JPH07277115A - Travel supporting device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control output timing to the optimum one by means of a simple constitution by detecting an operation mode of a light switch so as to change the output timing for supporting information in a device which detects a traveling condition of its own vehicle and outputs the supporting information for vehicle travel. CONSTITUTION:On the basis of a relative speed to the previous vehicle detected by a radar unit l and the traveling speed of its own vehicle detected by a speed sensor 2, a proper inter-vehicle distance is computed in a computing control unit 3, and an alarm command ALM is generated in an alarm generating unit 4 when an actual inter-vehicle distance is shorter than the proper inter-vehicle distance. According to the alarm command ALM, a speaker 5 and an indicator 6 are respectively controlled. In this process, an operation mode of a light switch of its own vehicle is detected by means of a light switch operation detecting unit 7. In other words, on the basis of the operation mode of the light switch, a brightness condition as a traveling environment around the vehicle is determined in each stage. Then, in the computing control unit 3, output timing for the alarm command ALM is varied according to the operation mode of the light switch.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle travel support device which detects a traveling condition of a vehicle and outputs vehicle travel support information such as warning of approach of another vehicle and guidance for travel guidance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vehicle travel support device of this type, an inter-vehicle distance with respect to a vehicle traveling in front is measured, and an alarm is issued when the measured inter-vehicle distance becomes shorter than an appropriate inter-vehicle distance. Further, there is a system in which a brake operation command is given to an automatic braking device in order to maintain a proper inter-vehicle distance (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-91500).

Further, conventionally, there is an apparatus which detects an obstacle which obstructs vehicle running and issues an alarm when the distance to the detected obstacle becomes less than a predetermined value (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 61-96). No. 62-81591).

[0004] Conventionally, the current position, the traveling speed, and the traveling direction are mutually communicated between the own vehicle and other vehicles in the vicinity, and an alarm is issued when there is a risk of a collision. Has been developed (JP-A-4-29).
0200).

Furthermore, conventionally, the position of the own vehicle on the road map is obtained, and the current position of the own vehicle is displayed on the map displayed on the screen, while the planned traveling route set on the map is displayed. When a vehicle approaches a certain distance before an intersection, there is a system which outputs guidance for traveling guidance such as turning right or left according to the route (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-163).
No. 210).

[0006]

Problems to be solved by the invention have heretofore been solved by a warning for ensuring safety such as when an approaching state of another vehicle is detected, or when the own vehicle approaches a predetermined intersection. When outputting various vehicle driving support information such as guidance for driving, the support information is always output at a fixed timing regardless of the surrounding light and dark conditions that affect the visibility of the vehicle while driving. In particular, it is not possible to optimally support the running of the vehicle at night or in a tunnel where the surroundings are completely dark.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicle travel assistance device for detecting a traveling condition of a vehicle and outputting vehicle travel assistance information. A means for detecting the operation mode of the light switch and an output of the support information according to the detected operation mode of the light switch in order to be able to output the support information at the optimum timing according to the light and dark state. The control means for changing the timing is adopted.

Further, the present invention has a control means for changing the support content itself according to the detected operation mode of the light switch.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a vehicle travel support device when an alarm is output by detecting an approaching state to another vehicle as vehicle travel support information.

Here, the basic configuration is to detect the inter-vehicle distance and the relative speed with respect to the vehicle traveling ahead, for example, FM-C.
The radar unit 1 using the W radar device, the speed sensor 2 for detecting the traveling speed of the own vehicle, and the appropriate inter-vehicle distance at that time are calculated from each value of the detected relative speed and the traveling speed of the own vehicle. The appropriate inter-vehicle distance obtained by the process is compared with the actually detected inter-vehicle distance, and when the actual inter-vehicle distance is shorter than the appropriate inter-vehicle distance, the alarm command ALM is issued.
According to the arithmetic control unit 3 that outputs
Generate an inter-vehicle distance warning by voice from the speaker 5,
The display 6 also includes an alarm generation unit 4 for displaying an inter-vehicle distance alarm. In the figure, ANT indicates a radar antenna.

As the method of detecting the inter-vehicle distance and the relative speed with respect to the vehicle traveling ahead in the radar section 1 and the method of calculating the appropriate inter-vehicle distance in the arithmetic control section 3, the conventional methods are applied as they are.

According to the present invention, particularly in the present invention, the light switch operation detecting section for detecting each of the operation modes of off, small, low beam, and high beam according to the operation state of the light switch of the vehicle. 7 is provided so that the bright and dark surroundings that affect the visibility when the vehicle is traveling can be determined stepwise as the environment of the vehicle traveling by the detected operation mode of the light switch. The control means for changing the output timing of the alarm command ALM according to the operation mode of the light switch detected at that time is adopted.

At this time, for example, when the light switch operation detecting unit 7 detects that the light switch is in the off position, the arithmetic control unit 3 determines that the vehicle is traveling during the day, and as described above. The alarm command ALM is output at a normal timing based on the proper inter-vehicle distance calculated by a predetermined calculation process.

Further, when it is detected that the light switch is operated to the small position, the arithmetic and control unit 3 judges that the surroundings are light and the alarm command AL.
The output timing of M is advanced by one step, and when it is detected that the light switch is operated to the low beam position, it is judged that it is in the nighttime or in the tunnel, and the output timing of the alarm command ALM is set. Two steps ahead, and when it is detected that the light switch is operated to the high beam position, it is determined that the surroundings are in a dark state, and the timing of the output of the alarm command ALM is advanced by three steps. .

Specifically, as shown in Table 1 below, a correction coefficient k for the proper inter-vehicle distance in the statuses 0, 1, 2, and 3 is prepared for each of the small, low beam, and high beam operation modes of the light switch. Incidentally, as shown in the following equation (1), the appropriate inter-vehicle distance L calculated by the above-mentioned predetermined arithmetic processing is multiplied by the correction coefficient k corresponding to the currently detected operation mode of the light switch. The appropriate inter-vehicle distance L is corrected accordingly. L'is a corrected proper inter-vehicle distance.

[0016]

[Table 1]

[0017]

[Equation 1]

At this time, for example, in the small operation mode of the light switch, the appropriate inter-vehicle distance is increased by 10%, in the low beam operation mode, the appropriate inter-vehicle distance is increased by 20%, and the high beam is operated. In the mode, each correction coefficient is set so that the appropriate inter-vehicle distance increases by 30%.

FIG. 2 shows a processing flow for determining the status (STATUS) according to the operation mode of the light switch.

However, when the light switch is operated to each of the small, low beam and high beam positions, the appropriate inter-vehicle distance is appropriately corrected according to the operation mode at that time so as to be longer than the actual inter-vehicle distance. The timing of the alarm command ALM output by the comparison is advanced in stages.

FIG. 3 shows a flow of processing when an alarm is issued by comparing the corrected proper inter-vehicle distance L'with the actually measured inter-vehicle distance 1.

Although not particularly shown, not only an inter-vehicle distance warning for a vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle but also an obstacle is detected when the distance to the obstacle detected by the obstacle detection radar is equal to or less than a preset threshold value. Similarly, even in the case of an object alarm that is issued, the small, low beam, and high beam operation modes of the light switch are detected, and the alarm generation threshold value is set longer according to the detected operation mode. By appropriately modifying so that the alarm generation timing can be changed stepwise.

Further, the position of the own vehicle on the road map is obtained, the current position of the own vehicle is displayed on the map displayed on the screen, and the intersection of the planned traveling route set on the map is displayed. Similarly, even when a vehicle is designed to output guidance for driving guidance such as turning right or left according to the route when approaching a certain distance, the small, low beam, and high beam operation modes of the light switch are detected as well. Then, the guide for traveling guidance can be output earlier by correcting the distance stepwise so that the distance becomes longer according to the detected operation mode.

Further, according to the present invention, not only is the output timing of the support information such as the warning for the inter-vehicle distance and the obstacle detection or the guidance for the traveling guidance changed according to the operation mode of the light switch. In the operation mode of 1, the operation control unit 3 determines that there is no vehicle in front of which the inter-vehicle distance is to be measured, and suspends the operation of the radar unit 1 to suppress wasteful consumption of battery power. It is also possible to provide assistance such as to do so, or otherwise change the content of assistance to the driver variously by judging that there is no oncoming vehicle.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, various vehicles such as an alarm for ensuring safety when detecting the approaching state of another vehicle, and guidance for traveling guidance when the own vehicle approaches a predetermined intersection. When outputting the driving assistance information, without using any illuminance sensor or AD converter,
By checking the operating state of the light switch, it is possible to detect the surrounding bright and dark states that affect the visibility when the vehicle is running in stages, and output the support information at the optimal timing or the optimal content according to the detection result. It has the advantage that it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle travel support device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of processing when a status is determined according to an operation mode of a light switch.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of processing when an alarm is generated by comparing a corrected proper inter-vehicle distance with an actually measured inter-vehicle distance.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Radar 2 Speed sensor 3 Calculation controller 4 Alarm generator 5 Speaker 6 Display 7 Light switch operation detector

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle travel assistance device for detecting a traveling condition of an own vehicle and outputting assistance information for traveling a vehicle, comprising means for detecting an operation mode of a light switch and a detected operation mode of the light switch. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided control means for changing the timing of output of the assistance information. 2. The vehicle travel assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle travel assistance information is an alarm or an automatic brake command upon detection of an approaching state with respect to another vehicle. 3. The vehicle travel support device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle travel support information is an alarm or an automatic brake command upon detection of an obstacle. 4. The vehicle travel assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle travel assistance information is guidance for travel guidance of the vehicle. 5. A vehicle travel assistance device for detecting a traveling condition of a vehicle to assist vehicle travel, according to means for detecting an operation mode of a light switch, and means for detecting the operation mode of the detected light switch. And a control means for changing the content of assistance by a vehicle.