WO2018146808A1 - Information control device, information control system, and information control method - Google Patents

Abstract

A first vehicle location acquisition unit (11) acquires location information about nearby vehicles as received by an inter-vehicle communication device (2). A second vehicle location acquisition unit (12) acquires location information about the nearby vehicles as received by a distance sensor (3). On the basis of a difference between the location information acquired by the first vehicle location acquisition unit (11) and the location information acquired by the second vehicle location acquisition unit (12), a communication feasibility determination unit (13) identifies vehicles with which communication can be established and vehicles with which communication cannot be established.

Description

Information control apparatus, information control system, and information control method

The present invention relates to an information control device, an information control system, and an information control method using inter-vehicle communication.

The vehicle information providing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 acquires information on the host vehicle and other vehicles in a situation where a vehicle equipped with an inter-vehicle communication device and a vehicle not equipped are mixed. The vehicle information providing device detects a specific vehicle that needs to be determined whether or not to make a concession to the vehicle based on the acquired situation, and turns on, blinks, or passes the headlight to the specific vehicle. Send a visible signal. Hereinafter, a vehicle equipped with a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device and capable of performing vehicle-to-vehicle communication is referred to as a “communicable vehicle”, and is not equipped with a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device and cannot perform vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The vehicle is called a “non-communication vehicle”.

The vehicle information providing apparatus does not discriminate between vehicles that can communicate and vehicles that cannot communicate. For this reason, the vehicle information providing device can communicate a driver's intention in detail to a communicable vehicle using a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device. Can only send. There are only three types of cues to be sent by headlights: lighting, blinking or passing, and the interpretation differs depending on the receiver of the cues, so there is a possibility that wrinkles will occur between the sender and the receiver.

JP 2006-185138 A

Since the invention according to Patent Document 1 is configured as described above, there is a problem in that a communicable vehicle and a non-communicable vehicle are not distinguished.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has an object to discriminate between communicable vehicles and incommunicable vehicles.

The information control device according to the present invention obtains, from the inter-vehicle communication device, first vehicle position acquisition information received from the inter-vehicle communication device, which is received by the inter-vehicle communication device and is located in the vicinity of the target vehicle. A position information acquired by the first vehicle position acquisition unit, a second vehicle position acquisition unit that acquires, from the distance sensor, position information of a surrounding vehicle located around the target vehicle detected by the distance sensor Based on the difference from the position information acquired by the second vehicle position acquisition unit, the surrounding vehicle located in the vicinity of the target vehicle can communicate with the vehicle capable of inter-vehicle communication and cannot communicate with each other. And a communication enable / disable determining unit that determines the vehicle.

According to this invention, based on the difference between the position information received by the inter-vehicle communication device and the position information detected by the distance sensor, the surrounding vehicles can be determined as vehicles that can communicate and vehicles that cannot communicate.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the information control system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the information control system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of step ST13 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the information control system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the information control system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of step ST24 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the light irradiation example in Embodiment 2 of this invention, and is an example which irradiates light to the rear glass of the own vehicle. It is a figure which shows the light irradiation example in Embodiment 2 of this invention, and is an example which irradiates light to the road surface behind the own vehicle. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the information control system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the information control system which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the irradiation possible position and ideal irradiation position of each vehicle in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of light irradiation in Embodiment 3 of this invention, and is an example which irradiates light to the road surface ahead of a transmission destination vehicle. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the information control system which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware structural example of the information control system which concerns on each embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, in order to explain the present invention in more detail, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information control system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The information control system 1 according to Embodiment 1 is mounted on a vehicle. The information control system 1 includes an inter-vehicle communication device 2, a distance sensor 3, a display device 4, and an information control device 10. The information control system 1 may have a configuration including the inter-vehicle communication device 2, the distance sensor 3, and the display device 4, or the existing inter-vehicle communication device 2, the distance sensor 3 and the The structure using the display apparatus 4 may be sufficient.
Hereinafter, a target vehicle on which the information control system 1 is mounted is referred to as “own vehicle”, and another vehicle located around the target vehicle is referred to as “peripheral vehicle”. The user who uses the information control system 1 may be anyone who is an occupant of the own vehicle, but a driver is assumed here.

The inter-vehicle communication device 2 mounted on the host vehicle performs inter-vehicle communication with the inter-vehicle communication device mounted on the surrounding vehicle, and transmits / receives information. The inter-vehicle communication device 2 according to the first embodiment receives position information indicating the position of the surrounding vehicle from a surrounding vehicle that is located in the vicinity of the host vehicle and can communicate with the vehicle.

The distance sensor 3 measures the distance between the host vehicle and the surrounding vehicle, detects the position of the surrounding vehicle based on the measurement result, and outputs it as position information. The distance sensor 3 detects the position of a surrounding vehicle located in all directions of the host vehicle without distinguishing between a communicable vehicle and a non-communicable vehicle. The distance sensor 3 is, for example, an ultrasonic sensor, a radio wave sensor, or a stereo camera. The distance sensor 3 uses a camera that captures the periphery of the host vehicle and a recognition device that recognizes an object on the image captured by the camera. The object detected by the ultrasonic sensor or the radio wave sensor is You may make it recognize whether it is a person, a bicycle, a motorcycle, etc.

The display device 4 is a display that displays an image. The display device 4 is installed at a position such as a dashboard where the driver can see.

The information control device 10 includes a first vehicle position acquisition unit 11, a second vehicle position acquisition unit 12, a communication availability determination unit 13, and a drawing unit 14.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the information control system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The information control system 1 repeats the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In step ST11, the first vehicle position acquisition unit 11 acquires, from the inter-vehicle communication device 2, position information of surrounding vehicles that are located in the vicinity of the host vehicle and are capable of inter-vehicle communication. The first vehicle position acquisition unit 11 outputs the acquired position information to the communication availability determination unit 13.

In step ST <b> 12, the second vehicle position acquisition unit 12 acquires position information of surrounding vehicles located around the host vehicle from the distance sensor 3. The second vehicle position acquisition unit 12 outputs the acquired position information to the communication availability determination unit 13.

In step ST <b> 13, the communication availability determination unit 13 determines the position around the host vehicle based on the difference between the position information received from the first vehicle position acquisition unit 11 and the position information received from the second vehicle position acquisition unit 12. The surrounding vehicle is determined as a vehicle that can communicate and a vehicle that cannot communicate.

Here, the process of step ST13 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing details of step ST13 in FIG.
The communication feasibility determining unit 13 repeats the processes of steps ST131 to ST135 for the number A (A ≧ 0) of surrounding vehicles that have been able to acquire the position information from the inter-vehicle communication device 2 in step ST11.
In the case of “A ≧ 1,” in step ST132, the communication feasibility determining unit 13 determines that one of the one or more neighboring vehicles that have obtained the position information from the inter-vehicle communication device 2 is a communicable vehicle. The vehicle information of the communicable vehicle is registered. The vehicle information includes an ID assigned to the communicable vehicle and position information of the communicable vehicle. The ID is an arbitrary value that differs for each vehicle. Here, it is assumed that “ID: 001” is given to the communicable vehicle. The position information is position information acquired from the inter-vehicle communication device 2.

In step ST133, the communicability determination unit 13 determines whether the position of the communicable vehicle to which “ID: 001” is assigned is one of zero or more neighboring vehicles that have acquired the position information from the distance sensor 3 in step ST12. It is determined whether or not it matches the position of the surrounding vehicle.
The communicability determination unit 13 determines whether the position of the communicable vehicle to which “ID: 001” is assigned is one of the surrounding vehicles of the zero or more peripheral vehicles from which the position information can be acquired from the distance sensor 3 in step ST12. If it coincides with the position ("YES" in step ST133), the process proceeds to step ST134.
On the other hand, the communication feasibility determining unit 13 determines whether any of the surrounding vehicles among the surrounding vehicles in which the position of the communicable vehicle to which “ID: 001” is assigned can be obtained from the distance sensor 3 in step ST12. If the position does not match (step ST133 “NO”), step ST134 is skipped.

In step ST134, the communication feasibility determining unit 13 matches the position of the communicable vehicle to which “ID: 001” is assigned among the zero or more neighboring vehicles that have obtained the position information from the distance sensor 3 in step ST12. Delete the location information of surrounding vehicles.

As a result of repeating the processes of steps ST131 to ST135, the difference between the surrounding vehicle that has acquired the position information from the inter-vehicle communication device 2 and the surrounding vehicle that has been able to acquire the position information from the distance sensor 3 is obtained. That is, as a result of repeating the processes of steps ST131 to ST135, the surrounding vehicles that can acquire the position information from the inter-vehicle communication device 2 are excluded from among the zero or more surrounding vehicles that can acquire the position information from the distance sensor 3. The surrounding vehicles for which position information could not be acquired from the inter-vehicle communication device 2 remain. Let B (B ≧ 0) be the number of remaining surrounding vehicles. The remaining surrounding vehicles are vehicles that cannot communicate.
Further, as a result of repeating the processes of steps ST131 to ST135, the vehicle information of each communicable vehicle located around the own vehicle is registered.

Subsequently, the communication feasibility determining unit 13 repeats the processes of steps ST136 to ST138 for the number B of the remaining surrounding vehicles.
In the case of “B ≧ 1,” in step ST137, the communication feasibility determining unit 13 cannot acquire the position information from the inter-vehicle communication device 2 among the one or more neighboring vehicles that have been able to acquire the position information from the distance sensor 3. One of the surrounding vehicles is determined as a vehicle that cannot communicate, and vehicle information of the vehicle that cannot communicate is registered. The vehicle information includes an ID assigned to a vehicle that cannot communicate and position information of the vehicle that cannot communicate. This position information is position information acquired from the distance sensor 3.

As a result of repeating the processes of steps ST136 to ST138, the vehicle information of each non-communication vehicle located around the own vehicle is registered.
Finally, the communication enable / disable determining unit 13 outputs the vehicle information of the communicable vehicle and the vehicle information of the communication disabled information to the drawing unit 14.

In step ST14 of FIG. 2, the drawing unit 14 displays the surrounding vehicles located in the vicinity of the host vehicle based on the vehicle information of the communicable vehicle received from the communicability determination unit 13 and the vehicle information of the incommunicable information. Draw an image. The drawing unit 14 outputs the drawn display image to the display device 4 for display. The drawing unit 14 may be included in the information control device 10 or the display device 4. When the display device 4 includes the drawing unit 14, the communication availability determination unit 13 outputs the vehicle information of the communicable vehicle and the vehicle information of the communication impossible information to the display device 4.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screen display example in the first embodiment of the present invention. On the screen of the display device 4, the own vehicle, the communicable vehicle, and the incapable vehicle on the map are displayed so that the positional relationship can be understood. In addition, since the display modes are different between the communicable vehicle and the incommunicable vehicle, the driver can distinguish and recognize the communicable vehicle and the incommunicable vehicle located around the own vehicle. In addition, in order to distinguish the vehicle which can communicate and a vehicle which cannot communicate, what is necessary is just the display mode which can distinguish both, for example, a display color differs. In this example, the IDs of the communicable vehicle and the incommunicable vehicle registered by the communicability determination unit 13 are displayed.

As described above, the information control apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 1 includes the first vehicle position acquisition unit 11, the second vehicle position acquisition unit 12, and the communication availability determination unit 13. The first vehicle position acquisition unit 11 acquires, from the inter-vehicle communication device 2, position information of surrounding vehicles that are located in the vicinity of the target vehicle and capable of inter-vehicle communication. The second vehicle position acquisition unit 12 acquires, from the distance sensor 3, position information of surrounding vehicles located around the target vehicle detected by the distance sensor 3. The communication possibility determination unit 13 is a peripheral vehicle located around the target vehicle based on the difference between the position information acquired by the first vehicle position acquisition unit 11 and the position information acquired by the second vehicle position acquisition unit 12. Are determined as a communicable vehicle capable of inter-vehicle communication and a non-communicable vehicle capable of inter-vehicle communication. Thereby, the information control apparatus 10 can discriminate between a communicable vehicle and a non-communicable vehicle located around the target vehicle.

Further, the information control system 1 according to the first embodiment includes an information control device 10 and a display device 4. The display device 4 distinguishes and displays the surrounding vehicles determined to be capable of inter-vehicle communication by the information control device 10 and the surrounding vehicles determined to be impossible. Thereby, the determination result can be provided to the passenger of the target vehicle.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The information control system 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention transmits the intention of the driver of the host vehicle to surrounding vehicles located around the host vehicle. The information control system 1 transmits information indicating the driver's intention and the like by inter-vehicle communication if the surrounding vehicle is a communicable vehicle, and irradiates light if the vehicle is not communicable.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the information control system 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The information control system 1 according to the second embodiment is different from the information control system 1 according to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 in the transmission information determination unit 21, the irradiation position determination unit 22, the irradiation control unit 23, and the input device 24. , And the light irradiation device 25 are added. Further, in the second embodiment, the vehicle information of the communicable vehicle and the vehicle information of the vehicle incapable of communication are output from the communicability determination unit 13 to the irradiation position determination unit 22. 5 that are the same as or correspond to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In addition, the information control system 1 may be configured to include the input device 24 and the light irradiation device 25 independently, or may be configured to use the existing input device 24 and the light irradiation device 25 mounted on the vehicle. Also good.

The input device 24 receives an operation input from the driver of the host vehicle, and outputs information indicating the received content to the transmission information determination unit 21. The input device 24 is a touch panel, a button installed on a handle, a remote controller, a voice recognition device, or the like. For example, the display of the display device 4 and the touch panel of the input device 24 may be integrated.

The light irradiation device 25 irradiates at least one of the hood of the host vehicle, the rear glass, and the road surface around the host vehicle. The light irradiation device 25 for irradiating light on the road surface is preferably capable of irradiating light on the road surface in all directions of the own vehicle, but is not limited to this, and is capable of irradiating light on at least the road surface behind the own vehicle. That's fine. The light irradiation device 25 is a laser device, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light irradiation device, a projector device, or the like mounted on the host vehicle. In addition, the brightness of the light irradiated by the light irradiation device 25 is set so that the driver of the surrounding vehicle can visually recognize regardless of the surrounding brightness.
The distance to the irradiation position farthest from the own vehicle when the light irradiation device 25 irradiates the road surface around the own vehicle is referred to as an “irradiation limit distance”.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the information control system 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Steps ST11 to ST14 in FIG. 6 are the same as steps ST11 to ST14 in FIG.

In step ST21, the input device 24 receives a destination vehicle to which the driver wants to communicate his intention and information to be transmitted by the operation of the driver of the own vehicle. The peripheral vehicle of the transmission destination is called “transmission destination vehicle”, and the information to be transmitted is called “transmission information”. The input device 24 inputs the transmission destination vehicle and the transmission information to the transmission information determination unit 21. The transmission information determination unit 21 receives the transmission destination vehicle and the transmission information from the input device 24 and outputs them to the irradiation position determination unit 22.

Here, an example in which the driver inputs the transmission destination vehicle and the transmission information will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen display example in the second embodiment of the present invention.
In this example, it is assumed that a touch panel that is the input device 24 is integrated with a display that is the display device 4. The display device 4 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 4, and the driver selects a transmission destination vehicle from the surrounding vehicles of “ID: 001” to “ID: 005”. For example, it is assumed that the driver selects a surrounding vehicle with “ID: 005” located behind the host vehicle as the transmission destination vehicle. In that case, the transmission information determination unit 21 instructs the drawing unit 14 to display a screen of a candidate list 201 of transmission information to be transmitted to the rear vehicle as shown in FIG. The driver selects a desired transmission information icon 202 from the transmission information candidate list 201. The driver registers the transmission information displayed as the transmission information icon 202 in advance in the transmission information determination unit 21 when not driving, so that the transmission information icon 202 can be selected from the transmission information candidate list 201. Communication information can be input with a simple operation of selecting. It should be noted that the driver has different transmission information such as a list of transmission information candidates when the transmission destination vehicle is a rear vehicle and a transmission information candidate list when the transmission destination vehicle is a front vehicle, depending on the position of the transmission destination vehicle relative to the own vehicle. A candidate list may be registered. When the input device 24 includes a voice recognition device, the driver can input the transmission information with a simple operation of speaking the transmission information. With these input methods, the driver can input the transmission information even during driving.

Alternatively, when the inter-vehicle communication device 2 receives traffic information from surrounding vehicles by inter-vehicle communication, the transmission information determination unit 21 may display the traffic information on the transmission information candidate list 201. In addition, when the content of the traffic information is highly urgent, the transmission information determination unit 21 irradiates the traffic information regardless of the driver's intention to automatically transmit it to the surrounding vehicles. You may output to the position determination part 22. FIG. The traffic information is information about events that occur in the vicinity of the host vehicle, such as one-way traffic restrictions, traffic jams, and accidents. In the example of FIG. 7, the transmission information icon “There is a one-sided traffic restriction in front” is traffic information. The traffic information transmitted and received by inter-vehicle communication is information provided from a vehicle that is actually traveling in the place, so traffic information provided from VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System, VICS is a registered trademark), etc. Compared to, it is more immediate and more accurate.

Alternatively, when the distance sensor 3 detects an object such as a vehicle, a pedestrian, a bicycle, or a motorcycle, the transmission information determination unit 21 acquires position information of the object from the distance sensor 3, and based on the position information of the object. Then, the transmission information may be generated. For example, when the distance sensor 3 detects a pedestrian located in the vicinity of the host vehicle, the transmission information determination unit 21 generates transmission information such as “Pedestrian attention!” And displays it on the transmission information candidate list 201. . In addition, the transmission information determination unit 21 generates the generated transmission regardless of the driver's intention to automatically transmit the generated transmission information to surrounding vehicles when the content of the generated transmission information is highly urgent. Information may be output to the irradiation position determination unit 22.

In step ST22, the irradiation position determination unit 22 receives the transmission destination vehicle and the transmission information from the transmission information determination unit 21, and transmits the vehicle information of the communicable vehicle and the vehicle information of the incommunicable vehicle from the communicability determination unit 13. receive. The irradiation position determination unit 22 determines whether or not the transmission destination vehicle is capable of inter-vehicle communication using these pieces of information.
When the transmission destination vehicle is a communicable vehicle (step ST22 “YES”), the irradiation position determination unit 22 proceeds to step ST23. On the other hand, when the transmission destination vehicle is a vehicle that cannot communicate (step ST22 “NO”), the irradiation position determination unit 22 proceeds to step ST24.

In step ST23, the irradiation position determination unit 22 instructs the inter-vehicle communication device 2 to transmit the transmission information to the transmission destination vehicle. When the inter-vehicle communication device 2 receives an instruction from the irradiation position determining unit 22, the inter-vehicle communication device 2 transmits transmission information to the transmission destination vehicle by inter-vehicle communication. When the transmission destination vehicle receives transmission information from the host vehicle through inter-vehicle communication, the transmission destination vehicle transmits the transmission information to the driver of the transmission destination vehicle by displaying or outputting the information.

When the transmission destination vehicle is a communicable vehicle, since it is assumed that transmission information is directly transmitted to the transmission destination vehicle by inter-vehicle communication, the information control system 1 basically does not emit light. However, the information control system 1 may exceptionally irradiate the transmission information in step ST24, which will be described later, when the transmission destination vehicle is not equipped with a display device or an audio output device or cannot be used. Note that information such as whether the transmission destination vehicle is equipped with a display device or the like or can be used is notified from the transmission destination vehicle to the host vehicle by inter-vehicle communication, for example.

In step ST24, the irradiation position determination unit 22 determines the shape of the light representing the content of the transmission information and the position where the light is irradiated, and outputs the determination result to the irradiation control unit 23. The irradiation control unit 23 controls the light irradiation device 25 based on the shape and irradiation position of the light received from the irradiation position determination unit 22, and transmits light having a shape representing the content of the transmission information to a part of the host vehicle or around the host vehicle. Irradiate the road surface.

Here, the process of step ST24 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of step ST24 in FIG. In FIG. 8, the transmission destination vehicle is a vehicle that cannot communicate.
In step ST241, the irradiation position determination unit 22 refers to the vehicle information of the transmission destination vehicle and acquires the distance between the host vehicle and the transmission destination vehicle.

In step ST242, the irradiation position determination unit 22 determines that the distance between the host vehicle and the transmission destination vehicle is less than one vehicle, one vehicle or more, less than the irradiation limit distance, or more than the irradiation limit distance. Determine whether.
When the distance between the host vehicle and the transmission destination vehicle is less than one vehicle, there is no space for irradiating light between the host vehicle and the transmission destination vehicle. Therefore, the irradiation position determination part 22 progresses to step ST243, and determines the irradiation position of light to the bonnet or rear glass of the own vehicle. For example, when the transmission destination vehicle is a rear vehicle, the irradiation position determination unit 22 determines the light irradiation position to be rear glass. For example, when the transmission destination vehicle is an oncoming vehicle, the irradiation position determination unit 22 determines the light irradiation position as a bonnet.
In the above example, the distance used for determining whether or not there is a space for irradiating light between the host vehicle and the destination vehicle is set to one vehicle, but is not limited to this value. Any value can be used. For example, the irradiation position determination unit 22 has blind spot data for each vehicle type of the transmission destination vehicle, and based on the blind spot data corresponding to the vehicle type of the transmission destination vehicle recognized by the recognition device using the captured image of the camera, It may be determined whether or not the position other than the blind spot can be irradiated and whether or not the distance between the host vehicle and the transmission destination vehicle is less than the irradiation limit distance.

In step ST244, the irradiation position determination part 22 determines the shape of light according to the content of transmission information. For example, when the transmission information is “Abrupt braking attention!”, The irradiation position determination unit 22 may determine the character string “Abrupt braking attention!” As the light shape or “Abrupt braking attention!”. A symbol or figure representing the content may be determined as the light shape. The irradiation position determination unit 22 may store a correspondence relationship between the content of the transmission information and the light shape in advance.
The irradiation position determination unit 22 outputs information on the determined light irradiation position and light shape to the irradiation control unit 23.

On the other hand, in step ST242, when the distance between the own vehicle and the transmission destination vehicle is equal to or more than one vehicle and less than the irradiation limit distance, there is a space for irradiating light between the own vehicle and the transmission destination vehicle. Therefore, the irradiation position determination part 22 progresses to step ST245, and determines the irradiation position of light on the road surface around the own vehicle. For example, when the transmission destination vehicle is a rear vehicle, the irradiation position determination unit 22 determines the light irradiation position on the road surface behind the host vehicle. In this way, the irradiation position determination unit 22 determines the position of the road surface that emits light according to the positional relationship between the host vehicle and the transmission destination vehicle.

In step ST246, the irradiation position determination part 22 determines the shape of light according to the content of transmission information. In addition, the irradiation position determination part 22 may change the shape of light by the case where it irradiates to the bonnet or rear glass of the own vehicle, and the case where it irradiates to a road surface, and may make it the same.
The irradiation position determination unit 22 outputs information on the determined light irradiation position and light shape to the irradiation control unit 23.

In step ST247, the irradiation control unit 23 controls the light irradiation device 25 based on the light irradiation position and the light shape received from the irradiation position determination unit 22, and causes the light irradiation device 25 to emit light.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of light irradiation in the second embodiment of the present invention, in which the light irradiation device 25 irradiates the rear glass 222 of the host vehicle 221 with light. This figure represents the field of view of the driver of the transmission destination vehicle located behind the host vehicle 221. The driver of the transmission destination vehicle has a windshield 211, a rearview mirror 212, and a handle 213 of the transmission destination vehicle. I can see it. The light irradiation device 25 of the host vehicle 221 irradiates the rear glass 222 with light of a character string “Abrupt brake attention!” Indicating the content of the transmission information. The driver of the transmission destination vehicle visually recognizes the character string “Beware of sudden braking!” Through the windshield 211. The intention of the driver of the host vehicle 221 is transmitted to the driver of the destination vehicle by the light irradiation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of light irradiation in the second embodiment of the present invention, in which the light irradiation device 25 irradiates light on the rear road surface of the host vehicle 221. The light irradiation device 25 of the host vehicle 221 irradiates the irradiation position 223 on the rear road surface with a graphic representing the content of the transmission information “Abrupt braking attention!”. The driver of the transmission destination vehicle 214 located behind the host vehicle 221 visually recognizes the figure irradiated on the irradiation position 223 through the windshield. The intention of the driver of the host vehicle 221 is transmitted to the driver of the destination vehicle 214 by the light irradiation.

On the other hand, when the distance between the host vehicle and the transmission destination vehicle is equal to or greater than the irradiation limit distance in step ST242, the light irradiation device 25 of the host vehicle cannot irradiate light at a position where the driver of the transmission destination vehicle can visually recognize. Therefore, the irradiation position determination part 22 progresses to step ST248, and notifies the driver | operator of the own vehicle that transmission information cannot be transmitted to a transmission destination vehicle. The notification method may be any method such as display or audio output. For example, the irradiation position determination unit 22 instructs the drawing unit 14 to display a screen indicating that the transmission information cannot be transmitted to the transmission destination vehicle on the display device 4.

As described above, the information control apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 2 includes the irradiation position determination unit 22 and the irradiation control unit 23. The irradiation position determination unit 22 determines the shape of light representing the content of the transmission information transmitted to the non-communicable vehicle determined by the communication enable / disable determination unit 13, and at least one of the target vehicle and the road surface. Is determined as an irradiation position for irradiating light. The irradiation control unit 23 controls the light irradiation device 25 mounted on the target vehicle to irradiate the irradiation position with the light having the shape determined by the irradiation position determination unit 22. The information control device 10 can transmit the transmission information to a vehicle that cannot communicate by irradiating a part of the own vehicle or the road surface with light having a shape representing the content of the transmission information. Conventionally, the headlights are merely turned on, blinked, or passed, and the amount of information that can be transmitted is small, and only simple contents can be transmitted. On the other hand, in Embodiment 2, since the shape of light is changed according to the content of the transmission information, the amount of information that can be transmitted is large, and detailed content can be transmitted.

Further, the irradiation position determination unit 22 according to the second embodiment is configured to determine the shape of the light based on the traffic information received by the inter-vehicle communication device 2. With this configuration, the information control device 10 can not only communicate the intention of the driver of the target vehicle, but also traffic information received through inter-vehicle communication such as “There is a one-way traffic restriction ahead”. Can communicate.

Further, the irradiation position determination unit 22 according to the second embodiment is configured to determine the shape of the light based on the position information of the object located around the target vehicle detected by the distance sensor 3. With this configuration, the information control apparatus 10 can transmit not only the intention of the driver of the target vehicle but also traffic information detected by the target vehicle such as “Pedestrian Attention!” To non-communicable vehicles around the target vehicle.

Further, the irradiation position determination unit 22 according to the second embodiment is configured to determine the light irradiation position based on the distance between the target vehicle and the communication impossible vehicle determined by the communication availability determination unit 13. With this configuration, the information control apparatus 10 irradiates the road surface with light if there is a space for irradiating light between the target vehicle and a vehicle that cannot communicate, and part of the host vehicle if there is no space for irradiating light. Can irradiate light.

Further, the information control system 1 according to the second embodiment is configured to include the information control device 10, the light irradiation device 25, and the input device 24. The light irradiation device 25 irradiates at least one of a part of the target vehicle and the road surface on which the information control device 10 is mounted. The input device 24 receives information indicating a vehicle that cannot communicate and information transmitted to the vehicle that cannot communicate. The information control device 10 controls the light irradiation device 25 based on the information input to the input device 24. With this configuration, the information control system 1 can transmit various information input to the input device 24 from the target vehicle to a vehicle that cannot communicate by light irradiation.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
Since the driver basically drives while looking forward, he recognizes the light in the front, but hardly recognizes the light in the side and behind. Therefore, the information control system 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is located near the transmission destination vehicle in a situation where the transmission destination vehicle that cannot communicate between vehicles is in a position where it is difficult to notice the light emitted from the own vehicle. In cooperation with a communicable vehicle, light is emitted from the communicable vehicle to the destination vehicle.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the information control system 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The information control system 1 according to Embodiment 3 has a configuration in which an irradiation vehicle determination unit 31 is added to the information control system 1 of Embodiment 2 shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, the same or corresponding parts as those in FIG.
In the third embodiment, not only the own vehicle but also a communicable vehicle located around the own vehicle is provided with the information control system 1.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the information control system 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Steps ST11 to ST14 and ST21 to ST24 in FIG. 12 are the same as steps ST11 to ST14 and ST21 to ST24 in FIG. However, in steps ST21 and ST22 of the third embodiment, it is assumed that a communication disabled vehicle located in front of the host vehicle is selected as the transmission destination vehicle. The transmission information is assumed to be, for example, the driver's intention such as “Be careful because there is an overtaking” and traffic information such as “Be careful of approaching the motorcycle from the left rear”.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the irradiation possible position 311 of the host vehicle 301, the irradiation possible position 313 of the communicable vehicle 303, and the ideal irradiation position 312 of the transmission destination vehicle 302 in the third embodiment of the present invention. The “ideal irradiation position” is the front of the transmission destination vehicle 302, for example, the ideal irradiation position 312 on the road surface in front of the transmission destination vehicle 302 or the rear glass of the communicable vehicle 303 located in front of the transmission destination vehicle 302. is there. Since the driver of the transmission destination vehicle 302 basically drives while looking forward, it can surely recognize the light irradiated to the ideal irradiation position 312, but there is a high possibility that the light irradiated sideways and rearward cannot be recognized.

In FIG. 13, the driver of the host vehicle 301 wants to safely overtake the forward destination vehicle 302. Since the transmission destination vehicle 302 is a vehicle that cannot communicate, the information control system 1 of the host vehicle 301 cannot transmit the driver's intention to the transmission destination vehicle 302 by inter-vehicle communication. Even if the information control system 1 of the host vehicle 301 emits light indicating the driver's intention, the transmission destination vehicle 302 becomes an obstacle and the ideal irradiation position 312 cannot be irradiated with light.
On the other hand, the communicable vehicle 303 located in front of the transmission destination vehicle 302 can irradiate the ideal irradiation position 312 with light. Therefore, the information control system 1 of the host vehicle 301 cooperates with the information control system 1 of the communicable vehicle 303 to irradiate light from the communicable vehicle 303 to the rear ideal irradiation position 312. The intention of the driver of the host vehicle 301 is transmitted to the driver of the destination vehicle 302 by light irradiation from the communicable vehicle 303.
For example, when there is a communicable vehicle (not shown) in the lane adjacent to the destination vehicle 302 on a road with two or more lanes, the information control system 1 of the own vehicle 301 cooperates with the information control system 1 of the communicable vehicle. Then, light may be emitted from the communicable vehicle to the ideal irradiation position 312 on the side.

In step ST31, the irradiated vehicle determination unit 31 refers to the registered vehicle information and extracts one or more communicable vehicles located around the transmission destination vehicle.
In step ST32, the irradiated vehicle determination unit 31 compares the position of the own vehicle, the position of the transmission destination vehicle, and the position of one or more communicable vehicles extracted in step ST31, and irradiates the transmission destination vehicle with light. Determine the vehicle to be used. The irradiation vehicle determination unit 31 determines a vehicle that emits light to the transmission destination vehicle, for example, by the method shown in FIG. The inter-vehicle communication device 2 may receive an irradiable position of a communicable vehicle by inter-vehicle communication from the communicable vehicle, or a standard irradiable position may be set in the irradiation vehicle determination unit 31 in advance. . When the irradiated vehicle determination unit 31 extracts a plurality of communicable vehicles at step ST31, the irradiated vehicle determination unit 31 selects one communicable vehicle at a position closest to the own vehicle, for example, at step ST32, and selects the own vehicle and the transmission destination vehicle. The positional relationship may be compared.

In step ST33, the irradiation vehicle determination unit 31 notifies the irradiation position determination unit 22 that the own vehicle is a vehicle that emits light when the own vehicle can irradiate the ideal irradiation position of the transmission destination vehicle. The irradiation position determination part 22 which received this notification progresses to step ST24.
When a communicable vehicle located in the vicinity of the host vehicle can irradiate light to the ideal irradiation position of the transmission destination vehicle, the irradiated vehicle determination unit 31 proceeds to step ST34.
When neither the own vehicle nor the communicable vehicle can irradiate light to the ideal irradiation position of the transmission destination vehicle, the irradiated vehicle determination unit 31 proceeds to step ST35.

In step ST34, the irradiated vehicle determination unit 31 outputs the vehicle information and the transmission information of the transmission destination vehicle to the inter-vehicle communication device 2. The inter-vehicle communication device 2 transmits the vehicle information and the transmission information of the transmission destination vehicle received from the irradiated vehicle determination unit 31 to the communicable vehicle selected in step ST33.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of light irradiation in the third embodiment of the present invention, which is an example of irradiating light on the road surface in front of the transmission destination vehicle 302. The communicable vehicle 303 is equipped with the information control system 1 as with the host vehicle 301. When the information control system 1 of the communicable vehicle 303 receives the vehicle information and the transmission information of the transmission destination vehicle 302 from the own vehicle 301 by the inter-vehicle communication, the received vehicle information and the transmission information of the transmission destination vehicle 302 are used. Then, the processing of step ST24 in FIG. 12, that is, the processing of steps ST241 to ST247 in FIG. 8, is executed. As a result, the communicable vehicle 303 irradiates the irradiation position 304 on the road surface in front of the transmission destination vehicle 302 with the light of the graphic representing the content of the transmission information “Please note that there is an overtaking” received from the own vehicle 301. . Thereby, the intention of the driver of the own vehicle 301 is transmitted to the driver of the transmission destination vehicle 302.

If the information control system 1 of the communicable vehicle 303 cannot irradiate light to the transmission destination vehicle 302 in step ST242, it cannot transmit information to the information control system 1 of the host vehicle 301 in step ST248 of FIG. To be notified. When the information control system 1 of the own vehicle 301 receives a notification that information cannot be transmitted from the information control system 1 of the communicable vehicle 303, for example, after step ST32 for another communicable vehicle extracted in step ST31 of FIG. Execute the process.

In step ST35, the irradiated vehicle determination unit 31 notifies the driver of the own vehicle that the transmission information cannot be transmitted to the transmission destination vehicle. The notification method may be any method such as display or audio output.

In the above example, the information control system 1 of the own vehicle transmits vehicle information and transmission information of the transmission destination vehicle to the information control system 1 of the communicable vehicle by inter-vehicle communication, and the transmission destination vehicle is transmitted from the communicable vehicle. Was irradiated with light. On the contrary, the information control system 1 of the own vehicle receives the vehicle information and the transmission information of the transmission destination vehicle from the information control system 1 of the communicable vehicle by inter-vehicle communication, and irradiates the transmission destination vehicle with light from the own vehicle. You can also. Specifically, in the information control system 1 of the own vehicle, the inter-vehicle communication device 2 outputs the received information to the transmission information determination unit 21 when receiving the vehicle information and the transmission information of the transmission destination vehicle from the communicable vehicle. To do. The transmission information determination unit 21 outputs the vehicle information and transmission information of the transmission destination vehicle to the irradiation position determination unit 22. The irradiation position determination unit 22 and the irradiation control unit 23 use the vehicle information and the transmission information of the transmission destination vehicle to execute the process of step ST24 in FIG. 12, that is, steps ST241 to ST247 in FIG.

As described above, the information control apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment includes the irradiation vehicle determination unit 31. The irradiation vehicle determination unit 31 determines a communicable vehicle equipped with a light irradiation device that can irradiate light to a position where an occupant of a vehicle that cannot communicate can be seen from among the communicable vehicles determined by the communication possibility determination unit 13. Then, the vehicle information indicating the vehicle that cannot communicate and the transmission information transmitted to the vehicle that cannot communicate are transmitted by the inter-vehicle communication device 2 to the determined communicable vehicle. With this configuration, the information control device 10 of the target vehicle can occupy the vehicle that cannot communicate from the light irradiation device mounted on the communicable vehicle around the target vehicle when the transmission information cannot be transmitted to the vehicle that cannot communicate by light irradiation. Can be irradiated with light having a shape that represents the content of the transmission information to a position where can be visually recognized.

In addition, the information control apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 3 includes a transmission information determination unit 21. The transmission information determination unit 21 is configured to determine transmission information to be transmitted to a vehicle that cannot communicate based on the traffic information received by the inter-vehicle communication device 2. With this configuration, the information control apparatus 10 causes not only the intention of the driver of the target vehicle but also traffic information received by inter-vehicle communication such as “There is a one-sided traffic restriction ahead” to light the communicable vehicle. Can be transmitted to vehicles that cannot communicate.
The transmission information determination unit 21 may be configured to determine transmission information to be transmitted to a vehicle that cannot communicate based on position information of an object located around the target vehicle detected by the distance sensor 3. With this configuration, the information control apparatus 10 cannot communicate not only by the intention of the driver of the target vehicle but also by traffic light detected by the target vehicle such as “Pedestrian Caution!” By irradiating the communicable vehicle with light. Can be transmitted to the vehicle.

Also, the information control apparatus 10 according to Embodiment 3 includes an irradiation position determination unit 22 and an irradiation control unit 23. The irradiation position determination unit 22 determines the shape of the light representing the content of the transmission information based on the vehicle information indicating the incommunicable vehicle received by the inter-vehicle communication device 2 and the transmission information transmitted to the incommunicable vehicle. At the same time, at least one of the target vehicle and the road surface is determined as an irradiation position for irradiating light. The irradiation control unit 23 controls the light irradiation device 25 mounted on the target vehicle to irradiate the irradiation position with the light having the shape determined by the irradiation position determination unit 22. With this configuration, transmission information received from a communicable vehicle can be transmitted to a vehicle that cannot communicate by light irradiation.

The information control system 1 of the target vehicle in the third embodiment is configured to transmit the vehicle information indicating the transmission destination vehicle and the transmission information to the information control system 1 of the communicable vehicle by inter-vehicle communication. The communicable vehicle information control system 1 is configured to determine the light shape and the irradiation position based on the vehicle information indicating the transmission destination vehicle received from the target vehicle information control system 1 and the transmission information. It was. For example, the information control system 1 of the target vehicle does not transmit the information including the ideal irradiation position of the transmission destination vehicle and the shape of the light indicating the content of the transmission information to the information control system 1 of the communicable vehicle. It may be configured to transmit by communication. In the latter case, the communicable vehicle information control system 1 irradiates the ideal irradiation position of the transmission destination vehicle with light having a shape representing the content of the transmission information based on the information received from the information control system 1 of the target vehicle.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
The information control system 1 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention automatically warns a rear vehicle with a short inter-vehicle distance so as to increase the inter-vehicle distance.

The information control system 1 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention has the same configuration in the drawing as the information control system 1 of Embodiment 2 shown in FIG. Therefore, FIG. 5 is used below.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the information control system 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Steps ST11 to ST13 in FIG. 15 are the same processes as steps ST11 to ST13 in FIG. Also, steps ST242 to ST247 in FIG. 15 are the same processes as steps ST242 to ST247 in FIG.

In step ST41, the irradiation position determination unit 22 refers to the vehicle information of the rear vehicle located immediately behind the host vehicle, and acquires the distance between the host vehicle and the rear vehicle. The rear vehicle is a transmission destination vehicle that cannot perform inter-vehicle communication.

In step ST42, the irradiation position determination unit 22 determines whether the distance between the host vehicle and the rear vehicle is less than the distance necessary for the inter-vehicle communication device 2 to irradiate light. Here, the distance required for the inter-vehicle communication device 2 to irradiate the light is the distance for two vehicles.

In step ST42, when the distance between the host vehicle and the rear vehicle is less than two vehicles, the inter-vehicle distance is short. For this reason, the irradiation position determination unit 22 proceeds to step ST43 and determines that a warning is required to increase the inter-vehicle distance with respect to the rear vehicle. The irradiation position determination unit 22 executes the processes of steps ST242 to ST247 using the warning as transmission information and the rear vehicle as the transmission destination vehicle. As a result, a part of the host vehicle or a road surface between the host vehicle and the rear vehicle is irradiated with light having a shape representing the content of the warning. Thereby, the information control system 1 can automatically warn a rear vehicle having a short inter-vehicle distance so as to increase the inter-vehicle distance. In addition, the information control system 1 automatically warns when the inter-vehicle distance becomes less than two cars in step ST42, so that the inter-vehicle distance becomes short and the irradiation position on the road surface cannot be secured. Can irradiate light.

In step ST42, when the distance between the host vehicle and the rear vehicle is equal to or more than two vehicles, the inter-vehicle distance is long. Therefore, the irradiation position determination part 22 progresses to step ST44, and determines with the warning with respect to a back vehicle unnecessary.

In the above example, the distance used for determining whether or not to warn to increase the inter-vehicle distance is set to two vehicles, but is not limited to this value, and may be an arbitrary value. This distance may be set according to the size of an irradiation position (such as the irradiation position 223 in FIG. 10) at which the inter-vehicle communication device 2 irradiates light on the road surface. It may be set according to an appropriate inter-vehicle distance based on the speed of the rear vehicle calculated from the transition of the distance to the rear vehicle. By setting this distance in accordance with an appropriate inter-vehicle distance based on the speed of the vehicle behind, it is determined that a warning is unnecessary when there is a traffic jam or waiting for a signal.

As described above, in the irradiation position determination unit 22 according to the fourth embodiment, the inter-vehicle distance between the target vehicle and the non-communicable vehicle located behind the target vehicle is less than the distance necessary for the light irradiation device 25 to emit light. If it is, the light representing the warning to increase the inter-vehicle distance to the vehicle that cannot communicate is determined, and at least one of the target vehicle and the road surface is determined as the irradiation position for irradiating the light. It is the structure to do. With this configuration, the information control device 10 can automatically warn the rear vehicle to increase the inter-vehicle distance. Moreover, the information control apparatus 10 can ensure the irradiation position on the road surface when the inter-vehicle distance between the target vehicle and the rear vehicle is short.

Finally, a hardware configuration example of the information control system 1 according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration example of the information control system 1 according to each embodiment of the present invention. The information control device 10 in the information control system 1 is, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 50. The ECU 50 is connected to the inter-vehicle communication device 2, the distance sensor 3, the display device 4, the input device 24, and the light irradiation device 25 by a bus or the like.

The ECU 50 includes a memory 51 and a processor 52 that executes a program stored in the memory 51. The information control device 10 includes a first vehicle position acquisition unit 11, a second vehicle position acquisition unit 12, a communication availability determination unit 13, a drawing unit 14, a transmission information determination unit 21, an irradiation position determination unit 22, an irradiation control unit 23, and Each function of the irradiation vehicle determination unit 31 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. Software or firmware is described as a program and stored in the memory 51. The processor 52 reads out and executes the program stored in the memory 51, thereby realizing the function of each unit. That is, the information control apparatus 10 includes a memory 51 for storing a program that, when executed by the processor 52, results in the steps shown in FIG. The program includes a first vehicle position acquisition unit 11, a second vehicle position acquisition unit 12, a communication availability determination unit 13, a drawing unit 14, a transmission information determination unit 21, an irradiation position determination unit 22, an irradiation control unit 23, and It can also be said that the procedure or method of the irradiation vehicle determination unit 31 is executed by the ECU 50 or the computer.

Here, the memory 51 may be a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), a flash memory, or the like. It may be a magnetic disk such as a flexible disk or an optical disk such as a CD (Compact Disc) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc).
The processor 52 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a processing device, an arithmetic device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or the like.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the information control device 10 is an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle has been described. However, the information control device 10 does not have to be an in-vehicle device.
For example, the information control apparatus 10 may be a portable information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet that can be brought into the vehicle. The portable information terminal brought into the vehicle and the inter-vehicle communication device 2 and the distance sensor 3 mounted on the vehicle can exchange information by wireless communication or wired communication.
Further, for example, the information control device 10 may be a server device provided outside the vehicle. The server device provided outside the vehicle and the vehicle-to-vehicle communication device 2 and the distance sensor 3 mounted on the vehicle can exchange information by wireless communication.
In addition, you may make it the structure which implement | achieves the function of the information control apparatus 10 by combining several apparatuses, such as a vehicle apparatus having a part of function of the information control apparatus 10, and a server apparatus having the remaining function.

In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the configuration in which information is transmitted from the target vehicle to the surrounding vehicle by light irradiation has been described. However, the transmission destination of the information is not limited to the surrounding vehicle. It may be a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorcycle or the like located in Based on the position information of the pedestrian and the like detected by the distance sensor 3, the information control device 10 irradiates light having a shape representing the content such as the approach of the target vehicle to a position where the pedestrian or the like can visually recognize. Thereby, the information control apparatus 10 can transmit the intention of the driver of a target vehicle, etc. by light irradiation with respect to the pedestrian etc. which cannot perform communication between vehicles.

In the present invention, within the scope of the invention, free combinations of the respective embodiments, modification of arbitrary components of the respective embodiments, or omission of arbitrary components of the respective embodiments are possible.

Since the information control device according to the present invention discriminates between a surrounding vehicle capable of inter-vehicle communication and a surrounding vehicle capable of inter-vehicle communication, information is transmitted using inter-vehicle communication and light irradiation. Suitable for use in information control devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information control system, 2 Inter-vehicle communication apparatus, 3 Distance sensor, 4 Display apparatus, 10 Information control apparatus, 11 1st vehicle position acquisition part, 12 2nd vehicle position acquisition part, 13 Communication availability determination part, 14 Drawing part, 21 transmission information determination unit, 22 irradiation position determination unit, 23 irradiation control unit, 24 input device, 25 light irradiation device, 31 irradiation vehicle determination unit, 50 ECU, 51 memory, 52 processor, 201 transmission information candidate list, 202 transmission Information icon, 211 windshield, 212 rearview mirror, 213 handle, 214 transmission destination vehicle, 221 own vehicle, 222 rear glass, 223 irradiation position, 301 own vehicle, 302 transmission destination vehicle, 303 communicable vehicle, 304 irradiation position, 311, 313 Irradiable position, 312 Ideal irradiation position.

Claims (14)

A first vehicle position acquisition unit that acquires, from the inter-vehicle communication device, position information of a surrounding vehicle that is received by the inter-vehicle communication device and is located around the target vehicle and capable of inter-vehicle communication;
A second vehicle position acquisition unit that acquires, from the distance sensor, position information of a surrounding vehicle that is detected by the distance sensor and is located around the target vehicle;
On the basis of the difference between the position information acquired by the first vehicle position acquisition unit and the position information acquired by the second vehicle position acquisition unit, inter-vehicle communication is performed on the surrounding vehicles located around the target vehicle. An information control apparatus comprising: a communicable vehicle and a communicability determination unit that determines a communicable vehicle incapable of communication between vehicles. The shape of the light representing the content of the transmission information transmitted to the incommunicable vehicle determined by the communication enable / disable determining unit is determined, and at least one of the target vehicle and the road surface is irradiated with the light An irradiation position determination unit for determining the irradiation position;
The information according to claim 1, further comprising: an irradiation control unit that controls a light irradiation device mounted on the target vehicle to irradiate the irradiation position with light having a shape determined by the irradiation position determination unit. Control device. The information control device according to claim 2, wherein the irradiation position determination unit determines the shape of light based on traffic information received by the inter-vehicle communication device. 3. The information control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the irradiation position determination unit determines the shape of light based on position information of an object located around the target vehicle detected by the distance sensor. The information according to claim 2, wherein the irradiation position determination unit determines a light irradiation position based on a distance between the target vehicle and the communication impossible vehicle determined by the communication availability determination unit. Control device. From among the communicable vehicles determined by the communicability determination unit, a communicable vehicle equipped with a light irradiation device capable of irradiating light to a position where an occupant of the incommunicable vehicle can visually recognize is determined. An irradiation vehicle determining unit that transmits vehicle information indicating transmission information transmitted to the vehicle that cannot communicate with the vehicle capable of communication to the determined communicable vehicle,
The irradiation vehicle determination unit is configured to transmit light of a shape representing the content of the transmission information from a light irradiation device of the communicable vehicle that has received the vehicle information and the transmission information to a position where an occupant of the non-communication vehicle can visually recognize The information control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The information control apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a transmission information determination unit that determines transmission information to be transmitted to the vehicle that cannot communicate based on traffic information received by the inter-vehicle communication apparatus. 7. A transmission information determination unit that determines transmission information to be transmitted to the non-communicable vehicle based on position information of an object located around the target vehicle detected by the distance sensor. The information control apparatus described. Based on the vehicle information indicating the incommunicable vehicle received by the inter-vehicle communication device and the transmission information transmitted to the incommunicable vehicle, the shape of light representing the content of the transmission information is determined, and the target vehicle An irradiation position determining unit that determines at least one of a part and a road surface as an irradiation position for irradiating the light;
The information according to claim 1, further comprising: an irradiation control unit that controls a light irradiation device mounted on the target vehicle to irradiate the irradiation position with light having a shape determined by the irradiation position determination unit. Control device. 10. The information control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the irradiation position determination unit determines a light irradiation position based on a distance between the target vehicle and the vehicle that cannot communicate indicated by the vehicle information. When the distance between the target vehicle and a non-communicable vehicle located behind the target vehicle is less than a distance necessary for the light irradiation device to emit light, the irradiation position determination unit While determining the shape of the light representing the warning to increase the inter-vehicle distance for the impossible vehicle, at least one of the target vehicle and the road surface is determined as the irradiation position for irradiating the light. The information control apparatus according to claim 2. An information control device according to claim 1;
An information control system comprising: a display device that distinguishes and displays a communicable vehicle and a non-communicable vehicle determined by the information control device. An information control device according to claim 2;
A light irradiation device for irradiating at least one of a part of a target vehicle and a road surface on which the information control device is mounted;
An input device for inputting information indicating an incommunicable vehicle of an information transmission destination and transmission information to be transmitted to the incommunicable vehicle;
The information control device controls the light irradiation device based on information input to the input device. A first vehicle position acquisition unit acquiring, from the inter-vehicle communication device, position information of a surrounding vehicle that is received by the inter-vehicle communication device and is located around the target vehicle and capable of inter-vehicle communication;
A step in which a second vehicle position acquisition unit acquires position information of a surrounding vehicle located around the target vehicle detected by the distance sensor from the distance sensor;
Peripheral vehicles located around the target vehicle based on the difference between the position information acquired by the first vehicle position acquisition unit and the position information acquired by the second vehicle position acquisition unit. And a step of discriminating between a communicable vehicle capable of inter-vehicle communication and a non-communicable vehicle capable of inter-vehicle communication.

Images