Method for providing information about a vehicle's sunlight-influenced environment, and electronic vehicle guidance system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for providing information about the environment (7) of at least one vehicle (1), in which the environment (7) is detected by at least one detection unit (3) of the vehicle (1), and a sunlight condition in the environment (7) of the vehicle (1) is detected at least depending on the detected information, wherein the detected information is evaluated to determine whether at least one shadow region (8, 9, 10) resulting from at least one object (11, 12, 13) illuminated by sunlight is present, wherein the sunlight condition is detected depending on a detected shadow region (8, 9, 10), and if a shadow region (8, 9, 10) is present, at least one shadow region characterization information is transmitted to an external unit (6).

Description

[0001] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for providing information about the surroundings of at least one vehicle, in which the surroundings are detected using at least one detection unit of the vehicle. A sunlight condition in the surroundings of the vehicle is detected at least depending on the detected information. Another aspect of the invention relates to an electronic vehicle guidance system.

[0002] Vehicle systems are known that use detection units to monitor the vehicle's surroundings and thereby determine specific weather conditions. It is also known that sunlight conditions in the vehicle's surroundings can be detected based on the recorded information. For example, it is known from US 2020 105 139 A1 and US 2019 033 088 A1 that sunlight is directly evaluated and glare conditions can also be detected.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method in which information on sunlight conditions in the surroundings of the vehicle can be recognized and used in a more needs-based manner.

[0004] This object is achieved by a method and an electronic vehicle guidance system according to the independent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for providing information about the surroundings of at least one vehicle, in which the surroundings are detected using at least one detection unit of the vehicle. A sunlight condition in the surroundings of the vehicle is detected at least depending on the detected information. Another aspect of the invention relates to an electronic vehicle guidance system.

[0006] The acquired information is evaluated to determine whether at least one shadow region is present, resulting from at least one object in the surroundings illuminated by sunlight. The sunlight condition is assessed or recognized, in particular, depending on a detected shadow region. If a shadow region is present, shadow region characterization information is transmitted to a unit external to the vehicle. The method now makes it possible to detect sunlight conditions in the surroundings of the vehicle in a more needs-based manner. By evaluating the acquired information, in particular image information and / or video information, from an optical acquisition unit with regard to a shadow region, excessively bright image areas, which characterize the direct sunlight on the acquired information, can be disregarded or assessed as secondary.Since such image areas, which have been exposed to direct sunlight, are usually very bright, making other image areas unrecognizable or difficult to recognize, the analysis and assessment mentioned in this regard is more tailored to the needs of the user. By also recognizing and distinguishing whether a shadow region is caused by sunlight or an artificial light source, such as a light or lamp illuminating an object in the surroundings, for example by assessing the brightness of the surroundings, the proposed method is particularly advantageous and precise. This allows a sunlight condition in the surroundings of the vehicle to be recognized almost indirectly. It is also particularly advantageous that such shadow region characterization information, which then also characterizes a specific sunlight condition, is made available for further use.In particular, it is particularly advantageous to transmit this information to an external unit. This allows it to be made available to other road users or other assessment systems as needed, for example.

[0007] In one embodiment, an image of the shadow region and / or at least a position of the shadow region and / or at least a time information indicating when the shadow region occurred is transmitted to the external unit as shadow region characterization information. This allows the shadow region to be specified in great detail even in the surroundings of the vehicle. This provides further advantages in that such shadow region characterization information can be further processed in the external unit and / or transmitted to other interested parties, such as other vehicles and / or other road users.

[0008] In one embodiment, a low sun is detected as a sunlight condition. It is detected as such if it shines in the front field of vision of a vehicle occupant, in particular a driver, in the direction of the vehicle, in particular if it dazzles a vehicle occupant, in particular a driver. This is a very advantageous embodiment, since the analysis of a shadow region also allows such an oncoming low sun to be detected. Since such a low sun can potentially cause very strong dazzling and thus impair safe driving of the vehicle, it is particularly advantageous for such an embodiment to be able to assess and analyze this information about the shadow regions and then also to provide it to the external unit.

[0009] This also makes it possible to better avoid safety-critical driving maneuvers for other vehicles as well. In particular, it also makes it possible for the shadow region characterization information available in the external unit to be used for specific, individual route planning for other vehicles, particularly when a low sun is detected shining on them. This is particularly advantageous with regard to a temporal travel through this environment or surrounding area, as well as with regard to planning to bypass this surrounding area and use a different route. In one embodiment, the sunlight condition is assigned to a route along which the vehicle travels when detecting the environment.This not only focuses the shadow region characterization information on detecting sunlight conditions, especially low-lying sun, but also achieves a spatial link. This allows precisely such an information ensemble to be provided to other road users in a very advantageous manner. This enables more precise information. In particular, route planning for other road users can be carried out even more accurately.

[0010] In one embodiment, depending on the assessment of the sunlight conditions, at least one alternative route is determined along which, compared to the current route, sunlight conditions prevail that are less critical with regard to a potential impairment of the vehicle's driving safety. This creates the possibility of creating alternative routes where the sunlight conditions are better with regard to safe driving of the vehicle, especially by the driver.

[0011] In one embodiment, this at least one alternative route is determined by the external unit. This makes it possible to provide computing power externally to the vehicle. This can reduce the load on a vehicle's control unit, which could also determine such an alternative route, for example. This allows the control unit to be used for other work steps, if necessary, and / or can be configured and designed to be smaller.

[0012] Furthermore, it is advantageous if this alternative route is determined by the external unit. In one embodiment, this external unit may also have additional information about the vehicle's surroundings and / or other environments. This allows sunlight conditions to be present at other locations, and the assessment of an alternative route can thus be carried out precisely and in line with needs. Multiple alternative routes can then also be planned more effectively.

[0013] In one embodiment, the shadow region characterization information and / or dependent auxiliary information, in particular an alternative route, is transmitted from the external unit to another road user. By making this information available to other road users, their planning for maneuvering the vehicle, in particular based on specific routes, can be carried out individually and more precisely according to their needs. This can be improved, particularly with regard to critical sunlight conditions, in which driving may be impaired by glare from sunlight.

[0014] In one embodiment, the other road user is another vehicle. Additionally or instead, the other road user may be a person with a portable communications terminal. For example, the person may be a pedestrian, a cyclist, or a scooter rider.

[0015] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for determining a travel route for a request vehicle. When determining this at least one travel route, at least information about an environment, as provided by the above-mentioned method or an advantageous embodiment thereof, is taken into account. This enables travel route planning for such a request vehicle individually depending on the above-mentioned information about an environment in which the request vehicle is not yet located. It is therefore particularly advantageous that the request vehicle can also very easily avoid an environment in which an undesirable sunlight condition occurs or can occur once the request vehicle has reached this environment. The request vehicle is one that plans a travel route and requires or requests a travel route for this purpose.The request vehicle, and in this context, can potentially enter an environment in the future where specific sunlight conditions may occur. The request vehicle is therefore not the vehicle that drives in the above-mentioned method for determining information about an environment with sunlight conditions in order to be able to generate this recorded information.

[0016] In one embodiment, to determine a travel route for a request vehicle, first information about a first environment, as provided by an above-mentioned method or an advantageous embodiment thereof, is taken into account. In particular, at least second information about an environment, as provided by a method according to the above-mentioned aspect or an advantageous embodiment thereof, is taken into account. In this method, two different pieces of information from different environments, possibly also with different sunlight conditions, are thus taken into account. This allows route planning for a travel route of the request vehicle to be carried out even more in line with needs. This is because, in one embodiment, fleet information from a vehicle fleet comprising several vehicles is used.These multiple vehicles actually drove through different environments, recording the surroundings with their recording units, and determining specific sunlight conditions in each case. Such a fleet analysis makes it possible to provide a wide range of information on sunlight conditions in different environments. This allows for even more detailed route planning for the requested vehicle.

[0017] In one embodiment, the requesting vehicle is offered the route of the at least two different routes, in particular upon request from the requesting vehicle to an external unit, along which sunlight conditions prevail that are less critical with regard to a potential impairment of the vehicle's driving safety compared to the other route. This also intelligently enables a selection of specifically created routes. This also enables highly needs-based planning and execution of a route for the requesting vehicle.

[0018] In one embodiment, the requesting vehicle is offered at least two different routes for selection, particularly upon request from an external unit. Thus, in such an embodiment, a vehicle occupant can also optionally select one of at least two different routes. In particular, this also allows the individual needs of a vehicle occupant to be better met, if necessary.

[0019] In one embodiment, the request vehicle knows at least one route. In particular, however, the vehicle is not aware of any sunlight conditions for the route. This route from the request vehicle is transmitted by the vehicle to an external unit. Furthermore, the external unit has sunlight conditions for at least this route available. In one embodiment, it is possible for these sunlight conditions for this route intended and planned by the request vehicle, which has not yet been traveled by the request vehicle but is intended to be traveled, to be transmitted from the external unit to the request vehicle. The request vehicle thus now also knows which sunlight conditions prevail along the route intended by the request vehicle.Even in such a constellation, in which the request vehicle already knows the desired or planned route itself and in particular does not receive it from the external unit, but does not yet know the sunlight conditions along this route, this request vehicle is informed in an advantageous and intelligent way.

[0020] A further aspect of the invention relates to an electronic vehicle guidance system. This system has at least one detection unit and at least one evaluation unit. One evaluation unit or multiple evaluation units can be provided. The electronic vehicle guidance system is designed to carry out a method according to the above-mentioned aspect or an advantageous embodiment thereof. In particular, the method is carried out with this electronic vehicle guidance system.

[0021] A further aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle with an electronic vehicle guidance system according to the above-mentioned aspect or an advantageous embodiment thereof.

[0022] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention with an embodiment of an electronic vehicle guidance system according to the invention; Fig. 2 an exemplary representation of an environment of a vehicle with a sunlight condition with shadow regions; and Fig. 3 a representation of the surroundings of a vehicle with a Fig. 2 different sunlight conditions with low sun and shadow regions.

[0023] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0024] In Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 1. This can be a passenger car or a truck. The vehicle 1 has an electronic vehicle guidance system 2. At least one detection unit 3 can be a component of the electronic vehicle guidance system 2. In the exemplary embodiment, this is a detection unit whose detection range is directed forwards so that an area surrounding the vehicle 1 in front of the vehicle 1 can be detected. The detection unit 3 is in particular a front camera. It is sensitive in the spectral range visible to humans. It is arranged in particular in the interior of the vehicle 1 and positioned behind a windshield of the vehicle 1. It therefore detects through the windshield.

[0025] The electronic vehicle guidance system 2 further comprises at least one evaluation unit 4. This can be part of a control unit of the vehicle guidance system 2. In one exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 1 has a communication unit 5. This is designed for wireless communication with an external unit 6. In one exemplary embodiment, the electronic vehicle guidance system 2 can comprise not only components that are arranged exclusively in the vehicle 1, but in another exemplary embodiment, it can also comprise the external unit 6.

[0026] A method for providing information about an environment 7 of the vehicle 1 can be carried out with the electronic vehicle guidance system 2, or this method is carried out with the vehicle guidance system 2. The environment 7 is detected with at least this one detection unit 3. Depending on the detected information, a sunlight condition in the environment 7 of the vehicle 1 is detected.

[0027] For this purpose, Fig. 2 shows an exemplary scenario of an environment 7 of the vehicle 1. This area located in front of the vehicle 1 was recorded with the recording unit 3. In the example, it can be seen that several shadow regions 8, 9, 10 are present in the environment 7, which are also part of the recorded information. This recorded information is evaluated to determine whether at least one such shadow region 8, 9, 10 is present, which results from at least one object 11, 12 illuminated by sunlight. These objects 11 and 12 are, for example, trees. Another such object 13 can be, for example, a building. This results in the embodiment according to Fig. 2 also shows a shadow region 10, which is formed locally on a sidewalk 15 located next to a roadway 14. In the exemplary embodiment, this sidewalk 15 is therefore shaded at least in part. In particular, the sunlight condition is detected or assessed as a function of at least one detected shadow region 8, 9, 10. If such a shadow region 8, 9, 10 is present in the environment 7, in one exemplary embodiment at least one piece of shadow region characterization information is transmitted, in particular to an external unit, in particular the external unit 6. This is done by the vehicle 1 via the communication interface or the communication unit 5. In particular, the surroundings of a shadow region 8, 9, 10 can also be additionally evaluated. For example, with regard to its brightness. This can then also be used to detect whether it is day or night.In particular, it also makes it easier to detect whether the shadow regions 8, 9, 10 are caused by sunlight shining on objects.

[0028] It is possible that an image of this shadow region 8 and / or 9 and / or 10 is transmitted as shadow region characterization information. Additionally or instead of this, a position of the shadow region 8 and / or 9 and / or 10, in particular a GPS position, can also be transmitted. Additionally or instead of this, however, time information, for example, indicating when this shadow region 8, 9, 10 is present or occurred, can also be transmitted.

[0029] In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 2, the sunlight condition is present, but does not show a low sun, as it may be present and shining towards the vehicle in the frontal field of view of a vehicle occupant. Such a scenario is shown in Fig. 3 is shown schematically. This scenario of the environment 7 is also captured by way of example with the front camera, which is the detection unit 3 in the exemplary embodiment. Thus, in Fig. 3 shows a view through the windshield of vehicle 1 to the front. The low sun 16 is shown symbolically. The vehicle 1 is moving on a roadway 14 towards the sun 16. Here, too, several shadow regions 17 and 18 are present. The number as well as the position and type of the shadow regions 17 and 18 are shown here only as examples and are not intended to be exhaustive. In this example in Fig. 3, the low sun 16 is recognized as a sunlight condition, which shines in the front field of vision of a vehicle occupant in the direction of the vehicle 1, in particular dazzling a vehicle occupant.

[0030] In one embodiment, the sunlight condition is assigned to a driving route along which the vehicle 1 travels while detecting the surroundings 7. In particular, depending on the assessed sunlight condition, at least one alternative driving route is determined, along which, compared to the driven route, a sunlight condition prevails that is less critical with regard to a potential impairment of the driving safety of the vehicle's control.

[0031] In one embodiment, this at least one alternative route is determined by the external unit 6. It is possible that the shadow region characterization information and / or a dependent auxiliary information, which may be such an alternative route, for example, is transmitted from the external unit 6 to another road user 19, as symbolically shown in Fig. 1. The other road user 19 can be another vehicle. However, the other road user 19 can also be, for example, a person carrying a portable communications terminal to which this information is transmitted. The person can be a pedestrian, such as someone walking on the sidewalk 15. However, a person can also be, for example, a cyclist or a scooter rider.

[0032] The external unit 19 can be a server, a backend, or a cloud. It is also possible that a method for determining a route for a request vehicle 20, as symbolically shown in Fig.1. This means that this request vehicle 20 first plans a route. In one exemplary embodiment, information such as that determined from an environment 7 as explained above is to be taken into account. It is possible that, when determining a route for the request vehicle 20 in this way, several different environments that have been analyzed with regard to sunlight conditions are taken into account. This allows route planning for the request vehicle 20 to be carried out in a particularly needs-based manner. In particular, routes can thus be excluded where driving safety could be compromised due to glare from sunlight.In one embodiment, the requesting vehicle 20 can be offered the route, from at least two different routes, along which sunlight conditions prevail that are less critical with regard to a potential impairment of the vehicle's driving safety compared to the other route. In particular, this route can be offered by the external unit 6 if the vehicle 1 requests it from the external unit 6.

[0033] In another exemplary embodiment, the at least two different routes can be offered to the requesting vehicle 20, in particular transmitted by this external unit 6. This can also preferably be done depending on a request from the requesting vehicle 20 to the external unit 6.

[0034] It is also possible for the requesting vehicle 20 to already know at least one route. Provision can be made for this route to be known to the requesting vehicle 20. For example, it can have been selected based on navigation data. In particular, this route is not transmitted by the unit 6 to the vehicle 1. In such an example, however, provision is made in particular for no sunlight conditions to yet exist for this route. Therefore, it can preferably be provided for this route to be transmitted from the requesting vehicle 20 to the external unit 6. This external unit 6 preferably contains information about sunlight conditions for at least this route. For example, the vehicle 1 can have transmitted corresponding information to the unit 6 when it has traveled this route.

[0035] Unit 6 then preferably transmits the sunlight conditions associated with the route and known to the external unit 6 to vehicle 1. This allows vehicle 1 to link the information itself and travel the route taking into account the sunlight conditions that are now also known. However, it is also possible that this route is then rejected due to the sunlight conditions that are now also present. In particular, a different route can then be used, for example, or the external unit 6 can be queried for an alternative route with better sunlight conditions.

[0036] Conditions and circumstances that cannot be detected by the detection unit and / or processed by the vehicle 1 and / or the unit 6 may result in the system issuing an error message and / or a warning and / or at least putting the system into standby mode. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 2020 105 139 A1

[0002] US 2019 033 088 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Method for providing information about an environment (7) of at least one vehicle (1), in which the environment (7) is detected by at least one detection unit (3) of the vehicle (1), and a sunlight condition in the environment (7) of the vehicle (1) is detected at least depending on the detected information, characterized by that the acquired information is evaluated to determine whether at least one shadow region (8, 9, 10) resulting from at least one object (11, 12, 13) illuminated by sunlight is present, wherein the sunlight condition is detected depending on a detected shadow region (8, 9, 10), and if a shadow region (8, 9, 10) is present, at least one piece of shadow region characterization information is transmitted to an external unit (6). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized bythat an image of the shadow region (8, 9, 10) and / or at least one position of the shadow region (8, 9, 10) and / or at least one time information as to when the shadow region (8, 9, 10) occurred is transmitted as shadow region characterization information. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that a low sun (16) is detected as a sunlight condition, which shines in the frontal field of vision of a vehicle occupant in the direction of the vehicle (1), in particular dazzling a vehicle occupant. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sunlight condition is assigned to a driving route along which the vehicle (1) travels when detecting the environment (7). [5] Method according to claim 4, characterized bythat, depending on the assessed sunlight condition, at least one alternative route is determined along which, compared to the route, a sunlight condition prevails which is less critical with regard to a potential impairment of the driving safety of the vehicle. [6] Method according to claim 5, characterized by that the alternative route is determined by the external unit (6). [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the shadow region characterization information and / or auxiliary information dependent thereon, in particular an alternative driving route, is transmitted from the external unit (6) to at least one further road user (19). [8] Method according to claim 7, characterized bythat the further road user is another vehicle (20) and / or a person with a portable communication terminal to which at least the shadow region characterization information and / or auxiliary information dependent thereon is transmitted. [9] Method for determining a travel route for a request vehicle (20), in which at least information about an environment (7) as provided by a method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8 is taken into account for determining at least one travel route. [10] Method according to claim 9, wherein, for determining at least one travel route, first information of a first environment (7), as provided by a method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, is taken into account, and at least second information of a second environment different from the first environment, as provided by a method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, is taken into account. [11] Method according to claim 10, wherein the requesting vehicle (20) is offered that route of the at least two different determined routes, in particular upon request from this external unit (6), along which, in comparison to the other route, a sunlight condition prevails which is less critical with regard to a potential impairment of the driving safety of the vehicle guidance. [12] Method according to claim 10, wherein the at least two different driving routes are offered to the requesting vehicle (20) for selection, in particular upon request from this external unit (6). [13] Method according to claim 9, wherein the request vehicle (20) has at least one route without knowledge of sunlight conditions and this route is transmitted from the request vehicle (20) to an external unit (6), wherein the external unit (6) has sunlight conditions for at least this route, wherein the sunlight conditions for this route are transmitted from the external unit (6) to the request vehicle (20). [14] Electronic vehicle guidance system (2) with at least one detection unit (3) and with at least one evaluation unit (4), wherein the electronic vehicle guidance system (2) is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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