JPH10324209A - Obstacle sensing device of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To grasp intuitionally in which direction any obstacle lies and perform simultaneously ocular checking of surroundings and the check of the fact that obstacle exists or not. SOLUTION: Obstacle sensors 4a-4d to sense whether any obstacle lies within the specified range are installed at the four corners of a vehicle 1, and indicator lamps 9a-9d consisting of lamp, LED, etc., are installed in positions which are located around the specular faces of side mirrors 7L and 7R and correspond to the mounted positions of sensors 4a-4d. When the vehicle speed signal given by a vehicle speed sensor 5 has become v=0, that indicator lamp 9 of side mirrors 7L and 7R corresponding to the position where existence of any obstacle is sensed by the sensor 4a-4d is lighted up, and the vehicle driver is informed of the fact about existence of obstacle.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an obstacle detecting device for a vehicle for detecting whether or not an obstacle exists within a predetermined range around a vehicle. The technology relates to improving the performance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When driving a vehicle, blind spots occur around the vehicle because it is not possible to observe the vehicle in multiple directions at the same time. Therefore, for the purpose of reducing the blind spot to some extent, for example, as disclosed in Hatsumei Kyokai Disclosure Bulletin No. 93-9747, a sensor for detecting an obstacle was mounted around the vehicle to detect the obstacle. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an obstacle detection device that sometimes turns on an indicator light.

[0003]

However, when the detection direction of the obstacle is one direction, this is not a problem. However, when the detection direction is a plurality of directions, simply turning on the indicator light can be used in any direction. Could not intuitively understand whether there were any obstacles. In addition, if such an indicator light is provided on the instrument panel, the driver must move his / her line of sight to the instrument panel in order to confirm the presence of an obstacle. It was difficult to simultaneously check for the presence or absence of an obstacle, and the merit of providing an obstacle detection device was small.

In view of the above problems, the present invention enables intuitive understanding of the direction in which an obstacle is present, as well as visually confirming the surroundings and determining whether an obstacle exists. It is an object of the present invention to provide an obstacle detection device for a vehicle that can perform confirmation at the same time and contributes to improvement of safety.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an obstacle detecting means for detecting whether an obstacle is present within a predetermined range around a vehicle, and a light detecting means for detecting the presence of the obstacle. An obstacle detecting device for a vehicle, comprising: an informing means for informing by means of: and an operation control means for operating the informing means when it is detected that an obstacle exists within a predetermined range. The obstacle detecting means is attached to at least two predetermined positions of the vehicle, and the notifying means is attached to a corresponding position of the side mirror corresponding to the attaching position of the obstacle detecting means, respectively, and the operation control means is attached to the obstacle. The informing means of the attachment position corresponding to the obstacle detecting means which has detected the presence is operated.

According to this configuration, when an obstacle exists within a predetermined range of the obstacle detecting means mounted at a predetermined position around the vehicle, the corresponding position of the side mirror corresponding to the mounting position of the obstacle detecting means is set. The notification means attached to the device operates. Therefore, even when a plurality of obstacle detecting means are attached to the vehicle, the driver can intuitively understand in which direction the obstacle is present by looking at the side mirror at a glance. In addition, as long as the driver is looking ahead, the side mirror is present within the visibility range, so that the surroundings are visually checked and the obstacle detection device is used to check for obstacles at the same time. Safety is improved.

[0007] The invention according to claim 2 includes stop detection means for detecting whether or not the vehicle is stopped, and the operation control means notifies the operation control means only when it is detected that the vehicle is stopped. The means was operated. According to such a configuration, the notifying means attached to the side mirror does not operate while the vehicle is running, so that the driver is prevented from being distracted by the operation of the notifying means, and is dedicated to visually confirming the surroundings. And safety during vehicle operation is further improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the obstacle detecting means is an infrared sensor for sensing a human body temperature. According to such a configuration, since the presence of a person within the predetermined range is detected, the surroundings are visually checked and the presence of the person is simultaneously checked, thereby preventing an accident such as entanglement.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment in which an obstacle detection device in a vehicle according to the present invention is applied to a truck. The vehicle 1 has obstacle sensors 4 (4a to 4d) as obstacle detection means for detecting whether or not an obstacle exists within a predetermined range in front of the cab 2 and behind the left and right of the carrier 3 respectively. Is attached. The obstacle sensor 4 senses the body temperature of a warm-blooded animal such as a human, for example.
An infrared sensor or the like that detects that a human or the like exists within a predetermined range is used. Further, the vehicle 1 is provided with a vehicle speed sensor 5 as stop detection means for detecting the vehicle speed v.
Then, the outputs of the obstacle sensors 4a to 4d and the output of the vehicle speed sensor 5 are respectively input to the on-vehicle control device 6 incorporating a microcomputer. In addition, the in-vehicle control device 6
It has a function as operation control means.

As shown in FIG. 2, the side mirrors 7L and 7R attached to the left and right front of the cab 2 are located around the mirror surface 8 and correspond to the position where the obstacle sensor 4 is attached. For example, lamps, L
Indicator lamp 9 (9a-9)
d) is attached. That is, when the mirror surface 8 is regarded as the vehicle 1, the indicator light 9 is attached to the position where the obstacle sensor 4 is attached. Therefore, the obstacle sensor 4a (4
b to 4d) correspond to the indicator lights 9a (9b to 9d).

Reference numeral 10 not described above denotes a driver's seat, and reference numeral 11 denotes a steering wheel. Next, regarding the control content of the obstacle detection device having such a configuration,
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This routine is in the form of a subroutine executed every predetermined time.

Step 1 (abbreviated as "S1" in the figure)
In the following, the vehicle speed v is read from the vehicle speed sensor 5.
In step 2, whether the read vehicle speed v is 0 or not, that is,
It is determined whether or not the vehicle 1 is stopped. If the vehicle 1 is stopped (Yes), the process proceeds to step 3, and if it is not stopped (No), this routine ends.

In step 3, the obstacle sensors 4 (4a to 4a)
Read the output of 4d). In step 4, it is determined whether or not an obstacle exists within a predetermined range based on the output of the obstacle sensor 4. If there is an obstacle (Yes), the process proceeds to step 5, where there is no obstacle. (No) This routine ends. In step 5, the indicator light 9 corresponding to the obstacle sensor 4 that has detected the presence of the obstacle is turned on. That is, if there is an obstacle in the front left of the vehicle 1, the obstacle sensor 4a detects the presence of the obstacle and turns on the corresponding indicator light 9a.

In this way, when an obstacle exists within a predetermined range of the obstacle sensor 4, specifically, a pedestrian or a bicycle approaches the vehicle 1, and the obstacle sensor 4 can detect the obstacle. When the vehicle enters the range, the corresponding indicator lamp 9 of the side mirror 7 (7L, 7R) is turned on. Therefore,
The driver can intuitively grasp in which direction a pedestrian or the like is at a glance by looking at the side mirror 7 at a glance, and can effectively utilize the obstacle detection device. When the driver is looking ahead, since the side mirror 7 is always present within the visibility range, the surroundings can be visually checked and the pedestrians can be checked at the same time, and the safety during vehicle operation can be improved. Can be improved.

The operation will be described with a specific example.
For example, when making a right or left turn at a corner with poor visibility, the driver stops the vehicle 1 and visually checks the left and right. Even if a bicycle approaches, it cannot be grasped at the same time as checking the right. Therefore, if a left turn is performed in this state, the bicycle may be involved.

However, if the vehicle is provided with the obstacle detection device according to the present invention, the presence of a bicycle approaching from the right can be indicated by the indicator lamp 9 of the right side mirror 7R even if the left is visually checked. Therefore, by waiting until the bicycle passes by, it is possible to prevent a car accident. Further, since the operation of the indicator light 9 is controlled so as not to be turned on during the running of the vehicle 1, the driver does not have to pay attention to the indicator light 9 while the vehicle 1 is running, and can concentrate on visual confirmation of the surroundings. , And the safety is further improved.

In the present embodiment, the obstacle sensors 4a to 4d are mounted at the four corners of the vehicle 1. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. If the obstacle sensors 4 are mounted at at least two places where they cannot be viewed simultaneously, Similar functions and effects can be obtained. To describe a specific example, for example, in addition to the configuration of the present embodiment, if an obstacle sensor is attached behind the carrier 3, even if a child or the like is playing immediately after the vehicle 1,
This can be grasped, and the safety when the vehicle 1 moves backward can be improved.

Further, in order to notify the existence of an obstacle,
In addition to the indicator lights 9a to 9d, for example, a sound notification such as "There is an obstacle in front of the right."

[0019]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the driver only needs to look at the side mirror at a glance.
You can intuitively understand where the obstacle is located,
Effective use of the obstacle detection device can be achieved. Also,
As long as the driver is looking ahead, the side mirror is present within the field of view, so that the surroundings are visually checked and the obstacle detection device is used to check for obstacles at the same time.
Safety during vehicle operation can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, while the vehicle is running, it is possible to concentrate on visual confirmation of the surroundings, and the safety during the operation of the vehicle can be further improved. According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the confirmation of the surroundings and the confirmation of the presence of a human are performed simultaneously, it is possible to prevent accidents such as entanglement.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing details of the above side mirror;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control contents of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 4a-4d Obstacle sensor 5 Vehicle speed sensor 6 In-vehicle control device 7L, 7R Side mirror 9a-9d Indicator light

Claims (3)

[Claims] An obstacle detecting means for detecting whether or not an obstacle exists within a predetermined range around a vehicle, a notifying means for notifying the presence of an obstacle by light, and an obstacle existing within a predetermined range. And an operation control means for operating the notifying means when it is detected that the vehicle is to be operated, wherein the obstacle detecting means is attached to at least two predetermined positions of the vehicle, respectively. At the same time, the notification means is attached to the corresponding position of the side mirror corresponding to the attachment position of the obstacle detection means, respectively, the operation control means, the operation control means of the attachment position corresponding to the obstacle detection means that has detected the presence of an obstacle An obstacle detecting device for a vehicle, wherein an informing unit is operated. And a stop detecting means for detecting whether or not the vehicle is stopped, wherein the operation control means activates the notifying means only when it is detected that the vehicle is stopped. An obstacle detecting device for a vehicle according to claim 1. 3. An obstacle detecting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said obstacle detecting means is an infrared sensor for sensing a human body temperature.