WO2006013125A1 - Evaluating unit for increasing safety when using a means of locomotion and a corresponding method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an evaluating unit (60) for increasing safety when using at least one means of locomotion, particularly a motor vehicle, this means of locomotion comprising at least one user interface (10, 12), at least one assessing unit (30) for calculating a measure of danger (32) and/or at least one safety and/or comfort device (40, 50) that can be activated in the event of a specified driving situation. The aim of the invention is to improve an evaluating unit of the aforementioned type so that the supply of information provided to the operator of the means of locomotion is both quantitatively as well as qualitatively adapted to the respective driving situation and that the user interface (10, 12) can be controlled (70) by means of the evaluating unit (60), which is connected downstream from the assessing unit (30) and/or from the safety and/or comfort device (40, 50), according to the calculated measure of danger (32) and/or according to the activity of the safety and/or comfort device (40, 50), and the output of information can be regulated, in particular, modified.

Description

Evaluation unit for increasing the safety in guiding a

Means of transport and related method

Technical area

The present invention relates to an evaluation unit according to the preamble of claim 1, a system having at least one such evaluation unit and a method according to the preamble of claim 5.

State of the art

Driver assistance systems (FAS) are increasingly found in modern power tools; Various safety and / or comfort systems are already in production, such as the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), the Antilock Braking System (ABS), the

Electronic Stability Program (ESP) or Brake Assist. In these systems, there is hardly any communication between the components for controlling the actuators, such as the engine or the brake, and the audio and / or video components present in most vehicles, such as the radio, the multifunction display or the monitor. Warnings of the driver are made in the prior art only by lighting a warning lamp or by issuing a warning tone, such as during an ESP intervention.

From the document DE 44 16 507 Al is a method for detecting the Usage authorization for a vehicle is known, which engages in the identification of the driver in the lock-up function for commissioning the vehicle, namely, depending on the driver's identification made using a camera unlocks the start-up of the vehicle.

The document DE 38 17 495 A1 discloses a control device for user-specific adaptation of the parameterization of various electronically adjustable functions in a motor vehicle. According to this control device, however, only the user-specific features, but not the respective traffic situation, are used for the adaptation of the functions.

In order to avoid distractions of the driver of a means of transport from the traffic, the document DE 102 55435 A1 describes a so-called speed-lock function which restricts or prevents the possibility of operating an in-vehicle device, in particular a driver information system, for example a navigation system, while driving , Here, the automatic restriction of the operation control (speed-lock function) is activated in dependence on the driving state of the means of locomotion, for example, depending on the seat occupancy of the passenger seat or in dependence on the vehicle speed. In the assessment of the driving condition here only the own vehicle speed is considered, but not the vehicle environment. Although the Speed Lock function prevents the driver from being distracted from the traffic by operating a driver information system, it does not assist the driver in selecting the information provided by the driver information system.

However, especially in dangerous traffic situations, it is important that the driver is supplied with only the most necessary, that is to say with safety-related information, so that he can focus his remaining concentration on the reception of this important information.

A device for filtering the information provided by the driver information system is known from the document DE 19952 857 Cl. This device recorded by means of a camera and microphone driver state and represents depending on the driver's mood only certain information. In an emergency, that is recognizing a high stress situation of the driver, in addition to the driver information system, the engine and the brake can be controlled automatically. By means of the device according to the publication DE 199 52 857 Cl thus becomes a driver state dependent

Operation control of the means of locomotion enabled is considered disadvantageous in the known device, however, that for the operation control substantially the driver state, but not the traffic situation is relevant. Furthermore, the vehicle condition is considered only to a very limited extent, for example in terms of speed, the cooling water temperature, the tire pressure and the

Tank article.

A system and a method of the type mentioned is disclosed in the document DE 102 18 681 Al. According to this system, the operation control of electronic equipment of a traveling means is gradually promoted. The degree of gradual support depends on the load on the driver or on the condition of the driver and on the complexity of the traffic situation, as measured by the speed of the vehicle, the vehicle volume and the weather conditions. With the help of this system or method so a measure of the burden of an operator of an electronic device is determined and in ι

Depending on the specific measure, the operation input by means of Vorgben supported. However, by means of the system or method described in the document DE 102 18 681 A1, the traffic situation is assessed only as a lump sum; a concrete danger situation, for example too close to a leading vehicle, is not recognized, in particular it is not limited to an individual

Danger situation reacts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: Problem, Solution, Advantages

Based on the disadvantages and inadequacies set out above and in appreciation of the state of the art outlined, the present invention is based on the object, an evaluation unit of the type mentioned, a system of the type mentioned and a method of the type mentioned - A -

to develop further that the information offered to the guide of the means of transport is adapted both quantitatively and qualitatively to the respective driving situation.

This object is achieved by an evaluation unit with the specified in claim 1

Characteristics, solved by a system having the features specified in claim 4 and by a method having the features specified in claim 5. Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the present invention are characterized in the respective subclaims.

Thus, the present invention is based on the preferably automatic driving of the user interface of the means of locomotion; In particular, for example, the interface of at least one driver information system can be modified, and thus information can be added, switched off or hidden.

Conveniently, a coupling of the evaluation unit and / or the higher-level system according to the present invention to a known per se from the prior art device for detecting driving situations with increased risk potential can be made. BJ.

The invention offers the advantage that a targeted control of the user interface, in particular for a suitable period of time and / or in critical driving situations, is ensured. Due to the selection and / or modification of the information according to the invention, the driver can record in non-critical situations vehicle information-relevant information, such as telephoning or calling

Operating the navigation module.

In critical situations, however, the channels of the information supply, for example radio-receivable radio-frequency offerings, are interrupted, and only targeted information about the current driving situation, for example specific warnings, takes place for a suitable duration. The automated selection of the information output avoids excessive demands on the driver's attention and directs the concentration to the vehicle management with high priority. The guide of the means of locomotion thus turns his attention when used according to the invention of the evaluation device, the system and the method from the provided via the user interface infotainment and focuses fully on the critical driving situation. In this case, if necessary, he can in turn be informed selectively and exclusively about the driving situation via the user interface, in particular be acoustically and / or visually and / or haptically warned of the critical driving situation in a suitable manner.

According to the invention, therefore, the current output of information directed to the driver of the means of transportation is modified; for example, in one

Hazard situation unimportant information, such as fuel consumption, map, travel time or telephone conversation, automatically hidden. In addition, the operator control of devices located in the driving compartment, such as navigation system, radio or telephone, can additionally be controlled; in particular, unimportant entry options can be automatically prevented in dangerous situations.

In the calculation and / or interprelation of the risk measure relevant for the modification of the user interface, the specific traffic situation is detected and included according to the invention by means of the detection unit, for example by means of environment sensors. So there is no overall assessment of the situation, for

Example in that only the own speed is taken into account, but rather the risk measure is calculated based on a concrete, individual Fährsituation and thus in the case of activation of the user interface, such as a driver information system interface, this control made on the basis of concrete, individual driving situation.

Regardless of or in connection herewith, in order to control the user interface, for example the audio interface and / or the video interface, in the evaluation unit advantageously - depending on the calculated risk measure and / or

- Formed depending on the activity of the safety and / or comfort device a Kritikalitätsmaß for the respective driving situation, in particular for a dangerous situation. Advantageously, the user interface intended for outputting information, for example the audio interface and / or the video interface, is thus controlled as a function of the criticality of the driving situation in order to restrict the information output. The criticality of the driving situation can be determined from vehicle sensor data, for example by means of the vehicle speed.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention thus includes a method and a device for forming a measure of the criticality of a driving situation. In this case, the control of the user interface preferably takes place when at least one threshold value of the criterion of criticality is exceeded. The cancellation of the control of the user interface, however, advantageously takes place when falling below all thresholds of Kritikalitätsmaßes and / or with at least a small time delay.

Finally, the present invention relates to the use of at least one evaluation unit according to the kind set out above and / or at least one system according to the kind set out above and / or a method according to the above-mentioned kind - for the audible and / or visual and / or haptic warning of the driver of

Means of transport in a dangerous situation and / or

- For the automatic selection of the information to be issued to the driver of the means of transport during a dangerous situation.

The present invention can thus, for example, in the following traffic situations to

Get used:

(i) The operator of the means of locomotion is driving on a winding road, the speed of driving through the curve ahead of the driver of the vehicle being too high. (ii) the operator of the means of transport is approaching an intersection, whereby a

Collision with a vehicle approaching from the left or right threatens.

(iii) The guide of the means of transport drives with unadjusted

Speed on a traffic jam too, especially if the end of this jam behind one

Dome and / or lies behind a bend. Brief description of the drawings

As already discussed above, there are various possibilities for embodying and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. For this purpose, reference is made on the one hand to the dependent claims 1 and 5 claims, on the other hand, further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will be described below with reference to the two illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 exemplary embodiments.

It shows:

Fig. 1 in a schematic representation a first exemplary embodiment of a system according to the present invention, which according to the method according to the present

Invention works; and

2 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a system according to the present invention, which operates according to the method according to the present invention.

To avoid superfluous repetition, the following explanations concerning the embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention - unless otherwise stated - refer to both embodiments according to the present invention (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Same or similar

Embodiments, elements or features are provided in Figures 1 and 2 with identical reference numerals.

Best way to carry out the invention FIGS. 1 and 2 each show a driver assistance system 100 or 100 'for modifying two user interfaces 10, 12 assigned to a means of transportation, namely an audio interface 10 and a video interface 12.

The driver assistance system 100 or 100 'has two detection units 20, 22, namely a first environment sensor 20 and a second environment sensor 22, for detecting internal or external conditions of the means of locomotion. The detection units 20, 22 is followed by an evaluation unit 30, the

with the internal conditions detected by the acquisition unit 20 in the form of data 26, as well as

- Can be acted upon by the detection unit 22 in the form of data 28 detected external conditions. On the basis of the supplied data 26, 28, this evaluation unit 30 calculates a risk measure 32.

The driver assistance system 100 or 100 'further has two safety devices 40, 50, namely an A [ntiJB [lock] S [ystem] 40 and an E [lectronic] S [tability] P [rogramm] module 50, which are incorporated in US Pat Presence of a particular driving situation to be activated. The evaluation unit 30 and the safety devices 40, 50 are followed by an evaluation unit 60.

In the first exemplary embodiment of the system 100 according to FIG. 1, the evaluation unit 60 is provided with the risk measure 32, with an intervention signal 42 of the A [nti] B [lock] S [ystems] 40 and with an intervention signal 52 of the E [electronic] S [stability]. P [rogramm] module 50 applied.

According to the second exemplary embodiment of the system 100 'according to FIG. 2, the evaluation unit 30 can also be acted upon by data 44 or 54 transmitted by the two safety and / or comfort devices 40 and 50. In this case, when calculating the hazard measure 32 next to that of the

Environment sensors 20 bzw.22 transmitted data 26 and 28 and the data sent by the security systems 40 and 50, respectively, 44 and 54 taken into account.

In any case, (<-> reference numeral 62) forms the evaluation unit 60 in FIG Depending on the risk measure 32 and / or depending on the activity of the safety devices 40, 50 a criticality measure 64 for the respective driving situation.

This criticality measure 64 is tested for a threshold 66. When the threshold value 66 is exceeded, an activation 70 of the audio interface takes place

10 and the video editing parts 12 so that their output is regulated and modified by information. When falling below the threshold value 66, the control 70 of the user interfaces 10, 12 is canceled again with at least a slight time delay.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, a method and a device 100 or 100 'for the specific modification of the audio and / or video interface 10, 12 in critical driving situations are shown. Possible manifestations of critical driving situations are, for example, situations in which the vehicle is or becomes unstable. This is for example when engaging the ABS module 40 and / or the ESP module

50 the case.

In a critical driving situation, for example, from the safety system 40, 50 known per se from the prior art, for example from the ABS 40 and / or from the ESP 50, it is determined that a hazard measure 32 provided by this safety system 40, 50 is above a defined safety level Threshold is. This safety system 40, 50 can evaluate data from the environment sensors 20, 22, for example from the radar, ultrasound and / or video sensors, to determine such a hazard measure 32. The threat measure 32 can increase in different situations, for example in the case of an imminent collision or the impending lane departure agreement.

In all cases, a notification 32, 42, 52 (see Figure 1) and 32 (as a result of 44, 54, see Figure 2) on the occurrence of a critical driving situation to the inventive device 60 for modifying the audio and / or

Video interface 10, 12.

In the following examples for possible variations of temporal courses of a modification are given: - A modification of the audio and / or video interface 10, 12 is triggered as soon as a critical driving situation is detected, for example, when a collision with high probability is imminent.

- A modification of the audio and / or video interface 10, 12 is canceled as soon as no critical driving situation is detected.

- A modification of the audio and / or video interface 10, 12 is canceled as soon as no critical driving situation is detected, but at the earliest after a minimum period of time, for example, to avoid oscillations in the modification.

- A modification of the audio and / or video interface 10, 12 is gradually removed as soon as no critical driving situation is detected, for example, first the volume is slowly set to the old level and / or first the interruption of a telephone conversation canceled and something later the monitor switched back on.

Furthermore, in the following possible variants for the modification of

Audio and / or video interface 10, 12 called:

- mute or significantly reduce the volume of the audio source, such as the C [ompact] D [isc] player or the radio;

- interrupting a telephone call with an automatic message to the -nii caller, the message includes, for example, that the driver is temporarily unavailable; however, the connection is held, and after completion of the critical situation is switched through again;

Hiding video data from the infotainment area, for example the travel time, the current fuel consumption and / or the T [ele] V [ision] reception; - send a uniform warning signal for all driving critical situations as a clear signal to the driver to focus now exclusively on driving the vehicle; and or

- Disable all controls with exclusive infotainment functionality.

The output of audio and / or video data, for example by speakers and / or monitors, and the corresponding controls in the vehicle are directly accessible. It can be easily determined whether the audio and / or video interface 10, 12 differs in detection of a critical driving situation from the "normal" setting.

Claims

Claims First evaluation unit (60) for increasing security, in particular for Avoiding accidents while keeping at least one - At least one, in particular for the output of information provided, user interface (10, 12), for example, at least one audio interface (10) and / or at least one video interface (12), and - At least one evaluation unit (30) for calculating a risk measure (32) and / or at least one safety and / or comfort device (40, 50) which can be activated in the presence of a specific driving situation, in particular a dangerous situation, in particular at least one A daptive C [ruise] C ontrol device and / or at least one A nti] B [lockier] S [ystem] (40) and / or at least one brake assistance device and / or at least one parking aid and / or at least one E [lektronisches] S [tabili] p [rogramm] module (50) and / or at least one navigation device and / or at least one Parkpiloteinrichtung having means of locomotion, in particular motor vehicle, characterized in that by means of the evaluation unit (30) and / or the safety and / or comfort device (40, 50) downstream evaluation unit (60) - calculated hazard level (32), in particular at Exceeding a certain hazard (32), and / or depending on the activity of the safety and / or comfort device (40, 50), in particular upon engagement (42, 52) of the safety and / or comfort device (40, 50), the user interface (10, 12) is controllable (70) and the output of the information, for example audio information and / or video information, is adjustable, in particular modifiable. 2. Evaluation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the Ejection unit (30) - with at least one for detecting internal and / or external conditions, for example vehicle parameters and / or the vehicle environment, provided detection unit (20, 22) transmitted data (26, 28) and / or - with the safety and / or Comfort device (40, 50) transmitted data (44, 54), in particular for evaluating the detected conditions and / or the data (26, 28, 44, 54) provided with regard to the respective danger potential. 3. evaluation unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for controlling the user interface (10, 12) - depending on the calculated Geiahrdungsmaß (32) and / or - Depending on the activity of the safety and / or comfort device (40, 50) Λ. a measure of criticality (64) for a particular driving situation, in particular for a driving situation Danger situation, bildbar (62) is. 4. System (100, 100 '), in particular driver assistance system, comprising - At least one, in particular for the output of information provided, user interface (10, 12), for example, at least one audio interface (10) and / or at least one video interface (12), and - At least one evaluation unit (30) for calculating a risk measure (32) and / or at least one safety and / or comfort device (40, 50) which can be activated in the presence of a specific driving situation, in particular a crash situation, in particular at least one A daptive C [ruise] C [onuOl] device and / or at least one A [ nti] B [lockier] S [ystem] (40) and / or at least one brake assistance device and / or at least one parking aid and / or at least one E [lektronisches] S [tabilMts] P [rogramm] module (50) and / or at least one Navigation device and / or at least one Parkpiloteinrichtung, and at least one evaluation unit (60) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3. 5. A method for increasing security, in particular for avoiding Accidents, in traffic, being internal and / or external conditions, for example vehicle parameters and / or the vehicle environment, of at least one means of transportation, in particular a motor vehicle, in the form of data (26, 28, 44, 54) are detected and extracted from the data (26, 28; 54) a hazard measure (32) is calculated, in particular the conditions recorded with regard to the respective risk potential are evaluated, and / or - at least one safety and / or comfort device (40, 50) is activated in the presence of a specific driving situation, in particular a dangerous situation, that is, that there is - Depending on the calculated risk measure (32), in particular when exceeding a certain risk measure (32), and / or - Depending on the activation of the safety and / or comfort device (40, 50), in particular in intervention (42, 52) of the safety and / or comfort device (40, 50), at least one, in particular for the output of information provided, user interface (10, 12), for example at least one audio interface (10) and / or at least one video interface (12), the means of transport (70) and regulates the output of the information, for example audio information and / or video information, in particular modified , becomes 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that - depending on the calculated hazard (32) and / or - In dependence on the activation of the safety and / or comfort device (40, 50) a Critikalitätsmaß (64) formed for the driving situation (62). 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the user interface (10, 12) when exceeding at least one threshold value (66) of the criticality measure (64) is driven (70). 8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the driving (70) of the user interface (10, 12) - When falling below all thresholds (66) of the criticality measure (64) and / or - is repealed with at least a small time delay. 9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the regulating, in particular the modification, of the respective information to be outputted is gradually eliminated. 10. Use of at least one evaluation unit (60) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3 and / or at least one system (100; 100 ') according to claim 4 and / or a method according to at least one of claims 5 to 9 - for acoustic and / or or visual and / or haptic warning of the leader of the Means of transport in a dangerous situation and / or for automatic selection of the information to be given to the driver of the means of transport during a dangerous situation.