JP2011057134A - Vehicle emergency stop device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a vehicle to make an automatic emergency stop according to response operation of a passenger only if detecting an abnormality of a driver while preventing a vehicle emergency stop device from being operated by an error or an intention of the passenger regarding the vehicle emergency stop device. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicle emergency stop device includes: a driver-state detecting means 10 for detecting an abnormality of a driver; a notification means 3 for the inside of a vehicle and notification means 6, 7 for the outside of a vehicle that notify an abnormality of the driver to the inside and the outside of a vehicle when the driver-state detecting means 10 detects the abnormality of the driver; passenger-side stop request detecting means 4, 5 that detect a vehicle stop request of a passenger on the basis of response operation of the passenger; an automatic braking means 8 for automatically braking a vehicle; and a control means 20 that sends a braking instruction to the automatic braking means 8 by determining that an emergency stop is necessary when the abnormality of the driver is detected by the driver-state detecting means 10 and the vehicle stop request of the passenger is detected by the passenger-side stop request detecting means 4, 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an emergency stop device suitable for a vehicle for transporting passengers, particularly a bus.

  On route buses and sightseeing buses, there have been reports of accidents where the driver suddenly loses consciousness and cannot operate the bus. In such a situation of sudden loss of driver's consciousness, it is difficult for the passenger to immediately grasp the driver's loss of consciousness, and it is also possible for the passenger to operate the brake instead of the driver. Have difficulty. Therefore, safety measures for such a situation are required. As a safety measure, for example, a button such as a train emergency stop button may be installed in the vehicle.

  Also, as disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, when a specific operation or voice of the operator of the device in an emergency is recognized, means for emergency stopping the device is known. Specifically, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for determining an emergency state by operating an accelerator pedal operation or abnormal sound of a driver when a danger is recognized, and operating an automatic brake. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique for emergency stopping of a device when an abnormal voice of an operator is recognized.

JP 2008-260507 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 6-27986

However, with a simple button installation such as an emergency stop button for a train, if the passenger operates the button accidentally or intentionally at normal times, the vehicle will stop urgently regardless of the driving operation of the driver.
In addition, both the technology described in Patent Document 1 and the technology described in Patent Document 2 are based on the reaction of a conscious operator (driver or worker), and the driver has lost consciousness as described above. I can not cope with the case.

  The present invention has been devised in view of such a problem, and automatically detects a vehicle abnormality based on a passenger's response operation only when a driver's abnormality is detected without a passenger's error or intentional operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle emergency stop device capable of emergency stop.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle emergency stop device according to the present invention is a vehicle emergency stop device that makes an emergency stop of a vehicle that transports passengers, a driver state detection unit that detects a driver's abnormality, and the driver When the state detection means detects an abnormality of the driver, an in-vehicle notification means for notifying the driver of the abnormality in the vehicle and an abnormality of the driver when the driver state detection means detects the abnormality of the driver Vehicle outside notification means for informing the vehicle outside, a passenger side stop request detection means for detecting a vehicle stop request of the passenger based on a response operation of the passenger, and automatic braking for automatically braking the vehicle And when an abnormality of the driver is detected by the driver state detection means and a passenger vehicle stop request is detected by the passenger side stop request detection means, it is determined that an emergency stop is necessary. The self It is characterized in that a control means for performing a braking instruction to the braking means.

  The driver state detection means includes an image sensor for detecting the driver's line of sight and face orientation, a seat pressure sensor for detecting the seat pressure applied to the driver's seat, and a steering grip force sensor for detecting a grip force applied to the steering wheel. And the direction and posture of the driver's line of sight and face detected by the image sensor, the seat pressure distribution detected by the seat pressure sensor, and the grip strength detected by the steering grip force sensor. It is preferable to detect an abnormality of the driver.

Moreover, it is preferable that the said control means validates the function of the said passenger side stop request | requirement detection means after a driver | operator's abnormality is detected by the said driver | operator state detection means.
The passenger-side stop request detecting means has a sound detecting means for detecting the sound in the vehicle, and when the sound detected by the sound detecting means corresponds to a preset specific sound, the sound is requested to the passenger's vehicle stop. Is preferably considered.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said passenger | crew side stop request | requirement detection means has a stop button operated by the passenger, and when the said stop button is operated, that operation is regarded as a passenger's vehicle stop request | requirement.

  According to the vehicle collision avoidance device of the present invention, automatic braking is performed when the driver's abnormality is detected by the driver state detection means and the passenger's vehicle stop request detection is detected by the passenger side stop request detection means. The vehicle can be automatically and urgently stopped based on the response operation of the passenger only when a driver's abnormality is detected without the passenger's error or intentional operation of the device. In addition, the driver's abnormality can be immediately notified to the inside and outside of the vehicle by the in-vehicle informing means and the in-vehicle informing means, prompting the passengers to respond, and prompting other vehicles and pedestrians to take safe actions.

It is a mimetic diagram showing the whole picture of the vehicle emergency stop device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the action | operation order of the vehicle emergency stop apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the action | operation order of the vehicle emergency stop apparatus which concerns on the modification of one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a vehicle emergency stop device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<Configuration>
As shown in FIG. 1, the emergency stop device 1 of the present embodiment is provided on a bus 2 and includes a driver state detection device (driver state detection means) 10 and an alarm buzzer (in-vehicle notification means). ) 3, microphone (sound detection means; passenger side stop request detection means) 4, stop button (passenger side stop request detection means) 5, speaker (outside vehicle notification means) 6, hazard lamp (outside vehicle notification means) ) 7, a brake ECU (automatic braking means) 8, and a main ECU (control means) 20.

  The driver state detection device 10 detects an abnormality of the driver, and includes an image sensor 11 that detects the driver's line of sight, face orientation, and posture, and a seat pressure sensor that detects the seat pressure applied to the driver's seat. 12, a steering grip force sensor 13 that detects a grip force applied to the steering, and an abnormality determination unit that determines a driver's abnormality based on information detected by the sensors 11 to 13. Loss of driver's consciousness is assumed as a driver's abnormality.

The abnormality determination unit is based on the driver's line of sight and face orientation and posture detected by the image sensor 11, the seat pressure distribution detected by the seat pressure sensor 12, and the grip strength detected by the steering grip force sensor 13. Judgment of loss of driver's consciousness as a driver abnormality.
More specifically, the abnormality determination unit (1) detects that the image sensor 11 faces the driver's line of sight or face for a long time other than forward. (2) The image sensor 11 detects that the driver's neck is (3) The seat pressure sensor 12 detects that the seat pressure is extremely biased. (4) The steering grip force sensor 13 has an abnormally low grip force or zero grip force. When at least one of the detected things is established, it is determined that the person is consciousness loss rather than a sidewalk or doze. In order to make the determination of loss of consciousness more strict, it may be determined that loss of consciousness occurs when a plurality of the above (1) to (4) is established. When the abnormality determination unit determines that it is loss of consciousness, it outputs a signal (abnormal signal) that informs the main ECU 20 described later that abnormality has been detected.

The alarm buzzer 3 is a notification means that emits a buzzer sound, and when the driver state detection device 10 detects loss of consciousness of the driver, the driver has lost consciousness in response to a control signal from the main ECU 20 described later. Is warned by a buzzer sound to passengers in the car.
A plurality of microphones 4 are used to detect the sound in the vehicle, and a plurality of microphones 4 are provided and installed at several locations in the vehicle such as the vicinity of the driver's seat and the vicinity of the passenger seat. The microphone 4 is provided with a sound determination unit that determines whether or not the sound detected by the microphone 4 corresponds to a preset specific sound, and a storage unit that stores the specific sound.

The specific voice is a word suitable for grasping an emergency stop request of a passenger and a voice of a certain sound pressure level or higher. Specifically, for example, the word “stop!” Is set. An appropriate value (db) is set as the critical sound pressure level.
Then, the voice determination unit determines whether the voice detected from the microphone 4 includes the word “stop!” Or the voice detected from the microphone 4 has a sound pressure level equal to or higher than a set value. Is now requesting an emergency stop. If it is determined that the passenger is requesting an emergency stop, a signal (request signal) notifying the passenger of an emergency stop request is output to the main ECU 20 described later, assuming that the passenger's emergency stop request is detected.

In addition, the word as a specific voice is not limited to “stop!”, But other words such as “stop!”, “Brake!”, “Dangerous!” May be set. There may be several words set. However, words that are short and difficult to use in normal conversation are preferred.
The stop button 5 is pressed by a passenger in an emergency, and a plurality of stop buttons 5 are provided in the same manner as the microphone 40, and are installed at several locations in the vehicle such as the vicinity of the driver's seat and the vicinity of the passenger seat. The microphone 4 and the stop button 5 may be installed as a set as shown in FIG. 1, or may be installed separately from each other. However, the microphone 4 is easy to detect the sound in the vehicle, and the stop button 5 is installed at a position that is visible to the passenger and easily operated by the passenger. When the stop button 5 is pressed, it outputs a signal (request signal) that informs the main ECU 20 (to be described later) of the emergency stop request of the passenger that it has detected the emergency stop request of the passenger.

The speaker 6 notifies the surroundings (outside the vehicle) that the driver has lost consciousness and the bus 2 is in an emergency, and receives, for example, a word “Emergency!” In response to a control signal from the main ECU 20 described later. By repeatedly issuing, warnings are issued to other vehicles and pedestrians before emergency stop, and safety actions are encouraged.
Like the speaker 6, the hazard lamp 7 notifies the surroundings that the bus 2 is in an emergency, and blinks at predetermined intervals in response to a control signal from a main ECU 20 described later. As the hazard lamp 7, an existing hazard lamp that informs the surroundings of the direction change or stop may be used, or a new lamp different from the existing hazard lamp may be provided. When using an existing hazard lamp, it is preferable that the blinking interval in this emergency is different from that at the time of turning or stopping.

The brake ECU 8 is an electronic control unit that controls a brake device (not shown). The brake ECU 8 receives a control signal from the main ECU 20 to be described later, and operates the brake device even if the driver does not depress the brake pedal. It is actuated to automatically brake the bus 2.
The main ECU 20 is an electronic control unit that controls the entire apparatus 1, and determines the necessity of an emergency stop based on information from the driver state detection device 10, information from the microphone 4, and information from the stop button 5. When it is determined that an emergency stop is necessary, the brake ECU 8 is instructed to perform braking.

The main ECU 20 is electrically connected to a driver state detection device 10, an alarm buzzer 3, a microphone 4, a stop button 5, a speaker 6, a hazard lamp 7, and a brake ECU 8. And information (signal) is input from each part 4,5,10, or a control signal is output to each part 3-8.
Specifically, the main ECU 20 outputs a control signal to the alarm buzzer 3, the speaker 6, and the hazard lamp 7 when an abnormal signal notifying the driver of an abnormality is input from the driver state detection device 10. Notifying the passenger in the vehicle of the driver's abnormality and notifying the emergency situation of the bus 2 outside the vehicle by the speaker 6 and the hazard lamp 7, simultaneously outputting a control signal to the microphone 4 and the stop button 5, the microphone 4 and the stop button 5 Turn on the power. As a result, the microphone 4 and the stop button 5 are activated and the function is activated. In other words, after detecting the loss of consciousness of the driver, the emergency stop mechanism that activates the passengers and activates the emergency stop mechanism is activated. When a request signal notifying the passenger of an emergency stop request is input from at least one of the microphone 4 and the stop button 5, a control signal is output to the brake ECU 8 to automatically brake the bus 2.

<Action and effect>
Since the vehicle emergency stop device according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, the following operations and effects are achieved.
The device 1 operates according to a flowchart as shown in FIG.
First, in step S10, the driver state detection device 10 starts operating.

In step S <b> 20, the main ECU 20 determines whether or not the driver state detection device 10 has detected loss of consciousness of the driver, that is, whether or not an abnormal signal has been input from the driver state detection device 10. If loss of consciousness is detected, the process proceeds to step S30. If not, step S20 is repeated again.
In step S30, the main ECU 20 outputs a control signal to the alarm buzzer 3, and the alarm buzzer 3 emits a buzzer sound to notify the passengers in the vehicle of the driver's abnormality. At the same time, the main ECU 20 outputs a control signal to the microphone 4 and the stop button 5 to operate the microphone 4 and the stop button 5. As a result, the functions of the microphone 4 and the stop button 5 are enabled. At the same time, the main ECU 20 outputs a control signal to the speaker 6 and the hazard lamp 7, and the speaker 6 and the hazard lamp 7 warn outside the vehicle that the bus 2 is in an emergency situation.

In step S40, the main ECU 20 determines whether a specific sound is detected by the microphone 4 or whether the stop button 5 is operated. If a specific voice is detected or the stop button 5 is operated, the process proceeds to step S50. If not, step S40 is repeated again.
In step S50, the main ECU 20 outputs a control signal to the brake ECU 8 and applies automatic braking.

Such an operation of the device 1 can automatically detect the abnormality of the driver and immediately notify the inside and outside of the vehicle of the abnormality. And a passenger can recognize danger quickly and can stop the bus | bath 2 by response operation | movement, such as specific voice input and operation, or can prepare for an impact. In addition, the possibility that surrounding pedestrians and vehicles can avoid a collision with the bus 2 is increased.
In addition, since the automatic brake is actuated by the response operation of the passenger after the driver's abnormality is automatically detected by the driver state detection device 10, the automatic brake is actuated by an error or a deliberate operation of the passenger at normal times. There is an advantage that there is nothing. And since an automatic brake act | operates on the double conditions of a driver | operator's loss of consciousness detection and a passenger's response action detection, there exists an advantage that the reliability of this apparatus 1 improves by preventing improper operation | movement.

In addition, since the automatic brake operates, the collision speed can be reduced even if the vehicle stops before an accident occurs or if an accident occurs.
In addition, since the functions of the microphone 4 and the stop button 5 become effective after the abnormality is detected, it is not necessary to be covered with a sturdy case like an emergency stop button provided in a train, for example, and the structure is simplified and the cost is reduced. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of destroying the case in a time-consuming situation such as an emergency and to enable a quick response.
[Others]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the warning buzzer 3 notifies the passengers in the vehicle of the driver's abnormality, but notification means such as a warning sound other than a buzzer sound, an emergency lamp that notifies the abnormality by blinking, etc. The alarm buzzer 3 may be replaced by means.
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the speaker 6 and the hazard lamp 7 were provided and the emergency situation of the bus | bath 2 was alert | reported outside the vehicle, you may make it equip only one or may replace with another alerting | reporting means. Also good.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the microphone 4 and the stop button 5 were provided as a passenger side stop request | requirement detection means and the passenger's emergency stop request | requirement was detected based on response operation | movement, such as a voice and operation of a passenger, only either one is detected. You may make it provide, and it may replace with other appropriate means and may detect a stop demand on the passenger side.
Further, in the above embodiment, the automatic brake is applied after detecting the vehicle stop request of the passenger. However, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. A light automatic brake may be applied lightly before the stop request is detected (step S35), and a strong automatic brake may be applied after the passenger's vehicle stop request is detected (step S50 ').

Moreover, it is preferable to equip the vehicle drive recorder which records the image | video in the vehicle before and behind, and the telematics apparatus which reports to the office which manages operation of the bus | bath 2 when an automatic brake act | operates.
Further, it is preferable that the presence of the emergency stop means and the operation method thereof are generally made known to passengers through in-car broadcasts and notices.

In addition, it is preferable that the present device 1 and a known lane keeping device are combined so that the steering wheel is automatically steered when the automatic brake is applied so that the bus 2 travels in the own lane.
In the above embodiment, the driver state detection device 10 includes the image sensor 11, the seat pressure sensor 12, and the steering grip force sensor 13, and detects loss of consciousness of the driver based on information detected by these sensors 11 to 13. However, the configuration and method by which the driver state detection device 10 detects loss of consciousness of the driver is not limited thereto, and for example, other sensors may be provided to detect loss of consciousness. In addition, the abnormality determination unit of the driver state detection device 10 may be configured to be incorporated in the main ECU 20 as a function of the main ECU 20.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although an automatic brake is applied in the opportunity of loss of consciousness, this is because it is estimated that the driver | operator who lost consciousness cannot return to driving | operation easily. However, the present apparatus 1 may be combined with the detection of a dozing state. That is, in addition to detecting loss of consciousness as described above, the driver state detection device 10 also detects a drowsiness state. In the drowsiness state, the driver state is stimulated, or lightly automatic while giving a stimulus. It is preferable to apply a brake.

  In the above embodiment, the bus 2 has been described as an example. However, the emergency stop device 1 can be applied to all vehicles that transport passengers, and can be applied to, for example, a wagon type taxi.

1 Emergency stop device 2 Bus (vehicle)
3 Alarm buzzer (in-vehicle notification means)
4 Microphone (voice detection means; passenger stop request detection means)
5 Stop button (Passenger stop request detection means)
6 Speaker (In-vehicle notification means)
7 Hazard lamp (outside vehicle notification means)
8 Brake ECU (automatic braking means)
10 Driver state detection device (Driver state detection means)
11 Image sensor 12 Seat pressure sensor 13 Steering grip sensor 20 Main ECU (control means)

Claims (5)

A vehicle emergency stop device for emergency stopping a vehicle transporting passengers,
A driver state detection means for detecting a driver's abnormality;
In-vehicle notification means for notifying the driver of abnormality in the vehicle when the driver state detection means detects the abnormality of the driver;
When the driver state detection means detects a driver abnormality, a vehicle outside notification means for notifying the driver of the abnormality outside the vehicle;
Passenger-side stop request detection means that is provided in the vehicle and detects a passenger's vehicle stop request based on a response operation of the passenger;
Automatic braking means for automatically braking the vehicle;
When the driver's abnormality detection is detected by the driver state detection means, and the passenger's stop request detection means is detected by the passenger side stop request detection means, it is determined that an emergency stop is necessary and the automatic braking is performed. A vehicle emergency stop device comprising: control means for giving a braking instruction to the means. The driver state detecting means is
An image sensor that detects the driver's line of sight and face orientation, a seat pressure sensor that detects a seat pressure applied to the driver's seat, and a steering grip force sensor that detects a grip force applied to the steering wheel,
Based on the driver's line of sight and face orientation and posture detected by the image sensor, the seat pressure distribution detected by the seat pressure sensor, and the grip strength detected by the steering grip force sensor, the driver's abnormality is detected. The vehicle emergency stop device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle emergency stop device is detected. 3. The vehicle emergency stop according to claim 1, wherein the control unit enables the function of the passenger-side stop request detection unit after a driver abnormality is detected by the driver state detection unit. apparatus. The passenger-side stop request detecting means has a sound detecting means for detecting the sound in the vehicle, and when the sound detected by the sound detecting means corresponds to a preset specific sound, the sound is regarded as a passenger's vehicle stop request. The vehicle emergency stop device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vehicle emergency stop device is provided. The said passenger side stop request | requirement detection means has a stop button operated by the passenger, and when the said stop button is operated, that operation is regarded as a passenger's vehicle stop request | requirement of Claims 1-4, The vehicle emergency stop device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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