JP2010108460A - Intersection running support system, running support system, and onboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intersection running support system configurable at low cost, capable of properly switching a traffic signal according to a traffic condition in the periphery of an intersection. <P>SOLUTION: From the detection result of an onboard peripheral obstacle monitoring device 51, a vehicle turning to the right or left generates passing condition decision information, indicating incapability of right/left turn for an expected time (T01) because of the presence of a pedestrian (moving body), and transmits the information to signal-side radio equipment 102. By this, a signal control unit 100 can know that the vehicle is incapable of right and left turn because of the presence of the moving body traversing an outflow path is present in the intersection, and controls to switch the signal according to the condition. Because the passing condition decision information to be used for the signal switching control is generated from the detection result of the peripheral obstacle monitoring device 51, and a sensor etc. for vehicle drive support can be used for the peripheral obstacle monitoring device 51, the intersection running support system can be configured at low cost. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an intersection travel support system that switches signals in accordance with traffic conditions at an intersection, a travel support system that supports travel of a vehicle at an intersection, and an in-vehicle device used in the intersection travel support system.

  As a system that enables smooth traffic at an intersection with a traffic signal, a system that transmits information on traffic signals to a vehicle using a roadside beacon is known (for example, Patent Document 1). The system of patent document 1 transmits the information of the position of the traffic signal installed in the traveling direction of the vehicle and the color change parameter of the traffic signal from the road beacon to the vehicle traveling on the road. The vehicle which has received the information determines the speed range in which the traffic light can pass through the traffic light by judging the blue lighting time zone of the traffic light.

In addition, a system has been proposed in which traffic at an intersection can be made smooth by controlling a traffic light (for example, Patent Document 2). This system of Patent Document 2 appropriately controls traffic signals arranged in a wide traffic area as a whole, and installs ultrasonic sensors and television cameras on intersections and roads in the wide traffic area. And traffic data is taken in from these. And the signal pattern of all the traffic lights in a wide traffic area is determined from the traffic data so that a wide traffic area can optimally pass as a whole.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-128400 JP-A-8-171694

  However, in the system of Patent Literature 1, the information from the roadside beacon does not include the traffic situation at the intersection. Therefore, even if a speed range that can pass through the intersection with a green light is calculated, depending on the traffic situation of the intersection, it may not be possible to travel in that speed range. In this case, after all, information from the roadside beacon is not used, and as a result, the intersection cannot be smoothly passed.

  On the other hand, in the signal control system of Patent Document 2, there is a possibility that the traffic signal devices arranged in a wide traffic area can be appropriately controlled as a whole. However, the signal control system of Patent Document 2 requires a monitoring device that monitors the road around the traffic signal at each intersection where the traffic signal is present. Therefore, the cost for constructing the entire system becomes very expensive.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of this situation, and the purpose of the present invention is to drive an intersection that can switch traffic lights appropriately in accordance with traffic conditions around the intersection and can be configured at low cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a support system, a vehicle-mounted device used in the intersection travel support system, and a travel support system capable of performing vehicle travel support at an intersection at a low cost.

  In order to achieve the object, an invention according to claim 1 is an intersection travel support system having an in-vehicle device and a traffic light control device, and the in-vehicle device moves around a vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted. The vehicle is located in an intersection predetermined area based on an intersection equipped with a moving object detection means for detecting an object, own vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring own vehicle information including at least the position information of the vehicle, and a traffic light Traffic condition determination information generating means for generating traffic condition determination information for determining the traffic condition around the vehicle based on the detection result of the moving object detection means And an on-vehicle transmitter that transmits the traffic situation determination information generated by the traffic situation determination information generation means and the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition means to the outside. The traffic signal control device receives the vehicle information based on the traffic signal receiver and the traffic signal determination information received by the traffic signal receiver and the traffic signal receiver received by the traffic signal receiver. And a traffic signal control unit that performs signal control of a traffic signal in an intersection predetermined area where the transmitted vehicle is located.

  Thus, in the intersection travel support system of the present invention, the in-vehicle device generates the traffic situation determination information from the detection result of the moving object detection means mounted on the vehicle, and the traffic light control device receives the traffic from the vehicle. Since the situation determination information is acquired, the traffic light control device can grasp the traffic situation around the vehicle that has transmitted the traffic situation judgment information, that is, around the intersection. Therefore, it is possible to switch signals appropriately in accordance with traffic conditions around the intersection. Further, since a vehicle driving support sensor or the like can be used as the moving object detection means of the in-vehicle device, this intersection travel support system can be configured at low cost.

  The moving object includes a person, a bicycle, a vehicle, and the like, and the moving object detection unit only needs to detect at least one type of moving object, and the one type of moving object may be a vehicle. In inter-vehicle communication, vehicles transmit each other's position to other vehicles, and the receiving vehicle can detect the position of the transmitting vehicle from the received information. Therefore, when the moving object detection means detects the vehicle, the inter-vehicle communication device can be used as the moving object detection means.

  Moreover, there exists a signal side receiver as "external" which an in-vehicle transmitter transmits information. In this case, the vehicle-mounted transmitter is a transmitter that performs road-to-vehicle communication. However, “external” does not necessarily need to be a signal receiver, and “external” may be another vehicle. This is because, as will be described later, a plurality of pieces of information may be collected in one vehicle and then transmitted to the signal side receiver.

  A second aspect of the present invention provides the vehicle-mounted device according to the first aspect, wherein the moving object detection unit detects a moving object in front of a vehicle on which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted. A position detection device that detects the position of the vehicle that is present, and the position of the vehicle detected by the position detection device is within the intersection predetermined area, and when the vehicle is stopped as a leading vehicle for a right or left turn, An expected time calculating means for calculating an expected time as a time required for a moving object that crosses the outflow path ahead of the vehicle detected by the moving object detection means to cross the outflow path; The situation determination information generating means generates, as the traffic situation determination information, information indicating that the expected time calculated by the expected time calculation means by the moving object crossing the outflow path is not allowed to turn right or left. The in-vehicle transmitter, be those by road-vehicle communication communicating with the signal-side receiver, and transmits the vehicle information and the traffic situation determination information to the signal-side receiver.

  In this way, the traffic light control device can know that a vehicle that cannot turn right or left for an estimated time due to a moving object crossing the outflow path is at the intersection. Therefore, the signal of the traffic light can be switched according to the situation that a vehicle that cannot turn right or left for the expected time due to a moving object crossing the outflow path is at the intersection.

  A third aspect of the present invention provides the traffic signal control apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the traffic signal control apparatus further includes a traffic signal side transmitter that transmits a time until the signal is switched by road-to-vehicle communication, and the on-vehicle apparatus is transmitted by the traffic signal side transmitter. It further includes an in-vehicle receiver that receives information, and compares the time until the signal received by the in-vehicle receiver is switched with the expected time calculated by the expected time calculation means, and the vehicle passes through the intersection before the signal switches. The vehicle information and the traffic situation determination information are transmitted from the in-vehicle transmitter based on the determination that the vehicle cannot pass.

  In this way, when the vehicle can pass through the intersection before the signal is switched, information is not transmitted from the in-vehicle transmitter, so the communication amount can be reduced.

  However, the estimated time may be transmitted to the traffic signal control device without comparing the time until the signal is switched and the predicted time in the in-vehicle device, and the time until the signal is switched in the traffic signal control device may be compared with the expected time. .

  In a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, when the time until the signal received by the in-vehicle receiver is switched is a predetermined time or more, the in-vehicle transmitter and the traffic situation determination information are obtained from the in-vehicle transmitter. It is characterized by not transmitting.

  If the time until the signal switches is longer than the preset time, there is a relatively long time until the signal switches. In this case, for example, a moving object suddenly increases its moving speed. Due to changes in traffic conditions, there is a good possibility that a vehicle can pass through an intersection before the signal changes without changing the control of the signal. Therefore, information is not transmitted when the time until the signal is switched is longer than the predetermined time. This can also reduce the amount of communication.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention provides the vehicle-mounted apparatus according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the on-vehicle device includes an outflow path traffic condition determining unit that determines a traffic condition of the outflow path, and the signal is based on the traffic condition of the outflow path. Even if it is extended, when it is determined that the vehicle cannot pass through the intersection before the signal is switched, the vehicle information and the traffic condition determination information are not transmitted. In this way, it is possible to suppress unnecessarily extending the signal and reduce the amount of communication.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, wherein the in-vehicle device further includes an inter-vehicle communication device, and the position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting device is within the predetermined intersection area. If the moving object detecting means detects a moving object that crosses the road between the vehicle and the intersection when the vehicle is stopped as a leading vehicle waiting for a signal, the position information of the moving object Forward moving object presence information that is information including at least the vehicle-to-vehicle communication device, while the predicted time calculation means, the position of the vehicle detected by the position detection device is within the intersection predetermined area, In addition, when the vehicle is stopped as a leading vehicle for turning left or right, the moving object detection means does not detect a moving object that crosses the outflow path ahead of the vehicle. When the forward moving object presence information received from another vehicle by the inter-vehicle communication device is information on a moving object that crosses the outflow path, the expected time is calculated based on the forward object presence information. To do.

  In this way, even if the moving object detection means of the own vehicle cannot detect the moving object that crosses the outflow path ahead of the own vehicle, the existence of the moving object can be detected and the expected time can be calculated. Can do.

  A seventh aspect according to any one of the second to sixth aspects, wherein the traffic situation determination information generating means is configured such that the position of the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted is in the intersection predetermined area, and the right When the vehicle is parked in the vehicle train for a left turn, information indicating that the vehicle cannot turn right or left by the preceding vehicle is generated as the traffic condition determination information.

  In this way, the traffic light control device can know that there are a plurality of vehicles that cannot turn left and right at the intersection. Therefore, the signal of the traffic light can be switched according to the situation that there are a plurality of vehicles that cannot turn right and left at the intersection.

  Claim 8 is the information according to claim 7, wherein the traffic condition determination information generation means is unable to turn right or left by the preceding vehicle when it can grasp the number of vehicles from the head in the vehicle train for turning left or right. And information indicating the number of vehicles from the top is generated as the traffic situation determination information.

  In this way, the traffic signal control device can know from the information indicating the number of vehicles from the beginning that there are at least how many vehicles cannot turn right or left at the intersection. Can be switched.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention provides the vehicle information and the traffic situation determination information from the in-vehicle transmitter when the time until the signal in the intersection predetermined area is switched is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. Is not transmitted. In this way, the subsequent vehicle can also reduce the amount of communication if the information is not transmitted when the time until the signal is switched is equal to or longer than the predetermined time.

  A traffic signal control unit of the traffic signal control device according to claim 10, wherein the traffic signal control unit of the traffic signal control device cannot turn right or left when the traffic signal side receiver receives information indicating that the traffic situation determination information cannot be turned right or left. This is characterized in that signal control is performed to delay the time until the signal of the inflow path for the vehicle that has transmitted the information indicating that the signal is switched, or delay the signal of the outflow path from turning blue.

  In this way, a vehicle that has transmitted information indicating that it cannot turn right or left is likely to be able to pass through the intersection before the signal on the inflow path changes or until the signal on the outflow path turns blue. Become.

  An eleventh aspect of the present invention is the vehicle-mounted device according to the first aspect, wherein the vehicle-mounted device includes a position detection device that detects a position of a vehicle on which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted, and a vehicle position detected by the position detection device is within the intersection predetermined area. In addition, when the vehicle is stopped as a leading vehicle for a right turn, the vehicle further includes a right turn impossibility reason judging means for judging whether or not the reason why the right cannot be turned is because the oncoming vehicle is continuously passing. When the reason why the right turn is impossible is determined by the means for determining whether to turn right is determined to be due to the continuous passage of the oncoming vehicle, the traffic situation determining information generating means indicates that the oncoming vehicle is not allowed to turn right indicating the determination result. On the other hand, if the right turn impossibility determination means does not determine that the reason why the right cannot be turned is due to continuous passing of the oncoming vehicle, the right turn impossibility determination information indicates that the right turn is not permitted. The vehicle-mounted transmitter communicates with the signal-side receiver by road-to-vehicle communication, and transmits the vehicle information and the traffic condition determination information to the signal-side receiver. And

  In this way, the traffic light control device determines whether the vehicle that cannot turn right is at the intersection as the traffic situation at the intersection, and whether the reason why the vehicle cannot turn right is the continuous passing of the oncoming vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to switch the signal of the traffic light according to the traffic situation.

  A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle-mounted device according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the in-vehicle device further includes a subsequent vehicle traffic condition detection unit that detects a traffic condition of the subsequent vehicle, and the traffic condition determination information generation unit includes the subsequent vehicle traffic condition detection unit. Subsequent vehicle traffic congestion information indicating the detected subsequent vehicle traffic congestion status is also generated as traffic status determination information, and the in-vehicle transmitter uses the oncoming vehicle traffic status determination information as the traffic status determination information in addition to the oncoming vehicle with no right turn or with no right turn. Information is also transmitted.

  In this way, if the leading vehicle also transmits the traffic jam information of the following vehicle, the traffic signal control device can control the traffic signal in consideration of the traffic jam situation of the following vehicle following the right-turn leading vehicle.

  A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle-mounted device according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the in-vehicle device further includes a following vehicle detecting unit that detects the presence or absence of a following vehicle, and the traffic situation determination information generating unit is a leading vehicle for the host vehicle to turn right. In this case, the following vehicle presence / absence information indicating the presence / absence of the following vehicle detected by the following vehicle detecting means is also generated as the traffic situation determination information, while the vehicle position detected by the position detection device is within the intersection predetermined area. And, when it is in a stopped state as a subsequent vehicle, it generates a preceding vehicle presence prohibition indicating that there is a preceding vehicle and cannot pass through an intersection as the traffic situation determination information, and the in-vehicle transmitter is When the host vehicle is a leading vehicle on the right turn, the traffic condition determination information is transmitted by the vehicle-to-vehicle communication between the oncoming vehicle and the right turn impossible or right turn impossible and the following vehicle presence / absence information. In some cases, and transmitting the preceding vehicle Yes impassable.

  In this way, the following vehicle may directly transmit information to the traffic signal control device, and the leading vehicle may transmit only the information of the own vehicle to the traffic signal control device.

  A fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides the vehicle-mounted device according to the twelfth aspect, wherein the vehicle-mounted device includes an obstacle detection sensor that is provided in a vehicle on which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted as the moving object detection unit and detects an obstacle behind the vehicle. The following vehicle traffic condition detection means detects the traffic condition of the subsequent vehicle using the obstacle detection sensor. As described above, the leading vehicle may detect the traffic congestion state of the following vehicle using the obstacle detection sensor provided in the vehicle.

  A fifteenth aspect of the present invention provides the vehicle-mounted device according to the twelfth aspect, wherein the in-vehicle device includes a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device that performs vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and the subsequent vehicle traffic condition detection unit detects a traffic condition of the subsequent vehicle by inter-vehicle communication with the subsequent vehicle. It is characterized by detecting. As described above, the leading vehicle may detect the traffic congestion state of the following vehicle by inter-vehicle communication.

  In a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fifteenth aspect, the in-vehicle device includes a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device that performs vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and the traffic situation determination information generation unit is configured such that the position of the vehicle detected by the position detection device is the intersection. If the vehicle is in a predetermined area and is in a stopped state as a following vehicle, the preceding vehicle is inaccessible indicating that there is a preceding vehicle and cannot pass through the intersection, and is generated as the traffic situation determination information. The inter-vehicle communication device transmits the preceding vehicle impermissibility together with the vehicle information.

  In this way, it is possible to notify the preceding vehicle that there is a preceding vehicle and the own vehicle cannot pass through the intersection.

  In a seventeenth aspect, in the sixteenth aspect, when the inter-vehicle communication device detects a following vehicle when transmitting the preceding vehicle presence / absence prohibition together with the own vehicle information, there is a subsequent vehicle. Information indicating this is also transmitted as the traffic situation determination information.

  In this way, if the subsequent vehicle further transmits information indicating that there is a subsequent vehicle after the own vehicle, the traffic signal control device can also know the presence of a vehicle that does not include the inter-vehicle communication device. Become. As a result, more appropriate signal control can be performed.

  In an eighteenth aspect according to any one of the eleventh to seventeenth aspects, when the time until the signal in the intersection predetermined area is switched is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the vehicle information and The traffic condition determination information is not transmitted. In this way, the same effect as in the fourth aspect can be obtained.

  A nineteenth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle-mounted device according to any one of the eleventh to eleventh aspects, wherein the on-vehicle apparatus includes an outflow path traffic condition determining unit that determines a traffic condition of the outflow path, and the signal is based on the traffic condition of the outflow path. Even if it is extended, when it is determined that the vehicle cannot pass through the intersection before the signal is switched, the vehicle information and the traffic condition determination information are not transmitted. In this way, it is possible to suppress unnecessarily extending the signal and reduce the amount of communication.

  In the vehicle-mounted device according to claim 20, the moving object detecting unit detects a moving object in front of a vehicle on which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted. When the vehicle is located in a traffic congestion detection area based on an intersection and is driving in a lane adjacent to a right turnable lane, the moving object detection means detects the presence or absence of traffic on the right turnable lane, and based on the detection result The traffic situation is generated as the traffic situation determination information, and the in-vehicle transmitter communicates with the signal side receiver by road-to-vehicle communication, and the vehicle information and the traffic situation are transmitted to the traffic light. It transmits to the side receiver.

  In this way, the traffic light control device can know the traffic jam situation near the intersection of the right turn possible lane based on the traffic jam situation transmitted from the vehicle traveling in the adjacent lane of the right turn possible lane. Therefore, even if there is no vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle device of the present invention in the right turn lane, the traffic light control device can perform signal control based on the traffic congestion near the intersection of the right turn lane.

  In a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, in the twentieth aspect, the traffic situation determination information generating means detects the traffic jam in the right turn lane before and after the intersection when the moving object detection means can detect the traffic jam before the intersection. Based on the comparison between the situation and the traffic situation after the intersection, it was judged whether there was a right turn waiting traffic jam due to the right turn waiting lane due to the right turn waiting vehicle, and it was judged that the traffic was waiting for a right turn. In this case, as the traffic jam situation, a traffic jam situation (a traffic jam waiting for a right turn) indicating the situation is generated.

  In this way, when a traffic jam situation (right turn waiting traffic jam) is generated by the traffic situation determination status generating means, the traffic jam situation (right turn waiting traffic jam) is transmitted from the in-vehicle transmitter. Therefore, the traffic signal control device can know that the right turn possible lane is congested due to the presence of the vehicle waiting for the right turn by receiving the traffic jam situation (the traffic jam waiting for the right turn).

  In a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the twentieth aspect, the traffic situation determination information generating unit can detect only one of the traffic conditions of the right turn lane before the intersection and after the intersection by the moving object detection unit. The traffic situation of only one before the detected intersection and after the intersection is generated as the traffic condition determination information, and the on-vehicle transmitter transmits only one of the traffic before the intersection and after the intersection. The traffic signal is transmitted to the signal side receiver, and the traffic signal control unit of the traffic signal controller can acquire the traffic situation before the intersection and the traffic situation after the intersection, respectively, before the intersection. Based on a comparison between the traffic congestion situation of the vehicle and the traffic congestion situation after the intersection, it is determined whether there is a right turn waiting traffic jam where the right turn possible lane is congested because there is a vehicle waiting for the right turn. Characterized in that it.

  As described above, the traffic light control unit may determine whether or not the traffic is waiting for a right turn based on the comparison between the traffic jam situation before the intersection and the traffic jam situation after the intersection. In this way, even when a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle device makes a right or left turn at an intersection, it is possible to utilize the traffic jam detected by the in-vehicle device before making a right or left turn.

  Claim 23 is the detection range according to claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle device is configured such that the traffic situation determination information generation means includes at least a vehicle to an intersection when the vehicle is located in a forward situation transmission area before the intersection. The moving object detection means detects the presence or absence of a preceding vehicle and generates front vehicle detection result information indicating a detection result, and the in-vehicle transmitter communicates with the signal side receiver by road-to-vehicle communication. The vehicle information and the forward vehicle detection result information are transmitted to the traffic light side receiver, and the traffic light control unit of the traffic light control device travels on both intersection roads intersecting at the intersection When the signal side receiver receives the own vehicle information and the preceding vehicle detection result information, the information from the vehicle traveling on both of the intersection roads Zui and performing signal control.

  In this way, the traffic light control device can know the presence of vehicles traveling on both intersection roads that intersect at the intersection, and the presence or absence of the vehicle between the vehicle and the intersection. Therefore, signal control can be performed so that both vehicles traveling on both intersection roads can pass through the intersection smoothly.

  In a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-third aspect, the traffic condition determination information generating means includes a detection range that includes from the vehicle to the intersection and further ahead of the intersection when the vehicle is located in the forward situation transmission area before the intersection. The moving object detection means detects the presence or absence of a preceding vehicle, and generates forward vehicle detection result information indicating a detection result.

  In this way, the traffic light control device can know the presence of a vehicle heading for the intersection from the direction in which one or both of the intersection roads face each other. Therefore, it is possible to perform signal control so that more vehicles can pass through the intersection smoothly.

  In a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the twenty-third or twenty-fourth aspect, the traffic situation determination information generating means determines whether or not there is a vehicle traveling behind the host vehicle when the vehicle is located in a front situation transmission area before the intersection. The vehicle-mounted transmitter generates backward vehicle detection result information that is detected by the moving object detection means and indicates a detection result, and the in-vehicle transmitter transmits the backward vehicle detection result information and the traffic light in addition to the own vehicle information and the forward vehicle detection result information. It transmits to the side receiver.

  Even in this way, the traffic light control device can know the presence of more vehicles heading for the intersection. Therefore, it is possible to perform signal control so that more vehicles can pass through the intersection smoothly.

  In a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, when the vehicle is located in a forward situation transmission area before the intersection, the moving object detection means detects the traffic situation immediately after the intersection. Then, based on the detection result, it is determined whether or not it is possible to enter the intersection even if the intersection is blue due to traffic congestion immediately after the intersection, the determination result is generated as the traffic condition determination information, and the traffic signal of the traffic signal controller The control unit receives information including at least the vehicle information from vehicles traveling on both intersection roads intersecting at the intersection, and one of the intersection roads of the intersection receives a signal based on the received information. If it is judged that the vehicle cannot enter the intersection even if it is blue, signal control is performed so that the vehicle that has transmitted the vehicle information from the other intersection road can pass through the intersection without stopping. And performing.

  In this way, the traffic signal control device allows the vehicle traveling on the other intersection road to smoothly pass the intersection when one of the intersection roads of the intersection is blue and the vehicle cannot enter the intersection. Since signal control is performed, more vehicles can pass through the intersection.

  Claim 27 is mounted on a vehicle and detects a moving object in front of the vehicle, a moving object detection means for determining a forward traffic situation by the moving object detection means, and the moving object detection means. In the driving support system according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the preceding vehicle has been detected to be forwarded, but when the traffic congestion state determination means determines that the vehicle is ahead in traffic congestion, the driver is instructed to suppress acceleration. According to this driving support system, useless acceleration can be suppressed.

  Claim 28 is a vehicle-mounted device that constitutes an intersection travel support system together with a traffic signal control device that controls a traffic signal, and a moving object detection means that detects a moving object around a vehicle on which the vehicle-mounted device is mounted; An information generation condition is established that includes a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information including at least vehicle position information, and a condition that the vehicle is located in an intersection default area based on an intersection with a traffic light. A traffic situation determination information generating means for generating traffic situation judgment information for judging the traffic situation around the vehicle based on the detection result of the moving object detection means, and the traffic situation judgment information generating means And a vehicle-mounted transmitter for transmitting the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition means to the outside.

  This in-vehicle device is an in-vehicle device used in the intersection travel support system of claim 1.

(Common configuration)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are a configuration diagram showing a mechanical configuration of an in-vehicle device common to an intersection traveling support system of each of the following embodiments and a configuration diagram showing a mechanical configuration of a traffic light control device, respectively.

  First, the configuration of the in-vehicle device will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, each of the ECUs 1 to 5 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like inside, and can transmit and receive signals to and from each other via the in-vehicle LAN 13. The support control ECU 1 functions as the own vehicle information acquisition means in the claims, and the position of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the own vehicle or the own vehicle) on which the in-vehicle device is mounted from the other ECUs 2 to 5 via the in-vehicle LAN 13, Get own vehicle information such as vehicle speed and direction of travel. Further, the support control ECU 1 also acquires information from other devices connected via the in-vehicle LAN 13, for example, blinker lighting information. Further, the support control ECU 1 generates the traffic status of the host vehicle (for example, waiting for a right or left turn at the intersection) from the various information acquired through the in-vehicle LAN 13 as the host vehicle information.

  Further, the support control ECU 1 also functions as a traffic condition determination information generating means in claims, and when the own vehicle is located in the intersection predetermined area, the traffic condition determination for determining the traffic condition around the own vehicle. Generate information. And the produced | generated traffic condition judgment information is transmitted from the vehicle-mounted vehicle-mounted radio | wireless machine 10 with the above-mentioned own vehicle information. The processing of the assist control ECU 1 will be described in detail later using a flowchart.

  The in-vehicle wireless device 10 functions as an in-vehicle transmitter and a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device according to the claims, and has a function of performing road-to-vehicle communication with the signal-side wireless device 102 and an in-vehicle device mounted in another vehicle. A function of performing vehicle-to-vehicle communication with the wireless device 10 is provided, and as described above, the vehicle information and the traffic condition determination information are transmitted to the traffic signal-side wireless device 102 by road-to-vehicle communication. In addition, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the vehicle information and the like are sequentially transmitted by inter-vehicle communication.

  The display device 11 is disposed at a place visible from the driver's seat in the passenger compartment, and is controlled by the support control ECU 1. The speaker 12 is also controlled by the support control ECU 1.

  The engine ECU 2 is an ECU that controls the rotation of the engine (not shown) based on the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 21. The engine ECU 2 sends a signal (vehicle speed signal) indicating the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 21 to the in-vehicle LAN 13. To the support control ECU 1 and the navigation ECU 4.

  The brake ECU 3 is an ECU that controls a brake actuator (not shown) based on the steering angle detected by the steering sensor 31 and the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor 32. Further, a signal indicating the steering angle detected by the steering sensor 31 (steering angle signal) and a signal indicating the yaw rate detected by the yaw rate sensor 32 (yaw rate signal) are transmitted to the support control ECU 1 and the navigation ECU 4 via the in-vehicle LAN 13. Send to.

  The navigation ECU 4 functions as a position detection device according to the claims. Based on the vehicle speed signal, the steering angle signal, the yaw rate signal, and the radio wave received from the GPS artificial satellite received by the GPS antenna 41, the navigation ECU 4 Sequentially detect the position and current orientation.

  The navigation ECU 4 is connected to a hard disk (HDD) 9 in which digital road map data is stored. The navigation ECU 4 includes an autonomous navigation system that corrects a current position estimated based on a travel locus obtained using a vehicle speed signal, a steering angle signal, a yaw rate signal, and the like by comparing the digital road map data with a GPS artificial satellite. The current position is sequentially determined by hybrid navigation combined with radio navigation that determines the current position based on the radio wave from.

  Further, the navigation ECU 4 sets a guide route to the destination using the digital road map data stored in the HDD 9, and performs predetermined route guidance based on the set guide route and the current position.

  The obstacle monitoring ECU 5 detects an obstacle around the vehicle based on a signal from the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51 mounted on the vehicle. The peripheral obstacle monitoring device 51 includes a front monitoring device that monitors the front of the vehicle, and may include a monitoring device that monitors the rear of the vehicle and the side of the vehicle. In the following description, the peripheral obstacle monitoring device 51 may be referred to as a forward monitoring device 51. For example, a laser radar can be used as the forward monitoring device, and a total of three are provided at the center in the width direction and at both ends in the width direction of the front end of the host vehicle. A sonar may be used as a radar instead of the laser radar. Further, an in-vehicle camera may be provided as a monitoring device instead of the radar or in addition to the radar.

  Next, the configuration of the traffic signal control apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The traffic signal control device is provided for each traffic signal, and includes a traffic signal control unit 100 and a traffic signal side radio 102. Further, the signal display unit 101 includes a light emitting unit such as an LED, and performs well-known signal display such as “blue”, “yellow”, and “red”. Naturally, the signal display unit 101 may include a unit that displays an arrow.

  The signal-side radio 102 functions as a signal-side receiver in the claims, receives information transmitted from the in-vehicle radio 10 of the in-vehicle device (that is, own vehicle information and traffic situation determination information), and Various signals are transmitted to the in-vehicle wireless device 10 based on a command from the traffic signal controller 100. Moreover, the signal side radio | wireless machine 102 may be equipped with the function which acquires the condition of a traffic flow sequentially from the center of a roadside sensor or a probe information system. Moreover, it replaces with this signal side radio | wireless machine 102, and another communication apparatus (it may be a wired system) is provided, The communication apparatus may acquire the condition of traffic flow from the center of a roadside sensor or a probe information system. The probe information system refers to information indicating the traveling state of the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as probe information) such as the vehicle position, vehicle speed, blinker information, brake information, steering angle, and engine rotation speed (hereinafter referred to as probe information). In the center, the traffic control is performed based on the probe information transmitted from each vehicle.

  The traffic signal controller 100 grasps the traffic flow conditions around the intersection where the traffic signal is installed based on the information received by the traffic signal radio 102, and the signal display unit 101 so that traffic at the intersection is smooth. To control. The control content of the traffic signal control unit 100 will be described in detail later.

(First embodiment)
The intersection travel support system of each embodiment of the present invention has the common mechanical configuration described above, and the control contents of the support control ECU 1 and the traffic light control unit 100 are different for each embodiment. First, the first embodiment will be described.

  3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the control contents executed by the support control ECU 1 in the intersection travel support system of the first embodiment, and FIG. 5 is executed by the traffic light control unit 100 in the intersection travel support system of the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control content to perform.

  First, the control contents of the assist control ECU 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the process shown in FIG. 3 is executed every preset repetition period.

  In step S <b> 1, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is stopped or in a state close to stopping within an intersection predetermined area of an intersection that turns right or left. Here, the intersection predetermined area is an area composed of the intersection inner area and the intersection surrounding area. Whether or not the host vehicle is located in the intersection predetermined area is determined by acquiring the position of the host vehicle from the navigation ECU 4. Whether to make a right / left turn (that is, a right turn or a left turn) at the intersection is determined from turn signal lighting information. Further, when the information on the guidance route and the current position can be acquired from the navigation ECU 4, the determination is also made using the information from the navigation ECU 4. Alternatively, it may be determined that the vehicle is in the middle of a right or left turn from the travel locus of the vehicle and the current position, and a right or left turn is determined at the intersection. Whether or not the vehicle is at a stop or near a stop is determined by acquiring the vehicle speed from the engine ECU 2. Hereinafter, a state where the vehicle is stopped or at a speed close to the stop is referred to as a stopped state.

  If the determination in step S1 is negative, the process in FIG. On the other hand, when step S1 is affirmation determination, it progresses to step S2, and it is determined whether the own vehicle is a head vehicle. Whether or not the host vehicle is the leading vehicle is determined when the front monitoring device 51 does not detect the right-left turn preceding vehicle and does not detect the right-left turn preceding vehicle even in inter-vehicle communication using the in-vehicle wireless device 10. It is determined that the vehicle is the first car.

  If it is determined that the vehicle is not the leading vehicle (in this case, the vehicle is stopped within the intersection predetermined area of the intersection that turns right or left, but it is not the leading vehicle), the process proceeds to step S10 in FIG. On the other hand, if it is the leading car, the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S3, a detection range is specified. In specifying the detection range, the intersection shape information and the position and orientation of the host vehicle are used. The intersection shape information is information on the direction of the road and the width of the road with respect to the intersection, and is obtained from the digital road map data stored in the HDD 9 via the navigation ECU 4. Further, the position and orientation of the host vehicle are determined using the steering angle until the vehicle stops, the yaw rate, the movement distance from the time when the current position is detected, and the like. Then, from the intersection shape information and the position and orientation of the own vehicle, the range of the outflow path of the intersection is determined based on the own vehicle, and the detection range is specified so that the detection range becomes the range of the outflow path .

  In subsequent step S4, it is determined whether or not there is a moving object such as a pedestrian or a bicycle in the detection range specified in step S3. This determination is made by acquiring the detection result in front of the vehicle using the peripheral obstacle monitoring device 51 from the obstacle monitoring ECU 5. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a leading vehicle that is stopped at an intersection that turns right and left. Each of the right-turn vehicle and the left-turn vehicle shown in FIG. 6 specifies the range of the pedestrian crossing as a detection range by the process of step S3. In step S4, it is determined whether there is a moving object on the pedestrian crossing. In the case of the example in FIG. 6, since there is a pedestrian on the pedestrian crossing, an affirmative decision is made in step S4.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the signal waiting vehicle of the outflow path detects the moving object crossing the outflow path, and the moving object information (the position of the moving object, the traveling direction, and the speed) regarding the moving object is the signal. When the own vehicle can be received from the waiting vehicle by inter-vehicle communication, the determination of step S4 may be performed using the moving object information. In this way, even if the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51 of the own vehicle cannot detect a pedestrian or the like on the pedestrian crossing, the traffic situation determination information described later can be transmitted to the traffic signal side radio 102. it can. In order to be able to acquire moving object information from other vehicles by inter-vehicle communication, the in-vehicle device detects that the vehicle equipped with the in-vehicle device is stopped as the leading vehicle at the intersection, Processing for detecting a moving object ahead is performed, and when there is a moving object, the moving object information is generated and transmitted by inter-vehicle communication.

  If there is no moving object in the detection range, the processing in FIG. If there is a moving object in the detection range, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the position, traveling direction, and speed of the moving object are calculated, and based on these, an estimated time (T01) until the moving object moves to a position that does not interfere with the right or left turn and the vehicle can turn right or left is calculated. calculate.

  In the following step S6, the time until the signal of the traffic light switches from blue or yellow and the right (left) arrow to red by road-to-vehicle communication is acquired, and it is determined whether or not the signal is switched within the expected time (T01). If the signal does not change within the expected time (T01), the vehicle can turn left or right after the expected time (T01) has elapsed and before the signal changes. Therefore, in this case, since it is not necessary to change the signal control, the processing of FIG. 3 is temporarily ended.

  On the other hand, when the signal is switched within the expected time (T01), there is a high possibility that a right or left turn cannot be made even if the signal is switched. In this case, the determinations of steps S7 and S8 are further performed.

  Step S7 is processing as the expected time calculation means in the claims, and it is determined whether or not the time until the signal is switched is within a preset time. This determination is to determine whether the time until the signal is switched is relatively short. If this step S7 is a negative determination, that is, if there is a relatively long time until the signal is switched, the process is temporarily terminated. Therefore, the signal switching timing is not changed. This is because it is difficult to predict the movement of a moving object such as a pedestrian or the like with high accuracy, and the accuracy of the estimated time (T01) must be insufficient. Therefore, even if the signal is switched within the expected time (T01), if the time until the signal is switched is relatively long, the state is first seen. As a result, it is possible to prevent the signal control from being changed even though it is necessary to change the result.

  If the determination in step S7 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S8. Step S8 is a process as an outflow route traffic condition determination means in the claims, and it is determined whether or not the intersection can be passed if the signal is extended. Specifically, as in the state illustrated in FIG. 8, this determination is performed to determine whether or not it has been detected that there is a stopped vehicle and a traffic jam ahead of the outflow path after the right or left turn. Whether there is a stopped vehicle or a traffic jam ahead of the outflow path is detected using the forward monitoring device 51 or inter-vehicle communication. When a stopped vehicle or traffic jam is detected, it is determined that the vehicle cannot pass the intersection even if the signal is extended. Also in this case, the processing is temporarily terminated as it is.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step S8 is also affirmative, there is a meaning of extending the signal. Therefore, in step S9, "no right (left) turn for T01 seconds by crossing moving object" is generated as the traffic condition determination information. The traffic situation determination information and the own vehicle information are transmitted from the in-vehicle wireless device 10 to the traffic light side wireless device 102. Here, the own vehicle information includes the own vehicle position and the traveling direction, and may include the vehicle speed, the vehicle length, and the like.

  Next, step S10 and subsequent steps shown in FIG. 4 will be described. Step S10 and subsequent steps are processing that is executed when the vehicle is not the head vehicle, that is, when the vehicle is a subsequent vehicle. For example, the processing is performed by the subsequent left turn vehicle and the subsequent right turn vehicle in the state shown in FIGS. In step S10, as in step S7 described above, it is determined whether the time until the signal is switched is within a preset time.

  If this determination is negative, the process ends. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S11, where it is detected whether the preceding vehicle has made a right / left turn in the same direction through inter-vehicle communication, and it has been determined whether the first vehicle has been grasped from the right / left turn leading vehicle. . If this determination is a negative determination, the process proceeds to step S12, and if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S13.

  In step S <b> 12, “right (left) turn is impossible due to the preceding vehicle” is generated as traffic condition determination information, and the traffic condition determination information and the own vehicle information are transmitted from the in-vehicle wireless device 10 to the traffic signal side wireless device 102.

  In step S13, “right (left) turn not possible due to preceding vehicle” and “how many cars from the first car on the right (left) turn” are generated as traffic situation determination information, and this traffic situation judgment information and own vehicle information are mounted on the vehicle. The signal is transmitted from the wireless device 10 to the signal device-side wireless device 102. In addition, the own vehicle information in steps S12 and S13 is the same as that in step S9.

  Next, the control content shown in FIG. 5 executed by the traffic light control unit 100 in the intersection travel support system of the first embodiment will be described. The processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed when “right (left) turn impossible” is received from the in-vehicle wireless device 10. That is, when step S9 in FIG. 3 is executed and “right (left) turn impossible for T01 seconds due to crossing moving object” is received, or steps S12 and S13 in FIG. 4 are executed and “right (left) by the preceding vehicle”. When the signal “not foldable” is received, the traffic signal control unit 100 executes the processing of FIG.

  First, in step S20, the fact that the traveling direction of the transmitting vehicle that has transmitted the above-mentioned "right (left) turn impossible" is the traveling direction that switches to a red signal within a predetermined time is transmitted together with "right (left) turn impossible". Check based on the vehicle information you have received.

  In the subsequent step S21, it is confirmed from the traffic flow status grasped by roadside sensors, probe information, road-to-vehicle communication, and the like that the outflow path of the transmitting vehicle is not congested.

  In step S22, based on the traffic condition of the outflow path confirmed in step S21, the influence on the traffic condition of the outflow path and the allowable delay time are determined by delaying the signal of the outflow path to be blue. In step S23, whether or not the signal can be delayed is determined based on the determination result in step S22. If the delay is possible, the maximum delay time is determined. The delay method includes a method of extending the blue signal (yellow signal or right (left) turn arrow signal) and a method of delaying the timing when the signal on the outflow path becomes blue. In step S24, signal control is performed based on the content determined in step S23.

  For the processing of these steps S22 to S24, a known signal control technique based on the traffic situation of the intersection is used. As this known signal control technique, for example, there is a technique described in Patent Document 2 described above. In addition, the techniques described in JP-A-2006-79455 and JP-A-7-93690, and other known signal control techniques may be used.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment described above, the support control ECU 1 generates the traffic situation determination information indicating that the vehicle cannot turn right or left from the detection result of the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51, and the traffic signal control device Since this traffic condition determination information is acquired from the vehicle, the traffic light control device can know that a vehicle that cannot turn right or left for the expected time due to a moving object crossing the outflow path is at the intersection. Therefore, the signal of the traffic light can be switched according to the situation that a vehicle that cannot turn right or left for the expected time due to a moving object crossing the outflow path is at the intersection. In addition, the traffic situation determination information is generated from the detection result of the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51. As this surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51, a vehicle driving support sensor or the like can be used. The driving support system can be configured at a low cost.

(2-1 embodiment)
Next, a 2-1 embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the outline of the 2-1 embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, in the second to the first embodiment, in the one-side one-track line (particularly, there is no right turn arrow signal), the right turn leading vehicle has a preceding vehicle by inter-vehicle communication from the following vehicle. Receives information indicating that it cannot travel. From the information, the right turn leading vehicle determines that the traffic flow is stagnant because the vehicle cannot turn right, and notifies the traffic signal control device that the vehicle is congested because the vehicle cannot turn right. The traffic light control device eliminates the traffic jam by controlling the signal so that the right turn car can pass.

  Hereinafter, the 2-1 embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the control contents executed by the support control ECU 1 in the intersection travel support system of the 2-1 embodiment. The contents of control executed by the support control ECU 1 in the 2-1 embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the processing shown in FIG. 12 is executed for each preset repetition period.

  First, in step S30, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is in a stopped state within the intersection predetermined area. The intersection predetermined area here is an area composed of the intersection inner predetermined area and the intersection peripheral predetermined area, and the intersection peripheral predetermined area is an area including the following vehicle shown in FIG. 11, for example. The stop state refers to a state where the vehicle is stopped or at a speed close to the stop, as in the first embodiment.

  If this determination is negative, the process is temporarily terminated. On the other hand, when it is affirmation determination, it progresses to step S31 and it is determined whether it is a right turn head car. Whether or not to turn right is determined by using blinker lighting information and information from the navigation ECU 4. Whether or not the vehicle is the leading vehicle is determined based on whether or not the preceding vehicle is detected by inter-vehicle communication or whether or not the vehicle can be detected forward by the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51.

  If it is determined that the vehicle is not the first vehicle to turn right (in this case, it is the following vehicle in FIG. 11), the process proceeds to step 40 in FIG. On the other hand, if it is the leading car, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, the detection range is specified. In specifying the detection range, the intersection shape information and the position and orientation of the host vehicle are used. And from these, the predetermined range of an oncoming lane is specified as a detection range.

  Subsequent step S33 is processing as a means for determining the right turn impossibility in the claims, and determines whether or not a right turn is not possible due to continuous passing of the oncoming vehicle. Whether or not the oncoming vehicle is continuously passing is detected by detecting the passing state of the oncoming vehicle in the detection range specified in step S32, and all the oncoming vehicle passing time intervals detected within the determination time are within the predetermined time. Determine whether or not. For the detection of the oncoming vehicle, the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51, inter-vehicle communication with the oncoming vehicle, and road-to-vehicle communication are used. The road-to-vehicle communication here is the one in which the own vehicle acquires the road-to-vehicle communication result between the oncoming vehicle and the roadside communication device by the road-to-vehicle communication. The predetermined time is set to be longer according to the vehicle speed of the vehicle behind.

  When it is detected that a right turn is not possible due to the continuous passing of the oncoming vehicle, the process proceeds to step S34, where "no right turn with oncoming vehicle is possible" is generated as the traffic condition determination information. On the other hand, when continuous passage of the oncoming vehicle cannot be detected, the process proceeds to step S35, and "no right turn" is generated as the traffic condition determination information. Then, whether or not Step S34 is executed or Step S35 is executed, Step S36 is executed next.

  Step S36 is processing as the following vehicle traffic jam condition detection means in the claims, and detects the presence / absence, the number of vehicles, or the distance in addition to the following vehicle, and the presence / absence, the number, and the distance of the detected subsequent vehicle are determined as “following vehicle traffic information”. ". In this step S36, for example, the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51 is used to determine the traveling lane, the inter-vehicle distance, and the vehicle speed of the vehicle behind the host vehicle, and the presence / absence, number, and distance of the following vehicles are detected based on the determination result. Moreover, the presence / absence, number, and distance of the following vehicles may be detected by acquiring information from the rear vehicle by inter-vehicle communication. When using inter-vehicle communication information, if the vehicle is traveling on the same road in the same direction at a predetermined vehicle speed and the distance from the right turn leading vehicle or the distance from other vehicles following the vehicle is within the predetermined rear distance, If any one of the following conditions (1) and (2) is satisfied, the vehicle is determined as a succeeding vehicle. (1) A vehicle that transmits “no right turn with preceding vehicle” and (2) a vehicle that is traveling in the rightmost lane by transmitting “non-passing with preceding vehicle”.

  In subsequent step S37, the time until the signal of the traffic light switches from blue to yellow or from the right (left) turn arrow to red by road-to-vehicle communication is acquired, and it is determined whether the time until the signal switches is within a predetermined time. . If this determination is negative, the process ends.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step S37 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S38, and it is determined whether or not the intersection can be passed if the signal is extended. The contents of this determination are the same as step S8 in FIG. The process is also terminated when step S38 is negative.

  If the determination in step S38 is affirmative, in step S39, as the traffic situation determination information, “no right turn with oncoming vehicle” or “no right turn” generated in step S34 or step S35 and “follow” generated in step S36. The vehicle traffic information ”and the vehicle information are transmitted from the in-vehicle wireless device 10 to the traffic signal side wireless device 102.

  Next, step S40 and subsequent steps shown in FIG. 13 will be described. Step S40 and subsequent steps are processing executed when the vehicle is stopped in the intersection predetermined area but is not the right turn leading vehicle, that is, a subsequent vehicle.

  In step S40, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is a right turn vehicle. This determination is made using turn signal lighting information and information from the navigation ECU 4 as in step S31 of FIG.

  If step S40 is affirmative, that is, if the vehicle turns right at the intersection, the process proceeds to step S41 to detect the presence or absence of a subsequent vehicle. The presence / absence of the following vehicle is detected, for example, by detecting the vehicle behind the host vehicle using the peripheral obstacle monitoring device 51. Further, the presence or absence of the following vehicle may be detected by inter-vehicle communication.

  In the subsequent step S42, the information on the traffic condition judgment “previous vehicle with right turn not possible” and when the following vehicle can be detected, “following vehicle with” and the own vehicle information are communicated between the vehicles and the vehicle turns to the right turn. It transmits to the vehicle ahead of the state vehicle train.

  If step S40 is negative, that is, if the host vehicle goes straight or turns left at the intersection, the process proceeds to step S43. Also in this step S43, the presence or absence of the following vehicle is detected in the same manner as in step S41.

  Then, in the following step S44, “passing vehicle cannot be passed (traveling lane is required)” as traffic condition determination information and “following vehicle is present” when the following vehicle is detected, and the vehicle information are communicated between the vehicles. To the first vehicle on the right turn or to the vehicle ahead of the stopped vehicle train. The information transmitted by the vehicle-to-vehicle communication in step S44 or step S42 described above is used in step S36 in FIG.

  Next, the control contents executed by the traffic light control unit 100 in the intersection travel support system of the second to first embodiments will be described with reference to FIG. The process shown in FIG. 14 is executed when “oncoming vehicle not allowed to turn right” or “right turn not possible” is received from the in-vehicle wireless device 10.

  First, in step S50, the outflow path of the transmitting vehicle that has transmitted “opposite vehicle with no right turn” or “no right turn” has been congested due to the traffic flow status grasped by roadside sensors, probe information, road-to-vehicle communication, etc. Make sure not.

  In step S51, right-turn waiting traffic jam elimination control is executed based on the traffic jam situation on the outflow path confirmed in step S50 and the traffic jam situation on the inflow path that can be grasped from the information from the right turn leading vehicle. This control is a known control that eliminates the traffic jam caused by the vehicle waiting for a right turn while taking into consideration the traffic jam situation of the road that intersects at the intersection, and various known specific control methods can be used.

For example, when there is no traffic flow on the outflow route, it is only necessary to consider the traffic flow in the oncoming lane, so the following (1) to (4) should be controlled to the extent that no traffic jam occurs on the oncoming lane. Can do. (1) The signal of the opposite lane is made red earlier than the right-turn vehicle traveling lane and the vehicle waiting for the right turn is passed. (2) The signal of the right turn vehicle traveling lane is made red later than the oncoming lane and the vehicle waiting for the right turn is passed. (3) Send a right turn arrow signal to the right turn car lane.
(4) Lengthen the yellow traffic light on the right turn vehicle lane and pass the vehicle waiting for a right turn.

  As described above, according to the 2-1 embodiment described above, the assist control ECU 1 determines the passing situation of “no right turn with oncoming vehicle”, “no right turn”, “no passage with preceding vehicle”, “no right turn with preceding vehicle”. It is generated as information. Since the traffic signal control device acquires this traffic situation determination information from the vehicle, the traffic signal control device indicates that the vehicle that cannot turn right is at the intersection as the traffic status of the intersection, and further that the vehicle cannot turn right. Since it is possible to know whether or not the oncoming vehicle is continuously passing, the signal of the traffic light can be switched according to the traffic situation. The traffic situation determination information is generated from the detection result of the peripheral obstacle monitoring device 51 and the communication result of the in-vehicle wireless device 10, and the peripheral obstacle monitoring device 51 and the in-vehicle wireless device 10 are used for driving support of the vehicle. Therefore, this intersection driving support system can be constructed at low cost.

(2-2 embodiment)
Next, a 2-2nd embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the outline of the 2-2 embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As in the case of the 2-1 embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, the 2-2 embodiment also has a traffic flow that is not possible because the right turn vehicle cannot turn right on a one-sided single track (particularly without a right turn arrow signal). The traffic light controls the traffic signal so that the right turn car can pass through the vehicle. The difference between this 2-2 embodiment and the above-mentioned 2-1 embodiment is that in the 2-1 embodiment, only the leading vehicle communicates with the traffic light control device, and the following vehicle is communicated by inter-vehicle communication. Information is transmitted to the leading vehicle, but in the 2-2nd embodiment, the following vehicle also communicates with the traffic signal side communication device.

  Hereinafter, the 2-2 embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the control content executed by the support control ECU 1 in the intersection travel support system of the 2-2 embodiment. The process shown in FIG. 16 is executed every preset repetition period.

  First, in step S60, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle is in a stopped state within the intersection predetermined area. The meaning of the intersection predetermined area and the meaning of the stop state are the same as those in the 2-1 embodiment. If this determination is negative, the process is temporarily terminated. On the other hand, when it is affirmative determination, it progresses to step S61 and it is determined whether it is a right turn leading vehicle. Whether or not the vehicle is a right turn leading vehicle is also determined in the same manner as in the 2-1 embodiment.

  If it is determined that the vehicle is not a right turn leading vehicle (ie, if it is a following vehicle), the process proceeds to step 70 in FIG. On the other hand, if it is the leading car, the process proceeds to step S62. In the subsequent processing when the vehicle is the leading vehicle, that is, in steps S62 to S69, steps S62 to S65, S67, and S68 are the same as steps S30 to S35, S37, and S38 in FIG. 12, respectively. Only the process of S69 is different from FIG. Therefore, description of steps S62 to S65, S67, and S68 is omitted, and only step S66 and step S69 are described.

  In step S66, the presence / absence of the following vehicle is detected, and when the following vehicle is detected, “following vehicle present” is generated as the traffic condition determination information. For example, the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51 is used for detecting the presence or absence of the following vehicle. Further, the presence or absence of the following vehicle may be detected by acquiring information from the rear vehicle by inter-vehicle communication.

  After executing step S66, it is determined in step S67 whether the time until the signal is switched is within a predetermined time. If the determination in step S67 is affirmative, the signal is extended in step S668. Determine if you can pass through the intersection. If step S68 is also affirmative, step S69 is executed.

  In step S69, as the traffic situation determination information, “on-coming vehicle with right turn not possible” or “right turn impossible” generated at step S64 or step S65, “following vehicle presence” generated at step S66, and the own vehicle information, The signal is transmitted from the device 10 to the signal-side radio device 102.

  Next, step S70 and subsequent steps shown in FIG. 17 will be described. Step S70 and subsequent steps are processing executed when the vehicle is stopped in the intersection predetermined area but is not the right turn leading vehicle, that is, a subsequent vehicle.

  In the processes after step S70, steps S70, S71, and S73 are the same as steps S40, S41, and S43 in FIG. 13, respectively, and only the processes in steps S72 and S74 are different from those in FIG. Therefore, description of steps S70, S71, and S73 is omitted, and only step S72 and step S74 are described.

  Step S72 is processing when the own vehicle is a right turn following vehicle, and is executed after performing detection processing of the following vehicle in step S71. In step S72, “previous vehicle with no right turn” as traffic condition determination information and “following vehicle presence” when the following vehicle is detected in step S71, and the vehicle information are transmitted from the in-vehicle wireless device 10 to the traffic light. Transmit to the side radio 102.

  Step S74 is processing when the host vehicle is a straight vehicle or a left turn vehicle, and is executed after the detection processing of the following vehicle is performed at step S73. In step S74, “previous vehicle presence is impossible (traveling lane is required)” as traffic condition determination information, and “following vehicle is present” if the subsequent vehicle is detected in step S73, and the vehicle information are mounted on the vehicle. The signal is transmitted from the wireless device 10 to the signal device-side wireless device 102.

  Next, the control contents executed by the traffic light control unit 100 in the intersection travel support system of the 2-2 embodiment will be described. The traffic light control unit 100 according to the 2-2 embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 14 of the above-described 2-1 embodiment when “on-coming vehicle with no right turn” or “no right turn” is received from the in-vehicle wireless device 10. By executing the process, the signal is controlled so that the right turn vehicle can pass.

  As described above, also in the second to second embodiments described above, “on-coming vehicle with no right turn”, “right turn not possible”, “preceding vehicle with no passage” and “preceding vehicle with right turn not possible” are in-vehicle devices in the intersection default area. The traffic signal control device acquires the traffic situation determination information from the vehicle. Therefore, the traffic signal control device knows whether the vehicle that cannot make a right turn is at the intersection, and whether the reason why the vehicle cannot make a right turn is the continuous passage of an oncoming vehicle as the traffic situation at the intersection. Therefore, the signal of the traffic light can be switched according to the traffic situation. Moreover, the intersection travel support system of the 2-2 embodiment can also be configured at low cost.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, an outline of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 18, a right turn lane turns right while driving in an adjacent lane of a right turn lane (an adjacent lane in the same direction as the right turn lane or an opposite lane adjacent to a right turn lane). A traffic jam is detected in a waiting state, the detection result is transmitted to the traffic signal control device, and the traffic signal control device performs signal control based on the received content, thereby quickly eliminating the traffic jam. In this way, even when there are few vehicles equipped with wireless devices, the traffic light control device can grasp traffic jams at an early stage.

  Hereinafter, the third embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the control contents executed by the support control ECU 1 in the intersection travel support system of the third embodiment. The contents of control executed by the support control ECU 1 of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the process shown in FIG. 19 is executed every preset repetition period.

  First, in step S80, it is determined whether or not a traffic congestion detection start condition for an adjacent lane is satisfied. This traffic jam detection start condition is that the vehicle is traveling in the lane adjacent to the right-turnable lane and has entered the intersection predetermined rear at a vehicle speed higher than a predetermined speed. However, the intersection predetermined area in the third embodiment is a road-to-vehicle communication area extending in both directions of the road around the intersection.

  Whether or not the vehicle is traveling in the lane adjacent to the right turn lane is determined based on the digital road map data stored in the HDD 9 and the own vehicle position. Further, the traveling lane may be determined from the detection result of the in-vehicle camera or the radar. Whether it is a road-to-vehicle communication area is determined from the current position of the vehicle. Alternatively, the determination may be made based on whether road-vehicle communication is actually possible. If the determination in step S80 is negative, the process in FIG. 19 is temporarily ended. On the other hand, if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S81, where a low-speed vehicle having a speed equal to or lower than the predetermined vehicle speed in the adjacent right lane is detected using the peripheral obstacle monitoring device 51, and the detection result is stored. Note that step S81 may always be executed without performing the determination in step S80.

  In the subsequent step S82, the traffic jam situation immediately before the intersection is determined based on the detection result stored in step S81. This determination is executed both when the traveling lane of the host vehicle is an adjacent lane in the same direction as the right-turnable lane and when it is an opposite lane adjacent to the right-turnable lane. The specific judgment of the traffic situation is made as follows. When the vehicle is traveling in an adjacent lane in the same direction as the right-turnable lane, the number of low-speed vehicles that travel on the adjacent right lane (that is, the right-turnable lane) up to the predetermined position immediately before the intersection is equal to or lower than the predetermined number (for example, 2 If the vehicle distance is continuous within a predetermined value, it is determined that the adjacent right lane is congested immediately before the intersection. Also, when driving in the opposite lane adjacent to the right turn lane, if there is no low speed vehicle below the default speed traveling in the adjacent right lane up to the default position just before the intersection, immediately before the intersection (immediately after passing the intersection of the right turn possible lane) ) Judge that there is no traffic jam.

  In a succeeding step S83, it is determined whether or not the own vehicle has made a right or left turn at the intersection. When turning right and left at the intersection, the process proceeds to step S84. When a right or left turn is made at an intersection, even if there is a traffic jam just before the intersection, it cannot be determined whether the traffic jam is due to the vehicle waiting for a right turn being unable to turn right. Therefore, in step S84, the own vehicle information (own vehicle position, traveling direction, vehicle speed, driving lane, vehicle type, vehicle length, etc.) and “congestion status (with or without traffic jam)” as traffic condition judgment information immediately before the intersection are obtained. The signal is transmitted to the signal-side radio device 102, and the process ends. This traffic situation includes information on which lane, in addition to information on whether or not there is traffic.

  On the other hand, when the vehicle travels straight through the intersection, in step S85, it is determined whether there is a traffic jam at a predetermined distance immediately after passing the intersection. Similar to step S82, this determination is also performed when the traveling lane of the host vehicle is an adjacent lane in the same direction as the right-turnable lane or an opposite lane adjacent to the right-turnable lane. When driving in an adjacent lane in the same direction as the right-turnable lane, if there is no low-speed vehicle that travels in the adjacent right lane to the default position immediately after the intersection and there is no low-speed vehicle below the default speed, it is determined that there is no traffic jam immediately after the intersection . In addition, if you are driving in the opposite lane adjacent to the right turn lane, the number of low speed vehicles below the default speed traveling in the adjacent right lane (that is, the right turn lane) up to the default position immediately after the intersection is more than the default number, In addition, when the inter-vehicle distance is continuous within the predetermined value, it is determined that the adjacent right lane is congested immediately after the intersection.

  In a succeeding step S86, it is determined whether or not it can be determined that the traffic is waiting for a right turn. Specifically, this determination is to determine whether the right turn possible lane is congested because the vehicle waiting for a right turn cannot turn right. Specifically, based on the determination result of step S82 and the determination result of step S85, it is determined that there is traffic jam immediately before the intersection of the right turn possible lane, and it is determined that there is no traffic jam immediately after the intersection of the right turn possible lane. In such a case, it is determined that the vehicle waiting for a right turn is congested because the vehicle cannot turn right.

  If it cannot be determined in step S86 that the traffic is waiting for a right turn, the process is terminated. On the other hand, if it can be determined that the traffic is waiting for a right turn, the process proceeds to step S87, and the vehicle information and the “congestion status (traffic congestion waiting for a right turn)” as traffic condition determination information are transmitted to the traffic signal radio device 102 for processing. Exit. In addition to the traffic congestion waiting for a right turn, this traffic congestion state includes the lane information, the traffic jam start position, the end position, the traveling direction, the number of vehicles, the average inter-vehicle distance, and the average vehicle speed as much as possible.

  Next, the control contents executed by the traffic light control unit 100 in the intersection travel support system of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This right turn waiting traffic jam determination process is executed when single or multiple traffic jam situations are received from the vehicle by road-to-vehicle communication.

  First, in step S90, a right turn waiting congestion determination process is performed. The right turn waiting traffic jam judgment process is a process for judging whether a right turn waiting traffic jam has occurred in the right turn possible lane that has received the traffic jam condition, and when one of the following four conditions is met, Judge that there is a waiting jam. (1) When the received information is “congestion status (congestion waiting for right turn)”, (2) The received information is multiple “congestion status (congestion presence or absence)”, and the right turn lane can be determined from those information If it is possible to determine that there is a traffic jam before the intersection and no traffic jam immediately after the intersection, (3) the received information is “congestion status (with traffic jam)”, and it can be determined that there is traffic jam before the intersection, If the roadside sensor detects that there is no traffic jam immediately after the intersection in the traffic jam (with traffic jam) lane, (4) the received information is “traffic jam status (with traffic jam)” and the intersection Immediately after it can be determined that there is traffic jam, and the roadside sensor can detect that there is no traffic jam before the intersection in the “traffic jam (traffic jam)” lane. In addition, (3) is a case where information from a vehicle traveling in an adjacent lane in the same direction as the right-turnable lane is used, and (4) is information from a vehicle traveling in an opposite lane adjacent to the right-turnable lane. Is the case of using.

  In a succeeding step S91, it is determined whether or not it is determined that a right turn waiting traffic jam has occurred as a result of the determination process in the step S90. If step S91 is negative, the process ends. In the case of an affirmative determination, in step S92, the traffic situation on the outflow road after the right turn is confirmed from the traffic flow situation grasped by roadside sensors, probe information, road-to-vehicle communication, and the like.

  In step S93, the right turn waiting congestion is resolved in consideration of the traffic congestion of the lane where the right turn waiting vehicle is currently located, which can be determined from the information used for determining the right turn waiting traffic jam, and the traffic congestion status of the outflow path confirmed in step S92. Execute control. This control is a known control that eliminates the traffic jam caused by the vehicle waiting for a right turn while taking into consideration the traffic jam situation of the road that intersects at the intersection, and various known specific control methods can be used.

  For example, if there is no traffic flow on the outflow route, only the traffic flow on the opposite lane should be considered, so that the traffic on the opposite lane does not occur as shown in (1) to (4) below. Can be controlled. (1) The signal of the opposite lane is made red earlier than the signal of the right turn vehicle traveling lane so that the vehicle waiting for the right turn passes. (2) The right turn vehicle traveling lane signal is made red later than the oncoming lane signal and the vehicle waiting for the right turn is passed. (3) Send an arrow signal to the right turn vehicle lane and pass the vehicle waiting for a right turn. (4) Lengthen the yellow traffic light on the right turn vehicle lane and pass the vehicle waiting for a right turn.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment described above, the traffic signal control device determines the traffic congestion situation near the intersection of the right turn possible lane based on the traffic situation transmitted from the vehicle traveling in the adjacent lane of the right turn possible lane. I can know. Therefore, even if there is no vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle device in the right turn lane, the traffic signal control device can perform signal control based on the traffic jam near the intersection of the right turn lane.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the outline of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, in the fourth embodiment, a vehicle traveling on both intersection roads intersecting at the intersection detects the absence of the vehicle from the vehicle to the intersection. Then, forward vehicle detection result information indicating the detection result is transmitted to the traffic signal side radio 102 together with own vehicle information (own vehicle position, traveling direction, vehicle speed). Then, when the traffic lights can receive information from the vehicles on both intersection roads, the traffic lights control the signal switching timing so that the vehicles can both pass through the intersection smoothly.

  Hereinafter, the fourth embodiment will be described in detail. First, the control contents executed by the support control ECU 1 will be described. The assist control ECU 1 determines whether or not the own vehicle has entered the intersection predetermined area. The intersection predetermined area in the fourth embodiment is a forward situation transmission area before the intersection, and in the following description, the area that can communicate with the traffic signal radio 102 before the intersection, that is, the road-to-vehicle communication in the third embodiment. Assume that the area is set.

  When the own vehicle is located in the road-to-vehicle communication area, the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51 is used to detect the presence of a vehicle ahead of the own vehicle. The detection range is from the vehicle to the intersection.

  Then, the front vehicle detection result information indicating the detection result in front of the host vehicle is transmitted from the in-vehicle wireless device 10 to the traffic signal side wireless device 102 as traffic condition determination information. At the same time, the vehicle information is also transmitted. In FIG. 21, two vehicles traveling on different intersection roads toward the intersection are distinguished as the own vehicle and the intersection vehicle. From the viewpoint of the intersection vehicle, the intersection vehicle in FIG. On the other hand, the host vehicle is a crossing vehicle. Therefore, the process of the above-described support control ECU 1 also performs the crossing vehicle of FIG.

  Next, the control content which the traffic signal control part 100 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 4th Embodiment is demonstrated. When the traffic signal control unit 100 can receive information from the vehicles on both intersection roads, the traffic signal control unit 100 controls the signal switching timing so that both vehicles can smoothly pass through the intersection. Specifically, the control shown in FIG. 22 is performed.

  That is, the signals at the time of arrival of the intersection of the own vehicle and the intersecting vehicle at the same signal switching timing are 1 “red for both the own vehicle and the intersecting vehicle”, 2 “red for only the own vehicle”, and 3 “red for only the intersecting vehicle”. In the three cases, the detection results of the front vehicle of the host vehicle and the crossing vehicle are A “no front vehicle for both the host vehicle and the crossing vehicle”, B “no front vehicle for the own vehicle only”, and C “no front vehicle for the crossing vehicle” Control is performed separately for each of the three cases.

  In the case of 1-A, when a vehicle close to the intersection among the own vehicle and the intersection vehicle reaches the intersection, the signal on the vehicle side is made blue. In the case of 1-B, the signal on the own vehicle side is blue when the own vehicle reaches the intersection. In the case of 1-C, when the intersecting vehicle reaches the intersection, the signal on the intersecting vehicle side is blue. In the case of 2-A, the signal on the own vehicle side is blue immediately after the intersection vehicle passes the intersection. Note that the fact that the crossing vehicle has passed the intersection may be determined by calculating the time until the vehicle passes the intersection from the own vehicle information transmitted simultaneously with the preceding vehicle detection result information. You may judge by vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Further, when information from the roadside sensor can be acquired, determination may be made based on information from the roadside sensor. In the case of 2-B, the signal on the own vehicle side turns blue when the own vehicle reaches the intersection. In the case of 2-C, the signal switching timing is not changed. In the case of 3-A, the signal on the intersection vehicle side is blue immediately after the own vehicle passes through the intersection. In the case of 3-B, the signal switching timing is not changed. In the case of 3-C, when the intersecting vehicle reaches the intersection, the signal on the intersecting vehicle side is blue.

  In addition, in the seven “blue” control except when the timing is not changed, the vehicle (e.g., the traffic information near the intersection acquired from the roadside sensor) acquired by the traffic signal controller 100 (for example, the vehicle to be passed ( When the host vehicle or the crossing vehicle) travels at the current speed and cannot be turned blue at the timing shown in FIG. 22, the traffic light control unit 100 calculates the recommended vehicle speed or the recommended vehicle speed range and calculates the recommended value. Send the vehicle speed or recommended vehicle speed range to the vehicle.

  When the in-vehicle wireless device 10 receives the recommended vehicle speed or the recommended vehicle speed range, the assist control ECU 1 outputs the recommended vehicle speed or the recommended vehicle speed range from one or both of the display device 11 and the speaker 12.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment described above, the traffic light control device can know the existence of vehicles that respectively travel on both intersection roads that intersect at an intersection, and the presence or absence of a vehicle between the vehicle and the intersection. . Therefore, signal control can be performed so that both vehicles traveling on both intersection roads can pass through the intersection smoothly.

  In the above-described fourth embodiment, the detection range in front of the host vehicle is from the vehicle to the intersection. If the tip of the intersection can be detected, the presence / position of the oncoming vehicle ahead of the intersection is detected. May be. Furthermore, when the presence / absence / position of the vehicle behind the host vehicle can also be detected, the presence / absence / position of the vehicle behind the host vehicle may be detected. When the traffic signal controller 100 can know the presence / position / position of the oncoming vehicle ahead of the intersection, in addition to the host vehicle and the crossing vehicle in FIG. Control is performed so that vehicles traveling from each direction to the intersection can pass through the intersection smoothly. Further, when the presence / absence / position of the vehicle behind the host vehicle can be detected, the in-vehicle device also transmits the rear vehicle detection result information. When the traffic signal control unit 100 also receives the rear vehicle detection result information, for example, the traffic light control unit 100 performs timing switching control in consideration of the rear vehicle detection result information, such as controlling the green signal period so that the rear vehicle can pass in addition to the own vehicle. .

(Embodiment 5-1)
Next, a 5-1 embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 23 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of the intersection traveling support system according to the 5-1 embodiment. First, the process of the assist control ECU 1 when the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted is the preceding vehicle in FIG. 23 will be described. Whether or not the vehicle is a preceding vehicle is determined based on whether or not the position of the vehicle is an area immediately after passing the intersection as an intersection defining area.

  When the vehicle is a preceding vehicle, the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51 detects a preceding vehicle ahead. And the preceding vehicle information which shows a detection result is produced | generated. In addition, when a stop vehicle is detected ahead, front stop vehicle information is produced | generated. And the preceding vehicle information (or front stop vehicle information) and the own vehicle information are transmitted by inter-vehicle communication.

  Next, the process of the assist control ECU 1 when the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted is the host vehicle of FIG. 23 is that the vehicle position is an area within a predetermined distance before the intersection (this area corresponds to the intersection regulation area), and information is received from the vehicle on the intersection outflow path. Judgment by

  In the case of the host vehicle of FIG. 23, the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51 detects a stopped vehicle immediately after the intersection. And from the detection result and the information from the preceding vehicle received by inter-vehicle communication (preceding vehicle information or forward stopping vehicle information and own vehicle information), the forward outflow road is congested and the signal is blue. It is determined whether or not it is a situation where it is not possible to enter the intersection. If it is determined that the vehicle cannot enter the intersection even if the traffic light is blue, the traffic situation determination information is generated as traffic situation determination information. 102.

  Next, the process of the assist control ECU 1 when the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted is the crossing vehicle of FIG. It is determined that the vehicle is an intersection vehicle in FIG. 23 by not receiving information from the vehicle on the intersection outflow path because the position of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance before the intersection. In the case of the crossing vehicle in FIG. 23, the support control ECU 1 transmits only the own vehicle information (position, direction, vehicle speed) to the traffic signal side radio 102 by road-to-vehicle communication. Note that the above-described processing of the host vehicle may be performed when the position of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance before the intersection without particularly distinguishing between the host vehicle and the crossing vehicle.

  Next, the control content which the traffic signal control part 100 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 5th-1 embodiment is demonstrated. If the traffic signal control unit 100 determines from the information received from the host vehicle in FIG. 23 that the host vehicle cannot enter the intersection even if the signal is blue, the information and signal from the intersection vehicle are displayed. From the switching timing information, it is determined whether or not the signal on the intersecting vehicle side is red when the intersecting vehicle reaches the intersection. If necessary, the signal switching timing is adjusted so that the signal on the crossing vehicle side turns blue when the crossing vehicle reaches the intersection.

  However, when the crossing vehicle travels at the current speed, even if the signal switching timing is shifted within the predetermined range, the signal control unit 100 sets the recommended vehicle speed or the recommended vehicle speed range when the signal cannot be turned blue when the tolerance vehicle reaches the intersection. The calculated recommended vehicle speed or the recommended vehicle speed range is transmitted to the intersecting vehicle.

  As described above, according to the fifth to fifth embodiments described above, the traffic signal control device allows a vehicle traveling on the other intersection road in a state in which one of the intersection roads of the intersection is blue and the vehicle cannot enter the intersection. Since signal control is performed so that the vehicle can pass smoothly through the intersection, more vehicles can pass through the intersection.

(Embodiment 5-2)
Next, a 5-2 embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the operation of the intersection travel support system according to the 5-2 embodiment. First, the process of the assist control ECU 1 when the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted is the preceding vehicle of FIG. Whether or not the vehicle is a preceding vehicle is determined based on whether or not the vehicle position is immediately after passing the intersection.

  When the vehicle is a preceding vehicle, the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51 detects a preceding vehicle ahead. And the preceding vehicle information which shows a detection result is produced | generated. In addition, when a stop vehicle is detected ahead, front stop vehicle information is produced | generated. And the preceding vehicle information (or front stop vehicle information) and the own vehicle information are transmitted by inter-vehicle communication.

  Next, the process of the assist control ECU 1 when the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted is the own vehicle of FIG. The host vehicle in FIG. 24 is determined by the fact that the position of the vehicle is within a predetermined distance before the intersection and that information is received from the vehicle on the intersection outflow path by inter-vehicle communication.

  In the case of the host vehicle of FIG. 24, information on a period during which the signal is blue is received from the traffic light control device by road-to-vehicle communication. Then, based on the information received from the traffic light control device and the current speed / position of the host vehicle, it is determined whether or not the signal can enter the intersection during the blue period. On the other hand, it is determined from the information received by the inter-vehicle communication whether there is a traffic jam immediately after the intersection. Then, although it is possible to enter the intersection during the period when the signal is blue, if it is determined that the traffic is congested immediately after the intersection, an instruction to suppress acceleration is output from one or both of the display device 11 and the speaker 12. Thereby, useless acceleration can be suppressed.

  Note that the intersection driving support system of this embodiment can be applied to other than just before the intersection, for example, a traffic jam is detected by the inter-vehicle communication or the peripheral obstacle monitoring device 51, and the inter-vehicle communication or Even when the surrounding obstacle monitoring device 51 detects the advance of the immediately preceding vehicle, an instruction to suppress acceleration may be output.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, The following embodiment is also contained in the technical scope of this invention, and also the summary other than the following is also included. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope.

  For example, whether or not the vehicle is located in the intersection regulation area is determined not by determining based on the current position of the vehicle detected by the navigation ECU 4 but by analyzing an image captured by the in-vehicle camera. Good. Further, it may be determined that the vehicle is near an intersection by road-to-vehicle communication.

It is a block diagram which shows the machine structure of the vehicle-mounted apparatus common to the intersection driving assistance system of each embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the machine structure of the traffic signal control apparatus common to the intersection driving assistance system of each embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control content which assistance control ECU1 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control content which assistance control ECU1 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control content which the traffic signal control part 100 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the head car which is a stop state in the intersection which turns right and left. It is a figure explaining the state which the signal waiting vehicle of an outflow path transmits moving object information to a left turn vehicle by vehicle-to-vehicle communication. It is a figure which shows the state which has a stop vehicle and traffic jam ahead of the outflow path after a right-left turn. It is a figure for demonstrating the process which a subsequent left turn vehicle performs. It is a figure which shows the state in which a succeeding left turn vehicle transmits information to a traffic signal control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the state in which a subsequent right turn vehicle transmits information to a traffic signal control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the control content which assistance control ECU1 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 2nd-1 embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control content which assistance control ECU1 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 2nd-1 embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control content which the traffic signal control part 100 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 2nd-1 embodiment. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of 2nd-2 embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control content which assistance control ECU1 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 2nd-2 embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control content which assistance control ECU1 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 2nd-2 embodiment. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control content which assistance control ECU1 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control content which the traffic signal control part 100 performs in the intersection driving assistance system of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the outline | summary of 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the content of the signal switching timing control which the traffic signal control part 100 performs in 4th Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the action | operation of the intersection driving assistance system of 5th-1 embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the action | operation of the intersection driving assistance system of 5th-2 embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1: Support control ECU (own vehicle information acquisition means, traffic condition determination information generation means, expected time calculation means, outflow road traffic condition determination means, right turn impossible reason determination means, and subsequent vehicle traffic congestion condition detection means), 2: engine ECU, 3: Brake ECU, 4: Navigation ECU (position detection device), 5: Obstacle monitoring ECU, 9: HDD, 10: In-vehicle wireless device (in-vehicle transmitter, inter-vehicle communication device), 11: Display device, 12: Speaker 13: In-vehicle LAN, 21: Vehicle speed sensor, 31: Steering sensor, 32: Yaw rate sensor, 41: GPS antenna, 51: Peripheral obstacle monitoring device, 100: Signal control unit, 101: Signal display unit, 102: Signal side Radio (signal side receiver)

Claims (28)

An intersection travel support system having an in-vehicle device and a traffic light control device,
The in-vehicle device is
Moving object detection means for detecting a moving object around the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted;
Vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring vehicle information including at least the position information of the vehicle;
When an information generation condition including that the vehicle is located in an intersection predetermined area based on an intersection with a traffic signal is satisfied, traffic around the vehicle is determined based on the detection result of the moving object detection means. Traffic situation judgment information generating means for generating traffic situation judgment information for judging the situation;
An on-vehicle transmitter that transmits the traffic situation determination information generated by the traffic situation determination information generation means and the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition means to the outside;
The traffic signal controller is
A traffic signal side receiver for receiving the vehicle information and traffic condition judgment information;
And a traffic signal control unit that performs signal control of a traffic signal in an intersection predetermined area where the vehicle that transmitted the vehicle information is located based on the vehicle information and traffic condition determination information received by the traffic signal side receiver. An intersection driving support system. In claim 1,
The in-vehicle device is
The moving object detection means detects a moving object in front of a vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted,
A position detection device for detecting the position of a vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted;
When the position of the vehicle detected by the position detection device is within the intersection predetermined area and is stopped as a leading vehicle for a left or right turn, the vehicle front of the vehicle detected by the moving object detection means is detected. An estimated time calculating means for calculating an expected time as a time required for the moving object crossing the outflow path to cross the outflow path;
The traffic situation determination information generating means generates, as the traffic situation determination information, information indicating that the expected time calculated by the expected time calculation means by the moving object crossing the outflow path is not allowed to turn left or right,
The vehicle-mounted transmitter communicates with the signal side receiver by road-to-vehicle communication, and transmits the own vehicle information and the traffic condition determination information to the signal side receiver. Support system. In claim 2,
The traffic signal control device further includes a traffic signal side transmitter that transmits the time until the signal is switched by road-to-vehicle communication,
The in-vehicle device is
Further comprising an in-vehicle receiver for receiving information transmitted by the signal side transmitter,
Comparing the time until the signal received by the in-vehicle receiver switches with the expected time calculated by the expected time calculation means, based on determining that the vehicle cannot pass through the intersection until the signal switches, An intersection travel support system, wherein the vehicle information and the traffic situation determination information are transmitted from an in-vehicle transmitter. In claim 3,
When the time until the signal received by the in-vehicle receiver is switched is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the vehicle information and the traffic situation determination information are not transmitted from the in-vehicle transmitter. system. In any one of Claims 2-4,
The on-vehicle device includes an outflow path traffic condition determining means for determining the traffic condition of the outflow path,
Even if the signal is extended based on the traffic situation of the outflow path, the vehicle information and the traffic situation judgment information are not transmitted when it is determined that the vehicle cannot pass through the intersection until the signal is switched. An intersection driving support system. In any one of Claims 2-5,
The in-vehicle device is
A vehicle-to-vehicle communication device
When the position of the vehicle detected by the position detection device is within the intersection predetermined area and is stopped as a leading vehicle waiting for a signal, the moving object detection means causes the vehicle to cross between the intersection. When a moving object that crosses the road is detected, forward moving object presence information that is information including at least position information of the moving object is transmitted by the inter-vehicle communication device,
The predicted time calculation means is the moving object detection means when the position of the vehicle detected by the position detection device is in the intersection predetermined area and is stopped as a leading car for a right or left turn. Does not detect a moving object that crosses the outflow path ahead of the vehicle, but the forward moving object presence information received from another vehicle by the inter-vehicle communication device is information relating to a moving object that crosses the outflow path The intersection travel support system characterized in that the estimated time is calculated based on the forward object presence information. In any one of Claims 2-6,
When the position of the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted is in the intersection predetermined area, and the traffic situation determination information generating means is in a stopped state as a subsequent vehicle in the vehicle row for a right or left turn, As the traffic condition determination information, information indicating that the vehicle cannot turn right or left by a preceding vehicle is generated. In claim 7,
The traffic condition determination information generating means indicates information indicating that the vehicle cannot turn right or left by the preceding vehicle and the number of vehicles from the head when the vehicle train for the right or left turns can be grasped from the head. An intersection travel support system characterized in that information is generated as the traffic situation determination information. In claims 7 and 8,
When the time until the signal in the intersection predetermined area is switched is a predetermined time or more, the vehicle information and the traffic condition determination information are not transmitted from the in-vehicle transmitter. . In claims 2-9,
The traffic signal control unit of the traffic signal control device, when the traffic signal side receiver receives information indicating that a right / left turn is not possible as the traffic condition determination information, an inflow to a vehicle that has transmitted information indicating that a right / left turn is not possible An intersection driving support system characterized by performing a signal control for delaying a time until a road signal is switched or delaying an outflow road signal to turn blue. In claim 1,
The in-vehicle device is
A position detection device for detecting the position of the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted;
When the vehicle position detected by the position detection device is within the intersection predetermined area and is stopped as a leading vehicle for a right turn, the reason why the vehicle cannot turn right is because the oncoming vehicle continues to pass. A right turn impossible reason determining means for determining whether or not
When the reason why the right turn is impossible is determined by the means for determining whether to make a right turn, if the reason why the right turn cannot be made is due to continuous passing of the oncoming vehicle, it is determined that the oncoming vehicle cannot turn right indicating the determination result. On the other hand, if it is not determined by the right turn impossible situation determination means that the reason why the right cannot be turned is due to continuous passing of the oncoming vehicle, the right turn impossible is generated as the traffic situation determination information,
The vehicle-mounted transmitter communicates with the signal side receiver by road-to-vehicle communication, and transmits the own vehicle information and the traffic condition determination information to the signal side receiver. Support system. In claim 11,
The in-vehicle device is
The vehicle further includes a subsequent vehicle traffic condition detection means for detecting the traffic condition of the subsequent vehicle,
The traffic situation determination information generating means also generates subsequent vehicle traffic congestion information indicating the subsequent vehicle traffic congestion status detected by the subsequent vehicle traffic congestion status detection means as traffic status determination information,
The in-vehicle transmitter transmits the following vehicle traffic congestion information as the traffic condition determination information in addition to the oncoming vehicle having a right turn or a right turn not being possible, and the following vehicle congestion information. In claim 11,
The in-vehicle device is
The vehicle further comprises a following vehicle detection means for detecting the presence or absence of the following vehicle,
While the traffic situation determination information generating means generates the following vehicle presence / absence information indicating the presence / absence of the following vehicle detected by the subsequent vehicle detection means as the traffic situation determination information when the host vehicle is a leading vehicle for a right turn, If the position of the vehicle detected by the position detection device is within the intersection predetermined area and is in a stopped state as a subsequent vehicle, there is a preceding vehicle indicating that the vehicle cannot pass through the intersection. The vehicle traffic prohibition is generated as the traffic situation determination information,
When the vehicle is the first vehicle to turn right, the in-vehicle transmitter transmits the oncoming vehicle presence right turn impossible or right turn impossible and the following vehicle presence / absence information by road-to-vehicle communication as the traffic condition determination information. When the vehicle is a succeeding vehicle, the intersection travel support system is characterized in that the preceding vehicle is allowed to pass. In claim 12,
The in-vehicle device is
As the moving object detection means, provided in a vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted, an obstacle detection sensor for detecting an obstacle behind the vehicle,
The following vehicle traffic condition detecting means detects the traffic condition of the following vehicle using the obstacle detection sensor. In claim 12,
The in-vehicle device is
It has a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device that performs vehicle-to-vehicle communication,
The following vehicle traffic condition detecting means detects the traffic condition of the subsequent vehicle by inter-vehicle communication with the subsequent vehicle. In claim 15,
The in-vehicle device is
It has a vehicle-to-vehicle communication device that performs vehicle-to-vehicle communication,
The traffic condition determination information generating means is configured to detect an intersection when there is a preceding vehicle when the position of the vehicle detected by the position detecting device is in the intersection predetermined area and the vehicle is stopped as a subsequent vehicle. Proceeding with the preceding vehicle indicating that the vehicle cannot pass is generated as the traffic situation determination information,
The vehicle-to-vehicle communication device transmits an impossibility of passing the preceding vehicle together with the own vehicle information. In claim 16,
When the inter-vehicle communication device detects that a preceding vehicle is being transmitted when the preceding vehicle is prohibited from being transmitted together with the own vehicle information, information indicating that there is a subsequent vehicle is also included in the traffic condition determination information. An intersection driving support system characterized by transmitting as: In any one of Claims 11-17,
When the time until the signal in the intersection predetermined area is switched is a predetermined time or more, the vehicle information and the traffic condition determination information are not transmitted from the in-vehicle transmitter. . In any one of Claims 11-18,
The on-vehicle device includes an outflow path traffic condition determining means for determining the traffic condition of the outflow path,
Even if the signal is extended based on the traffic situation of the outflow path, the vehicle information and the traffic situation judgment information are not transmitted when it is determined that the vehicle cannot pass through the intersection until the signal is switched. An intersection driving support system. In claim 1,
The in-vehicle device is
The moving object detection means detects a moving object in front of a vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted,
When the vehicle is located in a traffic congestion detection area based on an intersection and is traveling in a lane adjacent to a right-turnable lane, the traffic condition determination information generation unit is configured to turn the right-turnable lane by the moving object detection unit. Detecting the presence or absence of traffic jams, and generating the traffic situation status based on the detection results as the traffic situation judgment information,
The vehicle-mounted transmitter communicates with the traffic signal side receiver by road-to-vehicle communication, and transmits the host vehicle information and the traffic jam situation to the traffic signal side receiver. . In claim 20,
The traffic situation determination information generating means compares the traffic situation before the intersection and the traffic situation after the intersection when the moving object detection means can detect the traffic situation of the right turn lane before and after the intersection. Based on the above, it is determined whether there is a right turn waiting lane where the right turn possible lane is congested due to the presence of a vehicle waiting for a right turn. An intersection driving support system characterized by generating a traffic jam condition (a traffic jam waiting for a right turn) indicating the situation. In claim 20,
The traffic situation determination information generation means, when the moving object detection means can detect only one of the traffic conditions of the right turn lane before the intersection and after the intersection, before the detected intersection and of the intersection The traffic situation of only one of the later is generated as the traffic situation judgment information,
The in-vehicle transmitter transmits a traffic jam situation only before or after the intersection to the signal side receiver,
When the traffic light control unit of the traffic light control device can acquire the traffic situation before the intersection and the traffic situation after the intersection, respectively, the traffic situation before the intersection and the traffic situation after the intersection. Based on the comparison, it is determined whether there is a right turn waiting traffic jam where the right turn possible lane is congested due to a right turn waiting vehicle. In claim 1,
The in-vehicle device is
When the vehicle is located in the forward situation transmission area before the intersection, the moving situation detection information generation means detects the presence or absence of a forward vehicle in a detection range including at least the vehicle and the intersection by the moving object detection means, It generates forward vehicle detection result information indicating the detection result,
The in-vehicle transmitter communicates with the signal side receiver by road-to-vehicle communication, and transmits the vehicle information and the forward vehicle detection result information to the signal side receiver,
The traffic signal control unit of the traffic signal control device, when the traffic signal side receiver receives the own vehicle information and the forward vehicle detection result information from vehicles traveling on both intersection roads that intersect at the intersection, An intersection travel support system characterized in that signal control is performed based on information from vehicles traveling on both intersection roads. In claim 23,
When the vehicle is located in a forward situation transmission area before the intersection, the traffic situation determination information generation means detects the presence or absence of a preceding vehicle in a detection range from the vehicle to the intersection and further ahead of the intersection. An intersection travel support system, characterized in that the vehicle detection result information is detected by the means and indicates the detection result. In claim 23 or 24,
The traffic situation determination information generation means detects the presence or absence of a vehicle traveling behind the host vehicle when the vehicle is located in the forward situation transmission area before the intersection, and indicates a detection result. It also generates back vehicle detection result information,
The in-vehicle transmitter transmits the rear vehicle detection result information to the traffic signal side receiver in addition to the own vehicle information and the front vehicle detection result information. In claim 1,
When the vehicle is located in a forward situation transmission area before the intersection, the traffic situation determination information generation means detects the traffic situation immediately after the intersection by the moving object detection means, and based on the detection result, immediately after the intersection. Even if the intersection is blue due to traffic jams, it is determined whether or not it is possible to enter the intersection, and a determination result is generated as the traffic condition determination information,
The traffic signal control unit of the traffic signal control device receives information including at least the own vehicle information from vehicles traveling on both intersection roads intersecting at the intersection, and based on the received information, the intersection of the intersection When it is determined that one of the roads cannot enter the intersection even if the signal is blue, signal control is performed so that the vehicle that has transmitted the vehicle information from the other intersection road can pass through the intersection without stopping. An intersection driving support system. A moving object detecting means mounted on the vehicle for detecting a moving object in front of the vehicle;
A traffic jam condition judging means for judging a traffic jam situation ahead by the moving object detecting means;
Driving assistance characterized in that if the moving object detection means detects the advance of the immediately preceding vehicle, but the traffic congestion status determination means determines that the front is a traffic jam, the driver is instructed to suppress acceleration. system. An in-vehicle device that constitutes an intersection travel support system together with a traffic signal control device that controls a traffic signal,
Moving object detection means for detecting a moving object around the vehicle on which the in-vehicle device is mounted;
Vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring vehicle information including at least the position information of the vehicle;
When an information generation condition including that the vehicle is located in an intersection predetermined area based on an intersection with a traffic signal is satisfied, traffic around the vehicle is determined based on the detection result of the moving object detection means. Traffic situation judgment information generating means for generating traffic situation judgment information for judging the situation;
An in-vehicle device, comprising: an in-vehicle transmitter that transmits the traffic condition determination information generated by the traffic condition determination information generation unit and the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit to the outside.

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