JP3968812B2 - Vehicle doze driving prevention device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a snooze driving prevention apparatus for preventing a driver driving a vehicle from snoozing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when driving a vehicle in a long tunnel such as a nighttime or a central high-speed Enayama tunnel, it is experienced that the driver tends to fall asleep due to the monotonous feeling.
In response to this, a dozing operation detection device that detects and prevents a dozing operation based on the operation frequency of various operation mechanisms such as a steering mechanism of a vehicle has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-319135). .
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the drowsy driving detection device, various operation mechanisms are operated in various ways corresponding to various driving environments such as the road conditions of the vehicle and the weather. For this reason, even if it detects the operation frequency of various operation mechanisms, there exists a malfunction that the detection accuracy required for dozing driving prevention cannot be obtained.
[0004]
On the other hand, the present inventors, for example, the driving state of the vehicle in the central high-speed Enayama tunnel, and various investigations about the cause of the driver's sleep driving, under the monotonous feeling of driving, It turned out that the fall of the illumination intensity around the said vehicle tends to induce a drowsy driving.
In addition, since the driving environment and the driver's biometric information that cause a decrease in the illuminance around the vehicle have a close relationship with the traveling position of the vehicle, an environment that causes a drowsy driving by grasping the traveling position I knew that I could know.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicle doze driving prevention device that prevents a driver from falling asleep due to monotonous driving in a low light environment such as a long tunnel or at night based on the above viewpoint. Objective.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the dozing operation determination sensitivity switching means switches the dozing operation determination sensitivity high based on the operation of the headlamp switch, the dozing operation determination means The presence / absence of the driver's dozing operation is determined by comparing the detected biological state by the state detection means with the switching sensitivity of the napping operation determination.
[0007]
Accordingly, when the dozing operation determination unit determines that the driver is dozing driving under the operation of the headlight switch, the notification unit notifies the driver of the dozing operation. As a result, without adopting a special sensor, it is possible to reliably prevent a drowsy driving that tends to occur during nighttime when a headlamp is turned on or during driving in a long tunnel.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the driving environment determining means determines whether or not the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor is in a low illuminance driving environment such as a night or a long tunnel that causes the driver to fall asleep. . And when this driving environment determination means determines that it is the said low illumination intensity driving environment, a dozing driving determination sensitivity switching means switches a dozing driving determination sensitivity high.
[0008]
Along with this, the snoozing driving determination means switches the detected biological state and compares it with the snoozing driving determination sensitivity to determine whether or not the driver is snoozing driving.
According to this, although it differs in the point which replaces with a headlamp switch and employ | adopts an illumination intensity sensor, the same dozing driving | running prevention as Claim 1 can be achieved.
If the vehicle is equipped with an automatic light control device that automatically turns on and off the headlamp, this automatic light control device may serve as an illuminance sensor.
[0009]
According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, whether the travel environment determination means is in a low-light travel environment such as a night or a long tunnel where the travel position detected by the travel position detection means causes the driver to fall asleep. Judge whether or not. And when this driving environment determination means determines that it is the said low illumination intensity driving environment, a dozing driving determination sensitivity switching means switches a dozing driving determination sensitivity high.
[0010]
Along with this, the dozing driving determination means switches the detected living body state by the living body state detection means and compares it with the dozing driving determination sensitivity to determine whether or not the driver is falling asleep.
As described above, since the detected travel position can be associated with a low-light environment such as a night or a long tunnel without using the headlamp switch or the illuminance detection means, the detected travel position can be associated with the low illuminance travel environment such as a night or a long tunnel. The same effects as those described in the invention can be achieved.
[0011]
If the vehicle employs a navigator system, it is possible to eliminate the travel position detecting means by utilizing the position information of the navigator system. In addition, such a thing can be similarly achieved by using the output of a receiving circuit for road-to-vehicle communication such as a beacon.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the travel information notification means notifies the travel information of the vehicle in the low illuminance travel environment as dozing driving prevention information.
[0012]
Thereby, it is possible to further improve the prevention of snoozing driving in a low-light driving environment .
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a vehicle drowsy driving prevention apparatus according to the present invention.
[0015]
This snooze driving prevention device is constituted by a microcomputer 30 connected to the pulse sensor 10, the headlight switch 20a and the illuminance sensor 20bb, and an alarm device 40 connected to the microcomputer 30.
The pulse sensor 10 detects the pulse state of the driver. The headlight switch 20a is turned on or off when the headlight of the vehicle is turned on or off according to the driver's intention. The illuminance sensor 20b detects the illuminance around the vehicle.
[0016]
The microcomputer 30 executes a computer program according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, and during this execution, performs a process such as a doze driving determination process based on the outputs of the pulse sensor 10, the headlamp switch 20a, and the illuminance sensor 20bb. .
In the first embodiment configured as described above, when the microcomputer 30 starts executing the computer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 2, in step 100, the detection output of the illuminance sensor 20ba is input to the microcomputer 30 and digitally converted. Is set as the detected illuminance.
[0017]
Next, at step 110, the detected illuminance is compared with a predetermined reference level TH. As shown in FIG. 3, the reference illuminance TH corresponds to a predetermined illuminance on the characteristic data L representing a temporal change in the detected illuminance. Here, the predetermined illuminance corresponds to an upper limit value that easily induces the driver to fall asleep under the monotonous driving of the driver while traveling in a long tunnel of the vehicle or at night.
[0018]
Therefore, if the detected illuminance is higher than the reference illuminance TH, the determination in step 110 is YES, and in step 121, the dozing driving determination sensitivity S is switched to the predetermined high sensitivity Sh (see FIG. 3B). On the other hand, when the determination in step 110 is NO, in step 111, the output of the headlamp switch 20a is input to the microcomputer 30.
[0019]
Then, in step 120, if the headlamp switch 20a is turned on, the headlamp is turned on. This means that the illuminance of the traveling environment of the vehicle is reduced as the headlamp needs to be turned on.
For this reason, in step 121, the dozing driving determination sensitivity S is switched to the predetermined high sensitivity Sh (see FIG. 3B) as described above.
[0020]
On the other hand, if the determination in step 120 is NO, in step 122, the dozing driving determination sensitivity S is switched to the normal sensitivity So (see FIG. 3B). The normal sensitivity So is lower than the predetermined high sensitivity Sh.
As described above, when the switching process in either step 121 or 122 is performed, in step 123, the detection output of the pulse sensor 10 is input to the microcomputer 30 and digitally converted as pulse data.
[0021]
In step 130, the value of the pulse data is compared with the doze driving determination sensitivity S = So or Sh. If the value of the pulse data is lower than the drowsy driving determination sensitivity S = So or Sh, it is a drowsy driving, so the determination in step 130 is YES, and in step 131, an alarm process for preventing the drowsy driving is performed. Along with this, the alarm device 40 warns.
[0022]
Therefore, even if the vehicle is in a long tunnel or night driving state, the driver's operation is monotonous and the surrounding illuminance is low, the driver's dozing operation can be appropriately prevented.
In the first embodiment, the example of switching the dozing operation determination sensitivity S to two stages has been described. Instead, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the dozing operation determination sensitivity S is switched to three stages. In this way, the determination of preventing drowsy driving may be performed more finely.
[0023]
Here, normally, the operation of the headlamp switch 20a is performed in the order of three steps of turning off, turning on the small lamp, and turning on the headlamp, and in this order, the illuminance is bright, dim, and dark. It is conceivable that the value changes to a value corresponding to the state.
Therefore, based on these assumptions, when both the headlamps and the small lamps are extinguished, the detected illuminance is high and bright. For this reason, the dozing driving determination sensitivity S is lowered.
[0024]
Further, when only the small lamp is lit, the illuminance is medium and dim. Along with this, the drowsy driving determination sensitivity S is set to a medium value. Further, when the headlamp is turned on, the illuminance is low and dark. For this reason, the dozing driving determination sensitivity S is increased.
In the first embodiment, the outputs of both the headlamp switch 20a and the illuminance sensor 20b are used for switching the dozing operation determination sensitivity S. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the headlamp switch 20a and the illuminance are switched. Even if one of the outputs of both of the sensors 20b is used for switching the drowsy driving determination sensitivity S, the same effect as the first embodiment can be achieved.
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the vehicle doze driving prevention apparatus according to the present invention.
[0025]
This snooze driving prevention apparatus has the pulse sensor 10 described in the first embodiment. The snooze driving prevention apparatus includes a position sensor 50, a vehicle speed sensor 60, and a memory 70 in place of the headlight switch 20a and the illuminance sensor 20bb described in the first embodiment.
The position sensor 50 is a so-called GPS, and the position sensor 50 detects the traveling position of the vehicle as position data A. The vehicle speed sensor 60 detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle and outputs a vehicle speed signal at a frequency proportional to the vehicle speed.
[0026]
The memory 70 stores travel geographical information of the vehicle in advance, and the memory 70 outputs travel geographical information including the travel position of the vehicle to the microcomputer 80.
The microcomputer 80 executes a computer program according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, and during this execution, the buzzer circuit 90 a and the display device 90 b are based on the outputs of the pulse sensor 10, the position sensor 50, the vehicle speed sensor 60 and the memory 70. Various processes for the driving process are performed.
[0027]
In the second embodiment configured as described above, if the microcomputer 80 starts to execute the computer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 6, in step 200, the travel geographic information including the travel position of the vehicle from the memory 70 in step 200. To the microcomputer 80.
For example, if the vehicle is traveling in the vicinity of the central high-speed Enayama tunnel, entrance data X1 and exit data X2 of the central high-speed Enayama tunnel are included in the travel geographic information.
[0028]
In step 210, the detected position data A of the position sensor 50 is input to the microcomputer 80.
Thereafter, if the detected position data A matches the entrance data X1, the determination in step 220 is YES. Accordingly, the current time t is set to t = 0.
[0029]
In step 222, the current geographic information is processed as display data. Accordingly, the display device 90b displays the current geographic information based on the display data.
Thereafter, in step 223, the vehicle speed V is calculated based on the vehicle speed pulse of the vehicle speed sensor 60. Subsequently, in step 224, the difference between the inlet data X1 and the outlet data X2 is calculated, and the product of the vehicle speed V and the current time t is calculated. Then, the passing distance {(X1-X2) -V · t} from the entrance of the vehicle in the central high-speed Enayama tunnel is calculated and processed as display data.
[0030]
Along with this, the display device 90b displays the passing distance as doze driving prevention display information based on the display data. This makes it possible to prevent the driver from falling asleep. This display may be provided with a color change (red → orange → yellow) or a brightness change in accordance with a change in the passing distance in order to enhance a drowsy driving prevention effect.
[0031]
After this display, in step 225, the dozing operation determination sensitivity S is switched from the dozing operation determination sensitivity So described in the first embodiment to the dozing operation determination sensitivity Sh.
Then, in step 230, the output of the pulse sensor 10 is compared with the dozing driving determination sensitivity Sh. Accordingly, when the same determination as YES in step 130 described in the first embodiment is made, the same process as the process in step 131 is performed in step 231. Along with this, the buzzer circuit 90a sounds an alarm sound. This makes it possible to prevent the driver from falling asleep in the Chuo Expressway Enayama tunnel.
[0032]
When the vehicle reaches the exit of the central high-speed Enayama tunnel after such traveling, a determination of YES is made in step 240 based on the fact that the position data A matches the exit data X2.
For this reason, the geographic information erasure process is performed in step 241, and in the next step 242, the switching doze driving determination sensitivity in step 230 is restored to the value before switching.
[0033]
Note that each step in the flowcharts of the above embodiments may be realized by a hardware logic configuration as a function execution unit.
In implementing the present invention, the value corresponding to the difference between the predetermined high sensitivity Sh and the normal sensitivity So is obtained from the detection output of the pulse sensor 10 without switching the drowsy driving determination sensitivity as described in the above embodiments. Even if the value obtained by subtraction is used in place of the predetermined high sensitivity Sh, the same drowsy driving prevention as in the above embodiments can be achieved.
[0034]
In implementing the present invention, a sensor for detecting skin potential, blinking, brain waves, or the like may be employed instead of the pulse sensor 10.
Further, in carrying out the present invention, instead of the notification by the buzzer circuit, the notification may be performed by the output of the vehicle seat vibration device, the scent controller, the air conditioning control device, or the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer of FIG.
3A is a graph showing the relationship between the detected illuminance characteristic of the illuminance sensor of FIG. 1 and the reference illuminance TH, and FIG. 3B is a graph showing the switching characteristic of the dozing driving determination sensitivity S;
FIG. 4 is a chart showing a relationship between turning on / off of a vehicle headlamp or a small lamp, illuminance, and drowsiness driving determination sensitivity;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer of FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Pulse sensor, 20a ... Headlight switch, 20b ... Illuminance sensor,
30, 80 ... microcomputer, 40 ... alarm device, 50 ... GPS,
60 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 70 ... Memory, 90a ... Buzzer circuit,
90b ... Display device.

Claims (4)

Biological state detecting means (10) for detecting a biological state of a driver of a vehicle equipped with a headlamp that is turned on by operating the headlamp switch (20a);
A doze driving determination means (130) for comparing the detected biological state with a doze driving determination sensitivity to determine the presence or absence of the driver's dozing operation;
In the snooze driving prevention apparatus comprising notifying means (131, 40) for notifying the driver of the snoozing driving based on the determination of the snoozing driving by the snoozing driving judging means,
A dozing operation determination sensitivity switching means (121) for switching the dozing operation determination sensitivity high based on an operation of the headlight switch,
The dozing driving determination means is configured to determine whether or not the driver is dozing driving by comparing the detected biological state with the switching dozing driving determination sensitivity under the operation of the headlight switch. Dozing driving prevention device for vehicles. Biological state detection means (10) for detecting the biological state of the driver of the vehicle;
A doze driving determination means (130) for comparing the detected biological state with a doze driving determination sensitivity to determine the presence or absence of the driver's dozing operation;
In the snooze driving prevention apparatus comprising notifying means (131, 40) for notifying the driver of the snoozing driving based on the determination of the snoozing driving by the snoozing driving judging means,
Illuminance detection means (20b) for detecting the illuminance around the vehicle;
Driving environment determination means (110) for determining whether or not the detected illuminance is in a low illuminance driving environment such as a night or a long tunnel that causes the driver to fall asleep.
When the driving environment determining means determines that the driving environment is the low-illuminance driving environment, the driving environment determining means includes a dozing driving determination sensitivity switching means (121) for switching the dozing driving determination sensitivity high, and the dozing driving determination means includes the driving environment determination. A vehicle characterized in that it is determined whether or not the driver is dozing driving by comparing the detected biological state with the switching dozing driving determination sensitivity based on the determination by the means that the driving environment is the low-illuminance driving environment. A snooze driving prevention device. Biological state detection means (10) for detecting the biological state of the driver of the vehicle;
A doze driving determination means (230) for comparing the detected biological state with a drowsiness driving determination sensitivity to determine the presence or absence of the driver's dozing operation;
In a snooze driving prevention device comprising a snooze driving notification means (231, 90a) for informing the driver of the snoozing driving based on the determination of the snoozing driving by the snoozing driving determination means,
Traveling position detection means (50) for detecting the traveling position of the vehicle;
Driving environment determination means (220 to 223) for determining whether or not the detected driving position is in a low-light driving environment such as a night or a long tunnel that causes the driver to fall asleep.
A drowsy driving determination sensitivity switching means (225) that switches the drowsy driving determination sensitivity high when the driving environment determination means determines that the driving environment is the low-illuminance driving environment;
Based on the determination that the drowsy driving determination means is the low-illuminance driving environment by the driving environment determination means, the detected biological state is compared with the switching dozing driving determination sensitivity, thereby A drowsiness prevention apparatus for a vehicle characterized by determining presence or absence.   The vehicle drowsiness prevention device according to claim 3, further comprising travel information notifying means (90b) for notifying vehicle travel information in the low illuminance driving environment as doze driving prevention information.

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