FR3068321A1 - METHOD FOR WARNING OF THE PASSAGE OF A VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of warning a passenger of a vehicle (10), including a passenger of the vehicle (10) using a display device in the vehicle, to operate the sensors (15, 23) of the vehicle, the foreseeable mode of driving of the vehicle, evaluating the driving behavior of the vehicle with regard to the amplitude of the acceleration to which the passenger is subjected and issuing a warning to the passenger if the foreseeable acceleration exceeds a predefined threshold.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a method for warning the passenger of a vehicle as well as a display installation comprising means for displaying the steps of the method and a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the method and medium. readable by a computer and containing the recording of the program.

State of the art

Document US 2015/0097860 A1 describes a process for the dynamic representation of virtual reality in a vehicle. The vehicle data and the user data are used by a virtual reality glasses to represent information in the digital glasses. The content of the information to be represented is adapted to the instantaneous mode of the vehicle in that the information to be transmitted is modified.

Purpose of the invention

The present invention aims to develop a method of warning the passenger of a vehicle and means for implementing this method.

Presentation and advantages of the invention

To this end, the subject of the invention is a method for warning the passenger of a vehicle, in particular a passenger of the vehicle using a display installation in the vehicle, this method consisting in using the vehicle sensors, the foreseeable driving mode of the vehicle, to evaluate the driving mode of the vehicle with regard to the amplitude of the acceleration to which the passenger is subjected and to issue a warning to the passenger if the foreseeable acceleration exceeds a predefined threshold.

Thus, according to the invention, the method of warning the passenger of a vehicle has the advantage, with respect to the state of the art, of warning the passenger as soon as possible of the acceleration not provided for. which it will be submitted. Indeed, a passenger, in particular in the case of a vehicle traveling in autonomous or partially autonomous mode, has the possibility of not being concerned with traffic events. Instead of watching traffic events, he can, for example, read a book, a newspaper or in particular observe a display installation which gives him information or images such as a film. A passenger in the present context is a person who does not himself actively steer the vehicle and who, unlike a person generally designated as the driver, does not regulate the acceleration or the braking phases in reaction to the vehicle environment, but passively perceives driving maneuvers. In particular, such a display installation does not in principle relate to events relating to the vehicle and instead presents other information unrelated to the vehicle and in particular media content such as texts or films.

In addition to portable display devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets or game consoles, there are known digital glasses for displaying virtual reality. An observer equipped with such glasses is completely cut off from his environment so that the environment is no longer visible to him and that, instead, he sees only the display of the digital telescope. This is done by blocking the optical path of light from the environment to the user's eye. Other digital glasses allow to represent an augmented reality and thus enrich the real world with virtual contents by combining them in part or by replacing them.

If, during a journey of the vehicle in which the passenger is located, in particular if braking is necessary or if it is a curve journey, the passenger will not be able to anticipate this driving mode because he is watching , for example, the display installation and cannot perceive the environment of the vehicle and the events taking place there. The passenger is, in these conditions surprised by an acceleration resulting from the driving mode, to which he is exposed.

According to the present invention, the passenger thus receives, in a simple manner, a warning in the event that the foreseeable acceleration exceeds a predefined threshold. In these conditions, it is avoided that the passenger is surprised by an unpredictable acceleration and that he could not have foreseen himself without the passenger being obliged to intervene actively in the foreseeable driving mode of the vehicle. Indeed, it will have a warning in sufficient time if such disruptive acceleration is planned.

Since the instantaneous driving mode is not represented but a warning concerning the foreseeable driving mode of the vehicle, the passenger will have time to adjust to the expected acceleration but which he does not yet know at this time. This makes it possible, for example, to restrain a passenger appropriately so that he is not driven very brutally by an unpredictable acceleration moving him from his seat. In particular, a strong acceleration resulting from the collision of the vehicle with an obstacle allows the passenger to protect themselves sufficiently in time thanks to the warning, to move or to put their muscles under tension to reduce any uncontrolled movement linked to a sudden acceleration or a risk of passenger injury.

In particular, indications concerning the foreseeable deceleration of the vehicle, in particular upstream of a traffic sign or a red light or even a lateral acceleration for the passage of a predictable turn, are information which may be transmitted to the vehicle in sufficient time.

By setting a threshold we can warn a passenger that they should actually expect unpleasant acceleration. As we only send a message, this also makes it possible to send a simple message back to a passenger without having to modify and consume the image content of information to be displayed in the display installation.

Other advantages will appear in the description given later. In particular, advantageously, the method represents the emission of a virtual reality by a virtual data telescope because, in general, for an observer, such a telescope requires no optical access to the environment but simply to put the glasses. This ensures, in a comfortable and simple way, that the user will be informed of the driving mode of the vehicle if disruptive acceleration is expected. Digital augmented reality glasses are also suitable for such emission.

According to another advantageous characteristic, different thresholds for acceleration are provided, to issue a warning in different directions. In particular, this makes it possible to take account of the fact that, due to the shape of the seat, lateral accelerations may possibly be perceived more unfavorably by the passenger than accelerations or decelerations in the direction of movement of the vehicle.

According to another advantageous characteristic, depending on the amplitude of the expected acceleration for the passenger, different warnings are issued. This allows, for example, to reserve a comfort warning in case of deceleration of the vehicle under the effect of a strong deceleration produced by a collision, and which can be distinguished by the passenger who can behave appropriately and prepare .

According to another advantageous characteristic, depending on the duration of the period during which the acceleration of the passenger is subject, predictably exceeds one or more times a predefined level, a warning will be issued. This allows, for example, in the event of a curve curve longer than expected, to inform the passenger. From this information, the passenger can decide whether to take into account the observation, an observation of a display installation or another installation that diverts it from traffic events on the route to be continued. in an environment with a lot of turns or if he has to avoid possible discomfort on a multi-turn route, and in this case, direct his gaze to traffic events because by observing the horizon in the environment of the vehicle we Reduces the risk that a bend in the road will cause discomfort to the passenger. This is to appropriately avoid discomfort to the passenger.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the warning is sent to the passenger haptically, optically and / or acoustically. A haptic perception has the advantage that an optical and acoustic emission of information which is, for example emitted by the reproduction of an environment such as, for example, a film, does not risk being sent to the passenger and not to be taken into account. In this case, the optical and acoustic emission can be continued, without modifying it, while, for example, the haptic emission will be perceived, for example, by a vibrating bracelet, which warns the user. Advantageously, it is possible in particular to transmit optical and / or acoustic information in the case of a greater acceleration than that expected for the observer. It is also advantageous to ensure a haptic emission if the passenger uses a non-electronic medium or an electronic wired network with the vehicle because then the medium itself does not produce any emission.

According to another advantageous characteristic, in particular for significant, predictable acceleration, a camera image of the scene upstream of the vehicle is taken to present it to the passenger by a display installation. In particular, before a collision, the passenger will thus have a feedback message, direct from the foreseeable collision so that he can adapt appropriately to the collision.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the predefined threshold is chosen according to the information to be presented by the display installation. This allows, for example, to choose a high threshold for a high density of information, for example, for the presentation of an action game by comparison with a lower information density to represent views of nature.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the threshold is personalized and the messages are adapted to the user. Thus, it is advantageous to guarantee that the adaptation of the threshold takes place only in a controlled framework to guarantee, for example, in all cases only the transmission of particularly important warning messages.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the driving mode of the vehicle is influenced by reaction as a function of the information to be presented by the display installation. For example, in the case of a representation of calm information, for example of a musical film, of a very calm musical piece, one will select a smoother driving of the vehicle with an acceleration and / or braking of limited amplitude.

Corresponding advantages also arise from the display installation comprising suitable means for carrying out the method as well as from a computer program or a memory medium readable by a computer and containing the program.

drawings

The present invention will be described below, in more detail, with the aid of exemplary embodiments represented in the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram of a vehicle equipped with a display installation for a passenger for the implementation of the method of the invention, Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a display installation, given by way of example, FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention.

Description of embodiments of the invention

The method according to the invention of warning a passenger using a vehicle display installation can be applied to any vehicle, for example, a motor vehicle. Such a motor vehicle is in particular driven by a driver. However, the vehicle can also travel in autonomous mode. In particular, in this case, each passenger of the vehicle will be notified by the process. It is, for example, also possible for a passenger to occupy a seat oriented in the direction opposite to the direction of travel. Correspondingly, the invention can also be used in other vehicles such as buses, trains, boats or planes. In the present case, the method will be described in its application to a motor vehicle.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a vehicle 10 which is traveling on a road network. The vehicle comprises a display installation 11, for example, in the form of a digital telescope for presenting a virtual reality to a passenger of the vehicle 10. However, it is also possible, alternatively or in addition, to other installations of vehicle display or display media. The display installation 11 is connected by a data link 12 presented in the form of a non-wired link, and by an interface 13 to a computing unit 14. The computing unit 14 determines the operating mode of the vehicle 10.

Different operations are possible to determine the driving mode; these operations can be used in an alternative or complementary manner. In the example of embodiment presented, it is possible to have different operations and the calculation unit 14 uses an operation or the average value of several operations to determine the predictable driving mode.

The calculation unit 14 of the embodiment shown is connected to a camera 15 for a first use; this camera captures the scene of the course of events on a roadway 16 upstream of the vehicle 10. The camera 15 makes it possible in particular to capture the obstacles in front of the vehicle 10 or of a traffic signal element 17, for example, in the form of '' a traffic signal such as a stop sign or a red light. When the camera 15 captures an obstacle 18 on the roadway 16 upstream of the vehicle 10 or a traffic signal element 17 which requires the vehicle to stop, such as, for example, a red light, the calculation unit 14 may deduce that there will be a deceleration of the vehicle 10. Where appropriate, the camera 15 is further designed to determine the distance from the obstacle 18 or the traffic signal element 17. In particular, in accessing a speed sensor 19 of the vehicle, the calculation unit 14 can determine the deceleration necessary for the vehicle to reach the obstacle 18 or to a traffic signal element 17 requiring a stop. If the deceleration thus determined exceeds a threshold recorded in a memory 20 connected to the calculation unit 14, threshold for the foreseeable acceleration, that is to say the deceleration, then the calculation unit 14 issues a warning to the passenger using the display facility 11.

According to one embodiment, by the data transmission link 12, it is possible to ask the display unit 11 to superimpose a warning in the image of the display installation.

11. According to a second embodiment, for example, using the data transmission link 12, the display installation 11 can be controlled to emit an acoustic warning. The calculation unit 14 can also issue a warning for the vehicle 10 ahead by another acoustic emission unit not shown in detail in FIG. 1. According to another embodiment, the calculation unit 14 can control the display installation 11 or a transmission unit 22, haptic, connected by a data transmission link 21 to issue a haptic warning for the passenger of the vehicle. The haptic warning unit 22 is, for example, a vibrating bracelet. It is also possible to vibrate the passenger seat.

According to another development, a collision / distance sensor 23 is also used to determine whether acceleration is predictable. If the distance sensor 23 notices a sharp reduction in the distance against an obstacle and the vehicle 10, this corresponds to a collision and serves to issue a warning. By the design of the distance / collision sensor 23 which is, for example, in the form of an acceleration and / or ultrasonic sensor, it will also be possible to note an increase in the active acceleration to issue a warning.

According to another operational development, the calculation unit 14 is connected to a navigation installation 24 which cooperates with a location unit 25, for example, a satellite location unit to determine the position of the vehicle on a digital map 26 memorized and preferably also calculate the path of the vehicle. From the vehicle position and the predefined, current or other predictable route depending on the orientation of the vehicle, a future route can be determined. This path presents, for example, at a predefined distance, such as a kilometer, a curve whose radius of curvature exceeds a certain threshold so that when passing this curve, the passage risks undergoing lateral acceleration greater than a predefined threshold stored in memory 20. In this case, a warning is also issued.

When passing the turn, the speed of the vehicle is taken into account. It is thus possible to use, on the one hand, the maximum possible speed recorded in the digital map for this turn or the maximum authorized speed, and on the other hand, also the current speed of the vehicle supplied by the speed sensor 19.

By operating the navigation facility, it will be possible in particular to define a longer journey, with many bends upstream of the vehicle, by issuing, for the passenger, a message signaling a longer journey, with many bends, by example, longer than 1 km.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an optical warning in a display surface 30 for which, in addition to the content of images 31, is displayed a warning symbol 32 indicating the journey with many turns. In the exemplary embodiment presented, it is also possible to issue a warning 33 indicating that the next turn is to the right and a corresponding lateral acceleration, predictable for the passenger.

According to another embodiment, it is also possible to use the acceleration pedal 27 of the vehicle, for example, the brake and / or accelerator pedal of the vehicle. It must be taken into account that the contact or depressing of the corresponding pedal does not, in general, produce an instantaneous reaction, but a reaction which leads to actuation of the accelerator pedal with a certain restraint, only on the acceleration applied to the passenger of the vehicle. Exploitation of a speed level and / or of a force which acts on the accelerator pedal 27 makes it possible to know the acceleration, by the level of the speed and / or of the force. This acceleration is used by the calculation unit 14 to be compared with thresholds recorded in the memory 20 and used to issue a corresponding warning.

An embodiment allows that in the event of a threshold set for acceleration being exceeded, direct information from the passenger in the form of the image taken by the camera 15 will be transmitted to the computing unit 11 to represent the image of the road taken by the camera 15 upstream of the vehicle 10. Thus, a passenger of the vehicle will be informed of the driving situation of the vehicle and thus, appropriately, on the corresponding acceleration state or a collision. Such a threshold can be predefined in the workshop or be completely defined by the passenger himself.

According to another development, the display installation 11 also transmits information concerning the content of the information represented to the calculation unit 14. The latter can, for example, modify the thresholds deposited in the memory 20 as a function of this information so that, for example, depending on the information a warning will be issued as soon as the expected acceleration decreases. According to another embodiment, it is also possible to enter only the activation of the display installation 11 and as a function of this, to influence the planned journey or the foreseeable mode of the vehicle. If, for example, the display installation 11 is activated, the navigation device 24 selects a longer road route, but if necessary straighter towards the destination so that the user can perceive practically without disturbance, with only a weak acceleration effect, possible, the representation in the display installation 11.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram according to which an installation step 41 is implemented by the display installation 11 of the vehicle. In a subsequent step 42, the acceleration acting on the passenger in the driving mode of the vehicle, for example, is determined in the next fifteen seconds. In the control step 43 made next, it is checked whether this acceleration is greater than zero. If this is not foreseeable, the determination step 42 is rejected. If this is possible, in the next second decision step 44, the opacity of the acceleration 44 is checked. If this value is below a first predefined threshold, it is noted by the finding step 45 that there is no 'is not necessary to make a first treatment and that one can return to the process step 42. If it is found that the active acceleration is greater than the first threshold, then in a first emission step 46 it is emitted the warning to the passenger; for example, a haptic message. If it is found that a second threshold, threshold greater than the first threshold is exceeded by acceleration, we drift towards a second output step 47 by transmitting, for example in addition, an optical or acoustic message. According to one embodiment, the image of a vehicle environment surveillance camera is also used in the display station. Then, the determination step 42 is rejected.

NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

10 Vehicle 11 Display installation 12 Data transmission link 13 Interface 14 Calculation unit 15 Camera 16 Road / pavement 17 Traffic signal element 18 Obstacle 19 Speed sensor 20 Memory 21 Data transmission link 22 Display unit 23 Distance / collision sensor 24 Navigation installation 25 Location unit 27 Accelerator pedal 31 Image content 32 Warning symbol 33 Warning 41-47 Process steps

Claims (10)

1) Method for warning a passenger of a vehicle (10), in particular a passenger of the vehicle (10) using a display installation in the vehicle, method consisting in using the sensors (15, 23) of the vehicle, the foreseeable driving mode of the vehicle, assess the driving mode of the vehicle with regard to the amplitude of the acceleration to which the passenger is subject and issue a warning to the passenger if the foreseeable acceleration exceeds a predefined threshold. 2 °) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a virtual environment is represented to the passenger with a display installation (11), this display installation (11) being in the form of a digital telescope. 3 °) Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the predefinition of different thresholds for the issue of a warning in different directions of a predictable acceleration to which the passenger is subjected. 4 °) Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the issue of different warnings depending on the amplitude of the foreseeable acceleration acting on the passenger. 5 °) Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by issuing a warning of differences depending on the duration of the time interval in which an acceleration acting on the passenger predictably exceeds one or more times a measurement predefined. 6 °) Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the warning is transmitted to the passenger haptically, optically and / or acoustically. 7 °) Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as a function of the amplitude of a foreseeable acceleration applied to the passenger, an image of the scene upstream of the vehicle is captured and the image of the camera in a display installation for the passenger. 8 °) Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predefined threshold is adapted as a function of the information represented by the display installation (11). 9 °) Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driving mode of the vehicle is influenced as a function of the information represented by the display installation (11). 10 °) display installation comprising means for executing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 as well as a computer program comprising instructions for controlling the device and applying the steps of the method as well as readable medium by a computer and containing the recording of a program representing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.