DE102014209052A1 - Method for the optimized passage of traffic signal systems - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for the optimized passage of traffic signal systems, comprising the following steps: a. Illustration of a timeline depicting the time from the future to the present, starting from a certain time and ending at the present. b. Representation of the current phase and some future phases of the light signal in their real lengths completely and / or partially with start and end point of the respective interval in the associated time interval with corresponding signal colors. c. Moving the phase representation in real time along the time axis to the present. d. Marking a first point in time that an ego vehicle would need to reach the stop line from its current position with the current speed remaining constant. e. Marking of a second point in time, which a model vehicle would need in order to reach the stop line from the current position of the ego vehicle with the speed remaining constant, exactly corresponding to the speed limit (V_limit). f. Continuous renewal, the representation described in process steps a) to e) with the passage of time.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for optimized passage of traffic signal systems.

1. State of the art

Light signal-related data, z. Color and duration, and distance to the stop line are very useful information for the driver to behave correctly when starting and driving through a traffic signal controlled intersection.

To illustrate the light signal information, some solutions have already been disclosed and are known.

The US 2008/0030372 A1 presents a "Traffic Light Prediction System" that displays colored, moving bands along the lane as indications for a predicted arrival in green, red or yellow. The bands are spatially defined and placed on the route. Furthermore, an assistance function was presented, which helps the driver to move to a green band or to remain there.

In the US 2008/0071460 A1 As a continuation of the document, a strategy for fuel saving was additionally specified.

In the US 2010/0164753 A1 Mobile FLOW (Fast Lane On Warning) Readout and Sequencer features were revealed, presenting a visualization of the light signal information with a ribbon and the vehicle's position marked on it. The representation here is like the two solutions in the aforementioned document spatially oriented.

In the US 2013/0110371 A1 The Driving Assisting Apparatus and Driving Assisting Method was disclosed, in which the driver is given an area for the driving speed with which he will drive through the intersection at Green.

In the publications mentioned above, the light signal phases are either in connection with the route, so as spatial color bands, or with the vehicle speed, thus represented as a marked area in a tachometer display.

Although the last method offers the driver a good orientation for the driving speed, it does not display the actual phase information precisely enough.

The first cited publication shows the phase information as moving color bands, but is problematic as a representation of a spatial representation, because here the phase changes are artificially converted into a spatial movement. According to this publication, an artificial speed for the movement of the bands must be determined so that the movement is synchronized with the traffic light phase. Obviously, the length of each ribbon would also have to be determined in relation to said artificial velocity. Thus the real movement of the vehicle and the "artificial" movement of the color edges mix together in the resulting, spatial representation. As a result, the direct reference to the temporal change of the traffic signal system (LSA) is lost. For example, the remaining duration of a green phase is no longer present.

The object of the invention is to provide a solution which allows a temporal representation of the light signal phases and the movement of the vehicle in the temporal domain.

The object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

In contrast to the cited prior art, in the present patent application, an optimized representation of the light signal information in a time domain is given to the driver, whereas in the cited publications is a spatial mapping, which then lead to a known HMI representation.

To solve the problem, it is necessary to recognize in a non-obvious manner that the phase information is in principle of a temporal nature, with the image of a conventional driving situation representing the spatial conditions.

In the prior art embodiment, the driver must view the display dynamically, a still image only reflects the current moment when the vehicle is possibly still in the green zone. The described design according to the state of the art is so statically presented and can not be changed for the presentation.

According to the invention, when the vehicle is moving slower than the green shaft and does not change its speed, the beams overtake the vehicle and can slip into the red area until reaching the traffic light, this is on a current state of the art still picture but not derivable.

Basically, there is a certain interaction between the graphical elements, which are different clearly to the well-known state of the art eg. is the 50 km / h as speed limit and mark in the SdT not available and provides a clear help in the assessment of whether the traffic light is still to be achieved in an early green phase. The parallel representation of multiple parallel bands for the various turn options with different traffic light phases is not disclosed in the prior art.

From the prior art, no solution has yet been disclosed for displaying the light signal information in the time domain.

2. Description and advantages of the invention

Basically, a concept for the graphic representation of the light signal phases is described as driver information, whereby the availability of the light signal information in the vehicle is necessary.

The consideration according to the invention is the representation of the light signal phase information as well as the arrival time of the ego vehicle and a sample vehicle in the time domain area. All temporal movement of the light signal phase and the ego vehicle, such. B. Braking and accelerating are consistently displayed. As a result, an illustration in the time domain is advantageously designed illustratively, so that the driver can obtain any time clear information about the light signal phases and the possible maneuvers.

3. Technical advantages of the invention

The method according to the invention consists of the steps:

• a. Illustration of a timeline depicting the time from the future to the present, starting from a certain time and ending at the present.
• b. Representation of the current phase and some future phases of the light signal in their real lengths completely and / or partially with start and end point of the respective interval in the associated time interval with corresponding signal colors.
• c. Moving the phase representation in real time along the time axis to the present.
• d. Marking a first point in time that an ego vehicle would need to reach the stop line from its current position with the current speed remaining constant.
• e. Marking of a second point in time, which a model vehicle would need in order to reach the stop line from the current position of the ego vehicle with the speed remaining constant, exactly corresponding to the speed limit (V_limit).
• f. Continuous renewal, the representation described in process steps a) to e) with the passage of time.

In a further advantageous embodiment, it is characterized in that a scaling of the time interval in the direction of the time axis is descending.

A further advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the phase representation moves in real time along the time axis to the present and disappears there.

A particularly advantageous embodiment indicates that when the marking of the pattern vehicle is already on a red phase, it is indicated that the driver no longer has to accelerate because the green phase can not be achieved without violating the tempo limit.

A further advantageous embodiment is characterized in that when the mark of the ego vehicle is on a green or red phase, it is indicated that the vehicle can reach the stop line at green or red with the current speed remaining constant, wherein the driver brakes or accelerates, shifts the mark in the direction of future or present, and thus comes in a different traffic light phase.

In a further embodiment, the representation of the time axis and the markings of the ego vehicle and the pattern vehicle are presented synchronously for each existing lane with the respective valid signal phases, so that the driver is also displayed a lane change as a possible optimization strategy.

Basically, it can be said that a sufficient detailing of the representation in the time domain is fundamentally different from, for example, the US 2008 0 303 372 A1 delimits, which in turn has a representation in the spatial domain.

4. Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it:

1 Drive at constant speed,

2 Drive at reduced speed,

3 Ride at a speed that remains below the speed limit,

4 Further variations of the form of representation.

5 Ego vehicle and pattern vehicle are both in green,

6 Ego vehicle in red,

7 Ego vehicle and the pattern vehicle drive in red,

8th Ego vehicle is in red.

5. Description of exemplary embodiments

The method according to the invention consists of the following steps:
A timeline in which time from the future is mapped to the present. Shown on the HMI is an interval on the above-mentioned time axis, which is from a certain time, for. 60 seconds, starts in the future and ends at the present. The scaling of the time interval in the direction of the time axis runs in descending order, ie 60 s, 50 s, ..., 10 s, 0 s (the present time).

The current phase and some future phases of the light signal are shown in their real lengths completely or partially (at the start and end of the interval) in the time interval with corresponding signal colors, eg. B. as a colored band, or in the other pattern. The phase representation moves in real time along the time axis to the present and disappears there. Thus, at the end of the interval, there is always the phase with the current signal color.

Then the time is marked that the ego vehicle would need to reach the stop line from its current position with the current speed remaining constant.

If the tag of the ego vehicle is on a green or red phase, the vehicle would reach the stop line at green or red at the current speed that remains constant. If the driver brakes or accelerates, the marking shifts in the direction of future or present, possibly also in another traffic light phase.

Further, another time is marked (sample vehicle), which would need a sample vehicle to reach from the current position of the ego vehicle with the constant, exactly the speed limit (V_limit) speed corresponding to the stop line.

If the marker of the model vehicle is already on a red phase, the driver then no longer needs to accelerate because he can not reach the green phase anyway without violating the tempo limit.

The illustration described in the above items 1) to 5) becomes continuous again with the passage of time. The result is a moving image in the time axis, which presents the progression of the light signal phases, the remaining duration of the current traffic light color, the estimated time of arrival of the ego vehicle and the model vehicle consistent and illustrative.

Now the parameters given in the method according to the invention are determined.

The signal phases

• a. Das Segment zwischen dem Zeitpunkt „Gegenwart“ (Sekunde 0) und dem Ausschaltpunkt der aktuellen Signalphase wird mit der Farbe des aktuellen Lichtsignals (z. B. Grün) belegt.
• b. Danach kommt optional die Gelbphase, wenn es für die Anwendung sinnvoll ist und die entsprechenden Daten vorhanden sind.
• c. Das anschließende Segment wird dann mit der Gegenfarbe (z. B. Rot) der aktuellen Phase belegt, mit der exakten Phasenlänge
• d. Gegebenenfalls kommt dann eine weitere Gelbphase.
• e. Dann folgt wieder ein Segment mit der nächsten Phase der aktuellen Ampelfarbe.

The presentation of the signal phases is determined for each time as follows:

• a. The segment between the time "present" (second 0) and the switch-off point of the current signal phase is assigned the color of the current light signal (eg green).
• b. After that comes optionally the yellow phase, if it makes sense for the application and the corresponding data are available.
• c. The subsequent segment is then filled with the opposite color (eg red) of the current phase, with the exact phase length
• d. If necessary, then comes another yellow phase.
• e. Then another segment follows with the next phase of the current traffic light color.

The steps "b" to "e" are repeated until the end of the time interval to be presented, e.g. B. 60 seconds is reached. Possibly. the last signal phase is only partially displayed.

The model vehicle

The currently valid highest speed is called V_limit (m / s). For each time the actual distance of the ego vehicle to the stop line is determined as D_akt (m). Then the time X_m (s) for the marking of the sample vehicle is determined

The ego vehicle

The current speed of the ego vehicle is referred to as V_akt (m / s). For each time the actual distance of the ego vehicle to the stop line is determined as D_akt (m). Then, the time X_akt for the tagging of the ego vehicle is determined as follows If (V_akt * 60 ≤ D_akt) X_akt = 60 (at low speed the ego vehicle will reach the stop line late)
Otherwise

In 1 is shown how, in the case of a constant speed cruise, the ego vehicle and the pattern vehicle move synchronously with the progress of the light signal phases according to the method of the present invention

In 2 the representation is given as the course takes place at a reducing speed. In the case of a driving at a reducing speed, the ego vehicle and the sample vehicle move more slowly than the continuation of the light signal phases in the representation described in section 3.1. Also, the distance in the time domain between the ego vehicle and the sample vehicle is always larger

3 reflects the case of rising speed but staying below the tempo limit In the case of a drive with increasing speed, the ego vehicle and the sample vehicle move faster than the continuation of the light signal phases. The distance in the time domain between the ego vehicle and the model vehicle is constantly decreasing. As far as the pace limit is met, the ego vehicle can not overtake the model vehicle.

4 gives a further advantageous variation of the graphic representation. The HMI representation described in the above steps can be presented for each existing lane with the respectively valid signal phases. In addition to the previous representation in the time axis, the corresponding traffic light can be displayed at the level of the present (Sekund 0), with the current color. The HMI representation can also correspond to the actual course of the roads. This means that the time axis does not have to be represented as a straight line, but rather in every one-dimensional space, ie also in curvature or in bird's-eye view.

5 indicates the case that the ego vehicle and pattern vehicle are both in "green" or are on an optimized lane and can drive optimized through the traffic signal system.

6 indicates the case that the ego vehicle is in red, but can accelerate if the current traffic allows it to enter the green phase because the pattern vehicle is in front in green

7 Both the ego vehicle and the model vehicle are both in red, so the green phase is no longer achievable by accelerating without being hit with a speed limit

8th The ego vehicle is in red, accelerating is allowed, because it has a distance to the model vehicle, works because of the proximity to the stop line, possibly not more. A local driver or navigation can now select a change to the right or left lane to alternative routes

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 2008/0030372 A1 [0004]
• US 2008/0071460 A1 [0005]
• US 2010/0164753 A1 [0006]
• US 2013/0110371 A1 [0007]
• US 20080303372 A1 [0027]

Claims (5)

Method for the optimized passage of traffic signals, characterized in that the following steps are performed: a. Illustration of a timeline depicting the time from the future to the present, starting from a certain time and ending at the present. b. Representation of the current phase and some future phases of the light signal in their real lengths completely and / or partially with start and end point of the respective interval in the associated time interval with corresponding signal colors. c. Moving the phase representation in real time along the time axis to the present. d. Marking a first point in time that an ego vehicle would need to reach the stop line from its current position with the current speed remaining constant. e. Marking a second point in time, which would require a sample vehicle to reach the stop line from the current position of the ego vehicle with the speed remaining constant, exactly corresponding to the speed limit (V_limit). f. Continuous renewal, the representation described in process steps a) to e) with the passage of time. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a scaling of the time interval in the direction of the time axis is descending. Method according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the phase representation moves in real time along the time axis to the present and disappears there. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, if the marking of the sample vehicle is already on a red phase, it is indicated that the driver is no longer accelerating because the green phase can not be achieved without violating the tempo limit.  Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, when the mark of the ego vehicle is on a green or red phase, it is indicated that the vehicle can reach the stop line at green or red with the current speed remaining constant, wherein if Driver brakes or accelerates, shifts the marker in the direction of future or present, thus in another traffic light phase.

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