JP7499401B2 - Automatic motorcycle alarm device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an automatic horn sounding device for a motorcycle, and more particularly to an automatic horn sounding device for a motorcycle that can automatically sound the horn in response to road signs.

Technology for recognizing road signs based on images captured by a forward-facing camera mounted on a vehicle has been known for some time.

Patent document 1 discloses an information output device that recognizes road signs such as stop signs and speed limits, displays the road signs to the driver, and notifies the driver of information such as violation history and penalties.

JP 2019-207590 A

Incidentally, if a road sign stating "sound the horn" is installed, the driver must follow the instructions and sound the horn. However, driving a motorcycle requires operations such as throttle operation, brake operation, clutch operation and balancing, and when approaching a curve in particular, multiple operations must be performed at the same time, making it difficult to sound the horn.

The object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional technology described above and to provide an automatic horn sounding device for motorcycles that can recognize "sound the horn" road signs and automatically sound the horn.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an automatic horn horn device for a motorcycle, which is equipped with a forward camera (80) and a sign recognition unit (71) that recognizes the type of road sign based on an image captured by the forward camera (80), and which is equipped with horns (HL, HR) and a control unit (70) that controls the horns (HL, HR), and the first feature is that the control unit (70) automatically sounds the horns (HL, HR) in accordance with the recognition results of the sign recognition unit (71).

A second feature of the control unit (70) is that it changes the sounding pattern of the horn (HL, HR) depending on the recognition results of the sign recognition unit (71).

The horns (HL, HR) comprise a left horn (HL) on the left side in the vehicle width direction and a right horn (HR) on the right side in the vehicle width direction, and the control unit (70) has a third feature in that it sounds the left horn (HL) when the vehicle (1) is turning to the left, and sounds the right horn (HR) when the vehicle (1) is turning to the right.

Furthermore, a fourth feature is that a bank angle sensor (95) is provided to detect the bank state of the vehicle (1), and the control unit (70) varies the volume of the horn (HL, HR) according to the bank state of the vehicle (1).

According to a first feature, in an automatic horn horn device for a motorcycle equipped with a forward camera (80) and a sign recognition unit (71) that recognizes the type of road sign based on an image captured by the forward camera (80), the device is equipped with a horn (HL, HR) and a control unit (70) that controls the horn (HL, HR), and the control unit (70) automatically sounds the horn (HL, HR) in accordance with the recognition result of the sign recognition unit (71). Therefore, even when performing multiple operations while driving before a curve, etc., it is possible to automatically sound the horn in accordance with a road sign.

According to the second feature, the control unit (70) varies the sounding pattern of the horn (HL, HR) depending on the recognition result in the sign recognition unit (71), making it possible to change the sounding pattern depending on the presence or absence of an auxiliary sign, etc.

According to the third feature, the horns (HL, HR) consist of a left horn (HL) on the left side in the vehicle width direction and a right horn (HR) on the right side in the vehicle width direction, and the control unit (70) sounds the left horn (HL) when the vehicle (1) is turning to the left, and sounds the right horn (HR) when the vehicle (1) is turning to the right. Therefore, by sounding the horn that corresponds to the turning direction out of the pair of horns provided on the left and right, the warning sound can be made to reach the surroundings more easily.

According to the fourth feature, a bank angle sensor (95) is provided for detecting the bank state of the vehicle (1), and the control unit (70) varies the volume of the horn (HL, HR) according to the bank state of the vehicle (1). For example, when the vehicle speed is high and the bank angle is large, the volume is increased, making it possible to make the warning sound more noticeable.

1 is a right side view of a motorcycle to which an automatic sounding device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an automatic blowing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of automatic sounding control 1 according to the present embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of automatic sounding control 2 according to the present embodiment. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of automatic sounding control 3 according to the present embodiment.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a right side view of a motorcycle 1 to which an automatic sounding device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged front view of the motorcycle 1. The motorcycle 1 is a saddle-ride type vehicle that transmits the driving force of a power unit P to a rear wheel WR via a drive chain 14. A steering stem (not shown) is pivotally supported on a head pipe F1 located at the front end of the body frame F. A bottom bridge 23 and a top bridge 24 that support a pair of left and right front forks 10 are fixed above and below the steering stem. A left horn HL and a right horn HR are arranged side by side below the headlight 9 (see FIG. 2).

A steering handle 2 supporting a pair of left and right rearview mirrors 4 is attached to the top of the top bridge 24. A brake lever 50 as a front wheel brake operator is attached to the right steering handle 2. A front wheel brake caliper BF as a front wheel brake that applies a braking force to a front wheel brake disc 31 that rotates synchronously with the front wheel WF, and a front fender 11 are attached to the front fork 10.

Attached to the rear of the head pipe F1 are a pair of left and right main frames F2 extending diagonally downward and rearward, and an under frame F5 extending downward to support the underside of the power unit P. A pivot frame F3 having a pivot 22 that pivotally supports the swing arm 15 so that it can swing freely is connected to the rear end of the main frame F2, and the rear end of the under frame F5 is connected to the lower end of the pivot frame F3. A pair of left and right foot steps 39 on which the driver places his/her feet are attached to the pivot frame F3.

The driving force of the power unit P, which is surrounded and supported by the main frame F2 and the underframe F5, is transmitted to the rear wheel WR via the drive chain 14. An underguard 12 is attached to the bottom of the power unit P near the front. Combustion gas from the power unit P is sent to the muffler 16 at the rear of the vehicle body via an exhaust pipe 37 that passes inside the underguard 12.

The rear wheel WR is rotatably supported at the rear end of the swing arm 15, which is supported by the pivot 22. A rear wheel brake caliper BR is supported on the swing arm 15 as a rear wheel brake that applies a braking force to a rear wheel brake disc 33 that rotates synchronously with the rear wheel WR. A brake pedal 50 as a rear wheel brake operator operated by the right foot of the driver is pivotally supported on the pivot frame F3 on the right side in the vehicle width direction.

A front cowl 7 supporting a headlight 9, a windscreen 6 and a pair of left and right front flashers 8 is disposed in front of the head pipe F1. A fuel tank 3 is disposed behind the front cowl 7 and above the main frame F2. A rear frame F4 supporting a front seat 21 for a driver and a rear seat 20 for a passenger is fixed to the rear of the pivot frame F3. The left and right sides of the rear frame F4 in the vehicle width direction are covered by a rear cowl 19, and a rear fender 38 supporting a taillight device 18 and a pair of left and right rear flashers 17 is attached to the rear end of the rear cowl 19.

A control device 70 that controls the fuel injection device, ignition device, brake system, etc. is disposed on the upper part of the power unit P. A front wheel brake actuator (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as actuator) 52 that generates brake fluid pressure for the front wheel brake BF and a rear wheel brake actuator 62 that generates brake fluid pressure for the rear wheel brake BR are disposed on the upper part of the vehicle body frame F. A front wheel brake fluid pressure sensor 53 that detects the brake fluid pressure of the front wheel brake BF and a rear wheel brake fluid pressure sensor 63 that detects the brake fluid pressure of the rear wheel brake BR are disposed near the actuators 52, 62, respectively. A front wheel brake operation force sensor 51 that detects the operation force input to the brake lever 50 is disposed near the brake lever 50, and a rear wheel brake operation force sensor 61 that detects the operation force input to the brake pedal 60 is disposed near the brake pedal 60.

A seating sensor 76 that detects the driver's seated state is provided inside the front seat 21. A road surface sensor 77 that detects whether the road surface is wet is provided inside the underguard 12.

A forward camera 80 and a forward radar 81 are provided behind the windscreen 6 and are used for automatic control such as auto cruise control, the brake system, and automatic sounding of the horns HL and HR.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the automatic horn sounding device according to this embodiment. The control device 70 as a control unit includes a sign recognition unit 71, a road condition detection unit 72, a vehicle condition detection unit 73, a horn control unit 74 and a sign database 75. Information from the forward camera 80 and the forward radar 81 is input to the sign recognition unit 71, and the type of road sign and the distance to the road sign are recognized. The sign database 75 stores multiple pieces of sign data for automatically sounding the horns HL and HR. The sign data includes at least the horn sound A, as well as auxiliary signs B, C, D, and E.

When a horn sounder A is installed, the Road Traffic Act requires that the horn be sounded at the installation location. Furthermore, when combined with an auxiliary sign and within the horn sounder A section, the horn must be sounded when passing an intersection, corner, or the top of a hill with poor visibility. The automatic horn sounding device of this embodiment can recognize the horn sounder A sign and auxiliary signs and automatically sound the horns HL and HR at the appropriate timing and pattern. This makes it possible to sound the horns HL and HR appropriately, for example, even when vehicle operations are concentrated before a curve and pressing the horn switch is not easy.

The road condition detection unit 72 receives information from the navigation system 78 and is able to recognize whether the current location of the motorcycle 1 is at an intersection with poor visibility, a corner, or the top of a hill. The vehicle condition detection unit 73 also receives information from a gyro sensor 95 that functions as a bank angle sensor and is able to recognize the bank angle (roll angle) of the motorcycle 1.

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the steps of the automatic horn horn control 1 according to this embodiment. In step S1, the sign recognition unit 71 determines whether or not a "sound the horn" sign has been detected. If a positive determination is made in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2, where the horns HL and HR are sounded when passing a location where the sign is installed, and the series of controls is terminated. If a negative determination is made in step S1, the process returns to the determination in step S1.

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the steps of the automatic horn sounding control 2 according to this embodiment. In step S10, the sign recognition unit 71 determines whether or not the vehicle is in a "sound the horn" zone. If a positive determination is made in step S10, the process proceeds to step S11, where control is executed to sound the horn when passing an intersection with poor visibility, a corner, or the top of a hill. If a negative determination is made in step S10, the process returns to the determination in step S10.

Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the automatic horn control 3 according to this embodiment. This embodiment is characterized in that when the horn condition is met while the vehicle is traveling around a curve and the vehicle body is banked, either the left horn HL or the right horn HR corresponding to the direction in which the vehicle body is banked is sounded. In step S20, it is determined whether the horn HL, HR horn condition is met. If the answer to the question in step S20 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S21, where it is determined whether the vehicle is cornering. If the answer to the question in step S21 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S22, where the horn on the side in which the vehicle body is banked is sounded, and the series of controls is terminated. On the other hand, if the answer to the question in step S21 is negative, the process proceeds to step S23, where both the left and right horns are sounded, and the series of controls is terminated. Note that if the horn condition is met while cornering, the volume may be set to be louder as the bank angle of the vehicle body becomes larger.

As described above, the automatic horn horn device for a motorcycle according to the present invention is equipped with horns HL, HR and a control unit 70 that controls the horns HL, HR. The control unit 70 automatically sounds the horns HL, HR in accordance with the recognition results of the sign recognition unit 71. This makes it possible to automatically sound the horn in accordance with road signs even when performing multiple operations while driving before a curve, etc.

In addition, the control unit 70 changes the sounding pattern of the horns HL and HR depending on the recognition results of the sign recognition unit 71, making it possible to change the sounding pattern depending on the presence or absence of auxiliary signs, etc. For example, the horn can be automatically sounded in different patterns when only a horn sounder is installed and when the vehicle is in a horn sounding area.

In addition, the horns HL, HR consist of a left horn HL on the left side in the vehicle width direction and a right horn HR on the right side in the vehicle width direction. The control unit 70 sounds the left horn HL when the vehicle 1 is turning to the left, and sounds the right horn HR when the vehicle 1 is turning to the right. Therefore, by sounding the horn that corresponds to the turning direction out of the pair of horns provided on the left and right, the warning sound can be made easier to reach.

Furthermore, a bank angle sensor 95 is provided to detect the bank state of the vehicle 1, and the control unit 70 varies the volume of the horns HL, HR according to the bank state of the vehicle 1. For example, when the vehicle speed is high and the bank angle is large, the volume is increased to make the warning sound easier to hear.

The shape of the motorcycle, the configuration of the horn, the configuration of the front camera and the front radar, etc. are not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified in various ways. The automatic horn horn device of the present invention is not limited to motorcycles, but can be applied to saddle-type three-wheeled vehicles, four-wheeled vehicles, etc. The road signs registered in the sign database are not limited to those in Japan as described above, and the horn can be automatically sounded in accordance with "sound the horn" road signs and road traffic laws in various countries around the world.

1...Motorcycle (saddle-type vehicle), 70...Control device (control unit), 71...Sign recognition unit, 72...Road condition detection unit, 73...Vehicle condition detection unit, 74...Horn control unit, 75...Sign database, 80...Front camera, 81...Front radar, 95...Gyro sensor, HL...Left horn, HR...Right horn

Claims (4)

An automatic warning device for a motorcycle is provided with a front camera (80) and a sign recognition unit (71) that recognizes the type of a road sign based on an image captured by the front camera (80),
The device includes a horn (HL, HR) and a control unit (70) that controls the horn (HL, HR),
The control unit (70) automatically sounds the horn (HL, HR) in accordance with the recognition result of the sign recognition unit (71),
The horn (HL, HR) comprises a left horn (HL) on the left side in the vehicle width direction and a right horn (HR) on the right side in the vehicle width direction,
The control unit (70) sounds the left horn (HL) when the vehicle (1) is turning to the left, and sounds the right horn (HR) when the vehicle (1) is turning to the right. 2. The automatic horn device for a motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (70) varies a horn sounding pattern of the horn (HL, HR) depending on a recognition result of the sign recognition unit (71). (delete) A bank angle sensor (95) is provided for detecting the bank state of the vehicle (1),
3. The automatic horn device for a motorcycle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (70) varies the volume of the horn (HL, HR) depending on the banking state of the vehicle (1).

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