JPH08142783A - Following vehicle judgement system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To effectively detect the situation of the following vehicle. CONSTITUTION: On an inner mirror 3 of a vehicle 1, an ultrared ray projector 6 which projects the ultrared ray having a prescribed intensity forwardly, in a prescribed range (θ0) in the lateral direction is installed. At the left and right parts of the inner mirror 3, two ultrared ray sensors 7 and 8 are installed. The detection range of the first ultrared ray sensor 7 is set in a range (θ1) on the left side from the straightly rear part, and the second ultrared ray sensor 8 is set in a range (θ2) on the right side from the straight rear part. A controller which judges the direction, separation distance, vehicle course change, and the approach speed of the succeeding vehicle 1(B) from the change accompanied with the ultrared ray receiving quantity detected by the ultrared ray sensors 7 and 8 and the change through the lapse of time is installed. A display, lamp and a buzzer for informing about the result of the judgement of the controller to a driver are installed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle following vehicle determination system for determining a distance from a vehicle following and a position of the vehicle following.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art While a vehicle is traveling, a driver can look at the inner mirror and the outer mirror as appropriate.
It is important to recognize the presence / absence of a following vehicle, its position, and the separation distance. However, if the driver is looking aside,
If you fail to check the safety from the rear, you may be approaching the following vehicle abnormally.

Therefore, in recent years, an ultrasonic sensor is provided in the rear part of the vehicle, and an ultrasonic wave is transmitted toward a portion directly behind the vehicle to detect a reflected wave from the obstacle, thereby detecting an obstacle (rear side) behind the vehicle. A system that detects the distance or sudden approach of a vehicle and alerts the driver with an alarm or the like is being considered.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above conventional one,
The detection range of the ultrasonic sensor is limited to just behind the vehicle, and although a following vehicle traveling directly behind can be detected, it has not yet been possible to detect a following vehicle located diagonally behind. Further, it was not possible to detect a lateral shift (lane change) of the position of the following vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a following vehicle determination system for a vehicle which is effective in detecting a following vehicle.

[0006]

The following vehicle determination system for a vehicle according to the present invention is a vehicle detection signal having a predetermined intensity, which is provided in the vehicle and is composed of airborne signals such as light, sound waves, and radio waves toward the front of the vehicle. With a predetermined spread in the left-right direction, and two or more receiving means provided in the vehicle so that the directivities are different from each other in the left-right direction and detecting a vehicle detection signal from the rear of the vehicle. And a judging means for judging the condition of the following vehicle based on the vehicle detection signals detected by the respective receiving means (the invention of claim 1).

In this case, the determining means can be configured to determine the distance from the following vehicle and the direction of the following vehicle from the reception intensity of each receiving means (the invention of claim 2). The determining means may be configured to determine the lane change and the approaching speed of the following vehicle from the change in the reception intensity of each receiving means over time (the invention of claim 3).

Further, it is effective to provide a reference sensor for detecting a disturbance signal equivalent to the vehicle detection signal and a correction means for correcting the reception intensity of each receiving means based on the detection of the reference sensor. There is (the invention of claim 4). Alternatively, the signal output means is configured to intermittently output the vehicle detection signal, and the reception strength of each reception means when the vehicle detection signal is output is determined from the reception intensity of each reception means when the vehicle detection signal is not output. A correction means for correcting the intensity may be provided (the invention of claim 5).

[0009]

According to the following vehicle determination system for a vehicle of the present invention, the signal output means provided in the vehicle outputs a vehicle detection signal of a predetermined intensity with a predetermined spread in the left and right direction toward the front. The vehicle detection signal emitted from the rear of the vehicle is detected by the two or more receiving means provided in the vehicle. Thus, when there is a following vehicle in the vehicle, the receiving unit can detect the vehicle detection signal transmitted from the signal output unit of the following vehicle.

At this time, since the vehicle detection signal has a predetermined spread to the left and right, the vehicle detection signal emitted from the following vehicle located diagonally behind can also be detected and the presence of the following vehicle diagonally behind can be detected by the determination means. Can also be determined. Since the two or more receiving means have different directivities in the left-right direction, the receiving intensity of the receiving means having a high directivity in the right direction or the receiving means having a high directivity in the left direction is high. Depending on whether or not, the determination means can determine in which of the left and right directions the following vehicle is located.

In this case, since the vehicle detection signal output from the signal output means has a predetermined intensity, the reception intensity at the receiving means varies depending on the distance to the following vehicle. . Therefore, by obtaining the reception intensity of each receiving means (the invention of claim 2), the distance from the following vehicle and the direction of the following vehicle can be determined together with the directivity of each receiving means as described above. it can.

Furthermore, since the distance and the direction from the following vehicle can be obtained from the reception intensity of each receiving means in this manner, the change in the reception intensity over time is obtained (the invention of claim 3). ), The lane change of the following vehicle and the relative approach speed to the vehicle can be determined.

It is considered that the signals detected by the respective receiving means include disturbance signals equivalent to vehicle detection signals such as disturbance light, disturbance sound waves, disturbance radio waves, etc., but are equivalent to vehicle detection signals. If the reference sensor for detecting the disturbance signal and the correction means for correcting the reception intensity of each receiving means based on the detection of the reference sensor are provided (the invention of claim 4), the signal output from which the disturbance signal is removed is provided. The reception intensity from only the means can be obtained, and the above-described determination can be performed more reliably.

Alternatively, since each receiving means receives the disturbance signal when the vehicle detection signal is not output, the signal output means is configured to intermittently output the vehicle detection signal, and If the correction means for correcting the reception intensity of each receiving means when the vehicle detection signal is output from the reception intensity of each receiving means when the detection signal is not output is provided (the invention of claim 5), as described above. Even without using such a reference sensor, the reception intensity from only the signal output means from which the disturbance signal has been removed can be obtained, and the above-described determination can be performed more reliably.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, an automobile is used as an example, and infrared rays in a predetermined wavelength range are used as a vehicle detection signal composed of an airborne signal.

(1) First Embodiment First, the first embodiment of the present invention (claims 1, 2, 3, 4).
Will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. First, a following vehicle determination system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 schematically shows a state in which a vehicle (automobile) 1 is traveling, and it is assumed that a plurality (two) of vehicles 1 are traveling in the arrow a direction. In addition, in the following description, when it is necessary to distinguish a plurality (two) of vehicles 1, the vehicle 1 located on the front side in the traveling direction (direction of arrow a) is referred to as a front running vehicle 1 (A), The vehicle 1 located on the rear side is referred to as a succeeding vehicle 1 (B). It is needless to say that both the preceding vehicle 1 (A) and the following vehicle 1 (B) are provided with an equivalent succeeding vehicle determination system.

An inner mirror 3 is provided at the upper center of the front part of the passenger compartment 2 of each vehicle 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the inner mirror 3 is configured to have, for example, a liquid crystal antiglare mirror main body 5 in a support frame body 4. Then, the inner mirror 3 is provided with an infrared projector 6 (FIGS. 1 and 3) serving as a signal output means including, for example, an infrared LED.
2) and a plurality of, in this case, two first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 as receiving means, for example, two photodiodes or the like. Of these, the infrared projector 6 is provided at the center of the rear surface of the inner mirror 3 (the surface facing the front of the vehicle 1).
As shown by the alternate long and short dash line, infrared rays of a predetermined intensity are output forward through the windshield with a predetermined spread (angle θ 0) in the left-right direction.

The first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8
As shown in FIG. 2, are provided at the right and left portions of the liquid crystal antiglare mirror main body 5 on the front surface of the inner mirror 3 (the surface facing the rear side of the vehicle 1), and are input from the rear through the rear window. It detects infrared rays (amount of received light). Further, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, the detection range of the first infrared sensor 7 located on the right is set to a certain range (θ1) from the straight rear to the left, while the detection range of the second infrared sensor located on the left is set. The detection range of the infrared sensor 8 is set to a certain range (.theta.2) to the right from the rear right, so that the infrared sensors 7 and 8 have different directivities in the left and right directions.

As shown in FIG. 3, the infrared projector 6 is provided.
The light emission is controlled by the control device 9 including a microcomputer, and the detection signals of the first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 are input to the control device 9. Then, detection signals from the reference sensor 10 and the vehicle speed sensor 11 are input to the control device 9, and the control device 9 further includes a display 12,
The actuator 13 and the buzzer 14 are controlled.

In this case, the reference sensor 10 is composed of an infrared sensor, and detects the intensity of the infrared light in the same wavelength range as the infrared light output from the infrared projector 6 of the ambient light of the vehicle 1. Therefore, a disturbance signal (disturbance light) equivalent to the vehicle detection signal is detected.
The vehicle speed sensor 11 is adapted to detect the traveling speed of the vehicle 1.

The display 12, the actuator 13, and the buzzer 14 function as an informing means for informing the driver of the result of the situation determination of the following vehicle 1 (B) by the control device 9 as described later. Of these, the display 12 shows the presence or absence of the following vehicle 1 (B) and the position (right,
Information such as left and right direction), separation distance, approach speed, lane change, etc. are displayed in characters and figures.

Although not shown, the actuator 13 is for turning on or off a lamp provided on each of the left and right outer mirrors. For example, the following vehicle 1 (B) makes a sudden lane change. In this case, the lamp in that direction is turned on (blinking) to call the driver's attention. Further, the buzzer 14 is, for example, the following vehicle 1
The sound alerts the driver when the degree of approach (B) is large. The display 1
2, the buzzer 14, the control device 9 and the like are provided, for example, in an instrument panel (center console) portion (not shown) in the vehicle interior 2.

Now, the control device 9 as a judging means for judging the situation of the following vehicle 1 (B) from the infrared rays detected by the first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 by its software configuration. It is supposed to work. At this time, as will be described in detail later in the description of the operation, which of the first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 detects the infrared light output from the infrared light projector 6 of the following vehicle 1 (B), and Based on the amount of received infrared rays (reception intensity),
The direction of the following vehicle 1 (B) and the distance (inter-vehicle distance) are determined.

Further, the control device 9 includes the above-mentioned first and second
From the degree of change in the amount of light received by the infrared sensors 7 and 8 of the following vehicle 1 (B) in the lateral direction such as a lane change, the approach speed of the following vehicle 1 (B) The relative speed of the following vehicle 1 (B) to the vehicle 1 (A)) and the like are determined.

Then, in this embodiment, the control device 9 obtains the received light amounts of the first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 based on the received light amount of the infrared rays detected by the reference sensor 10. The amount of light received by the first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 is corrected (noise removal). Therefore, the control device 9 also functions as the correction means in the present invention.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. FIG. 4 shows a procedure for determining the following vehicle 1 (B). When the control device 9 takes in the output signals of the first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 (P1),
First, noise removal (correction of the amount of received light) is performed (P2). This noise removal step is performed by detecting the intensity of ambient light by the reference sensor 10 and subtracting the ambient light from the amount of light received by the infrared sensors 7 and 8.

Here, as described above, the infrared rays detected by the first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 are transmitted to the following vehicle 1.
The infrared light output from the infrared projector 6 of (B) includes, for example, infrared light in the same wavelength range in sunlight, that is, ambient light, and the ambient light is different in weather, day / night, sun and shade. It will change due to the difference with. In FIG. 5, the amount of received light detected by the infrared sensors 7 and 8 (shown by solid lines)
And the ambient light (indicated by a broken line), the infrared light projector 6 is obtained by subtracting the ambient light detected by the reference sensor 10 from the amount of light received by the infrared sensors 7 and 8.
It is possible to correctly obtain the reception intensity U of the infrared light output from the.

When the noise removal is performed in this way, next, it is determined whether the infrared sensors 7 and 8 have detected the infrared rays output from the following vehicle 1 (B) (P3). ). Then, based on this ON / OFF determination, the presence or absence and the position (direction) of the following vehicle 1 (B) are determined (P4).

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the following vehicle 1
The infrared light output from the infrared projector 6 of (B) has a spread of a predetermined angle θ0, while the first infrared light of the front vehicle 1 (A)
And the second infrared sensors 7 and 8 are respectively θ1 and θ2.
Have different directivities. Further, the ranges θ1 and θ2 wrap in the central portion, that is, right behind the front running vehicle 1 (A).

Therefore, the position (range) of the following vehicle 1 (B)
Can be determined as follows. That is, when both the first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 detect infrared rays, the following vehicle 1 (B) is the preceding vehicle 1
It can be determined that it is located right behind (range) after (A).
Further, when only the first infrared sensor 7 detects infrared rays, the following vehicle 1 (B) is located on the slightly left side (range) of the preceding vehicle 1 (A) and the second infrared ray is detected. When only the sensor 8 detects infrared rays, it can be determined that the following vehicle 1 (B) is located on the slightly right side (range) of the preceding vehicle 1 (A). Furthermore, when both the first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 do not detect infrared rays, the following vehicle 1 (B) does not exist, or the vehicle is located at a position (range or) greatly separated in the left-right direction. It can be determined that it is located.

On the other hand, when at least one of the first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 detects infrared rays, the position is determined and the distance (inter-vehicle distance) from the following vehicle 1 (B) is obtained. (P5). Here, the infrared light output from the infrared light projector 6 of the following vehicle 1 (B) has a predetermined intensity, and the amount of light received by the infrared sensors 7 and 8 is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the infrared light projector 6, so the calculation is performed. Thus, the distance between the preceding vehicle 1 (A) and the following vehicle 1 (B) can be calculated.

When the separation distance from the following vehicle 1 (B) is obtained in this manner, next, the degree of change with time of the received light amount (separation distance) of the infrared sensors 7 and 8, that is, the following vehicle 1
Relative speed (approach speed) of (B) to the preceding vehicle 1 (A)
Is required (P6). This is as shown in FIG.
It can be calculated by differentiating the amount of light received by each infrared sensor 7, 8 with respect to time.

When the approaching speed of the following vehicle 1 (B) is obtained in this way, next, the change in the approaching speed with the passage of time or the above-described passage of time of the position of the following vehicle 1 (B) is detected. The mode determination is performed based on the accompanying changes and the distance between the following vehicles 1 (B) (P7). This is to judge whether or not the movement of the following vehicle 1 (B) is considered to require special attention. When the following vehicle 1 (B) suddenly approaches the vehicle while the separation distance is relatively small. The position of the following vehicle 1 (B) may change suddenly (change from the range or range to the undetectable range), or the following vehicle 1 (B) may suddenly appear in the detection range (range ,,). It is to judge whether or not.

When the situation of the following vehicle 1 (B) is determined as described above, the determination result is displayed on the display 12 (P8). In addition, as described above, the following vehicle 1
If the movement in (B) is considered to require particular attention, the driver is warned by displaying the information on the display 12 and also using the sound of the buzzer 14 and turning on the lamp of the outer mirror. Can be evoked. In this case, for example, when the following vehicle 1 (B) suddenly moves to the left (changes from the range to the undetectable range), the lamp of the left outer mirror is turned on, and conversely, the following vehicle 1 (B) It is effective to turn on the lamp of the outer mirror on the right side when abruptly moving to the right (transition from the range to the undetectable range).

FIG. 6 shows an example of an algorithm for determining whether or not to call attention in this case. Here, a value obtained by differentiating the amount of received light once (approaching speed), or
When at least one of the values (relative acceleration) obtained by differentiating the received light amount twice is larger than the threshold value, the received light amount is larger than the threshold value (the separation distance is larger than the threshold value). If it is small), it will call attention. At this time, the threshold value of the separation distance varies according to the traveling speed of the vehicle 1 (front running vehicle 1 (A)), that is, the detection speed of the vehicle speed sensor 11 (for example, when the vehicle speed is 60 km / h,
The threshold value of the separation distance is 15 m).

Further, FIG. 7 shows an example of the separation distance and the determination state detected by the infrared sensors 7 and 8 with the lapse of time (unit: second). Here, the vehicle 1
The vehicle speed is 60 km / h. Up to time 0.4, the following vehicle 1 (B) travels just behind (range) the preceding vehicle 1 (A) while the approaching vehicle 1 (A) is approaching and the separation distance is sufficiently large. No specific warning is given.

At time 0.5, the following vehicle 1 (B) shifts slightly to the left (range) with respect to the preceding vehicle 1 (A), and at times 0.6 to 0.8, the following vehicle 1 (B) moves. (B) is out of the detection range of each of the infrared sensors 7 and 8 (it is determined that the range has been changed). With this, the following car 1
In (B), it is determined that the lane has suddenly changed to the left, and a notification to that effect is made.

Then, at time 0.9, the following vehicle 1 again
(B) shifts slightly to the left (range) with respect to the preceding vehicle 1 (A), shifts to the rear (range) at time 1.0 to 1.1, and further shifts slightly to the left at time 1.2. (Range). Along with this, the separation distance of 10m, 9m
It is getting very close. In this case, the following vehicle 1
The fact that the approach of (B) is large is notified. At time 1.3, the following vehicle 1 (B) again makes a sudden transition to the left (range).

According to the present embodiment as described above, two infrared sensors 7 and 8 having different directivities are provided to detect the infrared rays output from the following vehicle 1 (B) with a predetermined spread. Since it is configured as described above, it is possible to detect the separation distance from the following vehicle 1 (B), and it is not possible with the conventionally conceived vehicle.
However, it becomes possible to easily determine whether the vehicle is in the range directly behind, the diagonally left rear range, or the diagonally right rear range, which is extremely effective in detecting the following vehicle 1 (B). It has become.

Then, in addition to the distance and direction of the following vehicle 1 (B), it is possible to determine the approaching speed and the rapid lane change, and the driver can be notified to the following vehicle 1 (B).
It is possible to give useful information on driving. Moreover, in this embodiment, the display 1 is used as the notification means.
2, the buzzer 14 and the lamp of the outer mirror are combined to perform a plurality of notifications, so that the driver can be effectively notified of the situation of the following vehicle 1 (B), and also effectively. It can call attention.

Further, when infrared rays are used as the vehicle detection signal as in this embodiment, ambient light due to sunlight or the like poses a problem, but the reference sensor 10 is provided and each infrared sensor 7, Since the reception intensity of No. 8 is corrected, the determination regarding the situation of the following vehicle 1 (B) can be reliably performed.

Further, in this embodiment, the inner mirror 3
Since the support frame 4 is provided on the support frame 4,
It is possible to install by slightly changing the shape of only the inner mirror 3, it can be shared with the substrate for operating the inner mirror 3 and wiring can also be performed, without accompanying a major design change of the vehicle, Easy to assemble,
Further, it is possible to obtain an advantage that the design can be completed without any problems.

(2) Second to Fourth Embodiments FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second embodiment (corresponding to claim 5) of the present invention. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the infrared projector 6 outputs the infrared rays intermittently instead of continuously, and receives the infrared sensors 7 and 8 when the infrared rays are not output. From strength,
The point is that the reception intensity of each infrared sensor 7, 8 at the time of infrared output is corrected. Along with this, the reference sensor 10 for detecting ambient light is omitted.

In this case, the controller 9 controls the infrared projector 6
Is turned on and off in a fixed cycle, for example, 1: 1 cycle, and infrared rays are intermittently output. Here, as described above, the infrared rays detected by the infrared sensors 7 and 8 are
Since the infrared light output from the infrared projector 6 of the following vehicle 1 (B) includes ambient light, when the following vehicle 1 (B) is present, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. When the infrared light is not output, the amount becomes only the amount of the ambient light, and when the infrared light is output, the following vehicle 1
The output from the infrared projector 6 of (B) is added. Further, such a vertical fluctuation of the amount of received light occurs in a cycle corresponding to the output cycle of infrared rays.

In the noise removal process, the control device 9 regards the amount of light received by the infrared sensors 7 and 8 when the infrared light is not output from the infrared projector 6 of the following vehicle 1 (B) as a disturbance component, and outputs the infrared light. Infrared sensor 7,8
The amount of received light is corrected by subtracting, for example, the amount of ambient light immediately before the detected amount of received light.
As a result, the reception intensity U of the infrared light output from the infrared projector 6 of the following vehicle 1 (B) can be correctly obtained, and the distance from the following vehicle 1 (B) can be accurately obtained.

In this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the reception intensity of each infrared sensor 7, 8 is corrected, so that the determination regarding the situation of the following vehicle 1 (B) can be surely performed. Moreover, since the correction can be performed without using the reference sensor 10, the reference sensor 10 can be omitted, and the configuration can be further simplified.

Next, FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that three infrared sensors as receiving means are provided. In this case, although not shown, three infrared sensors, one for each of the left and right outer mirrors and one for each of the inner mirrors, are provided so as to have different directivities in the left-right direction.

Of these, the infrared sensor provided on the inner mirror (abbreviated as "middle" in FIG. 10) is directed right in the rear direction, and the infrared sensor provided on the left outer mirror ("shown in FIG. 10"). The left is abbreviated) and the rear left is directed, and the infrared sensor (abbreviated as “right” in FIG. 10) provided on the right outer mirror is a rear right.

Thus, depending on the intensity of light received by each infrared sensor, the following vehicle 1 (in any of the five detection ranges (straight, slightly left rear, slightly right rear, left rear, right rear) as shown in FIG. It is possible to determine whether B) exists. In FIG. 10, the magnitude of the amount of light received by each infrared sensor is represented by the symbols “◎”, “◯”, “Δ”, and “x”, which means that the amount of light received gradually decreases in that order. are doing.

Also according to this embodiment, the first
In the same manner as in the embodiment described above, it is possible to detect the separation distance from the following vehicle 1 (B), and it is possible to detect the distance between the following vehicle 1 (B) and
However, it becomes possible to easily determine in which of the five ranges the vehicle exists, which is extremely effective for detecting the following vehicle 1 (B). In particular, in the present embodiment, the number of infrared sensors (reception means) is three, so that the existence position of the following vehicle 1 (B) can be determined more precisely.

Finally, FIG. 11 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment described above.
The mounting positions of the first and second infrared sensors 7 and 8 are the high mount stop lamps 21 installed near the rear window of the vehicle instead of the inner mirror 3. Even with such a configuration, infrared rays from the following vehicle 1 (B) can be surely detected by the infrared sensors 7 and 8 and, of course, do not interfere with other devices and can be easily assembled and wired. Is something that can be done.

In each of the above embodiments, infrared rays are used as the vehicle detection signal, but other airborne signals such as ultrasonic waves, radio waves, visible light, and ultraviolet rays may be used. Also, depending on the type of vehicle detection signal used,
Of course, the signal output means and the receiving means are different. Further, as the notification means, voice, vibration, etc. can be adopted in addition to the display, the lamp and the buzzer. In addition, the present invention can be implemented by appropriately changing it within the scope of the present invention.

[0053]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following excellent effects.
That is, according to the following vehicle determination system for a vehicle of claim 1,
A signal output means for outputting a vehicle detection signal with a spread toward the front of the vehicle, two or more receiving means having mutually different directivities in the left and right directions, and a situation of the following vehicle based on the reception of each receiving means. Since the vehicle is provided with the determination means for determining, the following vehicle can be effectively detected.

In this case, depending on the reception intensity of each receiving means,
In addition to the directivity of each receiving means as described above, the distance from the following vehicle and the direction of the following vehicle can be determined (the following vehicle determination system for a vehicle according to claim 2). Furthermore, the lane change of the following vehicle and the relative approach speed to the vehicle can be determined by obtaining the change in the received intensity with the passage of time (the vehicle following vehicle determination system according to claim 3).

Further, if a reference sensor for detecting a disturbance signal equivalent to the vehicle detection signal and a correction means for correcting the reception intensity of each receiving means based on the detection of the reference sensor are provided, the disturbance signal can be obtained. It is possible to obtain the reception intensity only from the signal output means from which the above is removed, and the above-described determination can be performed more reliably (the vehicle following vehicle determination system according to claim 4).

Alternatively, the signal output means is configured to intermittently output the vehicle detection signal, and each reception means outputs the vehicle detection signal from the reception intensity of each reception means when the vehicle detection signal is not output. If the correction means for correcting the reception intensity of the means is provided, it is possible to obtain the reception intensity only from the signal output means from which the disturbance signal is removed, without using the above-mentioned reference sensor, and the above-mentioned determination is performed. This can be performed more reliably (the following vehicle determination system for a vehicle according to claim 5).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a state in which a vehicle is traveling.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an inner mirror portion.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a following vehicle determination system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure for determining a following vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the amount of light received by an infrared sensor and ambient light.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a determination algorithm using a logic circuit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a following vehicle determination with the passage of time.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

9 is an enlarged view of portion C in FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing the relationship between the signal strength detected by each sensor and the existence range of the following vehicle.

FIG. 11 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention and is a front view of a high mount stop lamp portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawings, 1 is a vehicle, 3 is an inner mirror, 6 is an infrared projector (signal output means), 7 and 8 are infrared sensors (reception means), 9 is a control device (determination means, correction means), 10 is a reference sensor, 12 is a display, 14 is a buzzer, and 21 is a high mount stop lamp.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G01S 17/93

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A signal output means which is provided in a vehicle and which outputs a vehicle detection signal of a predetermined intensity, which is a propagating signal in the air, such as light, sound waves, and radio waves, toward the front of the vehicle with a predetermined spread in the left-right direction, Based on the vehicle detection signals detected by each of the reception means, two or more receiving means provided in the vehicle so as to have different directivities in the left-right direction and detecting a vehicle detection signal from the rear of the vehicle. And a determining means for determining the situation of the following vehicle. 2. The successor of the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the determining means is configured to determine the distance from the following vehicle and the direction of the following vehicle from the reception intensity of each receiving means. Car identification system. 3. The determining means is configured to determine a lane change and an approaching speed of a following vehicle based on a change in reception intensity of each receiving means over time. The following vehicle determination system for the vehicle described. 4. A reference sensor for detecting a disturbance signal equivalent to a vehicle detection signal, and a correction means for correcting the reception intensity of each reception means based on the detection of the reference sensor. Item 4. A vehicle following vehicle determination system according to any one of Items 1 to 3. 5. The signal output means is configured to intermittently output the vehicle detection signal, and the signal output means outputs the vehicle detection signal from the reception intensity of each receiving means when the vehicle detection signal is not output. 4. The following vehicle determination system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit that corrects the reception intensity of each reception unit.