JP2003156342A - Electronic mail transmitting apparatus for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an electronic mail transmitting apparatus for vehicles that transmits a vehicle position and the scheduled time of arrival at the destination by means an electronic mail. SOLUTION: A current vehicle position recognizing section 11 generates information for indicating the current position of a vehicle. A vehicle direction-of-travel recognition section 12 generates information indicating the direction of travel of the vehicle. A map information reference section 13 is the database of a route map. A mail transmission point registration section 14 stores information for indicating the position, to which an electronic mail should be transmitted. A destination registration section 15 stores information for indicating the destination of the vehicle. A congestion information reference section 16 stores congestion information regarding congestion on the roads. A clock 17 calculates information for indicating time. A past traveling data- storing apparatus 18 stores traveling data, such as the time required on a road that has been traveled in the past. A destination scheduled time of arrival calculating section 19 calculates the appointed time of arrival to the destination. An electronic mail apparatus 2 transmits information for indicating the appointed time of arrival and the current position of the vehicle to a destination that is registered to an address storage section 23 by an electronic mail, when the scheduled time of arrival to the destination is calculated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle electronic mail transmitting device for transmitting electronic mail from a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A navigation system is known in which information on the position of a running vehicle (denoted by A) is notified to another vehicle (denoted by B). For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-14146
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8 discloses a communication navigation system in which a vehicle (A) obtains route guidance information while communicating with an information center. In this system, the information center transmits the map information clearly indicating the current position of the vehicle (A) to another vehicle (B) different from the vehicle (A). As a result, the other vehicle (B) receiving this map information can know the current location of the vehicle (A).

[0003]

In the above navigation system, it is necessary for the vehicle to send and receive map information via the information center, which increases the cost in providing and using the service.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle electronic mail transmitting device for transmitting vehicle position information at low cost.

[0005]

(1) A vehicle electronic mail transmitting device according to the invention described in claim 1 is a position detecting device for detecting the position of the vehicle, and an arrival for calculating an estimated time of arrival at a destination. Scheduled time calculating means, a transmission device for transmitting information indicating at least one of the position of the vehicle and the estimated arrival time by e-mail, a transmission condition storage circuit for storing conditions for transmitting information, and a transmission condition storage circuit. The above-described object is achieved by including a control circuit that controls the transmission device so as to transmit information when the transmission condition is satisfied. (2) The invention according to claim 2 is the vehicle electronic mail transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle determines whether or not the vehicle is traveling on a guide route to the destination. The transmission condition is further provided with (1) the traveling direction determination device determines that the vehicle is traveling toward the destination, and the position detection device detects the vehicle at a predetermined position on the route, or (2) ) It is characterized in that the traveling direction determination device determines that the vehicle is traveling toward the destination and the current time matches the predetermined time. (3) The invention according to claim 3 is the vehicle electronic mail transmitting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information indicating a route traveled in the past is used as destination, required time, average speed, and travel time zone. , And a travel data storage device for storing the travel data in association with the experience data including traffic jam information, and the estimated arrival time calculating means refers to the experience data stored in the experience data storage circuit to calculate the estimated arrival time. Is characterized by. (4) The invention according to claim 4 is the vehicle electronic mail transmitting device according to claim 3, wherein the experience data further includes stop information indicating a position and a stop time at which the vehicle has stopped during past travel, The estimated arrival time calculating means refers to the stop time according to the stop information when the position of the vehicle detected by the position detection device does not move for a predetermined time or more and the position matches the stop position according to the stop information. It is characterized in that the time is changed and the control circuit further controls the transmitting device to transmit at least the information indicating the changed estimated arrival time by electronic mail. (5) The invention according to claim 5 is the vehicle electronic mail transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle determines whether or not the vehicle is traveling on a guide route to the destination. An azimuth determination device and a receiving device for receiving an e-mail or a called signal from a telephone are further provided, and transmission conditions are (1)
When the traveling direction determination device determines that the vehicle is traveling toward the destination and the sender of the email received by the receiving device matches the predetermined address, or (2) when the traveling direction determination device determines that the vehicle is traveling toward the destination. Judged,
The telephone number of the calling telephone matches the predetermined number.

[0006]

(1) According to the present invention, the information indicating the position of the vehicle and the estimated arrival time of the destination is transmitted by e-mail when the transmission conditions are satisfied. It is possible to make the configuration cheaper than the case where it is provided and to improve the accuracy of information. (2) In particular, in the invention according to claim 3, the estimated arrival time at the destination is calculated with reference to the experience data of the route traveled in the past. The credibility of the scheduled time can be increased. (3) In particular, in the invention described in claim 4, since the stoppage information is included in the experience data, the scheduled arrival time at the destination can be changed when the stoppage is made at the stop point in the past. As a result, the credibility of the scheduled time can be further enhanced.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an in-vehicle device including an electronic mail transmitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the vehicle-mounted device includes a navigation device 1 and an electronic mail device 2. The navigation device 1 includes a current vehicle position recognizing unit 11, a vehicle traveling direction recognizing unit 12, a map information reference unit 13, a mail transmission point registration unit 14, a destination registration unit 15, and a traffic jam information reference unit 16.
It has a clock 17, a past travel data storage device 18, and a destination arrival estimated time calculation unit 19.

The current vehicle position recognizing unit 11 is equipped with a GPS device, and receives radio waves from GPS satellites and performs a well-known operation to generate information indicating the current position of the vehicle.
The vehicle traveling direction recognition unit 12 includes a gyro device,
Information indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle is generated. The map information reference unit 13 is a database of road maps. The mail transmission point registration unit 14 stores information indicating a position where an electronic mail should be transmitted. The destination registration unit 15 stores information indicating the destination of the vehicle. The traffic jam information reference unit 16 stores traffic jam information on roads. The clock 17 generates information indicating the time. The past travel data storage device 18 stores travel data such as required time of a road traveled in the past. The destination arrival estimated time calculation unit 19 calculates an estimated time of arrival at the destination.

In the navigation device 1, the information indicating the destination of the vehicle and the information indicating the position at which the electronic mail should be sent are stored in advance in the destination registration unit 15 and the mail transmission point registration unit 14, respectively. If the current location of the vehicle matches the location where the e-mail should be sent and the vehicle is traveling on the guidance route to the destination toward the destination, the current location of the vehicle (in this case, e-mail) Calculate the time required from the transmission location) to the destination. By adding the calculated required time to the current time, the estimated arrival time at the destination can be obtained.

On the other hand, the electronic mail apparatus 2 has an electronic mail sending section 21, an electronic mail receiving section 22, an address storage section 23, a fixed phrase storage section 24, and an outgoing mail creation section 25.
And a mail sending / receiving control unit 26. The e-mail sending unit 21 is connected to, for example, a mobile phone (not shown) and sends an e-mail via the mobile phone. The e-mail receiving unit 22 is connected to the mobile phone (not shown) described above, and receives an e-mail via the mobile phone. The address storage unit 23 stores the destination address of the electronic mail.

The standard text storage unit 24 stores text data of standard texts for electronic mail. The outgoing mail creating unit 25 creates the outgoing mail by inserting the data input from the navigation device 1 into the fixed text stored in the fixed text storage unit 24. The mail sending / receiving control unit 26 controls the e-mail sending unit 21 so that the outgoing mail input from the outgoing mail creating unit 25 is sent to the address stored in the address storage unit 23.

In the electronic mail device 2, the destination address of the electronic mail is stored in the address storage unit 23 in advance. The destination of the electronic mail is, for example, a destination such as a home or a hotel, or another vehicle heading for the same destination as the vehicle. When the navigation device 1 calculates the estimated arrival time at the destination, the navigation device 1 sends information indicating the calculated estimated arrival time and the current vehicle location to the electronic mail device 2. The present invention is characterized in that when a vehicle heading for a destination arrives at a registered electronic mail transmission position, information indicating the current position and the estimated time of arrival at the destination is transmitted to the registered destination by electronic mail. Have.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the procedure of the processing performed by the above-mentioned vehicle-mounted device. In the process shown in FIG. 2, the route to the destination input by the occupant of the vehicle is searched in advance so that the route can be guided. Further, the position to send the email and the destination (mail address) of the email are Each is registered, and is activated when the start of processing is instructed. The vehicle starts running at this point. In step S11, the estimated destination arrival time calculation unit 19 inputs the information of the current vehicle position detected by the current vehicle position recognition unit 11, and then inputs the information in step S12.
Go to. In step S12, the estimated destination arrival time calculation unit 19 determines whether or not the current vehicle position matches the mail transmission position (or its vicinity) stored in the mail transmission point registration unit 14. The destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19 makes an affirmative decision in step S12 if the two match and proceeds to step S13, and makes a negative decision in step S12 if the two do not match and returns to step S11.

In step S13, the estimated destination arrival time calculation unit 19 determines whether the vehicle is on the guide route and the traveling direction is toward the destination. That is, it is determined whether or not the current vehicle position is located on the guide route, and further it is determined whether or not the traveling direction of the vehicle input from the vehicle traveling direction recognition unit 12 is toward the destination. If the destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19 determines that the vehicle is heading to the destination on the guide route, the affirmative determination is made in step S13, the process proceeds to step S14, and if it is determined that the vehicle is not heading to the destination, step S13 is performed. Is negatively determined, and the process returns to step S11.

In step S14, the destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19 refers to the road map data stored in the map information reference unit 13 and determines whether or not there are a plurality of routes to the destination. Estimated time of arrival 19
When a plurality of routes are present, affirmative determination is made in step S14 and the process proceeds to step S15, and when only one route is present, negative determination is made in step S14 and step S2 is performed.
Go to 4.

In step S15, the destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19 refers to the past traveling data storage device 18, and has experience data of traveling in a plurality of routes in the same predetermined time zone as the current time. Search whether or not. Here, the current time is obtained from the clock 17. The destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19 makes an affirmative decision in step S15 if the corresponding experience data is present to proceed to step S16, and if the relevant experience data is not present in step S16.
A negative determination of 15 is made, and the process proceeds to step S27.

In step S16, the destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19 selects the route corresponding to the current time, that is, the same route as the experience data that the vehicle traveled in the same predetermined time zone as the current time, and proceeds to step S17. move on. The experience data of the selected route is used as the required time calculation condition.
The experience data includes traveling time zone, average speed, required time, traffic jam information, stop information, and the like. The average speed is the distance traveled from the starting point to the destination divided by the required time. The traffic jam information includes the traffic jam section and the time required to pass through this section. The stop time includes the stop position and the stop time.

In step S17, the destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19 adds the driving characteristics of the driver such as the average speed to the required time calculation conditions and proceeds to step S18. The average speed is calculated from the time elapsed since the start of the process shown in FIG. 2 and the distance traveled. In step S18, the destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19 refers to the traffic jam information reference unit 16, adds the traveling speed and traffic jam information of the selected route to the required time calculation condition, and proceeds to step S19. As for the traveling speed of the route, for example, the traveling speed is determined in accordance with the traveling speed based on the traffic congestion information in the section having traffic congestion information, and in consideration of the regulation speed and the number of intersections in the section having no traffic congestion information.

In step S19, the destination arrival estimated time calculation unit 19 calculates the time required to reach the destination and proceeds to step S20. When calculating the predetermined time, if there is past experience data, the required time is corrected with respect to the point that the calculation condition is different from that data. For example, if the average speed after the start of processing shown in FIG. 2 is faster than the empirical data, the required time is shortened, and if the average speed is slower than the empirical data, the required time is increased. Further, if the traffic length added in step S18 is shorter than the experience data, the required time is shortened, and if the traffic length is longer than the experience data, the required time is lengthened. If there is no past experience data, the required time is calculated based on the distance and the regulation speed based on the road map data, the average speed of the driver, and the traffic jam information obtained from the traffic jam information reference unit 16.

In step S20, the estimated destination arrival time calculation unit 19 calculates the estimated destination arrival time by adding the required time to the current time, and proceeds to step S21. In step S21, the destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19
Notifies the e-mail sending / receiving control unit 26 that the estimated arrival time of the destination has been calculated, and sends information indicating the calculated estimated arrival time of the destination to the outgoing mail creation unit 25. The destination arrival estimated time calculation unit 19 further sends information indicating the position of the vehicle to the current vehicle position recognition unit 11 by the transmission mail creation unit 25.
Instruct to send to. As a result, the outgoing mail creating unit 25 obtains information on the current position of the vehicle and information on the estimated arrival time. Information indicating the current location and the estimated time of arrival at the destination is transmitted by e-mail by controlling the respective units in the electronic mail device 2 by the mail sending / receiving control unit 26.

In step S22, the destination arrival estimated time calculation unit 19 determines whether the vehicle position has not changed for a predetermined time after sending the mail, that is, whether or not the vehicle is parked at the same point. Estimated time of arrival 19
Is the step S when the vehicle is parked for a predetermined time or more.
If the determination in step S22 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S28. If the vehicle has not stayed for a predetermined time or longer, the determination in step S22 is negative and the process proceeds to step S23. To proceed to step S28,
It may be stopped or severely congested.

In step S23, the estimated destination arrival time calculation unit 19 determines whether or not the difference between the average speed after mail transmission and the scheduled average speed is within the specified range. The planned average speed is used as a condition for calculating the time required to reach the destination in step S19. The destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19 makes an affirmative decision in step S23 if the difference between the two speeds is within the specified range, and terminates the processing according to FIG. In this case, it is expected that the destination will arrive at the scheduled arrival time sent by e-mail. On the other hand, the destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19 makes a negative determination in step S23 when the difference between the two velocities is out of the specified range, and returns to step S14. In this case, it is expected that it will be difficult to arrive at the destination at the scheduled arrival time sent by e-mail. Therefore, the process returns to step S14 in order to recalculate the estimated arrival time and send again by e-mail.

In step S24 which proceeds after making a negative decision in step S14 described above, the destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19 selects only one calculated route or one route selected from a plurality of searched routes. As a travel route, the process proceeds to step S25. In step S25, the estimated destination arrival time calculation unit 19 refers to the past traveling data storage device 18 and determines whether or not the vehicle has traveled the determined route. The destination arrival estimated time calculation unit 19 makes an affirmative decision in step S25 if the user has traveled to advance to step S26, and if not, has step S25.
Is negatively determined, and the process proceeds to step S17.

In step S26, the estimated destination arrival time calculation unit 19 adds past travel data as a required time calculation condition, and proceeds to step S17. The traveling data (experience data) includes traveling time zone, average speed, required time, traffic jam information, stop information, and the like.

In step S27, which proceeds after making a negative decision in step S15, the estimated destination arrival time calculating section 19 selects the shortest route from the plurality of routes and proceeds to step S24.

In step S28 to which the operation proceeds after making an affirmative decision in step S22, the estimated destination arrival time calculation section 19 refers to the past traveling data storage device 18, and finds the vehicle position at the stop (or in the vicinity thereof). Determine if you have previously stopped. Estimated time of arrival 19
If there is a staying experience, the affirmative decision is made in step S28 and the operation proceeds to the step S29, and if there is no experience in staying, a negative decision is made in the step S28 and the operation proceeds to step S30. In step S29, the destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19
The expected stop time in the future is calculated from the stop information of the experience data, and the process returns to step S14. In this case, it is expected that it will be difficult to arrive at the destination at the scheduled arrival time sent by e-mail. The stop position is likely to be a place where vehicle occupants often stop and drop in, or a place where traffic is always congested due to traffic congestion. Therefore, regardless of whether or not the vehicle has started traveling again, the estimated arrival time is changed by adding the past stop time to the estimated arrival time, and the process returns to step S14 so as to be sent again by e-mail.

In step S30, the estimated destination arrival time calculating section 19 waits for the vehicle to start again and returns to step S14. In this case, it is expected that it will be difficult to arrive at the destination at the scheduled arrival time sent by e-mail. Since the stop position is not in the past data, the stop time cannot be predicted. Therefore, after the vehicle starts traveling again, the estimated arrival time is recalculated, and the process returns to step S14 so as to be sent again by e-mail.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained. (1) When the vehicle heading for the destination on the guide route reaches a position registered in advance (or in the vicinity thereof), the navigation device 1 calculates the required travel time from that point to the destination and obtains the estimated arrival time. . The electronic mail device 2 sends the position of the vehicle and the estimated arrival time of the destination to the registered destination by electronic mail. Therefore, it becomes possible to send the vehicle position and the estimated arrival time to the destination registered in advance without going through the information center like the communication navigation system. As the destination, for example, a destination such as a home or a hotel, or an email address of another vehicle heading for the same destination is registered. Since it does not go through an information center, it costs less than a communication navigation system. Further, since the information is automatically transmitted when the transmission condition is satisfied, it does not bother the occupant of the driving vehicle. (2) Since the electronic mail device 2 prepares a fixed text to be sent by e-mail and inserts the vehicle position and the estimated arrival time into the fixed text to automatically create the outgoing mail, the vehicle occupant sends the mail. No need to create a sentence. (3) Since the past travel data (experience data) corresponding to the selected travel route is referred to and the travel time is calculated by adding the experience data to the calculation conditions, the accuracy of the estimated arrival time is improved. Credibility can be increased. (4) In addition to (3) above, the average vehicle speed, traffic jam information, stop information, etc. are added to the calculation conditions.
The credibility of the estimated arrival time can be further enhanced. (5) If the average speed of the vehicle after sending the e-mail is different from the planned speed (negative determination in step S23), or if the vehicle stays at the same point for a predetermined time or longer (positive determination in step S22), the estimated arrival time is reached again. Since it is calculated and transmitted by e-mail, new information can be sent to the destination even when taking a break in the service area or encountering traffic congestion.

In the above explanation, the estimated arrival time of the destination is calculated at the timing when the vehicle heading for the destination arrives at the position (or its vicinity) registered in advance, and the vehicle position and the estimated arrival time are transmitted by e-mail. I chose Instead of this, the time may be registered in advance, the estimated arrival time at the destination may be obtained at the timing when the registration time arrives, and the vehicle position and the estimated arrival time may be transmitted by e-mail.

Further, the estimated arrival time of the destination and the e-mail are calculated according to the timing when the e-mail reception unit 22 receives the e-mail or the timing when the mobile phone (not shown) receives the call (receives the called signal). You may make it transmit. In this case, when receiving an e-mail, a mail address is registered in advance in the mail sending / receiving control unit 26, and when a called signal is received by the mobile phone, a mobile phone (not shown) sends / receives mail. After connecting to the control unit 26, the telephone number of the calling telephone is registered in the mail sending / receiving control unit 26 in advance. Estimated time of arrival at the destination when the incoming / outgoing call control unit 26 detects the arrival of an e-mail from the registered mail address or the arrival of a called signal due to an outgoing call from the telephone having the registered telephone number. Should be calculated and sent by e-mail.

In the above-mentioned example, when the vehicle is traveling on the guide route toward the destination, the vehicle position and the estimated arrival time of the destination are transmitted by electronic mail. When traveling toward or when the vehicle is stopped, only the vehicle position may be transmitted by electronic mail.

Correspondence between each component in the claims and each component in the embodiment of the invention will be described. The position detection device is configured by the current vehicle position recognition unit 11, for example. The estimated arrival time calculation means is
For example, it is configured by the destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19. The transmission device is, for example, the electronic mail transmission unit 2
1. Address storage unit 23 and mail sending / receiving control unit 26
Composed by. The transmission condition storage circuit is, for example,
It is configured by the mail transmission point registration unit 14. The control circuit is composed of, for example, the destination arrival estimated time calculation unit 19. The traveling direction determination device includes, for example, a vehicle traveling direction recognition unit 12 and a destination estimated arrival time calculation unit 19
Composed by. The travel data storage device is composed of, for example, a past travel data storage device 18. The receiving device includes, for example, a mail sending / receiving control unit 26, an electronic mail receiving unit 22, and a mobile phone. Note that each component is not limited to the above configuration as long as the characteristic function of the present invention is not impaired.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an in-vehicle device including an electronic mail transmitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing performed by an in-vehicle device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Navigation device, 2 ... E-mail device, 11 ... Present vehicle position recognition unit, 12 ... Vehicle traveling direction recognition unit, 13 ... Map information reference unit, 1
4 ... Email sending point registration unit, 15 ... Destination registration unit,
16 ... Congestion information reference section, 17 ... Clock,
18 ... Past traveling data storage device, 1
9 ... Destination arrival time calculation unit, 21 ... E-mail sending unit, 22 ... E-mail receiving unit, 23 ... Address storage unit, 24 ... Fixed phrase storage unit, 25
… Outgoing mail creation unit, 26… Email sending / receiving control unit

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI theme code (reference) H04M 11/00 303 H04B 7/26 F H04Q 7/34 106A F term (reference) 2F029 AA02 AB07 AB13 AC02 AC06 AC09 AC13 AC20 5H180 AA01 BB04 BB05 BB15 FF01 FF05 FF10 FF12 FF13 FF22 FF27 FF32.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A position detecting device for detecting a position of a vehicle, an estimated arrival time calculating means for calculating an estimated time of arrival at a destination, and electronic information indicating at least one of the position of the vehicle and the estimated arrival time. A transmission device for transmitting by mail, a transmission condition storage circuit for storing the condition for transmitting the information, and the transmission so as to transmit the information when the transmission condition stored in the transmission condition storage circuit is satisfied. An electronic mail transmission device for a vehicle, comprising: a control circuit for controlling the device. 2. The vehicle electronic mail transmitting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a traveling azimuth determining device that determines whether the vehicle is traveling on a guide route to the destination toward the destination. Further provided, the transmission condition, (1) when traveling toward the destination is determined by the traveling direction determination device, and the vehicle is detected at a predetermined position on the route by the position detection device, or (2) A vehicle electronic mail transmission device, wherein the traveling direction determination device determines that the vehicle is traveling toward the destination and the current time matches a predetermined time. 3. The vehicle electronic mail transmitting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein information indicating a route traveled in the past is used as destination, required time,
The vehicle further comprises a traveling data storage device that stores the average speed, traveling time zone, and experience data including traffic jam information in association with the experience data stored in the experience data storage circuit. An electronic mail transmission device for a vehicle, characterized in that the estimated arrival time is calculated. 4. The vehicle electronic mail transmitting device according to claim 3, wherein the experience data further includes stop information indicating a position and a stop time at which the vehicle has stopped during a past travel, and the estimated arrival time calculation. Means, the position of the vehicle detected by the position detection device does not move for a predetermined time or more,
And when the position matches the stop position indicated by the stop information, the estimated arrival time is changed by referring to the stop time indicated by the stop information, and the control circuit electronically outputs at least the information indicating the changed estimated arrival time. An electronic mail transmission device for a vehicle, further characterized by further controlling the transmission device so as to transmit by e-mail. 5. The vehicle electronic mail transmitting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a traveling direction determining device that determines whether the vehicle is traveling on a guide route to the destination toward the destination. Further comprising a receiving device for receiving an electronic mail or a called signal of a telephone, wherein the transmission condition is: (1) traveling to the destination is determined by the traveling direction determination device, and the reception condition is received by the receiving device. If the sender of the e-mail that matches the specified address matches the specified address, or (2) the traveling direction determination device determines that the vehicle is traveling toward the destination, and the telephone number of the calling telephone matches the specified number. An electronic mail transmission device for a vehicle characterized by: