JP6476546B2 - Awakening maintenance device and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wakefulness maintaining device and a program, and more particularly to a wakefulness maintaining device for maintaining a user's wakefulness state.

  Conventionally, as a method for maintaining the driver's arousal, a method of generating a left-right motion visual stimulus by providing a visually identifiable mark on the upper part of the steering wheel is known (Patent Document 1).

  Further, a method of blinking a large number of red or blue LEDs (light emitting diodes) so as to flow from one to the other is known (Patent Document 2).

  In addition, the LED arrangement as a light source for obtaining wavelength light (awakening light) that suppresses melatonin secretion to the occupant and wakes up awakening, guides the light from the LED with a map lens, thereby awakening near the driver's face A method of irradiating light in a spot shape is known (Patent Document 3).

  In addition, using the lighting device controlled by the control device, the lighting device is turned on in a predetermined time zone where the occupant needs to be awakened, and light of a predetermined illuminance necessary for awakening the occupant is transmitted to the face of the occupant There is known a method of irradiating the laser beam (Patent Document 4).

  In addition, the driver of the vehicle is arranged to be able to irradiate light, and the control device turns on the light for improving the consciousness state for a predetermined period and then turns it off for a predetermined period. The blinking of the lamp increases the driver's consciousness state. A method for preventing a doze is known (Patent Document 5).

  Also, as a method of determining the degree of eye strain, when wearing a head-mounted display, a saccade-induced pattern is displayed on the display image, a saccade movement is generated in the wearer's eye, the eye movement at that time is detected, and the speed A method is known in which the amount of movement and the follow-up ratio are calculated to determine the degree of eye strain (Patent Document 6).

  In addition, as a method of determining whether or not the driver is in trouble, a light stimulus is presented to an operator of a facility or apparatus such as an automobile, train, plant, etc., and smooth tracking, saccade speed, which is a response to the stimulus, A method of detecting and quantifying the eyeball ability index such as the above and determining whether or not the driver has an obstacle is known (Patent Document 7).

  Further, as a method for improving the visual ability of the driver in the peripheral visual field, the LED (L, C) is controlled by controlling the generation timing of the light stimulus by the LED and the switching of the light emission position when the driving environment is determined. , R) at a light emission position set at the left front, near the front, and right front of the seated driver, a method of generating a light stimulus for drawing out the driver's visual perception is known (Patent Document 8). ).

JP 2007-8268 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-50988 JP 2007-331572 A JP 2008-238957 A JP 2008-146327 A JP 2012-137639 A JP 2007-512582 A JP 2012-50690 A

  However, the method of Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it is difficult to obtain an effect of maintaining arousal because there is almost no steering operation during high-speed running where a reduction in arousal is a problem.

  Moreover, in the methods of Patent Documents 3 to 5, there is a problem that the user feels bothered and uncomfortable because the user is encouraged to wake up with light that is easy to wake up, and bright light needs to be directed to the face. .

  An object of the present invention is to provide a wakefulness maintaining device that can maintain a user's wakefulness state without causing the user to feel bothersome or uncomfortable.

  In order to achieve the above object, a wakefulness maintaining device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a stimulus presentation means for presenting visual stimulus from at least two or more positions separated from each other in the peripheral vision region of the user, and the user Control means for presenting a visual stimulus by the stimulus presenting means so as to move the user's line of sight in the left-right direction in order to maintain the awake state.

  According to the first invention, the stimulus presenting means presents visual stimuli from at least two positions left and right within the peripheral vision area of the user, and the control means maintains the user's arousal state. Therefore, a visual stimulus is presented so as to move the user's line of sight in the left-right direction.

  In this way, visual stimuli presented at at least two positions separated from each other in the peripheral vision region of the user are presented so as to move the user's line of sight to the left and right in order to maintain the user's arousal state. By doing so, the user's arousal state can be maintained without making the user feel bothersome or uncomfortable.

  Further, in the first aspect of the invention, it further includes a line-of-sight movement amount measuring unit that measures a movement amount of the user's line of sight, and the control unit is configured to calculate the movement amount of the user's line of sight measured by the line-of-sight movement amount measuring unit. In response, at least one of the intensity and frequency of the presented visual stimulus may be changed, and the visual stimulus may be presented by the stimulus presenting means.

  In the first invention, the control means may control the stimulus presentation means so as to repeat the presentation of visual stimuli in a predetermined order from each of the at least two positions.

  In the first invention, the stimulus presenting means may present a visual stimulus by displaying patterns or characters at the two or more positions.

  In the first invention, the stimulus presenting means may present a visual stimulus by outputting blue light from at least two or more positions.

  In the first invention, the stimulus presentation unit may present a visual stimulus having a predetermined intensity corresponding to an upper limit of the intensity of the visual stimulus that can be perceived without any burden on the user's vision.

  In the first invention, the control means may present a visual stimulus by the stimulus presenting means so as to cause a saccade movement of the user's eyes.

In the first invention, the user is a vehicle driver,
The stimulus presenting means may present a visual stimulus from the at least two positions in the peripheral vision region of the driver on the windshield of the vehicle.

  Moreover, the program of this invention is a program for functioning a computer as each means which comprises said wakefulness maintenance apparatus.

  As described above, according to the wakefulness maintaining apparatus of the present invention, the visual stimulus presented at at least two positions separated from each other in the peripheral vision region of the user is maintained in the wakefulness state of the user. By presenting the user's line of sight to the left and right, the user's arousal state can be maintained without making the user feel bothersome or uncomfortable.

It is a figure which shows the example of the right-and-left blinking stimulus which can guide saccade. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the wakefulness maintenance apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of installation of the output device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the result of the experiment using the wakefulness maintenance apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the output device of the comparison conditions used in the experiment example. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the wakefulness maintenance apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the brightness | luminance change process routine in the wakefulness maintenance apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the wakefulness maintenance apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example in the case of displaying a character as a stimulus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, substantially the same or equivalent components or parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

<Principle of the invention>
In the embodiment of the present invention, by visually or sequentially outputting stimuli that can be visually recognized, such as light and display, as shown in FIG. Induces saccade (impulsive) eye movements. The saccade eye movement is an eye movement peculiar to awakening, and when this eye movement is induced, the reduction of the human arousal state is prevented, and the arousal state can be maintained.

  In addition, since it is only necessary to induce saccade eye movements, it may be presented to the peripheral vision region instead of the central vision of the person, and further intense stimulation is not necessary. Therefore, it is only necessary to present the stimulus with the intensity (brightness) near the limit that can be visually perceived. Thereby, since the user does not disturb the field of view or feel glare, the user can maintain an awake state without feeling bothersome or uncomfortable.

<Configuration of wakefulness maintaining apparatus according to first embodiment>
Next, a wakefulness maintaining apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the wakefulness maintaining device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a control device 20 and an output device 50. In the first embodiment, a case where the awakening maintenance device is installed in a vehicle will be described.

  The control device 20 includes a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM that stores programs and various data, and controls the output device 50 by executing the program. Specifically, the output device 50 is configured to blink two positions (first position and second position) as described later, and the first position is turned on every second → the second position is turned on. → The first device is turned on, and the output device 50 is controlled so that the first device and the second device are turned on alternately. Here, the shape of the lighting part is, for example, a circular figure having a diameter of 2 cm, and the brightness of the lighting part is a predetermined brightness corresponding to the upper limit of the intensity of the visual stimulus that can be perceived by the driver without any burden. The color of is blue. Further, the control device 20 continuously controls the output device 50 so as to alternately turn on at the first position and the second position, and then does not turn on at the first position and the second position for the next one minute. Thus, the output device 50 is controlled. Then, the output device 50 is controlled so that the control for lighting at the first position and the second position and the control for not lighting are alternately repeated every minute. It should be noted that the lighting color may be other than blue. A driver is an example of a user. Further, lighting at the first position and the second position is an example of a visual stimulus.

  The output device 50 is a device that presents visual stimuli from two positions left and right of the driver. In the first embodiment, a head-up display unit provided on the front windshield of the driver is used. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, in the head-up display portion of the front windshield of the driver, two positions (first positions) that are equal to the left and right around the driver front and within the peripheral vision area of the driver. Each of the position and the second position) blinks. Here, the peripheral vision region is a region having an eccentricity of about 5 to 25 degrees in the vertical direction with respect to a linear direction forward from a predetermined line of sight of the driver. In the first embodiment, the head-up display unit of the windshield has a distance of about 80 centimeters from the driver's eyes, and the first position and the second position to be blinked are 10 centimeters left and right with the driver front as the center. The positions are set apart from each other and at a depression angle of 10 degrees with respect to the lower side from the front of the driver.

<Operation of the wakefulness maintaining device according to the first embodiment>
Next, the operation of the wakefulness maintaining device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, when the driver turns on the ignition key, after a certain time has elapsed, the control device 20 alternately repeats the control for lighting at the first position and the second position and the control for not lighting every minute. 50 is controlled. Thereby, the driver's awakening state is maintained.

<Experimental example>
FIG. 4 shows an example of a wakefulness maintenance effect when the wakefulness maintaining apparatus according to the first embodiment is used (stimulus presentation frequency is 0.5 seconds, and a stimulus presentation start and stop interval is 1 minute) Every). As a comparison condition, lighting is performed from the first position and the second position up and down as shown in FIG. 5 (stimulus presentation frequency is every 0.5 seconds, and the stimulus presentation start and stop intervals are 1 minute) An output device is used. The vertical axis in FIG. 4 is a closed eye rate (PERCLOS) per minute, which is one of the indexes representing the arousal state, and can be regarded as a decrease in arousal and a drowsiness when this value is 20% or more, for example. From the results shown in FIG. 4, it can be seen that the use of the wakefulness maintaining apparatus according to the first embodiment can suppress a decrease in wakefulness compared to the comparison condition.

  As described above, according to the wakefulness maintaining device 100 according to the first embodiment, in order to maintain the driver's wakefulness at two positions left and right in the peripheral vision region of the driver, By lighting the line of sight so that it moves to the left and right, it is possible to maintain the driver's arousal state without bothering the driver and feeling uncomfortable.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the head-up display unit provided on the front windshield of the driver is used as the device for presenting the right visual stimulus and the left visual stimulus of the driver has been described. It is not limited to. For example, by using two or more LED lights or the like to perform control so that two or more visual stimuli are presented, the driver can present the right visual stimulus and the left visual stimulus. Good.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the case where the presentation of the visual stimulus on the right side of the driver and the presentation of the left side visual stimulus are alternately presented every second has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. . For example, the left and right visual stimuli may be alternately presented every 0.5 seconds or every 2 seconds. However, since a certain latency (150 to 250 ms) is required to start the saccade eye movement, the shortest is about 0.5 seconds. In addition, if the period is too long, the occurrence frequency of saccade eye movement becomes low, so about 2 seconds is the longest.

  In the first embodiment, the output device 50 is controlled for one minute with respect to the control for presenting the visual stimulus, and then the control for not presenting the stimulus for one minute is performed and the control is repeated every minute. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the control may be repeated every 2 minutes or every 30 seconds. Further, it is not necessary to control the stop of the presentation of the visual stimulus.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the visual stimulus is presented from two places has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when a sufficient distance can be secured for saccade eye movement to be induced, visual stimuli may be presented from two or more locations. In this case, the order in which visual stimuli are presented is determined in advance, and the presentation of visual stimuli is repeated periodically in that order.

  Moreover, although the case where the awakening maintenance apparatus 100 is installed in a vehicle was demonstrated in 1st Embodiment, it is not limited to this. For example, you may install in vehicles, such as ships other than a vehicle, and an airplane. Further, by using a small liquid crystal display or the like as the output device, for example, it may be installed so as to be used during OA work in a home or office.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In addition, about the part which becomes the structure and effect | action similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the amount of movement of the driver's line of sight is measured and the luminance of the visual stimulus output from the output device is changed according to the amount of movement of the line of sight. Yes.

<Configuration of Awakening Maintenance Device According to Second Embodiment>
Next, a wakefulness maintaining apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the wakefulness maintaining apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a speed sensor 10, a line-of-sight measurement device 212, a control device 220, and an output device 50.

  The speed sensor 10 detects the speed of the vehicle and outputs it to the determination unit 230.

  When the line-of-sight measurement device 212 receives a driving start signal from the determination unit 230, the line-of-sight measurement device 212 always measures the driver's line of sight using a camera or the like, and sequentially outputs the measurement results to the determination unit 230. In addition, as for the method of measuring the driver's line of sight, a conventionally known method may be used, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  The control device 220 includes a line-of-sight movement measurement unit 222, a determination unit 230, and a control unit 240.

  The line-of-sight movement measurement unit 222 calculates an integrated value of the line-of-sight movement distance in a certain period based on the measurement result input from the line-of-sight measurement device 212. In the second embodiment, the integrated value of the movement distance of the driver's line of sight per minute obtained from 5 minutes after the start of measurement of the driver's line of sight (hereinafter referred to as the reference line-of-sight movement distance), and every minute Each integrated value of the movement distance of the driver's line of sight is calculated. Note that the measurement time that is the target of the reference line-of-sight movement distance may be a measurement time other than 5 minutes. Also, the measurement time of the integrated value of the movement distance of the driver's line of sight may be a measurement time other than 1 minute.

  The determination unit 230 determines whether or not the speed is greater than or equal to a predetermined value based on the speed input from the speed sensor 10, and determines that the driving of the vehicle has started when the speed is greater than or equal to the predetermined value. The operation start signal is output to the line-of-sight measurement device 212. Further, the determination unit 230 is based on the reference gaze movement distance input from the gaze movement amount measurement unit 222 and the integrated value of the movement distance of the driver's gaze every minute, and the past one minute from the present. It is determined whether or not the integrated value of the line-of-sight movement distance is equal to or less than half of the reference line-of-sight movement distance, and the determination result is output to the control unit 240.

The control unit 240 controls the output device 50. Further, based on the determination result input from the determination unit 230, the control unit 240 performs control so that the luminance at the time of lighting at the first position and the second position of the head-up display unit by the output device 50 is changed. Specifically, this is a case where the integrated value of the line-of-sight movement distance for the past one minute from the present is less than or equal to one-half of the reference line-of-sight movement distance, and when the light is turned on at the current first and second positions. When the luminance is the reference luminance, the output device 50 is controlled so that the luminance at the time of lighting is doubled (for example, 20 cd / m ² when the reference luminance is 10 cd / m ² ). Also, the integrated value of the eye movement distance in the past one minute from the present is greater than one half of the reference eye movement distance, and the lighting brightness at the current first position and the second position is not the reference brightness. First, the output device 50 is controlled so that the luminance at the time of lighting is set as the reference luminance. In addition, the brightness | luminance at the time of lighting is an example of the intensity | strength of visual stimulation.

<Operation of the wakefulness maintaining device according to the second embodiment>
Next, the operation of the wakefulness maintaining apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, when the ignition key is turned on, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the control device 20 repeats the control for lighting at the first position and the second position and the control for not lighting alternately every minute. 50 is controlled. Further, when the speed of the vehicle is sequentially detected by the speed sensor 10, the CPU executes the program stored in the ROM of the control device 220, thereby executing the brightness change processing routine shown in FIG. .

  First, in step S100, the vehicle speed detected by the speed sensor 10 is received.

  Next, in step S102, it is determined whether or not the vehicle speed acquired in step S100 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. If the vehicle speed is higher than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that the driving of the vehicle has started. The process proceeds to step S106. At this time, an operation start signal is output to the line-of-sight measurement device 212. On the other hand, when the speed of the vehicle is less than the predetermined value, it is determined that the driving of the vehicle is not started, the process proceeds to step S100, and the processes of steps S100 to S102 are repeated.

  Next, in step S106, it is determined whether or not the reference line-of-sight movement distance has been calculated. If the reference line-of-sight movement distance has already been calculated, the process proceeds to step S112, and if the reference line-of-sight movement distance has not yet been calculated, the process proceeds to step S108.

  Next, in step S108, the line-of-sight measurement result for five minutes of the line of sight of the driver is received from the line-of-sight measurement device 212.

  Next, in step S110, a reference line-of-sight movement distance is calculated based on the line-of-sight measurement results for five minutes acquired in step S108.

  In step S112, the gaze measurement result for one minute of the gaze of the driver is received from the gaze measurement device 212.

  Next, in step S114, based on the visual line measurement result acquired in step S112, an integrated value of the movement distance of the visual line of the driver for 1 minute is calculated.

  Next, in step S116, it is necessary to compare the reference line-of-sight movement distance acquired in step S110 with the integrated value of the one-minute driver's line-of-sight movement distance acquired in step S114 to change the luminance at the time of lighting. It is determined whether or not there is. If it is necessary to change the brightness at the time of lighting, the process proceeds to step S118. If it is not necessary to change the brightness at the time of lighting, the process proceeds to step S106, and the processes of steps S106 to S116 are repeated.

  As described above, according to the wakefulness maintaining device 200 according to the second embodiment, in order to maintain the driver's wakefulness at two positions left and right in the peripheral vision region of the driver, By controlling the lighting so as to move the line of sight to the left and right, and by controlling the brightness at the time of lighting according to the amount of movement of the line of sight of the driver, without making the driver feel bothersome or uncomfortable, Awakened state can be maintained.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the second embodiment, the case where the luminance at the time of lighting is changed using the integrated value of the movement distance of the driver's line of sight has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the lighting frequency may be changed simultaneously with changing the luminance at the time of lighting. Further, only the lighting frequency may be changed. Specifically, the lighting at the first position and the second position is controlled so as to be alternately turned on every second (reference frequency), but the integrated value of the eye movement distance for the past one minute from the present time. Is less than half of the reference line-of-sight movement distance, and when the current lighting frequency is the reference frequency, the lighting frequency is changed every 0.5 seconds. In addition, when the integrated value of the line-of-sight movement distance for the past one minute from the present is larger than one half of the reference line-of-sight movement distance and the current lighting frequency is not the reference frequency, the lighting frequency is set to the reference frequency. Control to be frequency.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described. In addition, about the part which becomes the structure and effect | action similar to 1st and 2nd Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the third embodiment, the first embodiment is that the driver's breathing interval guidance is performed by displaying characters at the first position and the second position of the head-up display unit to maintain the awake state. The form is different.

<Configuration of Awakening Maintenance Device According to Third Embodiment>
Next, a wakefulness maintaining apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the wakefulness maintaining device 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a control device 320 and an output device 350.

  The control device 320 controls the output device 350. Specifically, the output device 350 is configured to blink two positions of the head-up display unit, and as shown in FIG. When the second position is turned on, the output device 350 is controlled to display the character “suck”. Since other configurations are the same as those of the control device 20 in the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, according to the wakefulness maintaining device 300 according to the third embodiment, in order to maintain the driver's wakefulness at two positions left and right in the peripheral vision region of the driver, Light up to move the line of sight to the left and right, and display the letters when it is lit to guide the driver's breathing interval, so that the driver's arousal state can be avoided without making the driver feel bothersome or uncomfortable. Can be maintained.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  In the third embodiment, a case has been described in which characters are displayed during lighting at the first position and the second position, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, you may display a pattern at the time of lighting in the 1st position and the 2nd position. In this case, it is defined in advance in which pattern the driver inhales or exhales.

  Further, in the present specification, the embodiment has been described in which the program is installed in advance. However, the program can be provided by being stored in a computer-readable recording medium or provided via a network. It is also possible to do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Speed sensor 20 Control apparatus 50 Output apparatus 100 Awakening maintenance apparatus 200 Awakening maintenance apparatus 212 Gaze measurement apparatus 220 Control apparatus 222 Gaze movement amount measurement part 230 Determination part 240 Control part 300 Awakening maintenance apparatus 320 Control apparatus 350 Output apparatus

Claims (7)

Stimulus presenting means for presenting visual stimuli from two positions left and right within the peripheral vision region of the user,
Eye movement amount measuring means for measuring the movement amount of the user's eye movement;
Control means for presenting visual stimuli alternately from the two positions by the stimulus presenting means so as to move the user's line of sight in the left-right direction in order to maintain the user's arousal state, The stimulus presenting means is changed such that the smaller the amount of movement of the user's line of sight measured by the quantity measuring means, the shorter the time interval between the presented visual stimuli is alternately from the two positions. Control means for presenting visual stimuli by,
A wakefulness maintaining device.   The wakefulness maintaining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stimulus presentation unit presents a visual stimulus by displaying a pattern or a character at the two positions.   The wakefulness maintaining apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stimulus presenting means presents a visual stimulus by outputting blue light from the two positions.   The wakefulness maintaining apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stimulus presenting unit presents a visual stimulus having a predetermined intensity corresponding to an upper limit of an intensity of the visual stimulus that can be perceived without a burden on the user's vision. .   The wakefulness maintaining apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means causes the stimulus presentation means to present a visual stimulus so as to cause a saccade movement of the user's eyes. The user is a vehicle driver,
The wakefulness maintaining device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the stimulus presenting means presents a visual stimulus from the two positions in the peripheral vision region of the driver on the windshield of the vehicle. Computer
A line-of-sight movement measuring means for measuring the amount of movement of the user's line of sight; Control means for presenting a visual stimulus by a stimulus presenting means for presenting a visual stimulus from two distant positions, the smaller the amount of movement of the user's line of sight measured by the line-of-sight movement measuring means, A program for causing a visual stimulus to be presented by the stimulus presenting means by changing the time interval of the presented visual stimuli alternately from two positions so as to become narrower.