JP2010020618A - Driver awakener - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a driver awakening device that can reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened.
A driver awakening device that awakens a driver, a driver state estimating unit 11 that detects a driver's arousal state, a stimulus control unit 13 that sets a strength of a stimulus given to the driver, When the driver's arousal state is lowered, actuations 30 to 32 are provided to give the driver a stimulus based on the strength of the stimulus set by the stimulus control unit 13, and the stimulus control unit 13 is set in advance. By configuring the strength of the stimulus to be equal to or less than the reference value, it is possible to reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a driver awakening device that awakens a driver.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a driver awakening device that awakens a driver, a device that estimates a driver's arousal level and gives a stimulus with a stimulus amount corresponding to the estimated awakening level is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The device of Patent Document 1 is a device that estimates the driver's arousal level from the reaction time when the driver is stimulated and gives the stimulus with a stimulus amount that is proportionally increased according to the estimated awakening level. is there.
JP-A-5-92039

  However, in the conventional driver wake-up device, since the stimulus is given with the stimulus amount according to the arousal level, the driver is surprised by the unexpected stimulus amount when the driver's arousal state is lowered, and driving Operation may be affected.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem, and an object thereof is to provide a driver awakening device that can reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened. To do.

  That is, the driver wake-up device according to the present invention is a driver wake-up device that wakes up the driver, and is a setting for setting the wake-up state detecting means for detecting the wake-up state of the driver and the intensity of the stimulus given to the driver. Means and a stimulus output means for giving a stimulus to the driver based on the strength of the stimulus set by the setting means when the driver's arousal state is lowered, and the setting means has a preset reference value In the following, the strength of stimulation is set.

  According to the present invention, the driver's arousal state is detected. For example, when the driver's arousal state in which the driver is drowsy is reduced, the driver can be awakened by applying a stimulus with a stimulus amount equal to or less than the reference value. it can. As the reference value, a stimulus amount with little surprise even when given to a state in which the arousal state is lowered is employed. For this reason, for example, even if the driver is in a state of low arousal level such as doze or a decrease in consciousness, it is possible to avoid being surprised by the stimulus and affecting the driving operation by giving a strong stimulus exceeding the reference value. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened.

  Here, the setting means may set the strength of the stimulus increased with the reference value as the maximum value when there is no change in the driver's arousal level even when the driver is stimulated by the stimulus output means. Is preferred.

  By configuring in this way, it is possible to increase the stimulation intensity within a range below the reference value and give the stimulation. Therefore, it is possible to increase the stimulation within a range where the driver is not surprised unnecessarily. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened.

  In addition, it is preferable that the setting means adopts a value set by the driver as the reference value. By configuring in this way, it is possible to give a stimulus within a range equal to or less than a reference value set in advance by the driver, so that it is possible to reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  The driver awakening device according to the present embodiment is a device that awakens a driver whose awakening state is lowered, and is suitably employed, for example, as a countermeasure against a driver's sleep. First, the configuration of the driver awakening device according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a vehicle including a driver awakening device according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 3 includes a driver awakening device 1, which includes, for example, a driver detection sensor 20, a reference stimulus input unit 21, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 10, Actuation (stimulation output means) 30-32 is provided. Here, the ECU is a computer of an electronically controlled automobile device, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an input / output interface. ing.

  The driver detection sensor 20 has a function of acquiring information for determining the state of the driver. As the driver detection sensor 20, for example, an image sensor for monitoring the driver, an electrocardiogram detection sensor that is disposed on a handle or the like and detects the driver's heart rate, or the like is used. The driver detection sensor 20 has a function of outputting the acquired information to the ECU 10.

  The reference stimulus input unit 21 functions as an interface for inputting a reference value of a stimulus amount (stimulus intensity) set by the driver. The reference stimulus input unit 21 includes, for example, a setting dial, and has a function of inputting a stimulus amount that is less surprised by a driver's dial operation. The reference stimulus input unit 21 has a function of setting the input stimulus amount as a reference value. This reference value is the maximum amount of stimulation given to the driver. The reference stimulus input unit 21 has a function of outputting the set reference value to the ECU 10.

  The ECU 10 has a function of determining whether or not the vehicle is in a traveling state based on, for example, a vehicle speed output by a vehicle speed sensor (not shown). In addition, the ECU 10 includes a driver state estimation unit (wake state detection unit) 11, a reference stimulus recording unit 12, and a stimulus control unit (setting unit) 13.

  The driver state estimation unit 11 has a function of estimating the driver's arousal state based on information related to the driver's state output by the driver detection sensor 20. The arousal state is classified into a plurality of stages according to the degree of sleepiness, for example, and is shown as the arousal level. For example, the state in which normal driving can be performed is a high arousal level, and the greater the degree of sleepiness, the lower the arousal level. For example, the driver state estimation unit 11 detects the driver's facial expression and the movement of the eyelid based on the image information output from the image sensor. It has a function to estimate the degree. On the other hand, when the heel is closed for a predetermined time, it has a function of estimating the arousal level to be low according to the predetermined time. Alternatively, the heart rate is acquired from the electrocardiogram detection sensor, and when the heart rate is decreased with reference to the normal heart rate, the awakening level is estimated to be low according to the decrease in the heart rate. Further, the driver state estimation unit 11 has a function of outputting the estimated arousal level to the stimulus control unit 13.

  The reference stimulus recording unit 12 has a function of recording a reference value of the stimulus amount given to the driver. The reference stimulus recording unit 12 has a function of recording a value output from the reference stimulus input unit 21 to the ECU 10 as a reference value.

  The stimulus control unit 13 has a function of setting the amount of stimulus given to the driver. The stimulus control unit 13 has a function of inputting the reference value recorded by the reference stimulus recording unit 12 and setting a stimulus amount smaller than the reference value as a stimulus amount to be given to the driver. Moreover, after giving a driver | operator a stimulus, it has the function which inputs the driver | operator's arousal state output by the driver | operator state estimation part 11, and changes a stimulus amount based on a driver | operator's arousal state. For example, when the arousal level does not increase after giving a stimulus, it has a function of increasing the stimulus amount by adding a predetermined value to the stimulus amount given to the driver last time. It also has a function of increasing the amount of stimulation so as not to exceed the reference value. Furthermore, the stimulus control unit 13 has a function of setting what kind of stimulus is given to the driver. For example, it has a function of setting which stimulus is given to the driver among stimulation by voice, bodily sensation stimulation by vibration, or stimulation by a combination thereof. The stimulus control unit 13 has a function of outputting the set stimulus type and stimulus amount to the actuations 30 to 32.

  The actuations 30 to 32 have a function of giving the driver a stimulus based on the stimulus type and the stimulus amount output by the stimulus control unit 13. As the actuations 30 to 32, for example, a speaker 30 that stimulates the driver's hearing, a seat vibration device 31 that has a vibration motor inside the seat and that gives the driver a bodily sensation alarm, controls vibration of the steering, and gives the bodily sensation alarm to the driver. A steer vibration device 32 is used.

  Next, operation | movement of the driver | operator awakening apparatus 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the reference value input operation of the driver awakening device 1. The control process shown in FIG. 2 is executed, for example, when a stimulus presentation switch provided in the vehicle is turned on.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the driver awakening device 1 starts from a reference value input process (S10). The process of S10 is a process executed by the reference stimulus input unit 21 to input a reference value set by the driver. For example, the driver adjusts stimuli from the speaker 30, the seat vibration device 31, and the steering vibration device 32 by using a dial, and sets a stimulus amount that the user feels less surprised. The reference stimulus input unit 21 inputs a stimulus amount set by the driver as a reference value. When the process of S10 ends, the process proceeds to a reference value recording process (S12).

  The process of S12 is a process executed by the reference stimulus recording unit 12 to record the reference value input in the process of S10. The reference stimulus recording unit 12 records the reference value in a memory provided in the ECU 10, for example. When the process of S12 ends, the control process shown in FIG. 2 ends.

  The control process shown in FIG. By executing the control process shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to input a stimulus amount determined to be less surprising by the driver before traveling and use it as a reference value.

  Next, the awakening operation of the driver awakening device 1 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the awakening operation of the driver awakening device 1. The control process shown in FIG. 3 is executed, for example, at the timing when the control process shown in FIG. 2 is completed, and is repeatedly executed until the stimulus presentation switch is turned off.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the driver awakening device 1 starts from a travel determination process (S14). The process of S14 is a process executed by the ECU 10 to determine whether or not the vehicle is in a traveling state based on the vehicle speed output by the vehicle speed sensor. If it is determined in the process of S14 that the vehicle is traveling, the process proceeds to a driver awakening state determination process (S16).

  The process of S16 is a process which the driver state estimation part 11 performs, and determines a driver | operator's arousal state. The driver state estimation unit 11 inputs, for example, image information and heart rate information of the driver's face from the driver detection sensor 20, and determines whether or not the driver is in a high arousal state. In the process of S16, when the driver's arousal state is reduced, that is, when the driver is drowsy or consciousness is lowered, the process proceeds to the stimulus output process (S18).

  The process of S18 is a process that is executed by the stimulus control unit 13 and the actuations 30 to 32 and gives a stimulus to the driver. The stimulus control unit 13 sets the strength of the stimulus given to the driver so that the stimulus amount is equal to or less than the reference value stored in the process of S12 of FIG. Then, the stimulation control unit 13 sets the type of stimulation. Then, based on the type and intensity of the set stimulus, the speaker 30 outputs an alarm sound, or the seat vibration device 31 and the steer vibration device 32 generate vibration to give a sensation alarm. When the process of S18 ends, the process proceeds to the arousal effect determination process (S20).

  The process of S20 is a process which the driver state estimation part 11 performs, and determines the presence or absence of the awakening effect by the stimulus output process of S18. The driver state estimating unit 11 estimates the driver's arousal state after applying the stimulus in the same manner as in the process of S16, and determines whether or not the arousal level has increased, thereby determining whether or not there is an arousal effect. Determine. In the process of S20, when it is determined that there is no awakening effect, the process proceeds to a stimulation amount increasing process (S22).

  The process of S22 is a process that is executed by the stimulus control unit 13 and sets a stimulus amount larger than the stimulus amount output in the process of S18. For example, the stimulus control unit 13 sets a value obtained by adding a predetermined value to the stimulus amount output in the process of S18 as the stimulus amount to be output at the next execution of the process of S18. Here, when increasing the stimulation amount, the stimulation control unit 13 sets the increased stimulation amount to be equal to or less than the reference value stored in the process of S12 of FIG. When the process of S22 ends, the process proceeds to a stimulus output process (S18), and a stimulus is output based on the stimulus amount set in the process of S22. In this way, the process of increasing the stimulus amount is repeated until there is an arousal effect or the output stimulus amount reaches the reference value, and the stimulus output process is repeated until there is an arousal effect.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S14 that the vehicle is not traveling, the control process shown in FIG. 3 is terminated. Moreover, in the process of S16, when the driver's arousal state has not decreased, that is, when the driver does not have drowsiness or reduced consciousness, the control process shown in FIG. 3 is terminated. If it is determined in step S20 that there is an awakening effect, the control process shown in FIG. 3 is terminated.

  Thus, the control process shown in FIG. 3 is finished. By executing the control process shown in FIG. 3, when the driver's arousal state is lowered, the driver can be given a stimulus that is lower than the reference value set by the driver. The amount of stimulation can be increased only when a sufficient awakening effect cannot be obtained. Thus, since the driver can present a stimulus that is less than the stimulus amount set in advance by the driver, the driver can be awakened without being surprised. For this reason, it becomes possible to make small the influence which it has on driving | running | working.

  As described above, according to the driver wake-up device 1 according to the present embodiment, when the driver's wake-up state is detected and the driver's wake-up state is reduced, the driving is performed with less surprise. The stimulus intensity determined by the person in advance can be used as a reference value, and the stimulus can be applied with a stimulus amount equal to or less than the reference value to be awakened. For this reason, for example, even if the driver's arousal level is low, it is possible to avoid giving a strong stimulus amount equal to or higher than the reference value. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened.

  In addition, according to the driver awakening device 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to increase the intensity of the stimulus within a range equal to or less than the reference value set in advance by the driver, so that the driver is not required. Stimulation can be strengthened as long as it is not surprising. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the influence on driving when the driver is awakened.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above shows an example of the driver | operator awakening apparatus based on this invention. The driver awakening device according to the present invention is not limited to the driver awakening device 1 according to the embodiment, and the driver awakening device 1 according to the embodiment is modified without changing the gist described in each claim. Or may be applied to other things.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the speaker 30, the seat vibration device 31, and the steer vibration device 32 are adopted as the awakening means to perform a sound alarm or a bodily sensation alarm is described, but the awakening means is not limited to this, For example, when awakening means for outputting visually appealing images to the display, awakening means for increasing the tension of the seat belt to give a sensation warning, an awakening means for giving a sensation warning by increasing the air blow of the air conditioner, etc. Also good.

  In the above-described embodiment, the stimulus amount set by the driver is used as the reference value. For example, the relationship between the surprise and the stimulus amount felt by the driver is measured in advance by an experiment or the like, and the measurement is performed. You may employ | adopt the average value of a result as a reference value.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the example of processing in the order of the control process (reference value setting process) illustrated in FIG. 2 and the control process (wake-up process) illustrated in FIG. 3 has been described, but the control process illustrated in FIG. After the execution, the control processes shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be performed in parallel. As a result, the driver can set the reference value again even after setting the reference value.

It is a composition outline figure of vehicles provided with a driver awakening device concerning this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the driver | operator awakening apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the driver | operator awakening apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Driver awakening device, 3 ... Vehicle, 10 ... ECU, 11 ... Driver state estimation part (wake state detection means), 13 ... Stimulation control part (setting means), 30-32 ... Actuation (stimulation output means) .

Claims (3)

A driver awakening device for waking up a driver,
Awake state detecting means for detecting the driver's awake state;
Setting means for setting the intensity of stimulation given to the driver;
When the driver's arousal state is reduced, a stimulus output means for giving a stimulus to the driver based on the strength of the stimulus set by the setting means;
With
The setting means sets the intensity of stimulation below a preset reference value;
A driver wake-up device.   The setting means sets the intensity of the stimulus that is increased with the reference value as a maximum value when there is no change in the driver's arousal level even when the driver is stimulated by the stimulus output means. The driver awakening device according to claim 1.   The driver awakening device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the setting means adopts a value set by the driver as the reference value.

Images