EP1940649A2 - A system for helping the driving of a vehicle in presence of fog and/or on irregular roads - Google Patents

A system for helping the driving of a vehicle in presence of fog and/or on irregular roads

Info

Publication number
EP1940649A2
EP1940649A2 EP06809498A EP06809498A EP1940649A2 EP 1940649 A2 EP1940649 A2 EP 1940649A2 EP 06809498 A EP06809498 A EP 06809498A EP 06809498 A EP06809498 A EP 06809498A EP 1940649 A2 EP1940649 A2 EP 1940649A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vehicle
laser
project
laser beam
road surface
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP06809498A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Bruno Dalla Chiara
Giuseppe Cannata
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Politecnico di Torino
Original Assignee
Politecnico di Torino
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Politecnico di Torino filed Critical Politecnico di Torino
Publication of EP1940649A2 publication Critical patent/EP1940649A2/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
    • B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
    • B60Q1/18—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights being additional front lights
    • B60Q1/20—Fog lights
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/44—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
    • B60Q1/445—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal controlled by inertial devices
    • B60Q1/447—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal controlled by inertial devices with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing the shape or intensity of the indication
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q5/00—Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q2400/00—Special features or arrangements of exterior signal lamps for vehicles
    • B60Q2400/50—Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system for assisting in vehicle driving in presence of fog and/or on irregular roads.
  • the fog density is normally rather uniform up to some centimetres far from the pavement surface, for example made of asphalt .
  • the fog density decreases close to the pavement until it nearly completely disappears on the asphalt .
  • the reason for such a phenomenon is the condensation of the moisture particles, which remain in suspension in the air where the temperature is neither high enough to cause them to evaporate nor low enough to cause them to pass to the liquid state close to a surface suitable for changing their physical state.
  • Figure 1 shows a front view of a vehicle equipped with a system according to the present invention
  • Figure 2 represents the vehicle • of Figure 1 in rear view
  • Figure 3 shows the situation of a heavy vehicle preceding a light vehicle, both the vehicles being equipped with systems according to the invention.
  • Figure 4 represents a schematic view from above of vehicles equipped with systems according to the invention in presence of narrow bends .
  • a vehicle for example a motor-vehicle, equipped with a system according to the invention is generally indicated 2.
  • the vehicle is provided with lighting devices according to the law.
  • the vehicle 2 is provided on the front part with a front laser light emitter 4 and on the rear part with rear laser light emitters 6 and 8.
  • the laser light emitters 4, 6 and 8 are arranged to emit visible laser light onto the road surface, either at a predefined distance D from the source, for example approximately ranging between 20 and 25 meters, or at a variable distance depending on the vehicle speed.
  • the projection of the laser beam on the road surface can be indicative of the kind of vehicle that emits it .
  • the front laser beam and the rear one can for example emit a circular projection in case of motor-vehicles and a rectangular one in case of lorries or heavy vehicles in general .
  • These projections are generated by the front emitter 4 and by one of the two rear emitters, for example the one indicated 6.
  • the other rear emitter in the illustrated example the emitter 8, is triggered contemporaneously with the brake actuation so as to show that the vehicle is braking.
  • the beam projection will have a different shape from the above-mentioned ones, for example a triangular shape.
  • a vehicle 2 typically a motor- vehicle, is proceeding in the same direction as a lorry 10, also provided with the driving assist system according to the invention.
  • the warning that the preceding vehicle- is braking allows the drivers to drive in column even though the vehicles and their lights are not visible.
  • the variation of distance between the projection points of two vehicles following one another allows to inform the driver of the following vehicle of any variation in the road path. For example, if the preceding vehicle travels on a short bump, the driver of the following vehicle will see an oscillating projection of the laser beam emitted, by the rear emitter 6 of the preceding vehicle.
  • the device may also contribute to driving safety. It is in fact possible, when approaching a bend, to perceive the arrival of a vehicle in the same driving direction and possibly to deduce if it is a car or a heavy vehicle.
  • the first vehicle which encounters the obstacle along its running direction - both when it is able to stop at a distance from the obstacle and when it crashes against the obstacle, unless this does not result in an overturning or in a horizontal rotation of its longitudinal axis - will project the laser beam emitted by the rear emitter 6 to the advantage of the drivers of the vehicles which follow the stopped vehicle. These will be able, in fact, to see the projections on the asphalt and to start braking .
  • the system according to the invention can be used as a warning system to inform at night that a vehicle is arriving.
  • the drivers With the headlights switched on full beam, it is customary for the drivers to cause the headlights on full beam to flash, that is to say, to switch these headlights on and off repeatedly, in order to inform a driver of having left the headlights switched on full beam.
  • This behaviour represents however a disturbing factor to the driver.
  • an acoustical emergency signal is generated in case of a deceleration (following a braking) higher than a predefined threshold.
  • Such a deceleration can be detected, for example, by an accelerometer .
  • the intensity and/or the colour of the laser emission may be varied in case of strong braking actions detected for example by an accelerometer.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Abstract

The system comprises a first laser emitter (4) arranged to project on the road surface in front of the vehicle a first laser beam indicative of the type of vehicle, a second laser emitter (6) arranged to project on the road surface behind the vehicle a second laser beam indicative of the type of vehicle, and a third laser emitter (8) arranged to project a third laser beam on the road surface behind the vehicle upon actuation of the vehicle's brakes. The laser emitters (4, 6, 8) are arranged to project the respective laser beams either at a predefined distance (D) from the vehicle, approximately 25 meters, or at a variable distance (D) from the vehicle depending on the vehicle's speed.

Description

System for assisting in vehicle driving in presence of fog and/or on irregular roads
The present invention relates to a system for assisting in vehicle driving in presence of fog and/or on irregular roads.
Driving in presence of fog has always been difficult, in spite of the use of fog-lights.
Before getting to the heart of the invention, some considerations need to be stated in advance.
Considering a height range from zero to some meters with respect to the road surface (in any case underneath the maximum height of the road vehicles, typically four meters) , it may be observed how the fog density is normally rather uniform up to some centimetres far from the pavement surface, for example made of asphalt . The fog density decreases close to the pavement until it nearly completely disappears on the asphalt . The reason for such a phenomenon is the condensation of the moisture particles, which remain in suspension in the air where the temperature is neither high enough to cause them to evaporate nor low enough to cause them to pass to the liquid state close to a surface suitable for changing their physical state.
The use of a camera showing an external image on a display on board of the vehicle is known from documents US 2003025799 and US 2002181240. This solution, however, requires the driver to pay attention to a display within the vehicle while he is concentrated on driving.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a system for assisting in vehicle driving in presence of fog and/or on irregular roads which obviates the above-mentioned drawback of the prior art, which is relatively easy to install and which is not too expensive.
This object is achieved by the invention thanks to a system having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims .
The invention will be now described, purely by way of non- limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a front view of a vehicle equipped with a system according to the present invention;
Figure 2 represents the vehicle • of Figure 1 in rear view;
Figure 3 shows the situation of a heavy vehicle preceding a light vehicle, both the vehicles being equipped with systems according to the invention; and
Figure 4 represents a schematic view from above of vehicles equipped with systems according to the invention in presence of narrow bends .
With reference to the Figures 1 and 2, a vehicle, for example a motor-vehicle, equipped with a system according to the invention is generally indicated 2. The vehicle is provided with lighting devices according to the law.
According to the invention, the vehicle 2 is provided on the front part with a front laser light emitter 4 and on the rear part with rear laser light emitters 6 and 8. The laser light emitters 4, 6 and 8 are arranged to emit visible laser light onto the road surface, either at a predefined distance D from the source, for example approximately ranging between 20 and 25 meters, or at a variable distance depending on the vehicle speed.
The projection of the laser beam on the road surface can be indicative of the kind of vehicle that emits it . The front laser beam and the rear one can for example emit a circular projection in case of motor-vehicles and a rectangular one in case of lorries or heavy vehicles in general . These projections are generated by the front emitter 4 and by one of the two rear emitters, for example the one indicated 6.
The other rear emitter, in the illustrated example the emitter 8, is triggered contemporaneously with the brake actuation so as to show that the vehicle is braking. In this case, the beam projection will have a different shape from the above-mentioned ones, for example a triangular shape.
Referring now to Figure 3, a vehicle 2, typically a motor- vehicle, is proceeding in the same direction as a lorry 10, also provided with the driving assist system according to the invention.
The warning that the preceding vehicle- is braking allows the drivers to drive in column even though the vehicles and their lights are not visible.
Furthermore, the variation of distance between the projection points of two vehicles following one another allows to inform the driver of the following vehicle of any variation in the road path. For example, if the preceding vehicle travels on a short bump, the driver of the following vehicle will see an oscillating projection of the laser beam emitted, by the rear emitter 6 of the preceding vehicle.
When the preceding vehicle goes around a bend to the left, the projection of the laser beam emitted by the rear emitter 6 will gradually move rightwards and the opposite will happen in case of a bend to the right. On the other hand, in case of a U-bend the projection of the laser beam emitted by the rear emitter 6 might temporarily disappear but will be visible again at the end of the bend.
Referring to Figure 4, it is emphasized that thanks to a system according to the invention the vehicles running in opposite directions on a road show their presence to one another by means of the projections of the laser beams emitted by their respective front emitters 4 , thereby refraining the driver from invading the opposite lane when it is not empty.
The advantages of the invention are evident in view of the foregoing description.
The advantage of adopting a system according to the invention is evident when running in column due to a fog bank. A greater distance between the vehicles can be kept, thereby strongly reducing the risk of secondary accidents and pile- ups. Furthermore, the speed of the vehicles can be increased at the same time, thereby increasing the traffic flow on the road.
In order to prevent the reflex of the laser projection from disturbing the driver in presence of sensibly wet asphalt, it can be envisaged to direct the light beam to the right-hand side of the road lane, in the running direction.
The device may also contribute to driving safety. It is in fact possible, when approaching a bend, to perceive the arrival of a vehicle in the same driving direction and possibly to deduce if it is a car or a heavy vehicle.
Additionally, in presence of any object (such as a fallen object, a broken-down vehicle, etc.) obstructing the road after a blind bend, the first vehicle which encounters the obstacle along its running direction - both when it is able to stop at a distance from the obstacle and when it crashes against the obstacle, unless this does not result in an overturning or in a horizontal rotation of its longitudinal axis - will project the laser beam emitted by the rear emitter 6 to the advantage of the drivers of the vehicles which follow the stopped vehicle. These will be able, in fact, to see the projections on the asphalt and to start braking .
The system according to the invention can be used as a warning system to inform at night that a vehicle is arriving. With the headlights switched on full beam, it is customary for the drivers to cause the headlights on full beam to flash, that is to say, to switch these headlights on and off repeatedly, in order to inform a driver of having left the headlights switched on full beam. This behaviour represents however a disturbing factor to the driver. With the use of the system of the invention as a flashing device, it is possible to draw the driver's attention without introducing troublesome dazzling effects. In a variant of the system according to the invention, an acoustical emergency signal is generated in case of a deceleration (following a braking) higher than a predefined threshold. Such a deceleration can be detected, for example, by an accelerometer .
Moreover, the intensity and/or the colour of the laser emission may be varied in case of strong braking actions detected for example by an accelerometer.
It is evident that the greater is the number of vehicles provided with the system that is proposed in the patent, the higher will be the efficiency of the system.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining unchanged, wide variations may be done to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example .

Claims

1. A system for assisting in vehicle driving in presence of fog and/or on irregular roads, characterized in that it comprises a first laser emitter (4) arranged to project a first laser beam on the road surface in front of the vehicle and a second laser emitter (6) arranged to project a first laser beam on the road surface behind the vehicle .
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second laser emitters (4, 6) are arranged to project the respective laser beams at a predefined distance (D) from the vehicle.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said predefined distance (D) is approximately 25 meters.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first and second laser emitters (4, 6) are arranged to project the respective laser beams at a variable distance (D) from the vehicle depending on the vehicle's speed.
5. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the shape of the projections of said first and second laser beams on the road surface is indicative of the type of vehicle .
6. A system according to any of the preceding claims , wherein said first laser emitter (4) is arranged to project a laser beam towards the right-hand side of the road lane in the running direction.
7. A system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a third laser emitter (8) arranged to project a third laser beam on the road surface behind the vehicle upon actuation of the vehicle's brakes.
8. A system according to claim 7 , wherein the shape of the projection of said third laser beam on the road surface is different from the shape of the projections of said first and second laser beams on the road surface.
9. A system according to claim 7 or claim 8 , wherein said third laser emitter (8) is arranged to project the third laser beam at a predefined distance (DX from the vehicle.
10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said predefined distance (D) is approximately 25 meters.
11. A system according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said third laser emitter (8) is arranged to project the third laser beam at a variable distance '(D) from the vehicle depending on the vehicle ' s speed .
12. A system according to any of claims 7 to 11, wherein said third laser emitter (8) is arranged to emit a laser beam with variable intensity and/or colour in case of a deceleration of the vehicle higher than a given threshold.
13. A system according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising acoustical signal generating means for generating an acoustical emergency signal in case of a deceleration higher than a given threshold.
14. A vehicle, in particular a motor-vehicle, characterized in that it is provided with a driving assist system according to any of the preceding claims.
EP06809498A 2005-10-05 2006-10-04 A system for helping the driving of a vehicle in presence of fog and/or on irregular roads Ceased EP1940649A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO20050694 ITTO20050694A1 (en) 2005-10-05 2005-10-05 LASER LIGHTS SYSTEM POSITIONED ON VEHICLES FOR SAFE ROAD DRIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF NON-LINEAR FOG AND / OR TRACKS
PCT/IB2006/053632 WO2007039877A2 (en) 2005-10-05 2006-10-04 System for assisting in vehicle driving in presence of fog and/or on irregular roads

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1940649A2 true EP1940649A2 (en) 2008-07-09

Family

ID=37834156

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06809498A Ceased EP1940649A2 (en) 2005-10-05 2006-10-04 A system for helping the driving of a vehicle in presence of fog and/or on irregular roads

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1940649A2 (en)
IT (1) ITTO20050694A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2007039877A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2967625B1 (en) * 2010-11-22 2012-11-09 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa VEHICLE COMPRISING A LIGHT SOURCE FOR PROJECTION OF INFORMATION ON THE SOIL BEFORE THE VEHICLE
CN103481818A (en) * 2013-10-16 2014-01-01 北京大学东莞光电研究院 Intelligent laser high mounted stop lamp
AU2015238339B2 (en) 2014-03-25 2018-02-22 Jaguar Land Rover Limited Navigation system
GB2524514B (en) * 2014-03-25 2017-08-16 Jaguar Land Rover Ltd Navigation system
FR3066306B1 (en) * 2017-05-09 2023-03-10 Renault Sas ADAPTIVE LASER ANTI-COLLISION WARNING

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6819234B1 (en) * 2003-05-13 2004-11-16 Lawrence Bunker Vehicle braking system safety enhancements

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH06270752A (en) * 1993-03-17 1994-09-27 Mazda Motor Corp Safety device for vehicle
DE4402661A1 (en) * 1994-01-29 1995-08-03 Thomas Bleiner Device for signaling a vehicle
DE19845332A1 (en) * 1998-10-01 2000-04-13 Kai Winkler Indicating light for showing a driver vehicle stopping distance and vehicle width uses a bundled ray of light to cast a point of light or beam in front of a vehicle judging a vehicle's speed and resulting stopping distance.
FR2816264B1 (en) * 2000-11-09 2003-02-21 Thomas Bleiner VISUAL SIGNALING DEVICE ADAPTABLE TO A VEHICLE
US6883947B1 (en) * 2003-04-07 2005-04-26 Maribel Sarabia Automotive laser illumination module and system
JP4729905B2 (en) * 2004-11-17 2011-07-20 アイシン・エィ・ダブリュ株式会社 Vehicle notification device and program

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6819234B1 (en) * 2003-05-13 2004-11-16 Lawrence Bunker Vehicle braking system safety enhancements

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2007039877A2 (en) 2007-04-12
WO2007039877A3 (en) 2007-07-05
ITTO20050694A1 (en) 2007-04-06
WO2007039877A8 (en) 2007-09-07

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