DE102022132135A1 - CONTROLLING A SENSOR DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

A method (150) is proposed for controlling a sensor device (110) which is set up to detect an obstacle in an opening area (106) of a vehicle door (102), wherein a state of the sensor device (110) can be changed between the states off state (Z1), standby state (Z2) and active state (Z3), wherein the method comprises: detecting (S1) at least one pre-warning signal (126, 132) which indicates a probability of a vehicle door opening; and moving (S2) the sensor device (110) from the off state (Z1) at least to the standby state (Z2) if the pre-warning signal (126, 132) or at least one of the pre-warning signals (126, 132) indicates an increased probability of a vehicle door opening.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a sensor device which contains at least one sensor for detecting an obstacle in an opening area of a vehicle door. The present invention also relates to a computer program product, a control device and a vehicle.

In vehicle construction, there is a trend towards ever greater comfort. For example, comfort is improved by automatically opening a vehicle door. For this purpose, a sensor device is usually provided which contains at least one sensor which is arranged and set up to detect an obstacle in an opening area of the vehicle door. The "opening area" is, for example, an area or preferably a space which is at least temporarily occupied by the vehicle door during opening or closing. The sensor device serves to prevent damage to the vehicle door or an obstacle.

In vehicle construction, there is also a trend towards increased efficiency. In electric vehicles in particular, reduced energy requirements correspond to a desire for greater range.

The JP 2011 113 366 A discloses an approaching object detecting apparatus which, in a state where the vehicle has stopped and an ignition is turned off, continues detection of an object approaching the vehicle based on a captured image of an in-vehicle camera when a vehicle occupant in the vehicle is detected by an occupant detecting means, and terminates detection of the approaching object when a vehicle occupant in the vehicle is not detected by the occupant detecting means.

US 2020 / 0 148 108 A1 discloses a vehicle exit assist device with improved safety and improved energy consumption. This includes an exit hindrance part including a warning and/or a door opening hindrance when an exit activity of a vehicle occupant is detected and an obstacle around a vehicle is detected by an obstacle detection part.

However, a sensor device for detecting an obstacle in an opening area usually requires a certain amount of time before a statement can be made about the absence of an obstacle. If the sensor device were only activated when an operator activated a corresponding trigger, an unpleasant amount of time would pass. This would reduce comfort. There is therefore a conflict of objectives between comfort and efficiency.

Against this background, an object of the present invention is to provide a method, a computer program product, a control device and/or a vehicle for efficiently and conveniently detecting an obstacle in the opening area of a vehicle door.

Accordingly, a method is proposed for controlling a sensor device which is designed to detect an obstacle in an opening area of a vehicle door. A state of the sensor device can be switched between the states off state, standby state and active state. The method has the following steps: detecting at least one pre-warning signal which indicates a probability of a vehicle door opening; and switching the sensor device from the off state at least to the standby state if the pre-warning signal or at least one of the pre-warning signals indicates an increased probability of a vehicle door opening.

By using a sensor device which can assume a standby state in addition to an off state and an active state, and by putting the sensor device into this standby state if the pre-warning signal indicates an increased probability of a vehicle door opening, the proposed method achieves a simultaneously comfortable and efficient compromise for the ability to detect an obstacle.

Preferably, the method uses only two warning values, namely "an increased probability of door opening" and "a low probability of door opening". This facilitates simple execution of the method.

One aspect of the invention relates to sensor fusion. Preferably, no separate sensor is provided to generate the early warning signal, but rather a sensor signal from a sensor that is available for another purpose is used. In this way, costs can be saved twice, namely for the sensor and for the operation of the sensor.

Optionally, the one pre-warning signal contains an occupancy signal from a seat occupancy sensor which is arranged and/or set up to detect whether a seat assigned to the vehicle door is occupied, wherein an occupancy of a seat assigned to the vehicle door increases the probability indicates the vehicle door opening. Many sensors can be used as seat occupancy sensors. For example, systems for airbag control, driver health monitoring or climate control can output an occupancy signal and thus be used as the seat occupancy sensor.

A "vehicle door-associated seat" is a seat from which that vehicle door is normally used to exit the vehicle. For example, a passenger seat is associated with the passenger door.

Optionally, the at least one pre-warning signal can contain a speed signal. If the speed falls below a minimum, this indicates an increased probability of the vehicle door being opened. Getting in and out of the vehicle is only to be expected at very low speeds. Therefore, when driving at medium and high speeds, the sensor device can be set to the off state or the standby state without any loss of comfort.

Optionally, the at least one pre-warning signal can contain a belt buckle signal. In this case, opening a belt buckle for a seat belt associated with the vehicle door indicates an increased probability of the vehicle door being opened. A vehicle occupant usually first opens a seat belt in order to gain the freedom of movement necessary to get out. Therefore, the sensor device can be set to the off state without any loss of comfort as long as the belt buckle is closed.

Optionally, the at least one early warning signal can contain a proximity signal relating to an object approaching an opening switch for the vehicle door. The opening switch is a switch arranged inside a passenger compartment, which can be operated by a vehicle occupant to leave the vehicle. The opening switch is provided, for example, with a proximity sensor for switching on a light for the opening switch. Even if the proximity sensor is only intended for the purpose of the method, i.e. for the purpose of conveniently and efficiently putting the sensor device into the standby state, this is more efficient than putting the sensor device into the active state "on suspicion" due to the typically low energy consumption of a vehicle interior proximity sensor.

Optionally, the method can provide that the sensor device is only put into the standby state if several early warning signals each indicate an increased probability of a vehicle door being opened. For example, the method can provide that at least the speed signal and/or the seat belt buckle signal, in addition to another early warning signal, must indicate an increased probability of a vehicle door being opened before the sensor device is put into the standby state. In this way, efficiency can be improved.

In a further development, the method can provide the step of switching the sensor device from the active state or the standby state to the off state if the early warning signal or early warning signals indicate a low probability of the vehicle door being opened. A low probability is preferably the opposite of an increased probability.

Furthermore, a computer program product is proposed which comprises instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method described above.

A computer program product, such as a computer program means, can be provided or delivered, for example, as a storage medium, such as a memory card, USB stick, CD-ROM, DVD, or in the form of a downloadable file from a server in a network. This can be done, for example, in a wireless communications network by transmitting a corresponding file with the computer program product or the computer program means.

Furthermore, a control device for a vehicle is proposed. The control device is designed to carry out the method described above. Preferably, the control device is designed to control the sensor device and/or to supply power to the sensor device and/or to change the state of the sensor device between the off state, the standby state and the active state.

A vehicle is also proposed. The vehicle has the control device described above, at least one vehicle door, a sensor device and at least one pre-warning sensor device. The sensor device is designed to detect an obstacle in an opening area of a vehicle door. A state of the sensor device can be changed by the control device between the states off state, standby state and active state. The pre-warning sensor device is designed to output a pre-warning signal indicating an increased probability of a vehicle door opening. The pre-warning sensor device is preferably also configured to output a pre-warning signal indicating a low probability of a vehicle door being opened.

Optionally, the sensor device of the vehicle contains at least one ultrasonic sensor, at least one camera and/or at least one short-range radar. The said sensor devices have in common a low energy consumption in a standby state.

A preferred development of the vehicle has a sensor device that contains at least one transmitter and several receivers. The receivers are each set up to receive a signal that is sent by the transmitter and reflected by an obstacle in the opening area. Because sending a signal usually consumes more energy than receiving it, this sensor device is very efficient and therefore advantageously complements the vehicle described above.

The embodiments and features described for the proposed method apply accordingly to the proposed computer program product, the proposed control device and the proposed vehicle.

Further possible implementations of the invention also include combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with respect to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned. The person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

• 1 zeigt schematisch ein Fahrzeug mit einer Sensoreinrichtung und einer zum Ansteuern der Sensoreinrichtung konfigurierten Steuereinrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• 2 zeigt schematisch ein Ablaufdiagramm des Verfahrens gemäß der Ausführungsform der Erfindung; und
• 3 zeigt ein beispielhaftes Zustandsdiagramm der Sensoreinrichtung.

Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the embodiments of the invention described below. The invention is explained in more detail below using preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

• 1 shows schematically a vehicle with a sensor device and a control device configured to control the sensor device according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 2 shows schematically a flow chart of the method according to the embodiment of the invention; and
• 3 shows an example state diagram of the sensor device.

In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference symbols, unless otherwise stated.

The 1 shows a schematic plan view of an interior of a vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 has a vehicle door 102, which can be opened by an automatic mechanism (not shown). The vehicle door 102 is located next to a seat 104 of the vehicle 100. When the vehicle door 102 is opened, it pivots about a hinge and thereby covers an opening area 106 outside the vehicle.

The vehicle 100 is provided with a sensor device 110. The sensor device 110 contains a control device 112, a transmitter-receiver 114 and two receivers 116. The transmitter-receiver 114 and the receivers 116 are sensors of the sensor device 110. The control device 112 is configured to supply the transmitter-receiver 114 and the receivers 116 with power. The transmitter-receiver 114 and the receivers 116 are arranged so that an ultrasonic signal from the transmitter-receiver 114 can be reflected by an obstacle in the opening area 106 to the transmitter-receiver 114 and/or the receivers 116. The control device 112 is configured to determine a position of the obstacle in the opening area 106 from detection signals from the transmitter-receiver 114 and the receivers 116.

The receivers 116 can themselves be transmitter-receivers 114 which, for example, transmit at different times or which, for example, evaluate echoes on two different channels.

Like in the 3 As shown, the sensor device 110 can assume three states, for example. These are an off state Z1, a standby state Z2 and an active state Z3. In the off state Z1, the transmitter-receiver 114 and the receivers 116 are, for example, disconnected from a power supply. In the off state Z1, the control device 112 is, for example, also disconnected from a power supply or is in a state of lowest energy consumption. In order to change from the off state Z1 to the standby state Z2, the sensor device Z1 must, for example, go through an initialization process P1. This can, for example, last at least 0.5 seconds, usually at least 1 second and often at least 2 seconds. The sensor device 110 can have more than one standby state: in the standby state Z2, the sensor device 110 can, for example, be set up to receive a signal and/or to perform a self-diagnosis. In the standby state Z2, the sensor device device 110 in a state of medium energy consumption. The standby state Z2 is technically referred to as the "stand-by state" or "sleep mode". Usually, only an activation signal P2 is required to change from the standby state Z2 to the active state Z3. This activation signal P2 can last, for example, 0.1 seconds. If the sensor device 110 is in the standby state Z2, it can therefore be placed in the active state Z3 virtually without delay and therefore with a high level of comfort. In the active state Z3, the sensor device 110 can detect an obstacle in the opening area 106 of the vehicle door 102. In order to change from the active state Z3 to the standby state Z2 and/or to change from the standby state Z2 to the off state Z1, no further processes are usually necessary.

If the sensor device 110 is and/or contains a camera, the camera is, for example, ready to take an image in the standby state Z2 and takes at least one image in the active state Z3.

If the sensor device 110 is and/or contains a short-range radar, a transmitter in the standby state Z2 is, for example, ready to transmit a radar signal, and the transmitter in the active state Z3 transmits at least one signal.

It should be noted at this point that in addition to sending a signal, such as an ultrasonic signal or a radar signal, a subsequent evaluation of a signal, such as evaluating an ultrasonic reflection, evaluating a radar reflection and/or evaluating a camera image, can consume comparatively large amounts of energy.

The automatic system for opening the vehicle door 102 is designed, for example, so that if the control device 112 determines that there is an obstacle in the opening area 106, the vehicle door 102 does not collide with the obstacle.

The vehicle 100 is provided, for example, with a driver health monitoring system 120. This contains a control device 122 and a sensor 124 for monitoring the health of the driver. For example, the control device 122 can be set up to alert the driver to a loss of concentration and to request a break. As a secondary output, the control device 122 can output an occupancy signal 126, which indicates that the seat 104 is occupied. The occupancy signal 126 is a pre-warning signal. The driver health monitoring system 120 is a pre-warning sensor device.

The vehicle 100 is provided, for example, with a speed detection device 130, which is a control device and a pre-warning sensor device. This outputs a speed signal 132, which is a pre-warning signal. The speed signal 132 indicates a speed v of the vehicle 100.

The control devices 112, 122 and 130 are connected to a control device 140. The control device 140 is configured to carry out a method 150 for controlling the sensor device 110.

The method 150 is described below using the 2 explained.

In a first step S1, several early warning signals are detected by the control device 150. Thus, the speed signal 132 from the speed detection device 130 is detected by the control device 140. Furthermore, the occupancy signal 126 from the control device 122 is detected by the control device 140.

If the speed v is less than a minimum speed or a threshold value, this is understood by definition to mean that the speed signal 132 indicates an increased probability of a vehicle door opening. The minimum speed is preferably selected to be low, for example 10 km/h or preferably 5 km/h.

If the occupancy signal 126 of the sensor 124 indicates that the seat 104 is occupied, this is understood by definition to mean that the occupancy of the seat 104 associated with the vehicle door 102 indicates an increased probability of the vehicle door 102 being opened.

A distinction is therefore preferably made between the early warning values "increased probability of vehicle door opening" and "low probability of vehicle door opening". This distinction is usually sufficient for the purposes of the proposed method 150 for controlling the sensor device 110.

Furthermore, it should be emphasized that there are early warning signals, such as the occupancy signal or a seat belt buckle signal, which can be assigned to a single seat 104 and thus usually to a single vehicle door 102. These early warning signals are preferably used to achieve a particularly efficient control of the respective sensor device 110. On the other hand, there are early warning signals, such as the low vehicle speed, which can be assigned to each seat 104 of the vehicle 100. These early warning signals are preferably used to achieve a particularly convenient control of all sensor devices 110. If several early warning signals are combined, this usually has the advantage of achieving a particularly efficient control of the respective sensor device 110.

In a next step S2, the sensor device 110 is switched from the off state Z1 to the standby state Z2 if at least one of the early warning signals 126, 132 indicates an increased probability of the vehicle door opening. Preferably, however, the sensor device 110 for the vehicle door 102 is only switched from the off state Z1 to the standby state Z2 if both the occupancy signal 126 and the speed signal 132 both indicate an increased probability of the vehicle door opening. This achieves particularly efficient control of the sensor device 110.

If in step S2 the sensor device 110 has been placed in the standby state Z2, the method 150 is preferably terminated.

Once the method 150 has ended, it is preferably repeated after a time specified, for example, as a parameter and/or event-controlled.

If in step S2 the sensor device 110 has not been put into the standby state Z2, a further step S3 checks whether the sensor device 110 can be put into the off state Z1 from the standby state Z2 or the detection state Z3. Specifically, the sensor device 110 is put into the off state Z1 if at least both early warning signals or preferably one of the early warning signals indicate a low probability of the vehicle door being opened.

If, for example, the vehicle 100 accelerates again so that the speed v becomes greater than the minimum speed, the speed signal indicates a low probability of the vehicle door opening. The sensor device 110 is thus put into the off state Z0. This leads to efficient control of the sensor device 110.

The proposed method 150 is applicable, for example, to the following scenario: A vehicle 100 is equipped with, for example, five seats 104 for passengers. If all seats 104 are occupied and the speed of the vehicle 100 falls below the threshold value, in step S2 a respective control device 110 is placed in the standby state Z2 for each vehicle door 102 in order to be able to conveniently and efficiently carry out a method for automatically opening the respective vehicle door 102 in response to a respective request.

The proposed method 150 is applicable, for example, to the following scenario: A vehicle 100 is equipped with, for example, five seats 104 for passengers, and several seats 104 are occupied. Only one passenger wants to get out of the vehicle 100. Because, for example, a seat belt buckle signal is used as a pre-warning signal, a desire of the passenger in question to get out is recognized, and only the sensor device 110 assigned to the relevant vehicle door 102 is put into the standby state Z2.

The proposed method 150 is applicable, for example, to the following scenario: A vehicle 100 is switched on, but there is no passenger in the vehicle. For example, an occupancy signal 126 is detected for each seat 104 and evaluated by the control device 140. Therefore, all sensor devices 110 are set to the off state Z3, and the vehicle 100 is operated efficiently overall.

The proposed method 150 is applicable, for example, to the following scenario: Occupancy is only detected for one driver's seat 104. The vehicle 100 is equipped with a transmitter-receiver 114 in front of a front door 102 on a driver's side of the vehicle 100 and with a transmitter-receiver 114 behind a rear door on the driver's side. In order to be able to reliably detect an obstacle in the opening area 106, both transmitter-receivers 114 are combined to form a sensor device 110. For example, both transmitter-receivers 114 detect an echo signal from an obstacle that reflects a transmission signal emitted by the front transmitter-receiver 114. As a result, the position of the obstacle in relation to the vehicle 100 or in the opening area 106 can be precisely detected. This mode can be referred to in technical terms as an "indirect signal way".

The proposed method 150 is applicable, for example, to the following scenario: Occupancy is detected only for one driver's seat 104. The driver's door 104 and the rear door on the driver's side are each as shown in the 1 shown with a transmitter-receiver 114 and two receivers 116. In order to reliably detect an obstacle in the opening area 106 of the driver's door 102, the transmitter-receiver 114 of the driver's door 102, the receivers 116 of the driver's door 102 and the front receiver 116 of the rear door to form a sensor device 110. This mode can also be referred to in technical terms as an “indirect signal way”.

In the case of the present description, a distinction is made between the four control devices 112, 122, 130 and 140 for demonstration purposes. This is merely an example.

Although the present invention has been described using exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

100

vehicle

102

Vehicle door

104

Seat

106

Opening area

110

Sensor device

112

Control device

114

Transmitter-receiver

116

Recipient

120

Driver health monitoring system

122

Control device

124

sensor

126

Occupancy signal

130

Speed detection device

132

Speed signal

140

Control device

150

Proceedings

S1...3

Step

Z1

Off state

Z2

Standby mode

Z3

Active state

P1

Initialization process

P2

Activation signal

v

speed

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed 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 accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• JP 2011113366 A [0004]

Claims (12)

Method (150) for controlling a sensor device (110) which is designed to detect an obstacle in an opening area (106) of a vehicle door (102), wherein a state of the sensor device (110) can be changed between the states off state (Z1), standby state (Z2) and active state (Z3), wherein the method comprises: detecting (S1) at least one pre-warning signal (126, 132) which indicates a probability of a vehicle door opening; and shifting (S2) the sensor device (110) from the off state (Z1) at least to the standby state (Z2) if the pre-warning signal (126, 132) or at least one of the pre-warning signals (126, 132) indicates an increased probability of a vehicle door opening. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one pre-warning signal contains: an occupancy signal (126) of a seat occupancy sensor (120, 124) which is designed to detect whether a seat (104) assigned to the vehicle door (102) is occupied, wherein an occupancy of a seat (104) assigned to the vehicle door (102) indicates an increased probability of the vehicle door opening. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the at least one pre-warning signal contains: a speed signal (132), wherein falling below a minimum speed indicates an increased probability of a vehicle door opening. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pre-warning signal contains: a belt buckle signal, wherein an opening of a belt buckle for a safety belt assigned to the vehicle door (102) indicates an increased probability of a vehicle door opening. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pre-warning signal contains: a proximity signal relating to an approach of an object to an opening switch for the vehicle door (102), wherein an approach of an object to the opening switch indicates an increased probability of a vehicle door opening. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (110) is only placed in the standby state (Z2) if several early warning signals (126, 132) each indicate an increased probability of a vehicle door opening. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method (150) provides the step: switching (S3) the sensor device (110) from the active state (Z3) or the standby state (Z2) to the off state (Z1) if the pre-warning signal (126, 132) or the pre-warning signals (126, 132) indicate a low probability of a vehicle door opening. Computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method (150) according to one of the Claims 1 - 7 to execute. Control device (140) for a vehicle (100), which is designed to carry out the method (150) according to one of the Claims 1 - 7 to execute. Vehicle (100), comprising: at least one vehicle door (102); a control device (140) according to Claim 9 ; a sensor device (110) which is designed to detect an obstacle in an opening area (106) of a vehicle door (102), wherein a state of the sensor device can be changed between the states off state (Z1), standby state (Z2) and active state (Z3); and at least one pre-warning sensor device (120, 130) which is designed to output a pre-warning signal (126, 132) indicating an increased probability of a vehicle door opening. Vehicle (100) to Claim 10 , characterized in that the sensor device (110) contains at least one ultrasonic sensor (114, 116), at least one camera and/or at least one short-range radar. Vehicle (100) according to one of the Claims 10 or 11 , characterized in that the sensor device (110) contains at least one transmitter (114) and a plurality of receivers (114, 116), each of which is arranged to receive a signal transmitted by the transmitter (114) and reflected from an obstacle in the opening area (106).

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