Driver assistance system

Abstract

Driver assistance system, comprising sensors for detecting the vehicle environment, actuating elements for intervening in the vehicle dynamics and at least one display unit (1) for displaying system states of the driver assistance system and of the host vehicle (K), wherein the driver assistance system comprises at least one lateral guidance assistance function, upon activation of which detected lane boundaries (3a, 3b) of the host vehicle (K) are displayed on the display unit (1), wherein an extended functional scope of the lateral guidance assistance function can be activated, in which at least one further lane boundary (4a, 4b) is displayed on the display unit (1) for each detected and already displayed lane boundary (3a, 3b), characterized in that when the extended functional scope of the lateral guidance assistance function is activated, the host vehicle is guided between the displayed lane boundaries (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b).

Description

The invention relates to a driver assistance system having the features of the preamble of claim 1.Such a driver assistance system is known from DE 10 2008 061 649 A1. Express reference is made to this document by the applicant, the content of which is intended to be included in the disclosure of the present invention.In the aforementioned publication, when a lateral guidance assistance function is activated, lane boundaries detected by sensors are displayed on a display unit of the driver assistance system. The lateral guidance assistance function disclosed there is such that, when a lane boundary is crossed over or touched, the driver assistance system intervenes through active steering and / or braking interventions and the vehicle is thus kept within the "bandwidth" of the own lane.DE 10 2010 014 499 A1, which has the features of the preamble of claim 1, describes a method for operating a lane keeping assistance system in a motor vehicle for multi-lane turning. In the method, the determination of environment data describing the plurality of turn lanes is first carried out. Taking into account the ascertained environmental data, a virtual lane course describing the driving lane in the turn region is subsequently ascertained, having virtual lane boundaries. The virtual lane course determined is finally used for informing and / or assisting a driver of the motor vehicle and is displayed to the driver via a head-up display. In particular, the display takes place in the form of virtual lane markings and an arrow-like navigation aid.DE 10 2005 035 412 A1 discloses a driver assistance device in a vehicle, having a camera for ascertaining a course of a roadway and / or lane in front of the vehicle and having a display for displaying a roadway or lane course.The course of the roadway or lane is displayed in the display narrower by a predefined amount than the course of the determined, actual roadway or lane. The driver assistance device also has an evaluation device for detecting driver fatigue, wherein a narrowed representation of the course of the roadway or lane is only performed when a predefined measure of a detected fatigue of a driver is exceeded.Within the scope of the present invention, however, the intention is to provide the motor vehicle driver with an extended scope of functions of the lateral guidance assistance function.In the expanded range of functions of the lateral guidance assistance function, the driver is not only held with his vehicle within the lane boundaries, but he is guided on an imaginary center line between the detected lane boundaries (so-called lane center guidance).The object of the present invention is to provide a driver assistance system and to provide a method for assisting a motor vehicle driver, by means of which a motor vehicle driver maintains a good situational overview despite the extended function selection and the associated additional information.The solution of the present object is achieved with the features of patent claim 1 and the features of patent claim 3. Advantageous embodiments or refinements of the invention can be gathered from the respective dependent claims.The invention is based on a driver assistance system comprising sensors for detecting the vehicle environment, actuating elements for engaging in the vehicle dynamics and at least one display unit for displaying system states of the driver assistance system and of the host vehicle, wherein the driver assistance system comprises at least one lateral guidance assistance function, in the case of activation of which detected lane boundaries of the host vehicle are displayed on the display unit.According to the invention, it is provided that an extended range of functions of the lateral guidance assistance function can be activated, in which at least one further lane boundary is displayed on the display unit for each detected and already displayed lane boundary. In particular, the expanded range of functions of the lateral guidance assistance function is the lane center guidance already mentioned, in which the motor vehicle driver is guided with his vehicle on an imaginary center line (quasi as on a rail) between the detected lane boundaries.When the lane center guidance is activated, the display unit of the driver assistance system can thus be transferred into a display state in which at least one further lane boundary is displayed on the display unit for each detected and already displayed lane boundary. This conveys to the vehicle driver a very intuitive, easily comprehensible visualization of the changed vehicle state that is already customary for him.According to a first development of the invention, it is provided that the at least one further lane boundary shown on the display unit is in each case located closer to an imaginary center of the own lane than the detected and already shown lane boundary. This makes it very simple for the driver to make it clear that, when the lane center guidance is activated, the vehicle is further restricted or even more accurately guided in its lateral "freedom of movement".As already mentioned, the invention also relates to a method for assisting a motor vehicle driver by means of a driver assistance system. The driver assistance system comprises sensors for detecting the vehicle environment, adjusting elements for intervention in the vehicle dynamics and at least one display unit for displaying system states of the driver assistance system and of the host vehicle, wherein the driver assistance system comprises at least one lateral guidance assistance function, on the activation of which detected lane boundaries of the host vehicle are displayed on the display unit.According to the invention, in the case of an activated, extended range of functions of the transverse guidance assistance function (in particular when the mentioned lane center guidance is activated), each detected and displayed lane boundary on the display unit is supplemented by at least one further lane boundary.This method can therefore help to ensure that the motor vehicle driver maintains a rapid situation over the selected range of functions in spite of a plurality of functions offered within the scope of the lateral guidance assistance function.In this case, according to one embodiment of the inventive concept, the at least one further lane boundary is displayed on the display unit in each case closer to an imaginary center of the own lane than the detected and already displayed lane boundary.Finally, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle having a driver assistance system according to the invention. Such a motor vehicle offers the advantage that a motor vehicle driver is able to more intuitively handle the functions of the driver assistance system, in particular its lateral guidance assistance functions.Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. The same reference numerals refer to the same, comparable or functionally the same components, wherein corresponding or comparable properties and advantages are achieved, even if a repeated description is omitted.They show, in each case schematically FIG. 1 shows a display unit of a driver assistance system in a motor vehicle in a first operating mode, specifically in its basic range of functions, FIG. 2 shows a representation analogous to FIG. 1, wherein the driver assistance system is in an operating mode with an extended range of functions of a lane center guidance, FIG. 3 shows the representation of a display unit of a driver assistance system analogous to FIG. 1, but in a second exemplary embodiment, FIG. 4 is a view analogous to FIG. 2 for the second exemplary embodiment; and FIG. 5 shows an illustration of the interior of a motor vehicle with a display unit of the driver assistance system.First, reference is made to FIG. 1.A display unit 1 of a driver assistance system, not otherwise shown in detail, is visible therein. The display unit 1 is preferably a freely programmable LCD display, wherein in the illustrated operating mode of the driver assistance system a lateral guidance assistance function with a basic function is activated. In this basic function, the motor vehicle is kept within the bandwidth of the own lane.On the display unit 1, therefore, a left lane boundary 3 aand 3 bdetected by sensors and a right lane boundary detected by sensors are perspectively shown. The lane boundaries 3 a, 3 bdefine an illustrated own lane 2, wherein in the exemplary embodiment the lane boundaries 3 a, 3 bare illustrated in the form of solid lines. Other representations are conceivable.In addition, for better understanding of the invention, an imaginary center line M of the own lane 2 is indicated by dashed lines, which however is not shown on the display unit 1 during operation of the driver assistance system.Furthermore, a steering wheel L and further additional information I are shown in the lower region of the display unit 1.The steering wheel L is optional and is intended to indicate the own motor vehicle. The additional information I comprises the mileage of the motor vehicle, a daily odometer and the measured external temperature.FIG. 2 now illustrates the operating mode of the driver assistance system, in which an extended range of functions of the lateral guidance assistance function of the driver assistance system is activated.In FIG. 1, only the basic function of the lateral guidance assistance function, namely a normal lane keeping function, was active, in which the motor vehicle is actively kept within the own lane 2 by steering and / or braking interventions when touching or driving over one of the detected and illustrated lane boundaries 3 a, 3 b. In addition, it is conceivable that in such a case the respectively affected lane boundary 3 aor 3 bis visually emphasized on the display unit 1. An acoustic signal can also be output alternatively or additionallyIn the now expanded scope of functions according to FIG. 2, further lane boundaries 4 aand 4 bare shown in addition to the detected and illustrated lane boundaries 3 a, 3 b.Specifically, a further, left-hand lane boundary 4 aand a further, right-hand lane boundary 4 bare shown, which are each located closer to the imaginary center line M (i.e. to the own vehicle) than the detected and already shown lane boundaries 3 aand 3 b, respectively.In this case, the driver is made visible in a highly intuitive manner on the display unit 1 that a lane center guidance has been activated as an extended range of functions of the lateral guidance assistance function of the driver assistance system, in which the driver's own motor vehicle is now guided on the imaginary center line M between the illustrated lane boundaries 3, 4.The further lane boundaries 4 aand 4 billustrated are likewise illustrated in the form of lines. However, other representations are again conceivable here as well. For example, the outer lane boundaries 3 a, 3 bmay be represented in dashed line and the inner lane boundaries 4 a, 4 bmay be represented in solid line.In FIGS. 3 and 4, a second exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, each lane 3 or 4 is not represented by a single line, but rather in the form of a strip (lane). Still further representations of the lane boundaries are of course conceivable again.Analogously to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3 relates to the activated basic function of the lateral guidance assistance function and FIG. 4 in turn relates to the activated, extended range of functions of a lane center guidance.Finally, FIG. 5 partially illustrates the interior of a motor vehicle K, wherein behind a steering wheel L' a combination instrument 5 is visible, in which the display unit 1 of the driver assistance system is arranged.The display unit 1 is thus located in the primary field of view of the driver of the motor vehicle, so that the vehicle states shown in the previous figures are immediately visible.The invention is not limited to the above exemplary embodiment or embodiments. These were used only to explain the core idea of the invention in general. Rather, the invention may, within the scope thereof, take other embodiments than those described above. In this case, it can also have, in particular, features which represent a combination of individual features of the respective claims.List of reference characters1 Display unit 2 shows the own lane 3a the left detected and represented lane boundary 3b the right detected and represented lane boundary 4a the further represented left lane boundary 4b the further represented right lane boundary 5 the combination instrument I the additional information K the motor vehicle L, L' the steering wheel M the imaginary center line of the own lane

Claims

Driver assistance system, comprising sensors for detecting the vehicle environment, actuating elements for engaging in the vehicle dynamics and at least one display unit (1) for displaying system states of the driver assistance system and of the host vehicle (K), wherein the driver assistance system comprises at least one lateral guidance assistance function, in the case of the activation of which detected lane boundaries (3a, 3b) of the host vehicle (K) are displayed on the display unit (1), wherein an extended range of functions of the lateral guidance assistance function can be activated, in the case of which at least one further lane boundary (4a, 4b) is displayed on the display unit (1) for each detected and already displayed lane boundary (3a, 3b), characterized in that, in the case of the activated, extended range of functions of the lateral guidance assistance function, the host vehicle is displayed between the displayed lane boundaries (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b) on an imaginary center line (M).Driver assistance system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one further lane boundary (4a, 4b) represented on the display unit (1) is in each case located closer to a centre (M) of the own lane (2) than the detected and already represented lane boundary (3a, 3b).Method for assisting a motor vehicle driver by means of a driver assistance system, comprising sensors for detecting the vehicle environment, actuating elements for engaging in the vehicle dynamics and at least one display unit (1) for displaying system states of the driver assistance system and of the host vehicle, wherein the driver assistance system comprises at least one lateral guidance assistance function, lane boundaries (3a, 3b) of the host vehicle (K) detected when they are activated being displayed on the display unit (1), wherein, when the scope of functions of the lateral guidance assistance function is activated, each detected and displayed lane boundary (3a, 3b) on the display unit (1) is supplemented by at least one further lane boundary (4a, 4b), characterized in that, when the scope of functions of the lateral guidance assistance function is activated, the host vehicle is supplemented between the displayed lane boundaries (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b) on an imaginary center line (M).Method according to Claim 3, characterized in that the at least one further lane boundary (4a, 4b) is displayed on the display unit (1) in each case closer to a centre (M) of the own lane (2) than the detected and already displayed lane boundary (3a, 3b).Motor vehicle (K) having a driver assistance system according to one of Claims 1 and 2.

Images