Driver condition detecting device, in-vehicle alarm system and drive assistance system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A driver condition detecting device for detecting a driving condition of a driver of a subject vehicle relative to a preceding vehicle in a traveling direction of the subject vehicle, comprising:
- a driver condition coefficient computation unit that computes a driver condition coefficient K that indicates a degree of change in a size of an image of the preceding vehicle as viewed from the driver of the subject vehicle, the degree of change in the size of an image of the preceding vehicle being the degree of change of an area per unit time in the size of the image of the preceding vehicle acquired by an image pickup device;
a driver condition detecting device that detects the driving condition of the driver based on the driver condition coefficient K computed by the driver condition coefficient computation unit;
when the driving condition indicates normal or appropriate, the driver can perform a driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained, when the driving condition indicates at least inappropriate, the driver cannot perform the driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained; and
an inter-vehicle distance detecting device that detects an inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle,wherein the driver condition coefficient computation unit computes the driver condition coefficient K as K=(−
2/D3)×
(dD/dt), in which the inter-vehicle distance is represented by D and change in the inter-vehicle distance per unit time is represented by dD/dt, the inter-vehicle distance being assumed equal to a distance between the driver'"'"'s eyes and the preceding vehicle.
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Abstract
When there is a preceding vehicle in a traveling direction of a subject vehicle, an ECU computes a driver condition coefficient that represents degree of change in the size of an image of the preceding vehicle as viewed from the driver is computed. The driving condition of the driver is detected from this driver condition coefficient and used to provide an alarm indicative of the driving condition and to control vehicle travel condition.
87 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A driver condition detecting device for detecting a driving condition of a driver of a subject vehicle relative to a preceding vehicle in a traveling direction of the subject vehicle, comprising:
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a driver condition coefficient computation unit that computes a driver condition coefficient K that indicates a degree of change in a size of an image of the preceding vehicle as viewed from the driver of the subject vehicle, the degree of change in the size of an image of the preceding vehicle being the degree of change of an area per unit time in the size of the image of the preceding vehicle acquired by an image pickup device; a driver condition detecting device that detects the driving condition of the driver based on the driver condition coefficient K computed by the driver condition coefficient computation unit;
when the driving condition indicates normal or appropriate, the driver can perform a driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained, when the driving condition indicates at least inappropriate, the driver cannot perform the driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained; andan inter-vehicle distance detecting device that detects an inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle, wherein the driver condition coefficient computation unit computes the driver condition coefficient K as K=(−
2/D3)×
(dD/dt), in which the inter-vehicle distance is represented by D and change in the inter-vehicle distance per unit time is represented by dD/dt, the inter-vehicle distance being assumed equal to a distance between the driver'"'"'s eyes and the preceding vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A driver condition detecting device for detecting a driving condition of a driver of a subject vehicle relative to a preceding vehicle in a traveling direction of the subject vehicle, comprising:
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a driver condition coefficient computation unit that computes a driver condition coefficient K that indicates a degree of change in a size of an image of the preceding vehicle as viewed from the driver of the subject vehicle, the degree of change in the size of an image of the preceding vehicle being the degree of change of an area per unit time in the size of the image of the preceding vehicle acquired by an image pickup device; a driver condition detecting that detects the driving condition of the driver based on the driver condition coefficient computed by the driver condition coefficient computation unit;
when the driving condition indicates normal or appropriate, the driver can perform a driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained, when the driving condition indicates at least inappropriate, the driver cannot perform the driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained;an inter-vehicle distance detecting that detects an inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle; a subject vehicle speed detecting device that detects a vehicle speed of the subject vehicle; and at least either of a first relative speed computing device that computes the relative speed between the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle from the vehicle speed of the subject vehicle and temporal change in the inter-vehicle distance and a second relative speed detecting device that detects the relative speed between the preceding vehicle and the subject vehicle, wherein the driver condition coefficient computation unit computes the driver condition coefficient K as K=(−
2/D3)×
Vr, in which the inter-vehicle distance is represented by D and the relative speed is represented by Vr, the inter-vehicle distance being assumed equal to a distance between the driver'"'"'s eyes and the preceding vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A driver condition detecting device for detecting a driving condition of a driver of a subject vehicle relative to a preceding vehicle in a traveling direction of the subject vehicle, comprising:
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a driver condition coefficient computation unit that computes a driver condition coefficient K that indicates a degree of change in a size of an image of the preceding vehicle as viewed from the driver of the subject vehicle, the degree of change in the size of an actual image of the preceding vehicle being the degree of change of an area per unit time in the size of the image of the preceding vehicle acquired by an image pickup device; a driver condition detecting device that detects the driving condition of the driver based on the driver condition coefficient computed by the driver condition coefficient computation unit;
when the driving condition indicates normal or appropriate, the driver can perform a driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained, when the driving condition indicates at least inappropriate, the driver cannot perform the driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained; andthe image pickup device that is mounted in the subject vehicle and picks up an actual image of the preceding vehicle, wherein the driver condition coefficient K is computed as a derivative of an area of the preceding vehicle in the actual image picked up by the image pickup device with respect to time computed from an inter-vehicle distance D and change in the inter-vehicle distance per unit time is represented by dD/dt, the inter-vehicle distance being assumed equal to a distance between the driver'"'"'s eyes and the preceding vehicle.
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25. An in-vehicle alarm system comprising:
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a driver condition detecting device for detecting a driving condition of a driver of a subject vehicle relative to a preceding vehicle in a traveling direction of the subject vehicle, the driver condition detecting device comprising, a driver condition coefficient computation unit that computes a driver condition coefficient K that indicates a degree of change in a size of an image of the preceding vehicle as viewed from the driver of the subject vehicle, the degree of change in the size of an image of the preceding vehicle being the degree of change of an area per unit time in the size of the image of the preceding vehicle acquired by an image pickup device; and a driver condition detecting device that detects the driving condition of the driver based on the driver condition coefficient computed by the driver condition coefficient computation unit;
when the driving condition indicates normal or appropriate, the driver can perform a driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained, when the driving condition indicates at least inappropriate, the driver cannot perform the driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained; andan alarm generating device that generates an alarm to the driver, wherein the driver condition coefficient is indicated by a positive or negative value relative to a value obtained when there is no change in the size of an image of the preceding vehicle, wherein, when the size of the image of the preceding vehicle is changed and increased, the driver condition coefficient takes the positive value, wherein, when the size of the image of the preceding vehicle is changed and reduced, the driver condition coefficient takes the negative value, wherein, when the driver condition coefficient takes the positive value, the alarm generating device generates the alarm, and wherein the driver condition coefficient K is computed as a derivative of an area of the preceding vehicle in the actual image picked up by the image pickup device with respect to time computed from an inter-vehicle distance D and change in the inter-vehicle distance per unit time is represented by dD/dt, the inter-vehicle distance being assumed equal to a distance between the driver'"'"'s eyes and the preceding vehicle.
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26. A drive assistance system comprising:
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a driver condition detecting device for detecting a driving condition of a driver of a subject vehicle relative to a preceding vehicle in a traveling direction of the subject vehicle, the driver condition detecting device comprising, a driver condition coefficient computation unit that computes a driver condition coefficient K that indicates a degree of change in a size of an image of the preceding vehicle as viewed from the driver of the subject vehicle, the degree of change in the size of an image of the preceding vehicle being the degree of change of an area per unit time in the size of the image of the preceding vehicle acquired by an image pickup device; and a driver condition detecting device that detects the driving condition of the driver based on the driver condition coefficient computed by the driver condition coefficient computation unit;
when the driving condition indicates normal or appropriate, the driver can perform a driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained, when the driving condition indicates at least inappropriate, the driver cannot perform the driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained; andan acceleration/deceleration controlling device that, when the subject vehicle travels following the preceding vehicle, carries out at least either of acceleration control in which the subject vehicle is accelerated and deceleration control in which the subject vehicle is decelerated based on the driver condition coefficient, wherein the driver condition coefficient is indicated by a positive or negative value relative to the value obtained when there is no change in the size of an image of the preceding vehicle, wherein the driver condition coefficient takes a positive value when the size of an image of the preceding vehicle is changed and increased, wherein the driver condition coefficient takes a negative value when the size of an image of the preceding vehicle is changed and reduced, wherein the acceleration/deceleration controlling device carries out the deceleration control when the driver condition coefficient takes the positive value, and the acceleration control when the driver condition coefficient takes the negative value, and wherein the driver condition coefficient K is computed as a derivative of an area of the preceding vehicle in the actual image picked up by the image pickup device with respect to time computed from an inter-vehicle distance D and change in the inter-vehicle distance per unit time is represented by dD/dt, the inter-vehicle distance being assumed equal to a distance between the driver'"'"'s eyes and the preceding vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A drive assistance system comprising:
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a driver condition detecting device for detecting a driving condition of a driver of a subject vehicle relative to a preceding vehicle in a traveling direction of the subject vehicle, the driver condition detecting device comprising, a driver condition coefficient computation unit that computes a driver condition coefficient K that indicates a degree of change in a size of an image of the preceding vehicle as viewed from the driver of the subject vehicle, the degree of change in the size of an image of the preceding vehicle being the degree of change of an area per unit time in the size of the image of the preceding vehicle acquired by an image pickup device; and a driver condition detecting device that detects the driving condition of the driver based on the driver condition coefficient computed by the driver condition coefficient computation unit;
when the driving condition indicates normal or appropriate, the driver can perform a driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained, when the driving condition indicates at least inappropriate, the driver cannot perform the driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained; andan acceleration/deceleration controlling device that, when the subject vehicle travels following the preceding vehicle, carries out at least either of acceleration control in which the subject vehicle is accelerated and deceleration control in which the subject vehicle is decelerated based on the driver condition coefficient, wherein, even when at least either of acceleration operation and brake operation by the driver of the subject vehicle intervenes while the acceleration control or the deceleration control is being carried out, the acceleration/deceleration controlling device carries out the acceleration control or the deceleration control without interruption, and wherein the driver condition coefficient K is computed as a derivative of an area of the preceding vehicle in the actual image picked up by the image pickup device with respect to time computed from an inter-vehicle distance D and change in the inter-vehicle distance per unit time is represented by dD/dt, the inter-vehicle distance being assumed equal to a distance between the driver'"'"'s eyes and the preceding vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A drive assistance system comprising:
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a driver condition detecting device for detecting a driving condition of a driver of a subject vehicle relative to a preceding vehicle in a traveling direction of the subject vehicle, the driver condition detecting device comprising, a driver condition coefficient computation unit that computes a driver condition coefficient K that indicates a degree of change in a size of an image of the preceding vehicle as viewed from the driver of the subject vehicle, the degree of change in the size of an image of the preceding vehicle being the degree of change of an area per unit time in the size of the image of the preceding vehicle acquired by an image pickup device; and a driver condition detecting device that detects the driving condition of the driver based on the driver condition coefficient computed by the driver condition coefficient computation unit;
when the driving condition indicates normal or appropriate, the driver can perform a driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained, when the driving condition indicates at least inappropriate, the driver cannot perform the driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained; andan acceleration/deceleration controlling device that, when the subject vehicle travels following the preceding vehicle, carries out at least either of acceleration control in which the subject vehicle is accelerated and deceleration control in which the subject vehicle is decelerated based on the driver condition coefficient, wherein the deceleration control by the acceleration/deceleration controlling device is such that a plurality of different threshold values are set for the driver condition coefficient and a plurality of different decelerations to be generated in the subject vehicle are set for the threshold values, wherein the subject vehicle is decelerated at a deceleration corresponding to the value of the driver condition coefficient, and wherein the driver condition coefficient K is computed as a derivative of an area of the preceding vehicle in the actual image picked up by the image pickup device with respect to time computed from an inter-vehicle distance D and change in the inter-vehicle distance per unit time is represented by dD/dt, the inter-vehicle distance being assumed equal to a distance between the driver'"'"'s eyes and the preceding vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A driver condition detecting device for detecting a driving condition of a driver of a subject vehicle relative to a preceding vehicle in a traveling direction of the subject vehicle, comprising:
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a sensing device that senses a forward condition of the subject vehicle and provides a signal of the forward condition; a driver condition coefficient computation unit that computes, based on the signal of the forward condition, a driver condition coefficient K that indicates a degree of change in a size of an image of the preceding vehicle with respect to time as viewed from the driver of the subject vehicle, the degree of change in the size of an image of the preceding vehicle being the degree of change of an area per unit time in the size of the image of the preceding vehicle acquired by an image pickup device; and a driver condition detecting device that detects the driving condition of the driver based on the driver condition coefficient computed by the driver condition coefficient computation unit;
when the driving condition indicates normal or appropriate, the driver can perform a driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained, when the driving condition indicates at least inappropriate, the driver cannot perform the driving operation such that a certain inter-vehicle distance is maintained;wherein the driver condition coefficient K is computed as a derivative of an area of the preceding vehicle in the actual image picked up by the image pickup device with respect to time computed from an inter-vehicle distance D and change in the inter-vehicle distance per unit time is represented by dD/dt, the inter-vehicle distance being assumed equal to a distance between the driver'"'"'s eyes and the preceding vehicle.
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Specification