JP2009181472A - Danger information processing apparatus for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a danger information processing apparatus for vehicle, sharing necessary danger information between vehicles. <P>SOLUTION: The danger information processing apparatus (1) includes: a vehicle state detection means (10) for detecting the state of the vehicle; a dangerous state determining means (62) for determining whether the vehicle is placed in a dangerous state which is included in a plurality of dangerous state classifications determined beforehand based on the detection result by the vehicle state detection means; a radio communication means (20); and a communication control means (64) for controlling the radio communication means so that the prescribed danger information is transmitted outside the vehicle in a transmitting region according to the dangerous state which the vehicle is determined to be in, when determination is made that the vehicle is placed in the dangerous state which is included in a plurality of the dangerous state classifications determined beforehand by the dangerous state determining means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle danger information processing apparatus that performs wireless communication for sharing danger information collected in vehicles between vehicles.

  In recent years, various data (current position, speed, weather, etc.) acquired by in-vehicle devices, etc. are transmitted from a plurality of vehicles, collected at an information center and managed by adding statistical processing, etc. A system that provides a vehicle or the like as service information is referred to as a probe information system or the like and is put into practical use. It is naturally assumed that information handled in such an information sharing system is not limited to traffic jam information or the like but includes dangerous information such as accident information, for example.

As an example thereof, there is disclosed an invention relating to a dangerous part information display device that displays information on risk factors in a dangerous part when the vehicle passes through the dangerous part recorded in the dangerous part database (for example, , See Patent Document 1). In this apparatus, a dangerous location is specified based on biological reaction data, vehicle operation data, and the like measured in the host vehicle, and information regarding the dangerous location is shared between vehicles by wireless communication via the center.
JP 2007-51973 A

  However, since the conventional apparatus does not consider the transmission range when distributing information through the center, unnecessary information may be distributed to the vehicle, resulting in an increase in communication volume. Also, if unnecessary information is distributed excessively, the driver gets used to the information and may not pay attention when passing through a truly dangerous place.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle risk information processing apparatus that can share necessary danger information between vehicles.

In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment of the present invention provides:
Vehicle state detection means for detecting the vehicle state;
Based on the detection result of the vehicle state detection unit, a dangerous state determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle is placed in a dangerous state included in a plurality of predetermined dangerous state classifications;
Wireless communication means;
When it is determined by the dangerous state determination means that the vehicle is placed in a dangerous state included in a plurality of predetermined dangerous state classifications, the dangerous state determined that the vehicle is placed Communication control means for controlling the wireless communication means so as to transmit predetermined danger information outside the vehicle within a transmission range;
It is a danger information processing device for vehicles provided with.

  In the present invention, the “vehicle state” refers to a vehicle driving state detected by a vehicle speed sensor or a G sensor, a driving operation state detected by an accelerator opening sensor or a steering angle sensor, and an airbag operating state. It includes a wide range of in-vehicle device operating states detected by detection sensors.

  According to this aspect of the present invention, in order to transmit the predetermined danger information outside the vehicle in the transmission range corresponding to the dangerous state where it is determined that the vehicle is placed, according to the dangerous state where the vehicle is placed, Information is transmitted only to vehicles that should transmit the state. As a result, the vehicle on the information receiving side increases the amount of communication by receiving unnecessary information, and the driver gets used to the information and does not pay attention when passing through a truly dangerous place. Can be prevented. Therefore, necessary danger information can be shared between vehicles and used for safe driving.

In one embodiment of the present invention,
The communication control unit determines that the vehicle is placed when it is determined by the dangerous state determination unit that the vehicle is placed in a dangerous state included in a plurality of predetermined dangerous state classifications. Further, the wireless communication unit may be a unit that controls the wireless communication unit to transmit predetermined danger information to a vehicle that exists within a transmission range corresponding to the dangerous state.

In one embodiment of the present invention,
The predetermined danger information may include a danger state in which it is determined that the vehicle is placed by the danger state determination means.

in this case,
When the wireless communication means receives the predetermined danger information from another vehicle, a warning may be given to an occupant based on the dangerous state included in the predetermined danger information.
When the wireless communication means receives the predetermined danger information from another vehicle, the predetermined danger information is transferred to the other vehicle based on a dangerous state included in the predetermined danger information. It is good.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the dangerous information processing apparatus for vehicles which can share required danger information between vehicles can be provided.

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

  Hereinafter, a vehicle risk information processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The vehicle risk information processing device 1 is a device that is mounted on a plurality of vehicles so that it can share danger information between the vehicles on which the vehicle is mounted and warn the driver. Hereinafter, the vehicle risk information processing apparatus 1 mounted on one of the plurality of vehicles will be described.

[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of the vehicle risk information processing apparatus 1. The vehicle risk information processing apparatus 1 includes, as main components, a vehicle state detection sensor 10, a wireless communication device 20, a navigation device 30, a storage device 40, a warning device 50, and a control device 60. Prepare.

  The vehicle state detection sensor 10 is, for example, an obstacle detection sensor such as a radar device or a stereo camera device, a vehicle speed sensor, a G sensor, an accelerator opening sensor, a steering steering angle sensor, a master pressure sensor (brake pedaling amount sensor), It includes a sensor for detecting the operating state of an air bag, an ABS (Antilock Brake System) operating state detecting sensor, a sensor for detecting a contact, etc., and detects the vehicle state that is used as a basis for determining whether the vehicle is in various dangerous states. To the control device 60. In the present invention, the “vehicle state” means a vehicle operating state detected by a vehicle speed sensor or a G sensor, a driving operation state detected by an accelerator opening sensor or a steering angle sensor, and an airbag operating state detection. It includes a wide range of operating states of in-vehicle devices detected by sensors and the like.

  The radio communication device 20 is a device for performing radio communication with a vehicle existing in a desired direction and distance using, for example, a radio wave or an optical beacon as a carrier wave. The front array antenna 22, A rear array antenna 24 and an antenna control device 26 are provided. The front array antenna 22 is disposed, for example, on a front grill of a vehicle. The rear array antenna 24 is disposed, for example, around the license plate of the vehicle. The antenna control device 26 includes a circulator, a power distributor, a phase shifter, a power amplifier, and the like, amplifies the signal input from the control device 60, and outputs the amplified signal to the front array antenna 22 and / or the rear array antenna 24. To do. In addition, a signal received via the front array antenna 22 or the rear array antenna 24 is demodulated and output to the control device 60.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communicable area by each array antenna. Note that the wireless communication device 20 may further include a side array antenna, and each array antenna may include a swing mechanism for expanding a communicable direction.

  Further, the wireless communication device 20 may include a device that communicates with an information center (exterior facility) via a wireless base station by a radio network or a wireless LAN network of a mobile phone.

  The navigation device 30 is a well-known navigation device that performs route guidance, and includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 32, a memory 34 that stores map data, an input / output device 36 that includes a liquid crystal display, speakers, and the like, and GPS reception. And a navigation computer 38 for performing calculation for specifying the current position based on the radio signal received by the machine 32 and controlling route guidance. The navigation computer 38 periodically outputs the specified current position to the control device 60.

  The storage device 40 is, for example, a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a DVD drive, a CD-ROM drive, or a flash memory. The memory 34 of the navigation device 30 may be shared.

  The warning device 50 is, for example, a display device, a speaker, a buzzer, a vibration generating device, a light emitting device, or the like, and the input / output device 36 of the navigation device 30 may be shared.

  The control device 60 is, for example, a computer unit in which a ROM, a RAM, and the like are connected to each other via a bus with a CPU as a center, and includes a flash memory, an I / O port, a timer, a counter, and the like. The ROM stores programs and data executed by the CPU. The control device 60 includes a dangerous state determination unit 62, a communication control unit 64, and a warning determination unit 66 as main functional blocks that function when the CPU executes a program stored in the ROM.

[Transmission of danger information]
Based on the detection result of the vehicle state detection sensor 10, the dangerous state determination unit 62 determines whether or not the vehicle is placed in a dangerous state included in a plurality of predetermined dangerous state classifications. Here, the dangerous state classification is defined in advance as, for example, “there is a crossing object”, “accident”, “sudden braking”, and the like, and is stored in the storage device 40.

  “With crossing” means a state in which a pedestrian or an opposite right turn vehicle is crossing in front of the host vehicle when it is stopped. For example, the dangerous state determination unit 62 confirms that the host vehicle is stopped by the output of the vehicle speed sensor, and detects a pedestrian or the like ahead of the host vehicle by the obstacle detection sensor. It is determined that there is an “object” state. Further, the dangerous state determination unit 62 determines that the vehicle is in a “accident” state because the vehicle is stopped and the airbag is activated or when an acceleration equal to or higher than a predetermined acceleration is detected by the G sensor. Further, the dangerous state determination unit 62 determines that the state is the “rapid braking” state due to, for example, the ABS being operated.

  When it is determined by the dangerous state determination unit 62 that the vehicle is placed in a dangerous state included in a plurality of predetermined dangerous state classifications, the communication control unit 64 determines a predetermined transmission range according to the dangerous state. The radio communication device 20 is controlled to transmit the danger information to the outside of the vehicle. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating predetermined danger information transmitted by the wireless communication device 20 and a transmission range corresponding to the dangerous state.

  As shown in the figure, the predetermined danger information includes information such as a dangerous state where the vehicle is placed, a current position of the host vehicle, and date and time.

  When the dangerous state determination unit 62 determines that the vehicle is in a “crossing object” state, the wireless communication device 20 is controlled so as to transmit dangerous information to, for example, a vehicle up to 100 [m] behind. Note that “rear” can be defined as a range within about several tens of degrees to the left and right, for example, centering on the vehicle axial direction of the host vehicle (see FIG. 4).

  If the dangerous state determination unit 62 determines that the state is an “accident” state, the wireless communication device 20 is controlled so as to transmit dangerous information to vehicles up to 500 [m] in all directions, for example. At the same time, information may be transmitted to an information center (exterior facility) as an emergency call.

  When the dangerous state determination unit 62 determines that the vehicle is in the “rapid braking” state, the wireless communication device 20 is controlled so as to transmit dangerous information to, for example, a vehicle up to 300 [m] behind.

  According to such control, information transmission is performed only for the vehicle to which the state is to be transmitted according to the dangerous state in which the host vehicle is placed. As a result, the vehicle on the information receiving side increases the amount of communication by receiving unnecessary information, and the driver gets used to the information and does not pay attention when passing through a truly dangerous place. Can be prevented. Therefore, necessary danger information can be shared between vehicles and used for safe driving.

  In FIG. 5, danger information is transmitted from a vehicle A equipped with a vehicle risk information processing apparatus 1 to which a sudden brake is applied to a vehicle B equipped with a subsequent vehicle risk information processing apparatus 1, and a warning is given in the vehicle B. It is a figure which shows a mode typically.

  It should be noted that the functions of the dangerous state determination unit 62 and the communication control unit 64 as described above do not necessarily have to be clearly separated, and these functional blocks may be realized by a single program module. Absent.

[Warnings based on danger information]
The warning determination unit 66 issues a warning to the driver and other passengers based on the danger information received from the other vehicle. More specifically, the warning device 50 is controlled so as to issue a warning in a different manner according to the dangerous state included in the dangerous information. For example, when a warning is given by a display device or a light emitting device, the warning mode is made different depending on a specific color, brightness, blinking cycle, or the like according to the dangerous state. In addition, the contents of the dangerous state are displayed in text or output by voice to notify the passenger of specific dangerous contents.

  FIG. 6 is an example of a flowchart showing a flow of characteristic processing executed by the control device 60. This flow is started when the wireless communication device 20 receives danger information from another vehicle.

  First, the warning determination unit 66 refers to the dangerous state classification stored in the storage device 30, and determines whether or not a warning is necessary for the received dangerous information (S100). This determination can be made based on, for example, a correspondence table of danger states included in the danger information and necessity of warning stored in the storage device 40 of the host vehicle in advance. In order to make a more detailed determination, the received danger information may be analyzed in detail. For example, if the point where sudden braking occurs is less than a predetermined distance from the host vehicle or occurs multiple times (when similar information is received multiple times), the degree of danger is high, and the point where sudden braking occurs is If the distance is equal to or longer than the predetermined distance and only once (when such information is received only once), it is determined that the degree of risk is low. Further, it is determined that the danger level is high when the host vehicle is accelerating and the danger level is low when the vehicle is decelerating (during braking operation). That is, the determination in S100 may be performed in consideration of the analysis results exemplified above.

  If it is determined that a warning is necessary, the warning device 50 is controlled to perform a warning in a different manner according to the dangerous state included in the danger information (S102).

  Note that some vehicle control may be performed instead of (or in addition to) the warning. For example, automatic braking control or shift down control may be performed.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not information transfer to another vehicle is necessary (S104). Similar to S102, this determination can also be made based on, for example, a correspondence table of danger states included in the danger information and necessity of transfer stored in advance in the storage device 40 of the host vehicle. If it is determined that transfer to another vehicle is necessary, the communication control unit 64 is instructed to transfer the received danger information to the other vehicle (S106). As a result, the communication control unit 64 controls the wireless communication device 20 so as to transfer the received danger information to another vehicle (information may be changed).

  If it is determined in S100 that a warning is unnecessary, or if it is determined in S100 that a warning is necessary and a warning is issued, then it is determined in S104 that forwarding to another vehicle is unnecessary, no processing is performed. One routine of this flow is completed.

  By such control, a warning or the like can be appropriately performed based on the danger information received from another vehicle. Moreover, since warnings are performed in different modes depending on the dangerous state, warnings with no excess or deficiency can be performed, and the acceptability to the user can be improved. Also, in other vehicles to which the information has been transferred, a warning or the like can be appropriately given based on the received danger information.

  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, as an example of a wireless communication device having directivity, a device having an array antenna at the front and rear of a vehicle is illustrated. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and any wireless communication device having any aspect can be used as long as it has directivity. Also good.

  Moreover, it is not restricted to what has directivity in a physical meaning, It is good also as what transmits a carrier wave (carrier) to an unspecified direction by designating a coordinate range. In this case, on the receiving side, it is determined whether or not the current position of the host vehicle specified by GPS or the like is within the coordinate range, and if it is within the coordinate range, all of the information is received (or received) Information). When such a method is used, not only vehicle-to-vehicle communication but also wireless communication via an information center 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 danger information processing apparatus for vehicles. It is a figure which shows an example of the communicable area | region by each array antenna. It is a figure which shows the predetermined | prescribed danger information transmitted by the radio | wireless communication apparatus 20, and the transmission range according to the dangerous state. It is a figure which shows a mode that the back of the own vehicle is defined. Schematic of a situation in which danger information is transmitted from a vehicle A equipped with a vehicle risk information processing apparatus 1 to which a sudden brake is applied to a vehicle B equipped with a subsequent vehicle risk information processing apparatus 1 and a warning is given in the vehicle B FIG. 4 is an example of a flowchart showing a flow of characteristic processing executed by the control device 60.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle danger information processing apparatus 10 Vehicle state detection sensor 20 Wireless communication apparatus 22 Front array antenna 24 Rear array antenna 26 Antenna control apparatus 30 Navigation apparatus 32 GPS receiver 34 Memory 36 Input / output apparatus 38 Navigation computer 40 Storage apparatus 50 Warning Device 60 Control Device 62 Hazardous State Judgment Unit 64 Communication Control Unit 66 Warning Judgment Unit

Claims (5)

Vehicle state detection means for detecting the vehicle state;
Based on the detection result of the vehicle state detection unit, a dangerous state determination unit that determines whether or not the vehicle is placed in a dangerous state included in a plurality of predetermined dangerous state classifications;
Wireless communication means;
When it is determined by the dangerous state determination means that the vehicle is placed in a dangerous state included in a plurality of predetermined dangerous state classifications, the dangerous state determined that the vehicle is placed Communication control means for controlling the wireless communication means so as to transmit predetermined danger information outside the vehicle within a transmission range;
A vehicle risk information processing apparatus comprising: The communication control unit determines that the vehicle is placed when it is determined by the dangerous state determination unit that the vehicle is placed in a dangerous state included in a plurality of predetermined dangerous state classifications. A means for controlling the wireless communication means so as to transmit predetermined danger information to a vehicle existing within a transmission range corresponding to the dangerous state;
The vehicle risk information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The predetermined danger information includes a danger state in which it is determined that the vehicle is placed by the danger state determination means.
The vehicle risk information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. When the wireless communication means receives the predetermined danger information from another vehicle, a warning is given to an occupant based on a dangerous state included in the predetermined danger information.
The danger information processing apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 3. When the wireless communication means receives the predetermined danger information from another vehicle, the predetermined danger information is transferred to the other vehicle based on a dangerous state included in the predetermined danger information.
The vehicle danger information processing apparatus according to claim 3 or 4.

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