EP2196961A1

EP2196961A1 - A driver information system for a vehicle, for providing input to a driver regarding the traffic environment external of said vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP2196961A1
Application number: EP08021730A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Werjefelt; Mikael Gordh; Emma Rozada
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Volvo Car Corp
Priority date: 2008-12-15
Filing date: 2008-12-15
Publication date: 2010-06-16

Abstract

The present invention relates to a driver information system for a vehicle, for providing input to a driver regarding the traffic environment external of said vehicle, said driver information system (10) comprising an input data signal receiver(20), which is arranged to receive a first input data signal from at least a first sensor device (31, 32), said first sensor device being arranged to detect at least one property associated with a condition external of said vehicle; a processing unit (40) for processing said first input data signal; and a display unit (50) arranged to graphically display information relating to said first input data signal or said first sensor device (31, 32) or a status or information request regarding that sensor device has been received. The display unit (50) is arranged to display a set of indicators (61), said set of indicators being arranged to essentially symbolize a circumscription of said vehicle, and said processing unit (40) is arranged to activate a selected subset (63) of said set of indicators (61) when said first input data signal comprises information indicating that a defined property has been detected by said first sensor device (31, 32), said processing unit (40) being arranged to select said subset (63) based on the actual physical position of the detected property in relation to said vehicle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a driver information system for a vehicle, for providing input to a driver regarding the traffic environment external of said vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern vehicles are becoming increasingly complex, and for examples, the number of various sensors and electronic devices in vehicles is increasing. Most of these sensors and electronic devices are arranged to directly or indirectly aid a driver in its task to drive the vehicle. However, as automotive vehicles get more and more advanced, the driver of the vehicle is generally subjected to more and more information, and as such, the driver's attention is constantly subjected to distractions. Also, the driver must combine, process, and understand many pieces of information from the observation of the present and future traffic environment, together with sensor information displayed on various displays, positioned on various locations within the driver compartment, in order to be able to safely, and efficiently control the vehicle in traffic.
Therefore, efforts to reduce the information flow to the driver has been made in order not to overload the driver with information, which could jeopardize the safety of the driving. For instance, efforts have been made to filter out irrelevant information if it is decided that the driver is busy with a task requiring the driver's attention.
However, although this approach provides big benefits, it may still suffer from the disadvantage that information is displayed by numerous sources within a driving compartment.
One approach to solve the above issue is disclosed in the patent document US5764139 . This document describes a display apparatus on which information that is determined to be truly necessary to the driver is displayed on a common display console, on which information is emphasized or deemphasized depending on its importance for the time being.
However, even if the above document provides a single source for information, the information is displayed with various different interfaces, depending on the type of information to be displayed, which may make it hard to interpret for the driver in driving situations in which the driver often has little time to react, often a few seconds or less.
Hence, it is important to find arrangements and methods which provides processes and displays information to the driver in a way so that the driver may easily digest the information and make informed driving decisions based on the displayed information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least some of the issues mentioned above are at least partly solved by a driver information system, for providing input to a driver regarding the traffic environment external of said vehicle, as claimed in claim 1 and by a vehicle provided with such a driver information system as claimed in claim 9. The driver information system, according to the present invention, comprises an input data signal receiver, which is arranged to receive a first input data signal from at least a first sensor device, said first sensor device being arranged to detect at least one property associated with a condition external of said vehicle. The driver information system further comprises a processing unit for processing said first input data signal and a display unit arranged to graphically display information relating to said first input data signal or said first sensor device. According to this invention, said display unit is arranged to display a set of indicators, said set of indicators being arranged to essentially symbolize a circumscription of said vehicle. The processing unit is further arranged to activate a selected subset of said set of indicators when said first input data signal comprises information indicating that a defined property has been detected by said first sensor device or a status or information request regarding that sensor device has been received, said processing unit being arranged to select said subset based on the actual physical position of the detected property in relation to said vehicle.
By this arrangement, an common interface is achieved which may be used to quickly inform a driver of a vehicle of virtually any condition occurring around the vehicle, and give an indication of where the condition is located in relation to the vehicle, so as to direct the driver's attention to the right place at the right time. Also, the inventive driver information system may be used to provide real time feedback to the driver regarding the status of actuators acting to compensate for external conditions detected by said sensors, hence guiding the driver to make informed driving decisions.
Preferably, said set of indicators is arranged to essentially symbolize a circumscription of said vehicle as seen from above, hence enabling indication of a condition in virtually any direction in relation to the vehicle. With the present invention, events may be indicated 360 degrees around the vehicle.
Even more preferably, said set of indicators is arranged to form an essentially closed loop.
In an embodiment of this invention, said set of indicators is arranged to form a circle or an oval. Alternatively, the set of indicators may be arranged to form an enlarged offset of a vehicle shape or an octagon.
In an embodiment of the invention, said display unit is arranged to display a plurality of concentrically arranged closed loops, whereby the selected subset may be selected from any of, or a combination of said loops, based on the character of said defined property, which increases the amount of information that may be presented to a driver in a single information display task. For instance, in a display comprising two concentrically arranged closed loops, activation of a subset from the outer loop may indicate that a condition is detected that is of lower urgency to the driver and activation of a subset from the inner loop may indicate that a condition is detected that is of higher urgency. This may for instance be used to indicate the distance to an obstacle, where the inner loop is activated if a detected object is less than a distance D<R1 from said vehicle and the outer loop is activated if the detected object is positioned on a distance D, where R1≤D≤R2. Alternatively, an inner loop may be used to inform the driver about a first condition or a first group of conditions, such as objects in the vicinity of the vehicle, while the outer loop may be used to inform the driver about a second condition, or a second group of conditions, such as position of the vehicle in relation to a lane.
In yet an embodiment of this invention, said set of indicators is arranged to be activated in at least two different colors, said processing unit being arranged to select an appropriate color based on the character of said defined property. For instance, different colors, such as a light red and a more intense red may be used to indicate the urgency of a detected condition, such as a detected object in the vicinity of the host vehicle, where the activated subset may be activated in a light red if the detected object is positioned on a distance D, where R1≤D≤R2 and in a more intense red if the detected object is less than a distance D<R1. Alternatively, different colors may be used to indicate warnings for different conditions. For instance, red may be used for object detection; green may be used for lane keeping assistance and so on.
Preferably, the display unit is further arranged to display a graphical item symbolizing said vehicle, being essentially circumscribed by said set of indicators, which makes the interface even more self explanatory and easy to understand for the driver.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the display unit is arranged to display said set of indicators on the wind screen of the vehicle, for instance by means of projection. In this way, the information to be displayed by the inventive system is readily available to the driver in the driver's normal line of sight when driving the vehicle. However, alternatively said display unit may be arranged to display said set of indicators on any area visible to the driver of said vehicle, such as on a steering wheel hub or a center stack.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will hereinafter be described by means of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the driver information system in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention.
Fig 2 is a schematic illustration of the incorporation of the driver information system in the driver environment of a vehicle in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention.
Fig 3a-3d shows a plurality of examples of different ways to utilize the display unit included in this invention.
Fig 4 discloses an alternative embodiment of the display unit included in this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a schematic overview of a driver information system 10, for providing input to a driver regarding the traffic environment external of a host vehicle. The term traffic environment as used herein is to be interpreted as a common term for events, also referred to as conditions, taking place external of said vehicle and that may affect the driving task for a driver of said vehicle, and which may be detected by various detectors or electrical systems within the vehicle. Examples of such events are for instance the presence of objects in the vicinity of the host vehicle, such as moving vehicles ahead of, trailing or being in a blind spot for the driver of said host vehicle, parked vehicles, vehicles moving in a direction essentially perpendicular to the host vehicle, pedestrians, or road signs, but also includes conditions such as for instance lane markings and the position of the vehicle in relation thereto, road curves ahead or the state of the road, and determination of the present vehicle speed is suitable for the upcoming road section with regard to curves, road conditions, available friction etc. The term property as used herein is defined as a measure that is used to quantify the condition as defined above. For instance, if the condition to be considered is the presence of objects in the vicinity of the host vehicle, the property to be considered is the distance to objects in the vicinity of the host vehicle. The term vehicle as used herein is defined as an automotive vehicle, such as a car or a truck.
The individual parts of the driver information system 10 will first be described, and thereafter the function and the use of the driver information system 10 and its individual parts will be described.
The driver information system 10 comprises a display unit 50, which normally is positioned inside the driver compartment of an automotive vehicle (not shown). The display unit 50 is normally positioned so that the display unit 50 is fully visible for a driver of the vehicle. As such, the display unit 50 may, as is indicated in figure 2, for instance be constituted by a head up display (HUD) arrangement 71, which is arranged to project, or in any other way produce, an image to be displayed by said display unit 50 on a windscreen, essentially in the normal line of view for the driver of the vehicle. Alternatively, as also indicated by figure 2, the display unit 50 may be constituted by a display, such as a liquid crystal display or a projection display, being arranged on the steering wheel hub 72, in the center stack 73, on the dashboard or on any other location within the vehicle well visible to the driver during a driving operation.
An input data signal receiver 20 is arranged to communicate with said display unit 50 in order to provide the display unit 20 with appropriate data which is arranged to control what information is to be displayed by said display unit 50.
The input data signal receiver 20 is arranged to communicate with at least one sensor, detector or processing unit, referred to as a first sensor device 31-39, but is as indicated in fig 1, preferably arranged to communicate with a plurality of sensors, detectors and optionally processing units to provide data regarding the traffic environment around said vehicle, which sensors, detectors and processing units are arranged to input at least a first input data signal to said input data signal receiver 20. As is indicated in fig 1, each sensor, detector and processing unit is normally arranged to each input a separate input data signal to said input data signal receiver 20. However, for simplicity, herein these input data signals are commonly referred to as the first input data signal, which may comprise data from one or more sensors, detectors and processing units, to provide data regarding the traffic environment around said vehicle, and how the vehicle systems relate to this traffic environment.
Examples of such sensors and detectors are; blind spot detection sensors 31, forward, side and rear collision sensors 32, 33, and 34 respectively, movement detection sensors 35, object detection sensors 36, parking assistance sensors 37, night vision sensors 38 and lane detection sensors 39. Other sensors, detectors and processing unit may include for instance driving path sensors ( i.e. for curve detection), road sign detectors, state of the road detectors, for instance to detect available road friction, vehicle-to-vehicle communication processing units, and GPS and map database processing units (not shown). Optionally (not shown), the input data receiver 20 may also be connected to sensors and detectors arranged to provide data regarding the host vehicle and the driver of said host vehicle, such as the speedometer, a gaze detector arranged to detect the gaze direction of the driver, and a driver alert detector arranged to detect the driver alertness.
However, the above list is not complete, and any sensor, detector or processing unit, providing information regarding the traffic environment around said host vehicle may be arranged to input information to said input data receiver 20. Optionally, also any sensor, detector or processing unit arranged to provide data regarding the host vehicle and the driver of said host vehicle may be arranged to input information to said input data receiver 20.
Further, the input data receiver 20 comprises a processing unit 40 for processing said first input data signal being received from said sensors, and to generate a control signal to be outputted to said display unit 50 in order to control said display unit 50 so as to generate a graphical representation to be displayed by said display unit 50, said graphical representation being based on information included in said first input data signal.
The display unit 50 is arranged to display a set of indicators 61, said set of indicators being arranged to essentially symbolize a circumscription of said host vehicle. The set of indicators may for instance be provided as a plurality of individual indicators formed as dots or circle segment or in any other way suitable. In the embodiment disclosed in fig 1, the set of indicators comprises a plurality of individual dot light indicators 62, such as light emitting diodes, wherein the activation or deactivation of each dot light indicator 62 may be individually controlled by said processing unit 40. For clarity, as is indicated in fig 1, an image of a top view of a vehicle 65 may be depicted within said circumscription. Preferably, as also indicated in fig 1, the set of indicators essentially form a closed loop 64, with essentially evenly distributed individual light indicators around said closed loop, preferably being formed as a circle, as shown in fig 1, or an oval. It shall be noted that the dotted line symbolizing the closed loop 64 in fig 1 is only depicted for illustration only, and is not visible in the display utilizing the present invention.
Said processing unit 40 is arranged to activate a selected subset 63 of said set of indicators 61 when said first input data signal comprises information indicating that a defined property has been detected by said first sensor device 31, 32, said processing unit 40 being arranged to select said subset 63 based on the actual physical position of the detected property in relation to said vehicle.
It shall be noted that said selected subset 63 may include all of said individual indicators 62, a selection of said individual indicators 62 or only one of said individual indicators 62.
Said processing unit 40 is also arranged to establish in what direction in relation to the vehicle the condition that the system is currently detecting is located and to activate the corresponding subset 63, for providing intuitive information to the driver of the vehicle. This is preferably done by predefining what subset 63 should be activated based on each specific first sensor device, and this predefinition information may be stored in a memory (not shown) provided in said processing unit 40. Also, each specific first sensor device may be associated with two or more predefined mutually different subsets 63, where the choice of which subset to be selected is controlled by the value of the input data signal. As an example, a first subset may be activated if an object is detected within a predetermined distance from said host vehicle, while a second subset, containing each individual indicator of said first subset as well as one or more neighboring individual indicators, may be activated if the object comes even closer to the host vehicle, hence providing an intensified warning to the driver.
Hereinafter the function and the use of the driver information system 10 and its individual parts will be described.
Each of said sensor devices 31-39 is arranged to detect a property associated with a condition external of the vehicle. In the present example, the blind spot detection sensors 31 is arranged to detect the presence of a vehicle in the driver's blind spot zone, the forward, side and rear collision sensors 32, 33, and 34 respectively, are arranged to detect the presence of a vehicle in front of, on the side of and behind the host vehicle, the movement detection sensor 35 is arranged to detect moving objects in the vicinity of the host vehicle, the object detection sensor 36 is arranged to detect objects in the vicinity of said vehicle, in the present example in front of the vehicle, the parking assistance sensor 37 is arranged to detect objects in front of, behind, or on the side of said host vehicle at low speed, said night vision sensor 38 is arranged to detect objects, such as pedestrians, at a sufficient distance when driving in the dark, and the lane detection sensor 39 is arranged to detect the position of the lane markings, and the host vehicle position in relation thereto. All of said sensors have functionality well known in the prior art and will for this reason not be described in detail here, and it should be readily understood that various alternatives and variations regarding the choice of available sensors is possible within the scope of the present invention.
Detected sensor information, for instance a vehicle approaching the host vehicle from the side, as detected by the side collision sensor 33, is transmitted by means of an input data signal to the processing unit of the input data signal receiver 20. Either the sensor as such or the processing unit 40 is provided with means for determining weather the detected sensor information is to be regarded as a potential threat which is to be communicated to the driver by means of the display unit 50. If it is determined that a warning for the detected condition is to be submitted to the driver, the processing unit is arranged to determine what subset 63 of said set of indicators 61 to activate in order to provide an appropriate warning to said driver. This information is suitably predefined and stored in a memory unit (not shown) within said processing unit 40 or in connection thereto. Hence, when it is established that a vehicle is detected by the side collision sensor 33 on the left side of the host vehicle as seen in its driving direction, and that it is to be regarded as a potential threat for which the driver of the host vehicle is to be warned, a control signal is sent from said control unit 40 in order to activate a selected subset 63 on the left hand side of the set of indicators symbolizing a circumscription of said vehicle, which is to be displayed by said display unit 50, as indicated in fig 3a. For intuitive understanding of the displayed information, a graphical image of a vehicle as seen from above is depicted in the centre of the circular loop of indicators forming said set of indicators.
In fig 3b, an alternative embodiment is disclosed, comprising an inner set of indicators 64a and an outer set of indicators 64b. In this example, detected sensor information, in this case information from the rear collision sensor 34, is detected that indicates that a vehicle is rapidly approaching the host vehicle from behind. As soon as the approaching vehicle is considered to be a threat to the host vehicle, as determined in accordance with the prior art, the processing unit 40 is arranged to generate a control signal to activate first an outer subset 63a on the lower half of the display unit, indicating the back of the vehicle, as indicated in fig 3a. If the threat posted by the approaching vehicle increases, for instance if the relative speed or distance between the host vehicle and the approaching vehicle decreases with a predetermined amount, then also the inner subset 63b is activated, in order to intensify the warning to the driver. The outer and inner subset may be activated in the same or in different colors depending on the desired interface. In this example, the graphical image of a vehicle 65 has been replaced by a dot to indicate the vehicle.
The driver information system may also be used to as a driver alert function as indicated by fig 3c. In this example, a sensor detecting for instance driver gaze has detected that the driver is considered to be inattentive, or looking away from the road for a predetermined amount of time, and in this case a subset comprising all individual indicators in said set of indicators may be activated in order to attract the drivers attention and get the driver's gaze direction back on the road.
In yet an example as illustrated in fig 3d, a lane detection sensor 39 detects that the host vehicle is closer to the left side lane marking than a predetermined amount, or is about to cross the left side lane marking, depended on selected system settings, and in this case the processing unit 50 is arranged to generate a control signal to activate a subset 63 in the upper left side of the display unit. The activation color may be different for different kind of warnings. For instance, lane detection warnings may be indicated with green indicators, collision warnings may be indicated with red indicators etc.
Yet an embodiment of the interface to be displayed by said display unit 50 according to this invention is shown in fig 4, here, the set of indicators is constituted by a 3D view of a closed segmented loop, which provides a natural sense for orientation, with the part of the segmented loop being remote for the viewer is arranged to symbolize information in front of the vehicle, and the part of the segmented loop being close to the driver being arranged to symbolize information behind the vehicle. In this example, the area within said loop is used to display other driving related information, in the present case speedometer information.
It shall be noted that the set of indicators as defined herein may be formed for instance as a circle or an oval in either 2D (as shown in fig 3 a-d) or in 3D (as shown in fig 4). The set of indicators may be implemented for instance by using light emitting diodes (LEDs), light segments, laser imaging or screen imaging, and may have various colors and shapes. If desired, the shape of each indicator as such may be used to convey information to the driver. For instance, a first shape may be used to indicate that the sensor information displayed is taken from a short-range sensor, while a second shape may be used to indicate that the sensor information displayed is taken from a long-range sensor.
As is indicated above, it shall be noted that many embodiments of this invention is possible, and hence limitations of this invention shall only be made based on the wording of the appended claims.
Especially, it shall be noted that the driver information system according to this invention may be used not only to display warnings, as is described in detail above, but may also be used for other informative purposes. For instance, the driver information system may be used to inform a driver of the status of various systems. As an example, when starting the vehicle, or when sending a status indication request to the system, the display unit may be used to indicate status of what sensor systems of the vehicle that are activated and deactivated respectively. This may be done one system at a time, where for instance the defined subset of indicators for each defined property/sensor is activated with green (activated) or red (deactivated). Alternatively, all system status indications may be shown simultaneously, so that for instance a complete green circle indicates that all external looking sensors are activated.
Also, the inventive driver information system may be used to provide real time feedback to the driver regarding the status of actuators acting to compensate for external conditions detected by said sensors, hence guiding the driver to make informed driving decisions. As an example, in a vehicle equipped with a lane keeping aid system, the system may be used to indicate how much the lane keeping aid system need to compensate the driving pattern of the vehicle in order to keep the vehicle in the lane, and hence provide an early warning to the driver regarding when the system can no longer compensate the driving behavior and hence is about to fail. This may for instance be indicated by an indication similar to the one disclosed in fig 3d, where the color may be used to indicate an activity level of the lane keeping aid system, where for instance green indicates a low degree of intervention of the lane keeping aid system (regarding a left side lane marking), and red indicates a high degree of intervention, where the system is close to fail with its compensation.
It shall also be noted that the number of indicators in the set of indicators may vary based on the amount of sensors and the amount of information that is to be displayed by the system. For instance, in a simple form of this invention, the set of indicators may include four indicators, one for indicating events in front of the host vehicle, one for indicating events behind the host vehicle, and one indicator for each side. For a more preferred simple embodiment of this invention, the set of indicators may include eight indicators, the ones mentioned above, and one for each corner of the vehicle, hence representing eight major directions in relation to the host vehicle.
It shall also be noted that not only the information detected as such by said sensors may be used when determining how to control said display device, but different combinations of sensor information, processed information based on sensor information or the like may be used. Such combinations and processing may be done in said input data receiver or in auxiliary systems of the vehicle (not disclosed). For instance, when it comes to curve warning, the system may be controlled to issue a warning if a curve is coming up, and sensor information detects icy road conditions only if the vehicle has a speed that exceed a threshold speed, but not if the speed is lower than said threshold speed. As another example, if the sensors detect that there is dense traffic around the host vehicle, but both a queue assist system and lane keeping system is activated in said vehicle, than any warnings related to detected vehicles around the host vehicle may be suppressed for the time being. Various ways to provide useful information from external and internal sensor information available within a vehicle are well known in the prior art and will not be disclosed in detail herein.
Also, time distributed activation of the indicators may be used to provide the driver with information regarding the traffic environment. For instance, time distributed activation of the subset disclosed in fig 3d, starting with the lowest indicator, thereafter the second lowest and so on and ending with the highest indicator, may be used to indicate an upcoming right-hand turn.

Claims

A driver information system for a vehicle, for providing input to a driver regarding the traffic environment external of said vehicle, said driver information system (10) comprising;
an input data signal receiver(20), which is arranged to receive a first input data signal from at least a first sensor device (31, 32), said first sensor device being arranged to detect at least one property associated with a condition external of said vehicle;

a processing unit (40) for processing said first input data signal;

a display unit (50) arranged to graphically display information relating to said first input data signal or said first sensor device (31, 32);
characterized in
that said display unit (50) is arranged to display a set of indicators (61), said set of indicators being arranged to essentially symbolize a circumscription of said vehicle,

and in that said processing unit (40) is arranged to activate a selected subset (63) of said set of indicators (61) when said first input data signal comprises information indicating that a defined property has been detected by said first sensor device (31, 32), or a status or information request regarding that sensor device has been received, said processing unit (40) being arranged to select said subset (63) based on the actual physical position of the detected property in relation to said vehicle.
A driver information system according to claim 1, wherein said set of indicators (61) is arranged to essentially symbolize a circumscription of said vehicle as seen from above.
A driver information system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said set of indicators (61) is arranged to form an essentially closed loop (64).
A driver information system according to claim 3, wherein said set of indicators (61) is arranged to form a circle or an oval.
A driver information system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said display unit is arranged to display a plurality of concentrically arranged closed loops (64, 65), whereby the selected subset may be selected from any of, or a combination of said loops, based on the character of said defined property.
A driver information system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said set of indicators (61) is arranged to be activated in at least two different colours, said processing unit being arranged to select an appropriate colour based on the character of said defined property.
A driver information system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display unit is further arranged to display a graphical item symbolizing said vehicle, being essentially circumscribed by said set of indicators (61).
A driver information system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said display unit is arranged to display said set of indicators on an area visible to the driver of said vehicle, such as on a wind screen (71), a steering wheel hub (72), or a center stack (73).
A vehicle provided with a driver information system as defined in any one of claims 1-8.