GB2626533A

GB2626533A - A system and a method for a vehicle and a corresponding vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2626533A
Application number: GB2300989.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Monninger Thomas; Vasa Santosh; Reddy Pagidi Kishore
Original assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2023-01-24
Filing date: 2023-01-24
Publication date: 2024-07-31
Also published as: GB202300989D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (12) for a vehicle (10) comprising a warning signal device (14) and a holder (16) for the warning signal device (14), which is mounted on the vehicle (10) in its position of use, and a sensor device (18) configured to detect removal of the warning signal device (14) from the holder (16) and to generate an associated signal, and a control device (20) configured to perform a function on the basis of this signal. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method and a corresponding vehicle (10).

Description

A system and a method for a vehicle and a corresponding vehicle

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system comprising a warning signal device and a holder for the warning signal device, which is mounted on a vehicle in its position of use. Furthermore the invention relates to a method for operating the system and a vehicle comprising the system.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] When a vehicle, in particular a car or van or truck, stops on a highway, for example due to a breakdown, it is required for a driver or other person to place a warning sign, for example a warning triangle, at a certain distance from the vehicle. Drivers tend to forget to collect the warning sign after the incident is over. This may trigger a false positive warning to other drivers at the scene after the incident.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a system, a method, and a vehicle, by which false positive warnings due to warning signs left behind at the scene are prevented.

[0004] This object is solved by a system, a method, and a vehicle according to the invention. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims, the description and the drawing.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention relates to a system. The system for a vehicle comprises a warning signal device and a holder for the warning signal device, which is mounted on the vehicle in its position of use, and a sensor device configured to detect the removal of the warning signal device from the holder and to generate an associated signal, and a control device configured to perform or at least initiate a function on the basis of the signal or in particular in response to said signal.

[0006] The vehicle may be in particular a car, a van, or a truck. The control device may be an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle. The warning signal device may be for example a warning triangle and by law is required to be placed at a certain distance from the vehicle due to a breakdown or a comparable incident. With the shown method due to the function it is possible to warn the driver of the car by the function, which may be a flashlight or a hint on a display of the vehicle, not to forget to collect the warning sign after the incident is over. The function, is performed or at least initiated on basis of the signal, which indicated the removal of the warning signal device from its holder.

[0007] In other words, a system is shown that can detect, whether the warning sign or the warning signal device is displaced from the holder, in particular its location in the vehicle, or not. For example a sensor can be placed near the warning sign or the warning signal device to detect if there is a movement in the warning sign's location. A switch within the mounting or the holder can be placed, in particular as part of the sensor, to trigger when there is a displacement of the warning sign. The system can also for example use various communication means to detect if the warning sign is displaced from the vehicle.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the invention, the warning signal device is configured as a warning triangle.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the invention the operation of a warning flasher and/or a signaling device of the vehicle is provided as the function, which may in particular be performed or at least initiated due to the signal via the control device.

[0010] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the sensor device is configured to be mounted on the holder and/or on the warning signal device and/or separate therefrom.

[0011] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the sensor device is configured to detect a position of the warning signal device relative to the holder and/or a wireless connection is may be formed between the warning signal device and the holder and/or the control device by the sensor device and/or a communication device.

[0012] A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a system comprising a warning signal device and a holder for the warning signal device. The method according to the invention is for operating a system comprising the warning signal device and the holder for the warning signal device, which is mounted in its position of use on a vehicle, wherein a sensor device detects removal of the warning signal device from the holder and generates a corresponding signal, and a control device performs and/or initiates a function on the basis of the signal.

[0013] Advantageous embodiments of the first aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the second aspect of the invention and vice versa.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the invention, monitoring of a state of the warning signal device and/or a state of the vehicle is performed, and the function is additionally performed in dependence on one of the states.

[0015] In another embodiment of the invention, a checkup is performed to determine whether the warning signal device has been removed from the holder when the function is performed. If this is the case, a warning method may be output.

[0016] In still another embodiment of the invention, when the function is deactivated, in particular for example due to a user input, it is checked whether the warning signal device is in the holder. If necessary, a further warning message may be output.

[0017] A third aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle. The vehicle according to the invention comprises a system according to the first aspect of the invention and/or is configured to perform a method according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0018] Advantageous embodiments of the first and/or second aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the third aspect of the invention and vice versa.

[0019] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figure and/or shown in the figure alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0020] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated in and constitutes a part of this disclosure, illustrates exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serves to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of the system and/or method in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figure.

[0021] The drawing shows in: [0022] Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a vehicle comprising a system with a warning signal device and a holder for the warning signal device.

[0023] In the figure the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0025] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0026] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by "comprises" or "comprise' does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0027] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a vehicle 10 comprising a system 12. The system and therefore the vehicle 10 comprises a warning signal device 14 and a holder 16 for the warning signal device 14, which is mounted on the vehicle 10 in its position of use, and a sensor device 18, by which removal of the warning signal device 14 from the holder 16 is detectable and an associated signal is generatable or may be generated, and a control device 20 by which a function may be carried out or performed or at least initiated on the basis of this signal.

[0029] With the shown system 12 and the vehicle 10 it is possible to perform a method for operating the system 12, wherein the sensor device 18 detects removal of the warning signal device 14 from the holder 16 and generates a corresponding signal, which contains information about the removal, and the control device 20 performs and/or at least initiates a function on the basis of this signal. The function is for example the operation of a warning flasher and/or a signaling device of the vehicle 10. Furthermore another function may for example comprise that an information is shown on a display 22 of the vehicle 10 so that the driver is reminded that the warning signal device 14 is detached from the vehicle 10. The warning signal device 14 is in particular configured as a warning triangle.

The sensor 18 may be a detection system that may consist of a physical switch or another sensor, such as a proximity sensor that can detect things in proximity. The holder 16 which is preferably mounted in the trunk of the vehicle 10 contains for example the switch as the sensor 18. So whenever the warning signal device 14 is removed from the mount or the holder 16, the function may be performed. The function may automatically turn emergency lights and/or emergency alerts on. Alternatively it can be checked if the user or the driver has placed the warning signal device 14 back on the vehicle 10 when its engine is started.

[0030] Accordingly, with the shown system 12, vehicle 10, and the provided method a solution is given for the problem that a driver after an incident may forget to put the warning sign back in the car when leaving the place of the incident, which may trigger a false positive warning to other drivers. The sensor 18 may be placed near the warning sign to detect if there is a movement in the location of the sign. This means that the system may use wireless communication to detect if the warning sign is displaced from the vehicle 10.

[0031] Accordingly, once displacement is detected, if the emergency alerts, such as lights, are not turned on, the system 12 can then turn on the lights for example warning flashers 24 and/or other signaling devices of the vehicle 10.

[0032] If the emergency alerts, such as emergency lights, for example the warning flashers 24 are turned on and the warning signal device 14 is not displaced, the system 12 can also remind the driver to place the warning signal device 14 on the road. Once the incident is over and the vehicle 10 starts moving, if the warning signal device is not placed back in its holder 16, the driver is reminded to collect the sign back for example as another function on the display 22.

[0033] One advantage of the shown system 12 and method is that minimal hardware additions to the vehicle 10 have to be made so that costs can be reduced. Another advantage is that the system 12 can therefore be easily retrofit into existing vehicles 10. Another advantage consists in reminding the driver to collect the warning signal device 14 back, which helps to reduce false positive warning alerts to other drivers at the scene after the incident, which caused the driver to put the warning signal device 14 on the road in the first place, is over. Another advantage is that safety is improved as emergency lights, for example the warning flashers 24, and/or alerts are automatically triggered eliminating false negative warning signs. Furthermore the driver of the vehicle 10 does not have to buy new warning signal devices for having left the old ones behind on the road.

[0034] Overall a solution is shown for detecting displacement of a warning triangle or other warning signal device14 from a vehicle 10.

S

Reference Signs vehicle 12 system 14 warning signal device 16 holder 18 sensor device control device 22 display 24 warning flasher

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system (12) for a vehicle (10) comprising a warning signal device (14) and a holder (16) for the warning signal device (14), which is mounted on the vehicle (10) in its position of use, and a sensor device (18) configured to detect removal of the warning signal device (14) from the holder (16) and to generate an associated signal, and a control device (20) configured to perform a function on the basis of this signal.
2. The system (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the warning signal device (14) is configured as a warning triangle.
3. The system (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the operation of a warning flasher (24) and/or a signaling device of the vehicle (10) is provided as the function.
4. The system (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sensor device (18) is configured on the holder (16) and/or on the warning signal device (14) and/or separate therefrom.
5. The system (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sensor device (18) is configured to detect a position of the warning signal device (14) relative to the holder (16) and/or a wireless connection may be formed between the warning signal device (14) and the holder (16) and/or the control device (20) by the sensor device (18) and/or a communication device.
6. A method for operating a system (12) comprising a warning signal device (14) and a holder (16) for the warning signal device (14), which is mounted in its position of use on a vehicle (10), wherein a sensor device (18) detects removal of the warning signal device (14) from the holder (16) and generates an associated signal, and a control device (20) performs and/or initiates a function on the basis of this signal.
7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that monitoring of a state of the warning signal device (14) and/or a state of the vehicle (10) is performed, and the function is additionally performed in dependence on one of the states.
8. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that when the function is performed, a checkup is performed to determine whether the warning signal device (14) has been removed from the holder.
9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that when the function is deactivated, it is checked whether the warning signal device is in the holder.
10. A vehicle (10) comprising a system (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and/or configured to perform a method according to any one of claims 6 to 9.