JP3132332B2 - Drowsy driving alarm - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drowsy driving alarm system, which detects a drowsy driving of a driver (driver) with high accuracy and issues an alarm when a drowsy driving state occurs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art If a driver of an automobile falls asleep, it may lead to a serious accident. Therefore, it is desired to accurately detect that the driver has fallen asleep and issue an alarm. However, it was difficult to accurately determine whether the driver had fallen asleep.

For example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-77355 discloses that
A first pressure sensor that detects a pressure applied to a seated person's buttocks from a seat cushion of a vehicle seat, a second pressure sensor that detects a pressure applied to a seated person's buttocks from a vehicle seat back, and the seat back. A third pressure sensor for detecting a pressure applied to the back of the seat;
A technique is disclosed in which a posture change is detected by a signal from a third pressure sensor, and when the posture change is counted a predetermined number of times or more, the driver is determined to be tired and an alarm is issued.
However, this technique cannot detect whether the vehicle is in a drowsy driving state, but merely detects whether the vehicle is in a fatigued state.

[0004]

As described above, the attitude of the driver can be predicted to some extent by the pressure sensor, but it has not been possible to accurately detect whether or not the driver is in a drowsy driving state. One of the causes was that the driver could not recognize what kind of action the driver would take when he fell asleep.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a drowsy driving alarm device that can accurately detect that a driver has fallen asleep and issue an alarm.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided at least a seat provided on a seat surface portion of a seat on which a driver sits and which outputs a detection signal having a level corresponding to an applied pressure. A pressure sensor for detecting a reclining position, a pressure sensor for detecting a forward tilt, which is provided in the seat back portion of the seat, and outputs a detection signal of a level corresponding to the applied pressure, an alarm device, and a sitting position The driver's re-seat is detected from the level change of the detection signal output from the detection pressure sensor, and the detection signal output from the forward inclination detection pressure sensor becomes smaller than a predetermined value. And a state determination unit that activates the alarm device when detecting forward leaning after detecting forward leaning and detecting re-seat.

Further, the present invention is provided on at least two seating pressure sensors for detecting a re-seat, which are provided on a seat surface portion of a seat on which a driver sits, and outputs a detection signal of a level corresponding to an applied pressure. A pressure sensor for forward lean detection, which is provided in the seat back portion and outputs a detection signal of a level corresponding to the applied pressure, an alarm device, and a level of a detection signal output from the pressure sensor for reseating detection In addition to detecting the driver's re-seat from the change, the number of times of re-seat is detected by detecting that the driver has leaned forward because the detection signal output from the pressure sensor for detecting forward lean has become smaller than a predetermined value. And a state determination unit that activates the alarm device when a forward tilt is detected within a preset time after the preset number of times has been exceeded.

The present invention is also provided with at least two pressure sensors for re-seat detection, which are provided on a seat surface portion of a seat on which a driver sits, and outputs a detection signal of a level corresponding to an applied pressure, and A pressure sensor for forward lean detection, which is provided in the seat back portion and outputs a detection signal at a level corresponding to the applied pressure, and a pressure sensor provided on the floor of the vehicle, the level corresponding to the applied acceleration An acceleration sensor that outputs a detection signal, an alarm device, and only when the level of the detection signal of the acceleration signal is low, the driver reseats from the level change of the detection signal output from the reseat detection pressure sensor. In addition to the detection, the detection signal output from the pressure sensor for detecting forward leaning becomes smaller than a predetermined value, thereby detecting that the driver has leaned forward, and setting the number of times of re-seat. A state determination unit for actuating said alarm device upon detection of anteversion in the set time set in advance from after exceeding the number, characterized by comprising in.

[0009]

According to the present invention, after detecting re-seat (more than a set number of times) based on the detection signal of the re-seat pressure sensor, if forward lean is detected based on the detection signal of the forward tilt detection pressure sensor,
It determines that it is dozing and issues an alarm.

The present invention pays attention to a unique pattern that "when a drowsiness driving occurs, a lot of re-situations and the like occur at a stage of light drowsiness, and thereafter, when falling asleep, the vehicle assumes a forward leaning posture." It was done. Therefore, in the present invention, a threshold is set for the number of times of re-sitting, and after a certain number of times (eg, 30 minutes) after the number of times of re-sitting exceeds the threshold, the process shifts to checking the forward leaning posture as a danger time zone, If a forward leaning posture is detected in between, an alarm is issued.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, a seat 1 on which a driver (driver) sits is provided with a seat seat portion 1a thereof.
Pressure sensors S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ , S ₄
Is provided, the pressure sensor S ₅ for supra傾検its seat back _{1b, S 6, S 7,} S 8 are provided. Each of the pressure sensors S _{1 to} S ₈ outputs a detection signal at a level corresponding to the applied pressure when the driver is seated and pressure is applied.

The positions of the pressure sensors S _{1 to} S ₈ will be described in more detail.
_1, the sensor S ₃ on the right rear, the sensor S ₂ to the left front part,
Sensor S ₄ to the left rear are arrangement, the seat back 1b, the sensor S ₅ to lower right, the sensor at the upper right S
_7, the sensor S ₆ in the lower left portion, the sensor S ₈ is arranged in the upper left corner.

Meanwhile, in the vehicle floor below the seat 1 acceleration sensor S ₉ it is arranged. Acceleration sensor S
₉ outputs a detection signal of a level corresponding to the detected acceleration.

As shown in FIG. 2, each of the sensors S _{1 to} S ₈ , S
The detection signal of ₉ is sent to the state determination unit 2. State determination unit 2
Makes a determination described later to determine whether or not the driver is in a dozing driving state. An alarm device (buzzer, lamp, or the like) 3 is connected to the state determination unit 2, and when the state determination unit 2 determines that the driver is in a dozing driving state, the alarm device 3 is activated to pay attention to the driver. give.

Here, the driving situation of the driver and the sensor S ₁
To S _8, the state of the detection signal S _9, FIG. 3 (a) ~ (e)
This will be described with reference to FIG.

At the time of awakening, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the pressure sensors S ₃ and S ₄ disposed at the rear of the seat surface 1a.
Is high. Incidentally, when there is no such move over the step, the level of the detection signal of the acceleration sensor S ₉ is small.

When the driver re-sits while lifting the entire body once, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the pressure sensors S ₁ ,
The levels of the detection signals of S ₂ , S ₃ , and S ₄ change greatly with similar waveforms.

When the driver re-sits while swinging his body left and right, as shown in FIG. 3C, the waveforms of the detection signals of the pressure sensors S ₁ and S ₃ disposed on the right side of the seat surface 1a. Then, the waveforms of the detection signals of the pressure sensors S ₂ and S ₄ arranged on the left side of the seat surface 1a change substantially in reverse. That is, when the detection signal levels of the pressure sensors S ₁ and S ₃ increase, the detection signal levels of the pressure sensors S ₂ and S ₄ decrease.

[0019] When the vehicle acceleration is applied to the entire automobile through the step or the like, as shown in FIG. 3 (d), the level of the detection signal of the acceleration sensor S ₉ is greatly changed. At this time, the levels of the detection signals of the other sensors S _{1 to} S ₈ also change greatly, but it is determined that the sensor is in a noise state.

When the driver is drowsy and leans forward, the levels of the detection signals of the pressure sensors S ₅ , S ₆ , S ₇ , and S ₈ arranged in the seat back portion 1b as shown in FIG. The threshold value is smaller than the threshold value (especially, the values of S ₇ and S ₈ are smaller). Then, the levels of the detection signals of the pressure sensors S ₃ and S ₄ disposed at the rear of the seat surface 1 a are slightly higher, and The level of the detection signal of the pressure sensors S ₁ and S ₂ arranged at the front becomes maximum.

The state determination section 2 stores the respective modes shown in FIG. 3 and performs the determination processing shown in FIG.

Here, the procedure of the determination process performed by the state determination section 2 will be described with reference to FIG. First level of the detection signal in step 1, the acceleration sensor S ₉ determines whether it is below a predetermined value. If it exceeds the predetermined value, it is determined that it is in the noise state (FIG. 3D), and no further determination is made.

[0023] In step 2, takes in the detection signal of the pressure sensor S ₁ to S _4, now? Signal state of whether or not there is sat on the basis of the signal taken in step 3 (FIG. 3 (b) (c) ) Is determined. If there is a re-sitting, the number of re-sitting is counted in step 4.

In step 5, it is determined whether or not the number of re-seats is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. When the number of times of reseating is high, it can be expected that the child is in a light sleep phase. When the number of times of reseating is equal to or more than the predetermined number, the timer time T is cleared to 0 (step 6), the timer time T is advanced by one (step 7), and the process proceeds to the next step 8.

[0025] In step 8 takes in the detection signal of the pressure sensor S ₁ to S _8, determines whether a Kashiga before step 9. That is, when it is detected that at least one of the following situations has occurred, it is determined that the driver is in the forward leaning posture. In addition, the fact that the driver is in the forward leaning posture after the number of times of re-sitting becomes equal to or more than the predetermined number of times can be determined that the driver is driving asleep. The detection signal levels of the pressure sensors S ₅ and S ₇ are smaller than the threshold value, and the detection signal levels of the pressure sensors S ₁ and S ₃ are large. The detection signal levels of the pressure sensors S ₆ and S ₈ are lower than the threshold value, and the detection signal levels of the pressure sensors S ₂ and S ₄ are high.

If it is determined in step 9 that the forward lean is not detected, the process proceeds to step 10 and the timer time is set to a predetermined time (for example, 3
0)), and if the timer time does not reach the predetermined time, the timer time T is incremented by one (step 7), and monitoring is further continued to see if the timer has tilted forward (steps 8 and 9). In other words, after the number of re-seats exceeds the predetermined number, a certain time (for example, 30 minutes) is set as a danger time, and whether or not a forward lean occurs during this danger time is continuously monitored.

If the timer time T exceeds a predetermined time in step 10, the timer time is cleared to 0 in step 11.

On the other hand, if a forward leaning posture is detected in step 9, the process proceeds to step 12, in which the alarm device 3 is operated to generate an alarm and awaken the driver.

In step 9, the warning is issued immediately after the forward leaning posture is detected. However, the warning may be issued after the forward leaning posture has continued for a predetermined time or more.

[0030]

According to the present invention, as has been described in detail with the above embodiments, the driver's re-seat is detected from the level change of the detection signal output from the re-seat detection pressure sensor. By detecting that the driver has leaned forward by detecting that the detection signal output from the pressure sensor for tilt detection has become smaller than a predetermined value, and issuing the warning when detecting forward leaning after detecting re-sitting, In addition, it is possible to reliably prevent the driver from falling asleep.

When acceleration is applied to the vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle is in a noise state, and the detection signal of the pressure sensor at this time is not used for determination, so that the detection accuracy is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sheet on which sensors used in an embodiment of the present invention are arranged.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a drowsy driving alarm device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a waveform chart showing a waveform of a detection signal in each operation mode.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the drowsy driving alarm device of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 sheet 1a seat cushion 1b seat back 2 state determining unit 3 alarm device S ₁ to S ₈ pressure sensor S ₉ acceleration sensor

Continuation of front page (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G08B 19/00-21/24 A47C 31/12 B60R 21/02

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] At least two pressure sensors for re-seat detection, which are provided on a seat surface of a seat on which a driver sits, and output a detection signal at a level corresponding to an applied pressure, and a seat back of the seat. The pressure sensor for forward tilt detection, which is provided in the unit and outputs a detection signal of a level corresponding to the applied pressure, an alarm device, and the level change of the detection signal output from the pressure sensor for reseating detection After detecting the driver's reclining, detecting that the driver has leaned forward because the detection signal output from the pressure sensor for detecting forward leaning has become smaller than a predetermined value, and after detecting the reclining, A drowsiness driving alarm device, comprising: a state determination unit that activates the alarm device when a forward lean is detected. 2. At least two pressure sensors for re-seat detection provided on a seat surface of a seat on which a driver sits and outputting a detection signal at a level corresponding to an applied pressure; and a seat back of the seat. The pressure sensor for forward tilt detection, which is provided in the unit and outputs a detection signal of a level corresponding to the applied pressure, an alarm device, and the level change of the detection signal output from the pressure sensor for reseating detection In addition to detecting the driver's reclining, it also detects that the driver has leaned forward because the detection signal output from the pressure sensor for detecting forward leaning has become smaller than a predetermined value, and sets the number of times of reclining. A drowsiness driving alarm device, comprising: a state determination unit that activates the alarm device when a forward lean is detected within a preset time after the number of times has been exceeded. 3. At least two pressure sensors for re-seat detection, which are provided on a seat surface of a seat on which a driver sits and output a detection signal at a level corresponding to the applied pressure, and a seat back of the seat. And a pressure sensor for detecting a forward inclination, which outputs a detection signal of a level corresponding to the applied pressure, and a detection signal of a level provided on the floor of the vehicle and corresponding to the applied acceleration. An alarm device that outputs a signal, and an alarm device. Only when the level of the detection signal of the acceleration signal is low, detects the driver's re-seating from a change in the level of the detection signal output from the re-seat detection pressure sensor. At the same time, when the detection signal output from the pressure sensor for detecting the forward lean is smaller than a predetermined value, it is detected that the driver has leaned forward, and the number of re-seats is equal to the set number. A state determination unit for actuating said alarm device upon detection of anteversion in the set preset time later was example, be in the drowsy driving warning device according to claim.