JPS6259880A - Obstacle detection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To indicate and display clearly the approach or presence of an obstacle to or by the four-directional flanks of an automobile by providing sensors at the four outside corner parts of the automobile body so that their detection range overlap one another. CONSTITUTION:The sensors 2, 3, 4, and 5 are installed at the respective four outside corner parts of the front and rear bumpers of the automobile 1. The detection ranges of those sensors 2, 3, 4, and 5 overlap one another and the approach of obstacles to all the surfaces of the automobile is detected. Then, detecting circuits 6, 7, 8, and 9 consisting of an oscillation circuit are connected to the sensors 2, 3, 4, and 5 and when some sensor detects an obstacle, its output is displayed on a display device 10 installed on the instrument panel and a buzzer BZ is put in operation to sends a warning tone to the driver.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention is installed in a car to notify and warn the driver of the presence of a sidewalk curb, etc., which is difficult to see from the driver's seat. This invention relates to an obstacle detection device.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, this type of obstacle detection device has been provided around the vehicle body of a vehicle, often at the rear end, and has been effective only when the vehicle is reversing.

[Problem to be solved by the invention 1 However, when driving a car, obstacles do not always exist only on the rear side; for example, when parking a car, obstacles such as a curb on the sidewalk can be seen from the driver's seat side. ,'llA
It is something that cannot be done. Especially in large vehicles,
People, especially children, who are close to a car are short in stature and difficult to see when approaching any side of the car. If the obstacle detection device is provided only in the invasive part of the body, as in the case of conventional obstacle detection devices, the problem is that it is insufficient in any case.

[Means for Solving the Problems] This invention provides FIQii! [In an obstacle detection device that uses any means to detect obstacles, such as ultrasonic waves, capacitance, etc., the obstacle detection device is configured such that the detection range extends over at least one of the four outer corners of the vehicle body. A sensor of the detection device: A detection circuit connected to each of the sensors; A display that announces the approaching direction of an obstacle by a signal from the sensor (1) A display installed in the vehicle interior; By providing an obstacle detection device, which is characterized by being equipped with an alarm device that issues an alarm based on the output of a detection circuit, it is possible to notify the approach or presence of an obstacle on the four sides of the vehicle. , the above-mentioned problems are solved by displaying the information.

[Example] Next, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which the obstacle detection device according to the present invention is installed in a car, and sensors 2.3. 4°5 are installed respectively. The detection ranges of these sensors overlap, making it possible to detect obstacles on all sides of the vehicle.

If the vehicle has a large or long body and the detection ranges of the sensors do not overlap simply by installing sensors at the four corners of the exterior of the vehicle as described above,
By installing the above-mentioned sensors at an intermediate location on the outside of the vehicle body, the number and location of the sensors can be selected as appropriate so that there is no undetectable range. It is important to be able to use a total of four sensors, one for each sensor.

FIG. 2 shows the circuit configuration of the sensor and the detection circuit in an example in which capacitance detection means is adopted as the detection means,
Each sensor 2.3.4°5 has a 4.
The detection circuits 6,7,8゜9 connected to each other allow each sensor to independently detect obstacles,
A signal is sent to the display 10. The display device 10 is installed near the driver's seat, for example, using the instrument panel, and this display device includes the respective sensors 2° 3.4.
．． 5 is provided, and is equipped with a display section that displays these abstractly or concretely, corresponding to the location where the sensor is installed. The display is configured to display the number of zone lines, and the display shows where the obstacle is near the vehicle being driven and the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle. It can be visually recognized by the display function of the section. To explain this specifically, for example, if there is an obstacle near the front of the right side of the car,
When approaching this, the sensor υ2 and the detection circuit 6 first detect the obstacle, and when the lamp of the F11 section (indicating the cloth in front of the car) of the display 10 is lit, the zone line of the FR section ( Of the three lines, the innermost line shines brightly, allowing the driver to confirm that there is an obstacle relatively far away on the right side or right front of the vehicle he or she is driving. Further, when the distance to the obstacle decreases due to relative movement of the vehicle or the obstacle, the lamps of the FR section light up in two stages, the middle line shines, and the sensor 4
Detection starts and the RR lamp (indicating the rear right side of the car) also lights up one step further, so the person driving continuously is closer to the obstacle and the obstacle is closer to the front of the right side of the car. It is possible to do one thing. When the obstacle comes closest to the car and is on the verge of contact with the car, the outermost line of the zone line in the FR section of the display will shine brightly (three stages of lamps will light up), indicating an extremely dangerous situation. Something is displayed.

In this way, all obstacles around the outside of the car can be detected, but in addition, the detection circuits 6 and 7
, 8.9 starts detection, the output of each detection circuit is connected to the buzzer BZ via the logical sum (OR> circuit 11), so it emits a warning sound and alerts the driver to the detection. This notifies you of the start and encourages you to look at the display 10, further increasing reliability.

FIG. 3 shows a pole-shaped sensor 2 employed as the sensor, which includes a sensor portion 2a, a lens portion 2b made of transparent resin, etc., and a light emitting portion 2 such as a light bulb.
The lens section 2b is arranged at a position that can be seen from the driver's seat, and the output of the detection circuit 6 is sent to the display 10 similar to the embodiment described above. The light bulb 2C installed in V also lights up. As a result, the sensor at the location where the obstacle is detected will emit light at the same time as the sensor detects the obstacle, so even inexperienced drivers who are relatively unaccustomed to driving can directly look in the direction and distance of the obstacle. It is possible to know by doing.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, a method using electrostatic capacitance was used as the detection means, but detection using ultrasonic waves is also possible. In this case, an oscillation circuit and a reception circuit are incorporated in the detection circuit, and the sensor For example, an omnidirectional sensor that rotates mechanically may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a plurality of sensors are installed on the outside of the vehicle body of an automatic 1H so that their detection ranges overlap, and a detection circuit is connected to each of the plurality of sensors. By installing a display that shows the location of obstacles in the vehicle, it becomes possible to clearly notify where the obstacles are located in the vehicle. Obstacles can be easily detected and found, and this is highly effective for safe driving, such as preventing collisions and accidents that often occur when starting, reversing, turning left or right, etc. It is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the installation of a sensor in an obstacle detection device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of a sensor, a detection circuit, and a display device, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sensor. 1...Car 2-5...Sensor 6-9...Detection circuit 10...Display device

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An obstacle detection device that is installed in a car and detects obstacles using means such as ultrasonic waves or capacitance is installed so that the detection range overlaps at least the four outer corners of the car body. a sensor of the obstacle detection device; a detection circuit connected to each of the sensors; a display provided in the vehicle interior that displays an indication of the approaching direction of the obstacle based on a signal from the sensor; An obstacle detection device comprising: an alarm device that issues an alarm based on the output of a detection circuit. (2) The obstacle detection device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is pole-shaped and includes a light emitting section, and the light emitting section is lit by the output of the detection circuit.