Methods for controlling a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method (100) and a device (10) for controlling a vehicle comprising a plurality of driver assistance systems, wherein at least one driver assistance system triggers an internal error message (16) (101), wherein internal error messages (16) of the driver assistance systems are collected centrally (104), and wherein only one central error message (17) is generated (105) and issued to a driver of the vehicle (106).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicle comprising a plurality of driver assistance systems as well as a corresponding device and a vehicle according to the independent claims.

[0002] It's generally known that sensor blindness can lead to a failure or malfunction of a vehicle's driver assistance systems. However, each malfunctioning system or function triggers its own warning message, typically accompanied by an audible signal. This can significantly unsettle the driver.

[0003] US 2020 / 0357203 A1 describes a control system for a vehicle that includes a variety of driver assistance systems. The system displays driver assistance system states, such as malfunctions.

[0004] DE 26 21 661 A1 describes a display device for operating and / or filling states in motor vehicles, wherein lights for displaying and / or warning are grouped according to urgency.

[0005] DE 10 2021 201 541 A1 describes a driver assistance system with an error handling unit for a driving mode for hands-free driving, whereby in the corresponding driving mode, vehicle guidance is maintained with different restrictions of functions in different failure scenarios of partial sensor systems of the vehicle environmental sensors.

[0006] The present invention is based on the object of further developing a method for controlling a vehicle comprising a plurality of vehicle assistance systems in such a way that unnecessary error messages that could potentially unsettle the driver are avoided, but the necessary safety is still guaranteed.

[0007] The aforementioned object is achieved by a method for controlling a vehicle having a plurality of driver assistance systems. Each driver assistance system can trigger an internal error message. According to the invention, at least one driver assistance system triggers an internal error message, with internal error messages from the driver assistance systems being collected centrally. Only one central error message is generated and output to a driver of the vehicle. Preferably, at least two driver assistance systems trigger a respective internal error message, which is collected centrally, with only a single central error message being generated and output.

[0008] Thus, only a single central error message is issued, even if multiple driver assistance systems have generated an internal error message. The central error message can be linked to an acoustic signal to the driver, although in this case, only a single acoustic signal is issued to the driver, preferably even if multiple driver assistance systems have generated an internal error message.

[0009] Driver assistance systems are systems designed to support the driver in specific driving situations. For example, a driver assistance system can be designed to increase the safety and / or comfort of the driver. Examples of driver assistance systems include a distance control system, which takes into account the position and speed of a vehicle ahead to adjust the speed and thus the distance of the vehicle, or traffic sign recognition. Another example is a lane departure warning system, which warns the driver of a vehicle before leaving a lane on a road. Driver assistance systems primarily evaluate information about the vehicle's surroundings, with this information coming from at least one of the vehicle's sensors. The sensors can be cameras and / or lidar or radar sensors. A malfunction of a driver assistance system is typically caused by sensor blindness.This can be triggered by direct sunlight or other environmental factors such as snow or heavy rain. Sensor blindness can then lead to the failure or malfunction of a driver assistance system that relies on the respective sensor data. An environmental factor such as sunlight or snow, and thus the failure of one sensor, can lead to the malfunction of multiple driver assistance systems.

[0010] According to the present invention, however, instead of multiple warning messages appearing that could confuse or unsettle the vehicle driver, only a central error message appears, preferably with only one acoustic signal. This increases comfort and safety.

[0011] The internal error messages of the driver assistance systems are preferably collected on a central evaluation unit. The collection of error messages is thus outsourced, as it is not done on local evaluation units.

[0012] The central error message preferably contains a general statement about a malfunction in a driver assistance system. For example, it can indicate, preferably in the form of a text field, that driver assistance systems are currently restricted and / or limited and / or have failed.

[0013] Furthermore, the central error message can alternatively or additionally include information about the specific driver assistance system that is malfunctioning. The more specific information can be provided via a text field or via an icon display. In particular, each driver assistance system is assigned a symbol, in other words, an icon, which can be displayed, for example, on a display device such as a screen. The general message can also be displayed for the driver via a display device.

[0014] Preferably, the central error message is assigned a predefined time during which it is active. If a driver assistance system's first internal error message is triggered during this time—in other words, a new internal error message—no further central error message is generated. In other words, this means that a new internal error message cannot trigger a new central error message. Information about another faulty driver assistance system can be added to the already active central error message, e.g., by displaying a symbol or icon, particularly if this is required by law.

[0015] Even in the case of faulty driver assistance systems for which corresponding legal requirements exist, a new central error message can still be generated and issued. It can therefore depend on the other faulty driver assistance system whether a new central error message is generated and issued or whether, for example, only an addition is made. This can also depend on the time interval after which another internal error message was triggered. Driver assistance systems can be assigned a maximum time interval for triggering an internal error message and / or for issuing a central error message from a previously faulty driver assistance system. If this time interval is exceeded, an audible signal can be emitted, for example, or another central error message can be generated and issued. Legal regulations are particularly taken into account when defining the time intervals.

[0016] However, if no central error message is active anymore, an internal error message that occurs for the first time can be taken into account when generating a central error message, and a new central error message can be triggered.

[0017] Internal error messages from the corresponding driver assistance systems are triggered by evaluation units assigned to the respective driver assistance system. These can also be referred to as local evaluation units. Specifically, each driver assistance system is assigned its own evaluation unit, in which an internal error message can be generated. These can be forwarded by the respective evaluation unit to the central evaluation unit. The central evaluation unit then generates the central error message.

[0018] Each driver assistance system can thus operate autonomously, as the central error message is triggered centrally and the internal error messages are triggered locally. No changes to the respective affected driver assistance systems are necessary; instead, a central error message can be generated using a single central evaluation unit that bundles the internal error messages. The vehicle can also be expanded with any number of driver assistance systems without restricting the existing procedure. Backward compatibility is also maintained, as the function connected to the central error message has no knowledge of it. Furthermore, all ISO standards are adhered to.

[0019] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a device for controlling a vehicle comprising a plurality of driver assistance systems, wherein the device is configured to centrally collect an internal error message from at least one driver assistance system and to generate only one central error message and output it to a driver of the vehicle. The device is configured, in particular, to carry out a method described above.

[0020] The corresponding device comprises, in particular, a central evaluation unit and evaluation units assigned to the respective driver assistance systems. These are therefore local evaluation units, with each driver assistance system preferably having a local evaluation unit. Internal error messages are generated in the local evaluation units and forwarded to the central evaluation unit, which is designed to collect them and generate and output a central error message. The device can, in particular, comprise a playback unit for outputting the central error message to the driver. The error message can, for example, be displayed on a screen of the vehicle or displayed to the driver in another way, for example by projection onto a windshield of the vehicle.

[0021] In a further aspect, the invention preferably relates to a vehicle comprising the aforementioned device. The vehicle preferably includes the driver assistance systems and / or sensors, such as cameras, lidar, and / or radar sensors.

[0022] They show in a purely schematic representation: Fig. 1 a method for controlling a vehicle, and Fig. 2 a device for controlling a vehicle.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a method 100 for controlling a vehicle comprising a plurality of driver assistance systems. An internal error message is triggered 101 by at least one driver assistance system. Preferably, internal error messages are triggered 102 by at least two driver assistance systems. The internal error messages are triggered in particular on an evaluation unit assigned to the corresponding driver assistance system and forwarded 103 to a central evaluation unit. Internal error messages are collected 104, in particular by means of the central evaluation unit. Only one central error message is generated 105, preferably even if multiple internal error messages have been triggered. The central error message is output to the driver of the vehicle 106. Also, only a single acoustic signal can be output to the driver 107. The central error message is displayed for a predefined time 108.

[0024] Fig.Figure 2 shows a device 10 for controlling a vehicle, illustrating two driver assistance systems by way of example: a first driver assistance system 11 with a first evaluation unit 13 and a second driver assistance system 12 with a second evaluation unit 14. Two internal error messages 16 are generated. In addition to the respective associated evaluation units, the device 10 has a central evaluation unit 15, to which the internal error messages 16 generated in the local evaluation units are forwarded and collected. A central error message 17 is generated, which is output to the driver via a playback unit 18. List of reference symbols 100 methods for controlling a vehicle 101 Triggering an internal error message from at least one driver assistance system 102 Triggering internal error messages from at least two driver assistance systems 103 Forwarding to a central evaluation unit 104 Collecting internal error messages 105 Generating only one central error message 106 Output of the central error message to a driver of the vehicle 107 Output of only an acoustic signal to the driver 108 Display of the central error message for a predefined time 10 Device for controlling a vehicle 11 First driver assistance system 12 Second driver assistance system 13 First evaluation unit 14 Second evaluation unit 15 Central evaluation unit 16 Internal error message 17 Central error message 18 Playback unit 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 / 0357203 A1

[0003] DE 26 21 661 A1

[0004] DE 10 2021 201 541 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Method (100) for controlling a vehicle comprising a plurality of driver assistance systems, wherein at least one driver assistance system triggers an internal error message (16) (101), characterized by , that internal error messages (16) of the driver assistance systems are collected centrally (104), whereby only one central error message (17) is generated (105) and output to a driver of the vehicle (106). [2] Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized by , that at least two driver assistance systems trigger a respective internal error message (16) (102), whereby the internal error messages (16) of the driver assistance systems are collected centrally (104), whereby only one central error message (17) is generated and output to a driver of the vehicle (106). [3] Method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the central error message (17) is linked to an acoustic signal to the driver, whereby only an acoustic signal is emitted to the driver of the vehicle (107). [4] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the internal error messages (16) of the driver assistance systems are collected on a central evaluation unit (15). [5] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the central error message (17) is active for a predefined time, whereby an internal error message (16) of a driver assistance system occurring for the first time during the time of activity does not trigger a new central error message (17). [6] Method (100) according to claim 5, characterized by that an internal error message (16) of a driver assistance system which occurs for the first time after the time of activity triggers a new central error message (17). [7] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the central error message (17) contains a general statement about a malfunction of a driver assistance system. [8] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the central error message (17) includes information about the faulty driver assistance system. [9] Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that internal error messages (16) of a driver assistance system are triggered on an evaluation unit assigned to the respective driver assistance system. [10] Method (100) according to claim 9, characterized by that the internal error messages (16) are forwarded from the respective assigned evaluation unit to the central evaluation unit (15). [11] Device (10) for controlling a vehicle comprising a plurality of driver assistance systems, characterized bythat the device (10) is designed to centrally collect (104) internal error messages (16) of at least one driver assistance system and to generate (105) only one central error message (17) and to output it to a driver of the vehicle (106). [12] Device (10) according to claim 11, characterized by that the device (10) has an evaluation unit per driver assistance system and a central evaluation unit (15). [13] Device (10) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by that the device (10) comprises a playback unit (18) for outputting the central error message (17) to the driver. [14] Device (10) according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized by that the device (10) is designed to carry out a method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10. [15] Vehicle comprising a device according to any one of claims 11 to 14.

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