Method for a motor vehicle for controlling an occupant protection component of the motor vehicle, computer program and / or computer-readable medium, data processing device and motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for a motor vehicle for controlling an occupant protection component of the motor vehicle, the method comprising: detecting a potential accident opponent of the motor vehicle; detecting accident opponent data relating to the potential accident opponent and motor vehicle data relating to the motor vehicle; determining, based on the accident opponent data and the motor vehicle data, acceleration information relating to a possible accident between the potential accident opponent and the motor vehicle, wherein the acceleration information characterizes an acceleration of the motor vehicle during the possible accident; and outputting a control signal for controlling the occupant protection component of the motor vehicle taking into account the acceleration information.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for a motor vehicle for controlling an occupant protection component of the motor vehicle. The disclosure also relates to a computer program and / or computer-readable medium, a data processing device, and a motor vehicle.

[0002] Methods for monitoring occupant protection components of motor vehicles are known from the prior art. Such an occupant protection component can, for example, comprise a restraint system, in particular a belt system and / or an airbag. It is known that, for example, an acceleration and / or pressure sensor of the motor vehicle can sense an accident. By sensing the accident, the occupant protection component can be monitored; for example, the occupant protection component can be triggered and / or parameters for operating the occupant protection component can be set. The occupant protection component is monitored reactively, for example, to accelerations measured in the vehicle.

[0003] It is also known that vehicle cameras, for example, can be used to identify the vehicle's surroundings for automated driving. This can be used to predict or predict a possible future accident. This can be used, for example, to monitor a restraint system.

[0004] DE 10 2015 207 375 A1 discloses a method for monitoring an area in front of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has a first sensor directed towards the area and a second sensor directed towards the area, wherein the second sensor has a larger vertical detection angle than the first sensor, wherein in an assignment step, distance information detected by the first sensor is assigned to an object detected by the second sensor in the area. In a tracking step, a position of the object is tracked using the second sensor if the object leaves the detection angle of the first sensor due to a pitch angle of the vehicle. For example, a head-on collision with a vehicle can be predicted by the radar sensor.During the predicted time at which the accident should occur, the activation threshold for restraint systems is reduced, resulting in a more sensitive and earlier response.

[0005] DE 10 2017 204 416 A1 discloses a device and a method for triggering an automatic reaction of a motor vehicle in a current traffic situation to an impending accident situation comprising a primary accident and / or a subsequent event, wherein the method comprises the following steps: combining data from sensor and / or information systems of the motor vehicle in a computing unit to create a model of the existing traffic situation, analyzing the traffic situation and determining reaction options, considering expected sequences beyond the primary accident, including subsequent movements of involved road users and objects up to secondary accidents or further subsequent accidents or possibly arising further dangerous situations,Calculating a probability distribution and / or extent of personal injury and / or property damage to the road users and objects involved depending on the response options, selecting the response option that is expected to result in the lowest overall probability or the lowest extent of personal injury and / or property damage to all road users and objects involved, issuing control signals to initiate the selected response option.

[0006] Against the background of this prior art, one object of the present disclosure is to provide a method suitable for enriching the prior art and improving at least the above-mentioned aspects of the prior art. In particular, the object of the disclosure is to enable further improved monitoring of occupant protection components.

[0007] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. The subclaims contain further developments of the disclosure.

[0008] According to one aspect of the disclosure, the object is achieved by a method for a motor vehicle for controlling an occupant protection component of the motor vehicle, the method comprising: detecting a potential accident opponent of the motor vehicle; detecting accident opponent data relating to the potential accident opponent and motor vehicle data relating to the motor vehicle; determining, based on the accident opponent data and the motor vehicle data, acceleration information relating to a possible accident between the potential accident opponent and the motor vehicle, wherein the acceleration information characterizes an acceleration of the motor vehicle during the possible accident; and outputting a control signal for controlling the occupant protection component of the motor vehicle taking into account the acceleration information.

[0009] It was recognized that it is possible to deal with a potential accident more specifically if the potential other vehicle is not only recorded and identified as such before the accident, but if data relating to the motor vehicle and the other vehicle is then used to characterize the course of the accident with regard to its effects on the motor vehicle. It is therefore proposed that the expected acceleration of the motor vehicle be determined or predicted based on the other vehicle's data. Using the motor vehicle data and the other vehicle's data based on the accident pairing, for example, an acceleration curve can be calculated and / or predicted in order to characterize the acceleration of the motor vehicle in the potential accident.This allows a parameter relevant for a potential accident, namely acceleration, to be taken into account by taking into account the acceleration information in the event of a possible triggering and / or operation of the occupant protection component.

[0010] Optionally, the acceleration information characterizes a temporal progression and / or a maximum of the acceleration of the motor vehicle during the potential accident. It was recognized that it is possible to reliably characterize the potential accident using the motor vehicle data and the other vehicle data. Using the motor vehicle data and the other vehicle data, the accident or its progression can be characterized over time, i.e. from the time of contact between the motor vehicle and the other vehicle until, for example, the motor vehicle comes to a standstill. This can be represented by the temporal progression, which represents the acceleration over time. A maximum acceleration can result in a maximum force on an occupant of the motor vehicle, meaning that the maximum acceleration can be used particularly advantageously to determine the control signal.

[0011] Optionally, the potential other party involved in the accident can be detected by an external camera device on the vehicle and / or by a communication interface configured for wireless communication. It has been recognized that the other party involved in the accident, for example, if the other party is a motor vehicle and / or an infrastructure element, can be precisely detected, identified, and / or located using wireless communication. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to use image data from the external camera device to detect the other party involved in the accident, for example, in addition to wireless communication or alternatively if the other party does not communicate wirelessly.

[0012] Optionally, the acquisition of the other party's data can be retrieved from a database and, as a fallback, an estimation based on image data from an external camera device on the vehicle. For motor vehicles as the other party's accident, for example, the manufacturer, vehicle type, and / or age of the other party can be identified, and the mass and / or deformation path can be determined from a database. As a fallback, if this data cannot be retrieved from a database, an estimation can be made based on processing the image data. This allows the acceleration information to be determined in any case.

[0013] Optionally, the other vehicle data characterizes the speed, mass, and / or deformation path of the potential other vehicle. It was recognized that this data can be relevant to the other vehicle, enabling reliable and effective determination of acceleration information.

[0014] Optionally, the control signal can be configured to influence the deployment of an airbag and / or a seat belt system as a occupant protection component of the motor vehicle. This allows, in particular, the restraint system or its deployment to be adapted to the potential accident, enabling a potentially more favorable and less serious outcome of the accident even before it occurs.

[0015] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a computer program and / or a computer-readable medium is provided. The computer program and / or the computer-readable medium comprise instructions which, when the program or instructions are executed by a data processing device, cause the device to perform the method according to the disclosure and / or steps thereof. Optionally, the computer program and / or the computer-readable medium comprises instructions which, when the program or instructions are executed by a data processing device, cause the device to perform the method steps described as advantageous or optional in order to achieve an associated technical effect.

[0016] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a data processing device for a motor vehicle is provided. The data processing device is configured to perform the method described above. Optionally, the data processing device is configured to perform a method step described as advantageous or optional and / or to implement a method feature in order to achieve an associated technical effect.

[0017] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a motor vehicle comprising the data processing device described above is provided. Optionally, the data processing device of the motor vehicle and / or the motor vehicle is configured to perform a method step described as advantageous or optional and / or to implement a method feature in order to achieve an associated technical effect.

[0018] In the following, one embodiment is described with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle according to one aspect of the disclosure and a potential accident opponent; Fig. 2 schematically shows a flow diagram of a method according to one aspect of the disclosure; and Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a computer program and / or computer-readable medium according to one aspect of the disclosure.

[0019] Fig. 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle 50 according to one aspect of the disclosure and a potential accident opponent 80.

[0020] Motor vehicle 50 is a land vehicle. Motor vehicle 50 is a passenger car.

[0021] The potential collision opponent 80 is, for example, another motor vehicle, a traffic signal, an infrastructure element, a sign, a bicycle, a person, a plant, a building, or any other object with which the motor vehicle 50 could potentially cause a collision with the potential collision opponent 80. The collision is referred to as an accident. The accident does not necessarily have to be imminent. Thus, any other motor vehicle traveling in front of the motor vehicle 50 and / or approaching the motor vehicle 50 can be considered a potential collision opponent 80 of the motor vehicle 50.

[0022] The motor vehicle 50 has a data processing device 51. The motor vehicle 50 or the data processing device 51 is designed to process the data relating to Fig. 2 described procedure 100.

[0023] For this purpose, the motor vehicle 50 has Fig. 1 comprises an exterior camera device 52, a motor vehicle-side communication interface 53 configured for wireless communication, and an occupant protection component 60, each of which is connected to the data processing device 51 for transmitting information or data. The motor vehicle 50 may similarly comprise further devices, in particular for detecting the surroundings and the potential other party involved in the accident 80.

[0024] The external camera device 52 is designed as a camera device and is configured to capture image data. The external camera device 52 has a capture range that at least partially encompasses the surroundings of the motor vehicle 50. Thus, the surroundings of the motor vehicle 50 can be imaged using the image data, which can be further processed, for example, by the data processing device 51.

[0025] The communication interface 53 is configured to wirelessly exchange and, in particular, receive information or data. For example, the communication interface 53 comprises a so-called V2X interface (vehicle-to-everything; also car-to-everything, Car2X), a V2I interface (vehicle-to-infrastructure; also car-to-infrastructure, Car2I), and / or a V2V interface (vehicle-to-vehicle; also car-to-car, Car2Car). The communication interface 53 is configured, for example, to communicate via a wireless local area network (WLAN) and / or a cellular network. The other party involved in the accident 80 may also have an opposing communication interface 81 configured for such wireless communication. In other embodiments (not shown), the other party involved in the accident 80 may lack such an opposing communication interface 81.

[0026] The occupant protection component 60 is designed, for example, as a restraint system and / or comprises a restraint system. In particular, the occupant protection component 60 comprises an airbag and a belt system to restrain an occupant of the motor vehicle 50 in the event of severe deceleration, for example, during an accident.

[0027] The data processing device 51 is configured to detect the potential other party involved in the accident 80 of the motor vehicle 50. The detection of the potential other party involved in the accident 80 is performed by the vehicle-mounted exterior camera device 52 and / or by the communication interface 53. Via the communication interface 52, the data processing device 51 can receive information regarding the other party involved in the accident 80 transmitted from the other party's communication interface 81. The information regarding the other party involved in the accident 80 can, for example, indicate the type of the other party involved in the accident 80. Additionally or alternatively, particularly if the other party involved in the accident 80 lacks such an other party's communication interface 81, the potential other party involved in the accident 80 can be detected by the exterior camera device 52. Thus, the potential parties involved in the accident are identified by the exterior camera device 52 and / or the communication interface 53.

[0028] The data processing device 51 is configured to acquire accident opponent data 61 relating to the potential other party 80 involved in the accident and motor vehicle data 62 relating to the motor vehicle 50. The acquisition of the motor vehicle data 62 can, for example, be carried out by a query via a vehicle bus, for example a CAN bus. The motor vehicle data 62 can, in particular, include a speed and a mass of the motor vehicle 50. The acquisition of the other party data 61 comprises retrieving it from a database and, as a fallback, estimating it based on image data from an external camera device 52 on the vehicle. This enables a database comparison of the identified parties. If another motor vehicle is involved in the accident 80, the manufacturer, vehicle type, age of the other party 80 involved in the accident, and the mass and deformation paths can be taken from a database.Retrieval from the database can be performed, for example, via the communication interface 53. The communication interface 53 can be connected, for example, to a server external to the vehicle (not shown) via communication technology and / or can directly query the aforementioned data from the other party involved in the accident 80. As a fallback, if retrieval from a database is not possible, an estimate can be made based on processing the image data. The data used to create the database can include official technical data, real and / or simulated accident data. The other party involved in the accident data 61 characterizes a speed, a mass, and / or a deformation path of the potential other party involved in the accident 80.

[0029] The data processing device 51 is configured to use the other party involved in the accident data 61 and the motor vehicle data 62 to determine acceleration information 55 relating to a possible accident between the potential other party involved in the accident 80 and the motor vehicle 50. For this purpose, the other party involved in the accident data 61 and the motor vehicle data 62, which are based, for example, on an exchange between the manufacturers and / or an internal assessment of the mass of the motor vehicle 50, optionally taking into account the mass of one or more occupants, are processed. The acceleration information 55 characterizes an acceleration of the motor vehicle 50 during the possible accident. The acceleration information 55 characterizes a temporal profile and / or a maximum of the acceleration of the motor vehicle 50 during the possible accident.On the basis of the collected information, i.e. the other party involved in the accident data 61 and the motor vehicle data 62, the data processing device 51 optionally continuously determines the expected accident parameters, such as speed differences, an intrusion, a maximum acceleration and / or the acceleration curve, taking into account vehicle accelerations and / or vehicle speeds of the motor vehicle 50 that are still recorded in real time.

[0030] The data processing device 51 is configured to output a control signal 65 for controlling the occupant protection component 60 of the motor vehicle 50, taking into account the acceleration information 55. The control signal 65 is configured to influence the deployment of an airbag and / or a belt system as the occupant protection component 60 of the motor vehicle 50. Based on the acceleration information 55, the occupant protection components 60 are controlled in an adapted manner. For example, the ignition times of the airbags can be shifted forward or backward in time, and adaptivities in the restraint components such as vents, i.e. adaptively controllable openings in an airbag, and / or switchable belts can be adapted to the expected course of the accident.

[0031] Fig. 2 schematically shows a flow diagram of a method 100 according to one aspect of the disclosure. The method 100 according to Fig. 2 is a method 100 for a motor vehicle 50 for controlling an occupant protection component 60 of the motor vehicle 50. Such a motor vehicle 50 is described with reference to Fig. 1 described. Fig. 2 is made with reference to Fig. 1 described.

[0032] The procedure 100 according to Fig. 2 comprises: detecting 110 a potential accident opponent 80 of the motor vehicle 50. The detection 110 of the potential accident opponent 80 is carried out by a motor vehicle-side external camera device 52 and / or by a motor vehicle-side communication interface 53 configured for wireless communication.

[0033] The method 100 comprises: capturing 115 the other party's data 61 relating to the potential other party 80 and the other party's motor vehicle 50. The capturing 115 of the other party's data 61 comprises retrieving it from a database and, as a fallback, estimating it based on image data from an external camera device 52 on the motor vehicle. The other party's data 61 characterize a speed, a mass, and / or a deformation path of the potential other party 80.

[0034] The method 100 comprises: determining 120, based on the other party involved in the accident data 61 and the motor vehicle data 62, acceleration information 55 relating to a possible accident between the potential other party involved in the accident 80 and the motor vehicle 50, wherein the acceleration information 55 characterizes an acceleration of the motor vehicle 50 during the possible accident. The acceleration information 55 characterizes a temporal profile and / or a maximum of the acceleration of the motor vehicle 50 during the possible accident.

[0035] The method 100 comprises: outputting 130 a control signal 65 for controlling the occupant protection component 60 of the motor vehicle 50 taking into account the acceleration information 55. The control signal 65 is configured to influence the deployment of an airbag and / or a belt system as the occupant protection component 60 of the motor vehicle 50.

[0036] The person skilled in the art will recognize that the method 100 according to Fig. 2 can also be performed in a different order than that shown. In particular, it is possible for steps of method 100 to be interchanged, shifted, and / or performed simultaneously.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a computer program and / or computer-readable medium 200 according to one aspect of the disclosure. The computer program and / or computer-readable medium 200 comprises instructions 201 which, upon execution of the program or instructions 201 by a data processing device 51, cause the data processing device 51 to execute the method 100 and / or the steps of the method 100 according to Fig. 2 to be carried out.

[0038] The instructions 201 can be present as program code in any code or in any language, in particular in code suitable for controlling and / or monitoring motor vehicles 50. The computer program and / or computer-readable medium 200 can be or include any digital data storage device, such as a USB stick, a hard drive, a CD-ROM, an SD card, or an SSD card. The computer program does not necessarily have to be stored on such a computer-readable storage medium, but can also be accessible via the Internet or otherwise. Reference symbol (part of the description) 50 motor vehicles 51 Data processing device 52 Outdoor camera device 53 Communication interface 55 Acceleration information 61 Accident opponent data 62 vehicle data 60 occupant protection components 65 Control signal 80 potential accident opponents 81 opposing communication interface 100 procedures 110 Identifying a potential accident opponent 115 Recording other party data 120 Determine 130 Issues 200 Computer program and / or computer-readable medium 201 commands QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2015 207 375 A1

[0004] DE 10 2017 204 416 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Method (100) for a motor vehicle (50) for controlling an occupant protection component (60) of the motor vehicle (50), wherein the method (100) comprises: - Detection (110) of a potential accident opponent (80) of the motor vehicle (50); - Recording (115) data relating to the potential accident opponent (80) and data relating to the motor vehicle (62); - Determine (120), using the accident opponent data (61) and the motor vehicle data (62), acceleration information (55) relating to a possible accident between the potential accident opponent (80) and the motor vehicle (50), wherein the acceleration information (55) characterizes an acceleration of the motor vehicle (50) during the possible accident; and - Output (130) of a control signal (65) to control the occupant protection component (60) of the motor vehicle (50) taking into account the acceleration information (55). [2] Method (100) according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration information (55) characterizes a temporal profile and / or a maximum of the acceleration of the motor vehicle (50) during the possible accident. [3] Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection (110) of the potential accident opponent (80) is carried out by a vehicle-side external camera device (52) and / or by a vehicle-side communication interface (53) equipped for wireless communication. [4] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the acquisition (115) of the accident opponent data (61) comprises retrieval from a database and, as a fallback position, estimation based on image data from a motor vehicle external camera device (52). [5] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the accident opponent data (61) characterize a speed, a mass and / or a deformation path of the potential accident opponent (80). [6] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control signal (65) is configured to influence the triggering of an airbag and / or a belt system as an occupant protection component (60) of the motor vehicle (50). [7] Computer program and / or computer-readable medium (200) comprising instructions (201) which, when the program or instructions (201) are executed by a data processing device (51), cause the device to perform the method (100) and / or the steps of the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. [8] Data processing device (51) for a motor vehicle (50), wherein the data processing device (51) is configured to perform the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. [9] Motor vehicle (50) comprising the data processing device (51) according to claim 8.

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