JP2008195137A - Vehicle approach notifying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control a notifying sound according to the state of risk in the front of a vehicle while the vehicle is traveling. <P>SOLUTION: Based on the result detected by a vehicle speed sensor 16 for detecting the vehicle speed V of the vehicle and the result detected by a brake operating sensor 20 for detecting the operation of the brake pedal 18 of the vehicle 10, a controller 14 emits the notifying sound with high notification effect from a speaker 12 while the vehicle speed V is equal to or below a predetermined vehicle speed V1 and the brake pedal 18 is being operated. When a driver determines that the degree of the state of risk in the front of the vehicle is large (dangerous), and depresses the brake pedal 18 for decelerating the vehicle 10, consequently, the device can notify pedestrians of the approach of the vehicle 10 by the notifying sound with high notification effect. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle approach notification device, and more particularly to a vehicle approach notification device that is mounted on an electric automobile or the like and makes a pedestrian or the like aware of the approach of the vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vehicle approach notification device is known that is mounted on an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle so that a pedestrian or the like notices the approach of the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1). With this technology, the engine vehicle generates sounds similar to those generated when driving at low, medium, and high speeds according to the speed of the electric vehicle, so that pedestrians can notice the approach of the vehicle. ing.
JP 2004-136831 A

  However, in general, when the driver determines that the degree of danger situation in front of the vehicle is small, for example, the situation in front of the vehicle is good, and there is no pedestrian or obstacle, the degree of danger situation in front of the vehicle is low. Judge the vehicle as small (not dangerous) and accelerate the vehicle. For this reason, as in the technique of Patent Document 1, in a device that generates sound having a high frequency component when the vehicle is at high speed so that a pedestrian can sense the approach of the vehicle, the driver determines the front of the vehicle. The level of the dangerous situation does not match the sounding level of the sound that notifies the pedestrian of the approach of the vehicle. That is, even when the driver determines that the degree of danger situation in front of the vehicle is small and the driver accelerates the vehicle in a situation where the front of the vehicle is good and there are no pedestrians or obstacles, Increases the sound level of sound that announces approach.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle approach notification device capable of controlling a notification sound in accordance with a danger situation ahead of a vehicle while the vehicle is traveling.

  The vehicle approach notification device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a notification sound generating means that is provided in a vehicle and generates a notification sound for reporting the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle, and when the vehicle is below a predetermined vehicle speed, Control means for generating a predetermined notification sound from the notification sound generating means.

  The control means generates a predetermined notification sound from a notification sound generating means which is provided in the vehicle and generates a notification sound for notifying the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle when the vehicle speed becomes a predetermined vehicle speed or less. For this reason, when the driver determines that the level of the dangerous situation ahead of the vehicle is high and the vehicle speed falls below the predetermined vehicle speed according to the dangerous situation ahead of the vehicle while traveling, the notification sound generating means notifies Sound is generated.

  The vehicle approach notification device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a notification sound generating unit that is provided in a vehicle and generates a notification sound for reporting the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle, and when the brake of the vehicle is operating, Control means for generating a predetermined notification sound from the notification sound generating means.

  The control means generates a predetermined notification sound from a notification sound generating means that is provided in the vehicle and generates a notification sound for notifying the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle when the brake of the vehicle is operating. For this reason, when the driver determines that the level of the danger situation ahead of the vehicle is high and activates the brake of the vehicle according to the danger situation ahead of the vehicle while the vehicle is running, the notification sound generating means notifies Sound is generated.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle approach notification device according to the present invention, comprising: a notification sound generating means provided in a vehicle for generating a notification sound for reporting the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle; And a control means for generating a predetermined notification sound from the notification sound generating means.

  The control means generates a predetermined notification sound from a notification sound generating means that is provided in the vehicle and generates a notification sound for notifying the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle when the brake is operating at a predetermined vehicle speed or less. For this reason, when the driver determines that the danger situation ahead of the vehicle is high and the vehicle speed is reduced below the predetermined vehicle speed and the brakes are activated while the vehicle is running, a notice is given. A notification sound is generated from the sound generating means.

  The vehicle approach notification device according to claim 4 of the present invention includes a notification sound generating means that is provided in a vehicle and generates a notification sound for reporting the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle, and when the vehicle is below a predetermined vehicle speed, A notification sound that generates a predetermined notification sound from the notification sound generation means and has a higher notification effect than the predetermined notification sound from the notification sound generation means when the vehicle is braked at the predetermined vehicle speed or lower. And a control means for generating sound.

  The control means generates a predetermined notification sound from the notification sound generating means that is provided in the vehicle and generates a notification sound for notifying the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle when the vehicle becomes a predetermined vehicle speed or less. In the following, when the brake is operating, the notification sound generating means generates a notification sound having a higher notification effect than the predetermined notification sound. For this reason, a notification sound is generated from the notification sound generating means when the driver determines that the degree of the dangerous situation in front of the vehicle is high and the vehicle speed falls below a predetermined vehicle speed according to the dangerous situation in front of the vehicle while traveling. When the vehicle is operating the brake at a predetermined vehicle speed or less, a notification sound having a higher notification effect than the predetermined notification sound is generated from the notification sound generating means.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle approach notification device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, when the vehicle stops, the notification sound generating means notifies the notification in comparison with the predetermined notification sound. It is characterized by generating a low-impact notification sound.

  When the vehicle stops, the control means generates a notification sound having a lower notification effect than the predetermined notification sound from the notification sound generating means. For this reason, the noise around the vehicle due to the notification sound can be reduced.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle approach notification device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, when the vehicle stops, the control means generates a notification sound from the notification sound generating means. It is characterized by stopping the generation.

  The control means stops the generation of the notification sound from the notification sound generating means when the vehicle stops. For this reason, the noise around the vehicle due to the notification sound can be prevented.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the notification sound can be controlled according to the danger situation ahead of the vehicle while the vehicle is running.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the notification sound can be controlled according to the danger situation ahead of the vehicle while the vehicle is running.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the notification sound can be controlled according to the danger situation ahead of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the notification sound can be controlled according to the danger situation ahead of the vehicle while the vehicle is running.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, noise around the vehicle due to the notification sound can be reduced.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, noise around the vehicle due to the notification sound can be prevented.

  An embodiment of a vehicle approach notification device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the figure, the arrow UP indicates the upward direction of the vehicle, and the arrow FR in the figure indicates the forward direction of the vehicle.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle (hybrid car) 10 to which a vehicle approach notification device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, as viewed obliquely from the front of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the front end portion 10 </ b> A of the vehicle 10 is provided with a pair of left and right speakers 12 as notification sound generating means, and these speakers 12 are controlled in an engine room 10 </ b> B of the vehicle 10. It is electrically connected to the control device 14 as means by a wire harness or the like.

  Therefore, these loudspeakers 12 each generate a notification sound for reporting the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle, for example, a sound similar to the sound generated when the engine vehicle is running, by the operation signal output from the control device 14. It has become.

  The control device 14 is electrically connected to a vehicle speed sensor 16 as vehicle speed detection means for detecting the vehicle speed V of the vehicle 10 by a wire harness or the like, and the detection data of the vehicle speed V detected by the vehicle speed sensor 16 is the control device 14. To be input.

  The control device 14 is electrically connected to a brake operation detection means (brake detection means) for detecting braking (braking) of the vehicle 10, for example, a brake operation sensor 20 for detecting the operation of the brake pedal 18 by a wire harness or the like. The operation detection data of the brake pedal 18 detected by the brake operation sensor 20 is input to the control device 14.

  Since the vehicle speed sensor 16 is a well-known technique, a detailed description thereof is omitted. As for the brake operation sensor 20, a switch or the like for lighting a stop lamp (brake lamp) during braking can be used.

  Further, the control device 14 outputs an operation signal to the speaker 12 based on the detection result of the vehicle speed sensor 16 and the detection result of the brake operation sensor 20, and generates a notification sound from the speaker 12. .

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail according to the flowchart of FIG.

  Usually, when the driver determines that the degree of danger situation in front of the vehicle 10 is small, for example, when the prospect in front of the vehicle is good and there are no pedestrians or obstacles, the danger situation in front of the vehicle 10 Is determined to be small (not dangerous) and the vehicle 10 is accelerated.

  On the other hand, when the driver determines that the degree of danger in front of the vehicle 10 is large, for example, when the prospect in front of the vehicle is poor and there may be a pedestrian or the like in the blind spot, or the driver is aware of the approach of the vehicle. When there is a pedestrian who faces his back, which may not be present, the degree of danger in front of the vehicle 10 is judged to be large (danger), and the brake pedal 18 is depressed or the accelerator is depressed. The vehicle 10 is decelerated.

  At this time, the control device 14 of the present embodiment performs the following control.

  First, in step (hereinafter referred to as S) 100, based on the detection result of the vehicle speed sensor 16, it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed V of the vehicle 10 is equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed V1 (V ≦ V1).

  If it is determined in S100 that the vehicle speed V of the vehicle 10 is equal to or lower than the predetermined vehicle speed V1 (V ≦ V1), the process proceeds to S102.

  In S102, based on the detection result of the brake operation sensor 20, it is determined whether or not the brake pedal 18 is operating.

  If it is determined in S102 that the brake pedal 18 is activated (depressed), the process proceeds to S104.

  In S104, it is determined whether or not the set value K of the volume (sound pressure level) of the speaker 12 is equal to the set value K1 of the predetermined volume.

  If it is determined in S104 that the volume setting value K of the speaker 12 is equal to the predetermined volume setting value K1, the process proceeds to S106.

  In S <b> 106, the volume setting value K of the speaker 12 is set to a large volume setting value K <b> 2 as a notification sound having a higher notification effect than the predetermined volume setting value K <b> 1, and an operation signal is output to the speaker 12. For this reason, a notification sound having a volume (set value K2) larger than a predetermined volume (set value K1) is generated from the speaker 12.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S100 that the vehicle speed V of the vehicle 10 is not equal to or lower than the predetermined vehicle speed V1 (V ≦ V1), the process proceeds to S108, and the output of the operation signal to the speaker 12 is stopped. For this reason, generation | occurrence | production of the notification sound from the speaker 12 stops, and it returns to a start (it transfers to a return).

  In S102, if it is determined that the brake pedal 18 is not operated (depressed), the process proceeds to S110, the volume (set value K) of the speaker 12 is set to a predetermined volume (set value K1), and the operation signal is set. Output to the speaker 12. For this reason, a notification sound having a predetermined volume (set value K1) is generated from the speaker 12, and the process returns to the start.

  Furthermore, in S104, the sound volume (set value K) of the speaker 12 is not equal to the predetermined volume (set value K1), that is, the notification sound having a volume (set value K2) larger than the predetermined volume (set value K1) from the speaker 12. When it is determined that (K = K2) occurs, the process returns to the start.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control device 14 is based on the detection result of the vehicle speed sensor 16 that detects the vehicle speed V of the vehicle 10 and the detection result of the brake operation sensor 20 that detects the operation of the brake pedal 18 of the vehicle 10. A notification sound for reporting the approach of the vehicle 10 from the speaker 12 provided in the vehicle 10 to the outside of the vehicle is generated.

  That is, when the vehicle speed V is equal to or lower than the predetermined vehicle speed V1 and the brake pedal 18 is operating, the control device 14 sets the volume of the notification sound (set value K2) generated from the speaker 12 and the vehicle speed V is equal to the predetermined vehicle speed V1. In the following, it is set larger than the notification sound (predetermined volume: set value K1) when the brake pedal 18 is not operated. For this reason, while the vehicle speed V is equal to or less than the predetermined vehicle speed V1 and the brake pedal 18 is operating, the approach of the vehicle 10 can be notified to the pedestrian by the notification sound of a large volume (set value K2).

  As a result, in this embodiment, the magnitude of the driver's risk prediction that occurs in accordance with the danger situation ahead of the vehicle while traveling and the magnitude of the driver's hope that the pedestrian has been informed of the existence of the vehicle It is possible to control the notification sound to fit.

  As shown in the flowchart in FIG. 3, in the dressing device 14 of the present embodiment, in S200, it is determined whether or not the vehicle 10 has stopped, that is, whether or not the vehicle speed V has become zero.

  If it is determined in S200 that the vehicle 10 has stopped, that is, the vehicle speed V has become 0, the process proceeds to S202.

  In S202, it is determined whether or not the volume setting value K of the speaker 12 is the setting value K2.

  If it is determined in S202 that the volume setting value K of the speaker 12 is the setting value K2, the process proceeds to S204.

  In S <b> 204, the volume (set value K) of the speaker 12 is set to a predetermined volume (set value K <b> 1), and an operation signal is output to the speaker 12. For this reason, the notification sound of the setting value K1 having a small volume with a lower notification effect than the setting value K2 is generated from the speaker 12.

  If it is determined in S200 that the vehicle 10 is not stopped (the vehicle speed V is not 0), or if it is determined in S202 that the set value K of the volume of the speaker 12 is not the set value K2, the process starts. Return to.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, when the vehicle 10 stops, the noise around the vehicle due to the notification sound can be reduced by lowering the volume of the notification sound.

  In addition, when the vehicle 10 stops, generation | occurrence | production of the notification sound of the speaker 12 may be stopped, and you may make it prevent the noise when the vehicle 10 stops.

  In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the vehicle speed V of the vehicle 10 is detected by the vehicle speed sensor 16 as vehicle speed detection means. Instead, the vehicle speed V of the vehicle 10 is detected from an external signal such as GPS (global positioning system). May be.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the operation of the brake pedal 18 is detected by the brake operation sensor 20 as the brake operation detection means, but instead of this, the brake is detected by the movement of the brake pad or the braking signal of the in-vehicle computer, the vehicle external signal, etc. It is good also as a structure which detects the action | operation of.

  In the above embodiment, the volume of the notification sound (sound pressure level) is increased in order to enhance the notification effect of the notification sound. Instead, the frequency of the notification sound is increased, or the modulation rate of the sound pressure is increased. Or by adding a non-integer overtone to an integer overtone. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which changes the pronunciation range of notification sound.

It is the perspective view seen from the vehicle diagonal front which shows the vehicle to which the vehicle approach notification apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is applied. It is a flowchart which shows control of the vehicle approach notification apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows control of the vehicle approach notification apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Vehicle 12 Speaker (Notification sound generating means)
14 Control device (control means)
16 Vehicle speed sensor 18 Brake pedal 20 Brake operation sensor

Claims (6)

A notification sound generating means for generating a notification sound that is provided in the vehicle and reports the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle;
Control means for generating a predetermined notification sound from the notification sound generating means when the vehicle is below a predetermined vehicle speed;
A vehicle approach notification device characterized by comprising: A notification sound generating means for generating a notification sound that is provided in the vehicle and reports the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle;
Control means for generating a predetermined notification sound from the notification sound generating means when the brake of the vehicle is operating;
A vehicle approach notification device characterized by comprising: A notification sound generating means for generating a notification sound that is provided in the vehicle and reports the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle;
Control means for generating a predetermined notification sound from the notification sound generating means when the vehicle is operating at a speed below a predetermined vehicle speed; and
A vehicle approach notification device characterized by comprising: A notification sound generating means for generating a notification sound that is provided in the vehicle and reports the approach of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle;
When the vehicle is below a predetermined vehicle speed, the notification sound generating means generates a predetermined notification sound, and when the vehicle is braked below the predetermined vehicle speed, the notification sound generating means Control means for generating a notification sound having a higher notification effect than the predetermined notification sound;
A vehicle approach notification device characterized by comprising:   5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein when the vehicle stops, the notification sound generating device generates a notification sound having a lower notification effect than the predetermined notification sound. 6. The vehicle approach notification device as described.   5. The vehicle approach notification device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops generation of the notification sound from the notification sound generation unit when the vehicle stops. 6.

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