JPH0529953Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention is a voice instruction device for engine stalling that instructs the driver on the next operation procedure by voice when an engine stall occurs to ensure safety. It is related to.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in an automatic vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, if the clutch is set in a range other than the neutral range, for example, the drive range, the clutch can be automatically switched optimally depending on the vehicle speed.

[The problem that the idea aims to solve]

However, for some reason, the engine may stall while the vehicle is running. In such cases, if the brake system uses a vacuum booster that uses exhaust gas, or if a power steering device is used as the steering wheel, if the engine stalls, the vacuum The booster does not work, making the brakes ineffective, and the power steering hydraulic pump stops, making the steering wheel feel heavy.

As a result, when driving downhill on a mountain road, the vehicle speed gradually increases, which is not only extremely dangerous, but also causes the driver to panic, making it difficult to decide what to do. I can't do it anymore, and for a moment I get into a state of panic.

The present invention has been developed in view of the problems of the conventional technology, and when the engine stalls while driving, it provides voice instructions on the next operation procedure, so that the user can know what to do next. It is an object of the present invention to provide a voice instruction device for engine stalling that is capable of responding to instructions on whether or not to perform an engine stall.

[Means to solve the problem]

The configuration adopted by the present invention in order to solve the above problems includes an engine mounted on a vehicle, an engine stall determination means for determining whether or not the engine has stalled after starting the engine, and the engine stall determination means. an audio signal output means for outputting an audio signal instructing the driver to return the shift lever to the neutral range when the engine is determined to be stalled; and an audio signal from the audio signal output means to prompt the driver to return the shift lever to the neutral range. and a voice generating means for giving voice instructions.

[Effect]

With this configuration, when the engine stalls, the engine stall determination means determines whether the engine stall has occurred. When the audio signal output means outputs an audio signal based on the determination by the engine stall determination means, the audio generation means vocally instructs the driver to return the shift lever to the neutral range based on the audio signal.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

1 is an engine mounted on a vehicle, and the engine 1 is provided with a crank angle sensor 2.

3 and 4 are a start switch and an inhibitor switch provided in the driver's seat of the vehicle; start switch 3 outputs a signal according to the operation of the engine key, and inhibitor switch 4 outputs a signal according to the operation of the shift lever. It is something.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a control device, and the control device 5 is composed of a microcomputer, and its input side is connected to the crank angle sensor 2, start switch 3, inhibitor switch 4, etc., respectively.
By having a built-in memory circuit (not shown) and storing the processing program shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to determine whether the engine 1 has stalled after starting based on the signals from the crank angle sensor 2 and the start switch 3. It has a function of determining whether or not the engine 1 has stalled after starting, and a function of controlling a speech synthesizer 6, which will be described later, when it is determined that the engine 1 has stalled after starting. Here, the control device 5 and steps 1 to 4 in FIG. 2 constitute engine stall determination means for determining whether or not the engine 1 has stalled after starting.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a voice synthesis device as a voice signal output means, and the voice synthesis device 6 has a built-in voice memory 6A, so that when the control device 5 determines whether the engine 1 is stalled and an engine stall determination signal is input, It outputs a synthesized voice signal saying, ``Please return the shift lever to the neutral range and start the engine.''

Reference numeral 7 denotes a speaker as a voice generating means, and the speaker 7 is activated by the voice signal from the voice synthesizer 6, and tells the driver, ``Please return the shift lever to the neutral range and start the engine.'' Pronounce the sound.

The engine stall voice instruction device of this embodiment is configured as described above, and its processing operation will be explained next with reference to FIG. 2.

First, in step 1, the control device 5 reads the start switch 3. Next, in step 2, if the start switch 3 is ON, the crank angle sensor 2 is read in step 3. Then, as mentioned above, start switch 3
If the crank angle sensor 2 does not output a reference signal for more than a certain period of time and the crankshaft is stopped, that is, if the engine 1 is stopped, in step 4, the engine is turned on. 1 is determined to be causing an engine stall.

By the way, if the stalled state of the engine 1 continues like this, the brakes will not work and the steering wheel will become very heavy, causing the driver to go into a panic state, as in the conventional technology. easy to become

However, in this embodiment, in step 5, the voice synthesizer 6 operates the speaker 7 based on the judgment of the control device 5, and says, "Please return the shift lever to the neutral range and start the engine." and instructs the driver on operating procedures. In this case, for example, if the vehicle is an automatic one, the driver returns the shift lever to the neutral range according to the instructions, and
The engine 1 can be started by operating the engine key and driving the starter motor. As a result, the vacuum booster is activated, the brakes are activated, and the power steering hydraulic pump is activated to restore operability of the steering wheel, allowing the driver to escape from a panic state. I can do it.

By the way, if the aforementioned operating procedure were to be visually instructed on a display device, etc., the driver would have to be able to visually check the display device, but as mentioned above, in a panic state, the driver would not be able to follow this instruction. There is no such luxury and it is impossible.

However, in this embodiment, since the operating procedure is announced by voice, even if the driver is in a panic state, the operating procedure can be conveyed to the driver by hearing. Appropriate responses can be taken.

Next, FIG. 3 shows the processing operation of the control device 5 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

Note that steps 11 to 14 are the same as steps 1 to 4 in the first embodiment, so their explanation will be omitted.

Then, after executing step 14, step 15
When the inhibitor switch 4 is read and the shift lever is not in the neutral range in step 16, the voice synthesizer 6 in step 17 says "The engine is stalled. Please return the shift lever to the neutral range." After reporting, return to step 15. In addition, the above steps
If the shift lever is in the neutral range at step 16, the engine is started by operating the engine key at step 18. As a result, as in the first embodiment, the vacuum booster is activated, the brakes are activated, and the power steering hydraulic pump is activated, allowing the steering wheel to regain operability. , the driver can get out of a panic state.

However, in this embodiment, step 15 and step 16 are newly provided, and the process of step 5 in the first embodiment is processed separately into step 17 and step 18. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the shift lever is Two types of notifications are performed together: notification to return to the normal range and notification to start engine 1 by operating the engine key, but in this embodiment, these notifications are performed separately. The operating procedure for the driver can be simplified, and therefore, the driver in a panic state can take a reliable response.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, according to the present invention, since the system is configured to instruct the driver on operating procedures when the engine stalls, the driver can take appropriate measures without going into a so-called panic state. , personal accidents can be avoided. Further, since the operating procedure is instructed to the driver by voice, even if the driver is in a panic state, the information can be more reliably communicated to the driver than if the instruction is given visually.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 relate to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the voice processing of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is voice generation according to the second embodiment. It is a flow chart showing processing. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Engine, 5...Control device, 6...Speech synthesis device (sound signal output means), 7...Speaker (sound production means).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] An engine mounted on a vehicle, an engine stall determination means for determining whether or not the engine has stalled after starting the engine, and a shift lever set to a neutral range when the engine stall determination means determines that the engine has stalled. an audio signal output means for outputting an audio signal instructing the driver to return the shift lever to the neutral range; and an audio output means for instructing the driver to return the shift lever to the neutral range using the audio signal from the audio signal output means. voice instruction device.