阅读说明：本技术 驾驶辅助系统、车辆、车辆用灯具 (Driving assistance system, vehicle, and vehicle lamp ) 是由 杉本笃 多多良直树 于 2020-05-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：驾驶辅助系统(100)包括照明装置(110)及控制器(130)。照明装置(110)被构成为能够以驾驶员(4)可视认的形态,将表示本车应行驶的车道或本车应行进的方向的躲避图案(PTN)描绘于路面(2)。控制器(130)在通过传感器或通信在本车前方检知障碍物(6)时,使照明装置(110)描绘躲避图案(PTN)。(A driving assistance system (100) includes a lighting device (110) and a controller (130). The illumination device (110) is configured to be able to draw a avoidance Pattern (PTN) indicating a lane in which the vehicle is to travel or a direction in which the vehicle is to travel, on the road surface (2) in a form that is visually recognizable by the driver (4). When detecting an obstacle (6) in front of the vehicle by a sensor or communication, the controller (130) causes the lighting device (110) to draw a avoiding Pattern (PTN).)

1. A driving assistance system characterized by comprising:

an illumination device configured to be capable of drawing a pattern indicating a lane in which the vehicle is to travel or a direction in which the vehicle is to travel on a road surface in a form that is visually recognizable to a driver, and

and a controller that causes the lighting device to draw the pattern when an obstacle is detected in front of the vehicle by a sensor or communication.

2. The drive assist system according to claim 1,

the controller causes the lighting device to draw the pattern at a position closer to the vehicle than a stop distance from the obstacle.

3. The drive assist system according to claim 2,

the controller notifies the driver when a distance from the host vehicle to the obstacle is less than the stopping distance.

4. The drive assist system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the controller adjusts the timing of drawing the pattern according to the surrounding situation.

5. The drive assist system according to claim 4,

the controller is capable of detecting a passing vehicle from behind the vehicle, and upon detecting the passing vehicle, causing the pattern to be drawn after the passing is completed.

6. A lamp for a vehicle, characterized in that,

including a driving assistance system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A vehicle, characterized in that,

including a driving assistance system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a driving assistance system.

Background

As an example of the development of the high functionality of the vehicular lamp, a lamp that draws a figure and characters by irradiating a road surface with a light beam pattern has been proposed.

[ Prior art documents ]

[ patent document ]

Patent document 1 Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-030527

Disclosure of Invention

[ problems to be solved by the invention ]

The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and one of exemplary objects of an aspect thereof is to provide a driving assistance system that contributes to traffic safety.

[ means for solving the problems ]

One aspect of the invention relates to a driving assistance system. The driving assistance system includes: an illumination device configured to: a pattern that indicates a lane in which the vehicle should travel or a direction in which the vehicle should travel can be drawn on a road surface in a form that can be visually recognized by the driver; and a controller that causes the lighting device to draw a pattern when an obstacle is detected in front of the vehicle by a sensor or communication.

Any combination of the above-described constituent elements and the conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, and the like are also effective as aspects of the present invention.

[ Effect of the invention ]

According to an aspect of the present invention, a driving assistance system that contributes to traffic safety can be provided.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a driving assistance system according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 (a) to 2 (c) are diagrams illustrating the operation of the driving assistance system.

Fig. 3 (a) to 3 (d) are diagrams illustrating the operation of the driving assistance system.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a modification of the escape pattern PTN.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a driving assistance system according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 6 (a) to 6 (d) are views showing modified examples of the escape pattern.

Detailed Description

(outline of embodiment)

One embodiment disclosed herein relates to a driving assistance system. The driving assistance system includes a lighting device and a controller. The illumination device is configured to: a pattern indicating a lane in which the vehicle should travel or a direction in which the vehicle should travel can be drawn on the road surface in a form that can be visually recognized by the driver. The controller includes a controller that causes the lighting device to draw a pattern when an obstacle is detected in front of the vehicle by a sensor or communication.

The controller may cause the lighting device to draw a pattern at a position closer to the vehicle than a stop distance from the obstacle. This makes it possible to stop the vehicle ahead of the obstacle even if the steering operation cannot be performed in the recommended direction shown in the figure.

The controller may notify the driver when the vehicle is closer to the obstacle than the stop distance. This can prompt the driver to perform a braking or steering operation.

The controller may adjust the timing of drawing the pattern according to the surrounding conditions.

The controller may be configured to detect a passing vehicle from behind the host vehicle, and when detecting the passing vehicle, draw the pattern after the passing is completed. This prevents the overtaking vehicle from being obstructed before the overtaking vehicle is inserted.

The controller may be configured to detect a passing vehicle from behind the host vehicle, and the pattern may indicate the presence of the passing vehicle in addition to the traveling direction of the host vehicle when detecting the passing vehicle. This makes it possible to notify the driver of the presence of the passing vehicle and prevent the occurrence of an emergency brake.

(embodiment mode)

The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are not intended to limit the invention, but merely to exemplify the invention, and all the features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential features of the invention. The same or equivalent constituent elements, members, and processes shown in the respective drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are appropriately omitted.

(embodiment mode 1)

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a driving assistance system 100 according to embodiment 1. The driving assistance system 100 is mounted on a vehicle 200. The driving assistance system 100 includes an illumination device 110, a sensor 120, and a controller 130.

The illumination device 110 is configured to: a pattern PTN indicating a direction in which the host vehicle 200 should travel to avoid the obstacle 6 ahead (hereinafter referred to as an avoidance pattern) is visually recognized by the driver 4 and drawn on the road surface 2. The obstacle 6 is an irregular object, and may be exemplified by a road block, a signboard, a lamp, a road cone, etc., which indicate no-pass, a construction site, a trouble car, etc.

Since avoidance to the right and avoidance to the left may occur, a minimum of 2 avoidance patterns are required. In order to switch the 2 patterns, the illumination device 110 may be configured by a combination of a light source and a patterning device that patterns the intensity distribution of light emitted from the light source. As the patterning Device, a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) or a liquid crystal Device, etc. can be exemplified. Thus, the illumination device 110 can also be used to draw patterns other than the avoiding pattern.

Alternatively, a dedicated illumination device may be used to draw a avoidance pattern in the case of avoidance to the right and a avoidance pattern in the case of avoidance to the left.

The lighting device 110 may be built in the headlight 210. The lighting device 110 may include 2 light sources built in the left and right headlamps 210, and the avoidance pattern PTN may be formed by 2 light beams generated by the 2 light sources.

The sensor 120 senses the front of the vehicle. The type of the sensor 120 is not limited, but examples thereof include a monocular camera, a compound-eye camera, an infrared camera, a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor, and a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging, Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging), and the like. The position where the sensor 120 is disposed is not particularly limited, and may be the back surface of the room mirror, the front grille, or the front bumper, as shown in fig. 1. Alternatively, the sensor 120 may be housed in the headlamp 210 together with the lighting device 110.

The controller 130 determines the presence or absence of the obstacle 6 in front of the host vehicle 200 based on the output IMG of the sensor 120. Then, when detecting the obstacle 6, the controller 130 causes the lighting device 110 to draw the avoidance pattern PTN.

All the components of the driving assistance system 100 may be incorporated in a vehicle lamp such as the headlight 210. A high-function vehicle lamp represented by an Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) incorporates a camera, a processor, and the like, and therefore includes most of the hardware required for the Driving assistance system 100. In this case, the hardware can be shared by mounting the driving assistance system 100 to the headlamp 210.

The above is the configuration of the driving assistance system 100. Next, the operation will be described. Fig. 2 (a) to 2 (c) are diagrams illustrating the operation of the driving assistance system 100. The vehicle 200 is traveling upward in the figure in the right lane of the one-sided 2-lane road. An obstacle 6 is present in front of the vehicle 200.

When the obstacle 6 is detected based on the output of the sensor 120, the controller 130 draws the avoidance pattern PTN on the road surface. In this scene, since the driver cannot avoid the vehicle to the right, a avoiding pattern PTN urging a lane change to the left lane is drawn. Instead of drawing the avoidance pattern PTN, the driver may be urged to change lanes aurally.

The driver who recognizes the avoidance pattern PTN can turn the steering wheel to the left. This allows the vehicle 200 to move to the left lane and avoid the obstacle 6.

When an obstacle is present in the left lane while traveling in the left lane, a avoidance pattern urging a lane change to the right lane is drawn.

As described above, according to the driving assistance system 100 of the embodiment, it is possible to secure a margin for a driving operation by calling attention in advance, and it is possible to support safe driving.

As shown in fig. 2 (b), the controller 130 stops at a distance d from the obstacle 6_STOPIn this case, the lighting device 110 is preferably configured to draw a pattern. This makes it possible to stop the vehicle in front of the obstacle 6 even if the steering wheel cannot be turned in the recommended direction indicated by the escape pattern PTN. The controller 130 may calculate the stopping distance d in consideration of the vehicle speed, the degree of slip of the road surface, and the like_STOPAnd according to the stopping distance d at that time_STOPTo change the timing of drawing the avoidance pattern PTN.

The lighting device 110 may change the avoidance pattern PTN according to the distance to the obstacle 6. For example, the intensity of the light for drawing the escape pattern PTN may be increased as the distance to the obstacle 6 becomes shorter. Alternatively, the avoidance pattern PTN may be blinked as the distance to the obstacle 6 becomes shorter, thereby calling the driver to further attention.

Further, the controller 130 may notify the driver 4 when the distance from the host vehicle 200 to the obstacle 6 is smaller than the stopping distance. The means for notifying is not limited, and may be an auditory means such as a warning sound, a visual means using a lamp or an instrument panel, or a tactile means such as vibration. This can urge the driver to perform a braking operation or a steering operation.

Fig. 3 (a) to 3 (d) are diagrams illustrating the operation of the driving assistance system 100. The controller 130 adjusts the drawing timing of the avoidance pattern PTN according to the surrounding situation. In this example, as shown in fig. 3 (a), the vehicle 200 is traveling upward in the plane of the figure in the left lane of the one-sided 2-lane road. In front of the vehicle 200, an obstacle 6 is present. As shown in fig. 3 (b), in the lane after the change (right lane), there is a passing vehicle 202 coming from behind the host vehicle 200. In this case, if the overtaking vehicle 202 is ignored and the avoidance pattern PTN is directly drawn, the pattern is inserted directly in front of the overtaking vehicle 202, which is not preferable. In this case, as shown in fig. 3 (c), the passing vehicle 202 waits until the passing is completed, and draws the escape pattern PTN after the completion.

The presence of the passing vehicle 202 and the completion of the passing may be detected by a sensor mounted on the vehicle 200, by inter-vehicle communication, or by communication with an infrastructure.

As a scene to be adjusted in timing of drawing the avoidance pattern PTN, the following scene is also considered.

For example, when the obstacle 6 exists before the intersection, it is not preferable to perform a lane change at the intersection. In this case, the avoiding pattern PTN may be drawn after the intersection passes.

There may be situations where it is undesirable to make a lane change at the current vehicle speed. In this case, the standby may be performed until the vehicle accelerates or decelerates to the ideal vehicle speed, and the avoidance pattern PTN may be drawn after the vehicle reaches the ideal vehicle speed.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a modification of the escape pattern PTN. As described above, the controller 130 may be able to detect the passing vehicle 202 coming from behind the own vehicle. In this case, the avoidance pattern PTN' when the passing vehicle 202 is detected may indicate the traveling direction of the host vehicle and the presence of the passing vehicle 202. In this example, the large arrow 400 shows the direction in which the vehicle should travel, and the small arrow 402 shows the presence of the passing vehicle 202. This makes it possible to notify the driver 4 of the presence of the passing vehicle 202 and prevent the occurrence of an emergency brake.

(embodiment mode 2)

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a driving assistance system 100A according to embodiment 2. The driving assistance system 100A includes a wireless communication device 140 in addition to, or instead of, the sensor 120. The wireless communication device 140 determines information representing the conditions around the vehicle from the traffic infrastructure 8. This information also includes information about the obstacle 6 present in front of the vehicle. The controller 130 detects the obstacle 6 based on the information acquired by the wireless communication device 140 and draws the avoidance pattern PTN.

In addition to or instead of the traffic infrastructure 8, the wireless communication device 140 may communicate with a wireless communication device mounted in another vehicle, and may acquire information about the obstacle 6 from the other vehicle.

The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments are merely illustrative, and various modifications are possible in the combination of their respective constituent elements or respective processing procedures, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. Hereinafter, such a modification will be described.

(modification 1)

Fig. 6 (a) to 6 (d) are views showing modified examples of the escape pattern. As shown in fig. 6 (a) to 6 (c), the arrow indicating the recommended travel direction is not limited to an arrow pointing in an oblique direction. As shown in fig. 6 (d), a mark 404 visually indicating the presence of an obstacle may be included in addition to the arrow.

(modification 2)

The lighting device 110 may be configured to draw a pattern other than the escape pattern on the road surface. In this case, for example, the road sign or the legal maximum speed may be read, and the read information may be drawn on the road surface by the lighting device 110. Alternatively, the recommended travel direction based on the navigation may be plotted on the road surface.

(modification 3)

In the event of a failure or abnormality in a running vehicle, the vehicle may become a potential obstacle in the future. Therefore, the vehicle in which the failure or abnormality has occurred may notify the following vehicle of the message by the inter-vehicle communication. When the following vehicle receives the notification from the preceding vehicle, the following vehicle may treat the preceding vehicle as an obstacle and draw the avoidance pattern PTN on the road surface, using the notification as a trigger.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments using specific terms, the embodiments only show one side of the principle and application of the present invention, and in the embodiments, many modifications and arrangements are allowed without departing from the scope of the idea of the present invention defined in the claims.

[ Industrial availability ]

The present invention relates to a driving assistance system.

[ description of reference numerals ]

2 road surface

4 drivers

6 obstacle

8 traffic infrastructure

100 driving assistance system

110 lighting device

120 sensor

130 controller

140 radio communication device

200 vehicle

202 vehicle

210 head lamp