WO2018000218A1

WO2018000218A1 - Vehicle honking system

Info

Publication number: WO2018000218A1
Application number: PCT/CN2016/087569
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zhihong Guo; Nan Ye; Yanke Wang; Liang Han
Original assignee: Orange
Priority date: 2016-06-29
Filing date: 2016-06-29
Publication date: 2018-01-04
Also published as: WO2018002727A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle (1) honking system (2) comprising: -A honking trigger (3); -A controller (4) of an exterior sound-making device (5) of the vehicle (1); The controller (4) being configured to, when receiving a honking request from the honking trigger (3) : -if at least one proximity sensor (30a, 30b) of the vehicle (1) has detected a communication unit (40a, 40b) in the vicinity of the vehicle (1), and if the detected communication unit (40a, 40b) is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system (2), send to said communication unit (40a, 40b) a warning signal; -else operate the exterior sound-making device (5).

Description

Vehicle honking system

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of this invention is that of vehicle safety equipment.

More particularly, the invention relates to a honking system and method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Honking a major source of noise pollution in cities, as the density of traffic makes thousands of drivers honking nearly continuously.

To solve this problem, has been proposed a wireless honk device installed in a first vehicle (see for example document KR 19920020393) operating a buzzer installed within another vehicle, so as to allow “silent honking” at the second car without a transmission of the honk sound to the outside.

However, this solution requires every vehicle to be equipped with the system. Furthermore, there is a problem if the driver wants to honk at a bike or a pedestrian.

There is consequently a need for a honking solution which decreases the noise pollution but stays able to cope with any situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For these purposes, the present invention provides a vehicle honking system comprising:

- A honking trigger；

- A controller of an exterior sound-making device of the vehicle；

The controller being configured to, when receiving a honking request from the honking trigger:

- if at least one proximity sensor of the vehicle has detected a communication unit in the vicinity of the vehicle, and if the detected communication unit is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system, send to said communication unit a warning signal ；

- else operate the exterior sound-making device.

This hybrid system allows to both silently and normally honk, so as to be able to call everybody’s attention to some hazard, while decreasing the noise pollution.

Preferred but non limiting features of the present invention are as follow:

· the controller is configured to, when receiving a honking request from the honking trigger:

- if the proximity sensor has detected at least one communication unit in the vicinity of the vehicle:

o determine if each detected communication unit is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system； and

o if each detected communication unit is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system, send to said communication units the warning signal ；

- operate the exterior sound-making device in any other case.

· the controller is further configured to, when receiving a honking request from the honking trigger:

- if the proximity sensor has detected a plurality of communication units in the vicinity of the vehicle:

o if at least one communication unit is not able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system:

■ send to each communication unit able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system the warning signal； and

■ operate the exterior sound-making device.

· The proximity sensor is able to directionally detect a communication unit in the vicinity of the vehicle； the exterior sound-making device is able to directionally emit sound； and the controller is further configured to, when receiving a honking request from the honking trigger:

- if the proximity sensor has detected in the vicinity of the vehicle a first communication unit according to a first direction, and a second communication unit according to a second direction； and if the first communication unit is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system but not the second communication unit, operate the exterior sound-making device so as to honk toward the second communication unit but not toward the first communication unit.

· The honking system comprises a plurality of proximity sensors each with a given detection direction； the exterior sound-making device comprises a plurality of directional sound emitters each collocated with a proximity sensor so as to emit sound in the detection direction of said proximity sensor；

· the controller is further configured to operate an interior sound-making device of the vehicle when wirelessly receiving a warning message from another communication unit.

In a second aspect, the invention provides an assembly of a honking system according to the first aspect and at least one communication unit, the communication unit being either the honking system of another vehicle or a mobile terminal of a person, in particular an assembly comprising at least two honking systems according to the first aspect of the invention.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method for processing a honking request from a honking trigger of a vehicle, comprising performing by a controller steps of:

- determining if at least one proximity sensor of the vehicle has detected a communication unit in the vicinity of the vehicle, and if the detected communication unit is able to wirelessly communicate with the controller；

- if so, sending to said communication unit a warning signal, else operating an exterior sound-making device of the vehicle.

According to a fourth and a fifth aspects, the invention provides a computer program product, comprising code instructions for executing a method according to the first aspect for processing a honking request from a honking trigger； and a computer-readable medium, on which is stored a computer program product comprising code instructions for processing a honking request from a honking trigger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying figure 1 representing a car comprising an embodiment of the honking system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Honking system

The present invention relates to a honking system 2 of a vehicle 1. By honking system, it meant the command system for operating an exterior sound-making device 5 of the vehicle 1, said honking system 2 not necessarily comprising the exterior sound-making device 5 itself. Furthermore and as it will be explained, the honking system 2 may be the command system for operating an interior sound-making device 6 of the vehicle 1, said honking system 2 not necessarily comprising the interior sound-making device 6 itself.

The exterior sound-making device 5 is a typical “horn” (the sound made usually resembles a 'honk' , giving it this name) that a vehicle is legally required to have to call attention to some hazard. It emits a loud sound outside the vehicle 1.

The vehicle 1 is preferably a car as represented by figure 1, but might be any vehicle with a sound-making device 5 such as a truck, a motorcycle, a bus, etc.

Classically, said vehicle 1 honking system 2 comprises:

- A honking trigger 3, generally a button on the steering wheel or a lever near it；

- A controller 4 (which for example consists in at least one processor and/or at least one microchip) connected to the honking trigger 3, for controlling the sound-making device 5 so as to possibly operate it when the driver is triggering the honking trigger 3. More precisely, the controller 4 receives a honking request from the honking trigger 3 when the honking trigger 3 is operated by the driver of the vehicle 1.

The present honking system 2 comprises a communication module for wirelessly communicating with others communication modules, in particular according to a short-range wireless technology such as DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications) or Bluetooth.

The honking system 2 is also connected to at least one

proximity sensor

30a, 30b of the vehicle 1. Said

proximity sensor

30a, 30b may be comprised in the honking system 2, or already equipping the vehicle 1.

Said

proximity sensor

30a, 30b is able to detect a

communication unit

40a, 40b in the vicinity of the car 1, i.e. an electronic device comprising a communication module for wirelessly communicating, preferably according to the short range technology previously mentioned. As it will be detailed,

communication units

40a, 40b can be of various types, and might be for example other connected honking systems, mobile terminals (smartphones) , smart objects, etc.

Various technologies are known for providing such a

proximity sensor

30a, 30b able to detect neighboring

communication units

40a, 40b, in particular through wave detection. Advantageously, each proximity sensor 40a, 40 is itself a short-range communication module (in particular of the honking system 2) , it detects another

communication unit

40a, 40b if they can talk to each other. Consequently, each

proximity sensor

40a, 40b transmits to the controller 4 a list of the

communication units

40a, 40b they are able to talk with, and the controller 4 sends messages to these

communications units

40a, 40b through the

proximity sensors

30a, 30b.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one

proximity sensor

30a, 30b is able to determine the direction of a detected

communication unit

40a, 40b with respect to the car.

To this end, either there is one high-

end proximity sensor

30a, 30b able to locate the

communication unit

40a, 40b, or there is a plurality of

directional proximity sensor

30a, 30b spread over the geometry of the vehicle 1. In the example of figure 1, there is a first proximity sensor 30a at the front of the vehicle 1 (for detecting a first communication unit 40a in front of the vehicle 1) , and a second proximity sensor 30b located at the rear of the vehicle 1 (for detecting a second communication unit 40b behind the vehicle 1) .

In such a case, the exterior sound-making device 5 may able to directionally emit sound. In particular, if there is a plurality of

proximity sensors

30a, 30b each with a given detection direction, the exterior sound-making device 5 advantageously comprises a plurality of directional sound emitters each collocated with a

proximity sensor

30a, 30b as to emit sound in the detection direction of said

proximity sensor

30a, 30b.

Silent honking

The present honking system 2 aims at silently honking at neighboring

entities

10a, 10b if possible (the neighboring entities being principally vehicles 10a but also pedestrians 10b, bikes or even road infrastructures) , while still being able to normally honk if the neighboring entity which is honked at (called the “honkee” ) is not configured for silent honking.

To this end, the controller 4 is configured to, when receiving a honking request from the honking trigger 3 (i.e. when the driver wants to honk) :

- if the

proximity sensor

30a, 30b of the vehicle 1 has detected a

communication unit

40a, 40b in the vicinity of the vehicle 1, and if the detected communication unit 40b, 40c is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system 2, send to said

communication unit

40a, 40b a warning signal ；

- else operate the exterior sound-making device 5.

In other words, instead of trying to detect any neighboring entity, which is practically impossible, the present honking system 2 looks for

communication units

40a, 40b in the vicinity of the vehicle 1 using the

proximity sensors

30a, 30b, because

such communications units

40a, 40b are very widespread and easy to detect. To rephrase again, are not found all of the neighboring entities, but the correct entities to receive the warning signal.

In a first example wherein the entity 10a is a vehicle as represented by the upper part of figure 1, its communication unit 40a may be its honking system, advantageously similar to the present honking system 2 of the vehicle 1. In particular, this honking system 40a is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system 2, and is connected to an interior sound-making device (such as a speaker) , for emitting a sound inside the vehicle 10a when receiving a “warning signal” , i.e. a silent warning signal (a request for silent honking) , wirelessly sent. Thus, the loud honking of the vehicle 1 is replaced by a noise music, etc. performed inside the other vehicle 10a, with no disruption to the outside.

In another example, in particular if the entity 10b is a person (a pedestrian or a bike) as represented by the lower part of figure 1, the associated communication unit 40b may a smartphone of the person. Such a smartphone 40b is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system 2, and is connected to a small speaker or headphone, for ringing when receiving the warning signal. It has to be noted that a smartphone may be used as the communication unit 40b of a vehicle or any entity.

When the controller 4 tries to detect

communication units

40a, 40b (from the

proximity sensors

30a, 30b) following reception of a honking request from the honking trigger 3, if no

communication unit

40a, 40b is found, it does not mean the vehicle 1 is alone, but rather that there are probably only undetectable entities around, and the exterior sound-making device 5 has to be normally operated so as to warn them.

If at least neighboring

communication unit

40a, 40b is found, it means that there is at least one neighboring

entity

10a, 10b (avehicle, a pedestrian with a smartphone, etc. ) and it is assumed that:

- this entity is a potential target honkee；

- this entity might handle silent honking.

Therefore, the controller 4 advantageously determines if each detected

communication unit

40a, 40b is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system 2, i.e. if the detected

communication unit

40a, 40b is able to open a fully efficient communication channel so as to accept the “warning signal” and to process it. If so, a silent honking might be possible.

However, if at least one

communication unit

40a, 40b is not able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system 2, it means that it is not possible to silently honk at the

entity

10a, 10b comprising this communication unit. Consequently, the exterior sound-making device 5 has also to be operated.

Indeed if

several communication units

40a, 40b are detected in the vicinity of the vehicle 1, then the possibility of opening a communication channel should be checked for all detected

units

40a, 40b, and if just one cannot be reached, a normal honking has to be done, so as to prevent anyone from missing the warning.

To the contrary, if each detected

communication unit

40a, 40b is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system 2, it means that every neighboring

entity

10a, 10b can handle a silent honking, and that there can be no normal honking using the exterior sound-making device 5. Consequently, the controller 4 sends to said

communication units

40a, 40b the warning signal.

As any neighboring

entity

10a, 10b receives the warning signal, it means that the absence of normal honking using the exterior sound-making device 5 is not a safety problem, and the noise pollution is reduced.

It is to noted that advantageously, in the case wherein at least one

communication unit

40a, 40b is not able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system 2 (the exterior sound-making device 5 has to be normally operated) , the controller 4 may further send to each

communication unit

40a, 40b able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system 2 the warning signal (to have both silent and normal honking) .

Such an embodiment is very useful when using direction-

sensitive proximity sensors

30a, 30b, and direction-sensitive exterior sound-making devices 5.

Indeed, the controller 4 may be further configured to, when receiving a honking request from the honking trigger 3:

- if the

proximity sensor

30a, 30b has detected in the vicinity of the vehicle 1 a first communication unit 40a according to a first direction, and a second communication unit 40b according to a second direction； and if the first communication unit 40a is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system 2 but not the second communication unit 40b, operate the exterior sound-making device 5 so as to honk toward the second communication unit 40b but not toward the first communication unit 40a.

Consequently, the first communication unit 40a is silently honked at (but without loud exterior sound toward it) , while the second communication unit 40a is normally honked at.

It allows reducing the noise as it becomes directional, then less perceptible in the other directions.

In a preferred embodiment, the present vehicle 1 may itself be silently honked at. To this end, the controller 4 is further configured to operate an interior sound-making device 6 of the vehicle 1 when wirelessly receiving a warning message from another

communication unit

40a, 40b.

Thus, in a second aspect, the present invention concerns an assembly of a honking system 2 according to the first aspect of the invention and at least one

communication unit

40a, 40b.

As already explained, the communication unit 40a may be the whole honking system of another vehicle 10a, and in particular a honking system according to the first aspect of the invention (wherein the controller 4 is further configured to operate an interior sound-making device 6 of the vehicle 1 when wirelessly receiving a warning message from another

communication unit

40a, 40b) . Alternatively or additionally, the communication unit 40b may be a mobile terminal of a person, in particular a pedestrian or a biker.

It is to be noted that the communication unit detection might be overridden in some special cases, in particular if the velocity of the vehicle 1 is superior to a predetermined threshold (for example 10 mph) . Indeed, when the vehicle 1 is going fast, firstly it is generally outside cities (and the noise pollution is no more a problem) , and secondly the relative movement of the vehicle 1 and

other entities

10a, 10b may be too fast for properly detecting neighboring

communication units

40a, 40b. Therefore, for the sake of safety, the controller 4 will operate the exterior sound-making device 5 directly.

Method and computer program

In another aspect, the present invention concerns the method for for processing a honking request from a honking trigger 3 of a vehicle 1, as performed by the honking system 2 as previously described.

This method comprises performing by a controller 4 steps of:

- determining if at least one

proximity sensor

30a, 30b of the vehicle 1 has detected a

communication unit

40a, 40b in the vicinity of the vehicle 1, and if the detected

communication unit

40a, 40b is able to wirelessly communicate with the controller 4；

- if so, sending to said

communication unit

40a, 40b a warning signal (so as to for example operate an interior sound-making device 6 of another vehicle 10a) , else operating an exterior sound-making device 5 of the vehicle 1.

The invention further proposes a computer program product, comprising code instructions for executing (in particular with a controller 4 of the honking system 2) a method according to the method for processing a honking request from a honking trigger 3； and a computer-readable medium (in particular a memory of the controller 4) , on which is stored a computer program product comprising code instructions for executing said method.

Claims

A vehicle (1) honking system (2) comprising:

-A honking trigger (3) ；

-A controller (4) of an exterior sound-making device (5) of the vehicle (1) ；

The controller (4) being configured to, when receiving a honking request from the honking trigger (3) :

-if at least one proximity sensor (30a, 30b) of the vehicle (1) has detected a communication unit (40a, 40b) in the vicinity of the vehicle (1) , and if the detected communication unit (40a, 40b) is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system (2) , send to said communication unit (40a, 40b) a warning signal；

-else operate the exterior sound-making device (5) .
A honking system according to claim 1, wherein the controller (4) is configured to, when receiving a honking request from the honking trigger (3) :

-if the proximity sensor (30a, 30b) has detected at least one communication unit (40a, 40b) in the vicinity of the vehicle (1) :

o determine if each detected communication unit (40a, 40b) is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system (2) ； and

o if each detected communication unit (40a, 40b) is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system (2) , send to said communication units (40a, 40b) the warning signal；

-operate the exterior sound-making device (5) in any other case.
A honking system according to claim 2, wherein the controller (4) is further configured to, when receiving a honking request from the honking trigger (3) :

-if the proximity sensor (30a, 30b) has detected a plurality of communication units (40b, 40c) in the vicinity of the vehicle (1) :

o determine if each detected communication unit (40a, 40b) is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system (2) ； and

o if at least one communication unit (40a, 40b) is not able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system (2) :

■ send to each communication unit (40a, 40b) able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system (2) the warning signal； and

■ operate the exterior sound-making device (5) .
A honking system according to claim 3, wherein the proximity sensor (30a, 30b) is able to directionally detect a communication unit (40a, 40b) in the vicinity of the vehicle (1) ； wherein the exterior sound-making device (5) is able to directionally emit sound； and wherein the controller (4) is further configured to, when receiving a honking request from the honking trigger (3) :

-if the proximity sensor (30a, 30b) has detected in the vicinity of the vehicle (1) a first communication unit (40a) according to a first direction, and a second communication unit (40b) according to a second direction； and if the first communication unit (40a) is able to wirelessly communicate with the honking system (2) but not the second communication unit (40b) , operate the exterior sound-making device (5) so as to honk toward the second communication unit (40b) but not toward the first communication unit (40a) .
A honking system according claims 4, comprising a plurality of proximity sensors (30a, 30b) each with a given detection direction； wherein the exterior sound-making device (5) comprises a plurality of directional sound emitters each collocated with a proximity sensor (30a, 30b) so as to emit sound in the detection direction of said proximity sensor (30a, 30b) .
A honking system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the controller (4) is further configured to operate an interior sound-making device (6) of the vehicle (1) when wirelessly receiving a warning message from another communication unit (40a, 40b) .
An assembly of a honking system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6 and at least one communication unit (40a, 40b) , the communication unit (40a, 40b) being either the honking system of another vehicle (10a) or a mobile terminal of a person (10b) .
An assembly according to claim 7 comprising at least two honking systems (2, 40a) according to claim 6.
A method for processing a honking request from a honking trigger (3) of a vehicle (1) , comprising performing by a controller (4) steps of:

-determining if at least one proximity sensor (30a, 30b) of the vehicle (1) has detected a communication unit (40a, 40b) in the vicinity of the vehicle (1) , and if the detected communication unit (40a, 40b) is able to wirelessly communicate with the controller (4) ；

-if so, sending to said communication unit (40a, 40b) a warning signal, else operating an exterior sound-making device (5) of the vehicle (1) .
A computer program product, comprising code instructions for executing a method according to claim 9 for processing a honking request from a honking trigger (3) .
A computer-readable medium, on which is stored a computer program product comprising code instructions for executing a method according to claim 9 for processing a honking request from a honking trigger (3) .