Methods for outputting information in a vehicle

Abstract

A method for outputting information in a vehicle with an information source for outputting information, in which the information is generated depending on the driver's behavior, characterized in that the driver's behavior and the respective driving situation are determined on the basis of data from one or more driving systems and / or one or more comfort systems of the vehicle, the driving behavior is measured against standards relating to the respective physical conditions of the driving situation, and the information is read from a vehicle-owned memory in a form dependent on the driver's driving behavior and output to the driver via the information source when a driving situation in the dynamic or power unit limit range of the vehicle is detected, wherein the information is directed towards the achieved constant speed relative to the maximum speed.

Description

The invention relates to a method for outputting information in a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. However, other information means, for example tactile information, are also possible.A method of the type mentioned at the beginning is known from DE 101 53 987 A1. In this case, the information which is generated as a function of the behavior of the driver and in which the behavior of the driver is ascertained on the basis of data of one or more driving systems and / or of one or more comfort systems of the vehicle is output at a frequency which is influenced by the driver state and / or the driver behavior. A type of feedback of the driver state and / or the driver behavior to the information sources thus takes place with the aim of changing their sensitivity. The information system carries out the evaluation of driver state-relevant or driver behavior-relevant data already present in the vehicle and controls the frequency of the information output as a function of these data.Further methods for outputting information in a vehicle are known from the documents DE 100 46 699 A1 (information carrier), AT 003030 U1 (method for analyzing and influencing the driving behavior of motor vehicles), DE 43 38 244 C2 (hazard avoidance system for a vehicle), DE 101 03 401 A1 (hazard avoidance system for a vehicle), EP 1 182 089 A2 (method for warning a driver of a vehicle), DE 42 01 142 C2 (vehicle speed control device) and DE 43 06 532 A1 (measurement system for determining driving speeds in the safety area for commercial vehicles).In contrast, it is an object of the invention to improve the useful value of the information output for the driver.The invention achieves this object by the means specified in claim 1.The aim of the invention is to adapt the information in its quality to the driver behavior. Standards are used for this purpose, at which the driver behavior is measured. The standards in turn depend on the respective physical conditions. As in DE 101 53 987 A1, the data which are already present in the vehicle and are relevant to the state of the driver or to the behavior of the driver are evaluated for this purpose.An example is intended to illustrate the basic concept of the invention:Assume that the driver is turning on an ice-slippery road at a speed at which he is liable to get into a spin, but actually does not. Based on the physically possible maximum curve speed, the actual curve speed is 90% thereof.This is signaled to the driver by an item of information about the content, for example: "The cornering speed is only 10% below the maximum speed that is currently possible".This information is no doubt valuable for the driver and contributes to increasing traffic safety. The driver experiences a feedback of his driving behavior and can align it with the respective physical conditions which are frequently not recognizable to him with sufficient accuracy.On the other hand, this is information that the driver does not receive in the usual warning and other information systems. Conventional safety systems, such as a traction system, are only activated when the physical limits are reached or exceeded. In the present case, they and the associated optical and / or acoustic information systems remain inactive.In addition, the value of the information that is effective in the present case becomes recognizable. It is thus possible to provide the driver with an accurate indication of the distance from a critical limit value, here for the cornering speed.At the same time, the information system can be designed such that it only becomes active when the driver is moving in the boundary region, i.e. here when his cornering speed is in the range between 80 and 100% of the maximum speed possible at the respective road conditions.Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are the subject matter of the further patent claims. They can be divided essentially into two groups.The first group includes vehicle dynamics.Thus, as already stated by way of example, the information can be related to the lateral and / or longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle in relation to the maximum possible value in each case.The information can also relate to a time duration within which a limit value is reached. For example, the time can be announced and / or displayed within which the maximum speed permissible in-situ is reached at a traffic light start. This information is valuable, for example, when the vehicle is to be moved over longer distances at a directional speed which corresponds to the traffic light phases ("green wave"). If the speed of the direction and the speed of the maximum match, the driver thus receives the information that he is moving at the "correct" speed and at the same time receives a statement about how he is within the traffic light sequence.Accordingly, the information can be related to the time for a longitudinal acceleration from an initial value to standstill of the vehicle. In the case of a smooth or wet roadway, for example, the driver is provided with the information that he is at risk of entering the physical limit range.Finally, the information can be directed to the constant speed achieved with respect to the maximum speed. The driver thus receives information about possible speed or power reserves of the vehicle and can estimate the dangerousness of an imminent passing maneuver.In the second group, the information is directed to the drive unit.Thus, the information can be related to the proportion of the respectively output motor power in relation to the maximum motor power. As in the last example, the driver can thus estimate the power reserves of the vehicle.The technical realization of the invention is as follows:An associated control device analyzes the respective driving situation and the driver behavior on the basis of the information of the vehicle-mounted sensors and actuators that is located on the vehicle-internal data bus. If one of the driving situations provided is detected in the dynamic or aggregate power limit range, the acoustic information and / or graphics provided for this is read out from a vehicle's own speech memory and output via the loudspeakers of the audio system and / or via a monitor.Possible input data of the system are the data stored on the data bus, including possible GPS information. The system may be configurable, the contents (audio files and graphics files) are stored in the vehicle via a storage medium (memory card, hard disk, or the like) as mentioned above. However, it is also possible to download the contents via the Internet or acquire them at a vehicle dealer.

Claims

Method for outputting information in a vehicle having an information source for outputting information, in which the information is generated as a function of the behavior of the driver, characterized in that the behavior of the driver and the respective driving situation are determined on the basis of data of one or more driving systems and / or of one or more comfort systems of the vehicle, the driving behavior is measured on standards relating to the respective physical conditions of the driving situation, and the information is read out from a vehicle-internal memory in a form dependent on the driving behavior of the driver with respect to its quality and is output to the driver via the information source if a driving situation in the dynamic range or aggregate power limit range of the vehicle is detected, wherein the information is directed to the constant speed achieved with respect to the maximum speed.Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the information is directed to the vehicle dynamics.Method according to Claim 2, characterized in that the information item is related to the transverse and / or longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle in relation to the maximum possible value in each case.Method according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the information on the time for a longitudinal acceleration becomes from 0 to a threshold value.Method according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the information is related to the time for a longitudinal acceleration from an initial value to standstill of the vehicle.Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the information is directed onto the drive unit.Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the information is related to the proportion of the respectively output motor power in relation to the maximum motor power.