JP2009151641A - Vehicle warning system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle warning system allowing a general vehicle to avoid risk with a tramway vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: An onboard device 1 of a driven vehicle receives snow cover amount data of a surrounding area from a weather information center 19. The onboard device 1 receives position data of the tramway vehicle 24 from a road vehicle information center 20. A control device 2 of the onboard device 1 warns a driver of traveling a road on which a tramway is laid when detecting the snow cover of predetermined amount of more around an area detected by the position detector 3, where an own vehicle travels and when detecting that the own vehicle is traveling the road where the tramway is laid, and further warns the driver of the approach of the track vehicle 24 when detecting the approach of the track vehicle 24 to the own vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle warning system that detects the current location of a vehicle and notifies a driver of danger.

There has been a related art related to a vehicle warning device that detects the current location of a vehicle and notifies the driver of the presence of a nearby danger on a display (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This is the distance between the vehicle and the obstacle from the current position of the vehicle detected by the GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver mounted on the work vehicle and the position of the obstacle stored in the IC card. It calculates and detects the approach of the vehicle to the obstacle from the temporal change of this distance. Here, when the vehicle approaches the obstacle with an arrival time shorter than the avoidance time, an alarm is issued to alert the driver.
This makes it possible for the driver to know that the vehicle is rapidly approaching the obstacle even when it becomes difficult to see the obstacle due to snow on the ground surface, such as stopping or decelerating before the obstacle. Avoidance measures against obstacles can be taken.

  By the way, even in the case of a general vehicle traveling on a road where a road surface track is laid, the track line of the track is buried in the snow due to snow and the visibility deteriorates, and the vehicle travels on the track line without the driver's awareness. There may be. The above-described conventional technology cannot cope with the traveling environment of such a vehicle. That is, in the case of a general road vehicle, the vehicle speed is high and the travel distance is very large compared to a work vehicle that repeatedly travels in a relatively narrow area. Therefore, if the above prior art is applied to a general road vehicle as it is, an alarm will be issued to the driver continuously for a considerable driving time, and it is not realistic considering the fatigue on the driver. There wasn't.

In addition, if the driver of a general vehicle recognizes that the vehicle is traveling on a road with a road surface track laid, the road surface is always less than traveling on a track with poor visibility due to snow. In some cases, it is better to travel so as to avoid danger after visually confirming the actual tracked vehicle only when the tracked vehicle is approaching.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-38586

However, in the above-described prior art, no means for avoiding danger to the traveling road surface track vehicle has been provided.
This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, The objective is to provide the vehicle warning system which a general vehicle can avoid the danger with respect to a road surface track vehicle.

  According to the vehicle warning system of claim 1, a snow accumulation of a predetermined amount or more around the driving area of the driving vehicle is detected based on the received snow accumulation data, and the current location of the vehicle detected by the current location detection means is stored. Based on the map data, when it is detected that the driving vehicle is traveling on the road on which the road surface track is laid, the track vehicle may be approaching the driving vehicle based on the received track vehicle position data. When detected, the driver is warned of an approaching track vehicle. Accordingly, the driver can know the approach of the road surface track vehicle, and then can reliably avoid the danger after visually confirming the actual track vehicle.

  According to the vehicle warning system of the second aspect, a snow accumulation of a predetermined amount or more around the driving area of the driving vehicle is detected based on the received snow amount data, and is stored as the current location of the driving vehicle detected by the current location detecting means. When it is detected that the driving vehicle is traveling on a road with a road surface track based on the map data, the driver is warned that the vehicle is traveling on a road with a road surface track. To do. Thus, the driver can recognize that the vehicle is traveling on the road on which the road surface track is laid without the approach of the track vehicle, and can alert the driver before the track vehicle approaches.

  Hereinafter, the vehicle warning system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the vehicle warning system. The in-vehicle device 1 constituting the vehicle warning system is mounted on a general vehicle traveling on a road (corresponding to the driving vehicle of the present invention, hereinafter referred to as the vehicle or the host vehicle), and a control device 2 mainly composed of a microcomputer. A position detector 3 for detecting the current position of the vehicle, a map data input device 4, an operation switch group 5, an external memory 6, a display device 7 comprising a color liquid crystal display, a voice controller 8 to which a speaker 9 is connected, Wireless communication between a voice recognition device 10 that recognizes voice input from the microphone 11, a remote control sensor 12 that transmits and receives commands and the like with the remote controller 13, a weather information center 19 outside the vehicle, and a road surface vehicle information center 20. The communication module 14 transmits and receives data. In the present embodiment, the in-vehicle device 1 has a navigation function for the mounted vehicle.

  The position detector 3 corresponds to the present location detection means of the present invention, and includes a geomagnetic sensor 15 for detecting the vehicle direction, a gyroscope 16 for detecting the rotational angular velocity of the vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor 17 for detecting the vehicle speed from the number of rotations of the tire, an artificial It has a GPS receiver 18 for GPS (Global Positioning System) that detects (positions) the current position of a driving vehicle traveling on a road based on radio waves transmitted from a satellite. Each sensor 15-18 has an error with a different property. For this reason, the control device 2 detects the current position, traveling direction, speed, travel distance, current time, etc. of the vehicle with high accuracy by using the detected values of the sensors 15 to 18 while interpolating. Yes. Depending on the accuracy, the position detector 3 may be configured by only a part of the sensors 15 to 18 described above. Further, a steering rotation sensor, a wheel sensor of each rolling wheel, or the like may be used.

  The map data input device 4 corresponds to the map data storage means of the present invention, and road map data, landmark data, map matching data, destination data (facility database) formed by a number of nodes and links connecting the nodes, It comprises a drive device for reading data from a map data recording medium that records various data such as table data for converting traffic information into road data. In particular, in the present embodiment, road map data includes data on road surface tracks (road surface railroads), data that can identify whether or not each road is a road on which a road surface track is laid, and a road surface track. If it is a laid road, data on the laid section is included. As the map data recording medium, a large-capacity storage medium such as a DVD is generally used, but a medium such as a memory card or a hard disk device may be used.

  The operation switch group 5 that is an external operation means includes a mechanical switch provided near the screen of the display device 7 and a touch panel provided on the screen of the display device 7. The user uses this operation switch group 5 to change the destination of the vehicle, information necessary for searching for the destination (destination search conditions), and the screen and display mode of the display device 7 (map scale change, menu display selection). The vehicle-mounted device 1 can be operated by inputting various commands for performing route search, route guidance start, current position correction, volume adjustment, and the like. On the other hand, the remote controller 13 is provided with a plurality of operation switches, and various command signals are transmitted from the remote controller 13 to the control device 2 via the remote controller sensor 12 by the switch operation. Note that the operation switch group 5 and the remote controller 13 can cause the control device 2 to perform the same function by any operation.

  The external memory 6 is composed of a flash memory card or the like. The external memory 6 can store specific data, for example, data of a route through which the vehicle has passed. On the screen of the display device 7, a map around the position of the vehicle is displayed at various scales, and a current location mark (pointer) indicating the current position and the traveling direction of the vehicle is displayed superimposed on the display. In addition, a route guidance screen is displayed when route guidance to the destination is executed. Furthermore, the user inputs information necessary for searching for a destination, an input screen for searching and setting a destination, various messages, and informing the driver of the approach of a road track vehicle. Warnings etc. are also displayed.

  The voice recognition device 10 collates the voice inputted through the microphone 11 with the dictionary data for recognition stored therein, and recognizes the inputted voice. The voice controller 8 controls the voice recognition device 10 to output a voice recognition result to the control device 2, and the recognized voice is talkback output via the speaker 9. Further, an audio output signal is output to the speaker 9 based on an audio output command from the control device 2. The speaker 9 together with the display device 7 corresponds to the warning means of the present invention, and the voice to be output from now on is voice relating to route guidance, voice relating to operation explanation, voice notifying that the anti-theft function is operating, voice recognition Talkback sound according to the result, sound that warns the approach of the road track vehicle, and the like.

  The communication module 14 includes a DCM (Data Communication Module) receiver or an FM multiplex broadcast receiver (both not shown). The snow amount data and road surface received from the weather information center 19 and the road surface vehicle information center 20 are provided. The track vehicle position data of the track vehicle is provided to the control device 2.

  The microcomputer constituting the control device 2 includes a CPU, memory (RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory, etc.), I / O, and the like, and corresponds to the control means of the present invention. The control device 2 displays a road map around the current location on the screen of the display device 7 so as to be movable along the travel route, and superimposes a current location mark indicating the current position and traveling direction of the vehicle on the road map. indicate. In this case, the display of the current location moves on the map as the vehicle travels, and the map is scrolled according to the position of the vehicle. At this time, map matching is performed in which the current location of the vehicle is placed on the road. Further, the control device 2 forms a guide route for the vehicle to travel so as to connect the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detector 3 and the destination of the vehicle input by the operation switch group 5 or the remote controller 13. Is displayed on the display device 7.

  Next, configurations other than the in-vehicle device 1 will be described. The meteorological information center 19 is connected to weather stations 21 in various places by wire or wireless (in this embodiment, wire). The weather station 21 corresponds to the snow amount detecting means of the present invention, forms snow amount data from the measured snow amount, and transmits it to the weather information center 19.

  The road surface vehicle information center 20 includes a server 22 and a wireless terminal device 23. A road surface track vehicle 24 (corresponding to the track vehicle of the present invention, hereinafter referred to as a track vehicle in distinction from a vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle device 1) is a so-called streetcar, and a position detector 25 (similar to that of the in-vehicle device 1) (Corresponding to the track vehicle current position detecting means of the present invention) and a communication device (not shown). The road surface vehicle information center 20 can receive from the track vehicle 24 by the wireless terminal device 23, and receives the current position of the track vehicle 24 traveling on the road surface track detected by the position detector 25 as track vehicle position data. . The acquired track vehicle position data is temporarily stored in the server 22. The wireless terminal device 23 can also communicate with the communication module 14 of the in-vehicle device 1, and transmits the track vehicle position data stored in the server 22 to the communication module 14 in response to a request from the in-vehicle device 1.

  Next, based on FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the control method of the vehicle warning system by this embodiment is demonstrated. Note that the train in FIG. 2 represents the track vehicle 24. First, in step S201 shown in FIG. 2, the position detector 3 detects the current position of the host vehicle traveling on the road. Next, based on the detected current position of the vehicle, the control device 2 makes the weather information center 19 a snow cover amount based on a snow cover amount (snow cover height) measured at weather stations 21 around the vehicle travel region. Request data. The meteorological information center 19 transmits the snow coverage data of the requested area to the in-vehicle device 1 (step S202).

  The control device 2 that has received the snow cover amount data determines whether or not the snow cover amount around the traveling area is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount (for example, 20 cm or more) (step S203). A predetermined amount of snow accumulation as a reference for determination may be stored in the memory of the control device 2 from the beginning (set by default), or may be input by the driver during this control. When it is determined that the amount of snow in the vicinity of the travel area is less than the predetermined amount, this control flow ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the amount of snow in the vicinity of the traveling area is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount, the control device 2 uses the detected current position of the host vehicle to determine the periphery on the map near the host vehicle from the stored map data. Information is acquired (step S204).

  Based on the acquired surrounding information and the current position of the host vehicle, the control device 2 determines whether or not a road surface track is laid on the road on which the host vehicle is traveling (step S205). As shown in FIG. 3, when it is determined that the host vehicle 26 is traveling on a road 27 on which no road surface track is laid, this control flow ends. When it is determined that the vehicle 26 is traveling on the road 29 on which the road surface track 28 is laid (when it is determined that the vehicle 26 has entered the road on which the road surface track 28 is laid (point A in FIG. 3) )), The control device 2 transmits a travel warning signal to the display device 7 and the speaker 9. The display device 7 that has received the travel warning signal displays an image to warn the driver that the vehicle 26 is traveling on the road 29 on which the road surface track 28 is laid. Further, the speaker 9 that has received the travel warning signal emits a voice to warn the driver that the vehicle 26 is traveling on the road 29 on which the road surface track 28 is laid (step). S206).

  Next, the control device 2 requests the road surface vehicle information center 20 for track vehicle position data indicating the position of the track vehicle 24 on the road surface track laid on the road on which the host vehicle is traveling. The road surface vehicle information center 20 transmits the track vehicle position data of the requested road surface track route stored in the server 22 to the in-vehicle device 1 (step S207).

  The control device 2 that has received the track vehicle position data determines whether or not the track vehicle 24 approaches the host vehicle within a predetermined distance based on the track vehicle position data and the current position of the host vehicle ( Step S208). When it is determined that the tracked vehicle has not approached the host vehicle within a predetermined distance, the process proceeds to step S210. When it is determined that the track vehicle is approaching the host vehicle within a predetermined distance, the control device 2 transmits an approach warning signal to the display device 7 and the speaker 9.

  Receiving the approach warning signal, the display device 7 displays an image and warns the driver that the track vehicle 24 is approaching the host vehicle. In addition, the speaker 9 that has received the travel warning signal emits a sound to warn the driver that the track vehicle 24 is approaching the host vehicle and alert the driver (step S209).

  Thereafter, the current position of the vehicle is detected again by the position detector 3 (step S210), and based on the detection result, it is determined whether or not the own vehicle has left the road on which the road surface track is laid (step S211). As shown in FIG. 3, when it is determined that the vehicle 26 has deviated from the road 29 on which the road surface track 28 is laid (point B in FIG. 3), the control device 2 transmits to the display device 7 and the speaker 9. Stop the running warning signal. The display device 7 in which the travel warning signal is stopped displays an image to inform the driver that the vehicle 26 has left the road 29 on which the road surface track 28 is laid. In addition, the speaker 9 whose traveling warning signal has been stopped emits a sound and informs the driver that the vehicle 26 has left the road 29 on which the road surface track 28 is laid, and then the control flow ends. (Step S212). On the other hand, when it is determined that the vehicle 26 has not deviated from the road 29 on which the road surface track 28 is laid, the process returns to step S202, and the amount of snow accumulation (snow height) is acquired again.

  As shown in step S208, on the basis of the track vehicle position data and the current position of the host vehicle, the control device 2 determines whether or not the track vehicle approaches the host vehicle. If it is in the section L located between the point B and the point B, it is continuously performed. Further, the warning that the vehicle 26 is traveling on the road 29 on which the road surface track 28 is laid by the display device 7 and the speaker 9 is continuously given while the host vehicle is in the section L shown in FIG. Also good.

  According to the present embodiment, the current location of the vehicle detected by the position detector 3 is detected by the position detector 3 based on the amount of snow data received from the weather information center 19 and detecting a snow accumulation of a predetermined amount or more around the traveling area of the vehicle traveling on the road. And the map data based on the track vehicle position data received from the server 22 of the road surface vehicle information center 20 when it is detected that the vehicle traveling on the road is traveling on the road on which the road surface track is laid. When it is detected that the track vehicle 24 is approaching a vehicle traveling on the road, the driver is warned of the approach of the track vehicle 24. As a result, the driver can know the approach of the road surface track vehicle 24, and then, after confirming the actual track vehicle 24 visually, the driver can reliably avoid danger.

  Further, based on the snow cover data received from the weather information center 19, a snow cover of a predetermined amount or more around the travel area of the vehicle traveling on the road is detected, and the current location of the vehicle traveling on the road detected by the position detector 3 is detected. Based on the stored map data, when it is detected that the vehicle traveling on the road is traveling on the road on which the road surface track is laid, the driver is traveling on the road on which the road surface track is laid Be warned. Thus, the driver can recognize that the road surface is laid on the road where the track vehicle 24 is not approaching, and can alert the driver before the track vehicle 24 approaches. .

  In addition, road map data includes data on road surface tracks, data that can identify whether each road is a road on which a road surface track is laid, and if it is a road on which a road surface track is laid, the laying section Therefore, it is possible to save the driver from having to store data related to the road surface track line in a storage medium such as an IC card.

<Other embodiments>
The vehicle warning system of the present invention does not necessarily have a navigation function such as route guidance for the vehicle.
The snow cover data may be transmitted directly from the weather station 21 to the driving vehicle without going through the weather information center 19.
Further, the track vehicle position data may be transmitted directly from the position detector 25 of the track vehicle 24 to the driving vehicle without using the server 22.

Even if the weather station 21 is an existing one, a facility for measuring the amount of snow and transmitting the amount of snow data may be newly provided.
The warning for the driver may be performed using only one of the display device 7 and the speaker 9.
The functions of the center 19 and the server 22 may be provided in a single information center.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the vehicle warning system by this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the control method of the vehicle-mounted apparatus by a control apparatus Simplified diagram for explaining the warning method for the driver

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 2 is a control device (control means), 3 is a position detector (current location detection means), 4 is a map data input device (map data storage means), 7 is a display device (warning means), and 9 is a speaker (warning). Means), 21 is a weather station (snow cover detection means), 24 is a road surface track vehicle (track vehicle), 25 is a position detector (track vehicle current location detection means), 26 is the own vehicle (driving vehicle), and 28 is a road surface track. Show.

Claims (2)

Current location detection means for detecting the current position of the driving vehicle traveling on the road;
Map data storage means for storing map data capable of identifying whether each road is a road on which a road surface track is laid,
A snow amount detecting means for detecting a snow amount around a traveling area of the driving vehicle and transmitting snow amount data;
A track vehicle current position detecting means for detecting a current position of a track vehicle traveling on a road surface track and transmitting track vehicle position data;
On the basis of the current location of the driving vehicle detected by the current location detection means and the stored map data based on the received snow coverage data, a snow accumulation of a predetermined amount or more around the driving region of the driving vehicle is detected. When it is detected that the vehicle is traveling on a road on which a road surface track is laid, the vehicle approaches when it is detected that the track vehicle is approaching the driving vehicle based on the received track vehicle position data. Control means for transmitting a warning signal;
A vehicle warning system comprising warning means for receiving an approach warning signal from the control means and warning the driver that the track vehicle is approaching. On the basis of the current location of the driving vehicle detected by the current location detection means and the stored map data based on the received snow coverage data, a snow accumulation of a predetermined amount or more around the driving region of the driving vehicle is detected. When it is detected that the vehicle is traveling on a road on which a road surface track is laid, the control means transmits a travel warning signal to the warning means,
2. The vehicle warning according to claim 1, wherein the warning means receives a driving warning signal from the control means and warns the driver that the vehicle is traveling on a road on which a road surface track is laid. system.

Images