JPH0236760Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] "Industrial application field" The present invention relates to an obstacle detection device for automobiles, and more specifically, it is mounted on an automobile and detects obstacles around the automobile and irradiates light. Regarding equipment.

"Prior Art and its Problems" Conventionally, there is a device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 84377/1984 as an obstacle search device for a vehicle. This system uses ultrasonic waves to detect the presence and location of obstacles around a car, and is used, for example, to ensure safety when backing up a car to confirm that there are no obstacles.

By the way, if an obstacle is detected,
This must be avoided, but during the day, the driver should use a mirror or similar device to direct his/her line of sight in the direction in which the obstacle is detected (normally, obstacles that can be detected by an obstacle search device are located in hard-to-see locations). (In many cases, it is necessary to use mirrors, etc.) to avoid obstacles while visually recognizing them.

However, at night, there is a problem in that the lack of sufficient lighting and the need to use mirrors, etc. as mentioned above combine to prevent the driver from seeing obstacles and making it extremely difficult to avoid them. .

"Purpose of the invention" The purpose of the invention is to provide an obstacle detection device for a vehicle that can detect obstacles around the vehicle and irradiate the detected obstacles with light. It is in.

"Structure of the Invention" The automobile obstacle detection device of the present invention includes an ultrasonic sonar installed in the automobile to detect obstacles around the automobile, and an ultrasonic sonar installed in the automobile to detect obstacles detected by the ultrasonic sonar. The structure is characterized in that it includes a light irradiation means that is rotated by a motor in the direction of the nearest obstacle.

"Example" The present invention will be further described in detail below based on the example shown in the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is an external view showing the state in which an automobile obstacle search device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle, and FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration block diagram of the automobile obstacle search device shown in FIG. 1. It is.
Note that the present invention is not limited to this example.

In the automobile obstacle search device 1 shown in FIG. A spotlight 4 is attached to the bottom surface of the .

The obstacle detection direction of the ultrasonic unit 3 and the direction of light projection of the spotlight 4 are made to coincide.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rotary table 2 is rotated by a stepping motor 5, which is controlled by a driver 3 by a computer 30.
1.

To explain the ultrasonic sonar portion of this automobile obstacle search device 1, the ultrasonic unit 3 is provided with a transmitting sensor 3a and a receiving sensor 3b adjacent to each other.

The 40KHz carrier wave generated by the fundamental wave generation circuit 6 is output by the computer 30 to the AND gate 7 for 30μs.
The signal opens in a pulsed manner to become a pulse wave, which is input to the transmitting sensor 3a via the amplifier circuit 8 and the output circuit 9. As a result, ultrasonic waves are transmitted in a pulsed manner from the transmitting sensor 3a.

The echo waves that are reflected from the outside and returned from the ultrasonic waves emitted in the form of pulses are detected by the receiving sensor 3b, and are sent to the amplifier circuit 10, the filter 11, and the detection circuit 1.
2. A digital value is input to the computer 30 via the programmable gain amplifier 13, the programmable peak hold circuit 14, and the AD converter 15.

The reason why the programmable gain amplifier 13 is used is that the farther away the obstacle is, the greater the attenuation of the echo wave becomes, making it difficult to detect, so the gain is increased as time passes to compensate for this.

The computer 30 detects obstacles based on the elapsed time from when the AND gate 7 is opened and pulsed ultrasonic waves are emitted to when the AD converter 15 obtains an output of a predetermined value or more and recognizes that an echo wave has been detected. Determine presence and position. In other words, if an echo wave is detected within a predetermined time, it is determined that the obstacle is at a distance proportional to the elapsed time until it is detected, and if no echo wave is detected even after the predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that there is no obstacle. do.

Further, the computer 30 determines the rotational position of the rotary table 2, that is, the search direction in which the ultrasonic unit 3 is facing, from the rotation angle of the stepping motor 5.

The presence, direction, and distance of obstacles thus obtained are displayed on the LED matrix 20 via decoders 16, 17 and drivers 18, 19.

Next, the light irradiation means of this vehicle obstacle search device 1 will be explained.

The driver can know the presence and location of obstacles by the display on the LED matrix 20, but if the driver wants to avoid the obstacles and it is night, the driver can illuminate the obstacles from the operation board 21. Instruct them to do so.

Then, the computer 30 searches for the search direction of the nearest obstacle among the detected and stored obstacles, and moves the rotary table 2 in that direction.
The motor 5 is driven to rotate. That is, the rotary table 2 is rotated so that the spotlight 4 is directed in that direction. Next, output circuit 3
2, the spotlight 4 is turned on.

In this way, the obstacles closest to the vehicle are illuminated, making them visible to the driver.

It is preferable to add a function that allows the spotlight 4 to illuminate a desired direction independently of obstacle detection by instructing a desired direction from the operation board 21.

The obstacle searching device 1 utilizes a scanning sonar that searches for obstacles by rotating the ultrasonic unit 3, and rotates the spotlight 4 by its rotating mechanism, so that it can be used in a manner similar to that of the conventionally known scanning sonar. This can be easily implemented by simply adding a simple configuration to the monitoring sonar.

Another embodiment includes a separate motor for rotating the spotlight 4.

"Effects of the invention" According to the invention, an ultrasonic sonar installed in a car detects obstacles around the car, and an ultrasonic sonar installed in a car detects obstacles that are closest to the obstacles detected by the ultrasonic sonar. An obstacle detection device for a vehicle is provided, characterized in that it is equipped with a light irradiation means that is rotated by a motor in a certain direction, and thereby can accurately detect and illuminate obstacles around a vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to suitably avoid obstacles at night.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external view showing the state in which an automobile obstacle search device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a car;
This figure is a block diagram of the circuit configuration of the automobile obstacle search device shown in FIG. 1. Explanation of symbols, 1...Obstacle search device for automobiles,
2...Rotary table, 3...Ultrasonic unit, 4
...Spotlight, 5...Stepping motor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An ultrasonic sonar mounted on a car to detect obstacles around the car, and a light irradiation means mounted on the car and rotated by a motor in the direction of the nearest obstacle detected by the ultrasonic sonar. An obstacle search device for a vehicle, characterized by comprising: