KR20150044346A - Apparatus for protecting traffic accident of the driving blind spot related to a front pillar of vehicle and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for protecting traffic accident of the driving blind spot related to a front pillar of the vehicle and a method thereof, and the apparatus comprises: at least one camera for taking images of the blind spot generated by a A-pillar of the vehicle; a display for displaying a combination of the images or the images taken by any of the at least one among the cameras; an eye position sensing unit of detecting at least any of the eye position, eyes, visual direction, or head direction; a control unit for displaying images on the display, corresponding to the blind spot generated by the A-pillar changed according to any of the eye position, eyes, visual direction, or head direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for preventing a dead-

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for preventing an accident in a dead zone caused by a front pillar of a vehicle, and more particularly, A device for preventing an accident in a dead zone by means of a front filler of a vehicle and a method for preventing an accident from occurring in a dead zone of a vehicle, .

Generally, the body constituting the external appearance of the passenger car includes a floor panel forming the floor of the vehicle, a frame for maintaining the strength of the body, a filler constituting the sides of the body, a roof panel constituting the upper portion of the body, Lt; / RTI >

In addition, the driver obtains the driving clock mainly through the front window of the vehicle during driving, but secures the rearward or rearward driving clock through the rearview mirror (room mirror) or the side mirror, . However, the driver may be disturbed by the front pillars of the vehicle (i.e.

Here, the pillar is a column, which is a means for adding strength to the car in the middle of the door and ceiling, and the filler in the middle between the front window and the side window is the front filler (A filler).

For example, as shown in Fig. 1, a front pillar 4, which is called an "A pillar " located between the front window 1 of the vehicle and the door window 3 of the front door 2, The driving clock is disturbed. 2, the front pillar (the A pillar) restricts the diagonal line of sight of the driver. In particular, when the left turn (when the driver's seat is on the left side) A pillar "will cause a blind spot.

Accordingly, the driver not only feels uncomfortable but also has difficulty in securing visibility, thereby causing trouble in safety driving.

On the other hand, there is a case in which a quadrangular secondary mirror is attached to or mounted on a vehicle as one means for improving the blind spot of the front pillar as described above. However, such a method is not good at the time of mounting the vehicle, Convex mirrors also have the disadvantage that they deteriorate the sense of distance and cause adverse effects and are unsuitable in terms of safety. In addition, there is a device that can remove a dead zone by installing a camera outside the front pillar to photograph a forward or a front side of the vehicle and display the photographed image through a monitor. However, according to the sight line There is a sense of heterogeneity with respect to the left and right direction, so that the discrimination ability against the external situation deteriorates. Also, after the obstacle is identified in the state where it is already close to the obstacle, the time for coping is short.

BACKGROUND ART [0002] The background art of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2004-0003216 (published on Jan. 13, 2004, a driving square monitor device using a vehicle front pillar).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to minimize the sense of heterogeneity according to the driver's visual direction by changing the monitoring image of the blind spot by the front pillar in accordance with the driver's visual direction, And an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for preventing an accident in a dead zone caused by a front filler of a vehicle, which can automatically perform an accident prevention operation when an obstacle is present in the dead zone.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for preventing an accident of a dead zone by a front pillar of a vehicle, comprising: at least one camera for capturing an image of a blind spot generated by an aileron of a vehicle; A display for displaying an image photographed through any one of the at least one camera, or a combined image thereof; An eye position sensing unit for sensing at least one of an eye position, a sight line, a visual direction, and a head direction of the vehicle driver; And a controller for displaying an image corresponding to a blind spot caused by the A-pillar according to at least one of an eye position, a sight line, a viewing direction, and a head direction of the vehicle driver through the display do.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the camera is configured so that the left / right corner of the front bumper, or the front / rear corner of the ap filler, in consideration of the blind spot caused by the ap filler generated according to the change of the driver's eye position, At least one or more than one of the left and right direction or the arbitrary direction between them is provided.

In the present invention, the display is a flexible display, and is installed in an A-pillar curved surface portion inside the vehicle.

The present invention may include a distance sensor measuring a distance between an object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian and a vehicle on the left side or the right side of the vehicle, and outputting the measured distance to the control unit; And an acceleration sensor for measuring a speed or an acceleration of the vehicle rotating to the left or right front side and outputting the measured speed or acceleration to the control unit.

The present invention further includes a warning device for outputting a warning signal to the inside / outside of the vehicle under the control of the control unit when there is a collision object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian within a predetermined distance when the vehicle rotates .

In the present invention, the warning signal is output in at least one of sound, vibration, and lamp flash.

The present invention further includes a braking device that automatically brakes the vehicle under the control of the control unit when there is a collision object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian within a predetermined distance when the vehicle rotates do.

The present invention is characterized by further comprising an operation switch for operating the display to turn on or off at all times or to turn on the vehicle automatically when the vehicle is rotating.

In the present invention, the control unit displays an image of a blind spot generated when the eye position, the sight line, the viewing direction, or the head direction of the vehicle driver is aligned with the A-pillar, through a display installed inside the A-pillar An audible warning is given to the inside / outside of the vehicle when a collision with an object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian in front of the vehicle is approached, and the vehicle is automatically braked to avoid the collision .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preventing a blind spot accident by a front pillar of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring a distance between an object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian and a vehicle in front of the vehicle; Capturing an image of a blind spot by the A-filler when the vehicle is rotated; Sensing at least one of eye position, sight line, visual direction, or head direction of the vehicle driver; And displaying an image corresponding to a blind spot changed according to at least one of an eye position, a sight line, a view direction, and a head direction of the vehicle driver through the display.

Controlling the braking device to prevent collision when a distance between an object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian and a vehicle within a predetermined distance from the front side of the vehicle, when the vehicle rotates, .

The present invention further includes a step of outputting a warning signal to the inside / outside of the vehicle when the braking device is controlled.

In the present invention, the image of the blind spot may be a left / right corner of the front bumper, or a left / right corner of the front bumper, considering the blind spot caused by the A-filler generated according to the change of the driver's eye position, An image photographed by at least one camera installed in the left / right direction or an arbitrary direction therebetween with respect to the center of the A-filler, the image being captured through any one of the at least one camera, or And a combined image thereof is displayed on the display.

In the present invention, the rotation of the vehicle is determined by combining the direction indicating device information, the steering angle information, and the angular velocity information.

The monitoring image of the blind spot by the front pillar is changed along the viewing direction of the driver in accordance with the viewing direction of the driver so as to minimize the sense of heterogeneity with respect to the external situation so as to improve the discrimination power, In this case, the accident prevention operation is automatically performed to prevent the accident.

1 is a partial perspective view showing a front filler of a general automobile;
Fig. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of a dead zone generated by the front pillar in Fig. 1; Fig.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an accident prevention device for a dead zone caused by a front pillar of a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an apparatus and method for preventing a dead spot accident by a front pillar of a vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In this process, the thicknesses of the lines and the sizes of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. In addition, the terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user, the operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

3 is an exemplary view showing a schematic configuration of an accident prevention device for a dead zone by a front pillar of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3, the apparatus for preventing a dead zone accident by a front pillar of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes front cameras 110 and 111, a distance sensor 120, an acceleration sensor 130, A warning device 140, a braking device 150, a flexible display 160, an eye position sensing part 170, an operation switch 180 and a control part 190. [

At least one of the front cameras 110 and 111 may be installed and the center of the ap filler may be formed in consideration of a blind spot caused by the ap filler generated according to the change of the sight line (or eye position, (The center in the horizontal and vertical directions), or in any direction therebetween.

At this time, since the A-pillars are on both sides of the driver's seat and the auxiliary seat, the front cameras 110 and 111 may be installed on the A-pillars on both sides (the driver's seat and the assistant's seat).

In addition, when it is difficult to install the front cameras 110 and 111 on the aileron due to the safety of the vehicle and the vehicle body structure, the front cameras 110 and 111 may be installed in the left and right corners of the front bumper. That is, the at least one front camera may be installed in at least one position for photographing an external image on the front side of the vehicle.

The images photographed by the front cameras 110 and 111 are transmitted to the controller 190 and processed.

The distance sensor 120 is installed on the left and right sides of the front bumper of the vehicle to measure the distance between the left and right side objects (obstacles) and the vehicle, and transmits the measured distance to the controller 190.

The acceleration sensor 130 measures a change (acceleration) of a speed or a speed of a vehicle which is installed on the left and right sides of the front bumper of the vehicle and is directed to the left and right front sides, and transmits the measurement to the controller 190. If the acceleration sensor 130 is largely classified into a detection system, inertia type, gyro type, and silicon semiconductor type.

When the vehicle is cornering, the warning device 140 detects an object (an obstacle) in front of the vehicle on the left and right sides, that is, an object (obstacle) within a predetermined distance on the left and right sides of the vehicle The control unit 190 outputs a warning signal under the control of the control unit 190.

The warning signal is a signal output in a manner of at least one of sound output, vibration, and lamp flash. The warning signal is a warning signal provided to the driver inside the vehicle and a warning Signal.

When there is a collision object (obstacle) on the left and right sides of the vehicle at the time of cornering, the braking device 150 automatically brakes the vehicle so that collision with an object (obstacle) .

In operation of the braking device 150, the controller 190 simultaneously operates the warning device 140 to prevent accidents caused by other variables.

The flexible display 160 is a display device that can be bent, and is installed along a curved surface (curved surface on the vehicle interior side) of the ap filler. The flexible display has flexibility in folding and unfolding by replacing a glass substrate wrapping a liquid crystal in a conventional LCD and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) with a plastic film, and is advantageous not only in thickness and lightness but also in impact. At this time, the flexible display 160 may be replaced with at least one planar display (not shown).

The eye position sensing unit 170 senses the driver's gaze (the visual direction).

The method of sensing the eye position may be implemented by a combination of known techniques. For example, Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0716370 (registered May 22, 2007, method of detecting the driver's eye position) discloses a method of detecting the driver's eye position, and various other methods for detecting the eye position are disclosed.

It is possible to see whether the driver looks at the front side (i.e., the ap filler direction) in the state where the driver puts the head (head) on the neck support of the seat (driver's seat) (I.e., in the direction of the A-pillar) from the state (B state) forward.

However, the method of detecting the eye position itself may obscure the technical gist of the present invention, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

For the sake of convenience, it is assumed that the eyes of the driver move between A state and maximum B state. At this time, depending on whether the driver views the front side (i.e., the Aipillar direction) at any position from the A state to the B state, as shown in Fig. 4, the blind spot (the blind spot A, the blind spot B) may be different.

Accordingly, the control unit 190 may control the image corresponding to the blind spot changed according to the sight line (the direction of the driver's eyes) (i.e., the image of the blind spot changed according to the driver's gaze) So that it is possible to minimize the sense of heterogeneity of the external situation of the driver by displaying it through the flexible display 160.

At this time, the control unit 190 may display an image corresponding to a blind spot changed in accordance with the sight line (the viewing direction) of the driver, that is, an image photographed through any one of the at least one front camera, And displays the image on the flexible display 160.

The operation switch 180 is operated so as to turn the flexible display 160 on or off at all times or to be automatically turned on at the time of rotation . At this time, whether or not the vehicle is turned may be determined by combining not only the operation of the direction indicating device but also a steering angle calculation or angular velocity information.

The controller 190 detects the state of the operation switch 180 and controls the flexible display 160. That is, the flexible display 160 is always turned on or off or automatically turned on when the flexible display 160 is rotated.

The control unit 190 displays images of a blind spot generated when the driver's sight line (visual direction) and the A-pillar become a straight line (that is, the image opposite the driver's gaze around the A-pillar) to the flexible display 160 ).

The control unit 190 displays the image of the blind spot generated by the A-filler through the flexible display 160 installed inside the A-pillar as described above, and displays the image of the blind spot generated by the A-pillar with the object (obstacle) If a collision is imminent, a warning of aural / audible in / out of the vehicle is generated and recognized by the pedestrian and the driver.

If it is determined that a collision can not be avoided even if the user brakes at a constant speed or less, emergency braking is performed by controlling the braking device 150 to prevent serious accidents.

At this time, when the vehicle is operating at a high speed higher than a predetermined speed, emergency braking may not be performed because there is a risk of vehicle slippage and collision of the following vehicle. That is, it is preferable that the emergency braking is performed when the speed of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed (or less).

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for preventing an accident in a blind spot by a front pillar of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, in order to prevent an accident at a blind spot (i.e., a blind spot on the front side) generated by a front pillar of a vehicle, the controller 190 controls the front The distance between the object (obstacle) and the vehicle is measured (S101).

Then, the speed (or acceleration) of the rotating vehicle is measured (S102).

In addition, an external image is photographed from the front side (i.e., the direction in which the blind spot is generated by the A-filler) when the vehicle rotates (S103). At this time, the external image may be provided with at least one camera having a different shooting angle (camera viewing direction) in consideration of the sight line of the driver (the viewing direction).

The driver's eye position (or gaze, visual direction, head direction, etc.) is sensed (S104). Further, the direction indicating device, the steering angle, and the angular velocity information can be further detected to determine the rotation (or the rotational direction) of the vehicle.

The control unit 190 detects the state of the operation switch 180 (S105). That is, the control unit 190 detects whether the operation switch 180 is in the ON state, the OFF state, or the ON state.

When the operation switch 180 is in the ON state according to the detection result, the controller 190 displays the image corresponding to the blind spot changed according to the sight line of the driver (i.e., The image of the blind spot changed according to the sight line) is displayed at all times on the flexible display 160 provided inside the ap filler. When it is determined that there is a possibility of collision between the vehicle and an object (obstacle) 150) (S106). That is, the vehicle can be stopped or the start-up can be turned off (S109).

At this time, when the braking device 150 is controlled, the warning device 140 is simultaneously controlled to prevent a secondary accident that may occur during emergency braking of the vehicle.

According to the detection result, when the operation switch 180 is turned on, the control unit 190 controls the operation of the control unit 180 in a blind spot changed according to the sight line of the driver (Ie, an image of a blind spot changed according to the driver's gaze) is displayed on the flexible display 160 provided inside the ap filler, and there is a possibility of collision between the vehicle and an object (obstacle) If it is determined, the braking device 150 is controlled (S107). That is, the vehicle can be stopped or the start-up can be turned off (S109).

Meanwhile, according to the detection result, when the operation switch 180 is in the OFF state at all times, the controller 190 does not display the image by turning off the flexible display 160 provided inside the ap filler. However, if it is determined that there is a possibility of collision between the vehicle and an object (obstacle), the braking device 150 is controlled (S108). That is, the vehicle can be stopped or the start-up can be turned off (S109).

At this time, since there is a risk of slippage of the vehicle and collision of the following vehicle during emergency braking of the vehicle in all the cases (S106, S107, and S108), the emergency braking is performed when the speed of the vehicle is low If the vehicle is operating at a high speed over a predetermined speed, it is preferable to control so as not to perform emergency braking.

As described above, according to the present invention, a blind spot generated by an A-pillar (A pillar) (a blind spot not covered by the driver's line of sight) is displayed through a display means provided inside the A-pillar Thereby enabling safe operation during vehicle rotation.

At this time, instead of simply displaying the external image, the driver senses the sight line (i.e., the visual direction) and displays the image of the blind spot generated in response to the sight line of the driver, thereby reducing the sense of heterogeneity of the external image.

In addition, the convenience of the driver can be improved by operating the image of the blind spot by the A-filler to be displayed at a desired time by the driver.

In addition, the present invention generates warning signals to objects (obstacles), pedestrians, and drivers in a blind spot at the time of vehicle rotation, even if the image of a blind spot by the A-filler is not displayed. Thereby improving the safety of the driver and the pedestrian. In addition, a storage device (not shown) may be further included to store images photographed through the front cameras 110 and 111 so as to record images of accidents occurring on the side.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, I will understand the point. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention should be defined by the following claims.

1: Front window 2: Front door
3: Door window 4: Front filler
110, 111: front camera 120: distance sensor
130: acceleration sensor 140: warning device
150: Brake device 160: Flexible display
170: Eye position sensing unit 180: Operation switch
190:

Claims (14)

At least one camera for capturing an image of a blind spot generated by an A-filler of a vehicle;
A display for displaying an image photographed through any one of the at least one camera, or a combined image thereof;
An eye position sensing unit for sensing at least one of an eye position, a sight line, a visual direction, and a head direction of the vehicle driver; And
And a controller for displaying an image corresponding to a blind spot caused by the A-pillar according to at least one of an eye position, a sight line, a viewing direction, and a head direction of the vehicle driver through the display An accident prevention device for a dead zone by a front pillar of a vehicle.
The camera according to claim 1,
Right or left corner of the front bumper or the left / right direction with respect to the center of the ap filler, considering the blind spot caused by the ap filler generated according to the change of the driver's eye position, sight line, visual direction, Wherein at least one of the front and rear pillars is disposed so as to observe an arbitrary direction therebetween.
The display according to claim 1,
The flexible display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible display device is mounted on a curved surface portion of the interior of the vehicle.
The method according to claim 1,
A distance sensor for measuring a distance between an object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian and a vehicle on the left side or right side of the vehicle, and outputting the distance to the control unit; And
And an acceleration sensor for measuring the speed or acceleration of the vehicle rotating to the left or right front side and outputting the measured speed or acceleration to the control unit.
The method according to claim 1,
And a warning device for outputting a warning signal to the inside / outside of the vehicle under the control of the control unit when there is a collision object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian within a predetermined distance when the vehicle rotates Wherein the front pillars of the vehicle are made of a material having a high thermal conductivity.
6. The method according to claim 5,
Wherein the sound is output in at least one of sound, vibration, and lamp flash.
The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a braking device that automatically brakes the vehicle under the control of the control unit when there is a collision object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian within a predetermined distance at the time of rotation of the vehicle An accident prevention device for a dead zone by a filler.
The method according to claim 1,
The display is always turned on or off,
Further comprising an operation switch for automatically turning on the vehicle at the time of rotation of the vehicle.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit
An image of a blind spot generated when an eye position, a sight line, a visual direction, or a head direction of the vehicle driver becomes a straight line with the A-pillar is displayed through a display installed inside the A-pillar,
A visual / audible warning is generated in / outside the vehicle when a collision with an object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian near the front side of the vehicle is approached,
Wherein the braking device automatically brakes the vehicle to avoid the collision.
Measuring a distance between an object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian and a vehicle on the front side of the vehicle when the vehicle rotates;
Capturing an image of a blind spot by the A-filler when the vehicle is rotated;
Sensing at least one of eye position, sight line, visual direction, or head direction of the vehicle driver; And
And displaying an image corresponding to a blind spot changed according to at least one of an eye position, a sight line, a visual direction, and a head direction of the vehicle driver through the display A method for preventing accidents in blind spots due to.
11. The method of claim 10,
Controlling the braking device to prevent collision when an object, an obstacle, or a pedestrian and a vehicle in front of the vehicle are within a predetermined distance when the vehicle rotates, characterized by further comprising: A method for preventing accident of a dead zone by a front filler of a vehicle.
12. The method of claim 11,
Further comprising the step of outputting a warning signal to the inside / outside of the vehicle when the braking device is controlled.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the image of the blind spot
Right or left corner of the front bumper or the left / right direction with respect to the center of the ap filler, considering the blind spot caused by the ap filler generated according to the change of the driver's eye position, sight line, visual direction, As an image photographed by at least one camera provided so as to face an arbitrary direction therebetween,
Wherein the image captured through any one of the at least one camera or a combined image thereof is displayed on the display.
11. The method of claim 10,
The direction indicator device information, the steering angle information, and the angular velocity information. The method of preventing a dead zone accident by a vehicle front pillar.

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