Collision warning device for a vehicle

Abstract

Collision warning device for a vehicle, in particular a single-track vehicle, comprising a distance measuring device, an electronic data processing device for processing distance data from the distance measuring device, a DC power source for supplying power to the electronic data processing device and the distance measuring device, and a control unit associated with the electronic data processing device, which, depending on the processing of the distance data from the distance measuring device, controls a functional unit, wherein the distance measuring device, the electronic data processing device, the DC power source and the control unit associated with the electronic data processing device are housed in a manually handled compact module, characterized in that the control unit is coupled to at least one switching device arranged in the compact module.which, upon activation, performs a galvanically isolated control of a circuit of the functional unit, and that the functional unit is an electric drive system for a single-track vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to a collision warning device for a vehicle, in particular a single-lane vehicle.The invention also relates to a protective helmet for a person using a vehicle and to a single-track electric vehicle having such a collision warning device.Collision warning devices for motor vehicles are generally known. Front and rear bumpers of a vehicle body of a corresponding motor vehicle are provided with ultrasonic sensors, which are fed by an on-board electric system of the motor vehicle and are connected to one or more vehicle-side control units. Optical and / or acoustic signal generators are provided in a vehicle interior of the motor vehicle, which are actuated as a function of an approaching obstacle. Such ultrasonic sensors in vehicle-mounted bumpers are activated exclusively at very low speed ranges that are used for parking operations of the motor vehicle.DE 10 2018 102 846 A1 or DE 10 2017 214 258 A1 each disclose an active brake assist for a single-track vehicle having an electric drive, namely an E-bike. In both publications, the activation of this braking function is carried out by a shifting device provided on the bicycle. In this case, the bicycle-side shifting device evaluates a corresponding signal of a smartphone and controls a braking device or a deactivation of the travel drive of the bicycle.It is an object of the invention to provide a collision warning device, a protective helmet and an electric vehicle of the type mentioned at the beginning, which increases the safety of persons in road traffic that are en route with vehicles on which the persons are seated or stand.Such vehicles are in particular vehicles which are assisted by muscle power or by electric drives. Besides electric bicycles or e-scooters, these also include scooters, motor wheels or gocarts, skates, inliners and the like. The invention is therefore suitable for vehicles whose driver's cab is open to the environment for a person driving, so that the person driving is exposed to the environment at least largely unprotected.The object on which the invention is based is achieved for the collision warning device by the features of claim 1. The collision warning device according to the invention is provided with a manually manageable compact module which is provided with a distance measuring device aligned in particular unidirectionally relative to the compact module, with an electronic data processing device processing distance data of the distance measuring device, with a direct current source for supplying power to the electronic data processing device and the distance measuring device, and with a control unit assigned to the electronic data processing device, which controls a functional unit depending on processing of the distance data of the distance measuring device, wherein fastening means for attaching the compact module to a vehicle part or a person-related headgear or clothing part are assigned to the compact module. The compact module that can be handled manually is understood to be a module with external dimensions and a weight that make simple manual handling by a person possible. The compact module preferably has external dimensions which assume a volume of less than 8000 cm 3. A weight of the compact module is less than 1 kg. The compact module is preferably designed as a closed housing, preferably made of plastic, in which the distance measuring device, the electronic data processing device, the direct current source and the control unit are accommodated. The control unit can be designed in different ways. The control unit can be part of the electronic data processing device and have an interface which enables a connection to a functional unit. A functional unit can be an optical and / or acoustic signal generator arranged on the compact module, i.e. a signal generating unit. Alternatively or additionally, an electric drive unit of the vehicle can be provided as a functional unit, which can be controlled via a separate control device. The interface of the control unit can also serve to actuate an electronic peripheral device, such as in particular a smartphone, a smart watch or a similar mobile terminal.The solution according to the invention enables a driver of a vehicle to be able to detect approaching obstacles at an early stage even in the event of temporary inattentivity. The distance measuring device is designed such that a timely obstacle detection is detected at the usual travel speeds of the vehicle. An ultrasonic sensor system is preferably provided as the distance measuring device. Other distance measuring devices that use radar or lidar sensor systems or camera sensor systems may be provided in the same way. The compact module has a volume that is less than a side length of 20 cm of a cube. The compact module is preferably designed as a rectangular or cubic housing and is designed so compact that an operator can hold the compact module in one hand and mount it on a vehicle part or a headgear or clothing part with the aid of the other hand. Preferably, the weight of such a compact module is in the range of less than 500 g.The electronic data processing device is in particular designed as a microcontroller on which a permanently programmed software is stored. If the distance measuring device is provided with an ultrasonic sensor system, this sensor system generates pulse width modulation signals, which are evaluated by the stored software and are calculated with a sampling rate of the sensor system in order to determine a relative speed of a reflecting object. The software stores limit values for distance and relative speed. As soon as the limit values are exceeded, the control unit, which is preferably integrated in the microcontroller, is activated in order to actuate a corresponding functional unit.According to the invention, the control unit is coupled to at least one switching device arranged in the compact module, which switching device performs galvanically separate control of a circuit of the functional unit when activated. The functional unit is a unit separate from the compact module, as already described above. Because a circuit associated with the compact module and the circuit of the external functional unit remain separated from one another, mutual, undesired influence on the circuits can be ruled out. Depending on how an electronic system of the correspondingly external functional unit is designed, one or more switching devices are accommodated in the compact module, which switching devices, when activated, perform galvanically isolated control of at least one circuit of the external functional unit. As a result of the galvanic separation, no safety-relevant criteria are to be taken into account when using the collision warning device for a vehicle provided with an electric drive. The corresponding circuits in the compact module on the one hand and for the external functional unit on the other hand are provided electrically in parallel. Restrictions on a corresponding function of this external functional unit by at least one circuit of the collision warning device can thereby be avoided. This embodiment is provided in particular for switching off an electric travel drive of the vehicle when a approaching object or obstacle is detected, as a result of which the electric travel drive necessarily acts as an electric generator and consequently exerts a braking action on the vehicle. The shifting device preferably engages via the galvanically isolated control in a brake unit of the drive which is already present on the vehicle and which becomes active when a brake signal is generated manually by the person driving, for example via a brake lever. The generation of the brake signal can take place either via an electrical circuit or via a Hall probe. The actuation of the brake lever or a similar brake operating element of the vehicle has the result that the circuit operating the travel drive is switched to ground, as a result of which the electric travel drive is no longer energized. The electric traction drive thus automatically serves as a generator, wherein corresponding magnetic resistances necessarily brake a rotor of the traction drive. This sudden deceleration sensitizes a driver of the vehicle and animates it to additionally use mechanical or hydraulic brakes of the vehicle in order to achieve a rapid deceleration to a full standstill, if necessary. This normal braking function uses the compact module to simulate a corresponding braking intervention via the switching device. The coupling of the compact module to the external functional unit can be effected by using existing plug connections on the vehicle, optionally by additional plug adapters, without a structural form of the vehicle having to be changed, without internal bus communication of the vehicle being disturbed, and without coding of the internal bus communication having to be known.In one embodiment of the invention, the switching device is designed for a connection to a control device of a functional unit that can be activated by a circuit or for a connection to a control device of a functional unit that can be activated by a Hall probe. The switching device is adapted to the respective control device of the external functional unit.In a further embodiment of the invention, both an interface for coupling to the control device that can be activated by the circuit and an interface for coupling to the control device that can be activated by the Hall probe are provided in the compact module. As a result, both variants are provided in the compact module for coupling to a corresponding control device. The compact module can thus be used for different vehicles with different control devices, wherein one interface is used for coupling to the control device activatable by the circuit and the other interface is used for coupling to the control device activatable by the Hall probe. The functional unit is particularly advantageously an electric traction drive of a single-track vehicle, preferably a hub drive of an electric bicycle or of an electric scooter. The electric hub drive is associated with either a wheel hub of a rear wheel or a hub of a pedal assembly on a frame of the electric bicycle or the electric scooter. The collision warning device according to the invention can thus be used in particular for electric bicycles or for electric scooters, which usually have either a control device that can be activated by a circuit or a control device that can be activated by a Hall probe.In a further embodiment of the invention, the switching device is designed as an optocoupler. Such a commercially available optocoupler generates a switching process with the aid of light signals, so that the input and output of the optocoupler are galvanically isolated from one another. An optocoupler is a component of optoelectronics. For transmitting a signal between two galvanically separated circuits, a light emitting diode or a laser diode is preferably provided as an optical transmitter and a photodiode or a phototransistor is provided as an optical receiver.In a further embodiment of the invention, the compact module is assigned fastening means for attaching the compact module to a vehicle part or a personal headgear or clothing part. In particular, a frame part of a single-track vehicle is provided as the vehicle part. As a personal headgear or clothing part, a protective helmet, protective apparel parts or shoes are provided in particular. The fastening means are preferably mechanically effective fastening elements or also magnetically effective fastening elements. Mechanical fastening means provided are, in particular, hook and loop fastener parts, clamping devices or clamping devices that can be operated without tools. Corresponding fastening means can also be supported by vacuum generating means. Vacuum-assisted fastening means are provided in particular with suction cups, as are known in the case of housings of GoPro® cameras. Magnetic fastening means preferably comprise permanent magnets.In a further embodiment of the invention, the compact module is assigned, as a functional unit, a signal generating unit for generating a signal perceptible by a human, which signal generating unit is coupled to the control unit. The signal generating unit is preferably arranged in an external functional module and preferably has at least one acoustic or optical signal transmitter. Alternatively or additionally, the signal generating unit can also generate vibration signals, in particular in the form of a puzzle. An electronic peripheral device or else a housing module can be provided as an external functional module, in which solely the signal generating unit, a power supply and an electronic coupling unit for connecting the signal generating unit to the control unit of the compact module are accommodated. The connection can be provided wirelessly, in particular via a Bluetooth connection, or by wire.In a further embodiment of the invention, the control unit is assigned a data remote transmission unit, in particular a Bluetooth module, which is arranged in the compact module. The data transmission unit enables wireless actuation of a functional unit remote from the compact module, in particular a signal generation unit provided in an electronic peripheral device, which can be actuated via software integrated in the mobile peripheral device. The signal generating unit integrated in the mobile peripheral device may generate vibration signals, acoustic signals and / or optical signals that are detectable by the person driving. This mobile peripheral device is advantageously arranged on a body of the moving person, preferably on a wrist in the case of a smart watch and preferably in a pocket of an item of clothing in the case of a smart phone. Alternatively or additionally, an external functional module described above can also be controlled in a corresponding manner, in particular a housing module described above.For the protective helmet, the object underlying the invention is achieved in that a functional module of the collision warning device having a signal generating unit is arranged on the protective helmet, as described above.For the single-track electric vehicle, the object underlying the invention is achieved in that the previously described collision warning device is arranged on the electric vehicle.Further advantages and features of the invention are evident from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated on the basis of the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of an electric bicycle according to the invention with a person controlling the electric bicycle, who wears an embodiment of a protective helmet according to the invention, FIG. 2 schematically shows an embodiment of a functional module of a collision warning device according to the invention, which is arranged on the protective helmet according to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a collision warning device according to the invention, which is assigned to a travel drive of the electric bicycle according to FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a further embodiment of a collision warning device according to the invention, similar to FIG. 3.An electric bicycle F according to FIG. 1 has a hub drive N in the form of an electric motor in the region of a wheel hub of a rear wheel. The hub drive N is controlled via a controller S, which is coupled to the hub drive N via electrical lines shown in dash-dot lines. In the electric bicycle F, a power source in the form of a rechargeable battery is also assigned in a manner not shown in more detail.A person P sitting on the electric bicycle F and controlling the electric bicycle F carries a protective helmet H as headgear. The protective helmet H is assigned a functional module 1 of a collision warning device, which is fastened to the protective helmet H by means of a mechanical fastening means 4, in the present case a hook and loop tape unit. The arrangement of the functional module 1 of the collision warning device, described in more detail below, on the protective helmet H is illustrated in FIG. 1 merely by way of example. The functional module 1 according to FIG. 2 has a housing 10 in which various functional components are accommodated.As can be seen from FIG. 2, a microcontroller 5 serving as an electronic data processing device, a DC power source 6 in the form of a rechargeable battery, a signal generating unit in the form of a vibration signal transmitter 7, a data remote transmission unit in the form of a Bluetooth module 8 and a USB interface 9 are provided in the housing 10.The battery 6 is designed as a single-cell LiPo battery, wherein a capacity of the battery 6 is selected such that the collision warning device can be operated for approximately 6 hours. The battery 6 is recharged via the USB interface 9, in the present case with a voltage of 5 V.The functional module 1, also referred to as a helmet module, having the described functional components is coupled to a sensor module 2 of the collision warning device, which is recognizable with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The sensor module 2 forms a compact module in the sense of the invention and has a distance measuring device, in the present case in the form of an ultrasonic sensor system 15. The ultrasonic sensor system 15 has both a transmitter for transmitting corresponding ultrasonic waves and a receiver for receiving the reflected ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic sensor system 15 is coupled to an electronic data processing device in the form of a microcontroller 14. A range and a detection angle of the ultrasonic sensor system 15 can be configured by appropriate software, which is integrated either in the ultrasonic sensor system 15 or in the microcontroller 14. Microcontroller 14 is provided with firmly programmed software, which evaluates a pulse width modulation signal of ultrasonic sensor system 15 and compares it with a sampling rate of ultrasonic sensor system 15 in order to determine a relative speed of an object reflecting the ultrasonic waves. The software of the microcontroller 14 stores limit values for distance and relative speed. Depending on the limit values being exceeded, a control unit in microcontroller 14 is activated, which controls corresponding functional components in a manner described in greater detail below. The control unit of the microcontroller 14 is coupled to a Bluetooth module 19 which, in the exemplary embodiment shown, comprises a Bluetooth transmitter which interacts with a Bluetooth receiver of the Bluetooth module 8 of the helmet module 1 according to FIG. 2. Accordingly, the vibration signal generator 7 in the helmet module 1 can be activated via corresponding Bluetooth signals. The microcontroller 5 is provided for controlling the vibration signal generator 7.The sensor module 2 is additionally provided with a direct current source 16, which is likewise designed as a rechargeable battery analogously to the direct current source 6 of the helmet module 1 according to FIG. 2. In addition, a light-emitting diode 17 and a switch 18 are integrated in the sensor module 2, which causes the light-emitting diode 17 to blink. The light-emitting diode 17 can also be activated in different light colors, in the present case in green for indicating the operational readiness and in red for indicating an activation of a braking process. The sensor module 2 can communicate with the helmet module 1 without the coupling, described in more detail below, with the controller S of the hub drive N in order to provide a warning signal to the moving person P by activating the vibration signal transmitter 7 on the helmet module 1 when detecting an object that approaches relatively quickly.The sensor module 2 is accommodated in a housing 13 which is mounted by means of mechanical fasteners 3 on a steering tube of a bicycle frame of the electric bicycle F below a steering rod. The sensor module 2 is oriented in the direction of travel such that corresponding ultrasonic waves of the ultrasonic sensor system 15 are transmitted in the direction of travel. A USB interface is provided with the reference symbol 21.The collision warning device according to the invention additionally also intervenes in the controller S of the hub drive N, as will be described below. For this purpose, a switching device in the form of an optocoupler 20 is integrated in the housing 13 of the sensor module 2, the output of which switching device is connected via electrical lines to a circuit of the controller S for the hub drive N (see FIG. 3 ). An electrical connection between the output of the optocoupler 20 and the circuit of the controller S for the hub drive N is effected via suitable plug connections, which are designed commercially.The controller S for the hub drive N has a circuit which switches the controller S for the hub drive N to ground as a function of an operation of the hand-held brake grip B, which is illustrated by the reference symbol 12. When the hand brake grip B is actuated, the supply of current to the hub drive N is consequently interrupted by a switch 11 being switched over to ground 12.The sensor module 2 generates an identical switching signal for the switch 11 via the microcontroller 14 and the optocoupler 20, so that when a corresponding control signal of the control unit of the microcontroller 14 is transmitted to the optocoupler 20, the switch 11 is likewise switched to ground independently of an actuation of the hand-held brake grip B.As a result, in both variants, an energization of the hub drive N is interrupted, as a result of which the electric motor of the hub drive N acts as an electric generator and, on account of the corresponding resistance between stator and rotor of the corresponding electric machine, brakes the rear wheel. The hand-held brake grip B is additionally connected in a manner not shown to a mechanical brake for front wheel and / or rear wheel, so that the person P driving can further increase a braking effect of the electric bicycle F by additional actuation of the mechanical brakes.The embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 thus discloses two different variants of a collision warning device which can be operated cumulatively or alternatively. The sensor module 2 controls the vibration signal generator 7 via a Bluetooth interface between the Bluetooth modules 19 of the sensor module 2 and 8 of the helmet module 1 as a function of corresponding signals of the ultrasonic sensor system 15. If, as provided in this embodiment, a further switching device in the form of the optocoupler 20 is additionally provided, which is coupled to the circuit of the hub drive N, a control of the hub drive N is additionally also possible as a function of corresponding signals of the ultrasonic sensor system 15, which leads to a switching of the electric machine of the hub drive N to generator operation and carries out a corresponding resistance braking of the rear wheel of the electric bicycle F.The embodiment according to the invention according to FIG. 4 is used as an alternative to the collision warning device according to FIG. 3 for an electric bicycle F according to FIG. 1. Instead of being used with an electric bicycle F, the collision warning device according to FIG. 4 can also be used with another single-track electric vehicle, in particular an electric scooter. To avoid repetitions, with respect to the embodiment according to FIG. 4, reference is additionally made to the explanations relating to the actuation of the electric bicycle according to FIG. 1 by means of the compact module according to FIG. 3. Identical or functionally identical parts and sections are provided with the same reference numerals, in part with the addition of the letter a.FIG. 4 shows a block diagram from which a person skilled in the art can see details of the corresponding electrical or electronic units. The compact module of the collision warning device according to FIG. 4 has a housing 13 a, in which a microcontroller 14 is accommodated as a control unit, which microcontroller actuates both an optocoupler 20 analogous to the embodiment according to FIG. 3 and a further optocoupler arrangement 20 acomprising two optocouplers. Both the optocoupler 20 and the optocoupler arrangement 20 aare each assigned a housing-side interface, which is not designated in more detail in FIG. 4. The interface of the optocoupler 20 has two line connections and the optocoupler arrangement 20 acomprises three line connections, which are accessible in the region of an outer side of the housing 13 a. A brake unit B, as used in the embodiment according to FIG. 3, can be connected to the one interface. The brake unit B engages via a circuit 11, which is part of a control device of the travel drive of the electric bicycle. In the brake unit B a a Hall probe serves to activate the control device for a corresponding travel drive. Both the brake unit B and the brake unit B a are activated in the respective electric vehicle by actuating a manual brake grip. Such a brake intervention for the electric traction drive is simulated via the corresponding interfaces of the optocouplers 20 or 20 a, without a driver of the vehicle having to actuate the corresponding brake grip. The intervention in the corresponding control device of the travel drive via the interface on the compact module and thus on the housing 13 atakes place as a function of corresponding signals of an ultrasonic sensor system 15 a, which is likewise integrated in the housing 13 aof the compact module, analogously to the compact module according to FIG. 3 ; in addition, a direct current source 6 ain the form of a battery or a rechargeable accumulator is provided in the housing 13 a. A light emitting diode 17 aand a puzzle 18 aare also integrated in the housing 13 a.In the case of the brake unit B according to FIG. 4, the actuation of the manual brake grip triggers a magnetic switch of the circuit 11, which then, analogously to the embodiment according to FIG. 3, brings about a disconnection of the electric drive. In the case of the brake unit B a, which is provided in an alternative single-track electric vehicle such as, in particular, an E-scooter, and to which the compact module can be coupled via the optocoupler arrangement 20 a, instead of a magnetic switch, a Hall probe is provided, which likewise monitors manual actuation of a brake grip. The brake handle is preferably designed as a manually operable brake lever. When the brake lever is not actuated, a first voltage is present, whereas when the brake lever is actuated manually, the electrical voltage increases, as a result of which the control unit S of the travel drive is signalled to switch the travel drive to ground and consequently to operate it as a generator. In order to be able to use the compact module according to FIG. 4 for the corresponding control device provided with the Hall probe, the compact module is connected to the housing 13 avia the interface of the optocoupler arrangement 20 aand a suitable plug connection to the circuit of the brake unit B a. Subsequently, a one-time calibration for the two different voltages takes place before the startup. The calibrated voltage values are stored in a flash memory of the compact module. The optocoupler arrangement 20 ais assigned a digital potentiometer which, depending on corresponding signals from the ultrasonic sensor system 15 aand the control of the microcontroller 14 resulting therefrom, generates a voltage which corresponds to the activation voltage of the brake unit B a when the manual brake lever is actuated. In this way, a corresponding disconnection of the electric traction drive is generated in an analogous manner by setting the traction drive to ground. This results in the switching of the traction drive to generator operation and a forced resistance braking of the traction drive, which is preferably designed as a hub drive N.

Claims

Collision warning device for a vehicle, in particular a single-lane vehicle, having a distance measuring device, having an electronic data processing device processing distance data of the distance measuring device, and having a direct current source for supplying energy to the electronic data processing device and to the distance measuring device, and having a control unit assigned to the electronic data processing device, which control unit carries out an activation of a functional unit as a function of a processing of the distance data of the distance measuring device, wherein the distance measuring device, the electronic data processing device, the direct current source and the control unit assigned to the electronic data processing device are accommodated in a manually manageable compact module, characterized in that the control unit is coupled to at least one switching device arranged in the compact module, which switching device carries out an galvanically separate control of a circuit of the functional unit on activation, and in that the functional unit is an electric traction drive of a single-lane vehicle.Collision warning device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the switching device is designed for a connection to a control device of a functional unit which can be activated by a switching circuit or for a connection to a control device of a functional unit which can be activated by a Hall probe.Collision warning device according to Claim 2, characterized in that both an interface for coupling to the control device which can be activated by the circuit and an interface for coupling to the control device which can be activated by the Hall probe are provided in the compact module.Collision warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching device is designed as an optocoupler (20, 20a).Collision warning device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the at least one optocoupler (20, 20a) is coupled to at least one circuit of the control device of the electric traction drive in a wired manner during operation of the collision warning device.Collision warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compact module is assigned fastening means for attaching the compact module to a vehicle part or a person-related headgear part or clothing part.Collision warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compact module is assigned, as a functional unit, a signal generating unit for generating a signal which can be perceived by a human being, said signal generating unit being coupled to the control unit.Collision warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal generating unit is arranged in an external functional module.Collision warning device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit is assigned a data remote transmission unit, in particular a Bluetooth module (8, 19), which is arranged in the compact module.A protective helmet for a person using a vehicle, on which a functional module of the collision warning device having a signal generating unit according to claim 7 or 8 is arranged.Single-lane electric vehicle having a collision warning device according to one of Claims 1 to 9.

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