EP2509054A2 - Warning for a driver of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves detecting (405) a position of a person, and comparing (415) the position with the location data of the traffic route. The approaching or actual entry of the traffic route is captured (420) by the person corresponding to the comparison. The radio signal from the person is transmitted (430) to the motor vehicle. The warning signal is outputted (455) to the driver corresponding to the radio signal. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a warning transmitter for warning a driver of a motor vehicle on a traffic route, and (2) a warning receiver for warning a driver of a motor vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to a method for warning a driver of a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a warning transmitter and a warning receiver for warning the driver.

State of the art

In mixed traffic, in which both motor vehicles and people are traveling, there is a risk of accident of a person with a motor vehicle, with a risk of injury to the person is particularly high. A probability of an accident between a person and a motor vehicle is highest when the person goes on a road, for example, to cross it.

To protect a person from such an accident dynamic facilities are known, such as a pedestrian light, to which a predetermined traffic control can be requested by pressing a button. In addition, it is proposed in the project "amulet", for example, to equip a person in road traffic with a so-called RFID tag and to carry out a search for the RFID tag on the part of a motor vehicle in road traffic and to issue a corresponding warning to the driver of the motor vehicle. However, this approach allows only a relatively undifferentiated warning and the range of the RFID readers used is low.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide improved devices and an improved method for warning a driver of a motor vehicle of a person in a shared traffic route.

DE 600 25 130 T2 shows a system for preventing collisions between vehicles and pedestrians.

DE 10 2008 049 824 A1 shows a method for collision avoidance, in which a position of a pedestrian is detected and transmitted for further evaluation wirelessly to a vehicle. A collision avoiding action is triggered in the vehicle if trajectories of the pedestrian and the vehicle fall below a minimum distance.

DE 103 34 203 A1 shows a traffic management system and a method for its operation. In order to prevent traffic accidents, it is proposed that two road users are automatically informed of each other's current movements.

The invention solves this problem by means of a warning transmitter, a warning receiver and a method having the features of the independent claims. Subclaims give preferred embodiments again.

Disclosure of the invention

A method according to the invention for alerting a driver of a motor vehicle on a traffic route comprises steps of detecting a position of a person, comparing the position with location data of the traffic route, detecting an impending or actually entering the traffic route by the person on the basis of the comparison, the transmission a radio signal from the person to the motor vehicle, the conversion of the received radio signal directly into a warning signal as well as the outputting of the warning signal to the driver.

With the aid of the described method, a specific warning signal can be emitted by the person, which does not have to be further processed in the motor vehicle. The determination of the imminent or actual entering on the part of the person has the advantage of a fast and reliable Determination. The transmission of the warning signal may take less time than, for example, a transmission of the position of the pedestrian and a speculative and thus error-prone determination of the imminent or actual entry of the road through the person by the motor vehicle can be saved.

The transmission of the radio signal can be suppressed if the person is in the area of a signal system for traffic control and a state of the signal system allows the person to enter the traffic route. As a result, for example, a traffic light or a covered railroad crossing can be taken into account, so that a false output of the warning signal can be reduced.

The transmission of the radio signal can also take place only if a position of the person is in the range of a known as endangered section of the traffic route or if due to the position and a change in the position of the person entering a vulnerable section is imminent. The determination of whether the person is in the vicinity of the vulnerable section or is about to enter the vulnerable section can be carried out by the individual, so that an individual adaptation to the habits and abilities of the person can be supported. For example, if the person is a child, a playground or a pedestrian crossing may be an endangered section, while the playground may not be an endangered section for an elderly person.

A warning transmitter according to the invention for warning a driver of a motor vehicle on a traffic route comprises a navigation device for determining a position of the person, a memory with location data of the traffic route and a processing device which is set up to compare the position with the location data and an imminent or actual entry the traffic route by the person on the basis of the comparison, as well as a transmission device for transmitting a radio signal to the motor vehicle.

Advantageously, a known mobile phone with additional functionality ("smartphone") can set up with manageable effort to be used as a warning sender. Development and manufacturing costs can be minimized. In particular, a computer program product for setting up the mobile phone can be provided as a warning sender, so that equipment of many persons with corresponding warning transmitters can be carried out quickly and easily. A general traffic safety can be increased thereby.

In a preferred embodiment, the transmission device is adapted to transmit the radio signal by means of electromagnetic radiation in a range around 5.9 GHz. This radio area is intended for future vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication (Car-to-X). This communication is based on WLAN technology, which is also used in mobile phones. As a result, an already existing transmission device can be used profitably, which in the future could be installed in a large number of vehicles and the road infrastructure (for example traffic lights).

In a preferred embodiment, the transmission device is part of a mobile telephone. In particular, the mobile phone may be equipped to execute a computer program, such as on the Java platform, and the method may be implemented as a computer program product.

An inventive warning receiver for warning a driver of a motor vehicle comprises a receiving device for the radio signal of the described warning transmitter, a processing device for converting the received radio signal directly into a warning signal and an output device for output a warning signal based on the radio signal to the driver of the motor vehicle.

Receiving devices, in particular for electromagnetic radiation in the range around 5.9 GHz, are already being used by various known safety systems on board motor vehicles. It is expected that the proliferation of such transmitters or receivers in vehicles and road infrastructure, for example in the area of traffic lights, will increase rapidly in the foreseeable future. An existing receiving device can thus be advantageously used.

Brief description of the figures

Figur 1

eine Person und ein Kraftfahrzeug an einem Verkehrsweg;

Figur 2

ein Blockschaltbild eines Warnsenders;

Figur 3

ein Blockschaltbild eines Warnempfängers; und

Figur 4

ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens darstellt.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached figures, in which:

FIG. 1

a person and a motor vehicle on a traffic route;

FIG. 2

a block diagram of a warning transmitter;

FIG. 3

a block diagram of a warning receiver; and

FIG. 4

a flowchart of a method represents.

Detailed description of embodiments

FIG. 1 shows a person 105 and a motor vehicle 110 on a traffic route 115. The person 105 is equipped with a warning transmitter 120 and the motor vehicle 110 with a warning receiver 125. The warning transmitter 120 is configured to determine an impending or actual entry of the traffic route 115 by the person 105 and in this case to transmit a radio signal to the warning receiver 125. The warning receiver 125 immediately issues a warning to a driver of the motor vehicle 110 based on the radio signal to alert him or her of the danger of a possible collision with the person and thus to minimize the danger.

The transmission of the warning signal depends on several boundary conditions. The person 105 is located in Fig. 1 in a position 130. A first path 135 leads from the position 130 directly across the traffic route 115. A second route 140 leads initially along the traffic route 115 and then via a pedestrian route 145 to the opposite side of the traffic route 115. A third route 150 leads to a signal system (traffic light) 155 and there across the traffic route 115. A fourth path 160 finally leads parallel to the traffic route 115 along this.

Depending on which of the paths 135, 140, 150 or 160 the person 105 steps, there may or may not be a risk of a collision with the motor vehicle 110. If the person 105 stops or walks along the fourth path 160 along the traffic route 115, the risk is very small. On the second path 140 via the pedestrian crossing 145 the risk is already greater, but also still rather low. The risk on the first path 135 is generally high. The risk on the third path 150 depends on a state of the signal system 155 at the time of crossing the traffic route 115. If the signal system 155 signals a ban on the person 105 to cross the traffic route 115, the risk of an accident with the motor vehicle 110 is highest.

In order to determine if, and under which circumstances, the person 105 enters the traffic route 115, the alert transmitter 120 may also determine an orientation and speed of the person 105 in addition to the position 130 of the person 105. In one embodiment, location information of the traffic route 115 is present in the warning sender 120. In particular, these location data may include a route of the traffic route 115, traffic facilities such as the pedestrian crossing 145 or the signal system 155, and others

Geographical information in the area of the traffic route 115 include. On the basis of the own movement information and the location data of the traffic route 115, the warning sender 120 can determine an expected or actual entry of the traffic route 115 by the person 105 and in this case send out the radio signal to the warning receiver 125. Preferably, the radio signal comprises no coded information such as a position 130 or direction of movement of the person 105th

In the warning receiver 125, the received radio signal can be converted directly into a warning signal to the driver of the motor vehicle 110. In further embodiments, the issuing of the warning signal can be made dependent on further circumstances that are present on board the motor vehicle 110. For example, the warning signal can be suppressed if data on board the motor vehicle 110 indicates that the driver is driving attentively or carefully. A determination of whether this is the case may compare a speed of the motor vehicle 110 to a predetermined threshold. The threshold may reflect a speed limit in the area of the motor vehicle 110 or the person 105.

The warning signal can be output, in particular, when circumstances relating to the motor vehicle 110 indicate an increased risk of an accident. This can be detected, for example, on the basis of increased traffic, poor visibility through fog, rain, snow or sunlight, or otherwise determined driver fatigue.

In a further embodiment, it can be determined on board the motor vehicle from which direction the warning signal is received if it is transmitted directly from the person 105 to the motor vehicle 110. Subsequently, the output of the warning signal can be suppressed when the motor vehicle is not moving in the direction of arrival.

If it is determined, for example, that the motor vehicle 110 follows a first route 165 along the traffic route 115, there is a fundamental risk of accident with the person 105 on their first path 135, the second route 140 and the third route 150. However, the motor vehicle 110 follows a second route Route 170, so an accident of the motor vehicle 110 with the pedestrian can be almost excluded. In this case, the output of the warning signal to the driver of the motor vehicle 110 can be omitted.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the warning transmitter 120 FIG. 1 in one embodiment.

The alert transmitter 120 includes a processor 205 coupled to an optional optical receiver 210, a satellite navigation receiver 215, an accelerometer 220, an FM antenna 225, a SHF antenna 230, a user interface 235, and a memory 240. The optical receiver 210 may include, for example, a camera with, for example, a state of the signal system 155 from FIG. 1 is detectable. In another embodiment, the optical receiver 210 may include an infrared receiver to receive infrared signals from the signal system 155 which emits them by means of a corresponding device, for example to control public bus traffic.

The satellite navigation receiver 215 is configured to receive navigation signals from navigation satellites, such as the GPS, GALILEO, or GLONASS systems. The navigation signals are processed and the satellite navigation receiver 215 provides processing means 205 with a determined position and / or speed based thereon. As an alternative to the satellite navigation receiver 215, another device for determining the position of the warning transmitter 120 may also be provided, for example based on an inertial platform.

The accelerometer 220 is configured to provide additional measurements for determining alignment, velocity, and / or acceleration of the warning transmitter 120. In alternative embodiments, for example, a gyroscope, a gyro and / or a magnetometer may be used to determine an alignment with respect to the primary magnetic field.

By means of the FM antenna 225 information can be received which can improve the position determined by the satellite navigation receiver 215, for example correction data for received navigation signals. Correction data can also be received, for example, by means of a suitable antenna from a satellite. Furthermore, a traffic situation in the area of the traffic route 115 can be received via the VHF antenna 225 in order to make the probability of an accident also dependent, for example, on a traffic volume or a traffic obstruction in the area of the traffic route 115.

In a further embodiment, information relating to the traffic situation and / or correction data can also be received in another way, for example in the SHF band at approximately 5.9 GHz as proposed in IEEE 802.11p. The information can be between any road users, for example, the road users 105, 110 in FIG. 1 be transmitted by an infrastructure installed in the area of the traffic route 115, for example the signal system 155, or by a remote transmitter. The information about the traffic situation may include, for example, a state of the signal system 155, a traffic throughput of the traffic route 115 and further information. In a further embodiment, this information can be partially or completely received in another way, for example in the ISM radio band, via infrared or via UMTS.

The SHF antenna 230 is preferably designed for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic radiation in the cm range, that is to say at frequencies between approximately 3 to 30 GHz. The transmitted signals are the radio signals which the warning receiver 125 in FIG. 1 can receive or send. In another embodiment, the information described above with respect to the FM antenna 225 is received by the SHF antenna. The FM antenna 225 may be omitted in this case.

The user interface 235 may be, for example, optical and / or haptic in nature and allows the person 105 to configure and control the alert transmitter 120. For example, via the user interface 235, it can be preset by the person 105 what fundamental danger the person 105 attaches to a specific traffic facility or a class of traffic facilities such as the pedestrian crossing 145. In a further embodiment, personal data may be entered via the person 105 via the user interface 235 so that the said traffic facilities may be weighted in their risk. For example, different profiles may be provided for different people 105, with one of the profiles emanating, for example, from a highly mobile but not always attentive child, while another profile emanates from a less mobile and visually or acoustically impaired elderly person.

The described profiles and, in particular, location data of the traffic route 115 can be stored in the memory 240. The memory 240 may also be part of the satellite navigation receiver 215.

The described elements 210-240 may be included in a programmable mobile phone ("smartphone") 245. The processing device 205 can be programmed by means of a computer program, in conjunction with the Elements 210 to 240 to provide the functionality of the warning transmitter 120.

The processing device 205 first determines an imminent entry of the traffic route 115 by the person 105. The smartphone 245 can be used by the person 105 at the same time as a navigation system, so that a probable route 135, 140, 150, 160 of the person 105 is known can. This information can be supplemented or replaced by measurements and signals of elements 210 to 220 and 235 to 240.

If the processing device 205 determines the entry of the traffic route 115, an optional risk assessment can be carried out so that a radio signal is sent to the warning receiver by means of the SHF antenna 230 only if the described risk factors lead to a risk determination which is above a predetermined threshold value 125 is sent on board the motor vehicle 110.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the warning receiver 125 on board the motor vehicle 110 from FIG. 1 , The warning receiver 125 includes a satellite navigation receiver 305, an FM antenna 310, an SHF antenna 315, a memory 320, an output device 325, and a processing device 330.

The satellite navigation receiver 305 corresponds to the satellite navigation receiver 215 FIG. 2 , the antennas 310 and 315 the antennas 225 and 230 and the memory 320 to the memory 240. The processing means 330 may be formed as the processing means 205 by a programmable microcomputer. The output device 330 may be optical, acoustic and / or haptic nature. A user interface of the warning receiver 125 for a driver of the motor vehicle 110 is not shown.

By means of the SHF antenna 315, the radio signal of the warning transmitter 120 can be received. Then, by means of the output device 325, a warning signal can be output to the driver of the motor vehicle 110 in order to warn him of a possibly imminent accident with the person 105 on the traffic route 115.

In a further embodiment, the processing device 330 causes the output of the warning signal by means of the output device 325 only if certain boundary conditions exist. This can be done as above with respect to FIG. 1 is described, whether there is a situation on the part of the motor vehicle 110, which increases an accident risk. In one embodiment, the risk may be determined numerically based on different parameters from the range of the motor vehicle 120 and compared to a predetermined threshold. If the specific risk of an accident exceeds the predetermined threshold value, a warning is issued to the driver of the motor vehicle 110 by means of the output device 325.

The predetermined risk may be dependent on a traffic situation and / or a driving state of the motor vehicle 110, for example a traffic load of the traffic route 115, visibility conditions in the area of the motor vehicle 110 and / or a speed of the motor vehicle 110.

FIG. 4 shows a method 400 for warning a driver of a motor vehicle on a traffic route. The method 400 is described below by way of example with reference to the warning transmitter 120, the person 105 and the warning receiver 125 of the motor vehicle 110, wherein steps executed by the warning transmitter 120 are shown on the left and steps performed by the warning receiver 125 on the right are shown.

In a first step 405, the position 130 of the person 105 or the warning transmitter 120 is determined. Subsequently, in A step 410 determines a movement, orientation and / or acceleration of the person 105. On the basis of the position 130 determined in step 405, the traffic route 115 in an environment of the position 130 is then detected in a step 415. The order of steps 405 to 415 can be varied.

In a following step 420, on the basis of the information determined in steps 405 to 415, an actual or upcoming entry of the traffic route 115 is determined by the person 105. From the determination of the traffic route in step 415, it is also known whether the signal system 155 is located in the area of the position 130. If this is the case, the state of the signal system 155 is determined in a step 425. Step 425 may also be performed at an earlier time.

In a following step 430, a radio signal is sent to the warning receiver 125. Optionally, this step may be omitted if a risk assessment based on the information determined in the previous steps indicates that the risk of an accident with the motor vehicle 110 is below a predetermined threshold.

If a motor vehicle 110 is within the reception range of the warning transmitter 120, the method continues with a step 435, in which the emitted radio signal is received by the warning receiver 125 of the motor vehicle 110. Subsequently, the prospective route 165, 170 of the motor vehicle 110 is determined in a step 440.

The following steps 445 and 450 can only be carried out if the radio signal comprises further information about the person 105, in particular the position 130. In step 445, it is checked whether there is a minimum distance between the route 165, 170 of the motor vehicle 110 and the position 130 the person 105 is smaller than a predetermined distance. In step 450, it is determined whether this minimum distance passes through the motor vehicle 110 is reached earlier than after a predetermined time has elapsed. If one or both tests of steps 445 and 450 are answered in the affirmative, the warning signal is output to the driver of the motor vehicle 110 in a step 455.

As above with particular reference to FIG. 3 In step 455, the issuance of the warning signal may be preceded by additional checks aboard the motor vehicle 110. However, in simple embodiments of the warning receiver 125, individual or all steps between receiving the radio signal in step 435 and outputting the warning signal in step 455 may be dispensed with.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

105

person

110

motor vehicle

115

Thoroughfare

120

warning stations

125

warning receiver

130

Position of the person

135

first way

140

second way

145

pedestrian crossing

150

third way

155

signals

160

fourth way

165

first route

170

second route

205

processing device

210

optical receiver

215

Satellite navigation receiver

220

Gyro / gyroscope / accelerometer

225

FM antenna

230

SHF antenna

235

User interface

240

Storage

245

Smartphone

305

Satellite navigation receiver

310

FM antenna

315

SHF antenna

320

Storage

325

output device

330

processing device

400

method

405

Determine position of the person

410

Determine movement / orientation of the person

415

Determine traffic route in environment

420

Determine actual / upcoming entry

425

Determine signal conditioning and condition

430

Send radio signal

435

Receive radio signal

440

Determine estimated route

445

minimum distance <predetermined distance?

450

minimum distance earlier than expected. Time?

455

Output warning signal

Claims (7)

A method (400) for alerting a driver of a motor vehicle (110) to a traffic route, comprising the steps of: - detecting (405) a position (130) of a person (105); - comparing (415) the position with location data of the traffic route; - detecting (420) an impending or actual entry of the traffic route (145) by the person (105) on the basis of the comparison; - transmitting (430) a radio signal from the person (105) to the motor vehicle (110); - converting the received radio signal directly into a warning signal and outputting (455) the warning signal to the driver. Method (400) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission (430) of the radio signal is suppressed if the person (105) is in the area of a traffic control signal system (155) and a state of the signal system (155) is the entry of the traffic route (145) allowed by the person (105). Method (400) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission (430) of the radio signal only takes place if a position (130) of the person (105) in the region of a section (145) of the traffic route (145 ) or if due to the position and a change in the position of the person (105) it is imminent to enter a vulnerable section (145). A warning transmitter (120) for alerting a driver of a motor vehicle (110) to a traffic route (145), comprising: - a navigation device (215) for determining a position (130) of the person (105); - a memory (240) with location data of the traffic route (145); - processing means (205) adapted to compare the position (130) with the location data and to determine an imminent or actual entry of the traffic route (145) by the person (105) on the basis of the comparison; and - A transmission device (230) for transmitting a radio signal to the motor vehicle (110). Warning transmitter (120) according to claim 4, characterized in that the transmission device (230) is adapted to transmit the radio signal by means of electromagnetic radiation in an area around 5.9 GHz. A warning transmitter (120) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the transmission means (230) is part of a mobile telephone (245). A warning receiver (125) for alerting a driver of a motor vehicle (110) comprising the following elements: - A receiving means (315) for the radio signal of the warning transmitter (120) of one of claims 4 to 6; a processing device (330) for converting the received radio signal directly into a warning signal, and - An output device (325) for outputting the warning signal to the driver of the motor vehicle (110).

Images