Method and access control system for projecting light pattern into environment of vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for projecting a light pattern (1) into the surroundings of a vehicle (2) by means of an illumination device (3) of the vehicle (2), in which the light pattern (1) is designed to comprise a code, an optical reader (4) captures the light pattern (1), and a computing unit (5) coupled to the reader (4) identifies the code in the light pattern (1) and prompts the performance of an action in accordance with information described by the code. The method according to the invention is characterized in that the computing unit (5) is integrated into or coupled to the access control station (6), it is checked whether a code corresponding to the code described by the light pattern (1) can be found in the memory of the computing unit (5), and if the corresponding code is found, the computing unit (5) is activated. If the computing unit (5) finds a corresponding code in the memory, the access control station (6) prompts to remove an obstacle (8) that can be controlled by the access control station (6) and prevents access to the area (7) in order to enable the vehicle (2) to access the area (7), or if the computing unit (5) does not find a corresponding code in the memory, the computing unit (5) prompts to leave the obstacle (8) at the entrance of the area (7), the central computing device (9) generates a code and initially transmits it to the vehicle (2) and to the computing unit (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1 for projecting a light pattern into the surroundings of a vehicle using a lighting device of a vehicle, and to an access control system of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 9. Background Art

[0002] Garage door openers are generally known from the prior art, for example from DE 10 2005 058 144 A1. In order to conveniently open the garage door, the garage door can be operated by controlling the motor via a radio remote control. Such a radio remote control can be carried in the vehicle so that the user who wants to park the vehicle in the garage does not have to get out of the vehicle to open the garage door. However, this has the disadvantage that the radio remote control must be carried with you and therefore takes up space in the vehicle or makes annoying noises due to sliding back and forth during driving. In addition, if the radio remote control is forgotten, the garage door cannot be opened. In addition, the radio remote control can be stolen, thus allowing third parties to enter the garage.

[0003] Furthermore, access systems are known for areas separated from the public road network, such as private parking lots, (public) parking lots or company premises. To enter such an area, it is usually necessary to pass through a barrier or a guardhouse. In order to identify vehicles that are authorized to travel in this area, cards comprising an RFID chip can be used. The disadvantages associated with radio remote controls also apply to such cards. Furthermore, such chip cards can be easily copied. In order to read the RFID chip, the vehicle must also wait at a suitable reader. This makes it more difficult for vehicles that are not allowed to park to enter the area, for example because a VIP is being transported and parking is too dangerous.

[0004] Furthermore, automatic toll booths are known in which the license plate of the corresponding vehicle can be stored as an identification feature of the vehicle that has paid the toll, which is then recorded at the toll booth with the aid of a camera system. If the license plate is recognized, the vehicle is allowed to enter the toll road. However, a disadvantage of such systems is that they are particularly easy to deceive. For example, it is sufficient for an attacker to copy the license plate of an authorized vehicle and paste it on his own vehicle.

[0005] US2022 / 0032874 A1 also discloses a method for controlling a moving vehicle. The method allows taking over the control of an autonomous controllable vehicle with the aid of a mobile terminal such as a tablet computer, and informing the vehicle with the aid of the mobile terminal which free parking space it should park in. In order to couple the mobile terminal to the vehicle, the vehicle projects a light pattern such as a photoelectric code scanned by the mobile terminal into the environment. The mobile terminal notifies the vehicle of the scanned information via radio or by displaying a corresponding photoelectric code that is in turn read by the vehicle. If the mobile terminal shares the correct light pattern with the vehicle, coupling occurs between the mobile terminal and the vehicle.

[0006] DE 10 2020 130 473 B3 also describes a method and a system for distance-dependent projection of image objects using an HD matrix headlight.

[0007] Furthermore, DE 10 2016 010 373 A1 discloses a method and a device for capturing an open state of a garage door. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and a corresponding system by means of which access control for vehicles to an area can be carried out in a particularly simple, comfortable, safe and reliable manner.

[0009] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for projecting a light pattern into the surroundings of a vehicle using a lighting device of a vehicle having the features of claim 1 and an access control system provided for this purpose having the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments and improvements are given in the dependent claims.

[0010] In a method of the type mentioned at the outset for projecting a light pattern into the environment of a vehicle using a lighting device of a vehicle, the light pattern is designed to include a code, an optical reader captures the light pattern, and a computing unit coupled to the reader recognizes the code in the light pattern and prompts the execution of an action based on the information described by the code, wherein, according to the invention, the computing unit is integrated into an access control station or coupled to the access control station, checks whether a code corresponding to the code described by the light pattern can be found in a memory of the computing unit, and if a corresponding code is found, prompts the removal of an obstacle that can be controlled by the access control station and blocks access to an area so that the vehicle can enter the area, or if the computing unit does not find a corresponding code in the memory, prompts the obstacle to be left at the entrance to the area, wherein a central computing device generates the code and initially transmits it to the vehicle and the computing unit.

[0011] With the aid of the method according to the invention, a particularly simple, convenient, safe and reliable access control of vehicle access areas is possible. Thus, there is no need to carry a radio remote control, a chip card or other identification objects, which therefore cannot be lost or stolen. Furthermore, a reduction in the comfort of the vehicle occupants due to objects located in the vehicle interior is prevented. Furthermore, light patterns are relatively difficult to copy, in comparison with, for example, license plates.

[0012] The optical reader can be, for example, a camera. It can be fixedly mounted at the entrance of an area and cover the closer area around the entrance. In particular, when a vehicle is driving, the light pattern can be captured by the optical reader, which allows access control without having to stop the vehicle.

[0013] The obstacles blocking access to the area can be, for example, impact beams / rails of a barrier / fence, retractable hydraulic cylinders, gates, garage doors, etc. Thus, the area can be a garage, a private parking lot, for example a private underground parking lot in a residential complex, or also a company site or a military site. The optical reader can be integrated into the respective garage, or can be arranged in the area of ​​the garage and, for example, capture a light pattern projected from the vehicle onto the road or a vertical object such as a wall. The obstacle can also be a virtual boundary, such as a so-called geofence, also called Geofence. In the case of a geofence, a penalty may be imposed if the vehicle or the user of the vehicle enters the area without permission. However, by means of the projected light pattern, the vehicle can communicate to the access control station that permission to enter the area is available, thereby allowing the vehicle (without penalty) to enter the area.

[0014] The central computing device can be formed, for example, by a cloud server. The central computing device generates a code, for example after receiving a manual request from a user of the vehicle or an operator of an access control station, and transmits it accordingly, for example wirelessly, to the vehicle and the computing unit. In order to receive the code, the vehicle comprises a telematics unit and a control unit suitable for managing the code and actuating the lighting device. In addition, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet computer or the like can be coupled to the vehicle, wherein the mobile terminal is communicatively connected to the central computing device. A corresponding application provided for providing the functionality of the method according to the invention can then be executed on the mobile terminal. The computing unit integrated into the access control station or coupled to the access control station can receive the code from the central computing device, in particular via a cable connection, for example via the Internet.

[0015] In particular, the coded request generated by the central computing device contains the respective identifiers of the respective vehicle and the respective access control station. This allows the respective access control station to be assigned to the respective vehicle that is authorized to travel in the area. Depending on the application, the identifiers of the respective vehicle and the computing unit can also be determined by the central computing device itself.

[0016] In this case, the code generated by the central computing device can be stored for a longer period in the computing unit and in the vehicle (control unit) and used each time for access control of the vehicle to the area.

[0017] Preferably, however, the central computing device generates a new code before each entry of the vehicle into the area and sends it to the computing unit and the vehicle. This provides a particularly secure access control, since even if an attacker captures a light pattern that was used once and uses it for projection with his own vehicle, access to this light pattern is no longer permitted. Instead, for each access control, the vehicle and the access control station use a new individual light pattern with a corresponding code.

[0018] In this case, the central computing device can be manually initiated by the vehicle user to generate and send the code. For example, when the vehicle user stops in front of an obstacle, an operating action can be input via the vehicle's human-machine interface or a mobile terminal coupled to the vehicle, as a result of which the central computing device is instructed to generate and send the code. The transmission of the new code / light pattern can also be associated with the vehicle starting to project the light pattern.

[0019] According to another advantageous design of the method, the light pattern is designed as a photoelectric code. For example, the photoelectric code includes a one-dimensional barcode such as a barcode, or a two-dimensional pattern such as a matrix code or a QR code. This photoelectric code allows a relatively large amount of data to be integrated into a relatively small light pattern. In addition, the photoelectric code can be captured by an optical reader regardless of the orientation or alignment of the light pattern projected into the environment relative to the optical reader. This makes particularly reliable recognition of the code possible. In this case, the corresponding light pattern can be projected onto any desired surface, such as the ground on which the vehicle is traveling, or can also be projected onto vertical obstacles, such as walls or fences. In general, the light pattern can also be formed, for example, by a flashing pattern, in particular a Morse code. However, this has the disadvantage that in order to transmit a relatively large amount of information, the light pattern must be output over a relatively long time, which prolongs the duration required to identify the vehicle.

[0020] Another advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention also provides that at least one vehicle headlight is used to project the light pattern. The vehicle headlights are usually pointed forward in the direction of travel of the vehicle, thus allowing the light pattern to be projected onto the ground in front of the vehicle. Since the front of the vehicle usually points in the direction of the area in which the vehicle wishes to enter, the projection of the light pattern in front of the vehicle is particularly suitable for capturing the light pattern by the optical reader. Furthermore, by projecting the light pattern simultaneously with two vehicle headlights, a particularly sharp and bright light pattern can be achieved. In particular, the vehicle headlights are designed as so-called high-resolution matrix headlights. This makes it possible to generate very different light patterns with little effort.

[0021] According to another advantageous embodiment of the method, the light pattern comprises wavelength components which are at least partially assignable to the infrared spectrum. The advantage of using infrared light to form the light pattern is that people do not perceive the light pattern. Therefore, people are also not disturbed by the projection of the light pattern. Therefore, the optical reader is set to capture infrared light. In this case, lighting such as low beam or high beam can also be activated at the same time and can emit light patterns in the infrared spectrum. This prevents the driver from being disturbed by interruptions in the low beam or high beam or from being temporarily unable to perceive the surroundings due to darkness.

[0022] Furthermore, it is possible that a light pattern generated predominantly in the visible spectrum cannot be recognized by the optical reader because it is illuminated by another light source, such as particularly bright street lighting or the sun. However, since other electrical lighting devices, such as street lights and sunlight, also have no or only low intensity in the infrared spectrum, light patterns that can be assigned to the infrared spectrum are hardly covered by other illumination, which improves their recognition by the optical reader.

[0023] Another advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention also provides that the light pattern is projected into the environment for a time shorter than 100 ms, preferably shorter than 10 ms, particularly preferably shorter than 1 ms. These are particularly short projection time windows, in particular with such a short projection duration that a human cannot capture them. This also prevents people from being disturbed or damaged by the radiation of the light pattern. In addition, projecting the light pattern with such a short projection time makes it more difficult for an attacker to copy the coding, because the attacker must record the image of the light pattern exactly when the light pattern is also emitted.

[0024] In this case, the light pattern is preferably projected into the environment a plurality of times in succession. For example, the light pattern can be projected into the environment in pulses at a specific frequency. In order to be able to capture the light pattern with the aid of the optical reader, the vehicle's lighting device and the optical reader must be synchronized in terms of the projection frequency and the scanning rate according to the projection cycle. For example, if the optical reader is a camera, the scanning rate of the camera is consistent with the projection frequency, so that the camera always records a camera image whenever the vehicle also projects a light pattern into the environment with the aid of the lighting device.

[0025] Another advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention also provides that during the authentication cycle, a sequence of at least two different light patterns is projected into the environment and that the computing unit allows access to the area if the sequence of light patterns captured by the reader corresponds to the sequence of light patterns read from the memory of the computing unit. Accordingly, the sequence of light patterns is determined by the central computing device and sent to the vehicle and the computing unit. In this case, a database with possible light patterns can be stored in the vehicle and the computing unit and then read out by the vehicle and the computing unit respectively according to the sequence received by the central computing device. This makes it possible to control access to the area more reliably and more securely for the vehicle. It is no longer sufficient for an attacker to simply copy a specific light pattern, but the attacker must also know the sequence of light patterns that is correct in each case. In particular, here it is also possible to define a new sequence of light patterns by the central computing device before each entry of the vehicle into the area. This makes it more difficult for an attacker to enter the area.

[0026] Preferably, the vehicle automatically starts projecting light patterns into the environment when the vehicle reaches below a predetermined distance of the access control station. This provides a particularly comfortable access control for the vehicle user. Thus, the vehicle user no longer needs to input manual operations to gain access to the area.

[0027] The distance of the vehicle to the access control station is determined by the vehicle itself, for example by comparing its position with the positions of the access control stations in a digital road map. For example, the vehicle can determine its position based on a global navigation satellite system such as GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, Glonass, etc. The vehicle or the access control station can also have a transponder or a corresponding receiver, thereby being able to recognize that the vehicle is approaching an access control station. The vehicle can also have one or more cameras for capturing the environment, whereby the camera images generated by the one or more cameras are evaluated by an image recognition algorithm. In this way, the features of the access control stations can be recognized, as a result of which the vehicle recognizes which access control station it is approaching. The vehicle then starts to project the corresponding light pattern required to provide access to the corresponding access control station into the environment.

[0028] Typically, manual operations can also be input into the vehicle in order to project a light pattern into the environment, whereby the driver then manually selects the corresponding access control station so that the appropriate light pattern is projected by the vehicle.

[0029] In an access control system having a central computing device, a vehicle, at least one access control station and a computing unit integrated into each access control station or coupled to each access control station, according to the invention, the individual components of the access control system are configured to carry out the above method. The vehicle can be any vehicle, such as a car, a truck, a van, a bus, a construction machine, etc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are also apparent from the exemplary embodiments which are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0031] In this case, the single figure shows a schematic plan view of a vehicle which is allowed access to an area from an access control station by projecting a light pattern into the environment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] exist Figure 1 In FIG. 7 , a vehicle 2 approaches an area 7 blocked by an access control station 6. As shown, the access control station 6 is, for example, a barrier whose impact beam forms an obstacle 8. For example, the area 7 is a company site.

[0033] The vehicle 2 comprises a control unit 11 for operating the lighting device 3 of the vehicle 2, for example Figure 1 Two vehicle headlights 10 are shown. By means of the lighting device 3, a light pattern 1 is projected into the surroundings of the vehicle 2. For example, the light pattern 1 is projected onto the ground in front of the vehicle 2 in the direction of travel.

[0034] The light pattern 1 comprises a code authorizing the vehicle 2 to enter the area 7. In this case, the light pattern 1 is designed in particular as an optoelectronic code, for example a QR code.

[0035] The coding can be implemented in a suitable manner, for example a QR code can include an identifier of the access control station 6 for the vehicle 2 and a validity period.

[0036] The light pattern 1 is captured by an optical reader 4, for example a camera. As indicated by the arrow, this is also possible for a moving vehicle 2. The data generated by the optical reader 4 are evaluated by a computing unit 5. To this end, the computing unit 5 is able to recognize a code in the light pattern 1 and to check whether a corresponding code exists in a memory of the computing unit 5. If this is the case, the computing unit 5 controls the access control station 6 to effect the removal of the obstacle 8, so that the vehicle 2 can enter the area 7.

[0037] In this case, the code is generated by the central computing device 9 and distributed by the central computing device 9 to the vehicles 2 and the computing units 5. In order to communicate with the central computing device 9, the vehicle 2 comprises in particular a wireless communication interface 12, such as a telematics unit. The latter is coupled to the control unit 11 in order to store the code in the control unit 11.

[0038] For example, by entering a manual operating action in the human-machine interface, the user of the vehicle 2 can cause the central computing device 9 to generate a code. In this case, the central computing device 9 receives the identifier of the access control station 6 or the computing unit 5 and the vehicle 2. The corresponding vehicle 2 and the corresponding computing unit 5 then receive the code. In this case, each time a vehicle 2 arrives in front of an access control station 6, a new code can be generated and sent to the vehicle 2 and the computing unit 5.

[0039] In this case, the centralized management of the codes by the central computing device 9 has the advantage that even if the user changes his vehicle 2, he can easily and conveniently gain access to the area 7. Thus, it is possible to identify the user of the respective vehicle 2, for example by means of a user name and password, or by means of an application executed on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, whereby the central computing device 9 sends the respective appropriate code to the respective vehicle 2 used by the user. The user does not need to carry other authorized objects, such as a radio remote control, a transponder, a key card, etc. Furthermore, the use of the light pattern 1 by means of the code to identify the respective user or vehicle 2 makes it more difficult for an attacker to gain access to the area 7.

Claims

1. A method for projecting a light pattern (1) into the environment of a vehicle (2) using a lighting device (3) of a vehicle (2), wherein: The light pattern (1) is designed to include a code, an optical reader (4) captures the light pattern (1), and a computing unit (5) coupled to the reader (4) recognizes the code in the light pattern (1) and prompts the execution of an action according to the information described by the code, It is characterized in that The computing unit (5) is integrated into an access control station (6) or coupled to the access control station (6), checks whether a code corresponding to the code described by the light pattern (1) can be found in a memory of the computing unit (5), and, if a corresponding code is found, prompts to remove an obstacle (8) that can be controlled by the access control station (6) and blocks access to an area (7) so that the vehicle (2) can enter the area (7), or, if the computing unit (5) does not find a corresponding code in the memory, prompts to leave the obstacle (8) at the entrance to the area (7), wherein a central computing device (9) generates the code and initially transmits it to the vehicle (2) and the computing unit (5).

2. The method according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The central computing device (9) generates a new code each time before the vehicle (2) enters the area (7) and sends it to the computing unit (5) and the vehicle (2).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The light pattern (1) is designed as a photoelectric code.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 3, It is characterized in that At least one vehicle headlamp (10) is used to project the light pattern (1).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, It is characterized in that The light pattern (1) comprises wavelength components which are at least partially assignable to the infrared spectrum.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, It is characterized in that The light pattern (1) is projected into the environment for a time shorter than 100 ms, preferably shorter than 10 ms, particularly preferably shorter than 1 ms.

7. The method according to claim 6, It is characterized in that The light pattern (1) is projected into the environment multiple times in succession.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, It is characterized in that During an authentication cycle, a sequence of at least two different light patterns (1) is projected into the environment and if the sequence of light patterns (1) captured by the reader (4) corresponds to the sequence of light patterns (1) read from the memory of the computing unit (5), the computing unit (5) allows access to the area (7).

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, It is characterized in that When the vehicle (2) arrives below a predetermined distance from the access control station (6), the vehicle (2) automatically starts projecting the light pattern (1) into the environment.

10. An access control system comprising a central computing device (9), a vehicle (2), at least one access control station (6) and a computing unit (5) integrated into or coupled to each of said access control stations (6), characterized in that Also included is an apparatus for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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