Method for operating a driver assistance system for maneuvering a motor vehicle, driver assistance system and control device

Abstract

Method for operating a driver assistance system (2) for maneuvering a motor vehicle (1) in which a control device (6) - an activated maneuvering assistance setting of the motor vehicle (1) is detected, - when the maneuvering assistance setting is activated, a camera device (3) arranged on an outside (4) of the motor vehicle (1) is activated to detect a vehicle environment (7), whereby respective lighting elements (10) arranged in the area of ​​the vehicle's longitudinal sides (5) are activated when the maneuvering assistance setting of the motor vehicle (1) is activated, - at least one piece of information is received from the camera device (3) and output to the driver of the motor vehicle (1) via an output device (8), wherein the control device (6) changes the orientation of the respective lighting elements (10) depending on the position of a camera viewing area of ​​the camera device (3), characterized in that the control device (6) activates the maneuvering assistance setting when a maximum distance between the motor vehicle (1) and an obstacle is undershot.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a driver assistance system for maneuvering a motor vehicle, such a driver assistance system and a control device according to the preambles of the independent patent claims.

[0002] A method for operating a driver assistance system for maneuvering a motor vehicle is already known from DE 10 2013 017 213 A1. In this method, an activated maneuvering assistance setting of the motor vehicle is determined using a control device. This means that it is determined whether the motor vehicle has a driving setting in which reversing is possible. Subsequently, with the maneuvering assistance setting activated, a camera device arranged on an exterior of the motor vehicle is activated by the control device to capture the vehicle's surroundings. This means that the camera device, which is activated by the control device, captures the vehicle's surroundings.The vehicle surroundings captured by the camera device are transmitted from the camera device to the control device via information characterizing the vehicle surroundings, so that the at least one piece of information from the camera device can be received by the control device. This at least one piece of information is output to the driver of the motor vehicle via an output device. The output device can be a screen on which the vehicle surroundings are displayed to the driver.

[0003] Furthermore, DE 10 2005 042 573 A1 discloses a vehicle with a rearview camera. The rearview camera can capture an area behind the vehicle and display it to the driver on a display in the vehicle's interior.

[0004] DE 10 2007 061 218 A1 also discloses a vehicle with a rearview camera. When the vehicle is shifted into reverse, the camera automatically displays a rear view from the rearview camera on a screen in the vehicle interior, allowing the driver to see exactly how far their vehicle is from the next obstacle, for example, when reversing.

[0005] Furthermore, DE 102011 082 974 B4 discloses a camera system for monitoring an area surrounding a vehicle by means of a rear-view camera.

[0006] EP 1 245 445 A2 discloses a device for monitoring the rear and side areas of a vehicle. The device comprises at least one camera and a monitor arranged in the towing vehicle. The at least one camera is arranged in the side rear area of ​​the towing vehicle. The device also has at least one light source, which is arranged above or below the at least one camera, as this allows the camera's recording area to be illuminated particularly evenly.

[0007] Furthermore, DE 10 2010 033 387 A1 discloses an environment detection device for a vehicle with at least one camera arranged on the vehicle for detecting the lateral surroundings of the vehicle. Furthermore, the environment detection device comprises a lighting unit for illuminating an illumination area located at least partially within the vehicle's surroundings. At least one of the lighting units is a light source in a headlight or a taillight or a turn signal or a sill light of the vehicle. The at least one lighting unit is designed to guide light emitted by the light source into one of the illumination areas.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating a driver assistance system for maneuvering a motor vehicle, a driver assistance system and a control device by means of which a motor vehicle environment can be particularly advantageously recorded by means of a camera device and output to the driver of the motor vehicle by means of an output device.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by a method for operating a driver assistance system for maneuvering a motor vehicle, by the driver assistance system for maneuvering the motor vehicle, and by a control device having the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims and in the following description.

[0010] To create a method for operating a driver assistance system for maneuvering a motor vehicle of the type mentioned above, by means of which the motor vehicle's surroundings can be particularly advantageously recorded and output to the driver of the motor vehicle by means of an output device, it is provided that respective lighting elements arranged in the region of the vehicle's longitudinal sides are activated when the maneuvering assistance setting of the motor vehicle is activated. This means that the respective lighting element is activated by the control device when the maneuvering assistance setting is activated, so that it illuminates the region of the vehicle's longitudinal sides. The maneuvering assistance setting can be activated by the control device, for example, when the motor vehicle is in reverse mode.Alternatively or additionally, the maneuvering assistance setting can be activated by the control device if the control device receives an environmental signal from a sensor device indicating that a maximum distance between the motor vehicle and an obstacle has been undershot and / or that the motor vehicle is traveling at walking pace. Alternatively or additionally, the control device can activate the maneuvering assistance setting if the control device receives an input from the driver of the motor vehicle representing an activation command for the maneuvering assistance setting. By illuminating the area along the vehicle's longitudinal sides, this part of the vehicle's surroundings can be recorded particularly clearly, in detail, and with contrast using the camera device and output to the driver via the output device.This is particularly advantageous if the vehicle surroundings of the motor vehicle are to be recorded at night and / or in dark environments using the camera device. The lighting elements arranged in the area of ​​the vehicle's longitudinal sides are, for example, each arranged on a side mirror of the motor vehicle and serve to illuminate at least part of a camera field of view of the camera device. The vehicle surroundings can thus be output to the driver of the motor vehicle with a particularly high contrast for the output device. Furthermore, a particularly detailed output of the vehicle surroundings to the driver of the motor vehicle is possible via the output device, so that damage to the motor vehicle during maneuvering can be prevented. The damage can be prevented by the driver of the motor vehicle being informed particularly comprehensively about the vehicle surroundings via the output device.The camera device can, for example, be arranged in the area of ​​the vehicle's longitudinal sides, so that the lighting elements arranged in the area of ​​the vehicle's longitudinal sides particularly advantageously illuminate a camera field of view which is congruent with the recorded vehicle surroundings of the camera device.

[0011] According to the invention, the control device is used to change the orientation of the respective lighting elements depending on the position of the camera's field of view. In other words, the respective lighting elements can be aligned by means of the control device such that the camera's field of view can be illuminated at least in part by means of the lighting elements. If the position of the camera's field of view is changed, the control device can adjust the orientation of the respective lighting elements. Thus, illumination of at least a portion of the camera's field of view can be ensured regardless of the camera's orientation.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the control device determines the activation state of a headlight system of the motor vehicle, and the respective lighting elements are activated depending on the activation state. This means that the control device determines whether the headlight system of the motor vehicle is activated, and the control device also activates the lighting elements if the headlight system of the motor vehicle is activated. The underlying idea is that the headlight system is activated by the driver of the motor vehicle in particular when illuminating the vehicle's surroundings seems appropriate, for example, due to nighttime driving or in dark surroundings.Alternatively, the headlight system can be activated by the driver assistance system if a brightness sensor in the motor vehicle detects a need to activate the headlight system. If there is a need to activate the headlight system, there may also be a need to activate the respective lighting elements. When driving at night or in correspondingly dark surroundings of the motor vehicle, the vehicle's surroundings can be illuminated at least in part by means of the respective activated lighting elements, so that the vehicle's surroundings in the area of ​​the respective lighting elements can be particularly advantageously recorded by the camera system and output to the driver of the motor vehicle in particular detail via the output device.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that an input from a driver, which characterizes an activation command for activating or a deactivation command for deactivating the lighting element, is received by the control device via an input device connected to the control device, and the respective lighting elements are activated or deactivated depending on the input. This means that the input from the driver, which characterizes the activation or deactivation of the lighting elements, is received by the input device. Depending on the driver input received by the input device, the control device activates or deactivates the lighting elements.This allows the driver to actively control the lighting elements by triggering the deactivation or activation of the lighting elements via the input. This allows the driver to actively influence the illumination of the vehicle's surroundings and thus the level of detail of the vehicle's surroundings displayed to the driver via the output device. If the vehicle's surroundings displayed to the driver via the output device are too dark for the driver, the driver can activate the lighting elements via the input so that the vehicle's surroundings are illuminated at least in the area of ​​the lighting elements.

[0014] In this context, it has proven advantageous if the input receivable by the control device is received by the driver using a screen key on the input device, whereby the screen key is also referred to as a soft key. The input device can be a multimedia interface, for example, i.e. a multimedia interface between the motor vehicle and the driver. The screen key referred to as a soft key can be a key that can perform different functions depending on an associated screen display. The function of the screen key does not have to be fixed, but can be adapted dynamically. For example, the screen key can be made available to the driver when the maneuvering assistance setting is activated.Advantageously, the driver can activate the lighting elements by means of his input via the screen button, so that the vehicle surroundings in the area of ​​the vehicle's longitudinal sides are illuminated particularly advantageously, provided that the maneuvering assistance setting is activated.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one mirror blanking light and / or at least one mirror ambient light are activated as respective lighting elements. This means that the lighting elements can be respective mirror indicator lights and / or respective mirror ambient lights. This offers the advantage that lighting elements designed as mirror indicator lights are already installed in a large number of motor vehicles, so that the method can be applied, for example, to existing motor vehicles. Furthermore, both mirror indicator lights and mirror ambient lights are components that have already been mass-produced in many cases, so that they can be manufactured and arranged on the motor vehicle particularly cost-effectively.

[0016] The invention further relates to a driver assistance system for maneuvering a motor vehicle, comprising a camera device arranged on an exterior of the motor vehicle. The driver assistance system further comprises a control device by means of which an activated maneuvering assistance setting of the motor vehicle can be determined and, when the maneuvering assistance setting is activated, the camera device can be activated to capture the vehicle's surroundings. Furthermore, at least one piece of information can be received from the camera device by means of the control device and output to the driver of the motor vehicle via an output device.To enable the vehicle's surroundings to be recorded particularly advantageously using the camera device and output to the driver of the motor vehicle in particularly detailed detail via the output device, lighting elements are provided in the area of ​​the vehicle's longitudinal sides, which can be activated when the maneuvering assistance setting of the motor vehicle is activated. Thus, the driver assistance system comprises both the camera device, which records, for example, the area of ​​the vehicle's longitudinal sides, and the lighting elements, by means of which the area of ​​the vehicle's longitudinal sides can be illuminated. In particular, both the camera device and the lighting elements can be activated by the control device when the maneuvering assistance setting is activated.Furthermore, the control device can be used to change the orientation of the respective lighting elements depending on the position of a camera field of view of the camera device. At least one area of ​​a camera field of view of the camera device can be illuminated by the respective activated lighting elements, so that the camera device can record the camera field of view, which is the recorded vehicle surroundings, in particularly detailed detail due to the illumination and output this information to the driver of the motor vehicle via the output device. The driver thus receives particularly comprehensive information about the vehicle surroundings via the output device, allowing them to steer the motor vehicle particularly safely while maneuvering, and damage to the motor vehicle can be at least substantially avoided.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the camera device is arranged on the side mirrors of the motor vehicle. In particular, both the lighting elements and the camera device are arranged on the side mirrors of the motor vehicle, so that the lighting elements illuminate at least substantially the same area that is recorded by the camera device as the vehicle's surroundings. This enables a particularly detailed recording of at least the area of ​​the vehicle's surroundings illuminated by the lighting elements using the camera device.

[0018] The invention further relates to a control device which is suitable for carrying out a method as has already been described in connection with the method according to the invention.

[0019] The invention also includes further developments of the driver assistance system according to the invention and the control device according to the invention, which have features as already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the driver assistance system according to the invention and the control device according to the invention are not described again here.

[0020] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below. It shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a motor vehicle with a driver assistance system for maneuvering, wherein the driver assistance system comprises a camera device, lighting elements arranged in the region of the longitudinal sides of the motor vehicle, an output device and a control device; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a screen of the output device, with a screen button for receiving an input from the driver; and Fig. 3 a plan view of the screen of the output device, wherein areas of a vehicle environment recorded by means of the camera device arranged above the side mirrors of the motor vehicle are displayed.

[0021] The exemplary embodiment explained below is a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, the described components of the embodiment each represent individual, independently considered features of the invention, which also further develop the invention independently of one another and are thus also to be considered as components of the invention, either individually or in a combination other than that shown. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0022] In the figures, functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a motor vehicle 1 with a driver assistance system 2. The driver assistance system 2 serves to support the driver of the motor vehicle 1 when maneuvering the motor vehicle 1.

[0024] The driver assistance system 2 comprises a camera device 3, which is arranged on an outer side 4 of the motor vehicle 1. The camera device 3 can, as in Fig. 1, at the level of side mirrors 11 of the motor vehicle 1, or above side mirrors 11, as in Fig. 3. By means of the camera device 3, a vehicle environment 7 can be recorded, in particular in the region of the vehicle's longitudinal sides 5. Furthermore, the driver assistance system 2 comprises a control device 6, by means of which an activated maneuvering assistance setting of the motor vehicle 1 can be determined. The maneuvering assistance setting of the motor vehicle 1 is activated in the present case by the control device 6 when the motor vehicle 1 is brought into a state in which the motor vehicle 1 performs a reverse movement upon actuation of an accelerator pedal or accelerator lever, and thus a reverse driving setting is activated. Furthermore, the maneuvering assistance setting is activated by the control device 6 depending on an input received from the driver.If the control device 6 receives an environmental signal from a sensor device of the motor vehicle 1, which characterizes a falling below a maximum distance between the motor vehicle 1 and an obstacle and / or driving of the motor vehicle 1 at walking speed, the control device 6 also activates the maneuvering assistance setting.

[0025] Furthermore, when the maneuvering assistance setting is activated, the camera device 3 can be activated by means of the control device 6 to capture the vehicle's surroundings 7. Furthermore, at least one piece of information can be received from the camera device 3 by means of the control device 6 and output to the driver of the motor vehicle 1 via an output device 8 of the driver assistance system 2. For outputting the vehicle's surroundings 7 to the driver, the output device 8 comprises a screen 9.

[0026] To enable a particularly advantageous and detailed output of the vehicle surroundings 7 to the driver of the motor vehicle 1 by means of the output device 8, the driver assistance system 2 comprises respective lighting elements 10 arranged in the area of ​​the vehicle's longitudinal sides 5, which can be activated by means of the control device 6 when the maneuvering assistance setting of the motor vehicle 1 is activated. In the present case, the lighting elements 10 are mirror indicators. Both the lighting elements 10 and the camera device 3 are in the Fig. 1 shown embodiment is arranged on the side mirrors 11 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0027] To maneuver the motor vehicle 1, the activated maneuvering assistance setting of the motor vehicle 1 is determined by means of the control device 6. And when the maneuvering assistance setting is activated, the camera device 3 arranged on the outside 4 of the motor vehicle 1 is activated to capture the vehicle's surroundings 7. Subsequently, the control device 6 receives at least one piece of information from the camera device 3 and outputs it to the driver of the motor vehicle 1 via the output device 8. At least substantially simultaneously with the activation of the camera device 3, the respective lighting elements 10 arranged in the region of the vehicle's longitudinal side 5 are activated by the control device 6 when the maneuvering assistance setting is activated. Furthermore, the orientation of the respective lighting elements 10 can be changed by means of the control device 6 depending on a position of a camera field of view of the camera device 3.This means that the respective lighting elements 10 are arranged by the control device 6 such that they illuminate the largest possible area of ​​the camera field of view of the camera device 3. In this case, the camera field of view is the vehicle surroundings 7, which is captured by the camera device 3. In this case, the control device 6 determines an activation state of a headlight device 12 of the motor vehicle 1 and activates the respective lighting elements 10 depending on the activation state of the headlight device 12.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a plan view of the output device 8 of the driver assistance system 2. It can be seen that the output device 8 outputs the vehicle surroundings 7 or information about the vehicle surroundings 7 to the driver of the motor vehicle 1 via the screen 9. In the present case, the output device 8 comprises an input device embodied as a screen key 13 (softkey), which is configured to receive an input from the driver. The input device embodied as the screen key 13 is in turn connected to the control device 6 so that the input can be transmitted to the control device 6. This means that the driver's input can be received by the control device 6 via the input device connected to the control device 6.The driver's input characterizes an activation command for activating or a deactivation command for deactivating the lighting elements 10. The control device 6 activates or deactivates the respective lighting elements 10 depending on the input.

[0029] In Fig. 3 shows a possible screen interface of the screen 9. Here, a left-hand vehicle environment 7, which has been recorded by the camera device 3, is displayed in a left-hand screen half 14, and a right-hand vehicle environment 7 of the motor vehicle 1, which has been recorded by the camera device 3, is displayed to the driver in a right-hand screen half 15.

[0030] The invention is based on the finding that when maneuvering with an area-view system, i.e., a camera system for recording the vehicle's surroundings 7 and subsequently outputting it to the driver of the motor vehicle, illumination in the area of ​​the side mirrors 11 is insufficient in dark environments. The mirror geometry of a housing of the respective side mirrors 11 also does not support maneuvering in areas where lighting is critical.

[0031] To facilitate maneuvering, the driver assistance system 2 utilizes ambient lighting, in this case the lighting elements 10 in the side mirrors 11, to illuminate the area of ​​the respective side mirrors 11. The respective lighting elements 10 can be activated via a surface of a parking system in a multimedia interface, in this case using the screen button 13 of the input device. Activating the lighting elements 10 achieves particularly advantageous illumination on the sides of the motor vehicle 1. The parking system is oriented toward the activation of the camera device 3 and, in this case, can only be used while it is activated. This creates a particularly advantageous driver assistance system 2. During maneuvering, the indicator lights of the motor vehicle 1 can be activated, provided no mirror ambient lights are installed.Alternatively, a combination of mirror ambient lights and mirror indicator lights as the lighting elements 10 is possible.

[0032] Overall, the example shows how the invention can be used to create assistance lighting for an area-view system to support maneuvering.

Claims

[1] Method for operating a driver assistance system (2) for manoeuvring a motor vehicle (1), in which by means of a control device (6) - an activated manoeuvring assistance setting of the motor vehicle (1) is detected, - when the manoeuvring assistance setting is activated, a camera device (3) arranged on an outer side (4) of the motor vehicle (1) is activated to capture a vehicle environment (7), wherein respective lighting elements (10) arranged in the region of the vehicle's longitudinal sides (5) are activated when the manoeuvring assistance setting of the motor vehicle (1) is activated, - at least one piece of information is received from the camera device (3) and output to the driver of the motor vehicle (1) via an output device (8), wherein an orientation of the respective lighting elements (10) is changed by means of the control device (6) depending on a position of a camera field of view of the camera device (3),characterized by that if a maximum distance between the motor vehicle (1) and an obstacle is not reached, the control device (6) activates the manoeuvring assistance setting. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that an activation state of a headlight device (12) of the motor vehicle (1) is determined by means of the control device (6) and the respective lighting elements (10) are activated depending on the activation state. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that by means of the control device (6) an input from a driver, which characterizes an activation command for activating or a deactivation command for deactivating the lighting elements (10), is received via an input device connected to the control device (6) and the respective lighting elements (10) are activated or deactivated depending on the input. [4] Method according to claim 3, characterized by that the input receivable by the control device (6) is received by the driver by means of a screen key (13) (soft key) of the input device. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one mirror indicator light and / or at least one mirror ambient light are activated as respective lighting elements (10). [6] Driver assistance system (2) for manoeuvring a motor vehicle (1), with a camera device (3) which is arranged on an outer side (4) of the motor vehicle (1), with a control device (6) by means of which - an activated manoeuvring assistance setting of the motor vehicle (1) can be determined, - when the manoeuvring assistance setting is activated, the camera device (3) can be activated to capture the vehicle surroundings (7), - at least one piece of information can be received by the camera device (3) and output to the driver of the motor vehicle (1) via an output device (8), and with respective lighting elements (10) arranged in the area of ​​the vehicle's longitudinal sides (5), which can be activated when the manoeuvring assistance setting of the motor vehicle (1) is activated, wherein by means of the control device (6) an orientation of the respective lighting elements (10) can be changed depending on a position of a camera field of view of the camera device (3), characterized by , that if a maximum distance between the motor vehicle (1) and an obstacle is undercut, the control device (6) activates the manoeuvring assistance setting. [7] Driver assistance system (2) according to claim 6, characterized by that the camera device (3) is arranged on side mirrors (11) of the motor vehicle (1). [8] Control device (6) which is suitable for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 5.

Images