DE102008038831A1 - Method for automatic view guidance of driver of vehicle, involves determining information for operation of vehicle, with which view of driver is automatically diverted to traffic situation or to information - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves determining information for the operation of a vehicle (10), with which the view of the driver is automatically diverted to the traffic situation or to the information. The view of the driver is directed to the traffic situation or to the information by the visual, audio or tactile signals. An importance of the traffic situation or the information is determined and the visual, audio or tactile signals are generated depending on the importance. An independent claim is included for a device for the automatic view guidance of a driver of a vehicle.

Description

The The present invention relates to a method and a device, to automatically guide the look of a driver of a vehicle.

To It is known in the art to give a warning of one for operation a dangerous vehicle Condition, such. B. too low oil level, on a display of Spend vehicle. However, no events are initiated, so that the driver really captures this information.

Therefore It is the object of the present invention to ensure that the driver of the vehicle one for the operation of the vehicle essential information also recorded.

According to the invention this Task by a method for automatic gaze guidance according to claim 1, a device for automatic gaze guide according to claim 10 and a vehicle according to claim 15 solved. Define the dependent claims preferred and advantageous embodiments the invention.

in the Within the scope of the present invention is a method for automatic Guided Tour provided by a driver of a vehicle. It is in a first step detects a traffic situation of the vehicle or an information for the operation of the vehicle, such. B. information about one low oil level or a defect in a lighting device of the vehicle, certainly. In the second step, the driver's gaze then becomes automatic to this traffic situation or to the information determined in advance, which, for example, displayed on a display of the vehicle is, steered. Under the traffic situation of the vehicle becomes thereby understood a traffic situation, which the driver's attention requires. For example, under this traffic situation moving objects, such as cyclists, pedestrians, other vehicles or Objects, understood, which correspond to the probable route of the Approach vehicle. Another example of such a traffic situation is a red traffic light, a stop sign or a speed limit. Those of the inventive method Certain and illustrated information can be action calls and Include warnings.

By doing the inventive method the driver's view automatically on the traffic situation or is directed to the predetermined information, it is ensured that the driver detects the traffic situation or the information, so that it is appropriate to the traffic situation or the illustrated Information can react. Unlike the prior art will So not only presented information, but it is also provided according to the invention, the driver also picks up the displayed information.

there the driver's gaze becomes in particular by means of optical, acoustic and / or haptic signals on the traffic situation or on the information directed or guided. These optical, acoustic and / or haptic signals can thereby the urgency and importance of the traffic situation or displayed information, so that the driver already on the way of signaling, ie on the basis of the characteristics optical, acoustic and / or haptic signals, the urgency and importance of the traffic situation or presented information can capture.

Furthermore can the gaze guide the driver with a change or a change in the lighting effects done. Thus, you can to the driver the change the lighting effects also changes be displayed or communicated by traffic situations. Thereby is it possible, for example, that the view of the driver in a changing driving situation over light effects or animated graphics on this driving situation (eg pedestrians in the driving area, a red traffic light) is steered.

• • Ein Anzeigeelement einer Anzeige des Fahrzeugs.
• • Ein Leuchtmittel, beispielsweise eine oder mehrere Leuchtdioden, welche für komplexe Lichteffekte zentral angesteuert werden. Dies umfasst auch Leuchtdioden und Leuchten, welche mit einer vorbestimmten Frequenz blinken und/oder in verschiedenen Farben und/oder Lichtintensitäten leuchten.
• • Eine leucht- oder anzeigefähige Kunststoffoberfläche eines Sitzes des Fahrzeugs, eines Bedienelements des Fahrzeugs, eines elektronischen Geräts des Fahrzeugs oder eines Rahmens eines elektronischen Geräts des Fahrzeugs. Diese leucht- oder anzeigefähige Kunststoffoberfläche kann dabei selbst eigene Leuchtelemente enthalten.
• • Eine leucht- oder anzeigefähige Scheibe des Fahrzeugs.
• • Einen Projektor oder einen Beamer, mit welchem ein optisches Signal auf einer Scheibe des Fahrzeugs darstellbar ist. Damit kann beispielsweise eine Grafik auf der Windschutzscheibe oder einer Seitenscheibe des Fahrzeugs dargestellt werden, wobei diese Grafik auch in einer bestimmten Frequenz blinkend und mit verschiedenen Mustern, Formen und Farben dargestellt werden kann.

The gaze guidance can be carried out by means of at least one device which is selected from the following group:

• • An indicator of an indication of the vehicle.
• • A light source, for example one or more LEDs, which are centrally controlled for complex lighting effects. This also includes light emitting diodes and lights which flash at a predetermined frequency and / or illuminate in different colors and / or light intensities.
• • A luminous or displayable plastic surface of a seat of the vehicle, an operating element of the vehicle, an electronic device of the vehicle or a frame of an electronic device of the vehicle. This luminous or displayable plastic surface may itself contain its own lighting elements.
• • A luminescent or displayable windscreen of the vehicle.
• • A projector or beamer with which an optical signal can be displayed on a windscreen of the vehicle. Thus, for example, a graphic on the windshield or a side window of the vehicle can be displayed, this graph can be displayed in a specific frequency flashing and with different patterns, shapes and colors.

• • Einschalten eines leuchtfähigen Rahmens um eine Anzeige des Fahrzeugs herum.
• • Erzeugen von animierten Lichteffekten und/oder grafischen Effekten im Innenraum des Fahrzeugs.
• • Erzeugen von animierten Grafiken, welche in verschiedenen Mustern, Formen und/oder Farben erzeugt werden.
• • Beleuchten eines Randes einer Fläche auf einer Anzeige des Fahrzeugs.
• • Erzeugen von animierten Lichteffekten. Diese Lichteffekte können beispielsweise durch in verschiedenen Frequenzen leuchtende Lichtquellen in verschiedenen Mustern, Formen und/oder Farben erzeugt werden.
• • Erzeugen von Lichteffekten im Innenraum des Fahrzeugs. Diese Lichteffekte, welche auch komplexe Lichteffekte umfassen können, werden insbesondere über mehrere Leuchtdioden erzeugt und können so die Aufmerksamkeit des Fahrers auf eine bestimmte Situation lenken.
• • Erzeugen von Leuchteffekten, welche durch große Teile von Kunststoffoberflächen und Stoffen verursacht werden. Dabei nehmen die Kunststoffoberflächen und Stoffe eine Designstruktur in verschiedenen Mustern, Formen und Farben, was verschiedene Leuchteffekte und eine Zusammensetzung aus verschiedenen Grafiken umfasst, an.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the gaze guidance can be made via at least one optical signaling, which is selected from the following group:

• • Turn on a luminous frame around an indicator of the vehicle.
• • Create animated lighting effects and / or graphic effects in the interior of the vehicle.
• • Create animated graphics that are created in different patterns, shapes and / or colors.
• • Illuminating an edge of a surface on a display of the vehicle.
• • Create animated lighting effects. These light effects can be generated, for example, by light sources emitting different frequencies in different patterns, shapes and / or colors.
• • Creating light effects in the interior of the vehicle. These lighting effects, which may also include complex lighting effects, are generated in particular via a plurality of light-emitting diodes and can thus direct the attention of the driver to a specific situation.
• • Creating lighting effects caused by large parts of plastic surfaces and fabrics. The plastic surfaces and fabrics take on a design structure in various patterns, shapes and colors, which includes different lighting effects and a composition of different graphics.

The Invention is based on physiological and cognitive criteria of People. After that, the person or the driver directs his gaze generally automatic on moving and glowing (animated) Graphics.

at a use of acoustic signals for signaling different sounds in particular generated in the direction in which the driver's look steering, which intuitively asks the driver to to look in that direction.

Haptic Signals can z. B. generated by a steering wheel of the vehicle.

The optical, acoustic and / or haptic signals can thereby intuitively perceptible or learnable messages for the driver (and possibly also for other occupants of the vehicle), these messages for example, what kind of situation or information the driver pointed out becomes. Thereby can the visual, acoustic and haptic information for the driver (coded) intuitively perceptible calls for action or recommendations for action and warnings included. When using acoustic signals for signaling can have different Sounds different Messages transmitted to the driver or other inmates become. In other words he knows Driver intuitively after a certain getting used to him a certain signaling according to the invention wants to draw attention.

In front the gaze guide can also be the current direction of the driver, for example, via a sight line detection device be recorded. This can then be adapted to a situational suitable view guide depending on the driver's gaze from the current line of sight. For example, the Way, such. B. the intensity, the gaze of it dependent how far the current line of sight of that Viewing direction is spaced, in which the inventive method to direct the driver's gaze. A difference between the current viewing direction and the so-called Sollblickrichtung, in which the inventive method the Looking to direct the driver's view, for example, can use one Angle difference from an angle of the current line of sight and take an angle of the desired direction of sight. The way of looking becomes then dependent designed by this angular difference. The intensity (eg luminosity or Volume) for example, be chosen larger, the bigger these Angular difference is.

If the driver is already looking in the right direction, the view becomes the driver of the inventive method not further directed. This will be unnecessary Warnings and distractions to the driver in difficult or critical Situations continue to elude attention, advantageously avoided. Determining if the driver is already in the right place Direction can look over the above-described angular difference between the current viewing direction and the target sighting direction are determined by determining that the Driver looks in the right direction when the angle difference is below a predetermined threshold.

The Determining the line of sight can be done by means of two cameras, via which a three-dimensional model of the driver's head is created. In this case, characteristic features of the head, such. B. nostrils, corners of the mouth, am Head of the driver recorded, analyzed and measured. Going away from there At each eye, vectors are calculated which are the line of sight of the driver with the corresponding eye.

In another method for determining the viewing direction of the so-called corneal reflex is exploited. The corneal reflex is based on the reflection of a light source on the cornea. If, in addition, a fixed position on the eye is known, then the visual axis can be calculated (point-of-regard-measurement). One possibility is to assume the center of the pupil as a fixed point and to calculate the distance to the corneal reflex to this place. If the head is moved with a fixed view, the calculated distance does not change, because the view remains focused on the fixed object. However, if the direction of vision changes, the corneal reflex shifts relative to the center of the pupil. This in turn can be used to calculate the new visual axis.

at an embodiment of the invention be a current head position of the driver and a position a mirror of the vehicle detected. Depends on the current head position and the position of the mirror determines a dead angle. For example, about a Sensors are detected objects in the environment of the vehicle, so that means this sensor is also verifiable, whether an object is in the blind spot. If this is the case Case, the mirror becomes dependent from the current head position and a location of the blind spot detected object adjusted such that the object for the driver without a change the current head position over the mirror becomes visible. In particular, the optical Axle between the pupil of the driver, the mirror and the dead Angle captured object set exactly.

The previously described embodiment of the invention can be used, for example, when an upcoming lane change of the vehicle or a parking operation of the vehicle is detected. By this embodiment becomes the driver or driver event-based, d. H. if and only if an object is in the dead angle exists, be warned and become his attention for example, by means of the adjusting mirror on this Object steered. This means, that the mirror, such. B. the exterior mirrors, the lane change in the blind spot turns and for example when parking exactly on a line of an object, eg. As a curb or a Hydrants, which is in the currently calculated driving trajectory, established.

in the The scope of the present invention also provides a device for automatic view guidance provided by a driver of a vehicle. It includes the Device a display for displaying information, a Detection device for detecting a traffic situation relevant to the vehicle and a signaling device. The device is now like this designed that she is capable of operating one of the vehicle capture relevant information and display it on the ad. By means of the signaling device, which in particular optical, generates acoustic and / or haptic signals, directs the device the view of the driver on the traffic situation or on the the information displayed.

The Advantages of the device according to the invention correspond essentially to the advantages of the method according to the invention, why is waived here a repetition.

According to one inventive embodiment The device comprises a gaze detection device around a Current direction of the driver to capture. The device then directs the driver's gaze depending on the current viewing direction on the traffic situation or on the information. This can the device according to the invention for example, do not operate the signaling device when the device over the Capturing the driver's current line of sight captures that the driver already on the traffic situation or on the information looks.

at another embodiment of the invention In the device, the device comprises a head position detecting device, to capture a current head position of the driver, an adjustable Mirror, in particular an outside mirror, and a sensor system to detect objects around the vehicle. The device is designed such that it depends on the current head position and the position of the mirror a dead one Angle determined. By means of the sensor system it is checked whether an object is in this dead angle is located. If so, the mirror becomes dependent from the current head position and a location of the blind spot detected object set such that the object for the driver from the current head position out over the mirror is visible. The sensor may be, for example, an ultrasound acting system, which in particular during a parking operation of the vehicle is used, or it may be a means Radar sensors working lane change assistant, which supports the driver during a lane change.

Finally will in the context of the present invention, a vehicle is provided, which is a device according to the invention includes.

The present invention is particularly suitable for use in motor vehicles to ensure that the driver of this motor vehicle actually perceives dangerous situations or specific information. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this preferred field of application, but can also be used for example in aircraft, ships or track-bound vehicles are used.

in the Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The single drawing shows schematically a vehicle according to the invention which is a device according to the invention for automatic viewing of a driver of the vehicle.

In the single figure is schematically a vehicle according to the invention 10 shown, which is a device according to the invention 1 includes. The device according to the invention 1 in turn includes an ad 2 In particular, to present information to the driver, a detection device 3 in which traffic situations relevant to the vehicle are detected, and a signaling device 4 with which the driver's gaze is directed to a traffic situation relevant to the vehicle or to the operation of the vehicle 10 relevant information, for example on the display 2 , is steered.

In addition, the device includes 1 a control device 9 , which in turn has a processor and in essence a control of the remaining components 28 the device 1 performs a line of sight detection device 5 detecting a current line of sight of the driver, a head position detecting device 6 , which detects a current head position of the driver, an adjustable exterior mirror 7 and a sensor 8th with which objects in the environment of the vehicle 10 be recorded.

With the aid of the current viewing direction, the gaze guidance of the driver's gaze can be made depending on how far the current viewing direction is from the point at which the driver's gaze is to be directed. If the current viewing direction is already directed to the point at which the driver's gaze is to be steered, the signaling device will 4 not operated, whereby the driver is advantageously not unnecessarily warned or distracted.

By knowing the current head position of the driver and the position of the exterior mirror 7 can be a blind spot, ie an area in which the driver is above the exterior mirror 7 no objects in the back of the vehicle 10 can be determined. If about the sensors 8th an object, in particular one for the vehicle 10 and its driving relevant object, such as a rapidly approaching vehicle in a lane change or an obstacle in a parking operation, is detected, the outside mirror 7 over the control device 9 adjusted so that the driver can now capture the relevant object from the current head position out. This can be done by the signaling device 4 be supported by the driver's gaze, for example, on the outside mirror 7 attached bulbs as part of the signaling device 4 on the outside mirror 7 is steered.

1

contraption

2

display

3

detection device

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signaling device

5

Eye tracking device

6

Head position detection device

7

mirror

8th

sensors

9

control device

10

vehicle

Claims (15)

Method for automatically guiding a driver of a vehicle, wherein a traffic situation of the vehicle ( 10 ) or information for the operation of the vehicle ( 10 ), and wherein the driver's gaze is automatically directed to the traffic situation or to the information. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that the driver's gaze by means of optical, acoustic and / or haptic signals on the traffic situation or on the information is steered. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that that an importance of traffic situation or information is determined and that the optical, acoustic and / or haptic Signals dependent be generated by the importance. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gaze guidance is carried out via at least one device which is selected from a group comprising: • a display element of a display ( 2 ) of the vehicle ( 10 ), • a light source, • a luminescent or displayable plastic surface of a seat of the vehicle ( 10 ), an operating element of the vehicle ( 10 ), an electronic device of the vehicle ( 10 ) or a frame of an electronic device of the vehicle ( 10 ), • a luminescent or displayable window of the vehicle ( 10 ) and • a projector with which an optical signal on a window of the vehicle ( 10 ) can be displayed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gaze guidance is made via at least one optical signaling, which is selected from a group comprising: • switching on a luminous frame around a display ( 2 ) of the vehicle ( 10 ), • generating animated lighting effects and / or graphic effects in the interior of the vehicle ( 10 ), • create animated graphics that glow in different patterns, shapes and / or colors, • illuminate an edge of an area on a display ( 2 ) of the vehicle ( 10 ), • generating animated lighting effects caused by light sources shining in different sequences, producing light effects in various patterns, shapes and / or colors, • generating complex light effects in the interior of the vehicle ( 10 ), which are caused by different light emitting diodes, and • generating luminous effects, which by plastic surfaces of the vehicle ( 10 ) and in the interior of the vehicle ( 10 ) and by substances in the interior of the vehicle ( 10 ), whereby the plastic surfaces and fabrics assume a design structure in various patterns, shapes and / or colors. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that a current line of sight of the driver detected and that the driver's gaze depends on the current gaze direction on the traffic situation or on the information. Method according to Claim 6, characterized that the driver only looks at the traffic situation or that is directed to the information when the traffic situation or the information is not in the current direction of the driver lies. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a current head position of the driver and a position of a mirror ( 7 ) of the vehicle ( 10 ) that depends on the current head position and the position of the mirror ( 7 a dead angle is determined, that an object is detected in the blind spot, and that, if an object has been detected in the blind spot, the mirror ( 7 ) is adjusted depending on the current head position and a position of the object detected in the blind spot, such that the object for the driver via the mirror ( 7 ) is visible. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the position of the mirror ( 7 ) is changed only when an imminent lane change of the vehicle ( 10 ) or a parking operation of the vehicle ( 10 ) is detected. Device for automatically guiding a driver of a vehicle, wherein the device ( 1 ) an ad ( 2 ) for displaying information, a detection device ( 3 ) for detecting a traffic situation of the vehicle ( 10 ) and a signaling device ( 4 ), the device ( 1 ) is configured such that the device ( 1 ) is capable of detecting information for the operation of the vehicle and on the display ( 2 ) that the device ( 1 ) the driver's gaze by means of the signaling device ( 4 ) on the traffic situation or on the display ( 2 ) for the operation of the vehicle ( 10 ) steers. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) is configured such that the signaling device generates optical, acoustic and / or haptic signals such that the signaling device thereby directs the driver's gaze to the traffic situation or to the information. Device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) a gaze detection device ( 5 ) for detecting a current line of sight of the driver, and that the device ( 1 ) is configured such that the device ( 1 ) directs the driver's gaze to the traffic situation or to the information, depending on the current direction of view. Device according to one of claims 10-12, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) a head position detecting device ( 6 ) for detecting a current head position of the driver, an adjustable mirror ( 7 ) and a sensor ( 8th ) for detecting objects in the vicinity of the vehicle ( 10 ) and that the device ( 1 ) is configured such that the device ( 1 ) depending on the current head position and the position of the mirror ( 7 ) determines a blind spot by means of the sensor system ( 8th ) detects an object in the blind spot and, if an object has been detected in the blind spot, the mirror ( 7 ) depending on the current head position and a position of the object detected in the blind spot such that the object for the driver via the mirror ( 7 ) is visible. Device according to one of claims 10-13, characterized in that the device ( 1 ) for carrying out the method according to ei nem of claims 1-9 is configured. Vehicle with a device according to any one of claims 10-14.