JPH09147293A - Road sign and oncoming vehicle warning device using the sign - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To give the visual guidance to a driver by showing the road alignment and also informing the driver of the approaching states of the oncoming vehicles. SOLUTION: A 1st LED group 21 showing an arrow shape 31 of one of both directions and a 2nd LED group 22 showing an arrow shape 32 of the other direction are attached at a display part 1 of a road sign P. Then plural such signs P are placed along a road so as to show the traveling directions of vehicles by the shapes 31 and to show the traveling directions of the oncoming vehicles by the shapes 32 respectively. Thus the shapes 31 are successively shown to the traveling vehicles through the signs P in the traveling directions of the vehicles. When the oncoming vehicles exist, the shapes 32 are shown at the part 1 to show the traveling directions of the oncoming vehicles together with the shapes 31.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is particularly installed along a road or the like having a poor visibility such as a curve and the like, which guides the line of sight to the driver to guide the line of sight and informs the approaching situation of an oncoming vehicle. The present invention relates to a road sign that can be used and an oncoming vehicle warning device using the road sign.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case of a road with poor visibility such as a curve, in order to guide the line of sight of a traveling driver by showing the alignment of the road, an arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle is generally formed on the marking portion. A number of road signs that have been marked are installed along the road. And this sign in the shape of an arrow is a retroreflective material such as a reflective tape, a light emitting diode, or a light emitting diode, in order to improve visibility especially at night.
It is formed of a self-luminous light emitting body such as electroluminescence.

[0003] As a conventional road sign indicating the above-mentioned arrow shape, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-446 of the present applicant.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 50, publications in which a marking in the shape of an arrow-shaped arrow indicating the traveling direction of a vehicle is applied to a marking portion made of a marking plate, and in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-183699. As shown in the figure, a rectangular flat plate is bent in a V shape to form two marking parts, and the markings in the shape of arrows are applied to each of the marking parts. There are things that have been made visible.

[0004]

However, in the conventional road signs as described above, the arrow-shaped marking provided on the visible marking portion is only the arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle, and has a function of guiding the line of sight. I only had it.
Therefore, for drivers traveling on roads with poor visibility such as curves, the presence of an oncoming vehicle is an important concern in addition to the line-of-sight guidance. Since it is not possible to confirm the presence of vehicles, curved road mirrors are installed separately from these road signs, but the image of the oncoming vehicle seen there is extremely small, and there was a risk of being overlooked. .

Therefore, the present invention solves the above problems and uses a road sign and a road sign which can show the road alignment to the driver to guide the line of sight and notify the approaching situation of an oncoming vehicle. The oncoming vehicle warning device is provided.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, in the road sign according to claim 1 of the present invention, a large number of light emitting diodes are attached to the marking portion, and the light emitting diodes are arranged so as to represent an arrow shape in one direction. Group, and a second light emitting diode group arranged so as to represent the arrow shape of the direction opposite to the direction, the first light emitting diode group and the second light emitting diode group selectively emit light or By blinking, only one of the arrow shapes can be marked on the marking part, and both arrow shapes can be displayed by simultaneously emitting or blinking the first light emitting diode group and the second light emitting diode group. It is also characterized in that it can be displayed at the same time.

The road sign according to the present invention is formed along a road with poor visibility such as a curve so that the arrow shape in one direction indicates the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle and the arrow shape in the direction opposite to the direction. Plural units are installed in the direction that indicates the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle, and the arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle is sequentially displayed to the traveling vehicle from the road sign on the traveling vehicle side toward the traveling direction. If you make it
The road alignment is clearly shown, and it is possible to effectively guide the eyes. Next, when there is an oncoming vehicle, the presence of the oncoming vehicle can be confirmed by displaying the arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle and the arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle at the same time on the marking section. be able to.

Next, a road sign according to a second aspect of the present invention is the road sign according to the first aspect, wherein the sign portion is matched with one of the double arrow shapes. , A retroreflective material is adhered, for example, if this retroreflective material is adhered according to the arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle, the Even when the light emitting diodes arranged in the shape of an arrow are not made to emit light, the light of the headlight can be retroreflected by the retroreflecting material to effectively guide the line of sight.

Next, a road sign according to a third aspect of the present invention is the road sign according to the first or second aspect, wherein the hood is projected from at least an upper portion to both side portions of the marking portion. It is characterized by that, when sunlight is incident on the marking portion from an oblique direction,
Since the light is reflected on the surface of the marking portion and the arrow-shaped marking by the light emitting diode becomes difficult to see, this hood shields sunlight incident from an oblique direction.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the road sign according to the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, wherein the road sign extends downward along the upper portion of the sign portion from the front end to the rear end. It is characterized by the formation of a snow-prevention part that slopes to the top of the sign part.This snow-prevention part prevents the falling snow from landing on the upper part of the sign part and slides down behind the sign part. , It will not be difficult to see the markings on the marking part due to snowfall.

Furthermore, an oncoming vehicle warning device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention can be applied to a traveling vehicle traveling in one traveling lane by using the road sign according to the first, second, third or fourth aspect. On the other hand, an oncoming vehicle warning device for notifying the presence of an oncoming vehicle approaching from an oncoming lane, the first vehicle detection means for detecting the presence of a traveling vehicle, and the second vehicle detection for detecting the presence of an oncoming vehicle. Means and a plurality of the road signs according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 installed along a road between the first vehicle detection means and the second vehicle detection means, When the traveling vehicle is detected by the first vehicle detection means, an arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle is sequentially displayed from the road sign on the traveling vehicle side toward the traveling direction, and the second vehicle detection means If an oncoming vehicle is detected, the reverse of the above The arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle is sequentially marked from the road sign on the side of the oncoming vehicle toward the traveling vehicle, and in the vicinity where the oncoming vehicle approaches the traveling vehicle to a predetermined distance, the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle is indicated on the road sign. And an arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle are simultaneously marked.

According to this oncoming vehicle warning device, when the traveling vehicle is detected by the first vehicle detection means, an arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle is displayed on the traveling vehicle as a road sign on the traveling vehicle side. Since the vehicle is sequentially marked in the direction of travel, the road alignment is clearly shown to the driver of the traveling vehicle, and the line of sight can be effectively guided. When an oncoming vehicle is detected by the second vehicle detection means,
Contrary to the above, the arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle is sequentially displayed from the road sign on the side of the oncoming vehicle toward the traveling vehicle, and the road sign is displayed in the vicinity where the oncoming vehicle approaches the traveling vehicle to a predetermined distance. The arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle is simultaneously marked so as to overlap the arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle. Therefore, the driver of the traveling vehicle can know the approach situation of the oncoming vehicle by traveling while watching the road signs.

[0013]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. That is, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a road sign according to the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a marking pattern in the road sign of FIG. 1, (a) shows a state in which an arrow shape in one direction is marked, and (b) faces the direction. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the road sign according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the outer appearance of the oncoming vehicle warning device according to the present invention, FIG.
6A and 6B are explanatory views showing a change in the marking pattern of the road sign in FIG. 5, where (A) shows a state in which only a traveling vehicle is detected, (B) shows a state in which an oncoming vehicle is detected, and (C) shows a state in which the oncoming vehicle approaches the traveling vehicle, and (d) shows a state in which the oncoming vehicle passes by.

First, an embodiment of the road sign P shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described. 1 is a marking portion made of an appropriate material such as synthetic resin or metal, and 2 is a marking portion 1 thereof.
3 is an arrow shape represented by the light emitting diode 2. The light emitting diode 2 is composed of a first light emitting diode group 21 and a second light emitting diode group 22, and the arrow shape 3 is an arrow shape 31 showing one direction and an arrow shape 32 showing a direction opposite to that direction. The first light emitting diode group 21 is arranged so as to represent the arrow shape 31 in the one direction, and the second light emitting diode group 22 is arranged so as to represent the arrow shape 32 indicating the opposite direction. There is. Then, by supplying electric power to the light emitting diode 2 from a solar cell, a commercial power source, or the like to cause light emission or blinking, these arrow shapes 3 can be displayed on the marking portion 1, respectively.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when only the first light emitting diode group 21 emits light or blinks, the arrow shape 31 in one direction represented by the first light emitting diode group 21 is displayed as shown in (a). If the second LED group 22 is illuminated or blinks, it is marked on the section 1.
As shown in (b), an arrow shape 32, which is opposite to the direction and is opposite to the direction represented by the second light emitting diode group 22, is indicated, and further, the first light emitting diode group 21.
When both the second light emitting diode group 22 and the second light emitting diode group 22 are caused to emit light or blink at the same time, both arrow shapes 31 and 32 can be displayed at the same time as shown in (c).

In this way, the first light emitting diode group 21 and the second light emitting diode group 22 are made to emit light or blink, respectively, and the arrow shapes 31, 3 in the opposite directions are provided.
Since it is designed so that 2 can be marked,
Make sure that these double-headed arrow shapes 31 and 32 are clearly identified.
The first light emitting diode group 21 and the second light emitting diode group 22 use light emitting diodes 2 having different colors. In the present embodiment, the first light emitting diode group 21 is green and the second light emitting diode group 22 is red. Things are used.

Numeral 4 is a retroreflective material composed of a reflection sheet or the like attached to the marking portion 1 in accordance with the arrow shape 31 which is usually used as the direction of the traveling vehicle in the arrow shape 3. Yes, 5 is a hood projecting from the upper part of the marking part 1 to both sides, generally iron,
It is made of a metal such as aluminum or stainless steel or a synthetic resin. Reference numeral 6 is a snow accretion preventing portion that slopes downward along the upper portion of the marking portion 1 from the upper end to the rear. The snow accretion preventing portion 6 may be formed integrally with the hood 5. It may be attached to the upper end of 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a pillar, and the back surface of the marking portion 1 is attached to and supported by the pillar 7.

Next, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 will be described.
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is provided with one marking portion 1 and is mainly visible only to a traveling vehicle, and is not intended to be visually recognized from an oncoming vehicle, whereas it is shown in FIG. The embodiment is different in that only two pairs of the marking portion 11 visible from the traveling vehicle and the marking portion 12 visible from the oncoming vehicle are attached to the column 7, and they are attached. The marking parts 11 and 12 are the same as the marking part 1 shown in FIGS. In this way, by attaching two pairs of the marking portion 11 for the traveling vehicle and the marking portion 12 for the oncoming vehicle to the pillar 7, the driver can approach not only the driver of the traveling vehicle but also the driver of the oncoming vehicle. The presence of an incoming vehicle can be notified (that is, if one vehicle is a traveling vehicle, the other vehicle is an oncoming vehicle), and the marking portion 11 of the traveling vehicle faces the traveling lane side. This is because it is possible to simplify the power supply and control of the marking portions 11 and 12 to the light emitting diode 2 as compared with the case where they are separately installed on the lane side.

Next, the oncoming vehicle warning device shown in FIG. 5 will be described. Reference numeral 8 denotes a vehicle detection unit that detects the presence of a vehicle, and includes a first vehicle detection unit 81 that detects the presence of the traveling vehicle A and a second vehicle detection unit 82 that detects the presence of an oncoming vehicle B. ing. Both vehicle detection means 8
Generally, an ultrasonic sensor is used and the vehicle speed is also detected at the same time. Between the first vehicle detection means 81 and the second vehicle detection means 82, two marking portions 11 for the traveling vehicle A and two marking portions 12 for the oncoming vehicle B shown in FIG. 4 are provided. A plurality of road signs P are attached along the road such that a pair of road signs P are attached to the pillar 7.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when the traveling vehicle A is detected by the first vehicle detection means 81, an arrow shape 33 indicating the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle A is displayed as shown in FIG. When the oncoming vehicle B is detected by the second vehicle detection means 82, the road signs P on the side of the traveling vehicle A are displayed so as to sequentially flow in the traveling direction. An arrow shape 34 indicating the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle B is marked so as to sequentially flow from the road sign P on the oncoming vehicle B side toward the traveling vehicle A. And traveling vehicle A
In the vicinity where the oncoming vehicle B comes close to the predetermined distance,
An arrow shape 33 indicating the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle A sequentially flowing in the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle A on the road sign P as shown in FIG.
The arrow shapes 34 indicating the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle B, which sequentially flow toward the traveling vehicle A, are overlapped with each other and are simultaneously marked. Then, when the oncoming vehicle B passes by, the arrow shape 34 indicating the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle B disappears on the road sign P in the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle A and disappears to the driver of the traveling vehicle A. As described above, only the arrow shape 33 indicating the traveling direction is visually recognized.

In this case, the road sign P used in this embodiment
Is an oncoming vehicle B in addition to the marking portion 11 for the traveling vehicle A.
Since the marking portion 12 for is also attached to the column 7,
In the marking portion 12 visually recognized from the oncoming vehicle B, the markings as shown in FIG. 6 are similarly displayed with the opponent traveling vehicle A as the oncoming vehicle, and the road alignment is shown to the driver of the oncoming vehicle B. As a result, the line of sight is guided and the approaching state of the traveling vehicle A of the other party can be known.

The operation of the road sign P as described above is controlled by a main controller 9 which detects signals detected by the first vehicle detecting means 81 and the second vehicle detecting means 82. Based on the built-in microcomputer, a predetermined control signal is transmitted to the light emitting diode 2 of each road sign P to operate as described above. This main controller 9 and each road sign P
May be connected by wire, or the control signal may be wirelessly transmitted and received.

In the present embodiment, in addition to the marking of each road sign P, warning marking plates C are provided near the first vehicle detecting means 81 and the second vehicle detecting means 82 in order to ensure safe driving. The warning marking plate C is provided so as to give warning markings such as "curve caution", "oncoming vehicle caution", and "during adjustment". The warning sign C is also controlled by the main controller 9.

[0024]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to guide the line of sight by showing the alignment of the road and to notify the approaching situation of an oncoming vehicle. Therefore, the present invention is installed especially on a road with poor visibility such as a curve. By doing so, it is possible to effectively encourage the driver to drive safely.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a road sign according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG.

3A and 3B are explanatory views showing a marking pattern on the road sign of FIG. 1, in which (A) shows a state in which an arrow shape in one direction is displayed, and (B) shows an arrow shape in a direction opposite to the direction. Is shown, and (c) shows the state in which the arrow shape in both directions is displayed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the road sign according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an appearance of an oncoming vehicle warning device according to the present invention.

6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams showing changes in the marking pattern of the road sign in FIG. 5, in which (A) shows a state where only a traveling vehicle is detected, and (B) shows a state where an oncoming vehicle is detected. In the figure, (c) shows a state in which the oncoming vehicle approaches the traveling vehicle, and (d) shows a state in which the oncoming vehicle passes by.

[Explanation of symbols]

 P Road sign A Moving vehicle B Oncoming vehicle C Warning signboard 1,11,12 Marking part 2 Light emitting diode 21,22 Light emitting diode group 3,31,32,33,34 Arrow shape 4 Retroreflective material 5 Hood 6 Snow landing Preventive material 7 Supports 8, 81, 82 Vehicle detection means 9 Main controller

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A large number of light emitting diodes are attached to a marking portion, the light emitting diodes being a first light emitting diode group arranged so as to represent an arrow shape in one direction, and an arrow in a direction opposite to the direction. It is composed of a second light emitting diode group arranged so as to represent the shape, and by selectively causing the first light emitting diode group and the second light emitting diode group to emit light or blink, one of the arrow shapes Only the marking part can be marked, and both arrow shapes can be marked at the same time by simultaneously emitting or blinking the first light emitting diode group and the second light emitting diode group. Road signs that are characterized by 2. The road sign according to claim 1, wherein a retroreflective material is attached to the marking portion so as to match one of the two arrow shapes. 3. The road sign according to claim 1, wherein a hood is projected from at least an upper portion of the marking portion to both side portions thereof. 4. The road sign according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a snow accretion preventive portion is formed along the upper portion of the sign portion so as to incline downward from the front end to the rear end. 5. An oncoming vehicle warning device for informing a traveling vehicle traveling in one traveling lane of the presence of an oncoming vehicle approaching from an oncoming lane, the first vehicle detection for detecting the presence of a traveling vehicle. A plurality of said means installed along a road between said means, a second vehicle detecting means for detecting the presence of an oncoming vehicle, and said first vehicle detecting means and second vehicle detecting means. When the traveling vehicle is detected by the first vehicle detection means, the arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle is changed from the road sign on the traveling vehicle side to the traveling road. It is marked in order toward the direction,
When the oncoming vehicle is detected by the second vehicle detecting means, the arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle is displayed in order from the road sign on the oncoming vehicle side toward the traveling vehicle, which is opposite to the above. In the vicinity of an oncoming vehicle approaching to a predetermined distance, a road sign is simultaneously marked with an arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the traveling vehicle and an arrow shape indicating the traveling direction of the oncoming vehicle. Oncoming vehicle warning device.