Abstract:
A driver-state detection system and method with an accelerator pedal control function detects a driver&#39;s state and controlling an accelerator pedal to prevent an accident. The driver-state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function includes a driver-state detector detecting a driving state of a driver and determining whether the driver is carelessly driving a vehicle or not, a pedal controller receiving an operation signal from the driver-state detector, a vehicle state detector determining whether the vehicle is driven or stopped, based on ambient signals of the vehicle, an operation pedal installed to receive operation signals from the pedal controller and the vehicle state detector, and a vibration generator installed on the operation pedal and provided to generate or cancel a vibration of a motor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application Number 10-2011-0115865 filed Nov. 8, 2011, the entire contents of which application is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a driver state detection system and method with an accelerator pedal control function, and more particularly, to a driver state detection system and method with an accelerator pedal control function, which is capable of detecting a driver&#39;s state and controlling an accelerator pedal to prevent an accident. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In general, when a vehicle approaches a given extreme driving condition of a road, an active accelerator pedal device of the vehicle controls a pedal force of an accelerator pedal and informs the driver that the vehicle approached the extreme driving condition. When the driver drives the vehicle in a state where the driver set a target speed of the vehicle, an electronic control unit detects an actual vehicle speed and compares the detected speed with the target speed of the driver. When the actual vehicle speed approaches the target speed, the electronic control unit operates an actuator to increase a pedal reaction force or apply a specific feeling, in order to inform the driver that the actual vehicle speed approached the target speed. 
     Further, the active accelerator pedal device may check a distance from a preceding vehicle and increase a reaction force of the accelerator pedal or apply a specific feeling to limit the speed. 
     However, in the structure of the active accelerator pedal device according to the related art, the operation of the actuator is transmitted to the accelerator pedal through a plurality of links or cables and other members to control the step force of the accelerator pedal. Accordingly, since the construction of the mechanism becomes complex, the production cost of the active accelerator pedal device may increase, and the durability thereof may decrease. 
     Therefore, there is demand for a system which detects driving carelessness or effectively informs a driver of driving carelessness, when detecting the driving carelessness. 
     The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Various aspects of the present invention provide for a driver state detection system and method with an accelerator pedal control function, in which an accelerator pedal applies a strong vibration to call a driver&#39;s attention when it is determined that the driver is carelessly driving a vehicle. 
     Various aspects of the present invention provide for a driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function, including a driver state detector detecting a driving state of a driver and determining whether the driver is carelessly driving a vehicle or not, a pedal controller receiving an operation signal from the driver state detector, a vehicle state detector determining whether the vehicle is driven or stopped, based on ambient signals of the vehicle, an operation pedal installed to receive operation signals from the pedal controller and the vehicle state detector, and a vibration generator installed on the operation pedal and provided to generate or cancel a vibration of a motor. 
     The vibration generator may include a hitting member formed to reciprocate in both directions, a driving unit driving the hitting member in a state where one end of the hitting member is inserted into the driving unit, and a guide unit guiding a reciprocating motion of the hitting member in a state where the other end of the hitting member is inserted into the guide unit. 
     The driver state detection system may further include a pedal arm disposed so as to be spaced a predetermined distance from the hitting member, and a hitting absorption member formed on one surface of the pedal arm facing the hitting member and repetitively hit by the one end of the hitting member as the hitting member reciprocates. 
     The driving unit may have a forward coil and a backward coil formed therein to drive the hitting member in both directions. 
     The hitting member may have an inclined surface formed on the outer circumference thereof such that the diameter of the hitting member gradually decreases toward the hitting absorption member, a locking groove formed on the inclined surface, and a guide protrusion formed so as to be elastically supported by an elastic member in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface. 
     The driving unit may have a forward coil formed therein to move the hitting member toward the hitting absorption member. 
     The operation pedal may be any one of a pendent-type accelerator pedal, an eco-organ accelerator pedal, and a box-type accelerator pedal. 
     Various aspects of the present invention provide for a driver state detection method with an accelerator pedal control function, including determining whether a driver is carelessly driving a vehicle or not, based on a signal from a driver state detector, transmitting a carelessness signal to an operation pedal, when it is determined that the driver is carelessly driving the vehicle, determining whether the vehicle is driven or stopped, based on ambient signals of the vehicle, and transmitting an operation signal to a vibration generator, when it is determined that the vehicle is driven. 
     According to the driver state detection system and method with an accelerator pedal control, the intellectual organ accelerator pedal mechanism which is applied to reduce fuel efficiency and improve collision performance is used. Therefore, since a separate signal announcement structure is not applied, the production cost may be reduced. 
     Further, when it is determined that a driver is carelessly driving a vehicle, the driver may receive a strong vibration signal of the accelerator pedal. Therefore, stability is improved. 
     In addition, the driver state detection system and method may call the driver&#39;s attention when the driver is carelessly driving the vehicle. Therefore, the driver may previously perceive the state, before an accident occurs. Accordingly, since the driver may take off his/her foot from the accelerator pedal and rapidly step on a brake pedal, the merchantability of the vehicle is significantly improved. 
     Furthermore, the driver state detection system and method may be applied to intellectual accelerator pedals regardless of the types of accelerator pedals. 
     The methods and apparatuses of the present invention have other features and advantages which will be apparent from or are set forth in more detail in the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and the following Detailed Description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically shows the configuration of an exemplary driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling state of an exemplary vibration generator which is applied to the driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary vibration generator which is applied to the driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the driving unit of the exemplary vibration generator which is applied to the driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary vibration generator which is applied to the driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate an operation state between the exemplary vibration generator and pedal arm which are applied to the driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing an exemplary driver state detection method with an accelerator pedal control function according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the present invention as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. 
     In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the drawing. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the present invention(s), examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention(s) will be described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that present description is not intended to limit the invention(s) to those exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention(s) is/are intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  schematically shows the configuration of a driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to various embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to various embodiments of the present invention includes a driver state detector  10 , a pedal controller  20 , a vehicle state controller  30 , an operation pedal  40 , and a vibration generator  50 . 
     Driver state detector  10  may acquire the face direction of a driver and an eye open/close video using an infrared LED and a camera, and determine whether the driver is carelessly driving a vehicle or not. Here, a driver carelessness signal may be transmitted through controller area network (CAN) communication. 
     Pedal controller  20  controls operation pedal  40 , which will be described below, based on the signal transmitted from vehicle state controller  30 . Here, vehicle state controller  30  receives ambient signals of the vehicle. According to the ambient signals, vehicle state controller  30  detects whether the vehicle is driven or stopped, and transmits the detection signal to pedal controller  20 . 
     Operation pedal  40  is controlled by a signal of pedal controller  20 , and vibration generator  50  is installed in operation pedal  40 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling state of the vibration generator which is applied to the driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to various embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the vibration generator which is applied to the driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to various embodiments of the present invention. Here, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a pedal pad  42  is installed on a lower bracket  41 . Pedal pad  42  turns a pedal arm  43  connected thereto and transmits an operation signal to a pedal sensor  44 . 
     That is, pedal pad  42  which may be operated by a driver&#39;s stepping three is connected to one end of pedal arm  43  such that pedal arm  43  is turned about a rotating shaft S when the driver steps on pedal pad  42 . 
     Pedal sensor  44  is connected to a brake pedal driving unit  46  through a driving cable  45 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the structure of a control-type eco-organ accelerator pedal. In addition, although not illustrated, a pendent-type eco-organ accelerator pedal may be applied. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , vibration generator  50  includes a hitting member  51 , a driving unit  53 , and a guide unit  54 . 
     Hitting member  51  is disposed in such a manner as to reciprocate in both directions. One end of hitting member  51  is inserted into driving unit  53  to drive hitting member  51 , and the other end of hitting member  51  is inserted into guide unit  54  to guide a reciprocating motion of hitting member  51 . The operation principle of driving unit  53  will be described below in more detail. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the driving unit of the vibration generator which is applied to the driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to various embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when a current is applied to an electric wire according to the Fleming&#39;s right-hand law which is typically applied, S and N poles are formed at points of entry and exit of current, respectively, by a magnetic field formed around a coil C. This principle is applied to driving unit  53 . 
     An electric motor manufactured according to the above-described principle is referred to as a voice coil motor. In the structure of a speaker, a diaphragm vibrates according to changes in the direction and amount of current applied to a voice coil. The reason why the electric motor is referred to as the voice coil motor is that the voice coil motor has a similar principle to the speaker&#39;s principle. 
     The voice coil motor has the same principle as a solenoid principle. Since a magnet is attached to a basic solenoid, the voice coil motor has both functions of push/pull. 
     That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , magnetic members  52  are installed on portions A and B, respectively, so as to surround the outer circumference of hitting member  51 . A current is applied to the portion A to form the S pole in the upper left side of  FIG. 4 , and the S pole of hitting member  51  is moved to the right side by a repulsive force. A current in the opposite direction is applied to the portion B to form the N pole in the left side, and the N pole of hitting member  51  is also moved to the right side by a repulsive force. Accordingly, hitting member  51  is moved toward the right side. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the vibration generator which is applied to the driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to various embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , vibration generator  50  is coupled to guide unit  54 , and guide unit  54  includes a guide housing  541 , a housing cover  542 , an elastic member  543 , and a guide protrusion  544 . 
     Guide housing  541  has a space into which an end of hitting member  51  is inserted. Housing cover  542  is disposed in such a manner as to surround the outside of guide housing  541 , and housing cover  542  has guide protrusion  544  installed therein and elastically supported by elastic member  543 . 
     That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , guide protrusion  544  is disposed so as to be pressurized downward by elastic member  543 , and an end of guide protrusion  544  is contacted with the outer circumference of hitting member  51 . At this time, an inclined surface  511  is formed on the outer circumference of hitting member  51  such that the diameter of hitting member  51  gradually decreases toward the end thereof. A locking groove  512  is formed on inclined surface  511  such that guide protrusion  544  is locked and fixed to locking groove  512 . 
     Therefore, when hitting member  51  is vertically reciprocated by driving unit  53 , the end of guide protrusion  544  is slid along inclined surface  511  of hitting member  51 . At this time, a movement distance of hitting member  51  toward guide unit  54  may be limited by the locking operation between guide protrusion  544  and locking groove  512 . 
     Meanwhile, hitting member  51  is moved toward driving unit  53  by an elastic force of guide protrusion  544  through inclined surface  511 . Therefore, when a one-way coil is applied in such a manner that hitting member  51  is not moved in both directions but is moved only in one direction, the structure may be further simplified. 
     Inclined surface  511  may serve to prevent hitting member  51  from being unexpectedly moved front and back by the inertia while the vehicle is driven. 
     That is,  FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a state between the vibration generator and the pedal arm which are applied to the driver state detection system with an accelerator pedal control function according to various embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 6A , vibration generator  50  and pedal arm  43  are disposed so as to be spaced a predetermined distance from each other. At this time, a hitting absorption member  431  is installed on one surface of pedal arm  43  facing vibration generator  50 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6B , hitting absorption member  431  serves to reduce noise when hitting member  51  comes in contact with pedal arm  43  while the step force of pedal arm  43  is applied or the vibration mode of vibration generator  50  is operated. That is, when the end of hitting member  51  is formed in a hemispherical shape, hitting absorption member  431  comes in point contact with hitting member  51 , even though pedal arm  43  is placed at any position. Accordingly, the step force or vibration mode is smoothly performed. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart showing a driver state detection method with an accelerator pedal control function according to various embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , pedal controller  20  determines whether a driver is carelessly driving a vehicle or not, based on a signal transmitted from driver state detector  10  (S 110 ). For example, when the face direction of the driver is maintained at 20 degrees or more with respect to the front for 1.5 second or more, pedal controller  20  may determine that the driver is carelessly driving the vehicle. When the eyes of the driver are closed for 1.5 second or more in a state where the face direction of the driver is maintained between −20 degrees and 20 degrees, pedal controller  20  may determine that the driver fell asleep at the wheel, that is, determine that the driver is carelessly driving the vehicle. 
     When the condition of step S 110  is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S 111  where an operation signal of vibration generator  50  is not transmitted, and the initial position is maintained (S 112 ). 
     When the condition of step S 110  is satisfied, whether vibration generator  50  is operated or not is determined again. At this time, vibration generator  50  is controlled on the basis of a signal detected from electronic, control unit  30  (S 121 ). 
     That is, ambient signals of the vehicle are received on the basis of the signal detected from electronic control unit  30 , and whether the vehicle is driven or stopped is determined (S 120 ). 
     When the condition of step S 120  is satisfied, pedal controller  20  determines that the driver is carelessly driving the vehicle, and transmits an operation signal to vibration generator  50  to call the driver&#39;s attention (S 130 ). In this case, when any one of the conditions of steps S 110  and S 120  is not satisfied, pedal controller  20  does not determine that the driver is carelessly driving the vehicle. Accordingly, the operation signal of vibration generator  50  may not be transmitted. 
     For convenience in explanation and accurate definition in the appended claims, the terms upper or lower, front or rear, inside or outside, and etc. are used to describe features of the exemplary embodiments with reference to the positions of such features as displayed in the figures. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain certain principles of the invention and their practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to make and utilize various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, as well as various alternatives and modifications thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.