System for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for a vehicle, wherein the system comprises at least one sensor (2, 3), at least one computing unit (4), a warning button (6) and at least one output device, wherein the at least one sensor (2, 3) is configured to detect events relating to the vehicle, wherein the at least one computing unit (4) is configured to determine a safety-relevant situation from the detected events and, in the event of the safety-relevant situation, to visually highlight the warning button (6) arranged in an interior of the vehicle and to control the at least one output device, wherein the at least one controlled output device is configured to display at least one indication of the safety-relevant situation.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a system for a vehicle and a method for operating a vehicle.

[0002] A vehicle breakdown and emergency support system is known from the publication DE 10 2014 212 699 A1.

[0003] An emergency warning light for user support is described in the publication DE 10 2018 122 736 A1.

[0004] Against this background, the task was to appropriately draw attention to an event relevant to a vehicle.

[0005] This problem is solved by a system and a method with the features of the independent claims. Embodiments of the system and the method are described in the dependent claims and the description.

[0006] The system according to the invention is designed for a vehicle, e.g., a motor vehicle, wherein the system comprises as components at least one sensor, at least one processing unit as a situation recognition module, a warning button, and at least one output device, wherein at least one of these components, or in a further embodiment all components, is also designed as a component(s) of the vehicle and is / are arranged in and / or on the vehicle. The at least one sensor is designed to detect and / or detect events affecting the vehicle. The at least one processing unit is designed to derive, determine, and / or recognize a safety-relevant situation from the sensor-detected events and / or in or among the sensor-detected events, and, if the safety-relevant situation exists, to activate the warning button located in an interior of the vehicle, e.g., a motor vehicle.to automatically highlight the situation optically by means of at least one signal, usually from at least one light source, and to control at least one output device, wherein the at least one controlled output device is designed to display at least one indication of the safety-relevant situation.

[0007] The system has at least one sensor for detecting and / or recording at least one event. An engine control unit, acting as a sensor, is designed to automatically detect, typically due to the current function of an engine for propelling and / or moving the vehicle, as an event and / or safety-relevant situation, adverse external conditions, such as extremely poor visibility or weather conditions, outside the vehicle, a need to tow the vehicle, and at least slow-moving traffic caused by other vehicles, such as a standstill of at least one other vehicle and / or a traffic jam caused by other stationary vehicles in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel.

[0008] A positioning and / or tracking system, consisting of at least one sensor, is designed to automatically detect an unforeseen obstacle and / or hazard on a roadway traveled by the vehicle, traffic caused by other vehicles (at least slow-moving, possibly stationary or congested), and / or the standstill of the vehicle and / or another vehicle. This system can be configured as a global positioning system (GPS) and / or a navigation system. In the event of a breakdown or accident, it determines the precise position or location of the vehicle and calculates and suggests an alternative route to bypass the obstacle and / or hazard, such as a traffic jam.

[0009] At least one camera, typically at least one external camera for the vehicle's surroundings and / or at least one internal camera for the vehicle's interior, is designed to automatically detect, as an event and / or safety-relevant situation, a medical emergency involving at least one person inside and / or in the vehicle's surroundings, a special column and / or convoy consisting of several other vehicles, adverse weather conditions, unforeseen obstacles and / or hazards on the road, towing, slow-moving traffic and / or traffic jams, and the standstill of the vehicle itself and / or other vehicles. The at least one external camera is mounted on the front, roof, or rear of the vehicle and may, for example, be a 360-degree camera.The vehicle's surroundings are monitored by at least one external camera, which detects and / or identifies events and / or situations such as traffic disruptions, obstacles, and weather conditions. Multiple cameras together form the vehicle's camera system.

[0010] At least one environmental sensor, such as a radar or lidar sensor, is designed to automatically detect events and / or safety-relevant situations, such as a special vehicle column or convoy, an unforeseen obstacle and / or hazard on the road, towing, slow-moving traffic, and / or the stationary state of the vehicle and / or other vehicles. The radar sensor assists in detecting slow-moving traffic. Furthermore, the radar sensor is designed to measure the distance between the vehicle and another vehicle and / or obstacle, even in poor visibility conditions, and to detect events dependent on this measured distance, such as an insufficient distance. The lidar sensor (Lidar stands for Light Detection and Ranging) complements the camera system by providing detailed monitoring of the surroundings.in complex traffic situations, and provides precise information and / or data about the environment for the detection of obstacles and other vehicles near the vehicle.

[0011] At least one brightness sensor and / or at least one humidity sensor, as at least one sensor is / are designed to automatically detect adverse external conditions as an event and / or a safety-relevant situation. At least one microphone for the interior and / or the surroundings, as at least one sensor, is designed to automatically detect a medical emergency and / or a standstill, at least of the vehicle itself, as an event and / or a safety-relevant situation. At least one internal camera and / or at least one microphone, as at least one sensor for the interior, is / are designed to detect a medical emergency by monitoring the person or their condition inside the vehicle. At least one weather sensor or meteorological sensor, e.g., a humidity sensor and / or a thermometer, and / or at least one brightness sensor, is also required.The light sensor is designed to detect, for example, extremely poor visibility conditions by recording current weather conditions and lighting conditions.

[0012] Furthermore, at least one sensor in the system and the vehicle is configured as an acceleration and / or tilt sensor to detect an accident or an abrupt driving maneuver as an event involving the vehicle itself. It is also possible for a sensor to be configured as a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication module, allowing the vehicle to communicate with other vehicles and thus detect an event. The V2V communication module can also provide the vehicle with swarm data on the behavior of several other vehicles, and an event can be detected based on this swarm data. Typically, several of the sensors described above are combined to form a sensor system.

[0013] The at least one output device is arranged as an internal output device in an interior space of the vehicle and has a display field or screen, e.g. a screen, and / or a loudspeaker, which is designed as a display field and / or loudspeaker in the interior to visually display and / or represent the information as display content in the interior and / or to indicate it acoustically.

[0014] Alternatively or additionally, the at least one output device is arranged as an external output device on and / or an exterior wall of the vehicle and / or is designed as a display field or screen, e.g., a screen, to display and / or show the message as visible content outside or in the vicinity of the vehicle. It is also possible that the at least one display field is arranged inside the vehicle and is designed to display and / or show the message as visible content through a transparent pane of a vehicle window. The at least one external output device or display field is designed or designated as a so-called communication light, with which other road users, usually vehicles, are warned of an accident or breakdown. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one external output device or display field can be designed as a rear light at the rear of the vehicle.The communication light is a digital OLED light, usually located at the rear, designed to display a specific, usually static, taillight signature with integrated warning symbols, such as a triangle, alongside the regular taillight graphics. This communication light symbol is activated when indicating a specific situation, or, for example, when the hazard warning lights are activated, to signal an emergency braking situation and / or a person exiting the vehicle.

[0015] The warning signal button is a legally required and / or mandatory vehicle component and features at least one symbol, usually a triangle, which is typically standardized. The warning signal button and / or the symbol may be red. The warning signal button is designed to directly activate the hazard warning lights and is mounted on the exterior of the vehicle. It is easily accessible and clearly marked within an interior component and / or is recessed into it. When manually operated, for example, by pressing the button, the warning signal button is moved and / or reversibly deformed relative to the component.By activating and / or manually operating the warning button, at least one measure and / or action is automatically carried out or its execution is automatically initiated in response to the sensorily detected event and / or the sensorily detected safety-relevant situation.

[0016] The method according to the invention is designed for operating a vehicle in which at least one sensor of the vehicle automatically detects and / or identifies external events outside the vehicle and / or internal events within the vehicle that affect the vehicle and / or an occupant of the vehicle. A safety-relevant situation is automatically recognized and / or determined from, among, and / or within the events detected and / or identified by the sensors. When the safety-relevant situation occurs, a warning button in the interior of the vehicle is visually highlighted by being illuminated and / or backlit. Alternatively or additionally, the warning button itself can be illuminated. For this purpose, the warning button can have its own light source. Furthermore, a light source of the system can be arranged outside the warning button and assigned to it.When a safety-relevant situation is detected, at least one such light source is automatically activated, either statically or dynamically. In addition, at least one output device inside and / or outside the vehicle is activated, displaying at least one message related to the safety-relevant situation. The visually highlighted warning button and the at least one activated display device draw attention to the safety-relevant situation.

[0017] It is possible that one embodiment of the presented system is configured to carry out one embodiment of the presented method. This means that the embodiment of the presented method is carried out using the embodiment of the presented system.

[0018] In this procedure, the notification automatically provides and / or suggests an action, e.g., a measure, possibly a countermeasure, to address the security-relevant situation or to rectify the security-relevant situation. This action is indicated by the visually highlighted warning button and / or the display content shown by at least one output device, drawing attention to this action and the possibility that it can be carried out if necessary.

[0019] The action to respond to and / or resolve the safety-relevant situation is automatically activated, initiated, and / or taken according to the procedure's design. Alternatively or additionally, manual activation of the proposed and / or intended action is offered, whereby the offered action is automatically executed and / or implemented when the warning button is manually pressed. If, due to an event and / or a safety-relevant situation, several measures are required and / or displayed on the internal display, at least one measure can be selected via the display (e.g., a touch-sensitive one) by operating the display, and its execution can be initiated by operating the display and / or the warning button.

[0020] Furthermore, the at least one sensor-detected event is analyzed by the at least one computing unit, whereby the situation is predicted or predicted and / or determined or detected based on the at least one recognized event, e.g., based on a pattern and / or context of several events.

[0021] Depending on the situation identified, a specific action for that situation, e.g. a specific action protocol, is initiated and / or ordered.

[0022] When the vehicle is detected as stationary, for example due to a breakdown or accident, the display will show the nearest garage and / or breakdown service, including their contact details. The display will also indicate the need for a safety measure, advising the vehicle's occupant, such as the driver, to put on a high-visibility vest and / or set up a warning triangle. Furthermore, the display will automatically suggest calling a breakdown service, but this call will only be placed after confirmation from the driver, typically by pressing the touch-sensitive display and / or the warning button.Furthermore, it is offered as a measure that information about the vehicle's position and / or its current condition will be provided to rescue services and / or an emergency service or a contact person in case of an emergency.

[0023] When slow-moving traffic and / or a traffic jam is detected, at least one display device will show information about the estimated duration of the traffic jam and its cause, e.g., an accident or roadworks, and / or indicate this. An alternative route to bypass the traffic jam can also be displayed. Alternatively or additionally, a distance warning and / or adaptive cruise control can be automatically activated.

[0024] When the need to tow your vehicle is detected, i.e., when it is recognized that towing is necessary, instructions for the correct use of a towing device, the maximum permissible speed during towing, and / or specific towing regulations will be displayed. Furthermore, the system can automatically synchronize the hazard warning lights of your vehicle with those of another vehicle being towed, typically via radio communication between the two vehicles.

[0025] Upon detection of an unforeseen obstacle and / or hazard on the roadway, instructions for safely bypassing the obstacle and / or hazard and / or contact information for the responsible authority, such as the police or fire department, for reporting the obstacle and / or hazard will be displayed on the internal display. Alternatively or additionally, a warning message indicating the obstacle and / or hazard will be displayed on the external display, thus alerting other following vehicles. It is also possible for the obstacle and / or hazard to be indicated via vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, i.e., radio-based communication between vehicles.

[0026] When poor, usually extremely poor, external conditions are detected, i.e., visibility and / or weather conditions, at least one fog light can be automatically activated as a preventative measure. Additionally, the nearest safe stopping point, such as a parking area or rest stop, can be automatically displayed to interrupt the journey. Furthermore, a recommendation to reduce the vehicle's speed can be shown.

[0027] Upon detection of a medical emergency, first aid measures, an offer of an automatic call to the emergency service with transmission of the location and / or an offer to notify an emergency contact of the driver will be displayed.

[0028] Upon detection of at least one special situation, e.g., a column or convoy of other vehicles, specific instructions or etiquette for driving in the column and / or convoy are displayed and / or a synchronization of the speed of the vehicle with the respective speed of the other vehicles in the column or convoy is displayed and / or initiated.

[0029] The system and procedure can improve safety and comfort, such as driving comfort. The system actively contributes to increased safety, for example, driving safety, by ensuring optimal visibility of the vehicle via at least one external display device, such as an external display panel, at least in exceptional situations. The system detects potential hazards early. Furthermore, it supports the driver by displaying and suggesting appropriate measures in a timely manner, including the automatic initiation and / or execution of such measures. By integrating at least one radar sensor, at least one lidar sensor, and / or at least one camera as a sensor, the system can also analyze complex traffic situations and weather conditions.With at least one sensor, obstacles and hazards immediately ahead on the roadway can be identified. This leads to a significant reduction in the risk of accidents. The risk of accidents can be further reduced by displaying information and thus recommending or suggesting at least one proactive measure and / or by automatically initiating or executing such a proactive measure.

[0030] This method and system expand the functionality of the hazard warning button by providing an integrated vehicle safety and / or emergency response system with context-aware guidance on the appropriate action when indicated. This enhances the use of the legally mandated hazard warning button. Based on predictive recognition and / or analysis of traffic patterns and situations, the system generates comfort- and safety-enhancing recommendations for activating the hazard warning lights, and the button is brightly illuminated for easier location inside the vehicle. When the hazard warning lights are manually activated, specific, situation-relevant additional actions are typically initiated automatically.

[0031] A basis for carrying out the procedure is at least one computing unit, which is designed or designated as a so-called situation recognition module. This at least one computing unit is located in the vehicle and / or outside the vehicle as a computational backend, whereby this at least one computing unit checks various values ​​and / or data from the at least one sensor. Furthermore, the at least one computing unit recognizes a pattern of events, e.g., using and / or based on artificial intelligence (AI), whereby the occurrence of a respective, usually safety-relevant situation is predicted and / or detected based on such a recognized pattern. The warning button is visually highlighted, with the initially unlit warning button being illuminated statically or dynamically, if a safety-relevant situation for the vehicle is detected.Once a safety-relevant situation has been identified, the driver receives timely notification, allowing them to activate the warning button early. Furthermore, since drivers of other vehicles are also alerted to the safety-relevant situation by a message displayed on and / or the exterior of the driver's own vehicle, the risk of an accident due to the safety-relevant situation, such as a rear-end collision, can be reduced. This is because the driver of the following vehicle can brake in time and increase their following distance, thus proactively improving road safety.

[0032] It is possible for the warning button to flash and be dynamically highlighted, for example, by changing the brightness and / or color of the light illuminating the flashing warning button at a specific frequency, thus making it more noticeable. Additionally, an audible signal can be generated to further draw attention to the warning button. Furthermore, the visual indicator, displayed on the outer wall of the vehicle, can also vary in brightness and / or color at a specific frequency. It is possible for at least one symbol displayed on the outer wall, such as a triangle, to be animated and potentially move on the display of the external display device.It is possible that the warning button and the message to be displayed internally and / or externally by at least one output device are dynamically animated to draw attention to the safety-relevant situation.

[0033] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without leaving the scope of the present invention.

[0034] The invention is schematically illustrated with reference to embodiments in the drawing and is described schematically and in detail with reference to the drawing. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the system according to the invention for carrying out an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0035] The based on Fig.1. A schematically represented embodiment of the system according to the invention is designed for a vehicle, here a motor vehicle, which is further referred to as a separate vehicle in order to distinguish it from other vehicles located and moving in road traffic.

[0036] The vehicle comprises several internal sensors 2 for detecting the interior of the vehicle, which is driven by a driver, and several external sensors 3 on and / or an exterior wall of the vehicle for detecting the vehicle's surroundings, including road traffic. The vehicle also includes a processing unit 4 or a control unit as a situation recognition module, and a prominently and easily accessible, triangular, red warning button 6 with a standardized symbol. Furthermore, the vehicle has an internal display 8 in the interior and an external display 10 visible in the surroundings on or near the exterior wall. These vehicle components are also components of the embodiment of the system according to the invention.

[0037] In the execution of the method according to the invention, the vehicle is presently located on a road as a road user while traveling with other vehicles. The road traffic is monitored by external sensors 3. Furthermore, the interior of the vehicle, and thus also the driver within it, is monitored by internal sensors 2. Various events inside and outside the vehicle, including other vehicles, can be detected by the respective sensors 2 and 3. One possible event is the relative position and / or speed of the vehicle in relation to other vehicles on the road.

[0038] The sensor-detected events are processed and / or analyzed by the computing unit 4, using artificial intelligence (AI). Among other things, the unit examines whether a specific, defined pattern exists for the events. If the computing unit 4 identifies a safety-relevant situation from the detected events and / or recognizes it within the events, the initially unlit warning button 6 is illuminated by a visual highlight 12, in this case by dynamically changing light, thus making it conspicuously dynamic and alerting the driver of the vehicle to the safety-relevant situation.

[0039] Furthermore, the driver of their own vehicle will see a visual indication of a measure 14 on the internal display field 8. This measure is automatically implemented in response to the detected safety-relevant situation when the warning button 6 is activated (usually pressed) by the driver of their own vehicle. Additionally, the indication of the safety-relevant situation is also displayed on the external display field 10 of the vehicle. This external display field 10 shows a visually changing, animated triangle (symbol 16) to alert the drivers of other vehicles to the safety-relevant situation.

[0040] In the following table E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 S1 x x x x S2 x x x S3 x x x x x x x S4 x x x x S5 x S6 x S7 x x Each line is intended for an internal or external sensor 2, 3, where in detail the following sensors 2, 3 or S_i are involved, with i = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7: S1 engine control unit S2 location system, e.g. GPS, and / or digital map data S3 camera for the interior and / or the surroundings (exterior) S4 Lidar and / or Radar S5 brightness sensor S6 humidity sensor S7 microphone

[0041] These sensors 2, 3, and S_i continuously record events both inside and outside the vehicle. From among the sensor-recorded events, the processing unit 4 identifies and / or recognizes safety-relevant situations, with each column in the table containing an event E_j, where j = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, namely: E1 medical emergency E2 special vehicle column or vehicle convoy E3 extremely poor visibility or weather conditions E4 Unforeseen obstacle and / or hazard on the roadway E5 Towing E6 slow-moving traffic / congestion E7 Vehicle standstill (breakdown / accident) is considered a safety-relevant situation.

[0042] If an "x" appears in a field of the table that is assigned to a sensor 2, 3 or S_i and simultaneously to an event E_j, this indicates that a respective event E_j can be identified and thus recorded with a respective sensor 2, 3 or S_i. REFERENCE MARK: 2, 3 Sensor 4 Calculation unit 6 Warning button 8, 10 Display field 12 Highlighting 14 Measure 16 Symbol QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] DE 10 2014 212 699 A1

[0002] DE 10 2018 122 736 A1

[0003]

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