JP2008239071A - Driving management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a driving management device appropriately authorizing a driver to drive. <P>SOLUTION: This driving management device (1) is provided with: a passenger detecting means (10) detecting the presence of a passenger being an occupant other than the driver; an authorized state selecting means (20) selecting any of a first state to authorize the driver to drive and a second state not to authorize the driver to drive; and a driving suppressing means suppressing driving of the driver. When the passenger detecting means detects the presence of the passenger and the authorized state selecting means selects the first state, the operation of the driving suppressing means is canceled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a driving management device that performs driving permission control of a vehicle based on a predetermined operation of a passenger.

Conventionally, the detection driver checks the expiration alcohol concentration at regular intervals, and if the driver fails to perform the check action, a warning message is output and a notification is sent to the center. An invention relating to a remote monitoring control system that performs remote control such as outputting a warning message or stopping a vehicle when there is a case is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-148950 A

  However, in the above-described conventional system, depending on the setting of a certain time, the alcohol concentration must be frequently checked, and equipment for checking the alcohol concentration is frequently used, which increases the burden of maintenance. .

  The present invention is for solving such problems, and a main object thereof is to provide an operation management apparatus capable of appropriately giving a driver permission for driving.

  The first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object shows that passenger detection means for detecting the presence of a passenger who is an occupant other than the driver and that the driver is allowed to drive by the passenger. The first state and the second state indicating that the driver's driving is not permitted, the permission state selecting means capable of selecting either one, and the driving suppressing means for suppressing the driving of the driver, When the presence of a passenger is detected by the passenger detection means and the first state is selected by the permission state selection means, the operation management device releases the operation of the driving suppression means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a passenger is present and the passenger has selected the first state indicating that the driver's driving is permitted in the permission state selecting means, the driving is performed. The operation of the suppression means is released. Therefore, the driver can drive without any particular restriction. As a result, driving permission can be appropriately given to the driver.

  A second aspect of the present invention is passenger detection means for detecting the presence of a passenger who is an occupant other than the driver, and a plurality of permission state selection means provided corresponding to the passenger, the driver A plurality of permission state selection means capable of selecting any one of a first state indicating permission of driving and a second state indicating not permitting driving of the driver, and driving of the driver Driving restraint means for suppressing, the permission state selection means provided corresponding to the passenger whose presence is detected by the passenger detection means and detected by the passenger detection means When the first state is selected in all, the operation management device releases the operation of the operation suppressing means.

  In the first or second aspect of the present invention, the driving suppression means may be a means for starting operation when the vehicle is started, or a driver change is detected by a change detection means for detecting a driver change. It may be a means for starting operation when it is done. Further, it may be a means for starting the operation when the change of the driver is detected at the start of the vehicle and by the change detection means for detecting the change of the driver.

  Further, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the vehicle is provided with driver state determination means for determining whether or not the driver is in a state suitable for driving, and when the driving suppression means is operating, When it is determined by the driver state determination unit that the driver is in a state suitable for driving, the operation of the driving suppression unit may be canceled.

  In the first or second aspect of the present invention, there is provided information notifying means for notifying the driver of information, and the permission state selecting means is changed from the first state to the second state while the vehicle is traveling. In such a case, the information notifying means may notify the driver that the passenger does not permit driving, and the driving restraining means may be activated when the vehicle continues to travel.

  In the first or second aspect of the present invention, the vehicle behavior detection means for detecting the vehicle behavior is provided, and the vehicle behavior detection means detects a predetermined error when the passenger detection means detects the presence of the passenger. When a stable vehicle behavior is detected, the passenger may be prompted to select a state in the permission state selection unit.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the driving | operation management apparatus which can give a driving | operation permission appropriately to a driver | operator can be provided.

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

  Hereinafter, the operation management device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the operation management apparatus 1. The driving management device 1 includes, as main components, a passenger detection device 10, a driving permission switch 20, an alcohol inspection device 30, a vehicle speed sensor 40, a vehicle behavior detection sensor 42, an ignition switch 44, an engine. A control computer 50, an HMI (Human Machine Interface) 60, and an operation management device ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 70 are provided. In addition, the arrow in a figure shows the flow of the main information communication performed using appropriate communication protocols, such as CAN (Controller Area Network), BEAN, AVC-LAN, and FlexRay.

  The passenger detection device 10 is a device for detecting the presence / absence of a passenger who is an occupant other than the driver (in this embodiment, a person seated in the passenger seat). A device or the like is used. As the seating sensor, a pressure sensor such as a strain gauge, a load cell, a diaphragm, or a bellows disposed on the seating surface of the seat is used. In this case, the pressure generated when the passenger sits on the seat is output to the operation management device ECU 70, and the presence or absence of the passenger is determined by comparing the pressure with the threshold in the operation management device ECU 70. . In addition, when an in-vehicle camera device is used, a camera using an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) disposed around the rearview mirror, Includes an image analysis device for determining the presence or absence. The output value of the passenger detection device 10 is output to the operation management device ECU 70. In addition, the passenger detection device 10 includes a seat belt buckle switch, and when a passenger is present when detecting that the seat belt is in an on state, such as the switch being on, the passenger is present. You may judge. Further, the presence or absence of a passenger may be determined by combining the above means, or the presence or absence of a passenger may be determined by another method.

  The driving permission switch 20 is arranged around the passenger seat, for example, and is configured to allow the passenger to select whether or not to allow the driver to drive by switching operation of the passenger seated on the passenger seat. (Hereinafter, a state in which the driving permission switch 20 is selected to permit driving is referred to as a driving permission state, and a state in which driving is not permitted is referred to as a driving non-permission state). The operation permission switch 20 may be a GUI (Graphical User Interface; soft switch) set on a touch panel (a part of the HMI 60 described later may be shared), or a mechanical switch. Also good. When the vehicle is started, the driving permission switch 20 is controlled to be in a driving non-permitted state as an initial state. The state of the operation permission switch 20 is output to the operation management device ECU 70 as a state signal.

  The operation permission switch 20 is not limited to transmitting a status signal, and may be a switch that transmits an operation signal only when it is operated. In this case, whether the operation is permitted or not is managed by setting a flag value on the memory in the operation management device ECU 70 to which the operation signal from the operation permission switch 20 is input. .

  It is also desirable to confirm that the driver has not operated the driving permission switch 20 by taking an image of a passenger who operates the driving permission switch 20.

  The alcohol testing device 30 is, for example, a device that can detect the alcohol concentration contained in the driver's breath, and includes a breath blowing port and a test sensor. The driver's exhaled air that has been blown into the exhalation port is supplied to the inspection sensor through a dedicated channel. The test sensor includes, for example, a pressure sensor and a humidity sensor for confirming that human exhalation is actually blown, and an alcohol gas sensor for detecting the alcohol concentration in the exhalation. The output value of the inspection sensor is output to the operation management device ECU 70 via an analog / digital converter or the like. The alcohol testing device 30 is not limited to the device that detects the alcohol concentration in exhaled breath, and may be a device that detects a saliva alcohol concentration, a blood alcohol concentration, a sweat alcohol concentration, or the like.

  The vehicle speed sensor 40 includes, for example, a wheel speed sensor and a skid control computer attached to each wheel, and the skid control computer converts a wheel speed pulse signal output from the wheel speed sensor into a vehicle speed rectangular wave pulse signal (vehicle speed signal). To the ECU 70 for operation management device.

  The vehicle behavior detection sensor 42 includes, for example, a yaw rate sensor, a G sensor, a radar sensor for detecting an inter-vehicle distance, and the like. The output values of these sensors are output to the operation management device ECU 70. The lane keeping control device may serve as the vehicle behavior detection sensor 42. Here, the lane keeping control device refers to steering so that the own vehicle can travel while maintaining the traveling lane by deriving the positional relationship between the own vehicle and the traveling lane by analyzing a captured image of a camera that images the front of the vehicle. It is a control device that performs intervention control on the device or issues a warning by voice or the like.

  The ignition switch 44 outputs an ignition ON signal as a vehicle start request signal and an ACC ON signal as a vehicle system start signal to the operation management device ECU 70 in accordance with the driver's vehicle start operation.

  The engine control computer 50 is a computer unit in which, for example, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like are connected to each other via a bus, and other storage media such as an HDD (Hard Disc Drive) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). And I / O ports, timers, counters, etc. The ROM stores programs and data executed by the CPU. The engine control computer 50 centrally controls a throttle motor, an igniter, a starter motor, a transmission, and the like.

  As the HMI 60, for example, a liquid crystal display device configured as a touch panel, a speaker for sound input / output, a buzzer, or the like is used. The output content of the HMI 60 is determined by the operation management device ECU 70, and the input made to the HMI 60 is output to the operation management device ECU 70. As described above, the liquid crystal display device configured as a touch panel may also function as the operation permission switch 20.

  The ECU 70 for operation management device is a computer unit having the same hardware configuration as the engine control computer 50, for example. The operation management device ECU 70 performs control such as determination of permission or non-permission of vehicle travel, warning and notification to the driver and passengers based on information input from the above-described components. This will be described below.

[Contents of control]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a flow of characteristic processing executed by the ECU 70 for operation management device.

  First, the operation management device ECU 70 determines whether or not it is the time of starting the vehicle (S100). Here, when the vehicle is started, for example, a period from when the ACC on signal is input from the ignition switch 44 to when the engine is first started.

  If it is determined that the vehicle is in a starting state, a travel non-permission state in which the travel of the vehicle is not permitted is set (S102). That is, an ignition on signal is transmitted from the ignition switch 44 and the engine control computer 50 is not instructed to start the engine. It should be noted that it is preferable to set a flag value in a predetermined area such as the RAM of the operation management device ECU 70 in order to discriminate between the travel permission state and the travel disapproval state.

  And it is determined with reference to the vehicle speed signal input from the vehicle speed sensor 40 whether the vehicle is drive | working (S104).

[Control when the vehicle is stopped]
If it is determined in S104 that the vehicle is not running, the following control when the vehicle is stopped is performed.

  First, it is determined whether or not it is already in a travel permission state in the process of S112 described later (S106). If it is in the travel permission state, one routine of this flow is terminated without performing any processing. Accordingly, the driver can start the engine at a desired timing if the engine has not been started, and can drive the vehicle.

  When it is not in the travel permission state, the data input from the passenger detection device 10 is referred to determine whether or not a passenger is present (S108), and then the state signal from the driving permission switch 20 is determined. It is determined whether or not indicates a driving permission state (S110).

  If a passenger is present and the vehicle is in a driving-permitted state, a travel-permitted state for allowing the vehicle to travel is set (S112). That is, if the engine has not been started, the engine control computer 50 is instructed to start the engine by driving the starter motor when the ignition on signal is transmitted from the ignition switch 44, and the engine has already been started. In that case, no special processing is performed. This process corresponds to “release the operation of the operation suppressing means” in the claims.

  Thus, when a passenger is present and the passenger has set the driving permission switch 20 in the driving permission state, it is presumed that it is determined that the driver may leave the driving as the passenger's intention. For this reason, it is considered that the vehicle may be permitted to travel without undergoing the inspection by the alcohol inspection device 30. According to the road traffic law in recent years, a predetermined penalty is imposed on the passenger when drunk driving is performed. Therefore, the driving permission of the passenger is made under a certain responsibility. Therefore, it is considered that the driver's driving permission can be a sufficient basis for the device to give the vehicle driving permission.

  Accordingly, it is considered that the driver's driving permission can be a sufficient basis for this device to give the vehicle driving permission, and can be used in place of the alcohol testing device 30. Maintenance burden can be reduced.

  On the other hand, if no passenger is present or the vehicle is not permitted to drive, the driver is urged to use the HMI 60 to receive an alcohol test by the alcohol testing device 30 (S114).

  As a result, when an alcohol test is performed by the driver, it is determined whether or not the driver is in a drinking state by comparing the detected alcohol concentration with a threshold value (S116). If it is determined that the alcohol concentration is less than the predetermined value, the travel permission state is set (S112), and one routine of this flow is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the person is in a drunk state, the traveling non-permission state is maintained (S118), and one routine of this flow is terminated.

  As a result, if it has not been determined that it is possible to leave the driver to the driver as the passenger's intention, an appropriate inspection is performed using the alcohol inspection device 30 and confirmation is made that the person is not in a drinking state. Only when it is obtained, traveling is permitted. Therefore, drunk driving can be prevented appropriately.

[Control during vehicle travel]
On the other hand, when it is determined in S104 that the vehicle is traveling, the following control during vehicle traveling is performed.

  First, with reference to the output value of the vehicle behavior detection sensor 42, it is determined whether or not a predetermined unstable vehicle behavior has been detected (S120). Here, whether or not a predetermined unstable vehicle behavior is detected is determined when, for example, a yaw rate or acceleration greater than a predetermined value is measured a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, or when the inter-vehicle distance is not stable. It is determined that the unstable vehicle behavior is detected. Further, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be determined that a predetermined unstable vehicle behavior is detected by another method.

  In addition, as described above, when the lane keeping control device plays the role of the vehicle behavior detection sensor 42, for example, when a lane departure warning that outputs an alarm when the vehicle departs from the lane is output to the driver, It may be determined that an unstable vehicle behavior has been detected. Thus, not only when the vehicle behavior is directly detected, but indirectly according to the operating state of the control device that detects unstable vehicle behavior and performs some driving support control, such as a lane keeping control device. It may be determined that a predetermined unstable vehicle behavior has been detected.

  When a predetermined unstable vehicle behavior is detected, the passenger is prompted to operate the driving permission switch 20 again using the HMI 60 (S122). When a predetermined unstable vehicle behavior is detected, the driver may not be in a drinking state or other suitable state for driving. Therefore, it is intended to prompt the passenger to reconfirm the driver's condition.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the driving permission switch 20 has been changed from the driving permission state to the driving disapproval state (S124). Strictly speaking, this determination may determine whether or not the driving permission switch 20 has been changed from the driving permission state to the driving disapproval state within the past predetermined time.

  When the driving permission switch 20 is not changed from the driving permission state to the driving non-permission state, no processing is performed and one routine of this flow is terminated.

  When the driving permission switch 20 is changed from the driving permission state to the driving non-permission state, a stop request is output to the driver using the HMI 60 (S126). Here, the stop request includes, for example, notifying that the driving permission switch 20 has been changed from the driving permission state to the driving disapproval state. If a stop is confirmed within the predetermined time T1 with reference to the output value of the vehicle speed sensor 40 (S128, S130), the travel is not permitted (S132), and one routine of this flow is terminated. Thereafter, the control proceeds to the above-described control at the time of stopping, and permission or non-permission of traveling is determined again.

  If the stop is not confirmed with reference to the output value of the vehicle speed sensor 40 within the predetermined time T1 (S128, S130), after the driving is restricted, the vehicle is gradually stopped to make it not allowed to run. (S134). Here, “driving restriction” means, for example, increasing the amplification factor of the brake actuator, lowering the increase rate of the throttle opening with respect to the increase of the accelerator opening, lowering the warning threshold of the lane departure warning or the collision warning, For example, limiting the air conditioner and taking out cold air from the air conditioner can be considered. Thereafter, the control proceeds to the above-described control at the time of stopping, and permission or non-permission of traveling is determined again.

  With these controls, the passenger decided that he / she could leave it to the driver once (for example, it was unclear whether the driver had a hangover or poor physical condition or was in a drinking state). If it is determined that the state is not suitable for driving or other driving conditions, the driver can be informed and the vehicle can be stopped gradually.

  According to the driving management apparatus 1 of the present embodiment described above, driving permission can be appropriately given to the driver based on the judgment of the passenger. Moreover, a driver | operator can be subjected to an alcohol test as needed, and drunk driving can be prevented appropriately.

  In addition, the process of S102, S114, S118, S132, S134 in a present Example is equivalent to "suppressing a driver | operator's driving | operation" in a claim.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. And substitutions can be added.

  For example, the passenger detection device 10 can detect the presence / absence of a passenger sitting in each seat other than the driver's seat, and a plurality of driving permission switches 20 are provided corresponding to each passenger. It may be a configuration. That is, for the passenger detection device 10, an in-vehicle camera device (a wide-angle one or a plurality of cameras) capable of attaching a seating sensor to each seat or imaging all seats in the vehicle interior. To supplement the imaging range). As for the driving permission switch 20, for example, a GUI or mechanical switch may be attached to the door side console of each seat, or provided in one place (one screen in the case of a GUI switch). Also good. In this case, the determination in S110 is “determining whether or not the status signals from all the driving permission switches 20 corresponding to the passengers whose existence has been confirmed by the passenger detecting device 10 indicate the driving permission state. Is replaced by That is, when all of the passengers whose existence has been confirmed express their intention to permit driving, the traveling permission state is set.

  Moreover, although the alcohol test | inspection apparatus 30 was illustrated as a specific example of the apparatus which determines "whether it is a state suitable for driving | operating" in a claim, it replaces with this and uses the apparatus which performs a certain conformity inspection. May be. For example, the name of “CRT driving aptitude tester” etc. is equivalent to or equivalent to the driving simulator introduced in the driving license test site etc. This means that inspection is performed to check aptitude factors necessary for operation such as the speed of reaction operation and the certainty of operation. Moreover, the thing which repeats a number using HMI60, the thing which performs a simple calculation, etc. may be used.

  Further, instead of the determination of S100, whether or not “whether or not a driver change is detected” or “at the start of the vehicle and a driver change is detected” is satisfied. It is good also as a thing which determines "" (it is the same also in FIG. 3, 4 mentioned later). The driver change can be determined by using a seating sensor, a vehicle interior camera device that images the driver's seat, a seat belt buckle switch, a door courtesy switch, and the like, in the same manner as determining the presence or absence of a passenger. For example, when different weights are detected by the seating sensor, when different face images are taken by the in-vehicle camera device, when the seat belt buckle switch is switched from the on state to the off state (or vice versa), the door courtesy switch When it is detected that the door has been opened (or closed), the change of the driver may be detected. In this case, since the change of the driver may be detected in a state where the engine is started, the process of S102 is “if the engine is not started, an ignition on signal is transmitted from the ignition switch 44 to control the engine. Instead of instructing the computer 50 to start the engine, if the engine has already been started, the engine control computer 50 is instructed to stop it. "

  Moreover, you may comprise as what does not include the alcohol test | inspection apparatus 30. FIG. In this case, S114 and S116 are omitted, and if it is determined in S108 that no passenger is present, traveling may be permitted (see FIG. 3) or not permitted (see FIG. 4). . In this way, the cost required for the entire apparatus can be reduced, and the installation space can be reduced. Moreover, the maintenance burden of the alcohol testing device 30 can be eliminated.

  Further, it is possible to omit the control when the vehicle is running and perform only the control when the vehicle is stopped.

  Further, the control in consideration of the vehicle behavior is not performed, and therefore the processes of S120 and S122 may be omitted. In this case, the vehicle behavior detection sensor 42 is not an essential configuration.

  In addition, although it has been illustrated that the vehicle is prohibited from traveling in S102, S118, S132, and S134, some driving restriction may be performed without performing the prohibition of traveling. For example, alarm output, notification outside the vehicle by wireless communication (including notification to the police), driving restriction exemplified in S134, and the like may be performed.

  Even when the vehicle is prohibited from traveling, it is not limited to permitting / disapproving the engine start, but the control for fixing the shift position to a shift position other than the traveling position, the parking brake, and the brake device Automatic operation, steering lock, etc. may be performed.

  The present invention can be used in the automobile manufacturing industry, the automobile parts manufacturing industry, and the like.

It is a figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the operation management apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the characteristic process which ECU70 for operation management apparatuses performs. It is another example of the flowchart which shows the flow of the characteristic process which ECU70 for operation management apparatuses performs. It is another example of the flowchart which shows the flow of the characteristic process which ECU70 for operation management apparatuses performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation management apparatus 10 Passenger detection apparatus 20 Operation permission switch 30 Alcohol inspection apparatus 40 Vehicle speed sensor 45 Ignition switch 50 Engine control computer 60 HMI
70 ECU for operation management device

Claims (7)

Passenger detection means for detecting the presence of a passenger other than the driver,
Permission state selection means capable of selecting one of a first state indicating that the driver is allowed to drive and a second state indicating that the driver is not permitted to drive; ,
Driving suppression means for suppressing the driving of the driver,
When the passenger detection means detects the presence of the passenger and the permission state selection means selects the first state, the operation of the driving suppression means is canceled. Management device. Passenger detection means for detecting the presence of a passenger other than the driver,
A plurality of permission state selection means provided corresponding to the passenger, a first state indicating that the driver is allowed to drive, and a second state indicating that the driver is not permitted to drive. A plurality of permission state selection means capable of selecting any one of the states of
Driving suppression means for suppressing the driving of the driver,
In all of the permission state selection means provided corresponding to the passengers whose presence is detected by the passenger detection means and whose presence is detected by the passenger detection means. When the state is selected, the operation control device releases the operation of the operation suppressing means. The operation management device according to claim 1 or 2,
The driving control unit is a driving management device that is a unit that starts operation when the vehicle is started. The operation management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
It is equipped with a change detection means to detect the driver change,
The driving control unit is a driving management device, which is a unit that starts an operation when a change of a driver is detected by the change detection unit. The operation management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Comprising a driver state determination means for determining whether or not the driver is in a state suitable for driving;
When the driving suppression means is operating, if the driver state determination means determines that the driver is in a state suitable for driving, the operation of the driving suppression means is canceled. An operation management device characterized by that. The operation management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Comprising information notifying means for notifying the driver of information;
When the permission state selecting means is changed from the first state to the second state while the vehicle is traveling, the information notifying means notifies the driver that the passenger does not permit driving. And the driving | running | working management apparatus characterized by operating the said driving | running | working suppression means, when driving | running | working of a vehicle is continued after that. The operation management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Vehicle behavior detection means for detecting the vehicle behavior,
In a state where the presence of the passenger is detected by the passenger detection means, when a predetermined unstable vehicle behavior is detected by the vehicle behavior detection means, the passenger selects a state in the permission state selection means. An operation management device characterized by prompting.

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