JP2009204354A - Navigation control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a navigation control device capable of ensuring more effectively a safe driving and guiding a smooth and sure driving route. <P>SOLUTION: The navigation control device has a display device provided in a cabin, an input signal detecting means detecting a signal concerning a predetermined input operation to switch display content on the display device, and a control means controlling the display content on the display device corresponding to the signal detected by the input signal detecting means, in which a first and a second biometrics authentication sensors are provided respectively at right and left sides of the handle of the vehicle, and the control means makes effective the signal detected by the input signal detecting means and controls the display content on the display device depending on the signal only when the first and the second biometrics authentication sensors determine that the vehicle is being operated by a same person during travelling. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a navigation control apparatus.

  Conventionally, a car navigation device is known as a driving support device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile. The car navigation device is a device that assists the driver of the vehicle by displaying on the display screen guidance on the current position of the host vehicle and the travel route to the destination using GPS (Global Positioning System) or the like.

  At present, in such a car navigation device, in order to drive safely, predetermined input operations such as setting a destination are automatically performed except for a minimum input operation such as enlarging a road map during driving. It is forbidden.

  Here, an input operation performed by a person other than the driver (passenger seat passenger who is not directly involved in driving the vehicle) is automatically prohibited. Therefore, it is necessary to temporarily stop the vehicle each time the predetermined input operation is performed.

  Therefore, while driving the vehicle, while prohibiting the predetermined input operation by the driver, while ensuring the safe driving, such as allowing the predetermined input operation by a person other than the driver, and driving route guidance, etc. Various inventions have been made for the purpose of reliably and smoothly performing (see Patent Documents 1, 2, 3, etc.).

  In Patent Document 1, an in-vehicle control device that simultaneously displays a screen viewed by a driver and a screen viewed by a non-driver, the driver holds the handle with both hands by two sensors installed on the handle. A technique is disclosed that enables the input operation when it is determined that the operation is performed by a passenger other than the driver.

  In Patent Document 2, input operation is prohibited during traveling, but when two switches installed on the steering wheel are operated simultaneously, the prohibition of input operation is canceled and passengers other than the driver A technique relating to a vehicle display device that enables an input operation is disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 3, it is determined from which side the input operation is performed by a sensor provided in the driver's seat and the passenger's seat, and the operation is recognized when the operation is recognized from the driver's seat side, or when the operation cannot be recognized, A technique related to a navigation device that can be operated when recognized from the passenger seat side is disclosed.
JP 2006-317421 A JP 11-198745 A JP 2006-64547 A

  However, in the above prior art, although it is determined whether or not the driver holds the handle with both hands using two sensors (or switches) installed on the handle, each sensor (or switch) It was not possible to determine whether the person who operated was the same person (driver).

  Therefore, for example, even when one sensor (or switch) is operated (or pressed) by a person other than the driver or an object that causes the sensor to malfunction, the driver holds the handle with both hands. It is determined that the input operation to the navigation device is valid. Such a situation is not preferable from the viewpoint of ensuring safe driving.

  The present invention has been invented in order to solve this problem in view of the above points, and provides a navigation control device capable of ensuring safe driving more effectively and smoothly and surely driving route guidance. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, a navigation control device according to the present invention includes a display device provided in a vehicle interior and an input signal detection for detecting a signal related to a predetermined input operation for switching display contents in the display device. And a control means for controlling the display content on the display device in accordance with the signal detected by the input signal detection means, respectively, on the left and right sides of the steering wheel of the vehicle. One biometric authentication sensor and a second biometric authentication sensor are provided, and the control means is configured such that the first biometric authentication sensor and the second biometric authentication sensor are operated by the same person while the vehicle is traveling. Only when it is determined that the input signal is detected, the signal detected by the input signal detecting means is validated and the display device is activated according to the signal. It can be configured to control the display content.

  In order to achieve the above object, the control means in the present invention determines that the first biometric sensor and the second biometric sensor are operated by the same person while the vehicle is traveling. If not, the signal detected by the input signal detecting means can be invalidated.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the navigation control apparatus which can ensure more effective safe driving | operation, and can perform smooth and reliable driving route guidance can be provided.

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

[Embodiment]
(Configuration of navigation control system)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a navigation control system according to the present embodiment. A navigation control system (navigation control device) 1 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

  A navigation control system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a driver detection device 11, a driving state detection device 12, a central processing unit 13, a display device 14, an input signal detection device 15, a navigation device 16, and a vehicle running state detection device 17. It is a configuration.

  Hereinafter, each component will be described.

  The driver detection device 11 is a device that detects a driver of the vehicle (a person who holds the steering wheel with both hands and performs steering or the like of the vehicle). The driver detection device 11 includes a plurality of (for example, two) sensors mounted on a handle body for steering the vehicle. The sensor referred to here is a biometric authentication sensor that authenticates an individual using characteristics unique to each person such as a physical characteristic or behavioral characteristic such as a fingerprint sensor, a vein sensor, or a palm sensor. An example of the driver detection device 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the driver detection device according to the present embodiment (part 1). FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which the sensor 11a and the sensor 11b as the driver detection device 11 are mounted at two left and right positions of the handle 20 main body for steering the vehicle. The sensor 11a (first biometric authentication sensor) and the sensor 11b (second biometric authentication sensor) are biometric authentication sensors such as a fingerprint sensor as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 2, such a positional relationship between the sensor 11a and the sensor 11b is a position where both sensors cannot be covered simultaneously with at least one hand, for example, a distance between the sensors is at least 30 cm. The center line of the main body of the handle 20 is configured to be a position to be separated from the arrangement area. The reason why they are arranged in such a positional relationship is to accurately determine whether or not the driver holds the steering wheel with both hands.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the driving state detection device 12 is based on information detected by the driver detection device 11 (information detected by the sensor 11 a and the sensor 11 b), and the driver of the vehicle holds the handle with both hands. The operation state such as whether or not it is present is detected. This detection operation is controlled by a central processing unit 18 described later.

  The central processing unit (control means) 13 is an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) device that performs control related to the entire navigation control system 1. Control relating to detection operations by the various detection devices (driver detection device 11, driving state detection device 12, input signal detection device 15, vehicle running state detection device 17) and display contents on the display device 14 is performed. The central processing unit 13 may correspond to the navigation control device in the present invention in a narrow sense.

  The display device 14 is a display device provided near the center of the instrument panel in the passenger compartment in order to display the current position of the host vehicle, travel route guidance to the destination, and the like. The display contents are controlled by the central processing unit 18 described above.

  The input signal detection device (input signal detection means) 15 detects an input signal when a predetermined input operation is performed from outside such as a driver or a person other than the driver in order to switch display contents on the display device 14.

  The navigation device 16 calculates the current position of the host vehicle and the travel route to the destination. When the display device 14 performs display related to navigation, the display content is controlled according to the calculation result by the navigation device 15.

  The vehicle running state detection device 17 is a device that detects the running state of the vehicle such as whether the vehicle is running or stopped. It detects based on the measured value by the vehicle speed sensor (not shown) of the said vehicle.

  With the configuration shown above, according to the navigation control system 1 in the present embodiment, the person who operates each of the two sensors 11a and 11b installed on the handle 20 as the driver detection device 11 is the same person (driver). By accurately determining whether or not, it is possible to ensure more effective safe driving and to perform smooth and reliable travel route guidance. An example of a specific control operation will be described later with reference to FIG.

(Control operation example)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the control operation of the navigation control system in the present embodiment. Here, in a vehicle provided with the navigation control system 1, a request necessary for navigation is generated from the driver or a person other than the driver (passenger seat passenger who is not directly involved in driving the vehicle) to the navigation device 16. The operation will be described as an example.

  First, it is determined whether or not there is an input signal (S1). Here, the central processing unit 13 determines whether the driver or a person other than the driver has input information such as navigation based on whether there is an input signal detected by the input signal detection device 15. To do.

  If YES in step S1, that is, if there is an input signal (S1, YES), the process proceeds to step S2. If NO in step S1, that is, if there is no input signal (S1, NO), the process returns to step S1 to wait for an input signal.

  When the process proceeds to step S2, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is traveling (S2). Here, the central processing unit 13 determines whether or not the vehicle is running using the vehicle running state detection device 17.

  If YES in step S2, that is, if the vehicle is traveling (S2, YES), the process proceeds to step S3. If NO in step S2, that is, if the vehicle is not running (S2, NO), the process proceeds to step S4.

  When it moves to step S3, it is determined whether the signal of a sensor is the same person (S3). Here, in order to determine whether the input signal determined to be present in step S1 is from the driver or from a person other than the driver (passenger seat passenger not directly involved in driving the vehicle, etc.) Whether the signals of both the sensors 11a and 11b are of the same person based on the detection information of the driving detection device 11 (for example, the sensors 11a and 11b) at the time when the state detection device 12 detects the input signal in step S1 Determine if.

  Here, since the sensor 11a and the sensor 11b are biometric authentication sensors such as a fingerprint sensor as described above, it is determined whether or not the output signals of both sensors belong to the same person. This shall be done using For example, each of the biometric authentication information of the driver detected by both sensors in the navigation control system 1 is registered in advance, and the output signal of the corresponding sensor is compared with the registered biometric authentication information. It can be determined whether the output signal of the sensor is that of the driver.

  In addition, it is desirable that the detection timing using such an operation detection device 11 is synchronized so that the detection is performed at the same time (for example, within 0.1 seconds). This is because even if it is placed at a position that cannot be covered spatially with one hand, if there is a time lag in detection, there is a possibility that one hand has moved and the two hands of the driver This is to prevent a situation in which it is surely blocked. Therefore, it is desirable to synchronize so that the detection times of the sensor 11a and the sensor 11b are the same.

  If YES in step S3, that is, if it is determined that the signals of both sensors are the same person (S3, YES), the process proceeds to step S4. If NO in step S3, that is, if it is determined that the signals of both sensors are not the same person (S3, NO), the process proceeds to step S5.

  When the process proceeds to step S4, the input signal is validated (S4). Here, the central processing unit 13 determines that it is the same person (driver) that holds the handle, and validates the input signal according to step S1. That is, the input signal detected by the input signal detection device 15 is validated only when it is determined that the signals of both sensors are the same person.

  When the process proceeds to step S5, the input signal is invalidated and a warning or the like is notified (S5). Here, the central processing unit 13 determines that it is not the same person (driver) that holds the handle, and invalidates the input signal according to step S1. Further, a warning (for example, check whether both hands of the driver are attached to the steering wheel) is notified on the screen of the display device 14 as a warning. This is a process for calling attention using the display device 14 when the signals of both sensors are not the same person or one of the signals is missing. When the process related to step S5 is completed, the process proceeds to step S3 and waits until the signals of both sensors become the same person.

  By the control operation shown above, according to the navigation control system 1 in the present embodiment, the person who operates each of the two sensors 11a and 11b installed on the handle 20 as the driver detection device 11 is the same person (driver The navigation input operation (destination setting, etc.) from a person other than the driver is possible only when it is determined whether or not it is due to the same person.

  For this reason, it is possible to detect that the driver is holding the steering wheel with both hands reliably (detecting an input operation from a person other than the driver), ensuring safer driving more effectively and smoothly and reliably. Travel route guidance can be performed.

  In addition, by applying the processing for determining that the driver holding the steering wheel of the vehicle is a driver registered in advance described in step S3, it is possible to prevent the vehicle from being stolen. . That is, by performing control such as permitting the vehicle to travel only when the signals of both sensors (or one of the sensors) are determined to be those of the driver registered in advance, Theft prevention can be realized.

(Modification of driver detection device)
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement example of the driver detection device according to the present embodiment (part 2). Here, as a modification of the driver detection device shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the sensor 11a and the sensor 11b as the driver detection device 11 shown in FIG. The structure mounted | worn with two right and left places of the handle | steering-wheel 20 main body for steering is shown. The sensor 11c (third biometric sensor) and the sensor 11d (fourth biometric sensor) are biometric sensors such as a fingerprint sensor as described above.

  As in FIG. 2, the positional relationship between the sensor 11c and the sensor 11d is a position where the sensors cannot be covered simultaneously with at least one hand, for example, the distance between the sensors is at least 30 cm, and the handle 20 The center line of the main body is a position to be a separation target of the arrangement area. The reason why they are arranged in such a positional relationship is to more accurately determine whether or not the driver holds the steering wheel with both hands. In this case, the driver holds the handle 20 so as to cover the sensors 11a and 11c with the left hand and the sensors 11b and 11d with the right hand.

  As described above, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the requirements shown here, such as combinations with other elements listed in the above embodiments. With respect to these points, the present invention can be changed within a range that does not detract from the gist of the present invention, and can be appropriately determined according to the application form.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the vehicle-mounted control apparatus in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the driver detection apparatus in this embodiment (the 1). It is a flowchart which shows an example of control operation of the vehicle-mounted control apparatus in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the driver | operator detection apparatus in this embodiment (the 2).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Navigation control system 11 Driver detection apparatus 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d Sensor 12 Driving | running state detection apparatus 13 Central processing unit 14 Display apparatus 15 Input signal detection apparatus 16 Navigation apparatus 17 Vehicle travel state detection apparatus

Claims (2)

A display device provided in the passenger compartment;
Input signal detecting means for detecting a signal related to a predetermined input operation for switching display contents in the display device;
A navigation control device having control means for controlling display contents on the display device in accordance with a signal detected by the input signal detection means,
A first biometric sensor and a second biometric sensor are provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle handle, respectively.
The control means is detected by the input signal detection means only when it is determined that the first biometric sensor and the second biometric sensor are operated by the same person while the vehicle is traveling. A navigation control device that validates a signal and controls display contents on the display device according to the signal. The control means detects a signal detected by the input signal detection means when it is not determined that the first biometric sensor and the second biometric sensor are operated by the same person while the vehicle is traveling. The navigation control device according to claim 1, wherein the navigation control device is invalidated.

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