JP2014008830A - Occupant detection system and occupant detection method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an occupant detection system and occupant detection method making it possible to concentrate system components inside or around equipment which an occupant operates.SOLUTION: An occupant detection system (100) in accordance with the present invention is an occupant detection system that detects an occupant who operates equipment loaded on a vehicle, and includes: an electrode unit (120) that is electrically connected to an operating unit via an impedance which is produced by the occupant when the occupant manipulates the operating unit of the equipment; a signal generation unit (130) that generates a signal and feeds the signal to the electrode unit; and a signal discrimination unit (140) that discriminates the signal which the signal generation unit has fed to the electrode unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant detection device and a vehicle occupant detection method.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an occupant detection device that detects an occupant who operates a device in order to prohibit the operation of a device such as a navigation system by a driver and allow only the operation by a passenger in a passenger seat while the vehicle is traveling. As this type of prior art, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-238952 (Patent Document 1), an AC signal is given to the occupant's body through an electrode provided on the seat, and this AC signal is detected on the operation unit side. Thus, a technique for detecting an operator of an operation unit is disclosed. Further, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-241576 (Patent Document 2), an identification signal is given to an occupant's body through an electrode provided on a seat, and an operator of the car navigation device is detected based on the identification signal. Technology is disclosed.

  FIG. 10 shows an apparatus configuration based on a technical idea common to the above-described conventional technology. As shown in the figure, an electrode 11 is provided on the seating surface of the passenger seat SP of the vehicle, and a signal generating circuit 12 is connected to the electrode 11. A signal discrimination circuit 14 is connected to an operation unit of a device 13 (for example, a navigation system) installed on a dashboard (not shown) of the vehicle.

  According to this prior art, when the occupant P is seated on the passenger seat SP, a signal is transmitted from the signal generation circuit 12 to the occupant P via the electrode 11 of the passenger seat SP. At this time, if the passenger P is not operating the operation unit of the device 13, no signal is input from the operation unit of the device 13 to the signal determination circuit 14. On the other hand, if the occupant P is operating the device 13, the signal transmitted from the signal generation circuit 12 to the occupant P via the electrode 11 is transmitted to the operation unit of the device 13, and signal discrimination is performed via this operation unit. Input to the circuit 14.

  The signal determination circuit 14 determines whether or not the occupant operating the device 13 is the occupant P seated in the passenger seat SP based on a signal input via the operation unit of the device 13. That is, if the signal input from the operation unit of the device 13 matches the signal output from the signal generation circuit 12, the signal determination circuit 14 indicates that the occupant operating the device 13 is the assistant provided with the electrode 11. It is determined that the passenger P is seated in the seat SP. As a result, an occupant P seated on the passenger seat SP is detected as an occupant operating the device 13.

JP 2008-238952 A JP 2008-241576 A

  However, according to the above-described prior art, it is necessary to provide the electrode 11 on the seat of the vehicle and to incorporate the signal discrimination circuit 14 in a device such as a navigation system, and the components of the device are arranged on the seat side and the device side of the vehicle. Distributed. For this reason, there is a problem in that the cost of a device such as a navigation system increases, and the work time when the device is attached to the vehicle increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an occupant detection device and an occupant detection method capable of suppressing dispersion of components of the device.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, one aspect of an occupant determination device according to the present invention is an occupant detection device that detects an occupant operating a device mounted on a vehicle, and the occupant operates an operation unit of the device. An electrode unit electrically connected to the operation unit via an impedance formed by the occupant, a signal generation unit that generates a signal and supplies the signal to the electrode unit, and a signal on the operation unit of the device And a signal discriminating unit for discriminating a signal supplied to the electrode by the signal generating unit.

  In one aspect of the occupant detection device, for example, the electrode unit is provided on the operation unit so as to form a capacitance with a part of a body of an occupant operating the device from the passenger seat side of the vehicle. It is characterized by being placed in close proximity.

  In one aspect of the occupant detection device, for example, the electrode unit is provided on the operation unit so as to form a capacitance with a part of the occupant's body operating the device from the driver's seat side of the vehicle. It is characterized by being placed in close proximity.

  In one aspect of the occupant detection device, for example, the electrode unit is provided on the operation unit so as to form a capacitance with a part of a body of an occupant operating the device from the passenger seat side of the vehicle. It arrange | positions close to the said operation part so that an electrostatic capacitance may be formed between the 1st electrode arrange | positioned in close proximity, and a part of the body of the passenger | crew who operates the said apparatus from the driver's seat side of the said vehicle. A second electrode, and the signal generator generates a first AC signal and a second AC signal as signals to be supplied to the electrode unit and supplies them to the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively. The signal discriminating unit discriminates a component of the first AC signal and a component of the second AC signal from a signal on the operation unit.

  In one aspect of the occupant detection device, for example, the electrode unit is electrically connected to the operation unit via the occupant when coming into contact with another part of the occupant's body. .

  In one aspect of the occupant detection device, for example, the device is a vehicle navigation system, and the operation unit is a touch panel of the navigation system.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, one aspect of an occupant determination method according to the present invention is an occupant detection method for detecting an occupant operating a device mounted on a vehicle, and an electrode unit disposed in the vicinity of the operation unit of the device. Supplying a signal to the operation unit, electrically connecting the electrode unit to the operation unit via an impedance formed by the occupant when the occupant operates the operation unit of the device, and the operation unit Determining the signal supplied to the electrode from the above signal.

  According to the present invention, the electrodes are arranged around the operation unit of the device operated by the occupant, and the signal supplied to the electrodes is transmitted to the operation unit of the device via the impedance formed by the occupant. The components of the device for detecting an occupant can be aggregated inside or around the device, and dispersion of the components of the device can be suppressed.

It is a figure for demonstrating the application example of the passenger | crew detection apparatus by 1st Embodiment of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows typically an example of a structure of the passenger | crew detection apparatus by 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the state which the passenger | crew of a vehicle does not operate a navigation system, (b) shows a vehicle It is a figure which shows the state which the passenger | crew of is operating the navigation system. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of operation | movement of the passenger | crew detection apparatus by 1st Embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the state which the passenger | crew of the vehicle is not operating a navigation system, (b) is vehicle It is a figure which shows the state which the passenger | crew of is operating the navigation system. It is a signal waveform diagram for supplementarily explaining an example of the operation of the occupant detection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically an example of a structure of the passenger | crew detection apparatus by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the modification of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically an example of a structure of the passenger | crew detection apparatus by 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically an example of a structure of the passenger | crew detection apparatus by 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the passenger | crew detection by a prior art.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Note that the same reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the specification and the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 shows an application example of an occupant detection device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the device N to which the occupant detection device 100 is applied is a navigation system mounted on a vehicle, and the device N is hereinafter referred to as a navigation system N. The main body of the navigation system N is installed in the approximate center of the dashboard DB so that the driver D of the driver seat SD and the passenger P of the passenger seat SP can operate. However, the device N is not limited to this example, and any device N may be used as long as the device is operated by an occupant.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of the occupant detection device 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2A illustrates a state in which the vehicle occupant is not operating the navigation system N, and FIG. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a vehicle occupant is operating the navigation system N. FIG.

  An occupant detection device 100 shown in FIG. 2 is an occupant detection device that detects an occupant operating a navigation system N mounted on a vehicle, and includes an electrode unit 120, a signal generation unit 130, and a signal determination unit 140. ing. Here, the electrode unit 120 is an outer edge portion of the front surface of the main body of the navigation system N and is disposed in the vicinity of the touch panel (touch screen) T that is an operation unit of the navigation system N.

  In this embodiment, the electrode unit 120 is closer to the passenger seat SP than the driver seat SD, and the passenger P of the passenger seat SP operates the touch panel T with his hand (part of the body of the passenger P). , It is disposed at a position close to the hand of the passenger P. In the example of FIG. 2, the electrode unit 120 is disposed so as to surround the substantially right half of the touch panel T at the outer edge on the right front side of the main body of the navigation system N. The electrode unit 120 is electrically connected to the touch panel T via an impedance formed by an occupant operating the navigation system N. A signal on the touch panel T is input to the signal determination unit 140.

  The signal generator 130 is for generating an AC signal S1 having a predetermined frequency and supplying it to the electrode unit 120. In the present embodiment, the AC signal S1 generated by the signal generator 130 is an AC signal having a frequency that can propagate through a path including an impedance formed by the passenger of the passenger seat SP. The signal discriminating unit 140 detects the signal S2 on the touch panel T, and discriminates the signal component of the AC signal S1 supplied from the signal generating unit 130 to the electrode unit 120 from the signal S2. Note that the signal S2 may include a scanning signal component of the touch panel T, noise, and the like in addition to the signal component of the AC signal S1. Further, “discrimination” in the signal discrimination unit 140 can be replaced with terms such as judgment, extraction, detection, identification, and recognition. The same applies to other embodiments.

Next, the operation of the occupant detection device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 in addition to FIGS. 1 and 2.
Here, FIG. 3 is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the passenger | crew detection apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2, (a) shows the state which the passenger | crew of the vehicle is not operating the navigation system N, (b) Indicates a state in which the vehicle occupant is operating the navigation system N. FIG. 4 is a signal waveform diagram for supplementarily explaining the operation of the occupant detection device 100.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), when the vehicle occupant is not operating the navigation system N, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the touch panel T of the navigation system N and the navigation system N It will be in the state electrically insulated from the electrode part 120 arrange | positioned at a front outer edge part. For this reason, the AC signal S <b> 1 supplied from the signal generation unit 130 to the electrode unit 120 is not transmitted to the touch panel T.

  As a result, as shown in the section before time t0 in FIG. 4, the signal S2 on the touch panel T does not include the signal component of the AC signal S1 supplied from the signal generation unit 130 to the electrode unit 120. Therefore, in this case, the signal determination unit 140 connected to the touch panel T does not determine the signal component of the AC signal S1 supplied from the signal generation unit 130 to the electrode unit 120 from the signal S2 on the touch panel T. In this case, the signal determination unit 140 outputs a negative determination result that the signal component of the AC signal S1 is not included in the signal S2.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), when the occupant P seated in the passenger seat SP operates the touch panel T of the navigation system N with the hand H, as shown in FIG. And the electrode part 120 are spatially close to each other. For this reason, a capacitance C is formed between the hand H and the electrode part 120, and the hand H and the electrode part 120 are capacitively coupled. Further, when the passenger P operates the touch panel T and the hand H comes into contact with the touch panel T, the hand H and the touch panel T are electrically connected through the impedance Z. Thereby, the electrode part 120 and the touch panel T are electrically connected.

  As a result, the AC signal S <b> 1 supplied from the signal generation unit 130 to the electrode unit 120 is transmitted to the touch panel T. Therefore, in this case, as shown in the section after time t0 in FIG. 4, the signal component on the touch panel T includes the signal component (frequency component) of the AC signal S1 supplied from the signal generator 130 to the electrode unit 120. included.

  The signal determination unit 140 determines whether or not the signal S2 on the touch panel T includes the signal component of the AC signal S1 supplied from the signal generation unit 140. Specifically, in this embodiment, the signal determination unit 140 determines whether or not the signal S2 on the touch panel T has a signal component that matches the predetermined frequency of the AC signal S1 generated from the signal generation unit 140. To do. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and any other attribute of the AC signal may be determined.

  In this case, since the AC signal S1 generated from the signal generation unit 130 is transmitted to the touch panel T of the navigation system N, the signal S2 on the touch panel T is a predetermined frequency of the AC signal S1 generated from the signal generation unit 130. Have a signal component that matches. Therefore, the signal determination unit 140 outputs a positive determination result that the frequency of the signal S2 on the touch panel T has a signal component that matches the predetermined frequency of the AC signal S1 generated from the signal generation unit 130.

  Thus, if the signal S2 on the touch panel T has a signal component that matches the frequency of the AC signal S1 generated from the signal generator 130, the passenger P operates the touch panel T of the navigation system N. Can be considered. Therefore, an occupant operating the touch panel T of the navigation system N can be detected from the determination result of the signal determination unit 140.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, since the electrode part 120 is disposed so as to surround the substantially right half of the touch panel T, when the touch panel T is operated with the hand H of the passenger P of the passenger seat SP, There is a high possibility that the electrode unit 120 and the touch panel T are electrically connected via the impedance formed by the occupant P. On the other hand, when the driver D of the driver's seat SD operates the touch panel T, the hand and the electrode unit 120 are not close to each other. For this reason, the electrostatic capacitance C shown in FIG. 3B is not formed, and the electrode part 120 and the touch panel T are not electrically connected. Therefore, in this case, the signal determination unit 140 does not determine the signal component of the AC signal S1 supplied from the signal generation unit 130 to the electrode unit 120.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, for example, when the passenger P seated on the passenger seat SP operates the touch panel T of the navigation system N while the vehicle is traveling, the determination result of the signal determination unit 140 becomes affirmative, and the navigation system N receives this operation and executes a predetermined process according to the operation of the occupant P. On the other hand, when the driver D of the driver's seat SD operates the touch panel T while the vehicle is traveling, the determination result of the signal determination unit 140 is negative, and the navigation system N does not accept the operation of the driver D. .

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prohibit the operation of the navigation system N by the driver D during traveling and to accept only the operation by the passenger P of the passenger seat SP. In particular, according to this embodiment, the operation of passengers other than the passenger P of the passenger seat SP can be prohibited.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, it is not necessary to arrange | position an electrode in the vehicle seat like the above-mentioned prior art, and the component of the passenger | crew detection apparatus 100 can be arrange | positioned in the navigation system N inside or its periphery. Therefore, the time required for the attachment work can be shortened. In addition, since it is not necessary to process the vehicle seat, it is possible to reduce the cost on the vehicle side.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the passenger P of the passenger seat SP is detected, the operation of the navigation system N by the passenger P is permitted. Therefore, for example, compared with the case where the operation of the navigation system N is prohibited when the driver D is detected, the operation of the occupant P of the passenger seat SP can be stably permitted, and erroneous determination is suppressed. can do.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.
In the example of FIG. 2 described above, the electrode part 120 is arranged in the main body part of the navigation system N. However, even if the heater 150 for heating incorporated in advance in the seat surface of the passenger seat SP is used as the electrode part 120, Good. According to this modification, since the electrostatic capacity can be stably formed between the passenger P of the passenger seat SP and the electrode part 120, the electrical connection state between the electrode part 120 and the touch panel T is changed. Can be stabilized. Accordingly, erroneous determination by the signal determination unit 140 can be suppressed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of the occupant detection device 200 according to the present embodiment.
In the first embodiment described above, the electrode unit 120 is disposed near the passenger seat SP, but in the present embodiment, the electrode unit 121 is disposed near the driver seat SD. That is, in this embodiment, the electrode part 121 is closer to the driver's seat SD than the passenger seat SP, and when the touch panel T is operated by the driver D's hand in the driver's seat SD, It is arranged at a close part. In the example of FIG. 6, the electrode unit 121 is arranged so as to surround the substantially left half of the touch panel T on the outer edge portion on the left side of the front surface of the main body of the navigation system N.

  In FIG. 6, the signal generator 131 corresponds to the signal generator 130 in the first embodiment described above. In the present embodiment, the frequency of the AC signal S3 generated by the signal generator 131 is a predetermined frequency different from the AC signal S1 generated by the signal generator 130 of the first embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the frequency of the AC signal S3 generated by the signal generator 131 may be set to the same frequency as the AC signal S1.

In FIG. 6, the signal determining unit 141 corresponds to the signal determining unit 140 in the first embodiment described above. In the present embodiment, the signal determination unit 141 determines the signal component of the AC signal S3 generated by the signal generation unit 131 from the signal S2 on the touch panel T.
Other configurations of the occupant detection device 200 according to the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In this embodiment, when the driver D seated in the driver's seat SD operates the touch panel T of the navigation system N, the signal generator 131 is connected to the touch panel T of the navigation system N via the impedance formed by the driver. The AC signal S3 generated by is transmitted. The signal S2 on the touch panel T includes a signal component that matches the predetermined frequency of the AC signal S3 generated from the signal generator 131. Therefore, in this case, the signal determination unit 141 outputs a positive determination result that the signal S2 on the touch panel T has a signal component that matches the predetermined frequency of the AC signal S3 generated from the signal generation unit 131. To do.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, since the electrode unit 121 is disposed so as to surround the substantially left half of the touch panel T, when the touch panel T is operated by the driver D of the driver's seat SD, the driver The possibility that the electrode part 121 and the touch panel T are electrically connected via the impedance formed by D increases. Therefore, when the driver D operates the touch panel T of the navigation system N, the determination result of the signal determination unit 141 becomes positive. In this embodiment, when the determination result is affirmative, the navigation system N does not accept an operation by the driver D. On the other hand, when the passenger P of the passenger seat SP operates the touch panel T, the determination result of the signal determination unit 141 is negative. In this case, the navigation system N receives an operation by the occupant P and executes a predetermined process according to the operation.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, it is possible to prohibit the operation of the navigation system N by the driver D while traveling and to accept the operation by the passenger P of the passenger seat SP. Become. In particular, according to the present embodiment, the operation of any occupant other than the driver D can be received.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, the component of the passenger | crew detection apparatus 200 can be arrange | positioned inside the navigation system N or the periphery similarly to the above-mentioned 1st Embodiment. Therefore, the time required for the attachment work can be shortened, and the cost on the vehicle side can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the driver D in the driver seat SD is detected, the operation of the navigation system N by the driver is prohibited. Therefore, for example, the operation of the driver D can be stably prohibited as compared with the case where the operation of the navigation system N is prohibited when the passenger P in the passenger seat is not detected.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the second embodiment.
In the example of FIG. 6 described above, the electrode unit 121 is disposed in the main body unit of the navigation system N. However, the electrode unit 121 may be incorporated in the handle 160. According to the present modification, the electrostatic capacity can be stably formed between the driver D holding the handle 160 and the electrode part 121. Therefore, as in the modification of the first embodiment described above, False discrimination by the signal discrimination unit 141 can be suppressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as in the modification of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5 described above, a heater for heating previously incorporated in the seat surface of the driver's seat SD may be used as the electrode portion 121. . Also in this case, since the electrostatic capacity can be stably formed between the driver D and the electrode part 121, erroneous determination by the signal determination part 141 can be suppressed.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of the occupant detection device 300 according to the present embodiment.
The occupant detection device 300 according to the present embodiment has the configuration of the occupant detection device 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2A and the configuration of the occupant detection device 200 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. It is configured by combining.

  That is, the occupant detection device 300 according to the present embodiment includes an electrode part (hereinafter referred to as “first electrode”) 120 in the first embodiment and an electrode part (hereinafter referred to as “second electrode”) in the second embodiment. 121. Here, the first electrode 120 is close to the touch panel T so as to form a capacitance with the hand (part of the body) of the passenger P who operates the navigation system N from the passenger seat SP side of the vehicle. Are arranged. The second electrode 121 is close to the touch panel T so as to form a capacitance with the hand (part of the body) of the driver D who operates the navigation system N from the driver's seat SD side of the vehicle. Are arranged. Each arrangement of the first electrode 120 and the second electrode 121 is the same as in the first and second embodiments described above.

  Moreover, the passenger | crew detection apparatus 300 by this embodiment is provided with the signal generation part 130 in 1st Embodiment, and the signal generation part 131 in 2nd Embodiment. Thereby, the first AC signal S1 and the second AC signal S3 are generated and supplied to the first electrode 120 and the second electrode 121, respectively. In addition, the occupant detection device 300 according to the present embodiment includes a signal determination unit 142 that combines the function of the signal determination unit 140 in the first embodiment and the function of the signal generation unit 141 in the second embodiment. The signal determining unit 142 determines the signal component of the first AC signal S1 and the signal component of the second AC signal S3 from the signal S2 on the touch panel T.

  According to the passenger detection device 300 according to the present embodiment, basically, the operation of the passenger detection device 100 according to the first embodiment described above and the operation of the passenger detection device 200 according to the second embodiment are performed. Thereby, both the effect by the said 1st Embodiment and the effect by 2nd Embodiment can be acquired.

  Further, according to the occupant detection device 300 according to the present embodiment, for example, when the signal component of the first AC signal S1 can be determined from the signal S2, and the signal component of the second AC signal S3 cannot be determined. The passenger P of the passenger seat SP is detected. Further, when the signal component of the first AC signal S1 cannot be determined from the signal S2 and the signal component of the second AC signal S3 can be determined, the driver D in the driver's seat SD is detected. To do. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively reduce the frequency of erroneous discrimination by the signal discriminating unit 142 and improve occupant detection accuracy.

  Also in the present embodiment, as in the modifications of the first and second embodiments described above, the heaters for heating that are incorporated in advance in the seat surfaces of the driver seat SD and the passenger seat SP as the electrode portions 120 and 121. May be used.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the configuration of the occupant detection device 400 according to the present embodiment.
The occupant detection device 400 according to the present embodiment includes an electrode portion 122 instead of the electrode portion 120 in the configuration of the occupant detection device 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. This electrode part 122 is operated via the occupant when the occupant operates the touch panel T with one hand (part of the body) and the other hand (other part of the body) contacts the electrode part 122. It is electrically connected to the touch panel T of the navigation system N. In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment described above, the electrode unit 122 assumes the operation of the passenger P of the passenger seat SP and is the main body of the navigation system N closer to the passenger seat SP than the driver seat SD. It is arranged on the front right side. Moreover, in this embodiment, the electrode part 122 is a capacitive electrode similar to the touch panel T, for example.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and it is a part where the passenger P of the passenger seat SP can easily make contact with a part of the body, and the driver D of the driver seat SD can easily make a part of the body. The electrode part 122 may be arranged at any part on the main body part of the navigation system N or any part around it as long as it cannot be contacted.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the electrode part 122 is configured so that the capacitance formed between the electrode part 122 and the occupant is kept small even when a part of the occupant's body approaches. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if a part of the occupant's body inadvertently approaches the electrode part 122, the electrode part 122 is used as long as the other part of the occupant's body is not in contact with the electrode part 122. The detection operation is stabilized without being electrically connected to the touch panel T. Other configurations are the same as those of the occupant detection device 100 according to the first embodiment.

  According to the occupant detection device 400 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 9, the occupant P of the passenger seat SP touches the electrode part 122 with the right hand HR, and the touch panel with the left hand HL. When T is operated, the electrode unit 122 is electrically connected to the touch panel T via the occupant P. As a result, the AC signal S1 generated from the signal generator 130 is transmitted to the touch panel T as in the first embodiment. The signal determination unit 140 determines the signal component of the AC signal S1 generated by the signal generation unit 130 from the signal S2 on the touch panel T, and the determination result is positive. In response to the determination result, the navigation system N receives an operation by the occupant and executes a predetermined process corresponding to the operation.

  In the present embodiment, since the electrode part 122 is arranged on the front right side of the main body part of the navigation system N, the driver D of the driver's seat SD touches the electrode part 122 and operates the touch panel T while operating the handle. It becomes difficult to do. For this reason, even if the driver | operator D operates the touch panel T, the electrode part 122 and the touch panel T are not electrically connected. Therefore, in this case, the determination result of the signal determination unit 141 is negative, and the navigation system N does not accept the driver's operation.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment described above, it is possible to prohibit the driver from operating the navigation system N during traveling. In particular, according to the present embodiment, when the touch panel T is operated while the passenger P of the passenger seat SP touches the electrode part 122, the electrode part 122 is electrically connected to the touch panel T. Therefore, the body of the passenger P Compared to the first embodiment using the capacitance formed between the electrode portion 122 and the electrode portion 122, the electrical connection between the electrode portion 122 and the touch panel T can be stabilized. Accordingly, erroneous determination by the signal determination unit 140 can be prevented.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the electrode portion 122 is configured with a capacitance type electrode, the electrode portion 122 is compared with a case where the electrode portion 122 is configured using a mechanical switch (for example, a push-type normally open switch). Thus, it is possible to accurately detect the occupant. That is, when a mechanical switch is used as the electrode unit 122, the signal S1 generated by the signal generation unit 130 is steadily applied to the touch panel T if the mechanical switch is fixed to an on state using, for example, tape. You can create a state that is being transmitted. Therefore, in this case, when the driver D operates, the signal determination unit 140 may erroneously determine, and the operation by the driver D may be erroneously accepted. However, if a capacitive electrode is used as the electrode portion 122 as in the present embodiment, the AC signal S1 generated from the signal generating portion 130 needs to be transmitted to the occupant's body. Like a switch, it becomes difficult to create a steady on-state. Accordingly, erroneous determination by the signal determination unit 140 can be prevented.

Next, a modification of the fourth embodiment will be described.
In the above-described example, the touch panel T is assumed as the operation unit of the navigation system N, and the electrode unit 122 is disposed on the front right side surface of the main body unit. However, in the present modification, for example, a palm rest is provided as the operation unit of the navigation system N. An input device such as a trackball or a rotary switch is used. In this modification, the electrode part 122 is attached to the palm rest of this input device so that it may be arrange | positioned in the periphery of the rotation part (for example, trackball) of an input device, and a passenger seat side.

  According to this modification, when the passenger P of the passenger seat SP grips the rotating portion of the input device with his / her hand, the hand touches the surrounding electrode part 122. Thereby, the electrode part 122 is electrically connected with an input device via the passenger | crew's P body. The signal discriminating unit 140 can detect the signal S2 on the rotating unit of the input device and discriminate the signal component of the AC signal S1 generated by the signal generating unit 130 from the signal S2.

  According to this modification, even if the driver D operates the input device, his / her hand does not come into contact with the electrode portion 122 arranged on the passenger seat side, so the electrode portion 122 is electrically connected to the input device. Not. For this reason, the signal discriminating unit 140 cannot discriminate the signal component of the AC signal S1 generated by the signal generating unit 130 from the signal S2 on the rotating unit of the input device. Therefore, the passenger who operated the navigation system N can also be detected by this modification.

  According to this modification, the AC signal S1 generated from the signal generator 130 can be stably transmitted to the passenger P of the passenger seat SP, as in the fourth embodiment. In particular, according to this modification, the occupant P can operate the navigation system N with one hand, and does not need to operate with both hands as in the example shown in FIG.

  In each of the embodiments described above, the present invention is expressed as an occupant detection device, but the operation of the occupant detection device can also be expressed as an occupant detection method. In this case, the occupant detection method according to the present invention is an occupant detection method for detecting an occupant operating a device mounted on a vehicle, and supplying a signal to an electrode unit disposed in the vicinity of the operation unit of the device. And electrically connecting the electrode part to the operation part via an impedance formed by the occupant when the occupant operates the operation part of the device, and from the signal on the operation part, And a step of discriminating a signal supplied to the electrode.

  As mentioned above, although 1st to 4th embodiment and each modification example of this invention were described, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it is a change and correction. Is possible.

For example, in the first embodiment described above, the signal generation unit 130 is connected to the electrode unit 120 and the signal determination unit 140 is connected to the touch panel T. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. The signal generator 130 may be connected to the touch panel T. In this case, the signal generator 130 may use a scanning signal of the touch panel T as a signal to be generated. In this case, the signal generator 130 can be omitted from the device configuration, and the device cost can be suppressed.
Moreover, although the signal generation part 130 shall generate | occur | produce AC signal S1, it may be a pulse signal and the information for identifying a passenger | crew may be superimposed on this pulse signal.

  100, 200, 300, 400 ... occupant detection device, 120, 121, 122 ... electrode unit, 130, 131 ... signal generation unit, 140, 141, 142 ... signal discrimination unit, N ... navigation system, T ... touch panel.

Claims (7)

An occupant detection device that detects an occupant operating a device mounted on a vehicle,
An electrode part electrically connected to the operation part via an impedance formed by the occupant when the occupant operates the operation part of the device;
A signal generation unit that generates a signal and supplies the signal to the electrode unit;
A signal discriminating unit for discriminating a signal supplied to the electrode by the signal generating unit from a signal on the operation unit of the device;
An occupant detection device. The electrode part is
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein an electrostatic capacity is formed between a part of a body of an occupant who operates the device from the passenger seat side of the vehicle so as to form an electrostatic capacity. Occupant detection device. The electrode part is
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a capacitance is formed between the driver's seat side of the vehicle and a part of a body of an occupant operating the device. Occupant detection device. The electrode part is
A first electrode disposed in proximity to the operation unit so as to form a capacitance with a part of a body of an occupant operating the device from the passenger seat side of the vehicle;
A second electrode disposed in proximity to the operation unit so as to form a capacitance with a part of a body of an occupant operating the device from the driver's seat side of the vehicle;
Including
The signal generating unit generates a first AC signal and a second AC signal as signals to be supplied to the electrode unit, and supplies the first AC signal and the second AC signal to the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively.
The occupant detection device according to claim 1, wherein the signal determination unit determines a component of the first AC signal and a component of the second AC signal from a signal on the operation unit. The electrode part is
2. The occupant detection device according to claim 1, wherein the occupant detection device is electrically connected to the operation unit via the occupant when contacting with another part of the occupant's body. The device is a navigation system for a vehicle,
The occupant detection device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is a touch panel of the navigation system. An occupant detection method for detecting an occupant operating a device mounted on a vehicle,
Supplying a signal to an electrode unit disposed in the vicinity of the operation unit of the device;
Electrically connecting the electrode part to the operating part via an impedance formed by the occupant when the occupant operates the operating part of the device;
Discriminating a signal supplied to the electrode from a signal on the operation unit;
Occupant detection method.

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