JP2023153917A - Accelerator operation notification device - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent a driver of a vehicle from mistaking an accelerator pedal for a brake pedal and depressing it.SOLUTION: An accelerator operation notification device comprises: a first box 10 comprising a cigarette plug as a power terminal electrically connected to a cigarette lighter socket 2 as a power supply unit provided in a vehicle; and a second box 20 installed near an accelerator pedal 3. The second box comprises a sensor unit that detects a depression amount of the accelerator pedal. The first box causes an output unit to periodically or irregularly change the content of alarm output based on the depression amount of the accelerator pedal, or to output an alarm in response to change in the depression of the accelerator pedal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a system that notifies a driver that an accelerator pedal is being depressed.

As a technology to prevent pressing the brake pedal and accelerator pedal incorrectly when driving a vehicle, there is a vehicle speed sensor that detects the speed of the vehicle, and the speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor is within a preset operating speed range. an obstacle detection sensor that detects whether there is an obstacle in the direction of travel, and an in-vehicle warning system that alerts passengers when the obstacle detection sensor detects that there is an obstacle. a tilt sensor that detects the tilt angle of the vehicle when the obstacle detection sensor detects that there is an obstacle; and a tilt sensor that detects the tilt angle of the vehicle when the obstacle detection sensor detects that there is an obstacle; An accelerator position sensor detects the accelerator depression amount and depression speed, and if the accelerator depression amount and depression speed detected by the accelerator position sensor are not within a predetermined setting value, the throttle opening is reduced and the system starts suddenly. A sudden start prevention device is known that includes a throttle control device that prevents the sudden start (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-227877

However, the sudden start prevention device of Patent Document 1 requires a vehicle speed sensor, an obstacle detection sensor, etc. in addition to the accelerator position sensor, and the mechanism is complex, and it may not be desirable to incorporate it into the vehicle body in advance. There are problems in that the mechanism is large-scale because it uses a mechanism that is correct, and that it has low versatility, especially in that it cannot be easily retrofitted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an accelerator operation notification device that can prevent a vehicle driver from mistaking the accelerator pedal for a brake pedal and can be easily retrofitted. .

In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 includes a first box including at least one of a power supply terminal electrically connected to a power supply unit provided in a vehicle and an internal power supply. , a second box electrically connected to the first box to be supplied with power and installed near the accelerator pedal of the vehicle, the second box being electrically connected to the accelerator pedal. at least one of the first box and the second box outputs an output that notifies a driver of the vehicle that the accelerator pedal is depressed. one of the first box and the second box determines the depression state of the accelerator pedal based on the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal detected by the sensor unit. and a control unit that causes the output unit to output an alarm according to the result of the determination, the control unit causing the output unit to periodically or irregularly change the content of the output of the alarm, or , the accelerator operation notification device is characterized in that the alarm is output in response to a change in depression of the accelerator pedal.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the accelerator operation notification device according to the first aspect, the second box is arranged so that the sensor section can appropriately detect the depression amount of the accelerator pedal. The vehicle is characterized by comprising a positioning section for checking the positional relationship between the sensor section and the accelerator pedal.

The invention according to claim 3 is the accelerator operation notification device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the output section includes a sound output section that emits a sound and a light output section that emits light or displays characters or figures. and at least one of the first box and the second box is provided with at least one of the sound output section and the light output section.

The invention according to claim 4 is the accelerator operation notification device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a portable terminal capable of communicating with the first box or the second box, and the portable terminal A dedicated application is installed in the portable terminal, so that the portable terminal functions as at least one of the control unit and the output unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the accelerator operation notification device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, depending on whether or not the accelerator pedal is depressed for the first time after the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on. The present invention is characterized in that the content of the output of the warning is changed.

The invention according to claim 6 includes a box that includes a sensor unit that detects the amount of depression of an accelerator pedal of a vehicle and an internal power source and is installed near the accelerator pedal, and a portable terminal that can communicate with the box. , an output unit that notifies the driver of the vehicle that the accelerator pedal is depressed by installing a dedicated application on the portable terminal; The controller functions as a control unit that determines the depression state of the accelerator pedal based on the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal detected by the sensor unit, and causes the output unit to output an alarm according to the result of the determination, and The control unit causes the output unit to periodically or irregularly change the content of the output of the warning, or to output the warning in response to a change in depression of the accelerator pedal. This is an accelerator operation notification device.

According to the invention described in claim 1, the driver can reflexively stop pressing the accelerator pedal unintentionally, in other words, by mistaking the accelerator pedal for the brake pedal, by outputting an alarm, and By suppressing sudden starts and accelerations caused by mistakes, it is possible to prevent accidents caused by sudden starts and sudden accelerations that are not intended by the driver. Further, according to the invention described in claim 1, it can be used by installing the first box and attaching the second box near the accelerator pedal, and the accelerator operation notification device can be easily retrofitted. It is possible to do so.

According to the invention described in claim 2, the second box can be installed while checking the positional relationship between the sensor section and the accelerator pedal, and the second box installation work can be performed without activating the sensor section. can be carried out easily and accurately.

According to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to make the driver aware of the fact that the accelerator pedal is being depressed by sound or light, and to alert the driver.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the control section and the output section are realized using the functions of the portable terminal, so it is possible to simplify the configuration of the first box.

According to the invention set forth in claim 5, by outputting a strong warning when the accelerator pedal is pressed at the start of driving, sudden start or sudden acceleration caused by pressing the wrong pedal at the start of driving can be avoided. This makes it possible to prevent accidents caused by sudden starts or sudden accelerations that the driver did not intend.

According to the invention set forth in claim 6, the driver can reflexively stop pressing the accelerator pedal unintentionally, in other words, by mistaking the accelerator pedal for the brake pedal, by outputting a warning, and By suppressing sudden starts and accelerations caused by mistakes, it is possible to prevent accidents caused by sudden starts and sudden accelerations that are not intended by the driver. Further, according to the invention described in claim 6, it is possible to use one box by attaching it near the accelerator pedal and using the function of a portable terminal, and the accelerator operation notification device can be easily retrofitted. It is possible to do so.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of an accelerator operation notification device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is a schematic configuration block diagram of the accelerator operation notification device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of a transmitting section, a receiving section, and a light emitting element in a positioning section. It is a figure explaining attachment of the 2nd box using a positioning part. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the accelerator operation notification device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the arrangement of an accelerator operation notification device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 7 is a schematic configuration block diagram of the accelerator operation notification device shown in FIG. 6. FIG.

The present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the arrangement of an accelerator operation notification device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. It is a block diagram. This accelerator operation notification device 1 is a system for preventing the driver of a vehicle from depressing the accelerator pedal 3 by mistake for the brake pedal 4, and includes a first box 10 and an electrical connection between the first box 10 and the a second box 20 connected to the second box 20;

The accelerator operation notification device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a first box 10 including a cigarette plug 12 as a power terminal electrically connected to a cigarette socket 2 as a power supply unit provided in a vehicle; a second box 20 that is electrically connected to the first box 10 to be supplied with power and installed near the accelerator pedal 3 of the vehicle; The first box 10 includes an output unit 14 that notifies the driver of the vehicle that the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed, and an accelerator pedal detected by the sensor unit 21. The accelerator pedal 3 is provided with a control section 13 that determines the depression state of the accelerator pedal 3 based on the depression operation amount of No. 3 and causes the output section 14 to output a warning according to the result of the determination.

The first box 10 has a main body 11, which is a casing that constitutes the main part of the first box 10, and a cigar plug 12, and the main body 11 includes a control section 13 and an output section 14. (See Figure 2).

The first box 10 is inserted into a cigarette lighter socket 2 (also referred to as a "cigarette lighter socket," "accessory socket," or "power socket") that serves as a power supply unit provided in the vehicle, and the first box 10 is used to store the cigarette. It has a cigarette plug 12 as a power supply terminal electrically connected to the socket 2, and power is supplied from the cigarette socket 2 through the cigarette plug 12.

The first box 10 is provided with a cigarette plug 12 that directly protrudes from the main body 11 (in other words, is integrated with the main body 11), and the cigarette plug 12 is inserted into the cigarette socket 2 of the vehicle. As a result, it is electrically connected to the cigarette socket 2 and is fixedly attached to the cigarette socket 2.

Alternatively, in the first box 10, a cable is disposed between the main body 11 and the cigarette plug 12 (separately speaking, a power supply section) so that the degree of freedom in the attachment position of the first box 10 is increased. After the cigarette plug 12 is inserted into the cigarette socket 2 of the vehicle and electrically connected to the cigarette socket 2, the main body 11 is installed and fixed at an appropriate location regardless of the location of the cigarette socket 2. It's okay. In this case, the main body 11 may be installed and fixed at a position that is easily visible to the driver while driving, for example, on the upper part of the dashboard.

In addition, the main body 11 is provided with a USB (abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus) terminal, and a cable (also referred to as a "USB cigarette plug cord") whose one end is a cigarette plug and the other end is a USB terminal is attached to the main body 11. 11 and the cigarette plug 12. Additionally, if the vehicle is equipped with a USB terminal (including a USB cable), a USB cable with USB terminals at both ends may be used as the cable disposed between the main body 11 and the power supply section. It may be possible to do so.

Alternatively, if the vehicle is equipped with an AC 100V outlet, the AC 100V plug is provided so as to protrude from the main body 11, and the AC 100V plug of the main body 11 is inserted into the AC 100V outlet of the vehicle and electrically connected to the AC 100V outlet. It is also possible to do so. If the vehicle is equipped with an AC 100V outlet, a power cord whose one end is an AC 100V plug and whose other end is connected to the main body 11 is arranged between the main body 11 and the power supply section. It may also be used as a cable.

The power supply unit on the vehicle side is not limited to the above-mentioned cigarette lighter socket, USB terminal, or AC 100V outlet, but may be any mechanism that can supply power to the main body 11. Good too. Further, the power terminal on the first box 10 side is not limited to the above-mentioned cigarette plug, USB terminal, or AC100V plug, but is electrically connected to the power supply section on the vehicle side directly or via a cable. Any element that can be connected may be used.

The control unit 13 corresponds to an ECU (abbreviation for Electronic Control Unit) composed of a microcontroller, etc., and is configured to operate by executing a predetermined program stored in a built-in storage unit. be done.

The control unit 13 includes a task program group for determining the depression state of the accelerator pedal 3 of the vehicle and controlling the output unit 14. In the example shown in the figure, the control unit 13 includes a task program group for determining the depression state of the accelerator pedal 3 of the vehicle. It includes a task 13a, a sound output control task 13b for controlling the sound output section 141, and a light output control task 13c for controlling the light output section 142.

The determination task 13a detects a change in the distance from the sensor unit 21 to the accelerator pedal 3 based on the data signal transferred from the sensor unit 21 of the second box 20, and determines whether the accelerator pedal 3 is being depressed. Determine whether

The sound output control task 13b outputs a sound output control signal to the sound output unit 141 based on the determination result of the determination task 13a.

The light output control task 13c outputs a light output control signal to the light output unit 142 based on the determination result of the determination task 13a.

The output unit 14 is a mechanism for notifying the driver that the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed, and is composed of a sound output unit 141 and a light output unit 142.

The sound output section 141 is configured using, for example, a piezoelectric speaker, and is configured to emit sound or become silent in accordance with a control signal transferred from the sound output control task 13b of the control section 13. The sound output from the sound output unit 141 is not limited to a specific type of sound, and may be a continuous buzzer sound, an intermittent buzzer sound, or a voice. Note that it may be difficult to hear high-frequency sounds, so it is preferable that the frequency of the sound output from the sound output section 141 is 1 kHz or less. Specifically, the frequency of the sound output from the sound output section 141 is preferably within the range of 660Hz±30%, for example.

The light output unit 142 is configured using a light emitting element such as an LED (abbreviation for light emitting diode), and is turned on/blink/extinguished in accordance with a control signal transferred from the light output control task 13c of the control unit 13. It is composed of The light output unit 142 may be configured to emit light in a single color, or may be configured to emit light in multiple colors. The light output section 142 may be configured not only to emit light but also to display characters or graphics.

Specifically, for example, the light output unit 142 lights up with a light of a weak warning color, such as blue, when the accelerator pedal 3 is not depressed, and when the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed, When a warning is detected, the light may turn on or blink in a color that has a strong warning sign, such as red.

The second box 20 is electrically connected to the first box 10. A cable 19 is disposed between the first box 10 and the second box 20 (see FIG. 2), and power is supplied from the first box 10 to the second box 20 via the cable 19. In addition, control signals, data signals, etc. are transferred to each other. The cable 19 may be composed of a power supply cable and a signal transmission cable (that is, a plurality of cables). In the example shown in FIG. 1, one end of the cable 19 is connected to a first box 10 that is fixedly attached to the cigarette socket 2 of the vehicle, and the middle portion passes through the back side of the floor mat 5 at the foot of the driver's seat. , the other end is arranged in such a manner that it comes out near the accelerator pedal 3 and connects to the second box 20.

Note that the second box 20 may be supplied with power from the first box 10 not only by wired power supply using the cable 19 but also by wireless power supply. In this case, the first box 10 to which power is supplied from the vehicle is equipped with a power transmitter (power transmission unit) for wireless power supply, and the second box 20 is equipped with a power receiver (power reception unit) for wireless power supply. Then, wireless power is supplied from the first box 10 to the second box 20. In this case, the first box 10 and the second box 20 are also provided with a wireless communication section, and control signals, data signals, etc. are exchanged between them via the wireless communication line.

The second box 20 is located below the accelerator pedal 3 at a position behind the accelerator pedal 3 as seen from the driver (that is, at a position opposite to the side of the accelerator pedal 3 on which the foot is placed) on the driver's seat side floor. It is fixedly attached to the mat 5. The second box 20 is fixed and attached to the driver's seat side floor mat 5 with, for example, double-sided tape. The second box 20 may alternatively be fixedly attached to the vehicle body by means of a magnet.

The second box 20 includes a sensor section 21 and a positioning section 22 (see FIG. 2).

The sensor unit 21 is a mechanism that detects the position of the accelerator pedal 3, in other words, the degree of depression of the accelerator pedal 3 (namely, the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 3). The sensor section 21 is configured by a sensor capable of measuring distance, for example, an ultrasonic sensor equipped with an ultrasonic element (in other words, a transducer), or a light projecting section (in other words, a light emitting section). The sensor is configured using an infrared sensor or a laser sensor including a light receiving element (element) and a light receiving section (in other words, a light receiving element).

The sensor section 21 has a transmitting section 211 and a receiving section 212. The transmitting section 211 transmits ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, laser light, etc., and the receiving section 212 receives the reflected waves. 3 (that is, the surface opposite to the surface on which the foot of the accelerator pedal 3 is placed) is measured.

The sensor section 21 transfers the data signal of the distance measurement result to the control section 13 of the first box 10, and the determination task 13a of the control section 13 of the first box 10 is transferred from the sensor section 21. A change in the distance from the sensor section 21 to the accelerator pedal 3 is detected using the data signal.

The determination task 13a may set a threshold value for determining whether or not the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed based on a change in the distance from the sensor unit 21 to the accelerator pedal 3. For example, when the second box 20 including the sensor section 21 is installed in the vehicle, the ignition switch may be turned on, the sensor section 21 may perform measurement, and a value that takes into account variations may be set as the threshold value. Specifically, for example, if the distance L mm is measured during installation, the value calculated by L x 0.95 is set as the threshold, and this threshold is stored in the storage unit built into the control unit 13. You can do it like this. Then, the determination task 13a determines that the accelerator pedal 3 is being depressed when the distance from the sensor unit 21 to the accelerator pedal 3 is less than (or less than) a threshold value.

Alternatively, after the second box 20 including the sensor unit 21 is installed in the vehicle, the sensor unit 21 may perform measurement every time the ignition switch is turned on, and a value that takes into account variations may be set as the threshold value. Specifically, for example, when the distance L mm is measured, a value calculated by L×0.95 may be set as a threshold value, and this threshold value may be stored in a storage unit built into the control unit 13. . The threshold value held in the storage unit is erased (or volatilized) when the ignition switch is turned off, or is overwritten every time the ignition switch is turned on. Then, the determination task 13a determines that the accelerator pedal 3 is being depressed when the distance from the sensor unit 21 to the accelerator pedal 3 is less than (or less than) a threshold value. By setting the threshold value every time the ignition switch is turned on, it is possible to cope with changes in the sensor section 21 and the like over time.

In addition, since the second box 20 is equipped with a temperature sensor, the fluctuation range of the output of the sensor section 21 due to changes in the temperature inside the vehicle (particularly the temperature near the sensor section 21) (also called "temperature drift") may be corrected.

Here, regarding the sensor section 21, the ultrasonic waves etc. sent out from the transmitting section 211 are surely applied to the back surface of the accelerator pedal 3, are reflected, and are received by the receiving section 212, so that the It is necessary to measure the distance between. Therefore, the second box 20 shown in the figure is a positioning part 22 for checking the positional relationship between the second box and the accelerator pedal 3 so that the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 3 can be appropriately detected. I am trying to prepare for this.

The positioning section 22 functions as a mechanism that assists in positioning the second box 20 so that it is attached to the driver's seat side floor mat 5 in a predetermined positional relationship with respect to the accelerator pedal 3. Note that although the illustrated example has a transmitting section 211 and a receiving section 212, an ultrasonic sensor is used as the sensor section 21, and one ultrasonic element alternately transmits and receives ultrasonic waves. In some cases, the transmitter 211 may be regarded as equivalent to one ultrasonic element.

The positioning section 22 includes a light emitting element 221 such as a visible light LED that emits visible light, and a switch 222 for turning on and off the light emitting element 221.

The light emitting element 221 emits visible light in accordance with the direction of transmission of ultrasonic waves etc. transmitted from the transmitting section 211 of the sensor section 21 and the traveling direction of reflected waves such as the ultrasonic waves received by the receiving section 212. .

The positional relationship between the transmitting section 211 and receiving section 212 of the sensor section 21 and the light emitting element 221 of the positioning section 22 is not limited to a specific arrangement; 212 in an appropriate position (in particular, to ensure that the ultrasonic waves and infrared rays sent out from the transmitter 211 hit the back surface of the accelerator pedal 3). arranged so as to be suitable for

For example, the transmitting section 211, the receiving section 212, and the light emitting element 221 are arranged in a straight line, and the light emitting element 221 is arranged in the center (see FIG. 3(A)) or at the end (see FIG. 3(B)). ), or the transmitting section 211, the receiving section 212, and the light emitting element 221 may be arranged at each vertex position of the triangle (see FIG. 3(C)).

In the case where the second box 20 is not provided with the positioning section 22, in the step of installing the second box 20, the ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, laser beams, etc. sent out from the transmitting section 211 of the sensor section 21 are applied to the accelerator pedal. It is not possible to confirm whether it hits the back side of 3 or not. For this reason, it is necessary to operate the sensor unit 21 after installation and check. If the ultrasonic waves etc. are not hitting the back side of the accelerator pedal 3, it is necessary to change the installation position and operate the sensor unit 21 again to check. There is. In some cases, the operation of the sensor section 21 and the change of the position of the second box 20 may be repeated multiple times, which is very troublesome and requires a lot of effort.

On the other hand, since the second box 20 is provided with the positioning section 22, the positional relationship between the sensor section 21 and the accelerator pedal 3 is transmitted from the light emitting element 221 at the stage of installing the second box 20. Since this can be confirmed using visible light, the second box 20 can be easily and accurately installed without activating the sensor section 21 (see FIG. 4). Note that after the installation work is completed, the light emitting element 221 may be turned off by operating the switch 222, and the light emitting element 221 may be turned on only during the installation work.

Next, an example of the operation and effects of the accelerator operation notification device 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 5 as well.

First, when the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on (step S1), power is supplied from the cigarette socket 2 through the cigarette plug 12, and each part of the first box 10 and the second box 20 starts up. The sensor section 21 starts measuring the distance to the accelerator pedal 3 to detect the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 3, and transfers a data signal of the measurement result to the control section 13 (step S2). Next, a determination task 13a of the control unit 13 calculates a change in the distance from the sensor unit 21 to the accelerator pedal 3 based on the data signal transferred from the sensor unit 21, and determines whether the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed. It is determined whether or not (step S3).

If the determination task 13a of the control unit 13 determines that the distance from the sensor unit 21 to the accelerator pedal 3 has not changed and that the accelerator pedal 3 is not depressed (step S3: No), the process proceeds. The process returns to step S2.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the distance from the sensor unit 21 to the accelerator pedal 3 is decreasing and the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed (step S3: Yes), the determination task 13a of the control unit 13 performs the determination The results are transmitted to the sound output control task 13b and the light output control task 13c. Subsequently, the sound output control task 13b outputs a control signal to the sound output unit 141 to generate sound, and the light output control task 13c outputs a control signal to the light output unit 142 to generate light.

The sound output unit 141 receives the control signal output from the sound output control task 13b and emits sound. Further, the light output unit 142 receives the input of the control signal output from the light output control task 13c, and turns on or blinks.

By outputting sound from the sound output section 141 and outputting light from the light output section 142, it is possible to make the driver strongly aware that the accelerator pedal 3 is being depressed and to call attention to it. If the driver is unintentionally depressing the accelerator pedal 3, the driver can stop depressing the accelerator pedal 3 in response to the output from the sound output section 141 or the light output section 142 (in other words, a warning). I can do it.

Various methods can be considered for outputting sound from the sound output section 141 and light from the light output section 142 (output of sound and light is referred to as "output of alarm"). For example, the following methods of outputting an alarm can be considered.

a) Change the content of the alarm output at the start of operation and during operation.
A strong warning is output when the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed for the first time after the ignition switch is turned on (referred to as "driving start depression"). When the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed for the first time or later (referred to as "depression during driving"), a weaker warning is outputted than when the accelerator pedal is depressed at the start of driving.

In this case, the control unit 13 has a counter function that is reset each time the ignition switch is turned on and counts the number of times the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed. If the determination task 13a determines that the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed (step S3: Yes), whether this is the first depression of the accelerator pedal 3 after the ignition switch is turned on (i.e., the depression to start driving) or the second or subsequent accelerator pedal depression. It is determined whether the pedal 3 is depressed (that is, depressed while driving) (step S4).

If the control unit 13 determines that the pedal is depressed to start operation (step S4: Yes), the sound output unit 141 outputs a loud sound as a strong warning output, and the light output unit 142 outputs a red color, for example. It lights up or blinks in a color that has a strong warning meaning, such as (step S5).

On the other hand, if the control unit 13 determines that the pedal is not pressed to start driving (that is, the pedal is pressed while driving) (step S4: No), the sound output unit 141 outputs a soft sound as a weak warning output. At the same time, the light output unit 142 lights up or blinks with light of a weak warning color, such as blue.

Alternatively, when the pedal is depressed to start driving (step S4: Yes), the sound output section 141 outputs a loud sound as a strong warning output (the light output section 142 is not lit), but on the other hand, when the pedal is depressed during driving. (Step S4: No) Even if the light output section 142 lights up or blinks with light of a weak warning color, such as blue, as an output of a weak alarm (the sound output section 141 is silent). good.

b) Change the content of the alarm output periodically or irregularly.
For example, when starting at a green light after stopping at a red light, an alarm is output every time the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed (in other words, it is an alarm output corresponding to "No" in step S4, and a weak alarm is output when the accelerator pedal is depressed while driving). ) is carried out. At this time, if the content of the warning output is constant, the driver may become accustomed to the warning output. Outputs basic warnings, and periodically or irregularly outputs cautionary warnings.

In this case, the control unit 13 is equipped with a timer function that measures the elapsed time after the ignition switch is turned on or an alert is output, and the control unit 13 is equipped with a timer function that measures the elapsed time after the ignition switch is turned on or the warning is output. (step S4: No), the controller determines whether a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the ignition switch was turned on or the last time an alert was output. (Step S6).

If the control unit 13 determines that the predetermined time has not elapsed (step S6: No), the sound output unit 141 outputs a small sound and the light output unit 142 outputs a small sound as a basic alarm output. lights up or blinks with a light of a weak warning color, such as blue (step S7). Then, the control unit 13 returns the process to step S2.

On the other hand, if the control unit 13 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed (step S6: Yes), the sound output unit 141 outputs a loud sound and also outputs light as an output of a cautionary warning. The section 142 lights up or blinks in a color that has a strong warning meaning, such as red (step S8). The control unit 13 then resets the timer and returns the process to step S2.

When changing the content of the alarm output irregularly, the control unit 13 has a function of generating a pseudo-random number sequence, and the generated random number sequence meets predetermined conditions (for example, larger than a predetermined value, It may be determined whether the value is within a predetermined value range, is a multiple of a predetermined value, etc.). If the control unit 13 determines that the depression is not at the start of driving (that is, it is the depression during driving) (step S4: No), it generates a random number, and if the generated random number satisfies a predetermined condition. If there is no such warning, a basic warning may be output, and if the generated random number satisfies a predetermined condition, a cautionary warning may be output.

c) A warning is output in response to changes in the depression of the accelerator pedal 3.
When the accelerator pedal 3 is suddenly depressed after being loosened, in other words, when the accelerator pedal 3 is suddenly depressed, the amount of accelerator pedal 3 depression changes from decreasing. A warning alarm is output when there is a sudden increase in the number of alarms.

In this case, the control unit 13 is equipped with a circuit that detects a change in the degree of depression of the accelerator pedal 3 based on the data signal transferred from the sensor unit 21, and the control unit 13 is equipped with a circuit that detects a change in the degree of depression of the accelerator pedal 3, and the control unit 13 is in a state where the depression of the accelerator pedal 3 is gradually loosened. It is detected that the accelerator pedal 3 is suddenly depressed (referred to as "sudden accelerator operation"). When the control unit 13 determines that the accelerator has been suddenly operated, the sound output unit 141 outputs a loud sound and the light output unit 142 outputs a warning message such as red. Lights up or flashes with strong colored light.

The output of the warning may continue as long as the accelerator pedal 3 is kept depressed, or it may end when a predetermined time period elapses while the accelerator pedal 3 is kept depressed. You may also change the content. For example, when a predetermined period of time (for example, about 5 to 10 seconds) has elapsed while the accelerator pedal 3 is kept depressed, the sound output section 141 stops outputting sound, and the light output section 142 changes to a blue color, for example. It may also be configured to flash with a light of a weak warning color. If a predetermined period of time elapses while the accelerator pedal 3 remains depressed, the output of the warning is reduced, so that, for example, each time the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed when starting at a green light after stopping at a red light. It is possible to further emphasize the output of the alarm to be issued (that is, the output of the alarm corresponding to "No" in step S4, and the output of a weak alarm in response to the depression during driving), and also suppress the noise during driving. be able to.

According to the accelerator operation notification device 1 according to this embodiment, the output of the alarm can reflexively stop the driver from continuing to depress the accelerator pedal 3 without intending to do so, in other words, mistaking the accelerator pedal 3 for the brake pedal 4. This makes it possible to suppress sudden starts and sudden accelerations caused by pressing the wrong pedal, thereby preventing accidents caused by unintentional sudden starts and accelerations by the driver, and ultimately improving safety. becomes.

Further, the accelerator operation notification device 1 according to this embodiment is constructed by installing the first box 10 by connecting it to the cigarette socket 2 of the vehicle and attaching the second box 20 to the floor mat 5 on the driver's seat side. It can be used and easily retrofitted.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the accelerator operation notification device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of the accelerator operation notification device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a portable terminal 30 is used in addition to the first box 10 and the second box 20, and components equivalent to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. By adding , the explanation will be omitted.

As the portable terminal 30, for example, a smartphone (multifunctional mobile terminal) or a tablet terminal, which has a liquid crystal screen and a speaker, and also has a communication function and an application processing function, can be used.

The portable terminal 30 is configured to be able to communicate with the sensor section 21 of the second box 20 by implementing a dedicated application, and also has a control section 13, a sound output section 141, and a light output section. 142.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, by starting a dedicated application on the portable terminal 30, the portable terminal 30 becomes able to communicate with the sensor section 21 of the second box 20, and the control section 13 and the sound output section 141 , and functions corresponding to the optical output unit 142 are realized in the portable terminal 30. Specifically, the communication function 31 of the portable terminal 30 is used to enable communication with the sensor section 21, and the application operations include the determination task 13a, sound output control task 13b, and light output control task of the control section 13. A function corresponding to 13c is realized. Further, the speaker 32 of the portable terminal 30 functions as a sound output section 141, and the liquid crystal screen 33 functions as a light output section 142.

Communication between the portable terminal 30 and the sensor unit 21 may be performed by wireless communication or wired communication. In the example shown in FIG. 7, communication between the portable terminal 30 and the sensor unit 21 is performed via wireless communication.

When the portable terminal 30 performs wireless communication, the second box 20 is equipped with a wireless communication function, and wireless communication is performed between the portable terminal 30 and the second box 20. Alternatively, the first box 10 may be equipped with a wireless communication function (wireless communication section 15) and wireless communication may be performed between the portable terminal 30 and the first box 10. At the same time, the portable terminal 30 and the sensor section 21 may communicate via the first box 10 and the cable 19 (see FIG. 7).

Further, when the portable terminal 30 performs wired communication, the portable terminal 30 and the second box 20 are connected by a communication cable (signal transmission cable), and the portable terminal 30 and the sensor section 21 are connected. Alternatively, the portable terminal 30 and the first box 10 may be connected by a communication cable (signal transmission cable) and the portable terminal 30 and the first box 10 may be connected via the first box 10 and the cable 19. 30 and the sensor section 21 may communicate with each other.

According to the accelerator operation notification device 1 according to this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the accelerator operation notification device 1 according to the first embodiment, the control unit 13 and the output unit 14 are controlled by using the functions of the portable terminal 30. Since this is realized, the configuration of the first box 10 can be simplified.

Although the embodiments of this invention have been described above, the specific configuration is not limited to the above embodiments, and even if there are changes in the design within the scope of the gist of this invention, Included in invention. For example, in the first embodiment described above, the control section 13 is provided in the first box 10, but the control section 13 may be provided in the second box 20.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the output section 14 is configured to include the sound output section 141 and the light output section 142; however, the output section 14 may be configured only from the sound output section 141, It may also be made up of only one. Further, in the first embodiment described above, the sound output section 141 and the light output section 142 as the output section 14 are both provided in the first box 10, but the sound output section 141 and the light output section 142 At least one of these may be provided in the second box 20, and the sound output section 141 and the light output section 142 may be provided in both the first box 10 and the second box 20. You can do it like this.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the second box 20 is provided with the positioning section 22, but the positioning section 22 is not an essential configuration in the present invention, and the second box 20 is provided with the positioning section 22. You may choose not to have one.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the sensor section 21 measures the distance to the back surface of the accelerator pedal 3, but the sensor section 21 measures the position of the accelerator pedal 3, in other words, the distance to the back surface of the accelerator pedal 3. Any mechanism that can detect the degree of depression (that is, the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 3) may be used, and is not limited to a sensor that can measure distance. For example, an acceleration sensor may be used as the sensor section 21. In this case, the acceleration sensor serving as the sensor section 21 may be fixed and attached to the back surface of the accelerator pedal 3 with double-sided tape, for example. In this case, if the first box 10 and the second box 20 are electrically connected by the cable 19, the cable 19 may become an obstacle to the movement of the accelerator pedal 3 or break. Therefore, it is preferable that the first box 10 and the second box 20 are electrically connected wirelessly. In this case, when outputting a warning in response to a change in the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 3, the acceleration sensor detects a sudden increase in acceleration when the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 3 suddenly increases. Based on the data signal related to acceleration transferred from the sensor unit 21, the control unit 13 determines that the accelerator is suddenly operated.

Further, in the first embodiment described above, the first box 10 is provided with a power terminal electrically connected to the power supply section of the vehicle, but the first box 10 may be provided with a battery. . In this case, the battery provided in the first box 10 may be configured to be rechargeable by receiving power supply from the vehicle, if necessary. That is, the first box 10 is configured to be supplied with power from an external power source (i.e., a power supply unit included in the vehicle) or to be provided with an internal power source (i.e., a non-rechargeable battery or a rechargeable battery). , configured. Note that a function equivalent to a battery checker for checking the remaining battery level may be provided so that the output unit 14 issues an alarm when the battery level becomes low.

Further, in the example of the operation of the first embodiment described above, the content of the alarm output is changed, but the content of the alarm output may be constant and not changed. Specifically, it is not an essential feature of the present invention to determine whether or not the pedal is depressed to start operation and to select between a strong alarm output and a weak alarm output (step S4). Alternatively, it is not an essential configuration in the present invention to use the output of the basic warning and the output of the warning warning irregularly (step S6); It is not an essential configuration in the present invention to output the following. Therefore, for example, each time the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed, the sound output unit 141 outputs a sound as a warning output, and the light output unit 142 lights up in red, and when the accelerator pedal 3 is released or a predetermined period of time has elapsed. The sound output section 141 may stop outputting the sound and the light output section 142 may blink in blue when the sound output section 141 does not output the sound.

Further, in the second embodiment described above, a dedicated application is installed and used on a general-purpose portable terminal 30 such as a smartphone, but a dedicated device is used instead of the general-purpose portable terminal 30. At least one of the control unit 13, the sound output unit 141, and the light output unit 142 is realized by implementing a predetermined application in the dedicated device (in other words, executing a pre-stored program). You may also do so.

Further, in the second embodiment described above, power is supplied to the second box 20 from the first box 10 as in the first embodiment, but the second box 20 is connected to the sensor section 21. In addition to this, a battery may also be provided. In this case, the function corresponding to the output section 14 is realized in the portable terminal 30, and the control section 13 is provided in the second box 20, and the function corresponding to the control section 13 is realized in the portable terminal 30. The configuration may be such that the first box 10 is not included. In other words, the accelerator operation notification device according to the present invention includes a sensor section 21 for detecting the amount of depression operation of the accelerator pedal 3 of the vehicle and an internal power source, and also includes a second box 20 installed near the accelerator pedal 3, and a second box 20 installed near the accelerator pedal 3. The portable terminal 30 has a portable terminal 30 that can communicate with the box 20 of No. 2, and a dedicated application is installed on the portable terminal 30, so that the portable terminal 30 can notify the vehicle that the accelerator pedal 3 is depressed. The output unit 14 notifies the driver of the situation, and determines the depression state of the accelerator pedal 3 based on the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal 3 detected by the sensor unit 21. It may be configured to function as the control unit 13 that outputs an alarm.

1 Accelerator operation notification device 2 Cigarette socket 3 Accelerator pedal 4 Brake pedal 5 Driver's seat side floor mat 10 First box 11 Main body 12 Cigar plug 13 Control section 13a Judgment task 13b Sound output control task 13c Light output control task 14 Output section 141 Sound output section 142 Light output section 15 Wireless communication section 19 Cable 20 Second box 21 Sensor section 211 Transmission section 212 Receiving section 22 Positioning section 221 Light emitting element 222 Switch 30 Portable terminal 31 Communication function 32 Speaker 33 LCD screen

Claims (6)

a first box including at least one of an internal power source and a power terminal electrically connected to a power supply unit provided in the vehicle;
a second box electrically connected to the first box to be supplied with power and installed near the accelerator pedal of the vehicle;
The second box includes a sensor unit that detects the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal,
At least one of the first box and the second box includes an output unit that notifies the driver of the vehicle that the accelerator pedal is being depressed;
Either one of the first box and the second box determines the depression state of the accelerator pedal based on the depression amount of the accelerator pedal detected by the sensor unit, and comprising a control unit that causes the output unit to output an alarm according to the result,
The control unit causes the output unit to periodically or irregularly change the content of the output of the warning, or to output the warning in response to a change in depression of the accelerator pedal. Accelerator operation notification device. The second box includes a positioning section for checking the positional relationship between the sensor section and the accelerator pedal so that the sensor section can appropriately detect the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal.
The accelerator operation notification device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The output unit includes a sound output unit that emits sound and a light output unit that emits light or displays characters or figures,
At least one of the first box and the second box is provided with at least one of the sound output section and the light output section.
The accelerator operation notification device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: further comprising a portable terminal capable of communicating with the first box or the second box,
By implementing a dedicated application on the portable terminal,
the portable terminal functions as at least one of the control unit and the output unit;
The accelerator operation notification device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: changing the content of the output of the warning depending on whether or not the accelerator pedal is depressed for the first time after the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on;
The accelerator operation notification device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. a box that includes a sensor unit that detects the amount of depression of an accelerator pedal of a vehicle and an internal power source and is installed near the accelerator pedal;
a portable terminal capable of communicating with the box,
By implementing a dedicated application on the portable terminal,
The portable terminal includes an output unit that notifies the driver of the vehicle that the accelerator pedal is depressed, and an output unit that notifies the driver of the vehicle that the accelerator pedal is depressed based on the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal detected by the sensor unit. functioning as a control unit that determines the depression state and causes the output unit to output an alarm according to the result of the determination;
The control unit causes the output unit to periodically or irregularly change the content of the output of the warning, or to output the warning in response to a change in depression of the accelerator pedal. Accelerator operation notification device.