DE102020213727A1 - Method for informing an occupant of a motor vehicle about other road users, display device for this and motor vehicle with display device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for informing an occupant (1) of a motor vehicle (100) about other road users (300), including first determining a distance and/or a relative speed of the at least one other road user (300) from the motor vehicle (100). , and that this distance and/or this relative speed is/are assigned to a group from a plurality of predetermined groups. A display then takes place on an area (20I, 20II, 20III) of a display device (16), the area (20I, 20II, 20III) of the display device (16) depending on the assigned group (I, II, III).

Description

The present invention relates to a method for informing an occupant of a motor vehicle about other road users. In this context, it relates in particular to the case in which the other road users are moving essentially in the same direction, for example in an adjacent lane to which the occupant may wish to change.

From the US 9,878,665 B2 it is known to show information about such other road users in the mirrors of a motor vehicle, in particular their absolute speed, their distance from the motor vehicle and a calculated time in which the motor vehicle would collide with the respective other road user under certain circumstances (in particular: in the event of a possible lane change , which is to be avoided).

This procedure is very complex. To make it easier to understand, the publication proposes displaying different colors in the mirror in order to better inform the driver of the vehicle.

However, this is still not sufficient.

The invention is now based on the object of further improving a method for informing an occupant of a motor vehicle about other road users.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that a distance and/or a relative speed of at least one other road user in relation to the motor vehicle is determined (either measured in absolute terms or derived from measured data), with the invention determining the distance and/or the relative speed to a group is assigned from a plurality of predetermined groups and a display is provided on an area of a display device, the area of the display device being dependent on the assigned group. While in the prior art a same area is occupied alternately, the present invention provides a display device whose different areas are used in different situations (the display device may be slightly larger in absolute terms than in the prior art). In one embodiment, at least two areas associated with different groups of the plurality of predetermined groups are distinguished by the color of the display. Alternatively or additionally, in one exemplary embodiment, a different frequency of blinking can also be provided in different areas.

In another embodiment of the invention, the display device is provided on or as part of a rear view mirror (“in the rear view mirror”). A sequence of areas of the display device now follows the outer contour of the rear-view mirror, and in particular this sequence is U-shaped. In this way, the central area of the rearview mirror can be used for the conventional rearview area, and the display device is less intrusive.

Furthermore, it can also be a display in or on the vehicle, which takes over the rear view function of a rear view mirror with the help of a camera monitor system.

In a simple embodiment, the display can depend solely on the distance. In this case, one embodiment can provide for another road user that is further away to be symbolized with a rather darker light (green or blue), a medium-distance road user with a yellow light and a very close road user with a red light.

As an alternative to the use of fewer discrete steps, the representation of the areas can include a color-flowing transition.

Provision can be made for the motor vehicle to be able to detect a predetermined alarm signal (blue lights, siren) and to change the color display as a function of a detection. This applies in particular if a vehicle with the alarm signal is currently driving on the lane onto which one's own motor vehicle could change. In this way, the distance range in which such a vehicle (police car, fire engine, ambulance) is located can be assigned a different color (preferably blue, preferably flashing) in the corresponding area on the display device than usual.

The display device according to the invention for informing a vehicle driver about other road users has a plurality of areas that can only be controlled individually. Alternatively, it would be possible for a sequence of areas to exist, several of which can be controlled at the same time if a corresponding number of road users are detected at different distances or possibly at different speeds. This is possible in particular in the case of the U-shape, which follows the contour of the exterior mirror or display, in which case two areas that are separated from one another by at least a third area would then preferably be controllable at the same time.

In one embodiment of the display device according to the invention, it is provided that the plurality of areas differ in the color of a representation, for which purpose corresponding filters or colored lamps (light-emitting diodes, etc.) can be provided. The motor vehicle according to the invention has means for acquiring data on the distance and/or a speed or relative speed of at least one other road user, as well as a control unit and the display device of the type described above, the latter being controlled by the control unit as a function of the data obtained from the means for acquiring is controlled.

In one embodiment, the control unit is also responsible for activating the areas of the display device, namely as a function of the assigned group.

The advantages of the method according to the invention also apply to the display device according to the invention and the motor vehicle according to the invention.

In one embodiment, the motor vehicle is designed in such a way that the rear-view mirror or the rear-view system with camera and monitor includes areas at such locations that the display can also be seen by at least certain other road users, e.g. those in an adjacent lane. A camera can also be arranged in the rearview mirror as an additional sensor for detecting other motor vehicles, which is added to other sensors such as ultrasonic sensors, radar sensors and lidar sensors. In a camera monitor system, the camera is already available for the required function.

Further features of the invention can result from the following description of the figures and from the drawing. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description and the features and feature combinations shown below in the description of the figures and/or in the figures alone can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without going beyond the scope of the invention to leave.

• 1 schematisch eine Straßensituation, in der die
• 1A eine Vergrößerung des hierin gezeigten Rückspiegels 16 zeigt,
• 2A die Einteilung von Bereichen neben dem Kraftfahrzeug in Abhängigkeit von einer kleinen Geschwindigkeit eines anderen Verkehrsteilnehmers und
• 2B die Einteilung von Bereichen neben dem Kraftfahrzeug in Abhängigkeit von einer großen Geschwindigkeit eines anderen Verkehrsteilnehmers.

The drawing shows in:

• 1 schematically a street situation in which the
• 1A shows an enlargement of the rearview mirror 16 shown herein,
• 2A the classification of areas next to the motor vehicle depending on the low speed of another road user and
• 2 B the classification of areas next to the motor vehicle depending on the high speed of another road user.

Elements that are the same or have the same function are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

A motor vehicle, designated as a whole by 100, is guided by a vehicle driver 1 and moves on a roadway or lane 200a. The vehicle driver 1 may want to switch to the adjacent lane 200b, but must be informed about road users 300 who are behind him on this other lane 200b, so that no collision occurs when the lane changes from lane 200a to lane 200b . A central control unit 10 of motor vehicle 100 is fed with data from a radar sensor 12 (or lidar, or camera, microphone, etc.) and supplemented by another group of sensors 14 of the same type (e.g. here: ultrasonic sensors) provided on the side wall of the motor vehicle data fed. A camera 18 is provided on a rear-view mirror 16 and also captures the surroundings behind the motor vehicle. The aim is in particular to detect a blind spot behind motor vehicle 100 that is not optically detected by mirror 16 . Areas I, II and III can be distinguished from one another in the blind spot, with the distance to mirror 16 decreasing as the number increases (with regard to sensor 12, the distance in area II is the shortest).

Areas I, II and III now correspond to areas 20 _I , 20 _II and 20 _III of a display device in the mirror 16, with area 20 _I being lit (“activated”) when another road user 300 is in or near the area I is located, eg area 20 _I lights up in green. If motor vehicle 300 approaches further and reaches area II, area 20 _II is activated and lights up yellow, for example. If motor vehicle 300 approaches mirror 16 further and reaches area III, area 20 _III is activated and lights up red, for example. The vehicle driver 1 can therefore see in a very intuitive manner how close the other motor vehicle 300 is to the blind spot of the mirror and can optimally plan the process of changing lanes from lane 200a to lane 200b. The visual display can be accompanied by acoustic signals through a loudspeaker 22 in the vehicle interior of motor vehicle 100 . For example, the property of a beep (in terms of pitch and interval speed) can also be achieved of areas I, II and III and therefore be coordinated with the lighting of areas 20 _I , 20 _II and 20 _III .

The areas I, II, III can also form a smooth transition or, if necessary, be adapted by the user.

An additional display (as an icon or other symbol/indication means) can include a "blue light". This icon can then be used as additional help (detection of a car with flashing lights and siren by camera and microphone). As an alternative to displaying an icon or the like, one area of the areas 20 _I , 20 _II and 20 _III flashes blue when a police car or the like is detected.

Alternatively, it is possible to compare an absolute speed of the other road user 300 with the absolute speed of one's own motor vehicle 100 measured by a speedometer 24 of the motor vehicle and to infer a relative speed from this. The areas 20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III may instead be lit according to the areas I, II, III 1 also be more flexible. For example, the division into areas I, II, III 1 be made dependent on the speed v3 of the motor vehicle 300 .
This is based on the 2A and 2 B explained: In the case of 2A the other motor vehicle 300 drives at a comparatively low speed v3a, and the ranges I(v3a), II(v3a) and III(v3a) are selected to be comparatively short. In case of 2 B the other motor vehicle 300 is traveling at a comparatively high speed v3b, and here the ranges I(v3b), II(v3b) and III(v3b) are chosen to be comparatively long.

The division into regions I, II and III can be absolutely dependent on speed v3a and v3b, but it can also be dependent on the relative speed, ie the difference between speed v1 of motor vehicle 100 and speed v3a and v3b.

In one embodiment, the lighting means are arranged in the mirror 16 in such a way that they radiate towards the driver 1 of the vehicle. In another embodiment, they are arranged in such a way that a vehicle driver 3 in the other motor vehicle 300 also recognizes the signaling and is aware that a dangerous situation could arise if the other motor vehicle 100 suddenly changes lanes.

Instead of a rear-view mirror as a rear-view device, future vehicles will have a display inside the vehicle on which camera images from a rear-view camera are displayed. Areas in the manner of areas 20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III can then be formed accordingly on or at such a display.

The above representation is mirror-symmetrically alternatively conceivable or mirror-symmetrically expandable: The motor vehicle should also give the driver a corresponding representation when changing to a lane to the left of the lane currently being traveled on, for example in areas like areas 20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III the driver's rearview mirror on the left.

Alternatively or as a second such display, the U-shaped display can extend over the entire side of the vehicle, i.e. as a “luminous strip” on the vehicle. This applies in particular in connection with autonomously driving vehicles, so that the traffic standing next to them is signaled via the "light strip" that they have been recognized by the vehicle.

Reference List

1, 3

vehicle driver

10

control unit

12

radar sensor

14

ultrasonic sensors

16

rearview mirror

18

camera

20I, 20II, 20III

Areas of the display device

24

speedometer

100

motor vehicle

200a, 200b

roadway

300

other road users

I, II, III

areas

v1

Motor vehicle speed 100

v3, v3a, v3b

Speed of the road user 300

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was 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.

Patent Literature Cited

• US 9878665 B2 [0002]

Claims (10)

Method for informing an occupant (1) of a motor vehicle (100) about other road users (300), in particular those who are moving essentially in the same direction, with the steps: - determining a distance and/or a relative speed of at least one other road user (300) to the motor vehicle (100) - assigning the distance and/or the relative speed to a group from a plurality of predetermined groups, - providing a display on an area (20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III ) of a display device (16) , where the range (20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III ) depends on the assigned group. procedure after claim 1 , in which at least two areas (20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III ) assigned to different groups from the plurality of predetermined groups differ from each other by the color of the display. procedure after claim 1 or 2 , in which the display is provided on or in a rear-view mirror or display (16) and the sequence of areas (20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III ) of the display device follows the outer contour of the rear-view mirror (16) or display, in particular is U-shaped . Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which another road user that is further away is symbolized with a dark light, another road user that is a medium distance away is symbolized with a yellow light and a very close other road user is symbolized with a red light. Display device (16) for informing a vehicle driver (1) about other road users (300), with a plurality of areas (20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III ), which can be selectively controlled only individually. display device claim 5 , in which the plurality of areas (20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III ) differ in the color of a representation. display device claim 5 , in which the representation of a plurality of areas forms a color-flowing transition. Motor vehicle (100) with means (12, 14) for acquiring data on the distance and/or a speed or relative speed of at least one other road user (300), and with a control unit (10) and a display device (16) with the features claim 5 or claim 6 , The display device (16) being controlled by the control unit (10) as a function of the data obtained from the means (12, 14) for acquiring. motor vehicle after claim 8 , in which the control unit (10) uses the data to assign the distance and/or the relative speed to a group and assigns one of the areas (20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III ) of the display device to the group and activates it. motor vehicle after claim 8 or claim 9 , With a rearview mirror (16), wherein the display device is provided on the rearview mirror (16) and the sequence of areas (20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III ) of the display device follows the outer contour of the rearview mirror (16), in particular being U-shaped , the areas (20 _I , 20 _II , 20 _III ) preferably being arranged on the rear-view mirror in such a way that the display can also be detected by at least some of the other road users (300), in particular for those road users who are on an adjacent lane ( 200b) behind the motor vehicle (100).

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