JP2017161300A - Odor discrimination system for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an odor discrimination system for vehicles, which is capable of automatically detecting a disease of a driver of a vehicle and encouraging the driver to take measures against the disease.SOLUTION: An odor discrimination system for vehicles includes odor detection devices 20 disposed at a plurality of locations on a surface of a seat 10 for a driver to sit on inside a vehicle. The odor discrimination system for vehicles also includes a personal identification unit 40 configured to perform personal identification of the driver sitting on the seat 10 using signals from the odor detection devices 20, and a personal data accumulation/analysis unit 60 configured to analyze past data associated with the identified person and to grasp a disease of the driver and changes in the disease condition. An assessment result including a name of the disease analyzed by the personal data accumulation/analysis unit 60 is notified to the driver in the vehicle by a notification unit 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The disclosure in this specification relates to an odor discriminating system for a vehicle that identifies an occupant driving a vehicle by odor and performs disease prediction diagnosis.

  Conventionally, for example, an apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as an odor identification apparatus. Patent Document 1 is an odor identification device including a plurality of gas sensors. This apparatus includes one sample gas channel to which a sample gas is supplied, and a plurality of sensors arranged along the sample gas channel. This apparatus has a plurality of gas sensor chambers each having a passage leading to a sample gas flow path and in which one or a plurality of gas sensors are arranged. The response characteristics of the gas sensors are different between the gas sensor chambers. Furthermore, a shutter that opens and closes a passage to each gas sensor chamber and an actuator that is arranged for each shutter and individually adjusts the degree of opening of each gas sensor chamber by the shutter are provided.

Japanese Patent No. 4192374

  The device of Patent Document 1 is used for identifying or identifying odors in fields such as deodorization, fragrance, food management, and malodor measurement.

  When a odor component related to illness is detected in the vehicle, it is necessary to distinguish from whom the odor component is.

  In view of such a problem, one of the objects of the disclosure in this specification is to provide a vehicle odor discriminating system that can detect a disease of a vehicle occupant and promote countermeasures against the disease.

  The embodiments disclosed in this specification employ different technical means to achieve each purpose. Further, the reference numerals in parentheses described in the claims and in this section are examples showing the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiments described later as one aspect, and limit the technical scope. is not.

  One of the disclosed vehicle odor discrimination systems includes an odor detection device (20) provided at a plurality of locations on the surface of a seat (10) on which a passenger sits in the vehicle, and a signal from the odor detection device. And a personal identification unit (40) for personal identification of a seated occupant.

  According to this, it is possible to identify a person just by sitting on the seat, determine a disease related to the identified individual and a change state of the disease, and notify the passenger in the vehicle. For this reason, it is possible to urge the occupant to take measures such as when an illness is found or when the illness further progresses and requires an emergency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle inner side surface including a seat provided with an odor detection device for a vehicle odor discrimination system according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows one of the odor detection apparatuses provided in the said sheet | seat. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the said vehicle odor discrimination | determination system. It is a flowchart which shows the smell detection control in the control part of the said vehicle smell determination system. It is a block block diagram explaining control of the said vehicle odor discrimination system. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the vehicle odor discrimination | determination system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of modes for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. In the case where a part of the configuration is described in each form, the other forms described above can be applied to the other parts of the configuration. Not only combinations of parts that clearly indicate that the combination is possible in each embodiment, but also a combination of the embodiments even if they are not clearly specified unless there is a problem with the combination. It is also possible.

(First embodiment)
The vehicle odor discrimination system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, a seat 10 on which an occupant sits is provided in a vehicle interior serving as a vehicle. The seat 10 has a seat seat surface 11 serving as a seating portion, a portion called a seat back 12 having a surface closely contacting the back of the occupant, and a headrest 13 that protects and supports the occupant's head. In the sheet 10, an aggregate serving as a skeleton is made of metal, and a flexible foamed resin member is provided so that the aggregate is placed inside. Further, on the surface of the sheet 10 in contact with the occupant, a cloth serving as a skin and a thin layer of flexible material inside the cloth are provided. A plurality of odor detection devices 20 are provided at a plurality of locations on the surface of the epidermis.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the odor detection device 20 includes a suction passage 21 that sucks in the air in the interior of the vehicle through a gap between fibers that are partially exposed from the skin of the seat 10 or that have a rough skin. Furthermore, the odor detecting device 20 includes a negative pressure generating unit 22 that sucks in external air containing odors, an air reservoir chamber 23 that stores air that has flowed so as to be sucked into the negative pressure generating unit 22, and an air reservoir chamber 23. And a plurality of sensors 24 for detecting odor.

  The plurality of sensors can be constituted by, for example, a crystal resonator gas sensor. This sensor changes its frequency when a minute amount of substance is added on the electrode. Depending on the type of odor, it has a different frequency change sensitivity. The greater the frequency change, the stronger the signal. Therefore, the signal strength of a plurality of sensors has a specific strength pattern for a certain odor. The type of odor can be determined based on the difference in pattern.

  An electric fan 25 is provided in the negative pressure generator 22. As the electric fan 25 rotates for a predetermined time, the air flows in the order of the mesh member 26, the suction passage 21, the air reservoir 23, the duct 29, and the negative pressure generator 22 as indicated by an arrow Y <b> 21. As a result, the air in the vehicle compartment outside the mesh member 26 provided at the inlet of the suction passage 21 is guided to the air reservoir chamber 23. The air guided to the air reservoir chamber 23 is shielded from outside air by moving the sliding shutter 27 in the closing direction.

  The shutter drive unit 28 that opens and closes the shutter 27 slides the shutter 27 by electromagnetic force to separate or communicate the suction passage 21 and the air reservoir chamber 23. The electric fan 25 of the negative pressure generating unit 22 and the electromagnetic solenoid of the shutter driving unit 28 in each odor detecting device 20 are controlled by the control unit 30 shown in FIG. The control unit 30 is provided in the instrument panel 500 to receive a signal from the in-vehicle sensor 31, but may be provided in the seat 10.

  The in-vehicle sensor 31 is, for example, an unlocking device that generates a door unlocking signal and a pressure sensor that detects the weight of an occupant when the occupant is seated on a seat. In FIG. 4, the control of the odor detecting device 20 by the control unit 30 is shown. Control is started and it is determined in step S41 whether or not the occupant has entered the vehicle. When it is detected from the door unlock signal that the occupant has entered the company, the electric fan 25 of the negative pressure generating unit 22 rotates for a predetermined time in step S42. At the same time, the shutter drive unit 28 slides the shutter 27 by a predetermined amount by electromagnetic force, and connects the suction passage 21 and the air reservoir chamber 23 for a predetermined time. Thereby, in step S43, the sensor 24 reacts with an odor and outputs a signal. When the predetermined time elapses, the electric fan 25 stops and the shutter 27 returns to the original state by the spring.

  Further, in step S43, the control unit 30 sends a signal to the vehicle air conditioner 70, and the conditioned air from the vehicle air conditioner 70 is limited for a predetermined time during the odor detection, and the odor around the seat 10 is conditioned by the conditioned air. Is prevented from spreading. In addition, since the conditioned air is restricted, air that does not contain much of the odor of the conditioned air in the vehicle compartment immediately before the occupant is seated can be sent into the air reservoir chamber 23. The sent-in odor in the air reacts with a plurality of sensors 24 that detect the odor, and signals from these sensors 24 output a pattern signal corresponding to the odor, and the odor detection in step S43 is performed.

  Next, in step S44, the seat pressure switch detects that the passenger is seated. When the occupant is seated, the electric fan 25 in the negative pressure generator 22 rotates for a predetermined time in step S45. At the same time, the shutter drive unit 28 slides the shutter 27 by electromagnetic force, and connects the suction passage 21 and the air reservoir chamber 23 for a predetermined time. Thereby, in step S46, the sensor 24 reacts with an odor and outputs a signal. When the predetermined time elapses, the electric fan 25 stops and the shutter 27 returns to the original state by the spring. Further, in step S46, the control unit 30 sends a signal to the vehicle air conditioner 70, and restricts the conditioned air from the vehicle air conditioner 70 to a weaker side for a predetermined time during odor detection. Suppresses the spread of odors from nearby passengers. Since the diffusion is suppressed, the odor of the occupant after the occupant is seated, in particular, the air containing bad breath can be reliably sent into the air reservoir chamber 23.

  Accordingly, in step S46, the odors of the air sucked by the plurality of odor detection sensors 24 provided at the bottom of the air reservoir chamber 23 are detected, and odor detection signals are generated respectively. The above is the operation of the gas component sensing unit 51 in FIG.

  In human olfaction, odors are identified by pattern recognition of response patterns from many different receptors. Artificial odor sensing systems have been developed that mimic such biological olfactory mechanisms. Odor is identified using a quartz crystal sensor instead of a receptor and a neural network instead of the brain.

  The odor detection signal is transmitted to a personal identification unit 40 provided inside the sheet 10 or the like. The personal identification unit 40 is an electronic device provided in the seat back 12 as an example, and includes a gas component analysis unit 52 and a personnel discrimination determination unit 53 as shown in FIG. The personal identification unit 40 identifies odor detection signals from a plurality of quartz vibrator gas sensors constituting the sensor 24 using a pattern storage unit storing a odor pattern and a neural network unit. If there is a pattern with a similar odor, an occupant with the same pattern is recognized as a seated occupant and is identified.

  In this case, a signal is output from the personal identification unit 40 to the notification unit 50, and a voice is called as to what the person is, and the person who has responded to the call with a response of YES or high is determined to be a seated passenger. Also good.

  When the individual is identified, the odor detection signal is transmitted together with the personal identification data to the personal data accumulation / analysis unit 60 having the gas component recording unit 54 and the disease sign determination unit 55 of FIG. The personal data accumulation / analysis unit 60 is provided in an instrument panel 500 in the vehicle. Accordingly, the gas component data relating to the individual in the vehicle is analyzed. The analysis of the gas component data is performed for grasping the name of the illness of the occupant and the change state of the illness, and for predicting the illness or detecting the precursor.

  Techniques for identifying diseases based on odor are known. For example, it may be caused by gastric cancer, esophageal bronchial fistula, or esophageal hernia. The odor is characterized by a gangrenous odor of protein. The odor that is thought to be caused by tonsillitis, pharyngeal abscess, pharyngeal cancer, sinusitis or sinus cancer is also characterized by a gangrene odor of protein. The bad breath when it is thought to be caused by cirrhosis or liver cancer is considered to have an ammonia odor. When any of the pharynx, bronchus, or lungs is infected with candida, it produces a burnt odor. The bad breath caused by diabetes is characterized by a sweet and sour odor that makes apples rotten. Diseases caused by congenital causes or acquired causes such as a decrease in liver function are said to produce bad breath or body odor due to fish odor such as rotten fish.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the odor detectors 20 provided at a plurality of locations of the sheet 10 individually detect the odors at the plurality of locations. The personal identification unit 40 and the personal data accumulation / analysis unit 60 create a pattern of the detected location and the type of odor, and compare it with past gas component data relating to the identified individual.

  The plurality of locations on the surface of the seat 10 on which the odor detecting device 20 is provided include at least one of the portion P11 of the headrest 13 and the portion P12 of the shoulder portion of the occupant in the seat back 12, and the portion P2 of the seat seat surface 11. There are at least two places.

  Therefore, it is possible to determine the disease by detecting the odor of each dispersed place. In particular, when bad breath is important, the smell detection device 20 provided on the shoulder of the passenger in the headrest 13 of the seat 10 or the seat back 12 of the seat 10 can derive the characteristic of bad breath compared with the smell of other places. it can.

  When the analysis result shows that the value of the data of the personal data accumulation analysis unit exceeds a certain threshold value, the determination result is notified to the occupant along with the disease name by the notification unit 50 having the result display unit 56 of FIG. A display or an audio output device in the instrument panel 500 can be used as the notification unit 50. Depending on the content of the illness reported by the notification unit 50, a control signal is transmitted from the personal data accumulation analysis unit 60 to the vehicle air conditioner 70, and the temperature setting and the air volume setting of the conditioned air are adjusted in the vehicle air conditioner 70.

(Operational effects of the first embodiment)
In the first embodiment, it is easy to detect an odor mainly based on the bad breath of the occupant by the odor detection device 20 provided on the shoulder of the occupant in the headrest 13 or the seat back 12 of the seat 10. In addition, by detecting the odor of the occupant on the seat seat surface 11, the odor of the occupant in close contact with the seat seat surface 11 and the occupant's clothing can be detected. In addition, it takes time and effort for the passenger to input personal information by himself, and eventually gas component data cannot be reliably collected.

  The odor detection device 20 includes a shutter 27 that shields the air guided to the air reservoir chamber 23 from outside air, and a shutter drive unit 28 that opens and closes the shutter 27. According to this, the odor can be detected by the sensor 24 while the air sucked into the air reservoir chamber 23 by the negative pressure of the negative pressure generator 22 is confined by the shutter 27 for a while.

  After the odor of the air enclosed in the air reservoir chamber 23 is detected by the sensor 24, the air in the vehicle interior after the occupant sits on the seat is controlled by the shutter driving unit 28 and the negative pressure generating unit 22. It is enclosed in the reservoir chamber 23. According to this, by calculating the odor of the air in the room before the occupant sits on the seat 10 and the odor of the air in the room after the occupant sits on the seat 10, the influence of the odor remaining in the room is reduced. Thus, the odor of the passenger can be detected more accurately.

  The control unit 30 suppresses the amount of conditioned air flowing from the vehicle air conditioner 70 toward the occupant for a predetermined time during which the odor of the occupant is detected. According to this, since the odor staying around the occupant can be prevented by the conditioned air, the odor can be easily detected.

  The personal data accumulation / analysis unit 60 controls the temperature or air volume of the conditioned air blown out from the vehicle air conditioner 70 according to the type of illness that is the analysis result. According to this, since the temperature or air volume of the conditioned air in the vehicle air conditioner 70 is controlled according to the analyzed medical condition, the air conditioning control such as maintaining the body temperature so that the disease does not deteriorate can be performed.

(Second Embodiment)
The vehicle odor discrimination system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and have the same operations and effects. The configuration, operation, and effects that are not particularly described in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, differences from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described. Moreover, what has the structure similar to the above-mentioned embodiment in 2nd Embodiment shall show | play the same effect | action and effect demonstrated in the above-mentioned embodiment.

  The personal data accumulation / analysis unit 60 may require an expensive device or a large data processing device capable of high-speed computation. For this reason, in the second embodiment, the gas component data detected by the odor detection device 20 using the radio line 40R is collected together with the personal information from the personal identification unit 40 and the personal data in the central management center registered in advance. The data is transmitted to the analysis unit 60. The wireless line 40R includes an internet line using an in-vehicle mobile phone or an in-vehicle wireless LAN.

  And the result analyzed from the personal data accumulation analysis part 60 in the central management center is sent back to the vehicle via the radio line 40R. The personal data accumulation and analysis unit 60 in the central management center has a data processing device that is large and capable of high-speed computation. The personal data collection and analysis unit 60 in the central management center notifies the analysis result to a hospital or health management center which is an institution 80 registered in advance.

  According to this, if a specific hospital, clinic, occupant management center, etc. are registered as the institution 80, even if the occupant neglects necessary processing for illness, these registered institution are compulsorily registered. 80 can take necessary processing.

  The result information analyzed by the personal data accumulation / analysis unit 60 is sent back to the vehicle via the wireless line 40R. This result information is notified to the passengers in the vehicle by the notification unit 50, and the vehicle air conditioner 70 is also controlled so as to be adapted to the medical condition of the passengers.

(Operational effect of the second embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the personal data accumulation / analysis unit 60 is provided in a central management center outside the vehicle. According to this, it is possible to collect and analyze a huge database at a central management center outside the vehicle with specialists such as doctors. In other words, it is possible to accumulate and analyze an enormous database by making use of a complicated and large-scale arithmetic device and storage device that cannot be installed in a vehicle. In addition, comparison with national gas component data and analysis considering regional differences are possible.

  In addition, if a specific hospital, clinic, or occupant management center is registered as the institution 80, even if the occupant neglects necessary treatment for illness, control of in-vehicle devices including the vehicle air conditioner, and supervisor Or necessary processing such as telephone contact to family can be taken.

(Other embodiments)
The disclosure of this specification is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. The disclosure encompasses the illustrated embodiments and variations by those skilled in the art based thereon. For example, the disclosure is not limited to the combination of components and elements shown in the embodiments, and various modifications can be made. The disclosure can be implemented in various combinations. The disclosure may have additional parts that can be added to the embodiments. The disclosure includes those in which the components and elements of the embodiment are omitted. The disclosure encompasses parts, element replacements, or combinations between one embodiment and another. The technical scope disclosed is not limited to the description of the embodiments. The technical scope disclosed is indicated by the description of the claims, and should be understood to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the description of the claims.

  In the first embodiment, the position where the odor detection device for the surface of the seat is provided is either the shoulder portion of the seat back 12 or the headrest 13, but may be both the portion P11 and the portion P12. Accordingly, the bad breath of the occupant can be mainly detected at both the shoulder portion of the occupant and the headrest 13 in the seat back 12. In addition, the odor detection device 20 may be added to the part P3 of the seat back 12.

  In the first and second embodiments, the vehicle air conditioner 70 as the in-vehicle device is controlled based on the analysis result. However, the in-vehicle device such as the engine of the vehicle may be controlled so that the vehicle cannot run. This is effective when strong alcohol is detected. The heart alone does not directly cause bad breath, but when the heart gets tired, the cold sweat or fat sweat that occurs at this time causes body odor. Therefore, when such an odor is detected and an appropriate response is not received from the passenger in response to the inquiry from the notification unit 50, the vehicle may be disabled. In the above-described embodiment, a vehicle, particularly an automobile, is used as an example of a vehicle. However, the vehicle may be a train or an aircraft.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Sheet 20 Odor detection apparatus 30 Control part 40 Personal identification part 60 Personal data accumulation analysis part 50 Notification part 40R Radio | wireless line 70 Air conditioner 80 Pre-registered engine

Claims (10)

An odor detection device (20) provided at each of a plurality of locations on the surface of a seat (10) on which a passenger in the vehicle sits;
A vehicle odor discrimination system equipped with a personal identification unit (40) for personal identification of the occupant seated on the seat by a signal from the odor detection device. Analyzing odor gas component data related to the individual identified in the sheet, and collecting the gas component data of the occupant, a personal data collection and analysis unit (60),
The vehicle odor discriminating system according to claim 1, further comprising: a notifying unit (50) for notifying the occupant in the vehicle when the value of the gas component data of the personal data accumulation analyzing unit exceeds a certain threshold value. .   The plurality of locations on the surface of the seat are at least two locations of a shoulder portion of the occupant in a headrest (13) or a seat back (12) of the seat and a seat seat surface (11) of the seat. Vehicle odor discrimination system as described in.   The vehicle odor discrimination system according to claim 3, wherein the odor detection device is also provided on a back portion of the occupant in the seat back of the seat.   The odor detecting device includes a negative pressure generating part (22) for sucking in external air containing odor, an air reservoir (23) for storing air flowing by the negative pressure generating part, and an odor provided in the air reservoir. A plurality of sensors (24) for detecting the air, a shutter (27) for shielding the air guided to the air reservoir chamber from the external air, a shutter driving unit (28) for opening and closing the shutter, and the negative pressure The vehicle odor discrimination system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a control unit (30) for controlling the generation unit and the shutter driving unit.   The control unit controls the shutter drive unit and the negative pressure generation unit to control the air in the vehicle interior before the occupant sits on the seat to enclose the air in the air storage chamber, and After the odor is detected by the sensor, the air inside the vehicle after the occupant sits on the seat is sealed in the air reservoir chamber by controlling the shutter driving unit and the negative pressure generating unit. The vehicle odor discrimination system according to claim 5, wherein the sensor detects the odor of enclosed air.   The determination result including the disease name determined by the personal data accumulation and analysis unit is notified in a pre-registered institution (80) through a wireless line (40R). Vehicle smell detection system.   The vehicle odor discriminating system according to claim 7, wherein the personal data collection and analysis unit is provided in the engine (80).   The vehicle odor determination system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control unit restricts the blowing of conditioned air from the air conditioner (70) toward the occupant during a predetermined time during which the odor of the occupant is detected.   The vehicle odor discriminating system according to claim 9, wherein the personal data accumulation and analysis unit controls the temperature or the air volume of the conditioned air in the air conditioner according to the analyzed medical condition.

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