Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a vehicle control apparatus which can cause a door of a vehicle to be opened, for example, when a user or the like merely steps on text or graphics which are projected onto a road surface, with his foot.

In recent years, developments in an autonomous car have been increasingly made. To get in an autonomous car, a user should open a door of the autonomous car which is stopping. If a user is allowed to achieve such door-opening operation as described above in a noncontact manner from a periphery of an autonomous car, the user can get in a car smartly.

Foregoing, <CIT> discloses a hands-free vehicle-door opening/closing apparatus which allows a user to unlock a door of a vehicle and open a door without using his hands.

<CIT> relates to a vehicle open/close body operating apparatus. <CIT> relates to an arms full vehicle closure activation apparatus and method. <CIT> relates to a vehicle function control system using projected icons. <CIT> discloses a visual communication apparatus affixed to a vehicle.

However, in the conventional hands-free vehicle-door opening/closing apparatus, there may arise the following problems which should be solved in order that a user can get in a car smartly.

Conventionally, it is designed such that a door is unlocked and opened when a part of a user's body, such as a foot, enters into a range of radiation of a laser beam. However, a user has difficulties in visually recognizing a laser beam simply because the laser beam is projected immediately under a vehicle, so that the user cannot identify a range of radiation and a location of radiation. Thus, it is difficult for a user to see where to put his foot.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle control apparatus which can cause a door of a vehicle, for example, to be opened more easily than before.

In order to attain the above-described object, a vehicle control apparatus according to the independent claim <NUM> is defined.

With the vehicle control apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to easily cause a component of a vehicle to operate only by stepping on text or graphics which are projected onto a road surface, with a foot, and so, it is easy to find a place to be handled.

Hereinbelow, a vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. <FIG> is a block diagram of a detection unit of the vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment.

As shown in <FIG>, a detection unit <NUM> of the vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a projection unit <NUM>, a noncontact sensor <NUM>, a servo motor <NUM>, and a control unit <NUM>.

The projection unit <NUM> projects text or graphics onto a road surface. The projection unit <NUM> is mounted in a vehicle in such a manner that the projection unit <NUM> can turn, and projects text or graphics in a form of a still image, animation, or a moving image, onto a road surface. Which display form is employed in the projection unit <NUM> to display text or graphics may be determined in accordance with a user's preference, or may be automatically chosen in accordance with a condition of a road surface (roughness of a road surface).

In the present embodiment, as the projection unit <NUM>, either a projector which projects text or graphics on a road surface, or a laser projector which draws text or graphics on a road surface is used. While a display form in which text is displayed on a road surface as shown in <FIG> can be cited as one example of a display form, a display form is not limited to that. While it is considered that the projection unit <NUM> is provided in a lower portion of a door of a vehicle, the projection unit <NUM> may be provided in any place where no obstacle to projection onto a road surface is present, in a vehicle. Also, it is preferable that the projection unit <NUM> is provided in each of all doors of a vehicle. As for a door of a vehicle, the projection unit <NUM> can be applied to all doors of a vehicle, such as a front door and a rear door which can be opened and closed in a normal manner, a sliding door, a door of a hatchback, and a trunk.

The noncontact sensor <NUM> functions as a sensor which detects an object <NUM> in an area where text or graphic are projected. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, an area where text or graphics are projected by the projection unit <NUM> includes a dangerous area which is dangerous if a component of a vehicle <NUM> is caused to operate with the object <NUM> (a user's foot, a stick, a wheelchair, or the like) being detected, and a safe area where a component of the vehicle <NUM> is allowed to safely operate with the object <NUM> being detected. The noncontact sensor <NUM> can detect the object <NUM> while distinguishing whether the object <NUM> is in a dangerous area or a safe area. In the present embodiment, as the noncontact sensor <NUM>, a camera of a general type, an infrared camera, or a motion sensor such as a sonar sensor or a laser sensor, is used. It is noted that a component of the vehicle <NUM> is a component which forms a locking/unlocking system <NUM> which locks and unlocks a door, a door opening/closing system <NUM> which opens and closes a door, and a warning system <NUM> which gives notice of a danger.

The servo motor <NUM> functions as an actuator which drives the projection unit <NUM> which is mounted in the vehicle <NUM> in such a manner that the projection unit <NUM> can turn. To drive the servo motor <NUM> results in a change of a location of display of text or graphics which are projected by the projection unit <NUM>, or in movement of text or graphics. In the present embodiment, while the servo motor <NUM> is cited as an example of an actuator, a motor of the other type such as a stepping motor may be used, and alternatively, a hydraulic or gas-pressure driving unit may be used.

The control unit <NUM> outputs a control signal which causes a component of the vehicle <NUM> to operate when the noncontact sensor <NUM> detects the object <NUM> in a safe area, a dangerous area, or both of the areas. When the noncontact sensor <NUM> detects the object <NUM> only in a safe area, the control unit <NUM> outputs a control signal which activates a locking/unlocking system or a door opening/closing system. Alternatively, when the noncontact sensor <NUM> detects the object <NUM> in a dangerous area, the control unit <NUM> outputs a control signal which activates a warning system. It is noted that when the noncontact sensor <NUM> detects the object <NUM> in each of a safe area and a dangerous area, the control unit <NUM> does not output a control signal which activates a locking/unlocking system or a door opening/closing system, but outputs a control signal which activates a warning system, in order to ensure safety.

The driving unit <NUM> in <FIG> includes a locking/unlocking system <NUM>, a door opening/closing system <NUM>, a warning system <NUM>, and a vehicle control unit <NUM>.

The locking/unlocking system <NUM> locks and unlocks a door of the vehicle <NUM>. The locking/unlocking system <NUM> may be either a system which is existing in the vehicle <NUM> or a system which is retrofitted to the vehicle <NUM>. After a door is locked by the locking/unlocking system <NUM>, the door is kept being locked and cannot be opened. On the other hand, after a door is unlocked by the locking/unlocking system <NUM>, the door is kept being unlocked and can be opened and closed.

The door opening/closing system <NUM> opens and closes a door of a vehicle, such as a front door and a rear door which are opened and closed in a normal manner, a sliding door, a door of a hatchback, and a trunk, without manual assistance. The door opening/closing system <NUM> may be either a system which is existing in the vehicle <NUM>, or a system which is retrofitted to the vehicle <NUM>.

The warning system <NUM> notifies a user of a danger. For example, in a case where a user is about to open a door while approaching the vehicle <NUM>, there may possibly occur an incident in which a door comes into contact with a user, a wheelchair in which the user is, or the like. Thus, the warning system <NUM> sounds a horn of the vehicle <NUM>, changes a displayed color of text of graphics provided by the projection unit <NUM>, causes emission of light with lighting, or gives voice announcement, to notify a user of a danger.

The vehicle control unit <NUM> receives a control signal which is output from the control unit <NUM>, and controls operations of the locking/unlocking system <NUM>, the door opening/closing system <NUM>, and the warning system <NUM> in accordance with the received control signal.

<FIG> is a view showing an example of a display form of text or graphics in the vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment. In this display form, the projection unit <NUM> displays text of "OPEN" and graphics representing a "line" on a road surface in a safe area which is defined in accordance with a size of a vehicle, a manner of opening/closing a door, and the like, to urge a user to step on a text portion of "OPEN" with his foot, with a view to opening a door. The foregoing display form is one example, and various display forms other than the foregoing display form can be applied. It is noted that a line is displayed in a safe position at a fair distance from the vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> are views for explanation of a display area in the vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is noted that <FIG> is a view of a display area when viewed from a rear side of the vehicle <NUM>, and <FIG> is a view of a display area when viewed from above the vehicle <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the projection unit <NUM> projects projection light or laser light on a road surface within a range where the noncontact sensor <NUM> can make detection, to cause text or graphics as shown in <FIG> to be displayed on a road surface. As shown in <FIG>, an area where text or graphics are projected includes a dangerous area and a safe area, and the object <NUM> in a dangerous area and the object <NUM> in a safe area can be detected while being distinguished from each other by the noncontact sensor <NUM>. When the object <NUM> is detected in a dangerous area, there is a fear that a door may come into contact with a user if a door is opened, for example, and thus, a door is not allowed to be opened. Also, when the object <NUM> is detected only in a safe area, there is no fear that a door may come into contact with a user if a door is opened, and thus, a door is opened. It is noted that an area outside of a safe area is a non-detection area where the noncontact sensor <NUM> cannot detect the object <NUM>. Though a dangerous area and a safe area are shown so as to be concentric with each other in <FIG> by demarcation of a detection range of the noncontact sensor <NUM>, the detection range being variable with a vehicle type, those areas may be deformed to be in an oval shape in some cases. In a case where a component of a vehicle is a door, for example, a movable range of a door, the movable range depending on a vehicle type, is a dangerous area.

<FIG> is a flow chart showing an example of operations of the vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment. Below, operations of the vehicle control apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, control over a vehicle provided with a sliding door will be dealt with as one example.

The detection unit <NUM> monitors approach of a user (S100), and judges whether or not an drawing operation is acceptable (S110). Monitoring of approach of a user is achieved by detection of approach of an intelligent key which is carried by a user, to the vehicle <NUM>. Also, in a case where the vehicle <NUM> is a bus, monitoring is achieved by detection of approach of a bus to a bus stop where a user is waiting. Further, in a case where the vehicle <NUM> is a taxicab, monitoring is achieved by detection of approach of a taxicab to a cabstand where a user is waiting. Also, it is judged whether or not a drawing operation is acceptable by comprehensively judging whether or not there is an available space in an area where a drawing operation is to be performed, whether or not there is an obstacle in an area where a drawing operation is to be performed, whether or not a following vehicle approaches, and the like. If a drawing operation is not acceptable (S110: NO), no operation is performed, and a return to an operation in the step S100 is made, so that approach of a user is monitored. On the other hand, if a drawing operation is acceptable (S110: YES), a drawing operation is performed in a safe area by the projection unit <NUM> (S120). What is displayed by a drawing operation in a safe area is text or graphics as shown in <FIG>.

The noncontact sensor <NUM> judges whether or not the object <NUM> enters into a dangerous area (S130). If the object <NUM> enters into a dangerous area (S130: YES), the control unit <NUM> outputs a control signal for giving a notice of a danger (S140), and in response to the control signal, the vehicle control unit <NUM> drives the warning system <NUM> to issue a warning (S150). Thereafter, the noncontact sensor <NUM> judges once again whether or not the object <NUM> enters into a dangerous area (S130).

On the other hand, if the object <NUM> does not enter into a dangerous area (S130: NO), then, the control unit <NUM> judges whether or not the object <NUM> enters into and remains in a safe area for a predetermined time or more (S160). If the object <NUM> does not enter into and remain in a safe area for a predetermined time or more (S160: NO), the control unit <NUM> judges once again requirements for the steps S130 and S160 while text or graphics are kept displayed by the projection unit <NUM>. On the other hand, if the object <NUM> enters into and remains in a safe area for a predetermined time or more (S160: YES), the control unit <NUM> outputs a control signal for unlocking and opening a door (S170). The vehicle control unit <NUM>, in response to the control signal, drives the locking/unlocking system <NUM> and the door opening/closing system <NUM>, to unlock a door and open a sliding door (S180).

Next, the control unit <NUM> judges whether or not the object <NUM> enters into a dangerous area in the process of opening a sliding door (S190). If the object <NUM> enters into a dangerous area (S190: YES), the control unit <NUM> outputs a control signal for stopping opening of a door or for reducing a speed of opening of a door (S200). In response to the control signal, the vehicle control unit <NUM> stops opening of a door or reduces a speed of opening of a door (S210). Thereafter, the control unit <NUM> judges once again whether or not the object <NUM> enters into a dangerous area (S190).

Then, the control unit <NUM> judges whether or not opening of a sliding door is completed (S220). If opening of a sliding door is not completed (S220: NO), a return to an operation in the step S190 is made, and the control unit <NUM> judges once again whether or not the object <NUM> enters into a dangerous area (S190). If opening of a sliding door is completed (S220: YES), the control unit <NUM> outputs a control signal for stopping a sliding door, and outputs a control signal for stopping an drawing operation of the projection unit <NUM> (S230). In response to the control signals, the vehicle control unit <NUM> stops opening of a door and stops a drawing operation of the projection unit <NUM> (S240).

As described above, in the vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment, a user can safely open a door of the vehicle <NUM> without coming into contact with a door to be opened, only by stepping on, or getting on, text or graphics projected onto a road surface, with a user's foot.

It is noted that though description has been made mainly on the assumption that a user opens a door of a private car, a rent-a-car, or a shared car, for the flow chart in <FIG>, the vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment is also applicable to cases where the vehicle <NUM> is a bus, a taxicab, a truck, and the like. For example, when a bus stops at a bus stop, or when a taxicab stops in a cabstand, text or graphics are displayed on a road surface. Then, a user can cause a door of a bus or a taxicab to be safely opened on his own initiative by stepping on the displayed text or graphics with his foot.

It is noted that though a display area is determined two-dimensionally on a road surface and a dangerous area and a safe area of the display area are detected two-dimensionally in the present embodiment, a display area may be determined so as to include a three-dimensional object or the like on a road surface, so that a dangerous area and a safe area of the display area can be detected three-dimensionally. Also, for detection in a dangerous area and a safe area, an accuracy in detection may be corrected in consideration of environments such as brightness or weather, or a location of projection may be corrected in consideration of dislocation caused by inclination of the vehicle <NUM>.

The above-described vehicle control apparatus according to the present embodiment produces the following effects of:.

Even if an animal enters into a safe area, a door is not opened unless the animal remains in a safe area for a predetermined time or more. Hence, an animal or the like which is apt to escape in response to illuminated light or the like provided by the projection unit, is hard to detect. Accordingly, an erroneous operation in which a door is opened due to an animal can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, opening of a door has been described as one example of an embodiment. However, a target to which the vehicle control apparatus according to the present invention is applied is not limited to opening of a door. For example, closing of a door, lifting-up of a cargo bed in a case of a dump truck, and the like are conceivable.

Claim 1:
A vehicle control apparatus comprising:
a projection unit (<NUM>) configured to project text or graphics onto a road surface;
a sensor (<NUM>) configured to detect an object (<NUM>) in an area where the text or the graphics are projected; and
a control unit (<NUM>) configured to output a control signal that causes a component of a vehicle (<NUM>) to operate when the sensor detects the object,
wherein the component of the vehicle (<NUM>) is a component that forms a locking/unlocking system (<NUM>) configured to lock and unlock a door, a door opening/closing system (<NUM>) configured to open and close a door, and a warning system (<NUM>) configured to give notice of a danger,
wherein an area where the sensor detects the object includes a dangerous area that is dangerous when the component of the vehicle (<NUM>) is caused to operate with the object (<NUM>) being detected, and a safe area where the component of the vehicle (<NUM>) is allowed to safely operate with the object being detected,
the sensor (<NUM>) is configured to make detection while distinguishing between the dangerous area and the safe area,
the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to output the control signal that activates the locking/unlocking system (<NUM>) or the door opening/closing system (<NUM>) when the sensor (<NUM>) detects the object (<NUM>) in the safe area,
the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to output the control signal that activates the warning system (<NUM>) when the sensor (<NUM>) detects the object (<NUM>) in the dangerous area, and
wherein the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to output the control signal that stops opening of the door being performed by the door opening/closing system (<NUM>), or to reduce a speed of opening of the door, when the sensor (<NUM>) detects the object (<NUM>) in the dangerous area after the control signal that activates the locking/unlocking system or the door opening/closing system (<NUM>) is output.