JP2012234391A - Notification device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a traveling comfort by prompting a driver to drive at an appropriate travel speed on a level difference and reducing vibration.SOLUTION: A level difference detecting device 3 detects a level difference on a road surface of a traveling route of a vehicle, and a level difference classification section 6 of a vibration estimation ECU 4 specifies the shape of the level difference. A vibration generation determining section 7 calculates, according to the shape of the level difference, a traveling speed range where the vibration of the vehicle when passing the level difference becomes a predetermined amount or more, and a notification device 5 notifies the driver of a guide to increase/decrease the traveling speed such that the traveling speed of the vehicle departs from the traveling speed range.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle alarm device, and relates to a technique for providing vehicle vibration information when passing through a step.

Conventionally, various technologies have been developed in order to improve the driving comfort and driving safety of a vehicle.
For example, there is known a vehicle notification device that acquires information such as a traveling environment and a traveling state of a vehicle, notifies a driver based on the information, and alerts the driver, thereby preventing an accident such as a collision in advance. (Patent Document 1).
Specifically, in the vehicle alarm device of Patent Document 1, the driving environment at the time of the unexpected encounter is stored, and when the stored driving environment and the current driving environment of the immediate future coincide, It is configured to notify the person. As a result, the vehicle notification device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 can perform notification according to the driver's past experience, so that appropriate notification can be performed for each vehicle and driver.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-217098

  As one of the information notified to the driver, there is vibration information of the vehicle when passing through a step. The vibration when the vehicle passes through the step differs greatly depending on the traveling speed. In general, when the vehicle passes through a step, driving safety can be improved by reducing the traveling speed of the vehicle. However, depending on the structure of the vehicle and the shape of the steps, by increasing the traveling speed within a range that ensures traveling safety, vibration may be reduced and traveling comfort may be improved.

On the other hand, in the vehicle notification device of Patent Document 1 described above, it is possible to perform notification by detecting road conditions such as steps, but this notification only allows the driver to reduce the traveling speed. Otherwise, there is a risk that vibration will increase and drive comfort will be reduced.
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and the object of the present invention is to encourage the driver to travel at an appropriate speed when passing through a step to reduce vibrations and to improve driving comfort. It is in providing the alerting | reporting apparatus for vehicles which improves property.

  In order to achieve the above object, a vehicular alarm device according to claim 1 includes a step shape detecting means for detecting a shape of a step on a traveling route surface of the vehicle, and a traveling speed detecting means for detecting a traveling speed of the vehicle. Based on the step shape detected by the step shape detecting means, vibration generation speed calculating means for calculating a traveling speed range in which the vibration of the vehicle when passing the step is a predetermined amount or more, and detected by the traveling speed detecting means. And a notification means for notifying the driver of the vehicle of the increase / decrease of the travel speed before passing through the step so that the travel speed of the vehicle deviates from the travel speed range calculated by the vibration generation speed calculation means. And

Further, in the vehicle alarm device according to claim 2, the alarm device according to claim 1 is configured such that the notification unit detects the step difference based on the shape of the step detected by the step shape detection unit and the travel speed detected by the travel speed detection unit. The vehicle vibration at the time of passing is predicted, and the travel speed increase / decrease guidance is notified only when the vibration amount is a predetermined amount or more.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle alarm device according to the first or second aspect, the vibration generation speed calculation means is configured to have a step shape corresponding to the height of the step and the size of the tip R of the protrusion protruding above the step. Are classified into a plurality of types, and a traveling speed range is set according to the classification of the steps.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, based on the shape of the step and the traveling speed, a traveling speed range where the vibration of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount when the step is passed is calculated, and from the traveling speed range before the passage of the step. Since the driver is informed of the traveling speed increase / decrease guidance so as to deviate, the driver can control the traveling speed in accordance with the notification to suppress vibrations when the step passes.
In particular, according to the present invention, not only a decrease in the traveling speed but also a guidance for an increase in the traveling speed is performed as necessary. Therefore, a more appropriate traveling speed can be guided, and vibrations can be reduced and traveling comfort can be improved. .

According to the second aspect of the invention, only when the vibration of the vehicle at the time of passage of the step predicted based on the shape of the step and the traveling speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, the traveling speed increase / decrease guidance is notified. Since it is performed, unnecessary notification to the driver can be suppressed, and troublesomeness during driving can be reduced.
According to the invention of claim 3, the shape of the step is classified into a plurality of types according to the height of the step and the size of R of the protrusion, and the vibration of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined amount according to the classification of the step. Since the generated traveling speed range is set, it is possible to easily calculate the traveling speed range in which the vibration of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, thereby simplifying the control.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle notification device according to the present invention. It is a map which shows the example of a setting of a vibration generation area. It is a flowchart which shows the control routine in vibration estimation ECU which concerns on this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle alarm device according to the present invention.
The vehicle notification device of the present embodiment is mounted on a self-propelled vehicle and notifies the driver of the vehicle.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle notification device 1 includes a vehicle speed sensor 2 (running speed detection means), a step detection device 3, a vibration estimation ECU (electronic control unit) 4, and a notification device 5.

The vehicle speed sensor 2 has a function of detecting the traveling speed of the vehicle. In addition to the vehicle speed sensor, the traveling speed of the vehicle may be obtained by inputting data from another control device of the vehicle (not shown).
The level difference detection device 3 is a database on which road information can be acquired via a navigation system or road equipment in which road information is mounted, or a radar system mounted on a vehicle, such as the state on the road surface of the vehicle. It has a function of detecting the presence or absence of a step on the traveling route road surface and its shape or acquiring information.

The vibration estimation ECU 4 includes an input / output device, a storage device (ROM, RAM, nonvolatile RAM, etc.), a central processing unit (CPU), and the like.
Detection information from the vehicle speed sensor 2 and the step detection device 3 is input to the input side of the vibration estimation ECU 4. A notification device 5 is connected to the output side of the vibration estimation ECU 4, and the operation of the notification device 5 is controlled based on detection information from the vehicle speed sensor 2 and the step detection device 3.

The vibration estimation ECU 4 includes a step classification unit 6 and a vibration generation determination unit 7.
The level difference classification unit 6 inputs detection information from the level difference detection device 3, calculates the distance to the level difference on the traveling route surface of the vehicle, and classifies the shape of the level difference. The shape of the step is classified into, for example, three types A to C. In type A, when the tip R of the protrusion protruding above the step is Ra or less and the height H is Ha or less (R ≦ Ra and H ≦ Ha), type B has a step tip R that is greater than Ra and less than Rb. When the height is greater than Ha and less than Hb (Ra <R <Rb and Ha <H <Hb), type C is when the tip R of the step is Rb or more and the height is Hb or more (R ≧ Rb and H ≧ Hb). It should be noted that Ra and Rb, which are threshold values for the tip R of the step, and Ha and Hb, which are threshold values for the height H, may be appropriately set while satisfying the relationship of Ra <Rb and Ha <Hb. The step classification unit 6 and the step detection device 3 of the vibration estimation ECU 4 correspond to the step shape detection means of the present invention.

  The vibration generation determination unit 7 has a function of inputting the distance to the step and the step classification calculated by the step classification unit 6 and calculating the vibration generation region according to the classification classified by the step classification unit 6. The vibration generation region is a range of travel speed where the vibration of the vehicle when passing through the step is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount Aa close to the allowable upper limit. The vibration generation determination unit 7 stores a map for calculating a vibration generation region for each of the steps A to C.

FIG. 2 is a map showing a setting example of the vibration generation region. FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the traveling speed of the vehicle and the vibration level (acceleration) when passing through the step A. In this example, the vibration level is larger than the predetermined amount Aa in the range of the traveling speed from Va to Vb. It has become. Therefore, the vibration generation region when passing through the step A is a travel speed range from Va to Vb.
Further, the vibration generation determination unit 7 inputs the current traveling speed of the vehicle from the vehicle speed sensor 2 and determines whether or not the traveling speed is within the vibration generation region. And when it exists in a vibration generation area, it will calculate how much it will remove | deviate from a vibration generation area how much traveling speed is increased / decreased. In addition, as shown in FIG. 32, when the vibration generation region is set in the range from Va to Vb, it can deviate from the vibration generation region regardless of whether the traveling speed is increased or decreased from the vibration generation region. However, it is only necessary to select one of the increase and decrease that has a smaller difference in speed until it deviates from the vibration generation region. And it has a function which outputs the information which has a level | step difference on the driving | running route road surface of a vehicle, the distance to a level | step difference, how much it increases / decreases, and remove | deviates from a vibration generation area to the alerting | reporting apparatus 5.

The calculation function of the vibration generation region in the vibration generation determination unit 7 corresponds to the vibration generation speed calculation means of the present invention.
The notification device 5 is a device having a function of notifying the driver, such as a voice guidance device or a display device provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle, and based on information from the vibration generation determination unit 7, It has a function of notifying that the step is approaching, a function of notifying the distance to the step, and a function of guiding increase / decrease in travel speed.

Note that the function of calculating the increase / decrease of the traveling speed so as to deviate from the vibration generation region in the vibration generation determination unit 7 and the notification device 5 correspond to the notification means of the present invention.
Next, control procedures in the step classification unit 6 and the vibration occurrence determination unit 7 in the vibration estimation ECU 4 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a control routine in the vibration estimation ECU 4 according to the present invention.

This routine is repeated during vehicle travel.
First, in step S10, detection information from the level difference detection device 3 is input, and it is determined whether or not there is a level difference on the traveling route surface. If there is a step, the process proceeds to step S20. If there is no step, this routine ends.
In step S20, the steps are classified into A to C based on the detection information from the step detection device 3 input in step S10. As described above, the steps are classified in the step classification unit 6 based on the height H and the tip R of the step. Then, the process proceeds to step S30.

In step S30, it is determined whether or not the level difference on the traveling route road surface classified in step S20 is type A. If it is type A, the process proceeds to step S40.
In step S40, the vibration generation area of the step A is calculated. Specifically, as described above, the vibration generation determination unit 7 reads a travel speed range (for example, Va to Vb in FIG. 2) in which the vibration level is greater than the predetermined amount Aa based on the map of the step A stored in advance. Then, the process proceeds to step S50.

In step S50, it is determined whether or not the current traveling speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 2 is within the vibration generation region of the step A calculated in step S40. If it is within the vibration generation region, the process proceeds to step S60. If it is outside the vibration generation region, this routine ends.
In step S60, the vibration generation determination unit 7 calculates how much the current traveling speed is increased or decreased as described above to calculate whether the step A is out of the vibration generation region calculated in step S40. In addition, the information is output to the notification device 5. Then, this routine ends.

If it is determined in step S30 that the step type is not A, the process proceeds to step S70.
In step S70, it is determined whether or not the level difference on the traveling route road surface classified in step S20 is type B. If it is type B, the process proceeds to step S80.
In step S80, the vibration generation region of the step B is calculated based on the map of the step B as in step S40. Then, the process proceeds to step S90.

In step S90, it is determined whether or not the current traveling speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 2 is within the vibration generation region of the step B calculated in step S80. If it is within the vibration generation region, the process proceeds to step S100. If it is outside the vibration generation region, this routine ends.
In step S100, as in step S60, the vibration generation determination unit 7 calculates how much the current travel speed should be increased or decreased to deviate from the vibration generation region of the step B calculated in step S80, and the notification device 5 Output to. Then, this routine ends.

If it is determined in step S70 that the step type is not B, the process proceeds to step S110. In this routine, a step not corresponding to the step A or B is regarded as a step C.
In step S110, the vibration generation region of the step C is calculated based on the map of the step C as in steps S40 and S80. Then, the process proceeds to step S120.

In step S120, it is determined whether or not the current traveling speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 2 is within the vibration generation region of the step C calculated in step S110. If it is within the vibration generation region, the process proceeds to step S130. If it is outside the vibration generation region, this routine ends.
In step S130, as in steps S60 and S100, the vibration generation determination unit 7 calculates how much the current vehicle traveling speed should be increased or decreased to deviate from the vibration generation region of the step C calculated in step S110. The information is output to the notification device 5. Then, this routine ends.

  By controlling as described above, the vehicle alarm device 1 according to the present embodiment detects a step on the traveling road surface, and determines the shape of the three steps A to C based on the height of the step and the tip R of the protrusion. Classify. Then, it is determined whether or not the current traveling speed of the vehicle is within the vibration generation area stored in advance for each of the classifications A to C. If it is within the vibration generation area, how much the traveling speed is increased or decreased. It is calculated whether the vibration is out of the vibration generation area, and the driver is notified by the notification device 5.

  As described above, based on the shape of the step, the vibration generation region that is the vehicle traveling speed range in which the vibration of the vehicle at the time of passage of the step is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount is calculated, Since the driver is informed of the travel speed increase / decrease guide, the driver can control the travel speed by operating the accelerator and the brake in accordance with the notification, thereby suppressing the vibration when the step passes.

In particular, according to the present invention, not only a decrease in travel speed but also guidance for an increase in travel speed is performed as necessary. Therefore, more appropriate travel can be performed even when vibration is suppressed by increasing the travel speed. Speed guidance is possible, and vibration can be reduced and driving comfort can be improved.
Further, since the travel speed increase / decrease guidance is notified only when the travel speed of the vehicle is within the vibration generation region, that is, when the vibration of the vehicle at the time of passing through the step exceeds a predetermined amount, unnecessary notification to the driver is performed. The troublesomeness at the time of driving | running can be reduced and can be reduced.

Further, since the step is classified into three parts A to C when setting the vibration generation region, it is possible to easily calculate the vibration generation region and to simplify the control. .
In the above embodiment, the shape of the step is classified into three according to the height of the step and the size of the tip R of the protrusion. For example, only one of the height of the step and the tip R of the protrusion is used. Or may be classified by adding other conditions such as the weight of the vehicle. Also, the number of vibration setting areas may be set to three or more instead of three, or may be set continuously.

  In the present embodiment, the notification device 5 provides guidance for increasing / decreasing the traveling speed in order to suppress the presence / absence of a step, the distance to the step, and the vibration. Should be done. In addition to the presence / absence of a step, the distance to the step, and travel speed increase / decrease guidance for suppressing vibration, information such as the size of the step may be notified to the driver.

  In the present embodiment, the vibration generation area is stored in advance in the map for each step, but this map may be rewritten. For example, if an acceleration sensor is mounted on the vehicle and the map is rewritten with the shape and travel speed of the step and the actual acceleration data detected by the acceleration sensor every time the step passes, the subsequent control can be performed more accurately. .

  Further, in this embodiment, the notification device 5 notifies the driver before the passage of the step, but only when the guidance is for reducing the traveling speed, control for automatically reducing the traveling speed of the vehicle may be performed. Good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Notification apparatus for vehicles 2 Vehicle speed sensor 3 Level | step difference detection apparatus 4 Vibration estimation ECU
5 Notification Device 6 Step Classification Unit 7 Vibration Generation Determination Unit

Claims (3)

Step shape detecting means for detecting the shape of the step on the road surface of the vehicle,
Travel speed detecting means for detecting the travel speed of the vehicle;
Based on the shape of the step detected by the step shape detecting means, vibration generation speed calculating means for calculating a traveling speed range in which the vibration of the vehicle when passing the step is a predetermined amount or more;
The travel speed increase / decrease guidance is provided before the step is passed so that the travel speed of the vehicle detected by the travel speed detection means deviates from the travel speed range calculated by the vibration generation speed calculation means. Informing means for informing the person;
A vehicle notification device comprising:   The notification means predicts a vibration amount of the vehicle at the time of passage of the step based on the shape of the step detected by the step shape detection means and the travel speed detected by the travel speed detection means, The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed increase / decrease guidance is notified only when the vibration amount is equal to or greater than the predetermined amount.   The vibration generation speed calculating means classifies the shape of the step into a plurality of types according to the height of the step and the size of the tip R of the protrusion protruding above the step, and according to the classification of the step. The vehicle notification device according to claim 1, wherein the traveling speed range is set.

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