JP2000355820A - Alarm system for two-wheeled vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an alarm system for two-wheeled vehicles and generating warning sounds informing drivers of the direction (position) of the object to be alerted. SOLUTION: This alarm system for two-wheeled vehicles has loudspeakers 11a and 11b situated at right and left insides of the helmet worn by the driver and warning sounds are generated so as to hear the sounds from the direction of the object to be alerted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a warning device for a two-wheeled vehicle for notifying the direction of an object to be warned, and more particularly to a warning device for a two-wheeled vehicle for outputting a warning sound from left and right speakers provided in a helmet. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an alarm device for a four-wheeled vehicle for notifying that an object such as another vehicle, a pedestrian, an obstacle or the like which may collide with or contact the own vehicle is approaching. Have been.
For example, as this alarm device, the position of an object within a predetermined range of the vehicle is detected by the object detection means. In some cases, an alarm sound is output from any one of the speakers provided at the four corners of the vehicle to inform the driver of the direction (position) of the object.

[0003] Two-wheeled vehicles, like four-wheeled vehicles, have the danger of collision or contact with other vehicles, pedestrians, obstacles, and the like. In addition, since the driver of a motorcycle has a narrow field of view during traveling due to the wearing of a helmet and the riding posture, the amount of information on the surrounding situation that can be acquired is smaller than that of a driver of a four-wheeled vehicle.

[0004]

However, there is no warning device for two-wheeled vehicles, such as a warning device for four-wheeled vehicles, for notifying the direction of an object that may collide or come into contact with the vehicle. Therefore, the motorcycle driver must constantly check the surroundings by his / her own sight and hearing. In addition, a motorcycle has a small mounting space and, unlike a four-wheeled vehicle, does not have a driver inside the vehicle, so it is difficult for the driver to recognize an alarm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a warning device for a two-wheeled vehicle which outputs a warning sound to inform a driver of a direction (position) of an object to be warned.

[0006]

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a two-wheeled vehicle alarm system which outputs an alarm sound to notify a driver of an object to be warned. Speakers are provided on the left and right sides in the helmet, and the speaker outputs an alarm sound so that the user can hear the alarm sound from the direction of the object to be alarmed. According to this two-wheeled vehicle alarm device, the driver can recognize the direction (position) of the object to be warned located in an arbitrary direction only by outputting the warning sound from the speakers provided on the left and right inside the helmet. it can. The object to be warned is an object that is expected to collide with or come into contact with a motorcycle equipped with a motorcycle warning device, and may be placed on a road such as a vehicle (including a motorcycle and a four-wheeled vehicle), a person, and a telephone pole. It is an object or a building built along a road.

A two-wheeled vehicle alarm device according to the present invention that has solved the above-mentioned problems is a two-wheeled vehicle alarm device that outputs an alarm sound to notify a driver of another dangerous vehicle.
Information receiving means for receiving other vehicle information from another vehicle, determining means for determining whether the other vehicle is at risk, and speakers provided on the left and right inside a helmet worn by a driver; Is configured to output an alarm sound from the speaker so that an alarm sound can be heard from the direction of the other vehicle when it is determined that the other vehicle is dangerous. According to this two-wheeled vehicle alarm device, by using the inter-vehicle communication, by acquiring other vehicle information such as the current position, traveling direction, speed, and direction indicator, it is possible to accurately detect the position of the other vehicle, The traveling direction of another vehicle can also be detected. Therefore, the positional relationship between the two-wheeled vehicle equipped with the two-wheeled vehicle alarm device and another vehicle can be accurately calculated, and the possibility of a collision can be determined with high accuracy.

Further, in the motorcycle alarm device,
The helmet is provided with helmet direction detecting means for detecting the direction of the helmet, and the direction of the alarm sound is corrected based on the direction of the helmet detected by the helmet direction detecting means. According to this alarm device for a motorcycle, even if the driver is looking in an arbitrary direction, the direction of the alarm sound is corrected based on the direction of the helmet. Other car)
Direction (position) can be recognized. The direction of the alarm sound is the direction of the current position of the object to be alarmed (other dangerous vehicle) with reference to the front center axis of the helmet. Further, the direction of the alarm sound may be set with reference to the center axis of the motorcycle (when the motorcycle is viewed in plan).

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A warning device for a motorcycle according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram of a motorcycle warning device, FIG. 2 is a model diagram of a head-related transfer function applied to the motorcycle warning device, and FIG. 3 is an intersection of a motorcycle equipped with the motorcycle warning device and a right-turning four-wheeled vehicle. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship at an intersection between a motorcycle equipped with a motorcycle warning device and a four-wheel vehicle turning left,
FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating a helmet direction detecting means of the motorcycle warning device. FIG. 5A is a plan view when the driver is facing the traveling direction, and FIG. 5B is a diagram when the driver is facing the direction of the warning target. (C) is a perspective view of a helmet, FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an alarm process using inter-vehicle communication by a motorcycle alarm device, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an alarm sound output process in the flowchart of FIG. is there.

In the motorcycle alarm device of the present embodiment, a main device is mounted on a motorcycle, and a helmet worn by a driver is provided with a part of helmet orientation detecting means. The motorcycle warning device collects information around the motorcycle and detects an object to be warned. Then, the motorcycle warning device notifies the driver of the direction (position) of the object to be warned by outputting a warning sound from the left and right speakers of the helmet.
The motorcycle according to the present embodiment is a motorcycle equipped with an engine.

First, with reference to FIG. 1, the structure of a warning device for a motorcycle (hereinafter referred to as a warning device) 1 will be described. The alarm device 1 mainly includes an inter-vehicle communication device 2, a pedestrian detection unit 3, an obstacle detection unit 4, a helmet orientation detection unit 5, a GPS receiver 6, a CPU (central processing unit) 7,
It comprises a ROM (read only memory) 8, a D / A (digital-analog converter) 9, an AMP (amplifier) 10, and a speaker 11. Note that the two-wheeled vehicle B on which the alarm device 1 is mounted refers to FIGS. 3 to 5, and the driver D who gets on the two-wheeled vehicle B refers to FIGS. 2 to 5.

The inter-vehicle communication device 2 is a device that receives information transmitted from another vehicle traveling around the motorcycle B equipped with the alarm device 1 and transmits information to the other vehicle.
Incidentally, when there are a plurality of other vehicles, it is assumed that the information is sequentially received in a time-division manner. The inter-vehicle communication device 2 mainly includes an antenna (not shown) and a communication device (not shown). The antenna receives radio waves from other vehicles and transmits radio waves to other vehicles. The communication device includes a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver amplifies and demodulates the radio wave received by the antenna, and transmits it to CPU 7 as a signal. The transmitter is
The signal from the CPU 7 is modulated and amplified, and transmitted as a radio wave to the antenna. The inter-vehicle communication device 2 is an information receiving unit described in the claims.

The information (other vehicle information) transmitted from the other vehicle is information that can predict the current position of the other vehicle and traveling from the current position. Specifically, the current position, traveling direction, It is information such as a speed and a direction indicator. further,
An identification number or the like for identifying a vehicle. On the other hand, the information to be transmitted to the other vehicle includes, when a collision or a contact with the motorcycle B equipped with the alarm device 1 is expected, the warning information and the current position and the traveling direction of the motorcycle B as necessary. , Speed, direction indicator, identification number, and the like.

Incidentally, it is assumed that another vehicle is also equipped with an inter-vehicle communication device having the same operation as the inter-vehicle communication device 2. Further, it is assumed that the other vehicle is equipped with a GPS receiver alone or a navigation device to detect the current position, the traveling direction, and the like.

The pedestrian detecting means 3 detects a person (pedestrian) present around the motorcycle B on which the alarm device 1 is mounted.
Note that not only people but also bicycles, wheelchairs, animals, and the like are detected. The pedestrian detection means 3 detects a walking person or the like by image recognition using infrared rays. When detecting a person or the like, the pedestrian detection means 3 calculates the position of the person (or the direction from the motorcycle B), the traveling direction, and the like, and transmits the information to the CPU 7. In addition, the pedestrian detection means 3 considers the angle range of the emitted infrared rays,
It is installed at several places of the motorcycle B. Incidentally, the pedestrian detecting means 3 is particularly effective at nighttime because infrared light is used as the detecting means.

The obstacle detecting means 4 detects an obstacle existing around the motorcycle B on which the alarm device 1 is mounted. The obstacles include objects such as telephone poles and guardrails on the road, and walls and houses built along the road. In addition, as the obstacle, another vehicle, a person detected by the pedestrian detection means 3,
This includes bicycles and wheelchairs. Obstacle detection means 4
Emits an ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic wave is reflected by an obstacle, and the reflected ultrasonic wave is received. Then, the obstacle detection means 4 measures the time from when the ultrasonic wave is emitted to when the ultrasonic wave is received, and calculates the distance to the obstacle. Further, the obstacle detecting means 4 is installed at several places around the motorcycle B and detects the direction of the obstacle. Further, the obstacle detecting means 4 transmits to the CPU 7 information on the distance to the obstacle, the direction from the motorcycle B, and the like.

The helmet direction detecting means 5 includes a driver D
Detects the angle difference between the front center axis HC of the helmet H worn by the vehicle and the traveling direction of the motorcycle B (FIGS. 5A and 5B).
reference). That is, the driver D riding the motorcycle B
It detects which direction the player is facing with respect to the traveling direction. Incidentally, when the driver D is driving in the traveling direction of the motorcycle B, the angle difference is 0 ° (see FIG. 5).
(See (a)). And the helmet direction detection means 5
The information on the detected angle difference is transmitted to the CPU 7. Note that the front center axis HC of the helmet H is an axis connecting the origin G (the center of the helmet H) to the front center of the helmet H in a plan view of the helmet H.

Here, an example of the helmet orientation detecting means 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The helmet direction detecting means 5 mainly includes LEDs (light emitting diodes) 5a, 5b, 5c,... Provided on the helmet H and a light receiving element 5d provided on the motorcycle B. LEDs 5a, 5b,
5c is provided at the lowermost part on the front side of the helmet H (see FIG. 5C). Although the helmet H shown in FIG. 5C is shown only on the left side, LEDs are similarly provided on the right side of the helmet H. LED 5a, 5
b, 5c,... each emit a different color. Also, the intervals at which the LEDs 5a, 5b, 5c,... Are provided are, for example, 10 ° left and right with respect to the front center axis HC of the helmet H. The angle interval may be set to an arbitrary angle interval in consideration of the required accuracy of the alarm device 1. Although the helmet H shown in FIG. 5C has only three LEDs 5a, 5b, and 5c, the number is determined in consideration of the maximum angle at which the driver D can bend the neck. In addition, LED
, 5a, 5b, 5c,... Emits light when electric energy is supplied from a power supply device (not shown) incorporated inside the helmet H.

The light receiving element 5d is provided on the central axis of the motorcycle B (when the motorcycle B is viewed in plan) and near the place where the meter is installed (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). That is, when the driver D rides on the motorcycle B wearing the helmet H, the light receiving element 5d is provided at a position where the LEDs 5a, 5b, 5c,... An element capable of detecting the color of light is used as the light receiving element 5d. The light receiving element 5d includes LEDs 5a, 5b, 5c,.
Helmet H from the color of the light
Detect the orientation of That is, the traveling direction of the motorcycle B and the gaze direction of the driver D are detected as an angle difference (FIG. 5).
(See (a) and (b)). Then, the information of this angle difference is
Transmit to CPU7.

The GPS receiver 6 detects the current position and the traveling direction (own vehicle information) of the motorcycle B on which the alarm device 1 is mounted. The GPS receiver 6 receives orbit information and time information of a satellite transmitted from a GPS satellite from a plurality of GPS satellites, and calculates a current position, a traveling direction, and the like from the information. G
The PS receiver 6 mainly includes an antenna unit (not shown),
It comprises a high-frequency section (not shown), a signal demodulation section (not shown), and a positioning calculation section (not shown). The antenna part is GP
A weak radio wave is received from the S satellite and amplified. The high frequency section converts the amplified high frequency signal into an intermediate frequency signal,
Amplify further. The signal demodulation unit demodulates the signal,
The distance between the receiver 6 and the GPS satellite is calculated. The positioning calculation unit, based on the distance from the GPS satellite and the navigation message,
The traveling direction is calculated from the current position, the speed and the time, and the current position and the past current position data. And GPS
The receiver 6 sends the information on the current position and the traveling direction to the CPU 7.
Send to

In this embodiment, radio navigation by the GPS receiver 6 is used to detect the current position and the like. Furthermore, in order to further improve the accuracy, a self-contained navigation using a distance sensor and an azimuth sensor may be added to form a hybrid navigation, and the current position and the like may be detected by performing map matching using electronic map data.

The CPU 7 loads the alarm processing program stored in the ROM 8 into a RAM (not shown), executes the alarm processing program, and controls the alarm device 1 overall. Note that the alarm processing program is a program for performing all the processing of the alarm device 1, and mainly includes an information collection program for collecting information around the motorcycle B, a determination program for determining whether or not an alarm should be issued, and an alarm sound. It consists of an alarm sound output program to be output. Incidentally, the information collection program uses the inter-vehicle communication device 2, the pedestrian detection unit 3, and the obstacle detection unit 4 to obtain information around the motorcycle B (other vehicle information, etc.).
Is a program for collecting information. The determination program is a program that determines whether there is a possibility of collision or contact with an object around the motorcycle B based on the collected information around the motorcycle B and the own vehicle information. The alarm sound output program, when it is determined that there is an object to be alarmed, the direction of the helmet H obtained from the helmet direction detecting means 5 and the positional relationship between the motorcycle B and the object to be alarmed (alarm sound localization direction). The direction of the alarm sound is calculated from the alarm sound, and the alarm sound data corresponding to the direction of the alarm sound is stored in the ROM.
8 and output from the speaker 11. The determining means described in the claims comprises a CPU 7, a determining program, a RAM (not shown), and the like.

The ROM 8 is a memory for storing alarm sound data, an alarm processing program, and the like. Note that the alarm sound data is alarm sound data corrected so that the alarm sound can be heard from any direction, and is stored as digital data. The alarm sound data includes a plurality of alarm sound data corresponding to the direction of the alarm sound. Incidentally, the direction of the alarm sound is defined, for example, at intervals of 10 ° left and right from the front center axis HC of the helmet H (see FIG. 5).

The D / A 9 converts the alarm sound data (alarm sound data stored in the ROM 8) selected by the CPU 7 into analog data. The D / A 9 transmits the alarm sound data read from the ROM 8 by the CPU 7,
The data is transmitted to the AMP 10 as analog data.

The AMP 10 amplifies the analogized alarm sound data and transmits it to the speakers 11a and 11b.

The speaker 11 outputs the alarm sound data from the left and right
To output to driver D, left inside helmet H
The right speaker 11a and the left speaker 11b are provided on the right.
Be killed. The speaker 11 is an analog alarm sound
Data from electrical signals to acoustic signals and radiate them into space.
You. Note that the speaker 11 is installed inside the helmet H.
Therefore, the driver D's right ear D_R
Warning sound directly to the driver from the left speaker 11b
D's left ear D_LThe alarm sounds directly to the user (see FIG. 2). That
Therefore, the alarm sound output from the right speaker 11a is
Iva D's left ear D _LDoes not reach. On the other hand, left speaker 1
1b is the driver D's right ear D_RTo
Does not reach.

The alarm device 1 includes the left and right speakers 11
The warning sound is output from a and 11b so that the driver D can hear the warning sound from an arbitrary direction. By the way, when listening to sound, humans detect the direction of the sound source from the time difference and the intensity difference between the acoustic signals reaching the left and right ears. Therefore, the position of the sound source can be changed to an arbitrary position by causing a time difference and an intensity difference between the acoustic signals reaching the left and right ears. In addition, the sound contains a wide frequency component. Therefore, an acoustic signal of an alarm sound having a frequency characteristic that causes a time difference and an intensity difference between the above-described acoustic signals is obtained for each of the left and right ears using the head-related transfer function.
Then, as the alarm sound data, the time differences and the intensities of the sound signals corresponding to a plurality of alarm sound directions (that is, directions in which the alarm sound is heard based on the front center axis HC of the helmet H (see FIG. 5)). The digital data of the sound signal of the alarm sound that causes the difference to be generated by the outputs from the speakers 11a and 11b is stored in the ROM 8.

Here, the head-related transfer function used in the alarm device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows one model of the head-related transfer function applied to the alarm device 1. Specifically, the driver D sends the loudspeakers 11 a and 11 a so that the sound signal S (jw) of the alarm sound is heard from the virtual sound source 12.
11B shows a model that outputs acoustic signals S _R (jw) and S _L (jw) of the alarm sound to the right ear D _R and the left ear D _L of the driver D from 11b, respectively. Since the speakers 11a and 11b are provided in the helmet H, the driver D's right ear D _R and left ear D _R
L at each position. The acoustic signal S alarm sound audio signal of the alarm sound output from the right speaker 11a S _R (jw) is the right ear D _R only, and is outputted from the left speaker 11b
_It is assumed that _L (jw) can be heard only by the left ear D _L. Actually, the direction (position) of the virtual sound source 12 is the direction (position) of the object to be warned. Equation 1 shows that the loudspeakers 11a and 11b based on the head-related transfer functions H _R (jw) and H _L (jw)
The formulas for calculating the sound signals S _R (jw) and S _L (jw) of the alarm sound output from are shown below.

[0029]

(Equation 1)

The head-related transfer functions H _R (jw) and H _L (jw) change according to the direction (position) of the virtual sound source 12.
The sound transmission characteristics from the driver D to the ears D _R and D _L of the driver D are represented as frequency characteristics. Therefore, when a plurality of directions (positions) of the virtual sound source 12 are defined, the head-related transfer functions H _R (jw) and H _L (jw) are set according to the direction (position) of the virtual sound source 12. For example, the direction of the alarm sound (the direction of the virtual sound source 12) is set to the front center axis H of the helmet H.
Assuming that the angle is defined at intervals of 10 ° from left to right from C, the head-related transfer functions H _R (jw) and H _L (jw) are set according to the respective angles. Incidentally, the binaural head-related transfer function H _R (jw),
Difference H _L (jw) is binaural D _R, the sound signal into the D _L S _R (j
w), a time difference between S _L (jw) and an intensity difference. The transfer functions G _R (jw) and G _L (jw) correspond to the speakers 11a, 11b.
Of the speakers 11a, 11b
The sound transmission characteristics from the earphones to the eardrum of each ear D _R and D _L are represented as frequency characteristics. Then, each acoustic signal S _R (j
w) and S _L (jw) are, as shown in Expression 1, the head-related transfer functions H to the sound signal S (jw) of the alarm sound heard from the virtual sound source 12.
_R (jw), convolution operation by H _L (jw) and each transfer function G _R
(jw) and G _L (jw). The sound signals S _R (jw) and S _L are stored in the ROM 8.
(jw) is stored as digital data according to the direction of the alarm sound. Also, the ROM 8 stores the sound signal S _R (j
The head-related transfer functions H _R (jw) and H _L (jw) may be stored according to the direction of the alarm sound instead of the digital data of w) and S _L (jw).

Next, the alarm processing by the alarm device 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. here,
The object to be warned is a four-wheeled vehicle (other vehicle). Note that this four-wheeled vehicle (other vehicle) is a means for detecting the current position (GPS)
Receiver) and an inter-vehicle communication device. The positional relationship between the motorcycle B and the other vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 3, intersection C
At P, the motorcycle B equipped with the alarm device 1 goes straight ahead,
This shows a case where another vehicle V1 traveling in the opposite lane turns right. In this case, due to the presence of the other vehicle V3, the driver D of the motorcycle B and the driver of the other vehicle V1 communicate with each other by the other vehicle V1.
Alternatively, it is difficult to confirm the existence of the motorcycle B. FIG. 4 shows a case where the motorcycle B equipped with the alarm device 1 goes straight at the intersection CP, and the other vehicle V4 running on the right side of the motorcycle B turns left. In this case, it is difficult for the driver of the other vehicle V4 to confirm the presence of the motorcycle B. In addition, about the alarm device 1, FIG.
See

Other vehicles V1, V existing around the motorcycle B
2, V3 (see FIG. 3) or other vehicle V4 (see FIG. 4)
The current position and the traveling direction are detected using a GPS receiver or the like. And the other vehicle V1, V2, V3 or the other vehicle V4
Transmits the other vehicle information using the inter-vehicle communication device. The other vehicle information is information such as a current position, a traveling direction, a speed, a direction indicator, and an identification number.

The alarm device 1 mounted on the motorcycle B
Receives the other vehicle information by the inter-vehicle communication device 2 (S1).
0). After the reception, the other vehicle information is transmitted to the CPU 7. Incidentally, in the case of FIG. 3, other vehicle information from the other vehicles V1, V2, V3 is received, and in the case of FIG. 4, other vehicle information from the other vehicle V4 is received. In addition, the alarm device 1 includes a pedestrian detection unit 3.
The information about the surroundings of the motorcycle B is also collected from the obstacle detection means 4.

The alarm device 1 detects the current position and the traveling direction (own vehicle information) with the GPS receiver 6 (S2).
0). Then, the information such as the current position is transmitted to the CPU 7.

The CPU 7 determines the other vehicles V1, V2, V3 from other vehicle information and information (own vehicle information) such as the current position of the motorcycle B and the like.
(In the case of FIG. 3) or whether there is a possibility of collision or contact with another vehicle V4 (in the case of FIG. 4) (that is,
1, V2, V3, and V4 are at risk for the motorcycle B) (S30). In the case of FIG.
Is determined for each of the other vehicles V1, V2, and V3. Although the current positions of both vehicles are still far from the other vehicle V1,
When the traveling direction of the other vehicle V1 and the traveling direction of the two-wheeled vehicle B, the right turn information of the direction indicator of the other vehicle V1, the vehicle speed of both vehicles, and the like are comprehensively determined, it is determined that there is a possibility of collision. Other car V2
Since the current positions of both vehicles are distant and the traveling directions are the same, it is determined that there is no possibility of collision (or contact). Although the current positions of both vehicles are approaching the other vehicle V3, it is determined that there is no possibility of collision (or contact) because the traveling directions are the same and the direction indicator of the other vehicle V3 is not left turn information. I do. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 4, the CPU 7 makes a determination for the other vehicle V4. When the current positions of the two vehicles approach each other and the left turn information of the direction indicator of the other vehicle V4 and the vehicle speed of the two vehicles are comprehensively determined, it is determined that there is a possibility of collision or contact. .

Finally, the CPU 7 detects the collision (or contact)
Is expected, a warning sound is output from the speaker 11,
Driver D receives another vehicle V1 (in the case of FIG. 3) or another vehicle V4.
The direction (position) in the case of FIG. 4 is notified (S40).
On the other hand, if no collision is expected, the process ends.

Next, the alarm sound output processing (S40) of FIG. 6 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The direction of the alarm sound will be described with reference to FIG. In this process, when the CPU 7 determines that there is an object to be warned, an alarm sound is output to inform the driver D of the direction (position) of the object to be warned. The object to be warned is, for example, the other vehicle V1 in FIG. 3 or the other vehicle V4 in FIG. Here, the object to be warned is the other vehicle V1.
And Note that the alarm device 1 is described with reference to FIG.

First, the direction of the helmet H is detected by the helmet direction detecting means 5 (S41). Then, information on the detected orientation of the helmet H is transmitted to the CPU 7.
The information on the direction of the helmet H is an angle difference between the front center axis HC of the helmet H and the traveling direction of the motorcycle B (see FIG. 5). By the way, in the case of FIG. 5A, the traveling direction of the motorcycle B and the front center axis HC of the helmet H coincide with each other, so that the angle difference is 0 °. In the case of FIG.
Since the traveling direction of the motorcycle B does not coincide with the front center axis HC of the helmet H, there is an angle difference.

The CPU 7 calculates the alarm sound localization direction from the current position and traveling direction of the motorcycle B and the current position of the other vehicle V1 (S42). The warning sound localization direction is the direction of the current position of the other vehicle V1 with reference to the traveling direction of the motorcycle B at the current position (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). The direction of the alarm sound localization is defined by an angle between the traveling direction of the motorcycle B and the current position of the other vehicle V1 with respect to an origin G which is the center of the helmet H (this position is assumed to be the current position of the motorcycle B at the time of calculation). It is expressed as a difference (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). Note that the origin G
Is the center position (in plan view) of the helmet H when the driver D is riding on the motorcycle B.

Further, the CPU 7 calculates the direction of the alarm sound from the direction of the helmet H and the alarm sound localization direction (S4).
3). Here, the direction of the alarm sound is the direction of the current position of the other vehicle V1 with reference to the front center axis HC of the helmet H (see FIGS. 5A and 5B). The direction of the alarm sound is calculated as an angle from the front center axis HC of the helmet H from the difference between the direction (angle) of the helmet H and the alarm sound localization direction (angle). By the way, in the case of FIG. 5A, since the driver D is facing the traveling direction of the motorcycle B, the direction (angle) of the helmet H is 0 °, and the direction (angle) of the alarm sound is the alarm sound localization direction (angle). Angle). Therefore, the alarm sound data that allows the driver D to hear the alarm sound from diagonally right front is selected, and the alarm sound is output from the speakers 11a and 11b. On the other hand, in the case of FIG.
Is facing the direction of the other vehicle V1, the direction (angle) of the helmet H and the warning sound localization direction (angle) match, and the direction (angle) of the warning sound is 0 °. Therefore, the alarm sound data that allows the driver D to hear the alarm sound from the front is selected, and the alarm sound is output from the speakers 11a and 11b. Therefore, even if the localization direction of the alarm sound does not change, the direction of the alarm sound changes according to the gaze direction of the driver D (that is, the direction of the helmet).

When the direction of the alarm sound is calculated, the CPU 7
Selects an alarm sound corresponding to the direction of the alarm sound from the alarm sound data stored in the ROM 8 (S44). Incidentally, the selected alarm sound is output from the speakers 11a and 11b.
When output from, to be heard as sound alarm in the direction of the other vehicle V1 is emitting the driver D, thereby generating a time difference and intensity difference of the sound signal to the right ear D _R and left ear D _L of the driver D.

Then, the selected alarm sound is D / A
After being transmitted and converted into an analog signal, the signal is amplified by the AMP 10 and sent to the speakers 11a and 11b. And
A sound signal of a warning sound is output from the speakers 11a and 11b (S45). Then, the driver D hears an alarm sound from the direction of the other vehicle V1, and thus the driver D is alerted in the direction of the other vehicle V1.

Further, the alarm device 1 includes an inter-vehicle communication device 2
Then, the warning information is transmitted to the other vehicle V1 (S46), and the process ends. The warning information is information indicating that the motorcycle B has entered the intersection CP from the opposite lane.

According to the alarm device 1, it is possible to notify the driver D of the direction (position) of the object to be alarmed around the motorcycle B by an alarm sound. Therefore, since the driver D can know the dangerous object in advance by a safe means, it is possible to reduce the possibility of causing an accident or being involved in the accident. In addition, the alarm device 1 is configured so that the output from the left and right speakers 11a and 11b sounds as if an alarm sound is being generated from an arbitrary direction. Moreover, since the alarm sound data corresponding to the direction of the alarm sound is stored in advance, there is no need for a means for generating the alarm sound.
Therefore, the alarm device 1 can output an alarm sound with an inexpensive system configuration. Furthermore, since the alarm device 1 includes the helmet direction detecting means 5, it is possible to notify the direction (position) of the object to be alarmed with high accuracy regardless of the gaze direction of the driver D.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may be embodied in various forms. For example, an alarm device for a motorcycle includes an inter-vehicle communication device, a pedestrian detection unit, and an obstacle detection unit in order to collect information about a motorcycle, but it is not necessary to provide all of them. May be used to collect information about the surroundings of the motorcycle.
Further, the alarm device for a motorcycle includes the LED and the light receiving element as the helmet direction detecting means, but may be constituted by another means without being limited to this means.

[0046]

According to the warning device for a motorcycle according to the present invention, the direction of the object to be warned, in which the driver is located in an arbitrary direction, is output only by outputting the warning sound from the speakers provided on the left and right inside the helmet. Can be recognized. For this reason, the driver pays attention to the direction of the object to be warned, and can improve safety when the motorcycle is running.

Further, according to the two-wheeled vehicle alarm device, the position of the other vehicle can be accurately detected and the traveling direction of the other vehicle can be detected by acquiring the other vehicle information using the inter-vehicle communication. it can. Therefore, the positional relationship between the motorcycle and the other vehicle can be accurately calculated, and the possibility of a collision can be determined with high accuracy.

Further, according to this motorcycle warning device, the direction of the helmet is detected, and the direction of the warning sound is corrected based on the direction of the helmet. Direction can be recognized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an alarm device for a motorcycle according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a model diagram of a head-related transfer function applied to the motorcycle alarm device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship at a crossing between a two-wheeled vehicle equipped with the two-wheeled vehicle warning device according to the present embodiment and a four-wheeled vehicle turning right;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship at a crossing between a two-wheeled vehicle equipped with the two-wheeled vehicle warning device according to the present embodiment and a four-wheeled vehicle turning left;

5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating a helmet direction detecting unit of the motorcycle alarm device according to the present embodiment, wherein FIG. 5A is a plan view when a driver is facing a traveling direction, and FIG. Plan view when facing the direction of the alarm target,
(C) is a perspective view of the helmet.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an alarm process using inter-vehicle communication by the alarm device for a motorcycle according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an alarm sound output process in the flowchart of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Alarm device for motorcycles 2 ... Communication device between vehicles 3 ... Pedestrian detection means 4 ... Obstacle detection means 5 ... Helmet direction detection means 5a, 5b, 5c ... LED ( 5d: light receiving element 6: GPS receiver 7: CPU (central processing unit) 8: ROM (read only memory) 11, 11a, 11b: speaker B: motorcycle H: Helmet V1, V2, V3, V4: Other vehicles

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A motorcycle warning device that outputs a warning sound to notify a driver of an object to be warned, comprising: speakers provided on left and right sides of a helmet worn by a driver; An alarm device for a motorcycle, wherein an alarm sound is output from the speaker so that the alarm sound can be heard from a direction. 2. A motorcycle warning device for outputting a warning sound to notify a driver of another dangerous vehicle, an information receiving means for receiving other vehicle information from another vehicle, and determining whether the other vehicle is dangerous. And a speaker provided on the left and right inside the helmet worn by the driver, when the determining means determines that the other vehicle is dangerous,
An alarm device for a motorcycle, wherein an alarm sound is output from the speaker so that the alarm sound can be heard from the direction of the other vehicle. 3. A helmet direction detecting means for detecting a direction of the helmet, wherein a direction of an alarm sound is corrected based on the direction of the helmet detected by the helmet direction detecting means. Or the alarm device for a motorcycle according to claim 2.