JPH0516694A - Device for preventing falling asleep during drive - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a device for preventing falling asleep during a drive which has high awakening effects. CONSTITUTION:A buzzer 10 and an aromatizer 11 are provided as means for calling the attention of a driver. A device 14 for detecting the sleeping state of the driver and a stimulus timing controller 15 which outputs a stimulus signal when the sleeping state is detected are provided. The stimulus signal is input to the driving circuit 13 of the aromatizer 11 via a delay circuit 16. When the sleeping state is detected the buzzer emits a warning sound and then aroma is generated with a time lag.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drowsy driving prevention device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a dozing driving prevention device, a device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-2228 is known.
According to this, the outputs of the drowsiness detection circuit are accumulated, and stimulation by light, sound, wind, etc. is given according to the degree of accumulation. That is, when the first doze is detected, the warning lamp is turned on, and when the second doze is detected, the fan motor operates. As a result, a warning is issued according to the degree of drowsiness to enhance the awakening effect.

[0003]

However, even if different alarms are given depending on the number of outputs of the drowsy driving detection circuit, the next alarm is given when the wakefulness effect of one alarm is lowered. , Awakening effect itself does not exceed each effect. Therefore,
There was a problem that the effect of waking up was not enough.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drowsy driving prevention device having a higher awakening effect.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a doze-driving prevention device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, is a means 1 for detecting the dozing state of a driver, and a physical device for the driver. When the first stimulus presenting means 2 for giving a stimulus, the second stimulus presenting means 3 for giving a physiological stimulus to the driver, and the detecting means 1 detect the dozing state of the driver,
The physical stimulus first acts on the driver, and then the physiological stimulus acts on the driver with a time lag.
And a stimulus timing control unit 4 for controlling the stimulus presenting unit 1 and the second stimulus presenting unit 2.

In this case, the physical stimulus by the first stimulus presenting means 2 is preferably a stimulus which has a fast-acting effect and causes the driver to "hit". For example, a warning sound by a buzzer,
Vibration by a sheet shaker is suitable. Also, the second
As the physiological stimulus by the stimulus presenting means 3, it is desirable that the driver can feel that the environment has changed, and that the change continues, for example, generation of aroma having a wake-up action, or air-conditioning blowing air volume or Changes in temperature are appropriate.

[0007]

In the drowsy driving prevention apparatus of the present invention, when the drowsy state detecting means 1 detects the drowsy state of the driver, first, the physical stimulus by the first stimulus presenting means 2 which is relatively fast-acting. After a certain amount of time is presented, the second stimulus presenting means 3 having a physiological effect is presented.
Is presented as a stimulus. Therefore, since a sustained physiological stimulus is added to the place awakened to some extent by the first stimulus, a high wakefulness effect lasts for a relatively long time.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the construction of the drowsy driving prevention apparatus of the first embodiment. In this device, a buzzer 10 that emits a warning sound is adopted as a first stimulus presenting means, and an aroma generator 11 for awakening is adopted as a second stimulus presenting means.

The fragrance generator 11 has, for example, the structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 1-754).
No. 35). That is, the casing 31 formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped as a whole is provided with the air inlet 32 on one side (left side in FIGS. 3 and 4) and the air outlet 33 on the central surface. An air blower 34 is provided in the casing 31 to flow air from the air suction port 32 toward the air discharge port 33. Further, at a portion between the air suction port 32 and the air blower 34, an upper end is provided. An fragrance container 35 is provided which is opened and contains a fragrance having a wake-up effect. Above the fragrance container 35, a solenoid 36 that is paired with the fragrance container 35 is provided.
A lid 38 for opening and closing the upper end opening of the fragrance container 35 is provided at the lower end of the rod 37 of 6. Lid 38
Is urged downward by a compression spring 39 to close the upper end opening of the fragrance container 35.

The other side (right side) of the casing 31
A controller 41 is attached inside the section. The controller 41 controls the opening and closing of the opening of the fragrance container 35.
The blower 34 and the solenoid 36 are energized by the operation of the controller 41.

When the blower 34 and the solenoid 36 are energized, the blower 34 is activated, the solenoid 36 opens the lid 38, and the fragrance having a wake-up action is supplied from the fragrance container 35 into the vehicle compartment. To be done.

The buzzer 10 and the aroma generator 11 are
Both are installed near the driver, such as the instrument panel. The buzzer 10 is drive-controlled by a drive circuit 12, and the aroma generator 11 is operation-controlled by a drive circuit 13.

Further, this device is provided with a device 14 for detecting a drowsy state by observing a steering operation state (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-1536).
24).

The device 14 for detecting the doze state is, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, a CPU 43, a ROM 44, and a RAM 4
5, and a microcomputer 47 having an input / output port 46. The input / output port 46 of the microcomputer 47 is connected to a steering angle sensor 48 that outputs a signal corresponding to a change in the steering angle of the steering wheel, a vehicle speed sensor 49 that detects the vehicle speed, and a stimulation timing control device 15.

Then, a detection reference value for dozing driving is set from a rotation signal output when the steering wheel is rotated by a certain angle by the microphone computer 47, and the number of rotation signals within a certain period of time is the detection reference value. At the same time as the value is greater than or equal to the value, it is detected that the number of changes in the steering direction within the predetermined time is less than or equal to a predetermined reference number, and it is determined that the vehicle is a dozing drive.

When a dozing state is detected,
A stimulation generation signal is output from the stimulation timing control device 15. This output is input to the buzzer driving circuit 12 and the fragrance generating driving circuit 13 via the delay circuit 16. When the stimulus generation signal is input, the drive circuits 12 and 13 drive the buzzer 10 and the fragrance generator 11.

According to this device, when the dozing state is detected, the buzzer 10 first sounds for a certain period of time to call the driver's attention by a physical stimulus. Then, after a certain time delay, when the arousal level begins to drop, the aroma with arousal effect begins to drift. Therefore, the arousal effect lasts for a long time due to the physiological stimulation by the aroma.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the device of this embodiment, a seat vibrating machine 20 for vibrating a seat is used as a first stimulus presenting means, and an air conditioner 21 mounted on a vehicle is used as a second stimulus presenting means.
Is used.

The seat exciter 20 is drive-controlled by a drive circuit 22, and the air conditioner 21 is controlled by an air-conditioning controller 23. The air conditioner 21 can freely change, for example, the amount of air blown into the vehicle and the temperature of the air blown therein. The other structure is similar to that of the first embodiment.

According to the apparatus of this embodiment, when the drowsy state is detected and the stimulus timing control device 15 outputs the stimulus generation signal, first, the seat vibrating machine 20 is activated to vibrate the seat. Calls the driver's attention. Then, after the delay time set by the delay circuit 16 has elapsed, the control content of the air conditioner 21 is changed. For example, changing the air volume significantly, lowering the outlet temperature,
Change the driver's environment. In this way, when the arousal level begins to drop, the blowing air becomes stronger and the temperature becomes lower, so the awakening effect lasts for a long time.

In the above embodiment, the delay circuit 16 is included in the circuit for generating the physiological stimulus, but this may be omitted. That is, the stimulus by the fragrance generator 11 and the stimulus by the air conditioner 21 have a time delay until the driver reaches the stimulus after the change operation is actually applied. Therefore, when this delay serves the role of the delay circuit 16, the stimulus generation signal does not have to be delayed by the delay circuit 16. A timer may be generally used as the delay circuit 16.

In the above embodiment, the warning sound and the vibration are used as the first stimulus, but if the stimulus is fast-acting and causes the driver to "hit", other physical stimuli are used. Stimulation may be used. In addition, the second stimulus is not limited to the above example, and if the driver can feel that the environment has changed, and if the change continues, other physiological stimuli are used. Good.

Next, how the arousal level changes depending on the applied stimulus will be briefly described.

FIG. 4 shows changes in the case where a physical stimulus such as a buzzer is given in the state of falling asleep. In this case, the wakefulness is rapidly recovered when the stimulus is given, but after a certain amount of time, the person falls asleep again.

FIG. 5 shows a change when a physiological stimulus such as a fragrance is applied to the subject in a dozing state. In this case, the arousal level is gradually recovered from the time when the stimulus is given. FIG. 6 shows a case according to the present invention, in which a first stimulus is applied to a state of awakening to a certain extent when the person falls asleep,
After a while, a second stimulus is given to change the driving environment. By doing this, you can get a clean state with the physiological stimulus given later,
High alertness can be maintained for a relatively long time.

[0027]

As described above, according to the doze-driving prevention device of the present invention, when a dozing state is detected, first, a physical stimulus having a relatively fast-acting effect is presented, and then to a certain extent. Since a stimulus having a physiological effect is presented after a certain period of time, a high awakening effect can be maintained for a long time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of an aroma generator.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional front view of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a device that detects a dozing state.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing changes in arousal level when a physical stimulus is applied.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing changes in arousal level when a physiological stimulus is applied.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing changes in arousal level according to the device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Dozing state detection means 2 First stimulus presentation means 3 Second stimulus presentation means 4 Stimulation timing control means 10 Buzzer (first stimulus presentation means) 11 Aroma generator (second stimulus presenting means) 14 Doze state detection device 15 Stimulation timing control device 16 delay means 20 sheet shaker 21 air conditioner

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A means for detecting a dozing state of a driver,
When the driver's dozing state is detected by the first stimulus presenting means for giving a physical stimulus to the driver, the second stimulus presenting means for giving a physiological stimulus to the driver, the physical stimulus is detected by the detecting means. A stimulus timing control means for controlling the first stimulus presenting means and the second stimulus presenting means such that the stimulus first acts on the driver and then the physiological stimulus acts on the driver with a time lag. A doze-driving prevention device characterized by being provided. 2. The doze-driving prevention device according to claim 1, wherein the physical stimulus by the first stimulus presenting means is a warning sound. 3. The drowsy driving prevention apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physical stimulation by the first stimulation presenting means is vibration by a seat vibrating machine. 4. The physiological stimulus by the second stimulus presenting means is an aroma having a wakeful action.
Alternatively, the doze driving prevention device according to claim 3. 5. The drowsiness driving prevention apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physiological stimulus by the second stimulus presenting means is a change in the amount of blown air by a vehicle air conditioner. 6. The dozing driving prevention device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the physiological stimulus by the second stimulus presenting means is a change in the blowout temperature by the vehicle air conditioner. 7. The doze driving prevention apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stimulation timing control means uses a predetermined time delay with respect to the first stimulation presentation means.