JP2011054149A - Automobile approach alarm system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve, first, a problem wherein a pedestrian such as a visually handicapped person cannot become aware of approach of an automobile in spread of a quiet automobile such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric automobile, next, a problem wherein excessive sound must not be emitted because a problem of noise occurs when an automobile always emits sound when the automobile emits the sound, and finally, a problem wherein it is necessary to minimize a burden on the pedestrian such as the visually handicapped person. <P>SOLUTION: In this automobile approach alarm system, a wireless identification device (2) loaded in the automobile such as the hybrid vehicle or the electric automobile identifies a wireless electric wave emitted by a GPS-equipped cellphone (1) carried by the pedestrian such as the visually handicapped person, a sound source device (3) loaded in the automobile emits pseudo engine sound, thereby notifying the pedestrian such as the visually handicapped person about the approach of the automobile. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

      The present invention relates to a vehicle approach warning system for informing a pedestrian such as a visually handicapped about the approach of a quiet vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle.

      Some conventional vehicle approach warning devices detect the approach of a moving body and issue a warning for the purpose of alerting road workers or the like (see, for example, Utility Model Document 1).

      However, it is difficult for a pedestrian such as a visually handicapped person to carry a moving body detection sensor and a warning display member in terms of size and weight. In particular, the size and weight that a visually handicapped person who must carry a cane can carry is limited.

Registered utility model No. 3016798

The problem to be solved is that, while quiet cars such as hybrid cars and electric cars are spreading, it is difficult for pedestrians such as visually handicapped to notice the approach of cars. . Next, when an automobile emits sound, if it emits constantly, there will be a problem of noise, so that it should not emit more sound than necessary. Finally, it is necessary to minimize the burden on pedestrians such as visually impaired persons.

“Measures for quietness of hybrid vehicles (report)” (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism “Survey on measures for quietness of hybrid vehicles”, January 29, 2010) Page 6 As for technology that uses communication technology and sensor technology to inform the vehicle of the presence of pedestrians, “These technologies impair the acceptability of residents and drivers due to the sounds emitted by vehicles that were the subject of this study. While there is a merit that there is no concern that the problem will occur, it is expected that technological development will be promoted as an effective countermeasure in the future because there are the following problems. " It is something to try.
(1) A pedestrian needs to carry a radio wave transmission device indicating his / her presence or a receiving device for receiving information from a car.
(2) When the vehicle receives pedestrian location information, it may be possible to react to people who do not need to react, such as people in a building on the shoulder.

  According to the present invention, a radio identification device (2) mounted on a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle identifies a radio wave emitted by a radio transmitter (1) carried by a pedestrian such as a visually impaired person, and the vehicle. A pseudo engine sound is emitted from the sound source device (3) mounted on the vehicle to warn a pedestrian such as a visually impaired person about the approach of the car.

  Ecology advances with the spread of hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles that are pointed out as dangerous because the driving noise is too quiet, and the safety of pedestrians such as visually impaired people is protected.

  The noise can be minimized by making the hybrid vehicle or the electric vehicle emit a pseudo engine sound only when approaching a pedestrian such as a visually impaired person. In particular, when the mobile phone (4) is equipped with GPS, it can be made to emit a pseudo engine sound only when a pedestrian approaches the road. Can solve the problem.

  A radar detector equipped with a radio identification function as a radio-specific device (2) mounted on a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle as a radio transmitter (1) carried by a pedestrian such as a visually impaired person By using the car navigation system screen as the map screen (6), the R & D and manufacturing costs can be minimized.

Overall view of the vehicle approach warning system of the present invention Explanatory drawing when the wireless transmitter (1) is a mobile phone Illustration of map screen (6)

The wireless identification device (2) mounted on the vehicle identifies and receives the radio wave emitted by the wireless transmitter (1) carried by the pedestrian, and starts to emit the pseudo engine sound from the sound source device (3). Inform the approach of the car.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of an automobile approach warning system according to the present invention. When a radio wave is directly received by a radio identification device (2) or a radio transmitter (1) is a mobile phone, mobile communication is performed. The base station of the network can also relay and receive the radio identification device (2).

As the radio transmitter (1), a mobile phone including a case with GPS, a small wireless microphone, an active type IC tag, etc. can be used. However, when a pedestrian approaches the road, the necessity of carrying it all the time The mobile phone with GPS is the best because it needs to emit a pseudo engine sound.

When an IC tag is used as the wireless transmitter (1), it can be attached to a bag or clothing as shown in FIG. 1, and when the pedestrian is a visually impaired person, the white cane shown in FIG. It can also be attached to.

When a mobile phone is used as the wireless transmitter (1), the user can select and register in advance whether or not to use the vehicle approach warning system. As shown in FIG. 2, by setting the vehicle approach warning system to On, the user can use the vehicle approach warning system.

When the mobile phone (4) is equipped with GPS, the sound source device is used only when the pedestrian approaches the road by comparing the position information of the pedestrian measured by GPS with map information such as roads and buildings. A pseudo engine sound is generated from (3).

As the wireless identification device (2) mounted on the automobile, a radar detector equipped with a wireless identification function, a car navigation system, or the like can be used.

When the wireless identification device (2) of the other vehicle joins the same communication network as the wireless identification device (2) of the own vehicle, the position information of the pedestrian acquired by the other vehicle is shared as shown in FIG.

As the communication network, a mobile communication network such as a wireless ad hoc network or a mobile phone is used. In addition, as a traffic infrastructure such as a traffic signal, it is conceivable to newly establish a base station for mobile communication.

The pseudo engine sound emitted from the sound source device (3) has a constant volume so that the pedestrian can determine the degree of approach.

While the vehicle is approaching the pedestrian, the engine continues to emit the pseudo engine sound, and the pseudo engine sound is stopped soon after starting to move away from all the pedestrians. That is, after the second and third pedestrians are detected, the switch mechanism is controlled so that the pseudo engine sound does not stop while approaching them.

By simulating the engine sound emitted from the sound source device (3) in conjunction with the operation of the accelerator, brake, and shift lever, engine sound changes such as engine start and idling are reproduced to the extent that the predetermined volume is not exceeded.

The sound emitted from the sound source device (3) is a pseudo engine sound so that visually impaired persons can easily determine that the vehicle is a car, and the fact that the vehicle type can be estimated is also important for informing the danger. A pseudo engine sound corresponding to a vehicle type such as an automobile is generated.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's “Guidelines for Measures for Silence of Hybrid Cars” (January 29, 2010), page 2, the types and volume of sound generation are defined as follows and are well suited to the present invention. ing.
(1) The sound that is sounded is a continuous sound reminiscent of the running state of the vehicle. In this case, the following sounds or similar sounds are inappropriate.
A) Sirens, chimes, bells, and melody sounds b. Sounds from alarms c) Sounds produced by animals and insects such as squealing sounds, natural phenomena such as winds and river flows, etc. Sound that cannot be played (2) The sound that is generated should be easy to recognize the operation of the vehicle, such as the volume or pitch automatically changing according to the speed of the vehicle.
(3) The sound volume should be such that it does not exceed the loudness of a running sound that is generated when a vehicle that uses only an internal combustion engine as a prime mover at a speed of 20 km / h in each application, such as a passenger car or a freight car.

  It is possible to promote the spread of hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles that are pointed out as dangerous because the running noise is too quiet.

  By informing a pedestrian such as a visually impaired person of the approach of a car, the safety can be protected and a place for social activities such as a visually impaired person can be secured.

  In addition to utilizing information infrastructure such as mobile phones, wireless identification devices, and GPS, the market can be expanded in accordance with the spread of hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles.

  A traffic accident can be prevented when the driver recognizes the presence of a pedestrian such as a visually impaired person and tries to drive safely.

Page 6 of the above “Measures for quietness of hybrid vehicles (report)” is an international effort. “As for measures for quietness of hybrid vehicles, etc., problems have been raised internationally since last year. Specific discussions have also begun at the United Nations conference “World Forum for Harmonization of Automobile Standards (UN / ECE / WP29),” which carries out international harmonization activities for safety and environmental standards. In the future, it is hoped that Japan will also actively contribute to standards-harmonizing activities, such as proposing the measures shown in this report. In addition to the international harmonization that states, "Japan's superiority in technological development competition, such as international standardization, can be contributed to a country that creates intellectual property.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wireless transmitter 2 Wireless identification device 3 Sound source device 4 Cellular phone 5 IC tag 6 Map screen

Claims (8)

A wireless identification device comprising a wireless transmitter (1) carried by a pedestrian, a wireless identification device (2) mounted on a vehicle, and a sound source device (3) mounted on the vehicle. (2) The vehicle approach warning system characterized by notifying the pedestrian of the approach of the vehicle by receiving the identification and generating a pseudo engine sound from the sound source device (3).        The vehicle approach alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter (1) is a mobile phone (4).        The vehicle approach warning system according to claim 2, characterized in that the mobile phone (4) is equipped with GPS and starts to emit a pseudo engine sound when a pedestrian approaches the road.        The vehicle approach alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter (1) is an IC tag (5).        5. The vehicle approach alarm according to claim 1, wherein the wireless identification device (2) displays the position of the wireless transmitter (1) on a map screen (6) mounted on the vehicle. system. The position information of the wireless transmitter (1) acquired by another vehicle is shared by a communication network and displayed on the map screen (6). Car proximity warning system. 6. The information of the wireless transmitter (1) acquired by another automobile is shared by a communication network, and a pseudo engine sound is emitted from the sound source device (3). The vehicle approach warning system described. The vehicle approach warning system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the map screen (6) is a map screen of a car navigation system.