JP2008134841A - Traveling support device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a traveling support device for safely support traveling using information relating to an appearance of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A traveling support device 10 is provided with a vehicle information receiving means 103 for receiving vehicle information relating to the appearance of a vehicle used when a vehicle A and a vehicle B visually identify each other from the outside and a traveling support means 104 for supporting traveling by using vehicle information received by the vehicle information receiving means 103. Also, the traveling support device 10 is provided with a request signal transmitting means 102 for transmitting a request signal to request to accept a predetermined action of the vehicle A to the vehicle B. The vehicle information receiving means 103 receives the vehicle information to be sent from the vehicle B which has accepted the request signal, and transmits the vehicle information of its own vehicle A to the vehicle B which has sent the acceptance signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a travel support apparatus that performs travel support, and more particularly to a travel support apparatus that realizes safer travel support by mutually reporting information related to vehicle appearance.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an in-vehicle information system that exchanges information only between the own vehicle and other vehicles related to the own vehicle by inter-vehicle communication is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  This in-vehicle information system eliminates inter-vehicle communication with other vehicles that are not related to the traveling of the vehicle among other vehicles that can communicate with each other in the vicinity of the own vehicle. It is possible to exchange information with other specific vehicles related to the vehicle without waste.

For example, the in-vehicle information system detects the state of the host vehicle approaching the joining point based on the position information of the host vehicle and the operation of the direction indicator, and the traveling state of these other vehicles from only other vehicles approaching the joining point. Information on the vehicle is acquired by the vehicle so that the merge support can be performed based on the lean information.
JP 2004-274414 A

  However, the in-vehicle information system described in Patent Document 1 only eliminates unnecessary calculation processing based on the traveling state of another vehicle that is not related to the traveling state of the host vehicle, and improves the function of the merge support itself. It is not a thing.

  In view of the above-described points, an object of the present invention is to provide a travel support device that realizes safer travel support using information related to the appearance of a vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the driving support device according to the first invention transfers vehicle information relating to the vehicle appearance for visually identifying each other's vehicle from the outside between the own vehicle and the other vehicle. Vehicle information exchanging means, and travel support means for providing travel assistance using the vehicle information exchanged by the vehicle information exchanging means.

  The second invention is a travel support device according to the first invention, wherein the request signal is transmitted by adding vehicle information of the own vehicle to a request signal for requesting the other vehicle to accept the predetermined action of the own vehicle. The vehicle information transmission / reception unit includes a transmission unit, and receives vehicle information returned by another vehicle that has accepted the request signal.

  The third invention is a travel support device according to the first or second invention, wherein the vehicle information transfer means sends a request signal for requesting the host vehicle to accept a predetermined action of the other vehicle. When the request signal is accepted, the vehicle information of the own vehicle is returned.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a travel support device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the travel support relates to a merge support or a lane change support.

  With the above-described means, the present invention can provide a travel support device that realizes safer travel support using information relating to the vehicle appearance.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a driving support device 10 according to the present invention. The travel support apparatus 10 is a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory), and the like, and the position information acquisition unit 100, Programs corresponding to the travel information acquisition means 101, the request signal transmission means 102, the vehicle information transfer means 103, and the travel support means 104 are stored in the NVRAM, and these programs are expanded on the RAM so that the corresponding processing is executed by the CPU.

  The driving support device 10 is mounted on the vehicle A and includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) 11, a vehicle speed sensor 12, a direction indicator 13, an acceptance switch 14, a storage device 15, a display 16, a speaker 17, an accelerator control device 18, It is connected to the brake control device 19 and the inter-vehicle communication device 20.

  The other components such as the driving support device 10 and the GPS 11 are also mounted on the vehicles B to F in the same manner, and when the components are described separately for each vehicle, the vehicle is indicated by the reference number of each component. Is added as a subscript.

  The GPS 11 is a device for measuring the position of the vehicle A, measures the vehicle position based on the GPS signal output from the GPS satellite via the GPS antenna, and outputs the measurement result to the driving support device 10.

  The measuring method may be any method such as single positioning or relative positioning (including interference positioning), but preferably relative positioning with high accuracy is used. At this time, the vehicle position may be corrected based on outputs from various sensors such as a steering angle sensor and a gyro sensor, and various information received via a beacon receiver or an FM multiplex receiver.

  The vehicle speed sensor 12 is a sensor that measures the speed of the vehicle. For example, the MR (Magnetic Resistance) element reads a change in the magnetic field caused by a magnet attached to each wheel and rotating with each wheel as a magnetic resistance. The rotation speed of the wheel and the speed of the vehicle are detected by taking out as a proportional pulse signal. Further, the vehicle speed sensor 12 outputs the detection result to the driving support device 10.

  The direction indicator 13 is a device for instructing the traveling direction of the vehicle, and, for example, blinks either the left or right blinker lamp according to the operation of a lever attached to the steering column. When the lever operation is performed, the direction indicator 13 outputs a blinker signal to the travel support device 10 so that the operator's intention to turn left or right or change lanes can be transmitted to other vehicles.

  The acceptance switch 14 is a switch for responding to a request signal received from another vehicle via vehicle-to-vehicle communication (which is a signal transmitted from the other vehicle to the own vehicle in order to obtain acceptance of a predetermined action of the other vehicle). For example, it is a push button switch arranged on the instrument panel, and an acceptance signal indicating that the request of the other vehicle is accepted by pressing the switch is returned to the other vehicle that has transmitted the request signal.

  The storage device 15 is a non-volatile storage medium for storing information, and stores, for example, a vehicle information database 150 that stores vehicle information related to vehicles and a map information database 151. Here, the “vehicle information” is information relating to the vehicle appearance for visually identifying the vehicle from the outside, and includes, for example, the vehicle type, manufacturer name, vehicle name, license plate number, body color, and the like.

  The display 16 is a device for displaying information. For example, the display 16 is a liquid crystal display used in a car navigation system, and displays appearance information of other vehicles acquired by the driving support device 10 through inter-vehicle communication. .

  The speaker 17 is a device for outputting information by voice, and for example, outputs the appearance information of other vehicles acquired by the driving support device 10 via inter-vehicle communication.

  The accelerator control device 18 and the brake control device 19 are devices for automatically controlling the traveling speed of the vehicle. For example, the accelerator control device 18 adjusts the accelerator opening based on the control signal output from the driving support device 10 or uses a brake. Adjust the braking force to control the running speed of the vehicle.

  The vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 20 is a device for controlling vehicle-to-vehicle communication and, for example, realizes information exchange between vehicles by communication using millimeter wave radio waves. Further, the inter-vehicle communication device 20 may have a unique vehicle ID, and information exchange between specific vehicles may be realized using the vehicle ID.

  Next, various means included in the driving support device 10 will be described.

  The position information acquisition means 100 is means for acquiring vehicle position information. For example, the position information acquisition means 100 is based on the output (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the GPS 11 and the map information database 151 stored in the storage device 15. Position information (information on which point on the map the host vehicle is located) is acquired, and the acquired position information is output to a request signal transmission unit 102 described later.

  The travel information acquisition unit 101 is a unit for acquiring vehicle travel information, and the “travel information” is information related to vehicle travel, such as travel speed, acceleration, travel direction (steering angle), Information related to driving operations (brake operation, accelerator operation, steering operation, etc.).

  The travel information acquisition means 101 outputs an output from the vehicle speed sensor 12, a winker signal output from the direction indicator 13 (refers to a signal indicating which of the left and right flashers blinks), and a stop signal (brake from the brake controller 19). Is a signal that indicates that the vehicle has been depressed by more than a predetermined pedal force.) Based on the output of the acceleration sensor, the output of the steering angle sensor, etc., information on the running speed, acceleration, traveling direction, driving operation, etc. of the vehicle is acquired. Then, the acquired traveling information is output to the request signal transmitting means 102 described later.

  The request signal transmitting means 102 is a means for transmitting a request signal for requesting another vehicle to accept the predetermined action of the host vehicle. For example, the request signal transmitting means 102 is requested based on the output of the position information acquisition means 100 or the travel information acquisition means 101. Controls signal transmission timing.

  The “predetermined action of the own vehicle” refers to an action that requires the cooperation of another vehicle, such as joining the expressway (see FIG. 2), changing lanes (see FIG. 7), and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a scene where the request signal transmitting means 102 transmits a request signal, and shows a scene where the own vehicle A joins the highway.

  In FIG. 2, the request signal transmission means 102A mounted on the vehicle A is connected to the expressway by the vehicle A based on the position information acquired by the position information acquisition means 100A and the travel information acquired by the travel information acquisition means 101A. A request signal is transmitted when it is detected that the vehicle is traveling on the road and the direction indicator 13A in the merging direction (right side) is blinked.

  The request signal transmitting means 102A transmits a request signal when it is detected that the vehicle A is traveling along the junction to the highway based on the position information acquired by the position information acquiring means 100A. Also good. This is because it is clear that the vehicle will join the expressway after a predetermined time without depending on the winker signal output from the direction indicator 13A.

  Further, the request signal transmission means 102 transmits a request signal from the own vehicle to another vehicle existing within a predetermined range (for example, within a radius of 100 meters) using the inter-vehicle communication device 20.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a request signal. The request signal includes, for example, a vehicle ID, a request content information section, a position information section, and a vehicle information section, and the vehicle ID is used to identify a vehicle. It is information indicating an identification number unique to the vehicle, the request content information part is information indicating the content of the request for the vehicle to request acceptance, and the position information part is position information of the point where the action indicated by the request content is executed (Latitude, longitude, altitude), and the vehicle information section is vehicle information of a vehicle that transmits a request signal.

  With the above-described configuration, the request signal transmission unit 102A can, for example, say, “Vehicle A is a merging point M (latitude: XX degrees XX minutes XX seconds, longitude: XX degrees XX minutes XX Second vehicle) can be notified to other vehicles.

  The vehicle information exchanging means 103 is means for exchanging vehicle information between vehicles. For example, vehicle information is exchanged between a vehicle that has transmitted a request signal and a vehicle that has responded to the request signal.

  In FIG. 2, the vehicle A transmits a request signal to all the vehicles within the predetermined range from the vehicle A, and the vehicle information exchange means 103B of the vehicle B that has received the request signal from the vehicle A Based on the signal, it is determined whether or not to display the approval / disapproval confirmation screen on the display 16B of the vehicle B.

  The vehicle information transfer means 103B calculates the time to reach the merge point M based on the position information output from the position information acquisition means 100B of the vehicle B. If the calculated time is greater than the merge time indicated by the request signal from the vehicle A, An approval / disapproval confirmation screen is displayed on the display 16B. In addition to the display on the display 16B, or instead of the display on the display 16B, the vehicle information transmission / reception means 103B may output a sound from the speaker 17B and prompt the user to determine whether the request signal is accepted or not.

  The acceptance / rejection confirmation screen displayed on the display 16 </ b> B together with the beep sound indicates the content indicated by the request signal from the vehicle A (“vehicle A requests that the merge at the merge point M is accepted”). ) Is displayed and the driver of the vehicle B decides whether or not to accept it.

  When the driver of the vehicle B presses the acceptance switch 14B and accepts the content indicated by the request signal from the vehicle A, the vehicle information exchanging means 103B sends the vehicle information signal to the vehicle A as an acceptance signal via the inter-vehicle communication device 20B. Send back.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the vehicle information signal. The vehicle information signal is composed of, for example, a transmission source vehicle ID, a transmission destination vehicle ID, a position information portion, and a vehicle information portion. The position information (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the vehicle that transmits the information signal is shown.

  The vehicle information exchanging means 103C of the vehicle C that has received the request signal from the vehicle A displays the approval / disapproval confirmation screen on the display 16C, similar to the vehicle information exchanging means 103B of the vehicle B, but has received the request signal from the vehicle A. Vehicle information transfer means 103D-F of vehicles D-F do not display the acceptance / rejection confirmation screens on displays 16D-F. This is because the vehicle D and the vehicle E exist at a position closer to the merge point M than the vehicle A, and the vehicle F travels in the overtaking lane.

  The travel support unit 104 is a unit for supporting the travel of the vehicle. For example, the travel support unit 104A of the vehicle A is acquired by the position information acquisition unit 100A and the travel information acquisition unit 101A. The vehicle A joins before the vehicle B at the junction M based on the travel information of the vehicle A and the information included in the vehicle information signal from the vehicle B acquired by the vehicle information transfer means 103A. The travel speed is calculated, and a control signal (refers to a signal for instructing the accelerator opening or the brake braking force for realizing the calculated travel speed) is transmitted to the accelerator control device 18A and the brake control device 19A.

  The driving support means 104A calculates the distance between the vehicle A and the merge point M based on the position information of the vehicle A and the map information database 151, and the distance between the vehicle A and the merge point M is predetermined. When the value is less than 100 meters (for example, 100 meters), the vehicle information of the vehicle B (for example, the name of the vehicle) is displayed on the display 16A, or the vehicle information of the vehicle B is output by sound from the speaker 17A. This is because the driver of the vehicle A can catch the vehicle B traveling right rear with the naked eye.

  Note that the driving support means 104A may execute the driving support only by displaying the vehicle information of the vehicle B on the display 16A without controlling the driving speed of the vehicle A.

  On the other hand, the travel support means 104B of the vehicle B includes the position information of the vehicle B acquired by the position information acquisition means 100B, the travel information of the vehicle B acquired by the travel information acquisition means 101B, and the vehicle acquired by the vehicle information transfer means 103B. Based on the information included in the request signal from A, the optimum traveling speed for merging vehicle A before vehicle B at merging point M is calculated, and control signals are sent to accelerator control device 18B and brake control device 19B. Send.

  In addition, when the distance between the vehicle B and the junction M is less than a predetermined value (for example, 100 meters), the travel support unit 104B refers to the vehicle information (for example, the vehicle name) of the vehicle A on the display 16B. ) Or the vehicle information of the vehicle A is output from the speaker 17B by voice. This is because the driver of the vehicle B can catch the vehicle A traveling left front with the naked eye.

  Next, the flow of processing in which the driving support device 10 executes driving support will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of the driving support process in the vehicle A that has transmitted the request signal, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of the driving support process in the vehicle B that has accepted the request signal. It is assumed that the vehicle A travels along the junction of the expressway shown in FIG. 2, and the vehicle B travels on the travel lane (left lane) of the expressway shown in FIG. The vehicle position information is recognized by the vehicle position information acquisition means 100 based on the GPS 11 mounted on each vehicle and the map information database 151.

  First, the flow of the driving support process in the vehicle A that has transmitted the request signal will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the traveling state acquisition means 101A of the vehicle A monitors the operation of the direction indicator 13A of the own vehicle by receiving the output of the direction indicator 13A (step S1), and the direction indicator 13A operates. Unless it is done, the monitoring is continued (NO in step S1).

  When it is detected that the direction indicator 13A is operated (YES in Step S1), the traveling state acquisition unit 101A outputs a message to that effect to the request signal transmission unit 102A, and the request signal transmission unit 102A receives a predetermined signal from the vehicle A. Request signals are transmitted to all vehicles existing within the range (step S2).

  Thereafter, the vehicle information exchanging means 103A monitors the return of the acceptance signal from the vehicle existing within the predetermined range (step S3), and waits as it is until the acceptance signal is received (NO in step S3).

  When the vehicle information signal is received as the acceptance signal from the vehicle B (YES in step S3), the driving support means 104A determines the accelerator control device 18A and the brake based on the vehicle information signal of the vehicle B received by the vehicle information transfer means 103A. A control signal is transmitted to the control device 19A, and the traveling speed of the vehicle A is controlled so that the vehicle A can join before the vehicle B at the joining point M (step S4).

  Further, the driving support means 104A displays a display based on the vehicle information signal of the vehicle B received by the vehicle information sending / receiving means 103A when the vehicle A reaches a predetermined distance (for example, 100 meters) from the joining point M. The vehicle name and body color of the vehicle B can be displayed on the vehicle 16A, or the vehicle name and body color of the vehicle B can be output as audio from the speaker 17A, so that the driver of the vehicle A can visually recognize the vehicle B traveling right rear. (Step S4).

  Next, the flow of the driving support process in the vehicle B that has accepted the request signal will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the vehicle information exchanging means 103B of the vehicle B monitors whether the request signal is transmitted from the vehicle traveling around by the inter-vehicle communication device 20B (step S11), and continues monitoring unless the request signal is received. (NO in step S11).

  When the request signal is received (YES in step S11), the vehicle information exchanging means 103B displays a consent confirmation screen on the display 16B (step S12), and determines whether or not the vehicle A is merged in front of the vehicle B at the merge point M. The driver of the vehicle B is selected (step S13).

  The driver of the vehicle B informs the vehicle A that the vehicle A may be merged in front of the vehicle B at the merge point M by pressing the acceptance switch 14B when the consent confirmation screen is displayed on the display 16B. You can be notified.

  When the acceptance switch 14B is pressed (YES in step S13), the vehicle information exchanging means 103B returns a vehicle information signal as an acceptance signal to the vehicle A based on the vehicle ID of the vehicle A included in the received request signal. (Step S14).

  Thereafter, the driving support means 104B transmits a control signal to the accelerator control device 18B and the brake control device 19B based on the request signal of the vehicle A received by the vehicle information exchanging means 103B, and the vehicle in front of the vehicle B at the junction M. The traveling speed of the vehicle B is controlled so that A can join (step S15).

  Furthermore, when the vehicle B reaches a point a predetermined distance (for example, 100 meters) from the merging point M, the driving support unit 104B includes the vehicle A included in the request signal from the vehicle A received by the vehicle information transfer unit 103B. Based on the vehicle information of the vehicle B, the vehicle name or body color of the vehicle A is displayed on the display 16B, or the vehicle name or body color of the vehicle A is output by sound from the speaker 17B. Is supported so that the vehicle A traveling on the vehicle can be visually recognized (step S15).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another scene in which the request signal transmitting means 102 transmits a request signal, and shows a scene in which the vehicle A traveling in the left lane of one side two lanes changes to the right lane.

  In FIG. 7, when the request signal transmitting means 102A of the vehicle A detects that the vehicle A has blinked the direction indicator 13A (right side) to change the lane from the driving lane to the overtaking lane by the driving information acquisition means 101A. Send a request signal to the surroundings.

  The request signal transmitting means 102A transmits a request signal to other vehicles existing within a predetermined range (for example, within a radius of 100 meters) from the vehicle A using the inter-vehicle communication device 20A.

  The request signal transmission means 102A, for example, “at a predetermined time position (latitude: XX degrees XX minutes XX seconds, longitude: XX degrees XX minutes XX seconds) at the time XX hours XX minutes” “Vehicle A traveling at で km / h wishes to change lane to the right lane” is notified to other vehicles.

  The vehicle information exchange means 103B of the vehicle B that has received the request signal from the vehicle A determines whether or not to display the approval / disapproval confirmation screen on the display 16B of the vehicle B based on the request signal from the vehicle A.

  The vehicle information exchanging means 103B determines whether or not the vehicle A is traveling behind the vehicle A on the right lane based on the position information output by the position information acquisition means 100B of the vehicle B, and is behind the vehicle A on the right lane. If it is determined that the vehicle is traveling, an approval / disapproval confirmation screen is displayed on the display 16B, and a sound is output from the speaker 17B to determine whether or not the request signal is approved.

  When the driver of the vehicle B presses the acceptance switch 14B and accepts the content indicated by the request signal from the vehicle A, the vehicle information exchanging means 103B sends the vehicle information signal to the vehicle A as an acceptance signal via the inter-vehicle communication device 20B. Send back.

  Upon receiving the vehicle information signal from the vehicle B, the vehicle information transmission / reception means 103A of the vehicle A transmits the vehicle B to the vehicle B based on the transmission source vehicle ID (vehicle ID of the vehicle B) included in the vehicle information signal from the vehicle B. Send information signals. Further, the vehicle information exchanging means 103A may transmit / receive vehicle information signals to / from the vehicle B periodically (for example, at intervals of 1 second) and update the information mutually.

  In addition, when the vehicle information transmission / reception means 103A receives the vehicle information signal as an acceptance signal from both the vehicle B and the vehicle C, the vehicle information transmission / reception means 103A may return the vehicle information signal only to the vehicle information signal received first. The vehicle information signals may be returned to all the received vehicle information signals, or a predetermined number (for example, three vehicles) of vehicle information signals may be returned in the order received. .

  The vehicle information exchanging means 103C of the vehicle C that has received the request signal from the vehicle A displays the approval / disapproval confirmation screen on the display 16C, similar to the vehicle information exchanging means 103B of the vehicle B, but has received the request signal from the vehicle A. The vehicle information exchanging means 103D and E for the vehicles D and E do not display the approval / disapproval confirmation screen on the displays 16D and E. This is because the vehicle D is traveling in the left lane, and the vehicle E is traveling ahead of the vehicle A.

  Thereafter, the travel support means 104A of the vehicle A is connected to the vehicle A and the vehicle A based on the information included in the position information of the vehicle A, the travel information of the vehicle A, and the vehicle information signal from the vehicle B acquired by the vehicle information transfer means 103A. When the distance to the vehicle B is calculated and the distance is less than a predetermined value (for example, 100 meters), the vehicle information (for example, the name of the vehicle) of the vehicle B is displayed on the display 16A, and Then, the vehicle information of the vehicle B is output as audio from the speaker 17A. This is because the driver of the vehicle A can catch the vehicle B approaching from the right rear with the naked eye.

  On the other hand, the travel support means 104B of the vehicle B is based on the information included in the vehicle B signal information from the vehicle A acquired by the vehicle information acquisition means 103B and the position information of the vehicle B, the travel information of the vehicle B, and the vehicle B. When the distance to the vehicle A is calculated and the distance is less than a predetermined value (for example, 100 meters), the vehicle information of the vehicle A (for example, the name of the vehicle) is displayed on the display 16B, and Then, the vehicle information of the vehicle A is output by voice from the speaker 17B. This is because the driver of the vehicle B can catch the vehicle A traveling left front with the naked eye.

  Note that both the travel support means 104A and 104B may control the speeds of the vehicles A and B via the accelerator control devices 18A and 18B and the brake control devices 19A and 19B.

  With the above configuration, the driving support device 10 can notify each other's drivers of the vehicle to be merged or lane changed and the vehicle to be merged or lane changed by notifying vehicle information. Therefore, safer driving support can be realized.

  Moreover, since the driving assistance apparatus 10 implement | achieves the above exchanges of information via vehicle-to-vehicle communication, it is not necessary to prepare the infrastructure for implement | achieving road-to-vehicle communication.

  In addition, since the driving support device 10 confirms the intention of the driver who drives the other vehicle and supports the joining of the own vehicle or the lane change, the other vehicle is forcibly decelerated or the confirmation is requested. Without forcibly decelerating the vehicle without it.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Can be added.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the traveling speed of the vehicle is controlled via the accelerator control device 18 and the brake control device 19, but the steering angle of the vehicle may also be controlled via the steering control device. .

  In addition, the driving support device 10 automatically transmits a request signal when a predetermined condition is satisfied, but may include a switch for transmitting the request signal so that the request signal can be transmitted manually.

  In addition, the driving support device 10 returns an acceptance signal when the acceptance switch 14 is pressed. However, the driving support device 10 includes a rejection switch separately from the acceptance switch 14 and prohibits the return of the acceptance signal when the rejection switch is pressed. Alternatively, an acceptance signal may be automatically returned when the rejection switch is not pressed for a predetermined time. This is to save the trouble of pressing the acceptance switch 14 each time acceptance is made.

  Moreover, although the driving assistance apparatus 10 implement | achieves transmission / reception of the vehicle information between vehicles via the inter-vehicle communication apparatus 20, you may implement | achieve transmission / reception of vehicle information via road-to-vehicle communication.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the driving assistance apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is FIG. (1) for demonstrating the scene where a request signal transmission means transmits a request signal. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a request signal. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a vehicle information signal. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the driving assistance process in the vehicle which transmitted the request signal. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the driving assistance process in the vehicle which accepted the request signal. It is FIG. (2) for demonstrating the scene where a request signal transmission means transmits a request signal.

Explanation of symbols

10 Driving support device 11 GPS
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Vehicle speed sensor 13 Direction indicator 14 Accept switch 15 Memory | storage device 16 Display 17 Speaker 18 Accelerator control apparatus 19 Brake control apparatus 20 Inter-vehicle communication apparatus 100 Position information acquisition means 101 Travel information acquisition means 102 Request signal transmission means 103 Vehicle information transmission / reception means 104 Driving support means 150 Vehicle information database 151 Map information database A to F Vehicle M Junction point

Claims (4)

Vehicle information exchange means for exchanging vehicle information relating to the vehicle exterior for visually identifying each other's vehicle from the outside between the own vehicle and another vehicle;
Travel support means for performing travel support using the vehicle information transferred by the vehicle information transfer means;
A driving support apparatus comprising: A request signal transmitting means for transmitting the vehicle information of the own vehicle to a request signal for requesting another vehicle to accept the predetermined action of the own vehicle;
The vehicle information transfer means receives vehicle information returned by another vehicle that has accepted the request signal.
The travel support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The vehicle information sending / receiving means receives a request signal from the other vehicle that requests the vehicle to accept the predetermined action of the other vehicle, and returns the vehicle information of the own vehicle when the request signal is accepted.
The travel support apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The travel support relates to merge support or lane change support,
The travel support apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

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