SE538840C2 - Safety system for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a security system for a vehicle, comprising a forward-facing camera (FLC) adapted to identify and detect circumstances and events substantially in front of the vehicle and to emit a camera signal 2 accordingly. The security system comprises an analysis unit 4 with a memory unit 6, a first control unit CU1, and a second control unit CU2. The said camera signal 2 is adapted to be applied to the analysis unit 4, and in the memory unit 6 a set of safety rules for the vehicle and a set of driving rules for the vehicle are stored. The analysis unit 4 is adapted to analyze the camera signal 2 with respect to said set of safety rules of the vehicle and to output a first analysis signal 8 depending on the result of the analysis, said first analysis signal 8 being applied to said first control unit CU1 which is adapted to regulate one or more safety related functions of the vehicle. of said first analysis signal 8. And the analysis unit 4 is further adapted to analyze the camera signal 2 with respect to said set of driving rules for the vehicle and attach a second analysis signal l0 depending on the result of the analysis, said second analysis signal l0 being applied to said second control unit CU2 adapted to regulate a or fl your dynamic characteristics of the vehicle in dependence on said second analysis signal l0. (Figure 1)

Description

Title Safety system for a vehicle Area of the invention The present invention refers to a safety system for a vehicle according to the preamble to the independent patent claim.

The following concepts are accepted in the art, but are briefly explained below.

FLC - forward looking camera - a camera on the vehicle that is essentially directed forward. LDW - lane departure waming - a sister intended to warn the vehicle if the vehicle leaves the lane. This Warning System is designed to minimize accidents by trying to prevent some of the most common causes of collisions, namely the error that the driver makes by being distracted or too tired and thus being inattentive.

AEBS - advanced emergency braking system - a safety system that is superior to other braking systems and which aims to dampen a collision as this is inevitable by the system itself intervening, which is done by automatically applying the brake pressure switch before the driver has had time to start braking.

FCW - forward collision waming - a system intended to warn of an impending collision and aims to dampen or avoid the collision, eg by warning the driver, pre-activating brakes, inflating seats for extra support, stretching seat belts, etc. BSW - blind spot warning - this system refers to vaming for objects in the so-called blind spot, which is the angle that is closest behind the vehicle and which the driver can not see with the help of rear-view mirrors.

ACC - adaptive cruise control - a system that either uses radar or laser to ensure that the vehicle slows down when it gets too close to a vehicle in front and then accelerates when the driving situation allows.

Ground fi in motion - the distance from the ground to the lowest point of a vehicle, excluding the wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For a vehicle, for example a truck or a bus, the driving style varies depending on the driving situation of the vehicle. A driving situation in which a vehicle finds itself is defined 2 by what the vehicle's surroundings look like, which can be what time of day it is, ie. whatever it is, the number of lanes on the road and their width, any impending intersections, traffic lights, number of vehicles in front and their driving style, etc. As a result of these parameters that they fi drive the driving situation, the vehicle's driving style will be affected.

By collecting information about the vehicle's surroundings, one can draw certain conclusions regarding the expected driving style and what preparedness the vehicle's driver should have in a specific situation.

Today, there is no known way to get an overall picture of the current driving situation that the vehicle examines in order to be able to draw conclusions from it and help the driver to adapt the vehicle's behavior accordingly. Today, it is common for vehicle system adaptation to be based only on internal vehicle signals, which may be, for example, a turning angle signal (which is a measure of the vehicle's rotational speed about a vertical axis) or steering wheel angle signal.

Below are examples of some documents that show known methods and devices in the field of technology where information related to the environment is also taken into account.

US 2007/182529 discloses a method for influencing the load on the driver and describes how information to the driver can be suppressed or delayed. The driver may be burdened with environmental characteristics such as the current traffic situation. These characteristics can be recorded, in order to assess the driver's load.

US 5,642,093 discloses a warning system for a vehicle with two forward-facing CCD cameras to receive image data. The images are analyzed in order to set the driver's alertness to a higher value if any “psychological stimulus” is registered, such as road width, road radius, presence of vehicles in front, vehicles parked on the side of the road or obstacles on the road.

EP 0 911 234 discloses a dynamic control system for vehicles. This system aims to stabilize the vehicle's positioning as the vehicle travels in a curve and exits a curve. 3 As discussed above, there is a need to get an overall picture of the prevailing driving situation in order to subsequently adapt the vehicle's behavior and possibly also the driver's behavior to the current driving situation. None of the known techniques in the documents quoted above are specially adapted to, with the help of an overall picture of the prevailing driving situation, draw conclusions from what the expected driving style for the driver should be and what readiness the driver should have in the current driving situation.

The purpose of the present invention is thus to provide a system for adapting a vehicle's behavior to achieve safer driving depending on the current driving situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above objects are achieved with the invention defined by the independent patent claim.

Preferred embodiments are defined by the dependent claims.

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a security system for a vehicle, comprising a forward-facing camera (FLC) adapted to identify and detect circumstances and events substantially in front of the vehicle and to emit a camera signal accordingly. The security system comprises an analysis unit with a memory unit, a first control unit, and a second control unit. The said camera signal is adapted to be applied to the analysis unit. A set of safety rules for the vehicle and a set of driving rules for the vehicle are stored in the memory unit. The analysis unit is adapted to analyze the camera signal with respect to said set of safety rules for the vehicle and attach a first analysis signal depending on the result of the analysis, said first analysis signal being applied to said first control unit adapted to regulate one or more safety related functions of the vehicle depending on said first analysis signal. The analysis unit is further adapted to analyze the camera signal with respect to said set of driving rules for the vehicle and to output a second analysis signal depending on the result of the analysis, said second analysis signal being applied to said second control unit adapted to regulate one or more dynamic characteristics of the vehicle. analysis signal.

This is an advantage because a vehicle can better adapt its behavior to the prevailing traffic situation, which provides safer vehicles and greater driving pleasure for the driver. No extra equipment is required such as additional sensors, as the existing camera is used. In addition, it is an advantage because the camera's shooting range matches the driver's shooting range, which means that the camera has approximately the same “field of view” as the driver.

This allows the camera to perceive the traffic situation in a similar way to the driver.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a vehicle safety system in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Figure 1 thus shows a block diagram of the Security System according to the invention.

A forward-facing camera (F LC) is used today in existing systems for vehicles such as LLDW and AEBS. A camera should be given a general interpretation as a group of sensors intended to record events concerning the traffic situation substantially in front of the vehicle. According to the present invention, this camera is included in a security system, the camera being adapted to identify and detect circumstances and events substantially in front of the vehicle. camera signal 2 depending thereon. The security system comprises an analysis unit 4 with a memory unit 6, a first control unit CU1, and a second control unit CU2. The said camera signal 2 is adapted to be applied to the analysis unit 4. A set of safety rules for the vehicle and a set of driving rules for the vehicle are stored in the memory unit 6. The analysis unit 4 is adapted to analyze the camera signal 2 with respect to said set of safety rules of the vehicle and to emit a first analysis signal 8 depending on the result of the analysis, said first analysis signal 8 being applied to said first control unit CU1 adapted to regulate one or fl your safety-related fi functions of the vehicle. of said first analysis signal 8. And the analysis unit 4 is further adapted to analyze the camera camera signal 2 with respect to said set of driving rules for the vehicle and to issue a second analysis signal 10 depending on the result of the analysis, said second analysis signal 10 being applied to said second control unit CU2 adapted to regulate one or fl your dynamic properties of the vehicle in dependence on said second analysis signal 10.

The safety rules aim to achieve safer driving depending on the current driving situation in which the vehicle finds itself. And the driving rules aim to support and facilitate the driver driving the vehicle according to given conditions in the current driving situation.

The safety rules may include one or two of: - a first safety rule related to distance to brake lights on one or more vehicles in front, - a second safety rule related to traction intensity, - a third safety rule related to the movements of surrounding vehicles, and - a fourth safety rule related to surrounding vehicles positions.

The first safety rule may be adapted to detect a number of brake lights at a certain distance in front of the vehicle, as the distance is still longer than the braking distance required at the current speed of the vehicle. A number of brake lights means that there are brake lights for at least two cars in a row that have been detected. The second safety rule can be adapted to detect low traction intensity for a certain time in combination with straight roads with constant speed limitation, whereby low traction intensity refers to oncoming / overtaking / overtaking vehicles is less than 1 vehicle per minute and a certain time is counted as 5 minutes or more. The tra nition of low traction intensity can also be secondary values, for example less than 1 vehicle per 30 seconds and that a certain time is counted as 3 minutes or more. The third safety rule can be adapted to detect vehicles that change fi l without flashing, drive on the wrong side, maintain a deviating speed or drive solid lane lines. When vehicles maintain a deviating speed, this means that the speed deviates from the prescribed speed limit, ie. at least 120%. The fourth safety rule can be adapted to detect if there are vehicles in the lane next to the vehicle, which can be lanes both to the right and to the left of what the vehicle is in.

The driving rules may include or several of: - a first driving rule related to detected distance to obstacles, - a second driving rule related to detected roundabout or sharp curve, - a third driving rule related to detected uneven road, - a fourth driving rule related to detected evenness road, - a fifth driving rule related to detected tunnel, and - a sixth driving rule related to detected tunnel end.

The first driving rule may be related to the detection of the end of a stationary vehicle queue or the detection of a red light on a traffic signal when the remaining distance to the end of traffic / traffic light is shorter than the current braking distance at the current speed of the vehicle.

The safety-related functions refer to the adaptation of the driver interface with regard to detected circumstances and events. These kan mctions may be relevant to convey to the driver in demanding driving situations. For example, a demanding driving situation can arise. The deed is many vehicles and / or roads on the road. The safety-related features include: - Forward Collision Waming (FCW), - Driver Fatigue Warning, - Blind Spot Warning (BSW), - Lane Departure Waming (LDW), or - Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

The safety-related functions can be adjustment of Forward Collision Warning (FCW) in order to deliver the warning earlier, adjustment of fatigue warning to the driver in order to give the warning earlier, adjustment of Blind Spot Waming (BSW) in order to set the warning to higher sensitivity, adjustment of Lane Departure Waming (LDW) is intended to deliver the warning earlier or to set the warning to higher sensitivity, or to adjust the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) to a longer predetermined distance, which predetermined distance indicates when the vehicle comes too close to the vehicle in front. When it is stated that a warning is issued earlier or that the system should have a higher sensitivity or longer distance, this means in relation to the standard settings in the various systems.

These adaptations of the security-related functions may depend on the security rules in the following ways. When a number of brake lights are detected at a distance that is longer than the braking distance that would be required for the vehicle, it may be appropriate to issue a warning for FCW earlier than what is set in the system. At low traction intensities on monotonous road lanes such as straight road sections with a constant speed limit, it may be appropriate to issue warnings for fatigue and for LDW earlier than according to standard settings. In the case of cars that drive with deviating behaviors such as do not flash when changing, make deviating reversals, for example on the wrong side or overridden lane lines, or maintain deviating speeds that can be both much slower or faster than the prescribed speed limit, it may be appropriate to a higher sensitivity on BSW and LDW and set a longer predetermined distance that is considered too close to the vehicle in front of the ACC than is accepted. Also other combinations of which security-related functions are linked to which security rules are conceivable.

A warning schedule can include ranking different types of warnings in order to suppress or delay the types of warnings that are considered less relevant in a demanding driving situation. In the same way, the relevance of conveying the most important warnings can be increased.

The dynamic functions refer to the adaptation of the vehicle's behavior with regard to detected circumstances and events. The dynamic functions of the vehicle can change if / how much the vehicle turns, if / how much the vehicle brakes, how the suspension of the rigid vehicle The dynamic functions can be regulated by - adjusting the scale of the brake pedal in order to change the braking effect, - adjusting power supply to steering servo in order to facilitate oscillation, - adjust the air suspension in order to facilitate oscillation, - adjust the ground clearance of the vehicle by means of the vehicle's suspension, - adjust the brightness of the instrument panel lighting, or - switch off the dipped beam. 8 These adaptations of the dynamic functions can be linked to the driving rules in the following way. When a distance has been detected to a traffic jam at a standstill or a distance to a traffic sign that shows red and this distance is shorter than the current braking distance for the vehicle, it may be appropriate to change the scale of the brake pedal to change the vehicle's braking power and be able to brake harder. When a roundabout or sharp curve has been detected, it may be appropriate for a single crane supply to be made to the steering servo or a compensation of the load to facilitate cornering. In the case of detection of the road surface in the form of uneven or uneven road, it may be appropriate to change the vehicle's groundless running, for example by either raising it when the road is uneven or lowering it for lower fuel consumption when the road is level. When detecting a tunnel, it may be appropriate to change the brightness by increasing it on the instrument lighting. And if a tunnel end has been detected, it may be mandatory for the dipped beam to be automatically switched off in a country where using dipped beam daytime lighting is not permitted. Other combinations of which dynamic functions are linked to which driving rules are also conceivable.

The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents may be used. The above-mentioned embodiments should therefore not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (5)

Vehicle security system, comprising a forward-facing camera (FLC) adapted to identify and detect circumstances and events substantially in front of the vehicle and to emit a camera signal (2) depending thereon, characterized in that the security system comprises an analysis unit (4) with a memory unit (6), a first control unit (CU1), and a second control unit (CU2), said camera signal (2) is adapted to be applied to the analysis unit (4), and the memory unit (6) is stored a set of safety rules for the vehicle and a set of driving rules for the vehicle, the analysis unit (4) being adapted to analyze the camera signal (2) with respect to said set of safety rules for the vehicle and to emit a first analysis signal (8) depending on the result of the analysis, wherein said first analysis signal (8) is applied to said first control unit (CU1). ) which is adapted to regulate one or fl your safety-related functions of the vehicle in dependence on said first analysis signal (8), and that the analysis unit (4) is further adapted to analyze the camera signal (2) with respect to said set of driving rules for the vehicle and to emit a second analysis signal (10) depending on the result of the analysis, said second analysis signal (10) being applied to said second control unit (CU2) as is adapted to regulate one or fl eradynamic properties of the vehicle in dependence on said second analysis signal (10), the safety rules comprising -e-or-af of which: - a first safety rule related to distance to brake lights on one or fl your front vehicles, - a second safety rule related to traction intensity, - a third safety rule related to the movements of the surrounding vehicle, and - a fourth safety rule related to the positions of the surrounding vehicle, and the driving rules include elephants: - a first driving rule related to detected distance to obstacles, - a second driving rule related to detected roundabout or sharp curve, - a third driving rule related to detected uneven road, - a fjä fourth driving rule related to detected straight road, - a fifth driving rule related to detected tunnel, and - a sixth driving rule related to detected tunnel end. Safety system according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety-related functions relate to adaptation of the driver interface with regard to detected circumstances and events. Safety system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the dynamic properties relate to the adaptation of the vehicle's behavior with regard to detected circumstances and events. Safety system according to claim 2, characterized in that the safety-related functions include - Forward Collision Warning (FCW), - fatigue warning to the driver, - Blind Spot Warning (BSW), - Lane Departure Waming (LDW), or - Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). ). Safety system according to claim 3, characterized in that the dynamic properties are regulated by - adjusting the scale division of the brake pedal in order to change the braking effect, - adapting the power supply to the power steering in order to facilitate turning, - adjusting the suspension in order to facilitate turning, the ground clearance of the vehicle by means of the vehicle's suspension, 25 - adjust the brightness of the instrument panel lighting, or - switch off the low beam.