JP2005170311A - Hazard lamp controller of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent running out of a battery that can occur when an occupant goes away from a vehicle while the hazard lamp is forgotten to be turned off, without grating on the ear of a driver or an occupant in the vehicle with an operation sound, in a controller of the hazard lamp for generating the operation sound during blinking of the hazard lamp. <P>SOLUTION: When the occupant operates the hazard switch, the hazard lamp blinks and the operation sound of the hazard lamp issues. The operation sound of the hazard lamp can be canceled by a predetermined state of the vehicle or an operation of the occupant. When an operation performed before the occupant comes out of the vehicle in a canceled state of the operation sound is detected, the canceled state of the operation sound generation is released to generate the operation sound again, and the occupant can be made to recognize the blinking of the hazard lamp with acoustic sense before the occupant goes away from the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle hazard lamp control apparatus.

  Automobiles are provided with turn signals at the front and rear corners. These turn signals blink on one side when the driver operates the lever or the like provided in the passenger compartment according to the direction to which the vehicle turns when the vehicle turns right or left or changes the lane of travel. To do. In addition, automobiles are usually provided with a so-called hazard lamp function (hereinafter simply referred to as a hazard lamp) that allows these turn signals to blink simultaneously by operating a hazard switch provided in the vehicle. The hazard lamp blinks when the vehicle is temporarily stopped on the shoulder of the road, or when the vehicle reaches the end of the traffic jam, and can call attention to the vehicle traveling from behind.

  If the driver forgets to turn off the hazard lamp and leaves the vehicle, the hazard lamp may be left blinking and the battery may go up. For example, an operation sound is generated in synchronization with blinking to notify the passenger through hearing that the hazard lamp is operating, or automatically detected when the vehicle is stopped as described in Patent Document 1. It is known that the hazard lamp blinks and the hazard lamp is automatically turned off when a predetermined time elapses.

JP-A-9-263180

  However, as described in Patent Document 1, when the hazard lamp is automatically turned off when a predetermined time elapses, it is effective for preventing the battery from running out, but after the driver turns off the hazard. However, if you want to stop again, you will need to operate the hazard lamp again, or if you do not do so, the flashing will end even though the vehicle is in a situation where you should blink the hazard lamp. Problem arises. If such a point is taken into consideration, it is thought that it is preferable to generate an operating sound, but if the operating sound is continuously generated, the driver is enjoying audio in the car The operating noise can be annoying when taking a nap. Although it is conceivable that the operation sound can be manually canceled by the occupant, it may be considered that the occupant leaves the vehicle forgetting that the operation sound is canceled when the hazard lamp blinks, and there is a risk that the battery will run out.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the present invention is that the operation sound becomes annoying to the driver and the passengers in the vehicle in the hazard lamp control device that emits the operation sound when the hazard lamp blinks. It is also possible to prevent the battery from running up, which may occur when the occupant leaves the vehicle with the hazard lamp turned off.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, the first configuration of the present invention is as follows.
A turn signal disposed at a predetermined position on the outer surface of the vehicle, a hazard switch disposed near the driver's seat in the vehicle interior of the vehicle, and a battery provided in the vehicle according to the operation of the hazard switch. A hazard of a vehicle having a hazard lamp driving means for blinking the turn signal to achieve a hazard lamp function by electric power, and an operating sound generating means for generating an operating sound in the vehicle interior while the hazard lamp function is operating In the lamp control device,
An operation sound canceling means for prohibiting the generation of the operation sound by the operation sound generation means when a predetermined condition of the vehicle is satisfied or by an operation of an occupant of the vehicle;
When the operation is detected during operation of the operation sound canceling means by the operation detecting means for detecting an operation performed before the vehicle occupant exits the vehicle interior from the vehicle interior of the vehicle, the operation sound cancellation is performed. And release means for releasing the operation of the means.

  According to the above configuration, when the hazard switch is operated, the hazard lamp blinks and it is possible to prevent the operating sound from being emitted under a predetermined condition or by the operation of the passenger, while in that state the passenger is out of the passenger compartment. An operating sound is emitted before leaving, allowing the occupant to recognize through the hearing that the hazard lamp is flashing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the operating sound from becoming harsh to the occupant, and when the occupant goes out of the passenger compartment, it is necessary to turn off the hazard lamp according to the situation or to return to the vehicle in a short time. A certain thing will be alerted to the occupant, and the battery can be prevented from rising due to the occupant leaving the vehicle by leaving the blinking state of the hazard lamp. The operating noise canceling means will mute the operating sound that is emitted when operating while the hazard lamp is blinking, and will operate when the hazard switch is operated while the operating sound canceling means is operating. Operates so that no sound is emitted from the beginning.

The second configuration of the present invention is as follows:
The operating sound canceling means operates in response to the stop of the engine of the vehicle or an operation for stopping the engine.

  When the operation sound of the hazard lamp is emitted when the engine of the vehicle is stopped, the occupant feels more harsh than when the engine is operating, that is, when there is an engine sound. In addition, the engine may be intentionally stopped for the purpose of enjoying audio or taking a nap. According to the above configuration, when the vehicle engine is stopped, the operation sound of the hazard lamp is not emitted, and the operation sound is emitted before the occupant goes out of the passenger compartment. However, it is possible to prevent the battery from running out due to the passenger leaving the vehicle by leaving the blinking state of the hazard lamp.

  As the third configuration of the present invention, the operating sound canceling means may be one that operates when the parking brake of the vehicle is operated, and when the vehicle includes an automatic transmission, As a configuration, the automatic transmission may operate when the shift range of the automatic transmission is in the parking range. Since these can be performed using a configuration conventionally provided in a vehicle, the effect of the first configuration can be obtained at low cost by using the configuration of an existing vehicle.

  As the fifth configuration of the present invention, the operation detecting means detects that the door of the vehicle is opened, or as the sixth configuration of the present invention, detects that the key of the vehicle is removed, realizable. Since these can be performed using a configuration conventionally provided in a vehicle, the effects of the first to fourth configurations can be achieved at low cost.

The seventh configuration of the present invention is:
The vehicle has an ignition switch that detects an ignition position and presence / absence of key insertion,
The operation sound canceling means operates in response to detection of the ignition position being turned off by the ignition switch,
The operation detection means detects that a key has been removed by an ignition switch.

According to the above configuration, since the cancellation of the operation sound of the hazard lamp and the detection of the operation performed before the occupant goes out of the vehicle can be performed using only the ignition switch, the first configuration is used. The effect can be achieved with a simpler configuration.

  According to the present invention, in the hazard lamp control device that emits an operating sound when the hazard lamp blinks, the operating sound does not become annoying to the driver or the passenger in the vehicle, and the occupant leaves the vehicle in a state where the hazard lamp is forgotten to be turned off Can prevent the battery from going up.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle hazard lamp control apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A turn signal 2 provided at a predetermined position of the vehicle includes a lamp 20 and an operation sound generator 21 that generates a lamp operation sound (hereinafter abbreviated as an operation sound) in synchronization with blinking of the lamp 20, Connected to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 is connected to a hazard switch 4 provided in the vicinity of a driver's seat (not shown) in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. When the driver of the vehicle operates the hazard switch 4, the power from the battery 5 is used. A so-called hazard lamp function is performed in which the turn signal lamps 20 flash simultaneously and an operating sound is emitted into the passenger compartment. The hazard lamp function is performed using the turn signal 2 and is not performed using a dedicated lamp. However, in this specification, the state where the hazard lamp function is performed is referred to as blinking the hazard lamp 20. I will call it.

  The operation sound of the hazard lamp 20 is generated in synchronization with the blinking of the hazard lamp 20, and allows the occupant to recognize through the auditory that the hazard lamp 20 is blinking. To prevent the rise. Further, according to the present embodiment, this operating sound can be canceled by the operating sound canceling means 6 when the vehicle is in a predetermined state or when a predetermined operation of the occupant is performed. The operation sound canceling means 6 is connected to the control unit 3 and the operation sound generator 21 and cancels the operation sound generator 21 from generating an operation sound in response to a signal from the control unit 3. The operating sound canceling means 6 may be integrated into the control unit 3 or the operating sound generator 6.

  On the other hand, the control unit 3 includes a door switch 7 for detecting the open / closed state of a door (not shown) of a driver's seat of the vehicle, a shift position switch 8 for detecting a shift position of an automatic transmission (not shown), a parking brake (not shown). A parking brake switch 9 for detecting an operating state (shown) and an IG switch 10 for detecting a key insertion and an IG (ignition) position are respectively connected. The door switch 7 is conventionally used for the purpose of turning on / off a room lamp (not shown) according to the opening / closing of the door. The shift position switch 8 and the parking brake switch 9 are conventionally used for the purpose of lighting an indicator provided on an instrument panel (not shown). Further, the IG switch 10 is conventionally used for starting / stopping the vehicle engine, supplying power to the vehicle electrical components, and detecting key insertion.

  The control unit 3 may be provided exclusively for hazard lamp control, or may control other vehicle components together. In the latter case, other than the switch and the control target component shown in FIG. 1 are also connected to the control unit 3.

  Therefore, the control unit 3 controls the hazard lamp 20 as follows. That is, when the hazard switch 4 is operated by the occupant, the control unit 3 blinks the hazard lamp 20 in response to the signal and drives the operation sound generator 21. At that time, when it is detected that the vehicle is stopped based on signals from the IG switch 10, the shift position switch 8, and the parking brake switch 9, the control unit 3 operates the operation sound canceling means 6 to operate. Cancel the sound. When it is detected that the door of the driver's seat is opened based on the signal of the door switch 7 in the state where the operation sound is canceled, the control unit 3 releases the operation of the operation sound canceling means 6 and outputs the operation sound. generate.

  Details of the above control will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This flowchart is pre-programmed in the control unit 3 or loaded into the control unit 3 via a storage medium.

  After starting in step S1, the states of the hazard switch 4, the IG switch 10, the parking brake switch 9, the shift position switch 8, and the door switch 7 are read in step S2.

  In step S3, it is determined whether the hazard switch 4 is on. If it is determined YES, that is, if it is determined that the hazard switch 4 is turned on, the process proceeds to step S4 where the hazard lamp 20 blinks and the operation sound generator 21 is driven to generate the hazard lamp operation sound. generate.

  Thereafter, in step S5, it is determined whether or not the position of the IG switch 10 is in the off position. If YES is determined, that is, if it is determined that the IG switch 10 is in the OFF position, the process proceeds to step S9 to drive the operating sound canceling means 6 to cancel the generation of the operating sound. On the other hand, if NO is determined, that is, if it is determined that the IG switch 10 is not in the OFF position, the process proceeds to step S6, and it is determined whether or not the parking brake is operating.

  If YES is determined in step S6, that is, if it is determined that the parking brake is in operation, the operation proceeds to step S9 to drive the operation sound canceling means 6 to cancel the generation of the operation sound. On the other hand, if NO is determined, that is, if it is determined that the parking brake is not in operation, the process proceeds to step S7 to determine whether or not the position of the shift position is in the parking range.

  If YES is determined in step S7, that is, if it is determined that the shift position is in the parking range, the process proceeds to step S9 to drive the operating sound canceling means 6 to cancel the generation of the operating sound. On the other hand, if NO is determined in step S7, that is, if it is determined that the shift position is not in the parking range, the process proceeds to step S8, the generation of the hazard lamp operation sound is maintained, and the process returns.

  That is, in this embodiment, when the hazard lamp 20 flashes and a hazard lamp operation sound is generated, the IG switch 10 is in the off position (that is, the engine is stopped), and the parking brake is operating. If at least one of the conditions is met (ie, the vehicle is stopped) and the shift position is in the parking range (ie, the vehicle is stopped), the hazard lamp 20 remains flashing The generation of lamp operating noise is canceled. Therefore, since the operation sound of the hazard lamp 20 is absent in a situation where the vehicle is stopped and / or the engine is stopped, the vehicle occupant feels the operation sound of the hazard lamp 20 uncomfortable. Is prevented.

  Now, after the operation sound of the hazard lamp 20 is canceled in step S9, the flow proceeds to step S10. In step S10, it is determined whether or not the door switch indicates a door closed state. If it is determined YES, that is, if it is determined that the door of the driver's seat is closed, the process proceeds to step S11, the hazard lamp operation sound is maintained canceled, and the process returns. On the other hand, when it is determined NO, that is, when it is determined that the door of the driver's seat has been opened, the operation sound canceling means 6 is controlled to generate the canceled operation sound again, and the process returns.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, when the occurrence of the hazard lamp operation noise is canceled, the driver's door is opened, that is, an operation that is considered to be performed before the driver leaves the vehicle is detected. In this case, the canceled hazard lamp operation sound is generated again. Therefore, the occupant can recognize that the hazard lamp 20 is blinking through hearing before leaving the vehicle, and can prevent the hazard lamp 20 from being left blinking and raising the battery 5. .

  Instead of determining all the states of the IG switch 10, the parking brake switch 9, and the shift position switch 8 as in the above-described embodiment, it may be configured to determine any one of them. good. In particular, since the engine is stopped when the IG switch 10 is in the off position, the generation of the hazard lamp operation sound is canceled when the engine is stopped, that is, there is no engine sound of the own vehicle. It is possible to effectively prevent the occupant from feeling uncomfortable with the operating sound. Further, instead of providing the above-described switch, a dedicated switch for canceling the operating sound may be provided in the vehicle interior. In this case, even if the occupant forgets to perform an operation to cancel the generation of the operating noise, a hazard lamp operating noise is generated when the operation is performed before leaving the vehicle, and the hazard lamp 20 It is possible to prevent the occupant from leaving the vehicle in the blinking state and raising the battery 5.

  Moreover, instead of detecting an operation performed before the occupant goes out of the vehicle using the door switch 7 as in the above-described embodiment, the case where the key removal is detected using the IG switch 10 is referred to as the operation. You may make it detect. In particular, if the operation sound is canceled according to the position of the IG switch, and the key removal is detected using the IG switch, it is detected as an operation performed before the occupant leaves the vehicle. By using only the IG switch, it is possible to cope with both the problem that the hazard lamp as described above becomes annoying and the problem that the hazard lamp may be left on.

  In addition, what is detected as an operation performed before the occupant goes out of the vehicle is any operation that is supposed to be performed before the occupant goes out of the vehicle or the state of the vehicle at that time. It may be a thing.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. .

It is a block diagram which shows roughly the structure of the hazard lamp control apparatus by this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the control in the hazard lamp control apparatus by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Hazard lamp control device 2 Turn signal (hazard lamp)
3 Control unit (hazard lamp drive means, release means)
4 Hazard switch 5 Battery 6 Operating sound canceling means 7 Door switch (operation detecting means)
8 Shift position switch (Operating sound canceling means)
9 Parking brake switch (operation noise canceling means)
10 IG switch (operation noise canceling means, operation detection means)
20 lamp (hazard lamp)
21 Actuation generator (actuation sound generating means)

Claims (7)

A turn signal disposed at a predetermined position on the outer surface of the vehicle, a hazard switch disposed in the vicinity of the driver's seat in the vehicle interior of the vehicle, and a battery provided in the vehicle according to the operation of the hazard switch. A hazard of a vehicle having a hazard lamp driving means for blinking the turn signal to achieve a hazard lamp function by electric power, and an operating sound generating means for generating an operating sound in the vehicle interior while the hazard lamp function is operating In the lamp control device,
An operating sound canceling means for prohibiting the generation of the operating sound by the operating sound generating means when a predetermined condition of the vehicle is satisfied or by an operation of an occupant of the vehicle;
When the operation is detected during operation of the operation sound canceling means by the operation detecting means for detecting an operation performed before the vehicle occupant exits the vehicle interior from the vehicle interior of the vehicle, the operation sound cancellation is performed. A hazard lamp control device for a vehicle, comprising release means for releasing the operation of the means. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operation sound canceling unit is activated in response to the engine of the vehicle being stopped or in response to an operation for stopping the engine. 3. Hazard lamp control device. The hazard lamp control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operation sound canceling means is activated when a parking brake of the vehicle is activated. The vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission,
2. The hazard lamp control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operation sound canceling means operates when a shift range of the automatic transmission is in a parking range. The vehicle hazard lamp control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operation detection means detects that the vehicle door is opened. The hazard lamp control device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operation detection means detects that the key of the vehicle is removed. The vehicle has an ignition switch that detects an ignition position and presence / absence of key insertion,
The operation sound canceling means operates in response to detection of the ignition position being turned off by the ignition switch,
2. The hazard lamp control device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operation detecting means detects that a key is removed by an ignition switch.

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