JP3799591B2 - Obstacle detection device for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an obstacle detection device for a vehicle, and more particularly to an apparatus for displaying information related to an obstacle behind a vehicle.
[0002]
[Background of the present invention]
2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle obstacle detection device having a plurality of sensors is known. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-124985 includes a plurality of sensors for detecting obstacles and a display panel for displaying information from the sensors. Each sensor has an obstacle within a certain distance. There is disclosed an obstacle detection device for a vehicle including a plurality of display units that display that the vehicle has been detected and a numerical display unit that displays a minimum value of distances to obstacles detected by a plurality of sensors.
In addition, the actual application No. 3-81486 includes a detecting means for detecting an obstacle using a plurality of infrared radiation lamps provided around the vehicle, and a calculating means for measuring a distance from the obstacle. There is disclosed a vehicle obstacle detection device comprising display means for digitally displaying a calculation result for each means.
[0003]
In a vehicle equipped with such a plurality of obstacle sensors, it may be possible to set some sensors as optional settings.
In this way, there is also an advantage that it is possible to respond to the purchaser's price request by option setting. In this case, it is required from the viewpoint of cost that the parts are common even in the specification set as an option.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved]
However, if the user is not clearly aware of whether or not an option is set for a specific obstacle detection means, there may be a problem in terms of safety.
Further, a display device for failure display as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-154930 has been disclosed, but such special failure display causes the device to be complicated. Therefore, it is desirable to clearly distinguish whether it is not set as an option without introducing such a special failure display device or whether it does not function because it is disconnected due to a failure.
The present invention has been made from such a point of view, and in a vehicle obstacle detection device having an obstacle display means capable of displaying information from a plurality of sensors, is a specific obstacle detection mechanism set as an option? It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle obstacle detection device that can appropriately and easily determine whether or not.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The vehicle obstacle detection device of the present invention includes a plurality of obstacle detection means including at least one option setting obstacle detection means,
Obstacle display means for displaying information about the obstacle in a display area provided corresponding to each of the plurality of obstacle detection means;
Control means for processing information related to the obstacle from the obstacle detection means and displaying the information in a corresponding display area of the obstacle display means;
The control means is a confirmation display means for operating and displaying all display areas of all the obstacle display means at least for starting operation confirmation of the display means,
Determining means for determining whether the option setting obstacle detecting means is set;
When the option setting obstacle detection means is not set, the non-set option setting obstacle detection means includes confirmation display prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation display by the confirmation display means. It is characterized by.
[0006]
In this case, the setting of the option setting obstacle detection means is performed by manual operation, and the determination means determines whether or not the setting by manual operation is present.
Preferably, when the option setting obstacle detection means is not set, an unset display means for displaying that fact is provided.
In this case, a plurality of obstacle detection means are provided for detecting an obstacle near the corner of the vehicle.
The option setting obstacle detecting means detects an obstacle around the driver's seat side front corner.
The obstacle display means illuminates and displays the degree of obstacle approach in a stepwise manner in the display area.
[0007]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on examples.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic diagram of a system configuration of a vehicle obstacle detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The vehicle obstacle detection device 1 of this example includes four corner portion obstacle detection means (left and right front corner sensors 2 and 3, left and right rear corner sensors 4 and 5) and two rear obstacle detection means (back sensor 6 and 7). Furthermore, the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 of this example includes a display device for displaying obstacle information from each sensor. In this example, two display devices of a front monitor 8 and a rear monitor 9 are provided.
[0008]
The rear monitor 9 can be seen when the driver turns to the rear or looks back through the rearview mirror, and displays only information from the back sensors 6 and 7.
The front monitor 8 preferably has a built-in control device 10 including a microcomputer, which processes all information from the front corner sensors 2 and 3 and the rear corner sensors 4 and 5 and displays it on the display unit. Predetermined information is displayed. Further, the front monitor 8 is provided with a system operation switch 11 for operating the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 of this example.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a plan view showing the location of the vehicle 12 to which each sensor and monitor of the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 of this example is attached.
The front corner sensors 2 and 3 are provided at the left and right corner portions of the front end of the vehicle 12, and the rear corner sensors 4 and 5 are provided at the left and right corner portions of the rear end of the vehicle 12.
[0009]
Further, the back sensors 6 and 7 are provided at predetermined intervals along the inner side of the rear corner sensors 4 and 5 at the rear end of the vehicle.
As a result, the four sensors 4, 6, 7, and 5 are arranged at equal intervals at the rear end of the vehicle. In the vehicle of this example, the rear corner sensors 4 and 5 and the back sensors 6 and 7 are disposed in the rear bumper. The front corner sensors 2 and 3 are disposed at both ends of a front bumper (not shown). The front monitor 8 is provided on the instrument panel 13 at the front of the vehicle body, and the rear monitor 9 is attached to the rear header at the upper rear end of the vehicle body. In this case, the rear monitor 9 is provided at a rear portion on the opposite side of the driver seat 14 with respect to the longitudinal center line of the vehicle body. This is because, when the driver looks backward from the inside of the vehicle, for example, when the vehicle is moving backward, the line of sight is usually directed to the area on the side opposite to the driver's seat with respect to the front-rear direction center line.
[0010]
In the configuration of this example, the right front corner sensor 3 disposed on the driver's seat side is set as an option, and operates when the option setting is performed by a dealer. In addition, when no option is set, not only the operation is not performed but also the display is not performed consistently from the start of the engine so that it can be distinguished from the malfunction.
FIG. 3 shows a region where each sensor detects an obstacle.
The corner sensors detect obstacles in the fan-shaped regions A, B, C, and D having an opening angle of about 120 ° and a radius of about 70 centimeters at four corner portions of the vehicle. The back sensors 6 and 7 detect an obstacle in a rectangular area E 1 meter behind the vehicle 12.
[0011]
The rear monitor 9 may be attached to the rear pillar of the vehicle body.
The display on the front monitor 8 will be described with reference to FIG.
The front monitor has a substantially rectangular display area as a whole, the left half area is a numerical display area, and display areas 15 and 16 are provided in two upper and lower stages. The upper display area is an area in which the distance from the obstacle is displayed numerically based on the information from the corner sensor, and a numerical display larger than the lower display area 16 is displayed. The lower display area includes a numerical display unit 17 that numerically displays the distance from the obstacle based on information from the back sensor, and a stage display unit adjacent to the numerical display unit 17. In addition to the vehicle mark 19 being displayed on the stage display unit 18, three display sections 20, 21, and 22 are provided below the vehicle mark 19, and a number corresponding to the distance from the obstacle. Only the lights are displayed.
[0012]
The stage display of the vehicle and the obstacle in the lower display area 16 operates only when the shift position is the reverse position.
The numerical display of these numerical display sections is displayed with a width of 0.1 in meters, and the maximum display is 1.0. In the above-mentioned stage display section, if the distance to the obstacle is within 1 meter and the distance is relatively large, only the top display section lights up. Light.
The display area 23 on the right half of the front monitor has a substantially rectangular shape, and has five display sections 25 that perform stage display based on distance information with respect to obstacles around the vehicle mark 24 in correspondence with corner sensors and back sensors. , 26, 27, 28 and 29 are provided. Display areas 25, 26, 27 and 28 corresponding to the four corner sensors 2, 3, 4 and 5 are set in the four corner portions of the vehicle mark, respectively, and correspond to the rear corner sensors 4 and 5, respectively. Between the display parts 27 and 28, the display part 29 which displays the distance with the obstacle from the back sensors 6 and 7 in steps is provided.
[0013]
A sensor display mark 30 for specifying the sensor for the numerical display of the right half is provided on the outermost shell surrounding the step display portion outside the step display of the corner sensor. As shown in FIG. 5, the corner sensor that is numerically displayed is lit and displayed as shown in FIG.
The relationship between the step display of the corner sensor and the back sensor and the distance between the obstacles is shown in FIG. In the corner sensor corresponding display area 25, 26, 27 and 28, three display sections 31, 32 and 33 are provided from the inside to the outside of the corner portion of the vehicle mark, and the back sensor corresponding display area The three display sections 34, 35, and 36 are assigned downward. In the stage display, similarly to the three-stage display in the right display area, the display section near the vehicle mark is lit in three stages as the distance starts to light from the outer display unit. (The unit of numbers in the figure is centimeters.)
Next, the rear monitor will be described.
[0014]
FIG. 7 shows a rear monitor mounting state in a perspective view. FIG. 7 is a view of the rear monitor 9 from the front to the rear. The rear monitor 9 is attached so as to protrude downward from the ceiling trim panel 37 at the rear of the passenger compartment, and the display content is the above-described front monitor 8. It is the same as the lower area of the left half of That is, the distance from the obstacle is numerically displayed based on the information from the back sensors 6 and 7, and the left area adjacent to the numerical value display section displays the vehicle mark 19 and the three-stage distance display section 20, 21 and 22 are provided.
The mounting state of the rear monitor 9 will be described. FIG. 8 is a view as seen from below to above. FIG. 9 is a mounting cross-sectional view of the rear monitor 9. In FIG. 8, the rear monitor 9 is provided in a region on the opposite side of the driver's seat 14 with respect to the vehicle longitudinal center line as described above. In this case, the surface of the display area of the rear monitor 9 faces the driver's line of sight from the driver's seat 14. That is, the display surface of the rear monitor 9 is set so that the display surface 38 of the rear monitor 9 is orthogonal to the line of sight of the driver, and the rear monitor 9 is attached.
[0015]
For this reason, the rear monitor 9 has a trapezoidal projection shape that becomes narrower from the top to the bottom in FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the rear monitor 9 is attached to the rear header 40 of the vehicle body through the opening 39 of the trim panel with the trim panel 37 constituting the inner wall of the passenger compartment interposed therebetween. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, on the upper surface of the rear monitor 9, a pair of mounting hooks 41, 42 and a harness case 43 protrudes in the middle of the hooks 41, 42. The trim panel 37 is provided with the opening 39 over the region including the pair of mounting hooks 41 and 42 and the harness case 43. The opening 39 is in the mounted state as shown in FIG. It has a size that comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the upper surface 44.
[0016]
Further, a circular opening 47 as shown in FIG. 10 is provided in the inner panel 46 of the rear header 40 which has an outer panel 45 and an inner panel 46 and is arranged so that the rear end and upper end of the vehicle body extend in the vehicle width direction. A pair of rectangular openings 48 and 49 are provided on both sides thereof. This circular opening 47 is for penetrating and accommodating the harness case 43, and the rectangular openings 47 and 48 on both sides are for engaging the mounting hooks 41 and 42 of the rear monitor 9.
When the rear monitor 9 is pushed up from the lower side during mounting, the slopes of the upper ends of the mounting hooks 41 and 42 come into contact with the edges of the rectangular openings 47 and 48 of the inner panel 46 of the rear header 40, and the mounting hooks 41 and 42 are elastically displaced. Then, after the push-in is completed, the engagement hooks 41 and 42 are passed through the inclined slopes, so that the hooks elastically return to their original positions, so that the mounting hooks 41 and 42 and the rectangular opening of the inner panel 46 of the rear header 40 are opened. 47 and 48 engage. As a result, the rear monitor 9 is fixed to the inner panel 46 of the rear header 40 with the trim panel 37 sandwiched as shown in FIG.
[0017]
The rear end portion of the trim panel 46 is provided with a long concave portion 49 extending substantially along the center line in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and the fastener 50 is engaged with the concave portion 49 as shown in FIG. The rear end of the trim panel is fixed to the rear header 40.
This is because the trim cover 51 covering the rear end of the trim panel 37 may hang down when the rear end of the trim panel 37 is not fixed.
Next, the display form of the rear monitor 9 will be described.
The rear monitor 9 of this example is capable of switching between normal distance display and its mirror image display for numerical display.
FIG. 12A shows a normal distance display state, and FIG. 12B shows a display form related to the mirror image display. This mirror image display mode assumes that the driver views the display on the rear monitor through the rearview mirror. This mirror image display form can be selected by performing a predetermined manual operation. When this mirror image display form is viewed through a mirror, the display of “Mirror Mode 0.3 m” can be read.
[0018]
That is, it is convenient for the driver to confirm that the display is a mirror image and to know the distance from the rear obstacle without looking back.
By enabling the mirror image display in this way, the driver does not need to turn around and read the display on the rear monitor, and can grasp the rear situation by a slight line of sight movement through the rearview mirror or side mirror. Can do.
When this mirror image display is particularly effective, such as when traveling forward on a hill with a traffic jam, in such a case, even if the shift position is the forward position, the linear monitor display is performed, and the shift position is the forward position. In spite of the fact, the vehicle may move backward due to the slope. However, by viewing the mirror image display through the mirror, it is possible to know the inter-vehicle distance from the rear vehicle at any time without changing the rear, and the safety in such a state can be improved.
[0019]
FIG. 13 shows a display form of another rear monitor. In the example of FIG. 13, a vehicle image, a stage display unit and “m” as a unit are displayed on both sides of the numerical display area, and “Mirror Mode” is displayed above. Inverted display, that is, mirror image display can be performed.
In the case of the normal display, the numerical display is set to the normal display, and the step display and unit on the left side in FIG. When mirror image display is selected, the upper “Mirror Mode” may be reversed, the numerical display may be a mirror image display, and the right stage display and unit may be lit.
In the vehicle obstacle detection device of the present example, the presence of the obstacle is notified to the driver by sound together with the visual display as described above based on the detection result from each obstacle sensor. Yes.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 14, in this example, when the corner sensor or the back sensor detects an obstacle and the distance D becomes smaller than 60 centimeters, a buzzer is sounded to alert the driver. It is supposed to be.
The warning sound is different depending on the information from the corner sensor and the sounding based on the information from the back sensor, and the generation interval of the warning sound is reduced as the distance approaches. That is, when it is detected that the obstacle is within the range of 60 centimeters to 45 centimeters, an alarm sound is generated at a predetermined interval. The generated pulse length is based on the corner sensor and the back sensor. If the distance between the centimeter and the distance between 45 centimeters and 30 centimeters is different, the alarm pulse interval will be reduced, and if the obstacle is within 30 centimeters, The alarm will sound.
[0021]
In this example, when both the corner sensor and the back sensor detect an obstacle in the alarm area, the alarm of the corner sensor is given priority and an alarm sound is generated.
FIG. 15 shows a display example when the option front driver's right front corner sensor for option setting is not set.
In this example, “x” is displayed as an option non-setting indicator 52 on the shoulder of the right front corner sensor to indicate that no option is set.
Next, an option setting procedure will be described with reference to FIG.
As described above, the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 of this example includes the control device 10 built in the front monitor 8. And when the driver | operator performs key operation for the first time, the control apparatus 10 performs the initial check of the system of the obstacle detection apparatus 1 for vehicles, and starts control (step S1).
[0022]
Then, the memory is initialized (step S2), and it is determined whether the shift position is in the R range (step S3). When the shift position is in the R range, it is determined whether or not the operation switch of the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 is turned on (step S4). If the operation switch is on, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed, and it is determined whether a predetermined time (5 seconds in this example) has elapsed (step S5). If the predetermined time has elapsed, it is further determined whether or not the option setting switch has been operated (step S6), and it is determined whether or not the predetermined time (5 seconds in this example) has elapsed (step S7). If the predetermined time has elapsed, option setting is performed (step S8). If the option setting has already been made, a process for canceling the option setting is performed. Then, the measurement time counter is cleared (step S9).
[0023]
Then, it is determined whether or not the option is set. If the option is set, all the sensors are displayed (step S10), and the disconnection check of all the sensors is performed including confirmation of the option setting (step S10). S11).
If no option is set in step S10, the above-mentioned indicator with no option set is displayed “X” (step S12).
Then, all the other sensors are displayed and a disconnection check is performed (step S13). Thereafter, the display “x” for the unset sensor is turned off (step S14), and the normal display is started.
That is, in this example, the option setting can be performed by pressing the system setting switch of the vehicle obstacle detection device for 5 seconds and then pressing the option setting switch for 5 seconds.
[0024]
Next, with reference to FIG. 17, a procedure for performing reverse display, that is, mirror image display setting of the rear monitor will be described.
Similar to the above option setting operation, when the driver first performs a key operation, the control device 10 performs an initial check of the system of the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 and starts control (step S21). .
Then, the memory is initialized (step S22), and it is determined whether the shift position is in the D range (step S23). When the shift position is in the D range, it is determined whether or not the operation switch of the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 is turned on (step S24). If the operation switch is on, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined time (5 seconds in this example) has elapsed (step S25). If the predetermined time has elapsed, it is further determined whether or not the mirror image display selection switch has been operated (step S26), and further, it is determined whether or not the predetermined time (5 seconds in this example) has elapsed (step S27). ) When a predetermined time has elapsed, reverse display setting is performed (step S28). If the reverse display has already been set, a process for canceling the reverse display is performed. Then, the measurement time counter is cleared (step S29).
[0025]
Then, all the sensors are displayed, and all the sensors are checked for disconnection including confirmation of option setting (step S30).
Note that in the above-described selection control of the reverse display mode, when reverse display is not performed, the mode is 0, when reverse display is performed regardless of the shift position, the mode is 1, normal display in the R range, and otherwise At this shift position, when the reverse display mode is set, the mode 2 is set. Based on this value, the control device 10 determines the display mode of the rear monitor.
Next, the operation of the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 of this example will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 20.
As described above, the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 of the present example includes the control device 10 built in the front monitor, and processes information from the front corner sensor and the back sensor to the front monitor 8 and the rear monitor 9. It is supposed to be displayed.
[0026]
When the driver first operates the key to turn on the key, the control device 10 performs an initial check of the system of the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 and starts control (step S31).
Then, it is determined whether or not the operation switch of the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 is turned on (step S32). When the operation switch is turned on, it is determined whether the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, in this example, equal to or lower than 10 km / h (step S33). This is because, when the vehicle speed is high, it is difficult for the vehicle obstacle detection device 1 to function properly and there is no request for it. If the vehicle speed is less than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined whether or not the shift position is in the R range (step S34).
If it is in the R range, the information from the back sensor is processed (step S35), the distance step display and numerical display are performed on the front monitor (steps S36, 37), and The control device 10 determines the reverse display mode value (step S38), and when the mode value is 0, the rear monitor is normally displayed (step S39).
[0027]
If the mode value is not 0, the rear monitor is displayed in reverse (step S40). Further, an alarm sound is generated as necessary (step S41).
Next, the control device 10 processes the information of the left rear, right rear, and left front corner sensors (steps S42, 43, and 44).
Then, it is determined whether the right front corner sensor 3 is set as an option (step S45). If the option is set, information from the corner sensor 3 is processed (step S46). Then, the front monitor 8 performs stepwise display of distances applied to all the corner sensors (step S47), selects the minimum distance value (step S48), and performs numerical display (step S49).
Further, the control device displays an outermost shell line for identifying the corner sensor having the minimum value based on from which corner sensor the minimum value for the numerical display is detected (step S50). Then, it is determined whether or not the shift position is the parking position (step S51). If the shift position is the parking position, the control is terminated. If it is not the parking position, a warning sound is processed (step S52).
[0028]
FIG. 19 shows a modification of the control of the vehicle obstacle detection device. In this example, the linear monitor is displayed regardless of the R range. In addition, the determination to perform reverse display is made in steps S53, 54, and 55. When the mode is 0, the display is always the normal display mode, and when the mode value is 1, the display is always reversed. In the mode display, when the mode value is 2, the normal display is displayed in the R range, and the reverse display mode is displayed in the other shift positions.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the vehicle obstacle detection device for option setting and the display device that is not a layer can be used in common, it is advantageous in terms of manufacturing cost, and the option setting and option There is no problem because the user can clearly discriminate from those that are not set. It can also be clearly distinguished from failures such as disconnection.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic system diagram of a vehicle obstacle detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vehicle showing an arrangement state of the vehicle obstacle detection device;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an obstacle detection area of each sensor;
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a display screen of the front monitor;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display indicating a corner sensor that is closest to an obstacle;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a stage display of the distance to the obstacle,
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a rear monitor mounting state;
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a trim panel to which a rear monitor is attached;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a mounting state of the rear monitor;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a mounting state of the rear monitor;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of a rear end portion of a trim panel to which a rear monitor is mounted;
FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a display screen of a rear monitor.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing another aspect of the display screen of the rear monitor;
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of an alarm sound signal for an obstacle;
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing another mode of display on the front monitor;
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an option setting procedure for a corner sensor;
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a mirror image display setting procedure;
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the vehicle obstacle detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a flowchart similar to FIG. 18 showing a modification of the control procedure of the vehicle obstacle detection device;
20 is a flowchart of the latter half of the control in FIGS. 18 and 19. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle obstacle detection apparatus 2, 3, 4, 5 Corner sensor 6, 7 Back sensor 8 Front monitor 9 Rear monitor 10 Control apparatus.

Claims (6)

A plurality of obstacle detecting means including at least one option setting obstacle detecting means;
Obstacle display means for displaying information about the obstacle in a display area provided corresponding to each of the plurality of obstacle detection means;
Control means for processing information related to the obstacle from the obstacle detection means and displaying the information in a corresponding display area of the obstacle display means;
The control means is a confirmation display means for operating and displaying all display areas of all the obstacle display means at least for starting operation confirmation of the display means,
Determining means for determining whether the option setting obstacle detecting means is set;
When the option setting obstacle detection means is not set, the non-set option setting obstacle detection means includes confirmation display prohibiting means for prohibiting the operation display by the confirmation display means. An obstacle detection device for a vehicle characterized by the above. 2. The vehicle obstacle according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the option setting obstacle detection means is performed by a manual operation, and the determination means determines whether or not the setting by the manual operation is present. Object detection device. 2. The vehicle obstacle detection device according to claim 1, further comprising an unset display means for performing a display to that effect when the option setting obstacle detection means is not set. 4. The vehicle obstacle detection device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of obstacle detection means are provided for detecting an obstacle near a corner portion of the vehicle. 5. The vehicle obstacle detection device according to claim 1, wherein the option setting obstacle detection means detects an obstacle around a driver's seat side front corner. 6. The obstacle detection device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the obstacle display means displays the degree of obstacle approach in a stepwise manner on the display area.

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