JP2020117063A - Emergency reporting device - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce the possibility that emergency reporting cannot be performed when emergency reporting is required.SOLUTION: There is provided an emergency reporting device 31 which is mounted on a vehicle 3, comprises a backup battery 312, and sends an emergency report to an emergency reporting center 2 when an emergency event of a vehicle 3 occurs. The emergency reporting device 31 comprises: an estimation unit 315 for estimating a use time zone which is a time at which the vehicle 3 is likely to be used to estimate an unused time zone; and a setting unit 316 for making settings relating to refreshing of the backup battery 312 on the basis of a result of estimation by the estimation unit 315. When an ignition switch 332 is turned on during a refresh of the backup battery 312, the refresh is interrupted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an emergency call device.

An automatic emergency call system (eCall) has begun to be introduced as a system for automatically calling the nearest emergency call center when a car accident occurs. In the automatic emergency call system, even if the vehicle occupant loses consciousness and cannot request rescue, the location information and vehicle information of the vehicle are automatically sent to the emergency call receiving organization such as police station or fire station through the emergency call center. By sending in, it becomes possible to speed up the response to the accident. In Non-Patent Document 1, a backup power supply is provided on the assumption that power supply from a battery mounted on a vehicle to a communication device is interrupted in the event of a vehicle accident, and information transmission to an emergency call center is cut off. The need to be prepared is disclosed.

FDK Corporation "eCall backup power supply" [searched on January 15, 2019], Internet <URL: http://www.fdk.co.jp/cyber-j/pi_ecall>

However, since the backup power supply is not a battery that is constantly used, it may be deteriorated early due to the so-called memory effect. Refresh is effective in reducing the memory effect, but if the battery is refreshed at an arbitrary timing, there is a possibility that the emergency call cannot be made when the emergency call is necessary.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an emergency notification device capable of reducing the possibility that an emergency call cannot be made when an emergency call is necessary.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the above object, an emergency call device according to the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and includes a backup battery, and when an emergency event occurs in the vehicle, an emergency call is made to an emergency call center. An emergency notification device that transmits, an estimation unit that estimates a time when the vehicle is likely to be used, and a setting unit that performs settings related to refreshing the backup battery based on an estimation result of the estimation unit, It is characterized by including.

According to the emergency notification device of the present invention, by estimating the time when the vehicle is likely to be used and setting the refresh based on the estimation result, there is a possibility that the emergency call cannot be made when the emergency call is necessary. Can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an emergency call system to which an emergency call device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle equipped with the emergency notification device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining a refresh method for a backup battery in the emergency notification device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of refreshing a backup battery of an emergency notification device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings of the following embodiments, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

First, an emergency call system to which an emergency call device according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied will be described. FIG. 1 shows an emergency call system 1 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the emergency call system 1 includes an emergency call center 2, a plurality of vehicles 3, and a plurality of terminals 4 that can communicate with each other via a network 10.

In the present embodiment, the emergency call center 2 as an emergency call server is a center that receives an emergency call from the vehicle 3 and contacts relevant places so that a predetermined response can be performed according to the received emergency call.

The network 10 is composed of an internet line network, a mobile phone line network, or the like. The network 10 is, for example, a public communication network such as the Internet. For example, a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), a telephone communication network such as a mobile phone or a public line, a VPN (Virtual Private Network), and It consists of one or more combinations such as leased lines. Wired communication and wireless communication are appropriately combined in the network 10.

(Emergency Call Center)
The emergency notification center 2 executes a data collection process of collecting various information transmitted from the respective communication units 34 of the plurality of vehicles 3 via the network 10. The emergency call center 2 can analyze various collected information. The emergency notification center 2 includes a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, and a communication unit 23.

The control unit 21 specifically includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a processor such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). Of the main memory (not shown).

The control unit 21 loads the program stored in the storage unit 22 into the work area of the main storage unit, executes the program, and controls each component through execution of the program to realize a function that matches a predetermined purpose. it can.

The storage unit 22 is physically selected from volatile memory such as RAM, non-volatile memory such as ROM, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), hard disk drive (HDD, Hard Disk Drive), and removable media. Composed of medium. The removable medium is, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or a disc recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a BD (Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc). is there. Further, the storage unit 22 may be configured by using a computer-readable recording medium such as a memory card that can be mounted from the outside. The storage unit 22 can store an operating system (OS), various programs, various tables, various databases, and the like for executing the operation of the emergency notification center 2. The various programs also include the model update processing program according to this embodiment. These various programs can be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flash memory, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and a flexible disk, and distributed widely.

In the present embodiment, the control unit 21 executes the functions of the data collection unit 21a by executing the programs stored in the storage unit 22. The data collection unit 21a collects information about emergency calls (emergency call information). The emergency call information includes the position information of the vehicle 3 and information on an emergency event such as a car accident (emergency event information). The data collection unit 21a receives the position information and the emergency event information from the vehicle 3 in which the emergency event has occurred via the communication unit 23 at the time of the occurrence of the emergency event, and causes the storage unit 22 to store the information. The storage unit 22 further stores information (correspondence information) on a correspondence method for each emergency event, which corresponds to the emergency notification information. The control unit 21 reads the correspondence information according to the received emergency call information from the storage unit 22 and executes the process according to the correspondence information. Note that the emergency call information, the correspondence information, and the processing corresponding to the correspondence information are conventionally known, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

(Emergency reporting device)
Next, a vehicle equipped with the emergency notification device according to the embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the emergency notification device according to one embodiment is installed in each vehicle 3 and transmits an emergency notification to the emergency notification center 2 when an emergency event occurs in the vehicle 3. The vehicle 3 further includes an in-vehicle ECU including an airbag ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 32 and a traveling system ECU 33, and a communication unit 34.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle 3 equipped with the emergency notification device according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the emergency notification device 31 according to one embodiment is a device that is mounted on the vehicle 3 and notifies the emergency notification center 2 of the occurrence of an emergency event such as an accident or a collision of the vehicle 3. The emergency call device 31 can exchange various information with the emergency call center 2 by wireless communication. The emergency call device 31 exchanges a report of a collision occurrence state of the vehicle 3 and necessary information with an emergency call with a human operator of the emergency call center 2 or an operator realized by artificial intelligence or the like.

The emergency call device 31 is connected to a user interface used for the above-mentioned emergency call or the like. The user interface is mounted in the vehicle interior of the vehicle 3 or the like. The user interface includes a microphone 36, a speaker 37, a notification button 38, and an indicator 39. The microphone 36 is used for a voice call from the operator. The speaker 37 outputs a voice response from the emergency call center 2. The notification button 38 is composed of, for example, a push button, and is operable at the start of an emergency notification. The indicator 39 is made of a light emitting body that indicates whether the emergency call device 31 operates normally or abnormally, and includes, for example, a red indicator 39R made of a red LED and a green indicator 39G made of a green LED. The indicator 39 may not be provided.

The emergency notification device 31 is connected to an in-vehicle ECU for controlling the operation of various in-vehicle devices via a vehicle network NW such as CAN (Controller Area Network). The emergency notification device 31 is configured to be able to grasp the situation of the vehicle 3 each time based on the output from the vehicle-mounted ECU.

The emergency notification device 31 includes a control unit 310 that integrally executes various arithmetic processes when making the above-described emergency notification. The control unit 310 reads various kinds of information such as a vehicle ID as vehicle identification information of the vehicle 3 from the storage unit 311 at the time of an emergency call. Control unit 310 writes in storage unit 311 various parameters that are updated based on the information input from the above-described vehicle-mounted ECU via vehicle network NW. The control unit 310 identifies whether the emergency call is the notification process to be executed based on, for example, flag information read from the storage unit 311. The control unit 310 reads out from the storage unit 311 the information of the telephone number of the communication destination and the access destination of the packet communication corresponding to the identified notification process.

The control unit 310 has an estimation unit 315 and a setting unit 316. The estimation unit 315 estimates the time when the vehicle 3 is likely to be used, and outputs the estimation result to the setting unit 316. The setting unit 316 makes settings for refreshing the backup battery 312, which is an emergency battery of the emergency notification device 31, which will be described later, based on the estimation result input from the estimation unit 315.

The emergency notification device 31 includes a power supply management unit 313 that manages the power supply between the vehicle-mounted battery 330 and the backup battery 312. The onboard battery 330 functions as a main battery of the vehicle 3 that supplies electric power to various onboard devices including the emergency notification device 31. On the other hand, the backup battery 312 functions as an emergency battery for securing the electric power required for the notification process from the vehicle 3.

The emergency notification device 31 includes a vehicle network communication unit 314 connected to the above-described vehicle-mounted ECU via the vehicle network NW. Here, the vehicle-mounted ECU includes an airbag ECU 32 and a traveling system ECU 33. The airbag ECU 32 controls the operation of the airbag when the vehicle 3 collides. A collision detection sensor 321 that detects a collision of the vehicle 3 is connected to the airbag ECU 32. The collision detection sensor 321 is composed of, for example, an acceleration sensor that detects an impact applied to the vehicle 3 based on the acceleration of the vehicle 3, and detects a collision of the vehicle 3 when the deceleration of the vehicle 3 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. To do. The airbag ECU 32 outputs, to the vehicle network communication unit 314, a detection signal output when the collision detection sensor 321 detects a collision of the vehicle 3.

The traveling system ECU 33 controls traveling of the vehicle 3 such as an engine ECU. The traveling system ECU 33 sequentially outputs vehicle speed information indicating a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor (not shown) provided in the vehicle 3 to the emergency notification device 31 via the vehicle network NW. The traveling system ECU 33 controls the operation of, for example, the light of the vehicle 3. To the traveling system ECU 33, an ignition switch 332 that switches on/off operation of an ignition of the vehicle 3 and a light switch 333 that switches on/off operation of a headlight of the vehicle 3 are connected. The traveling system ECU 33 outputs to the vehicle network communication unit 314 a pulse signal that is output when the ignition switch 332 and the light switch 333 are turned on/off.

The vehicle network communication unit 314 is connected to the navigation device 35 via the vehicle network NW. The navigation device 35 provides route guidance for the vehicle 3. The navigation device 35 is equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) 351 that detects the traveling position of the vehicle 3. The GPS 351 receives a GPS satellite signal for detecting the absolute position of the vehicle 3 in which the GPS 351 is mounted. The GPS 351 identifies the position of the vehicle 3 based on the received GPS satellite signal. Then, the navigation device 35 guides the route of the vehicle 3 based on the latitude/longitude information indicating the position specified by the GPS 351. The GPS 351 also outputs the latitude/longitude information indicating the specified position to the vehicle network communication unit 314 via the vehicle network NW.

The emergency notification device 31 includes a communication unit 34 that exchanges various information with the emergency notification center 2 by wireless communication. The communication unit 34 includes, for example, a DCM (Data Communication Module). When the operator operates the notification button 38 after the collision detection sensor 321 detects the collision of the vehicle 3, the communication unit 34 inputs a start command signal for starting an emergency notification from the control unit 310. To be done. When the start command signal is input, the communication unit 34 tries to establish communication corresponding to the emergency call with the emergency call center 2. On the other hand, even when the notification button 38 is operated by the operator in a state in which the collision detection sensor 321 has not detected a collision of the vehicle 3, if the notification process to be executed at that time is an emergency call. , Tries to establish communication according to the emergency call with the emergency call center 2. After that, when the communication corresponding to the emergency call is established with the emergency call center 2, the communication unit 34 wirelessly transmits the voice information input by the operator through the microphone 36 to the emergency call center 2. Further, when there is a voice response to the vehicle 3, the communication unit 34 outputs voice information to the operator through the speaker 37. As a result, a voice call is realized between the operator and the operator of the emergency call center 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the emergency call system 1, when an emergency call is made by the user, the information regarding the notification process is transmitted from the vehicle 3 to the emergency call center 2 via the network 10. Various types of information transmitted to the emergency notification center 2 are processed by the control unit 21 provided in the emergency notification center 2 and stored in the storage unit 22. On the contrary, the information output from the control unit 21 of the emergency notification center 2 is transmitted to the vehicle 3 and the terminal 4 via the communication unit 23 and the network 10.

Next, a method of refreshing the backup battery 312 of the emergency notification device according to one embodiment will be described. That is, as described above, in the emergency notification device 31, when the vehicle-mounted battery 330 is disconnected in the vehicle 3, the backup battery 312 (BUB: Back Up Battery) is used as a spare battery. As the backup battery 312, a secondary battery such as a nickel hydrogen battery or a lithium ion battery is used. In this respect, the secondary battery may be deteriorated early due to a memory effect or the like. In order to suppress the early deterioration of the secondary battery, so-called battery refresh (hereinafter, refresh), in which the secondary battery is almost discharged and then charged again, is effective. The refresh has the effect of suppressing the shortening of the life of the backup battery 312, but if it is performed while the vehicle 3 is traveling, the remaining amount (SOC: State Of Charge) of the backup battery 312 is required when an emergency call is actually required. There is a possibility that the number will decrease and you will not be able to make emergency calls. Therefore, in the present invention, the time when the user of the vehicle 3 does not use the vehicle 3 is estimated, and the backup battery 312 is refreshed during the time period when the user is estimated not to use the vehicle 3. Accordingly, when an emergency call is required, it is possible to extend the life of the backup battery 312 while reducing the possibility that the SOC of the backup battery 312 runs short in executing the emergency call.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the storage unit 311 and the backup battery 312 in the emergency notification device 31, and the vehicle-mounted battery 330. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage unit 311 of the emergency notification device 31 stores usage information of the vehicle 3. The usage information includes information on the usage of the vehicle 3 by the user, such as a usage time history of the vehicle 3. In refreshing the backup battery 312 of the emergency notification device 31 according to this embodiment, the use information of the vehicle 3 stored in the storage unit 311 is used to determine whether to perform refresh.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of refreshing the backup battery 312 according to an exemplary embodiment. The refresh process shown in FIG. 4 is repeatedly executed in the emergency notification device 31 of the vehicle 3 at predetermined time intervals. As shown in FIG. 4, first, in step ST1, the control unit 310 of the emergency notification device 31 stores, when the user uses the vehicle 3, usage information such as a usage time history of the vehicle 3 and a usage location by the user. It is stored in 311. The usage information of the vehicle 3 may be further read from the terminal 4 owned by the user and stored in the storage unit 311.

In step ST2, the estimation unit 315 of the control unit 310 reads the usage information from the storage unit 311, and based on the read usage information, the date, day of the week, and time zone (hereinafter, Estimate the time of use). The estimation unit 315 estimates the use time zone of the vehicle 3 to estimate the days other than the use time zone to be dates, days of the week and time zones (hereinafter, unused time zones) where the user is unlikely to use the vehicle 3. To do. Here, the probability that the possibility is high may be, for example, 20% or more. That is, the estimation unit 315 estimates the date, the day of the week, and the time zone in which the probability that the user will use the vehicle 3 is 20% or more based on the use information, as the use time zone of the vehicle 3 by the user, and is less than 20%. It is estimated that a certain date, day of the week, and time zone are unused time zones of the vehicle 3 by the user. Note that the estimation unit 315 may estimate the date, the day of the week, and the time zone when the probability that the user will use the vehicle 3 is approximately 0%, based on the use information, as the unused time zone of the vehicle 3 by the user. .. The estimation unit 315 outputs information on the estimated use time zone or unused time zone to the setting unit 316.

The estimation by the estimation unit 315 may be performed according to a predetermined program stored in the storage unit 311, or may be performed by artificial intelligence (AI) stored in the control unit 310 or the like. Further, as the method of estimating the unused time zone of the vehicle 3 by the estimation unit 315, various methods can be adopted. Specifically, for example, the estimation unit 315 receives the user's schedule by the schedule application stored in the storage unit (not shown) of the terminal 4 through the communication unit 34, and determines the unused time period from the received schedule information. May be estimated. The estimation unit 315 may read the day of the week by executing a schedule application or the like in the control unit 310, and estimate the unused time zone from the categories such as weekdays and holidays. The estimation unit 315 may estimate the unused time period from the travel history in the vehicle information stored in the storage unit 311 of the vehicle 3 in addition to the usage time history of the vehicle 3. The estimation unit 315 may estimate the unused time zone from the information of the weather forecast received from the predetermined weather forecast server (not shown) via the communication unit 34.

Next, in step ST3, the control unit 310 inputs information about the backup battery 312 from the power management unit 313 and determines whether the backup battery 312 has deteriorated. When control unit 310 determines that backup battery 312 has not deteriorated (step ST3: No), the process returns to step ST1. If a negative determination is made in step ST3, the refresh process may be terminated without returning to step ST1, or step ST3 may be repeatedly executed.

When control unit 310 determines that backup battery 312 has deteriorated (step ST3: Yes), the process proceeds to step ST4. In step ST4, control unit 310 receives a signal for on/off operation of ignition switch 332 from traveling system ECU 33. Control unit 310 determines whether or not ignition switch 332 is off. When control unit 310 determines that ignition switch 332 is on (step ST4: No), step ST4 is repeatedly executed until ignition switch 332 is turned off. On the other hand, when the control unit 310 determines that the ignition switch 332 is off (step ST4: Yes), the process proceeds to step ST5. If a negative determination is made in step ST4, the process may return to any of steps ST1, ST2, ST3.

In step ST5, the setting unit 316 of the control unit 310 sets a time period in which the backup battery 312 is refreshed based on the use time period and the unused time period of the vehicle 3 input from the estimation unit 315. Specifically, in step ST5, the setting unit 316 sets a time period in which the refresh is performed (hereinafter, a scheduled refresh time) in the unused time period input from the estimation unit 315. Here, when the time required for refreshing the backup battery 312 is longer than the unused time period, the setting unit 316 sets the refresh execution in the unused time period in which the refreshable time can be secured. .. Then, it transfers to step ST6.

In step ST6, the setting unit 316 inputs the SOC of the vehicle-mounted battery 330 from the power supply management unit 313 and determines whether the SOC of the vehicle-mounted battery 330 is sufficient for refreshing the backup battery 312. When the setting unit 316 determines that the SOC of the in-vehicle battery 330 is insufficient for refreshing the backup battery 312 (step ST6: No), the refreshing process ends. On the other hand, when the setting unit 316 determines that the SOC of the vehicle-mounted battery 330 is sufficient for refreshing the backup battery 312 (step ST6: Yes), the process proceeds to step ST7. In step ST7, control unit 310 starts execution of refreshing backup battery 312. When the control unit 310 receives a signal from the traveling system ECU 33 that the ignition switch 332 is turned on while the backup battery 312 is being refreshed, the execution of the refresh is interrupted and the charging of the onboard battery 330 is started. At this time, the backup battery 312 may be charged. As described above, the refresh process of the backup battery 312 according to the embodiment is completed.

According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the emergency notification device 31 is mounted on the vehicle 3 and includes the backup battery 312, and the emergency notification center 31 is provided via the communication unit 34 when an emergency event of the vehicle 3 occurs. Send an emergency call to 2. Then, the estimation unit 315 of the control unit 310 estimates the usage time period and the unused time period of the vehicle 3, and the setting unit 316 refreshes the backup battery 312 based on the unused time period estimated by the estimation unit 315. Is set. This can reduce the possibility that the backup battery 312 is being refreshed when an emergency event occurs in the vehicle 3 and an emergency call is needed. Therefore, there is a possibility that the emergency call cannot be issued when the emergency call is needed. Can be reduced.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described one embodiment, and various modifications can be made based on the technical idea of the present invention. For example, the numerical values and the configurations of the vehicle 3 and the emergency notification device 31 described in the above-described embodiment are merely examples, and different numerical values and configurations of the vehicle 3 and the emergency notification device 31 may be used as necessary. Good. Further effects and modifications can be easily derived by those skilled in the art. The broader aspects of the present invention are not limited to the specific details and the exemplary embodiments represented and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1 Emergency Call System 2 Emergency Call Center 3 Vehicle 4 Terminal 10 Network 21,310 Control Unit 21a Data Collection Unit 22,311 Storage Unit 23,34 Communication Unit 31 Emergency Call Device 32 Airbag ECU
33 Traveling system ECU
312 Backup Battery 313 Power Management Section 314 Vehicle Network Communication Section 315 Estimation Section 316 Setting Section 321 Collision Detection Sensor 330 In-Vehicle Battery 332 Ignition Switch

Claims (1)

An emergency call device mounted on a vehicle, equipped with a backup battery, and transmitting an emergency call to an emergency call center when an emergency event occurs in the vehicle,
An estimation unit that estimates a time when the vehicle is likely to be used,
An emergency notification device, comprising: a setting unit configured to perform settings related to refreshing of the backup battery based on an estimation result of the estimation unit.

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