RU2649562C1 - System and method of activation of indicators of turning the vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: motor industry.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions refer to the system for activating a car's direction indicators. System for activating a car's turn signals comprises of detection means, locking means and activation means. Means of detection is intended to determine the current traffic conditions of a car and transmission of the signal to the fixation means, when appropriate conditions for changing the direction of the vehicle are detected. Fixation tool is designed to detect changes in the driver's view of the car on the side mirror, confirmation of a certain new direction of the car's movement and transmission of the confirmed new direction of the vehicle's movement to the activation means. Activation tool is designed to activate the car's direction indicators in accordance with the confirmed new direction of the car.

EFFECT: ensuring automatic assistance to the driver during the maneuver is achieved.

6 cl, 3 dwg

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to auxiliary systems that facilitate driving a car, and in particular to systems and methods for activating direction indicators of a vehicle, for example a car.

State of the art

A vehicle direction indicator (hereinafter referred to as a direction indicator) is a stationary device with a blinking light, in which the blinking occurs due to the intermittent supply of electric current to the lamp, designed to notify other road users about the driver's intention to make a maneuver associated with the turn ( by rebuilding) right or left. Direction indicators can also be used as an alarm.

Before driving, changing lanes, turning (turning) and stopping, the driver must give signals with direction indicators of the corresponding direction. Moreover, the signal should not mislead other participants in the movement (for example, the driver should not give a signal with a direction indicator when driving directly). Signaling by direction indicators should be made in advance of the start of the maneuver and should be stopped immediately after it is completed.

The inclusion of vehicle direction indicators is the responsibility of the driver. The driver is given the right and the opportunity to decide at what point the signal should be given with a direction indicator. Unfortunately, not all drivers fulfill this obligation clearly, in good faith and on time. For this reason, emergency situations occur.

There are currently a number of solutions designed to assist the driver in using direction indicators. In the application US 20090094698 describes a method of analyzing a maneuver of a car using the angles of rotation of the wheels and speed. The method takes into account various types of maneuvers. For each of the types, the values of the speed and angle of rotation of the wheels are calculated, upon reaching which the turn signal is automatically activated.

The publication US 20110106376 describes a system in which the activation of direction indicators occurs in the event of a change in the planned calculated path, for example, when crossing the dividing strip or when the front wheel leaves the marking line. To determine the path of movement, for example, a lane tracking system or a navigation system is used.

The solutions mentioned help the driver activate the direction indicators in the cases described above. However, these inventions activate direction indicators already after the start of the maneuver, which is unsafe when driving on public roads.

The present invention allows more effectively solve the problem of activation of direction indicators.

Disclosure of invention

The invention relates to systems and methods for activating vehicle direction indicators. The technical result of the present invention is to provide automatic assistance to the driver when performing a maneuver by detecting whether the current traffic conditions are suitable for changing the direction of the car’s movement on the basis of the rules for identifying, determining and confirming a new direction of the car’s movement, and activating the direction indicators of the car in accordance with the new direction of car movement.

The specified technical result is achieved by the fact that the claimed system of activation of the direction indicators of the vehicle contains:

a) a means of detection intended at least for:

- determining the current traffic conditions of the vehicle;

- identifying whether the current conditions of the car’s road traffic are suitable for changing the direction of the car’s movement on the basis of the identification rules, where a set of conditions is used as the rules for identifying the current conditions of the road, which are suitable for changing the direction of the car’s movement;

- transmitting the signal to the fixing means when identifying suitable conditions for changing the direction of the vehicle;

b) a means of fixation intended at least for:

- detecting a change in the driver’s view of the side mirror towards a new direction of movement of the car upon receipt of a signal for determining a new direction of movement of the car from the detection means;

- confirmation of a certain new direction of car movement by detecting changes in the position of at least one hand of the car driver on the steering wheel in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the steering wheel, providing a certain new direction of movement of the car;

- transmission of the confirmed new direction of the vehicle to the activation means;

c) means of activation, intended at least to activate the direction indicators of the car in accordance with the confirmed new direction of movement of the car.

In a particular embodiment, a rule database is used to store detection rules.

In another particular embodiment, the condition for traffic is at least one of:

- current vehicle speed;

- current traffic congestion;

- current vehicle coordinates;

- distance to the nearest obstacle in the strip;

- distance to the nearest turn;

- markings on the road;

- road signs along the road;

- the number of lanes on the left;

- the number of lanes on the right;

- distance to the obstacle in the lane, the nearest lane to the left;

- distance to the obstacle in the lane, the nearest lane on the right;

- the angle of the road;

- light level;

- weather.

The technical result is also achieved by the fact that the activation method of the direction indicators includes stages in which:

a) using the detection tool determine the current road conditions of the vehicle;

b) using the detection tool, it is determined whether the current conditions of the car’s road traffic are suitable for changing the direction of the car’s movement based on the rules of detection, where a set of conditions is used as the rules for identifying the current traffic conditions that are suitable for changing the direction of the car’s motion;

c) using a means of identification, when identifying suitable conditions for changing the direction of movement of the car, they transmit a signal to the fixing means;

d) using the means of fixation upon receipt of a signal, a new direction of the car’s movement is determined by detecting a change in the view of the car driver on the side mirror in the direction of the new direction of the car’s movement;

d) using the fixing means confirm a certain new direction of the car by detecting changes in the position of at least one hand of the car driver on the steering wheel in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the steering wheel, providing a certain new direction of movement of the car;

f) using the activation means, the vehicle's direction indicators are activated in accordance with the confirmed new direction of movement of the vehicle.

In a particular embodiment, the discovery rules are stored in the rule database.

In another particular embodiment, the condition for traffic is at least one of:

- current vehicle speed;

- current traffic congestion;

- current vehicle coordinates;

- distance to the nearest obstacle in the strip;

- distance to the nearest turn;

- markings on the road;

- road signs along the road;

- the number of lanes on the left;

- the number of lanes on the right;

- distance to the obstacle in the lane, the nearest lane to the left;

- distance to the obstacle in the lane, the nearest lane on the right;

- the angle of the road;

- light level;

- weather.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Additional objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system for activating direction indicators of a car.

FIG. 2A. displays a diagram of the change in driver’s gaze due to a change in direction of movement to the left.

FIG. 2B. shows a diagram of a change in the gaze of a car driver in connection with a change in direction of movement to the right

FIG. 2B shows a diagram of a change in position of the driver’s hands in connection with a change in direction of movement to the left.

FIG. 2G shows a diagram of a change in the position of the driver’s hands in connection with a change in the direction of movement to the right.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a method for activating car direction indicators.

Although the invention may have various modifications and alternative forms, the characteristic features shown by way of example in the drawings will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the purpose of the description is not to limit the invention to its specific embodiment. On the contrary, the purpose of the description is to cover all changes, modifications that are included in the scope of this invention, as defined by the attached formula.

Description of Embodiments

The objects and features of the present invention, methods for achieving these objects and features will become apparent by reference to exemplary embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed below, it can be embodied in various forms. The essence described in the description is nothing more than the specific details necessary to assist the specialist in the field of technology in a comprehensive understanding of the invention, and the present invention is defined in the scope of the attached claims.

In the framework of the present invention, the activation of a vehicle direction indicator refers to the automatic activation of a light signal that notifies traffic participants that the car driver is about to complete a maneuver.

By car is meant a vehicle equipped with direction indicators.

FIG. 1. represents a structural diagram of a system for activating direction indicators of a car. The activation system of the direction indicators of the car consists of a detection tool 120, a fixing tool 130, a means of activation 140, a database of rules 150.

In one embodiment, the vehicle direction indicator activation system starts operating when the on-board computer or engine control unit (ECU) of the vehicle is turned on and remains active continuously while it is moving until the vehicle's on-board computer is turned off. In another embodiment, the system may operate periodically, for example, when the automatic transmission is switched to the “D - drive” position (the “start driving” rule). In yet another embodiment, the system can start working at a predetermined time, for example, 1 second after the start of movement (changing the vehicle’s speed to other than zero), or when a certain event or condition occurs, for example, at the time the road markings are detected.

Detection tool 120 is intended to determine the current road conditions of the vehicle 110.

Car traffic conditions - a set of vehicle motion parameters, transport and operational qualities of the road, traffic and road conditions, weather conditions that directly affect the process of car movement on the road. The traffic conditions of the car can be simple and complex, built on the basis of simple ones. In this application, under the simple condition of a car’s traffic, at least one of:

- current vehicle speed;

- current traffic congestion;

- current vehicle coordinates;

- distance to the nearest obstacle in the lane;

- distance to the nearest turn;

- markings on the road;

- road signs along the road;

- the number of lanes on the left;

- the number of lanes on the right;

- distance to the obstacle in the lane, the nearest lane to the left;

- distance to the obstacle in the lane, the nearest lane on the right;

- the angle of the road;

- light level;

- weather;

- etc.

The difficult conditions of the car’s traffic include conditions calculated or determined on the basis of simple ones, for example:

- average vehicle speed over a period of time;

- the average speed of the car on the track;

- time before collision with an obstacle without changing speed and direction;

- time before entering the intersection;

- etc.

When determining the current traffic conditions, the detection tool 120 takes into account the side of the road on which the car is moving, namely, it takes into account that the movement is both right-handed and left-handed. Detection tool 120 using the measuring instruments and devices installed in the vehicle determines the following conditions: current vehicle speed (can be determined using a speedometer), current traffic congestion (according to the built-in navigator), light level (using a light sensor). Other conditions can be determined using additional devices and measuring instruments, for example: lidars, cameras of various ranges and functionalities, sensors, external navigation devices receiving data from satellites, etc.

The detection means 120 is also intended to detect, based on the rules for detecting, whether the current traffic conditions of the vehicle 110 are suitable for changing the direction of the vehicle.

Suitable vehicle traffic conditions for changing the direction of the vehicle are those current conditions of the vehicle 110 or calculated based on current conditions that may precede a change in the direction of the car or be a sign of a subsequent change in the direction of the car.

The identification rule is a set of conditions under which (each condition from the set) the current road conditions 110 are suitable for changing the direction of the car. In general, rules can be based on the mechanics of possible maneuvers. For example, one of the rules may be the following set of conditions: time to critical approach (3 meters) with an obstacle of less than 15 seconds. In this case, for example, the car moves along a strip along which another car moves in the same direction, but at a lower speed. Thus, to continue the movement it is required to perform a maneuver in the form, for example, overtaking, in which there is a need to activate the direction indicators. The time to a critical approach is calculated by dividing the distance between the cars in the lane by the difference in current vehicle speeds.

Another example of a rule can be the following set of conditions: the time to enter the T-junction is less than 15 seconds. The time to enter the intersection is calculated by dividing the distance to the intersection by the current speed of the car. In this case, the car moves along a road in which an intersection with another road is provided. Thus, if the driver needs to make a maneuver in the form of a turn at the nearest intersection, then before making it, it is necessary to activate the direction indicators.

The third rule, for example, can be the following set of conditions: recognition of the sign "No entry" and the sign "Distance to the object" is 300 meters, the time to exit to the intersection is less than 20 seconds. In this case, the car moves along a road on which after 300 meters there is a crossroads where traffic in the previous direction is prohibited. Thus, the driver needs to make a maneuver in the form of a turn at the nearest intersection, and before making it, it is necessary to activate the direction indicators.

When identifying suitable conditions for changing the direction of movement of the vehicle, the detection means 120 transmits a signal to the fixing means 130.

The database of rules 150 is designed to store the rules for detection. As a rule database 150, various types of databases can be used, namely: hierarchical (IMS, TDMS, System 2000), network (Cerebrum, Cronospro, DBVist), relational (DB2, Informix, Microsoft SQL Server), object-oriented ( Jasmine, Versant, POET), object-relational (Oracle Database, PostgreSQL, FirstSQL / J), functional, etc. Database updating can also be carried out using a server located on an external network (for example, on the Internet).

Upon receipt of a signal from the detection means 120, the fixing means 130 determines a new direction of the car’s movement by detecting a change in the view of the car driver on the side mirror towards the new direction of the car’s movement.

Before performing any maneuver, the vehicle driver must verify the safety of the maneuver. So, for example, to perform maneuvers associated with leaving the occupied lane, the driver must make sure that he does not interfere with other participants in the movement. To do this, when rearranging, turning or turning, the driver uses side mirrors, looking at them. FIG. 2A. Displays a diagram of the change in driver’s gaze before changing direction to the left. In this case, the driver must look in the left mirror. FIG. 2B. shows a diagram of a change in the gaze of a car driver before changing direction to the right. To identify (photograph or obtain a video stream) a look, for example, an external device (for example, a front camera mounted on the ceiling or dashboard of a car or glasses connected to a fixing means 130, for example, Google glass) can be used. In the General case, the means of fixation 130 analyzes the data (photos or video stream) and detects a change in the gaze of the driver. In one embodiment, cameras connected to the fixing means 130 are also installed in the side mirrors. In this case, the fixing means 130 analyzes the direction of the driver’s gaze and also detects whether the driver is looking in the side mirror or past it (for example, the driver’s attention was attracted by an information board mounted on the side of the road opposite to the side of the road).

In addition, the locking means 130 is also intended to confirm a certain new direction of movement of the car by detecting changes in the position of the hand of the driver of the car on the steering wheel in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the steering wheel (for example, clockwise or counterclockwise), providing a certain new direction of movement a car.

FIG. 2B shows a diagram of a change in the position of the driver’s hands, providing a change in direction of movement to the left. FIG. 2G displays a diagram of a change in the position of the driver’s hands, providing a change in the direction of movement to the right. In the general case, when performing a maneuver, for example, turning 90 degrees, with a normal grip of the steering wheel, one half turn of the steering wheel is not enough for the driver, which allows you to make a normal grip. Therefore, the driver is forced to intercept in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the steering wheel, providing a new direction of movement of the car, as shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 2G, to increase the steering angle. Please note that the driver can not change the position of both hands, but only one hand. Under normal conditions, a change in hand position usually occurs simultaneously with the inclusion of direction indicators. Changing the position of the hands on the steering wheel may be slight, for example a few centimeters.

The change in the position of the driver’s hands on the steering wheel can be fixed by means of a fixation 130 using an additional camera, for example, mounted above or below the steering wheel (for example, on the ceiling or on the vehicle dashboard).

In the case of a change in the position of the driver’s hands on the steering wheel, the new direction of movement of the car is considered confirmed. The fixing means 130 transmits the confirmed new direction of the vehicle to the activation means 140.

Activation tool 140 is intended to activate vehicle direction indicators in accordance with a confirmed new direction of vehicle movement. Activation may be done by hardware, for example, activation means 140 may include direction indicators by relay closure. Turning off the direction indicators can be done by means of activation 140, for example, by opening the relay after the completion of the maneuver. The completion of the maneuver can be determined by means of activation 140 on the steering wheel deviation sensor (for example, the angle of the steering wheel deviation from the position that allows the vehicle to move straight is less than 5 degrees).

An example of the operation of this system is described below. In general, it is preferred that the system operates continuously while the vehicle is in motion. After switching the transmission lever from the neutral position, for example, to the “D” or “R” position, the driver in most cases plans to start driving. The first maneuver to be completed is to drive into a lane from the side of the road. In this case, the driver, by switching the transmission lever, activates the claimed system, which begins to determine the current traffic conditions using the detection tool 120. Since the current speed is zero, the detection rule “start the trip” will work, and the detection tool 120 will transmit a signal to the fixing tool 130. The fixing means 130 will wait for the driver to look in the side mirror according to the new direction of movement of the car. In case of right-hand traffic organization, the driver must look in the left mirror, which will reveal the fixing means 130. Having looked in the left mirror, the driver will move his hands on the steering wheel clockwise (to then unscrew the steering wheel to the left, that is, counterclockwise), which will reveal the fixing means 130 A look in the left mirror allows you to define a new direction of the car - to the left. A fixed change in the position of the hands on the steering wheel clockwise allows you to confirm the new direction of movement of the car - to the left. As a result of this, the activation means 140 will activate the left turn indicators of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 depicts a diagram of a method for activating car direction indicators. At step 310, the detection tool 120 determines the current traffic conditions of the car 110. At step 311, the detection tool 130 determines whether the current traffic conditions of the car 110 are suitable for changing the direction of the car on the basis of and rules for detection from the database of rules 150. If appropriate conditions for changing the direction of movement of the car at step 311, the detection means 120 transmits a signal to the fixing means 130. At step 312, after receiving the signal, the fixing means 130 determines a new The pressure driving by detecting changes in the car on the driver's side view mirror in the direction of the new direction of travel. At step 313, the locking means 130 confirms the new direction of movement of the car by detecting changes in the position of the hand of the driver of the car on the steering wheel in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the steering wheel, providing a certain new direction of movement, and transmits data about the confirmed new direction of movement of the car to the activation means 140. On step 314, the activation means 140 activates the direction indicators of the vehicle in accordance with the confirmed new direction of movement of the vehicle. At step 311, if the current traffic conditions are not suitable for changing the direction of movement of the car, there is a return to the determination of the conditions of movement of the car (return to step 310).

Claims (49)

1. The activation system of the direction indicators of the car, which contains: a) a means of detection intended at least for: - determining the current traffic conditions of the vehicle, - identifying whether the current conditions of the car’s road traffic are suitable for changing the direction of the car’s movement on the basis of the identification rules, where a set of conditions is used as the rules for identifying the current conditions of the road that are suitable for changing the car’s direction - transmitting the signal to the fixing means when identifying suitable conditions for changing the direction of the vehicle; b) a means of fixation intended at least for: - detecting a change in the driver’s view of the side mirror towards a new direction of movement of the car upon receipt of a signal for determining a new direction of movement of the car from the detection means; - confirmation of a certain new direction of car movement by detecting changes in the position of at least one hand of the car driver on the steering wheel in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the steering wheel, providing a certain new direction of movement of the car; - transmission of the confirmed new direction of the vehicle to the activation means; c) means of activation, intended at least to activate the direction indicators of the car in accordance with the confirmed new direction of movement of the car. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein a rule database is used for storing detection rules. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the condition for traffic is at least one of: - current vehicle speed; - current traffic congestion; - current vehicle coordinates; - distance to the nearest obstacle in the strip; - distance to the nearest turn; - markings on the road; - road signs along the road; - the number of lanes on the left; - the number of lanes on the right; - distance to the obstacle in the lane, the nearest lane to the left; - distance to the obstacle in the lane, the nearest lane on the right; - the angle of the road; - light level; - weather. 4. A method of activating direction indicators in which: a) using the detection tool determine the current road conditions of the vehicle; b) using the detection tool, it is determined whether the current conditions of the car’s road traffic are suitable for changing the direction of the car’s movement based on the rules of detection, where a set of conditions is used as the rules for identifying the current traffic conditions that are suitable for changing the direction of the car’s motion; c) using a means of identification, when identifying suitable conditions for changing the direction of movement of the car, they transmit a signal to the fixing means; d) using the means of fixation upon receipt of a signal, a new direction of the car’s movement is determined by detecting a change in the view of the car driver on the side mirror in the direction of the new direction of the car’s movement; d) using the fixing means confirm a certain new direction of the car by detecting changes in the position of at least one hand of the car driver on the steering wheel in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the steering wheel, providing a certain new direction of movement of the car; f) using the activation means, the vehicle's direction indicators are activated in accordance with the confirmed new direction of movement of the vehicle. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the detection rules are stored in the rules database. 6. The method according to p. 4, in which the condition of the road is at least one of: - current vehicle speed; - current traffic congestion; - current vehicle coordinates; - distance to the nearest obstacle in the strip; - distance to the nearest turn; - markings on the road; - road signs along the road; - the number of lanes on the left; - the number of lanes on the right; - distance to the obstacle in the lane, the nearest lane to the left; - distance to the obstacle in the lane, the nearest lane on the right; - the angle of the road; - light level; - weather.

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