Methods for operating an emergency assistance system of a vehicle and vehicle with emergency assistance system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating an emergency assistance system of a vehicle (10), wherein the vehicle (10) comprises a hazard warning system (12) and a lighting device (14), wherein the hazard warning system (12) is activated to signal when an emergency situation occurs. In a method in which fail-safe operation of the emergency assistance system is achieved, it is provided that sensors (16) and / or diagnostic software detect when the hazard warning system (12) has a defect, and that at least part of the lighting device (14) is activated to signal the emergency situation when the hazard warning system (12) has a defect.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating an emergency assistance system of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a hazard warning flashing system. In addition, the invention relates to a vehicle with an emergency assistance system. Modern vehicles are often equipped with emergency assistance systems designed to automatically take action in emergency situations to ensure the safety of the occupants and other road users. A key element of this system is a hazard warning light system, which is activated to signal an emergency. Various configurations of emergency assistance systems are known in the current state of the art. US patent 11 904 765 B2, for example, discloses a system with a microcontroller that controls the illumination of a multitude of vehicle lights, which can be operated in a flashing state, in which the multitude of lights function as hazard warning lights visible at the front and rear of a vehicle, and in a strobe state, in which the multitude of lights function as strobe lights visible at the front and rear of the vehicle. US Patent 9,771,020 B1 discloses an emergency flasher system for vehicles equipped with brake lights, a rear center brake light, left and right turn signals, and a hazard warning light control that can be activated to disable the turn signal control and toggle the turn signals on and off. The patent also discloses left and right rear emergency flashers and an emergency flasher switch that are connected to a power source independently of the hazard warning lights. German patent DE 10 2004 009 480 A1 discloses a method for warning the drivers of following vehicles to enable a faster reaction to the initiation of braking maneuvers by vehicles ahead. The method provides that when the brake pedal is depressed, at least one brake warning flasher in the rear of the respective vehicle ahead is illuminated. Preferably, the flashing frequency and / or the brightness of the warning signal increase with increasing braking force and are highest during full braking. German patent DE 198 18 114 A1 describes a central control system that, in the event of a light failure, activates another, functioning light as a replacement and adjusts its brightness. A disadvantage of this approach is its dependence on a single central control unit and a single power source, the failure of which renders the entire compensation system ineffective. DE 10 2023 100 603 A1 addresses this problem through a redundant architecture with at least two independent voltage circuits, each with its own power supply and control unit. If one circuit fails, the other can replace the function of a defective light, with the light color also being adjusted using multicolor LEDs. The emergency assistance system relies on all vehicle lights being functional. If one light fails, the hazard warning lights cannot function correctly, resulting in the emergency situation not being effectively communicated to the outside world. The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a method for operating an emergency assistance system of a vehicle and a vehicle with an emergency assistance system in which a fail-safe operation of the emergency assistance system is achieved. This problem is initially solved in the present invention by the features of claim 1 in that the vehicle comprises a lighting device, wherein the hazard warning lights are activated to signal when an emergency situation occurs, wherein sensors and / or diagnostic software detect when the hazard warning lights have a defect, and wherein at least a part of the lighting device is activated to signal the emergency situation when the hazard warning lights have a defect. The hazard warning system includes lights that can visually signal an emergency situation. These lights are located at least on the front left side of the vehicle, the front right side of the vehicle, the rear left side of the vehicle, and the rear right side of the vehicle. A malfunction of the hazard warning lights occurs, for example, when one of the bulbs is not working. This can have various causes. Turn signals can be damaged by water ingress, which is particularly problematic during heavy rain or flooding. Turn signals can also be damaged by accidents or mechanical impacts, impairing their function. If even just one hazard warning light fails, it can be difficult for following and / or oncoming traffic to recognize the emergency situation, as they may mistakenly assume that the vehicle is simply preparing to change direction. An emergency situation can occur outside the vehicle, for example, due to obstacles on the road, heavy traffic, or even a standstill in a busy lane where visibility is poor for following traffic. An emergency situation can also arise within the vehicle itself, due to vehicle defects such as a flat tire or engine problems that prevent the vehicle from maintaining a certain speed. In all these emergency situations, it is crucial that other road users can be alerted. The sensors can, for example, be directly connected to the hazard warning light bulbs or be electrically connected to the hazard warning light system and mounted elsewhere in the vehicle. Any sensor currently available that can detect the failure of a hazard warning light bulb is conceivable. Similarly, any diagnostic software capable of detecting a fault in a hazard warning light bulb or the hazard warning system itself can be used. It is also conceivable to link sensors and diagnostic software to analyze as precisely as possible what kind of fault exists and where in the vehicle it is located. The lighting system can comprise various light sources installed on and in the vehicle. These include, for example, headlights, taillights, daytime running lights, and interior lights. Therefore, the activated part of the lighting system refers to selected lights within the system. These lights can, for example, be activated depending on the situation. This creates a fallback system, ensuring that the hazard warning lights remain visible even if individual bulbs or the entire system fail. The redundant use of additional lights only when the hazard warning system malfunctions also prevents other road users from being unnecessarily distracted by the unusual illumination of various lights, as the additional lighting is only activated when the hazard warning system is defective. Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the other features mentioned in the dependent claims. In a first embodiment of the method according to the invention, the lighting device comprises rear lights, and these rear lights signal the emergency situation when the hazard warning lights malfunction. By using the rear lights, lights that are typically located in close proximity to the hazard warning lights can be used as a backup for failed hazard warning lights at the rear of the vehicle. In this way, following traffic is less, or not at all, disturbed when rear lights flash instead of the hazard warning lights. Consequently, signaling the emergency situation remains efficient despite a malfunction of the hazard warning lights. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the lighting device includes daytime running lights, which signal the emergency situation when the hazard warning lights malfunction. Analogous to the aforementioned rear lights, the daytime running lights are generally arranged in close proximity to the hazard warning lights at the front of the vehicle. The daytime running lights thus also serve as a backup for malfunctioning hazard warning lights at the front of the vehicle. In this way, oncoming traffic is less, or not at all, disturbed when the daytime running lights flash instead of the hazard warning lights. Signaling the emergency situation is therefore still possible efficiently, despite a malfunction of the hazard warning lights. According to the invention, a signal is provided to the driver of the vehicle when a malfunction of the hazard warning system occurs, and the driver is also notified that part of the lighting system is being activated to signal the emergency situation. This signal to the driver can be visual, audible, or haptic. Haptic signaling can, for example, be achieved by vibration of the driver's seat and / or steering wheel. Additionally or alternatively, an audible signal can be provided. Preferably, the driver is visually notified that part of the lighting system has been activated by a display in a display area of ​​a display device. This display area can be located in the center console or cockpit area, for example, in the vehicle's instrument cluster. Alternatively or additionally, the display area can be designed as a head-up display. A head-up display is a display area that allows the driver to maintain their head posture and line of sight because the information is projected into their field of vision, for example, onto the vehicle's windshield. Furthermore, the invention provides that the driver of the vehicle is signaled which part of the lighting system is activated to signal the emergency situation. In this way, the driver can prepare for how an emergency situation is signaled to other road users. Should a misunderstanding arise, for example, if the rear lights flash when the hazard warning lights are activated, the driver knows that this is due to a defective hazard warning system. Signal lights can be used in the front left and right corners as well as in the rear left and right corners of the vehicle to indicate that corresponding parts of the lighting system have been activated because the hazard warning system is defective. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the part of the lighting device that is activated to signal the emergency situation is alternately switched on and off. The switching on and off of the lighting device can be represented by a flashing pattern. Preferably, the activated lights of the lighting device flash at the same frequency as the lights of the hazard warning system that are still functional, or at the frequency at which the hazard warning system would flash if it were functioning correctly. In this way, acceptance by other road users is increased, as is the ability to identify the emergency situation as such. The aforementioned problem is also solved by a vehicle with an emergency assistance system comprising: a hazard warning system for signaling an emergency situation, a lighting device, sensors for detecting a defect in the hazard warning system, and at least one control unit, wherein the control unit is configured and designed to activate at least part of the lighting device to signal an emergency situation when a defect in the hazard warning system is present. It may be provided that the control unit is configured and designed to carry out a method according to the invention. The preceding descriptions concerning the method according to the invention also apply accordingly to the vehicle according to the invention. Electronic or electrical devices and / or other relevant devices or components according to the embodiments of the present invention described herein, such as the control unit, can be implemented using any suitable hardware, firmware (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit), software, or a combination of software, firmware, and hardware. For example, the various components of these devices can be placed on an integrated circuit (IC) or on separate IC chips. Furthermore, the various components of these devices can be implemented on a flexible printed circuit board, a tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or on a single substrate.Furthermore, the various components of these devices can be a process or thread running on one or more processors in one or more computer devices, executing computer program instructions, and interacting with other system components to perform the various functions described here. The computer program instructions are stored in memory, which can be implemented in a computer device using standard memory, such as main memory (RAM). The computer program instructions can also be stored on other non-transferable, computer-readable media, such as a CD-ROM, a flash drive, or similar devices.A competent person should also recognize that the functionality of different computer devices can be combined or integrated into a single computer device, or that the functionality of a particular computer device can be distributed among one or more other computer devices, without deviating from the scope of application of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In a first embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the lighting system includes rear lights, which signal the emergency situation if the hazard warning lights malfunction. By using the rear lights, lights that are typically located in close proximity to the hazard warning lights can serve as a backup for failed hazard warning lights at the rear of the vehicle. In this way, following traffic is less, or not at all, disturbed when rear lights flash instead of the hazard warning lights. Consequently, signaling the emergency situation remains effective even if the hazard warning lights malfunction. Additionally or alternatively, in a further advantageous embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the lighting system includes daytime running lights, which signal the emergency situation if the hazard warning lights malfunction. Analogous to the aforementioned rear lights, the daytime running lights are generally arranged in close proximity to the hazard warning lights at the front of the vehicle. The daytime running lights thus also serve as a backup for malfunctioning hazard warning lights at the front of the vehicle. In this way, oncoming traffic is less, or not at all, disturbed when the daytime running lights flash instead of the hazard warning lights. Signaling the emergency situation is therefore still efficiently possible despite a malfunction of the hazard warning lights. In a further embodiment of the vehicle according to the invention, the part of the lighting system used to signal an emergency includes a flashing function. Preferably, the activated lights of the lighting system flash at the same frequency as the lights of the hazard warning system that are still functional, or at the frequency at which the hazard warning system would flash if it were functioning correctly. This increases acceptance among other road users and also improves the ability to identify the emergency situation as such. Unless otherwise stated in individual cases, the various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another. The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle with an emergency assistance system, and Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the implementation of a method for operating an emergency assistance system of a vehicle. Fig. 1 shows a vehicle 10 equipped with an emergency assistance system. The vehicle 10 includes a hazard warning system 12 and a lighting system 14. The hazard warning system 12 is used to signal emergency situations. An emergency situation can occur outside the vehicle 10, for example, due to obstacles on the road, increased traffic volume, or even a standstill in a busy lane that is difficult for following traffic to see. An emergency situation can also occur on the vehicle 10 itself, due to vehicle defects, such as a flat tire, engine problems that prevent the vehicle from maintaining a certain speed, etc. In all these emergency situations, it is important that other road users can be alerted to the existence of such a situation. To prevent a failure of the hazard warning system 12 from obscuring the emergency signal, sensors 16 detect when the hazard warning system 12 is defective. If such a defect is detected, part of the lighting system 14 is activated to signal the emergency. This ensures that other road users can still recognize the emergency even if the hazard warning system 12 is malfunctioning. The lighting system comprises 14 rear lights 18. The rear lights 18 signal an emergency situation if the hazard warning lights 12 malfunction. By using the rear lights 18, lights that are typically located in close proximity to the hazard warning lights 12 can be used as a backup for failed hazard warning lights at the rear of the vehicle 10. In this way, following traffic is less or not at all disturbed if the rear lights 18 flash instead of the hazard warning lights 12. Signaling the emergency situation is therefore still possible effectively despite a malfunction of the hazard warning lights 12. Similar to the aforementioned rear lights 18, the daytime running lights are generally located in close proximity to the hazard warning lights at the front of the vehicle. The daytime running lights therefore also serve as a backup for malfunctioning hazard warning lights at the front of the vehicle. In this way, oncoming traffic is less likely to be distracted, or not at all, if the daytime running lights are flashing instead of the hazard warning lights. Signaling an emergency situation thus remains effective even if the hazard warning lights are defective. In addition, the lighting system includes 14 daytime running lights 20. The daytime running lights 20 also signal the emergency situation if the hazard warning lights 12 are defective. Similar to the aforementioned rear lights 18, the daytime running lights are generally located in close proximity to the hazard warning lights 12 at the front of the vehicle 10. The daytime running lights therefore also serve as a backup for malfunctioning hazard warning lights at the front of the vehicle 10. In this way, oncoming traffic is less likely to be confused, or not confused at all, if the daytime running lights 20 are flashing instead of the hazard warning lights 12. Signaling the emergency situation is thus still possible effectively, even if the hazard warning lights 12 are defective. The activated lights of the lighting device 14 flash at the same frequency as the lights of the hazard warning system 12 that are still functional, or at the frequency at which the hazard warning system 12 would flash if it were functioning correctly. This increases acceptance among other road users and also improves the ability to identify the emergency situation as such. Fig. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of various steps in a method for operating an emergency assistance system of a vehicle 10. In a first step 100, it is monitored whether the hazard warning lights 12 are functional. This monitoring is carried out by means of sensors 16. The sensors 16 can, for example, be directly connected to the bulbs of the hazard warning lights 12 or be electrically connected to the hazard warning lights 12 and mounted elsewhere in the vehicle 10. It is conceivable to use all sensors 16 that are common in the state of the art and that make it possible to register the failure of a light source of the hazard warning system 12. If the hazard warning system 12 is defective, at least one part of the lighting system 14 is activated in step 102, whereby activation means that the activated part of the lighting system 14 now assists in signaling the emergency situation by activating the lighting system 14 instead of the defective hazard warning system 12 when an emergency situation arises. In step 104, the driver of vehicle 10 is notified if the hazard warning system 12 is defective. The driver of vehicle 10 is also notified that part of the lighting system 14 is activated to signal the emergency situation. This signal is displayed in a display area of ​​a display device. The display area of ​​the display device can be a screen in the center console or cockpit area, for example, in the vehicle's instrument cluster. Alternatively or additionally, the display area of ​​the display device can be a head-up display. A head-up display is a display area where the driver can maintain their head posture or line of sight because the information is projected into their field of vision, for example, onto the vehicle's windshield. In step 106, the driver of vehicle 10 is further informed which part of the lighting system 14 is activated to signal the emergency situation. This allows the driver of vehicle 10 to anticipate how an emergency situation will be signaled to other road users. Should a misunderstanding arise, for example, if the rear lights 18 flash when the hazard warning lights 12 are activated, the driver of vehicle 10 knows that this is due to a faulty hazard warning light system 12. Reference symbol list 10 Vehicle 12 Hazard warning lights 14 Lighting system 16 Sensor 18 Rear light 20 Daytime running light 100 Procedure step - Monitoring whether hazard warning lights are functioning 102 Procedure step - Activation of lighting system 104 Procedure step - Signaling of hazard warning light system malfunction 106 Procedure step - Notification of which part of the lighting system is activated

Claims

Method for operating an emergency assistance system of a vehicle (10), wherein the vehicle (10) comprises a hazard warning system (12), wherein the vehicle (10) comprises a lighting system (14), wherein the hazard warning system (12) is activated to signal when an emergency situation occurs, wherein sensors (16) and / or diagnostic software detect when the hazard warning system (12) is defective, and wherein at least part of the lighting system (14) is activated to signal the emergency situation when the hazard warning system (12) is defective, wherein a driver of the vehicle (10) is signaled when the hazard warning system (12) is defective, and wherein the driver of the vehicle (10) is signaled that part of the lighting system (14) is activated to signal the emergency situation, and wherein the driver of the vehicle (10) is signaledwhich part of the lighting device (14) is activated to signal the emergency situation. Method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device (14) comprises rear lights (18) and wherein the rear lights (18) signal the emergency situation when the hazard warning system (12) has a defect. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lighting device (14) comprises daytime running lights (20) and wherein the daytime running lights (20) signal the emergency situation when the hazard warning system (12) has a defect. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the part of the lighting device (14) which is activated to signal the emergency situation is alternately switched on and off to signal the emergency situation. Vehicle (10) with an emergency assistance system, comprising: a hazard warning system (12) for signaling an emergency situation; a lighting device (14); sensors (16) for detecting a defect in the hazard warning system (12); at least one control unit; wherein the control unit is configured and designed to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Vehicle (10) according to claim 5, wherein the lighting device (14) comprises rear lights (18) and wherein the rear lights (18) signal the emergency situation when the hazard warning system (12) has a defect. Vehicle (10) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the lighting device (14) comprises daytime running lights (20) and wherein the daytime running lights (20) signal the emergency situation when the hazard warning system (12) has a defect. Vehicle (10) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the part of the lighting device (14) for signaling the emergency situation includes a flashing function.

Images