides with a timing at which the registered inter-vehicle distance becomes the registered inter-vehicle distance. Notification device.   4. The vehicle start notification device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the preceding time and the registered inter-vehicle distance is a learned value that is periodically updated to a value specific to the driver.   5. The vehicle start notification device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the preceding time and the registered inter-vehicle distance is registered as an individual value for each driver. A plurality of the preceding times stored in the storage means so that the values are different at at least two positions of the operation start position in the shift lever of the vehicle automatic transmission;
Shift position recognition means for recognizing the operation start position of the shift lever,
The prior time according to the operation start position of the shift lever is used when performing the prior notification using the previous time. Vehicle start notification device. A plurality of the preceding times stored in the storage means according to the driving state of the driver at the time of starting the vehicle;
Driving state recognition means for recognizing the driving state of the driver,
The vehicle start notification device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein when the preceding notification is performed using the preceding time, the preceding time corresponding to the driving state is used. .

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