JP2010092295A - Travel support device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a travel support device allowing the easy acquisition of arrow light unit information proper to a driver. <P>SOLUTION: The travel support device obtains traffic signal information received by an infrastructure information receiver, decides whether or not a plurality of arrow light units are attached to a traffic signal that is a target based on the traffic signal information, prioritizes an arrow direction shown by each arrow light unit when the plurality of arrow light units are attached to the traffic signal, and makes states of the arrow light units screen-displayed on a display based on the priority thereof. The prioritization to the arrow direction shown by each arrow light unit is performed based on lighting conditions of the plurality of arrow light units, a peripheral situation of an intersection installed with the traffic signal, and a travel direction or the like of one's own vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a driving support apparatus that notifies a state of a traffic signal that a host vehicle passes.

As a conventional driving support device, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, in a vehicle-mounted navigation, when there is a traffic signal at a waypoint included in a predetermined guidance route, based on traffic signal data A device that guides attribute information (type, feature, etc.) of a traffic signal is known.
JP 2007-232573 A

  However, in the above prior art, when the traffic signal has a plurality of arrow lamps, if the traffic signal attribute information is displayed as it is, the driver indicates that each arrow lamp is currently lit. There is a possibility that a problem may occur that it takes time to recognize the state of the arrow lamp device because it cannot be mistaken for a thing or the state of each arrow lamp device cannot be seen at a glance. Therefore, it is desired for the driver to support driving so that only appropriate arrow lamp information can be recognized.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a driving support device that can easily obtain appropriate arrow lamp information for a driver.

  The present invention relates to a travel support device that notifies the state of a traffic signal through which the host vehicle passes, and a traffic signal information acquisition unit that acquires traffic signal information about the traffic signal, and the traffic signal has a plurality of arrow lamps based on the traffic signal information. Priority to give priority to the arrow direction indicated by each arrow lamp when the traffic signal has been determined by the determination means to have a plurality of arrow lamps. It is characterized by comprising order determining means and display means for displaying the state information of the arrow lamp based on the priority determined by the priority determining means.

  In such a driving support device of the present invention, when it is determined that the traffic signal has a plurality of arrow lights, priorities are assigned to the arrow directions indicated by the arrow lights, and the priorities are given. The state information of the arrow lamp is displayed based on For example, when the traffic signal has two arrow lamps indicating the right turn direction and the straight direction, when the priority in the right turn direction is higher than the priority in the straight direction, the arrow lamp indicating the right turn direction is used. The driver can immediately confirm the presence of the arrow lamp indicating the right turn direction by displaying it in a place that is easier to see than the arrow lamp indicating the straight direction or by displaying only the arrow lamp indicating the right turn direction. . As a result, it is possible to easily obtain appropriate arrow lamp information for the driver.

  Preferably, the priority order determination unit assigns a priority order to the arrow directions indicated by the arrow lamp devices based on the lighting conditions of the plurality of arrow lamp devices. Some drivers may want to know information such as arrow lamps with long lighting times or arrow lamps with similar lighting timings. Therefore, it is preferable to prioritize based on lighting conditions of a plurality of arrow lamps.

  Further, the priority order determining means may prioritize the arrow directions indicated by the arrow lamps based on the surrounding situation of the intersection where the traffic signal is installed. Some drivers may want to know information such as the direction of a road with a large road width, a road with a large number of lanes, a road with a large traffic flow, etc. after passing through an intersection. Therefore, it is preferable to prioritize based on the surrounding situation of the intersection where the traffic signal is installed.

  Further, the priority order determining means may assign priorities to the arrow directions indicated by the arrow lamp devices based on the traveling direction of the host vehicle. Depending on the driver, for example, the traveling direction of the host vehicle such as a route guidance direction for navigation may be displayed. Therefore, it is preferable to prioritize based on the traveling direction of the host vehicle.

  Preferably, the display means displays the state information of a plurality of arrow lamps at the same time by changing the size or thickness of the arrow for each arrow lamp. For example, the higher the priority, the higher the direction of the arrow lamp, the larger the arrow, and the thicker the arrow, the higher the priority, even when displaying the status information of multiple arrow lamps at the same time. The presence of the arrow lamp indicating the direction of the arrow can be confirmed more quickly.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily obtain appropriate arrow lamp information for the driver. Thereby, for example, it is possible to reduce the troublesomeness of the driver.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a driving support apparatus according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a driving support apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the driving support device 1 of the present embodiment is an in-vehicle device that notifies the state of a traffic signal that the host vehicle is about to pass using a traffic light service.

  The travel support device 1 includes an infrastructure information receiver 2, a navigation 3, a host vehicle state monitoring sensor 4, a display unit 5, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 6.

  The infrastructure information receiver 2 is a device that receives infrastructure information transmitted from an infrastructure device (for example, an optical beacon) installed on a road. The infrastructure information includes, for example, traffic signal information such as a traffic signal type and a signal cycle in a traffic signal, road information such as a road lane configuration, road width and road curvature.

  The navigation 3 detects the current position of the host vehicle using GPS (Global Positioning System) or the road information on which the host vehicle is traveling from the road map information stored in the built-in memory (same as above). It is a device that acquires various types of information.

  The own vehicle state monitoring sensor 4 is a sensor that monitors the state of the own vehicle. Specifically, the vehicle state monitoring sensor 4 includes a winker sensor that detects the operating state of the winker switch, a steering angle sensor that detects the steering angle of the steering, and the like.

  The display unit 5 displays on a screen the status information of traffic signals that the host vehicle passes. The traffic signal status information includes information regarding the form of the traffic signal such as the presence / absence of an arrow lamp, the number, the direction of the arrow, and the like, information regarding lighting of the traffic signal including the arrow lamp, and the like. The display unit 5 may be integrated with the navigation 3 or may be on a meter display panel or the like.

  The ECU 6 includes a CPU, a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, an input / output circuit, and the like. The ECU 6 inputs the traffic signal information received by the infrastructure information receiver 2, the information of the navigation 3 and the detection signal of the own vehicle state monitoring sensor 4, performs predetermined processing, and displays the state information of the traffic signal device through which the own vehicle passes. This is displayed on part 5.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing details of a processing procedure executed by the ECU 6. In the figure, first, the traffic signal information received by the infrastructure information receiver 2 is acquired (step S51). Subsequently, based on the traffic signal information, it is determined whether the target traffic signal has an arrow lamp (step S52).

  When the target traffic light does not have an arrow lamp device, the standard traffic light (three-light traffic light) is displayed on the screen of the display unit 5 (step S53). At this time, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), only the form of the standard traffic light may be displayed, or as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the state of the currently lit lamp color is included. It may be displayed.

  If the target traffic light has an arrow lamp, it is determined whether the number of arrow lamps is greater than one (step S54). When the number of arrow lamps is one, it is determined whether or not the arrow lamp is currently lit based on the traffic signal information (step S55). When the arrow lamp is currently lit, the form of the arrow lamp is displayed on the screen of the display unit 5 (step S56). At this time, the form of the arrow lamp device may be displayed on the screen so as to represent the state in which the arrow lamp device is lit.

  On the other hand, when the arrow lamp is not currently lit, the form of the arrow lamp is not displayed on the display unit 5. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the form of a standard traffic light may be displayed on the screen. In addition, even when the arrow lamp is not currently lit, the form of the arrow lamp may be displayed on the screen as the arrow lamp direction guidance.

  When it is determined in step S54 that the number of arrow lamps is greater than one, that is, there are a plurality of arrow lamps, priority is given to the arrow directions indicated by the arrow lamps (step S57). Specifically, such prioritization is performed as follows.

  That is, for example, in the signal cycle information included in the traffic signal information, the priority in the arrow direction having a long lighting time is increased. Moreover, the lighting timing of each arrow lamp device may be calculated from the signal cycle information, and the priority in the arrow direction where the lighting timing is close may be increased. Of course, when there is an arrow lamp indicating the direction of an arrow that is currently lit, the priority in the direction of the arrow may be increased. Whether or not the arrow lamp is currently lit can be determined from the calculation result of the lighting timing of each arrow lamp.

  Moreover, you may raise the priority of the right turn direction with many numbers generally. In this case, the priority order is, for example, the right turn direction, the left turn direction, the straight direction, and other directions in order from the highest.

  Furthermore, by using the infrastructure information receiver 2 and the navigation 3 etc., the road information in each direction after passing through the intersection where the traffic light with the arrow lamp is installed is acquired, and the priority in the arrow direction with a wide road width is increased. The priority in the arrow direction with a large number of lanes may be increased, or the priority in the arrow direction with a large traffic flow may be increased.

  Also, the priority in the arrow direction corresponding to the route guidance direction of the navigation 3 may be increased. In addition, the information on the lane where the host vehicle is traveling is acquired by the infrastructure information receiver 2, the navigation 3, etc., and when traveling in the right lane, the priority in the right arrow direction is increased and the left lane is increased. When traveling on the road, the priority in the left arrow direction may be increased, and when traveling on a dedicated lane, the priority in the arrow direction corresponding to that direction may be increased. Further, the traveling direction of the host vehicle is estimated based on the detection value of the host vehicle state monitoring sensor 4 (blinker sensor or steering angle sensor), the past traveling history pattern recorded in the navigation 3, and the like, and the corresponding traveling direction is supported. The priority in the direction of the arrow may be increased.

  Subsequently, on the basis of the priority determined as described above, the form of the arrow lamp is displayed on the display unit 5 (step S58).

  Here, when displaying the forms of a plurality of arrow lamps simultaneously on the screen, the position at which the form of each arrow lamp is displayed is determined in consideration of ease of confirmation by the driver. For example, when the display unit 5 is integrated with the navigation 3 in a right-hand drive vehicle, as shown in FIG. 4, an arrow indicating a high-priority arrow direction on the right side (side closer to the driver) region of the display unit 5. A lamp is displayed, and an arrow lamp indicating a low-priority arrow direction is displayed on the left side (the side far from the driver) of the display unit 5. At this time, only the arrow lamp device may be displayed as shown in FIG. 4 (a), or the arrow lamp device may be displayed together with the traffic light body (round light device) as shown in FIG. 4 (b). Also good. In addition, although not particularly illustrated, an arrow lamp indicating the arrow direction having a high priority is displayed in the upper area of the display unit 5, and the arrow lamp indicating the arrow direction having a low priority is displayed in the lower area of the display unit 5. It may be displayed. By displaying a plurality of arrow lamps on the screen in this way, the driver can confirm at a glance the arrow lamp indicating the direction of higher priority.

  Moreover, even when there are a plurality of arrow lamps in the traffic light, only one arrow lamp may be displayed on the screen. In this case, the arrow lamp indicating the arrow direction with the highest priority is displayed on the screen. At this time, in addition to the screen display of the arrow lamp, the direction of the arrow may be notified by voice.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the size of the arrow lamp device itself and the size and thickness of the arrow indicated by the arrow lamp device may be changed depending on the priority order to display the screen. In the display example shown in FIG. 5A, the higher the priority is, the larger the arrow lamp device itself and the arrow indicated by the arrow lamp device are displayed. The display example shown in FIG. The higher the priority is, the thicker the arrow indicated by the arrow lamp is displayed. In addition to the display method described above, the screen may be displayed by changing the brightness (brightness) of the arrow lamp itself or the arrow indicated by the arrow lamp apparatus according to the priority order. This makes it easier for the driver to check the arrow lamp indicating the direction of higher priority earlier.

  Further, even when a plurality of arrow lamps are present in the traffic light, as shown in FIG. 6A, the screen display may be limited to only the arrow lamps that are currently lit. Also, as shown in FIG. 6B, the currently lit arrow lamp device is displayed on the screen at a high priority position (the right region in the figure), and the next arrow lamp device to be lit next to it ( It may be displayed on the screen on the left). At this time, as shown in FIG. 6B, it is desirable to change the size of the arrow lamp device between the currently lighting arrow lamp device and the next lighting arrow lamp device.

  After the above steps S53, S56, and S58 are executed, it is determined whether or not the traffic signal service cannot be continued because, for example, the vehicle has left the service area or the traffic signal information has expired (step S59). If the service cannot be continued, the process returns to step S52. If the traffic signal service cannot be continued, the process is terminated.

  In the above, infrastructure information receiver 2 and procedure S51 of ECU6 constitute traffic signal information acquisition means for acquiring traffic signal information related to traffic signals. Steps S52 and S54 of the ECU 6 constitute determination means for determining whether or not the traffic signal has a plurality of arrow lamps based on the traffic signal information. The infrastructure information receiver 2, the navigation 3, the own vehicle state monitoring sensor 4, and the procedure S57 of the ECU 6 indicate that each of the arrow lamps is determined when the determination means determines that the traffic signal has a plurality of arrow lamps. Priority determining means for assigning priority to the arrow direction indicated by The procedure S58 of the ECU 6 and the display unit 5 constitute display means for displaying the state information of the arrow lamp device based on the priority order determined by the priority order determination means.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when a target traffic light has a plurality of arrow lamps, prioritization is performed in the arrow direction indicated by each arrow lamp, and the arrow with the higher priority is set. Since the form of the lamp is displayed on the display unit 5 in an easy-to-understand manner, arrow lamp information useful for the driver can be immediately recognized. As a result, it is possible to avoid problems such as the driver misunderstanding that the arrow lamp displayed on the navigation 3 or the like is currently lit, or the driver gazing at the navigation 3 or the like many times. Become.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of one Embodiment of the driving assistance apparatus concerning this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the process sequence performed by ECU shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a standard traffic light. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an arrow lamp device. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an arrow lamp device. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an arrow lamp device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Driving assistance apparatus, 2 ... Infrastructure information receiver (signal information acquisition means, priority order determination means), 3 ... Navigation (priority order determination means), 4 ... Own vehicle state monitoring sensor (priority order determination means), 5 ... Display unit (display unit), 6... ECU (signal information acquisition unit, determination unit, priority order determination unit, display unit).

Claims (5)

In the driving support device that notifies the state of the traffic signal through which the host vehicle passes,
Traffic signal information acquisition means for acquiring traffic signal information relating to the traffic signal;
Determining means for determining whether the traffic signal has a plurality of arrow lamps based on the traffic signal information;
Priority order determining means for prioritizing the arrow direction indicated by each arrow light device when the traffic light is determined by the determination means to have a plurality of arrow light devices;
And a display means for displaying the state information of the arrow lamp device based on the priority order determined by the priority order determination means.   2. The driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the priority order determining unit assigns a priority order to an arrow direction indicated by each of the arrow lamp devices based on a lighting condition of the plurality of arrow lamp devices.   2. The driving support according to claim 1, wherein the priority order determining means assigns a priority order to the arrow directions indicated by the arrow lamps based on the surrounding situation of the intersection where the traffic signal is installed. apparatus.   2. The driving support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the priority order determining unit assigns a priority order to the arrow directions indicated by the arrow lamp devices based on the traveling direction of the host vehicle. The said display means changes and displays the magnitude | size or thickness of an arrow for every said arrow lamp, when displaying the status information of these arrow lamps simultaneously, The display of Claim 1-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The driving support device according to any one of claims.

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