Automatic control of a vehicle's direction indicator

Abstract

Method for automatically controlling a direction indicator of a vehicle which is activated for a limited time to signal a lane change, comprising the following steps: - Receiving a signal for temporarily activating the direction indicator (S10), - temporary activation of the direction indicator after receiving the signal for temporary activation of the direction indicator (S12), characterized by the following steps: - starting a timer for a measuring interval which is shorter than the duration of the temporary activation of the direction indicator after receiving the signal for the temporary activation of the direction indicator (S14), - Checking a steering angle measurement signal during the measurement interval (S16), and - Deactivation of the direction indicator depending on checking the steering angle measurement signal (p. 18).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an automatic control of a direction indicator of a vehicle according to the independent claims.

[0002] In most vehicles, direction indicators (also known as turn signals) are manually controlled by the driver using the gearshift or turn signal lever. Deactivating a continuous turn signal is usually achieved by turning the steering wheel sufficiently far in the opposite direction to the direction indicated by the turn signal, for example, when driving straight ahead after a turning maneuver. Alternatively, the turn signal can also be deactivated manually by the driver by operating the turn signal lever.

[0003] Modern control systems for turn indicators also allow for temporary activation of the turn signal, which is particularly useful for lane changes. To activate the temporary turn signal, the driver only needs to operate the turn signal lever far enough so that it doesn't lock into the normal position. After a specified period of time, usually a few seconds, the turn signal is automatically deactivated.

[0004] US Pat. No. 5,438,314 A discloses a turn signal system in which a turn signal can be activated for selectable time intervals using a timer. A turn signal can be stopped before the selected time interval has elapsed if a switch connected to the steering column is activated by a complete turn.

[0005] GB 2 351 192 A describes an indicator system, particularly for forklifts, in which a set indicator is switched off after a specified period of time. The specified period can be started after a steering movement is detected.

[0006] US 2006 / 0 054 478 A relates to an indicator assembly in which an actuator made of a shape memory alloy is used to switch off an activated indicator.

[0007] US 5 528 218 A describes an electronic turn signal deactivation device in which a timer for deactivating the turn signals after a predetermined period of time is activated by turn signal deactivation means at predetermined steering angles.

[0008] FR 2 967 376 A1 describes a control method for a turn signal system of a vehicle, in which the steering angle is continuously detected after activation of a turn signal and the turn signal is deactivated depending on the change in the steering angle.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to further improve an automatic control of a direction indicator of a vehicle.

[0010] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

[0011] The known, time-limited activation of a turn signal, as explained above, has the disadvantage that it cannot be easily deactivated before the specified time period has elapsed. For example, if a driver decides not to change lanes after activating the time-limited turn signal, the turn signal remains activated, which can be confusing for other road users. One idea underlying the present invention is therefore to integrate a function into the automatic control of a turn indicator that ensures that an activated, time-limited turn signal of a turn indicator is controlled depending on the rotation of the steering wheel, which is detected by a steering wheel angle sensor.In particular, this function is intended to determine whether a corresponding change of direction actually occurs after the temporary activation of a turn signal, and to deactivate the turn signal again if necessary. This can prevent, for example, the situation described above from causing a vehicle to indicate a lane change with a corresponding temporary turn signal, but still not actually change lanes.

[0012] One embodiment of the invention relates to a method for automatically controlling a direction indicator of a vehicle, comprising the following steps: receiving a signal for temporarily activating the direction indicator; temporarily activating the direction indicator after receiving the signal for temporarily activating the direction indicator. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: starting a timer for a measuring interval that is shorter than the duration of the temporarily activated direction indicator after receiving the signal for temporarily activating the direction indicator; checking a steering angle measurement signal during the measuring interval; and deactivating the direction indicator depending on the checking of the steering angle measurement signal.

[0013] During the measurement interval, a check can be made to see whether, after the measurement interval timer has started, the steering angle measurement signal signals a steering movement opposite to the received signal for temporary activation of the turn indicator. A deactivation signal is generated if it is determined that a steering movement opposite to the direction is being signaled. The temporary turn signal can be deactivated again by "counter-steering," for example, if the driver cancels a lane change or if a lane change has been completed and the vehicle is steered straight ahead again.

[0014] Alternatively, or additionally, during the measurement interval, a check can be made to determine whether, within a specified period after the start of the measurement interval timer, the steering angle measurement signal signals a steering movement corresponding to the received signal for the temporary activation of the turn indicator. A deactivation signal is generated if it is determined within the specified period that no corresponding steering movement is signaled. This automatically deactivates a temporary turn signal early, for example, if a lane change fails to occur.

[0015] A further embodiment of the invention relates to a device for automatically controlling a direction indicator of a vehicle, comprising a first timer for temporarily activating the direction indicator after receiving a signal for temporarily activating the direction indicator. According to the invention, the device further comprises: a second timer for starting a measuring interval, which is shorter than the duration of the temporarily activating the direction indicator, after receiving the signal for temporarily activating the direction indicator, and means for checking a steering angle measurement signal during the measuring interval and for generating a deactivation signal for the direction indicator depending on the checking of the steering angle measurement signal.

[0016] The means for checking may be configured to check during the measuring interval whether, after starting the second timer, the steering angle measuring signal signals a steering movement opposite to the received signal for temporarily activating the direction indicator, and to generate the deactivation signal if it is determined that an opposite steering movement is signaled.

[0017] The means for checking can also be configured to check during the measuring interval whether, within a predetermined period of time after starting the second timer for the measuring interval, the steering angle measuring signal signals a steering movement corresponding to the received signal for temporarily activating the direction indicator, and to generate the deactivation signal if it is determined within the predetermined period of time that no corresponding steering movement is signaled.

[0018] Further advantages and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the embodiment(s) shown in the drawing(s).

[0019] In the description, the claims, the abstract and the drawing(s), the terms and associated reference symbols used in the list of reference symbols below are used.

[0020] The drawing(s) show / show in Fig. 1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for automatically controlling a direction indicator of a vehicle according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a device for automatically controlling a direction indicator of a vehicle according to the invention.

[0021] In the following description, identical, functionally identical, and functionally related elements may be provided with the same reference numerals. Absolute values ​​are given below only as examples and are not to be understood as limiting the invention.

[0022] In Fig. 1 shows a flowchart of an algorithm that implements the method according to the invention for automatically controlling a direction indicator of a vehicle and can be executed, for example, by a controller of a control unit for the direction indicators in order to generate control signals for the direction indicators, in particular automatically a deactivation signal of a set turn signal, as will be explained in detail below.

[0023] First, in step S10, a signal is received for temporarily activating a turn signal, for example, for changing to a left lane. The received signal is generated manually, for example, by a driver briefly tapping the turn signal lever that activates the desired turn signal.

[0024] In step S12, a timer is then started, which runs for a predetermined period of time to activate the turn signal. The following step S20 checks whether this predetermined period has already been reached. If so, a turn signal deactivation signal is generated and output in step S18 to deactivate the activated left turn signal. This process corresponds to the known, time-limited turn signal activation mentioned above.

[0025] Parallel to step S12, according to the invention, a timer for a measuring interval is now started in step S14. The measuring interval can, for example, be selected to be shorter than the aforementioned predefined blinking time and can be dimensioned such that it is somewhat longer than a typical average of the delay that occurs during a lane change until the driver executes a corresponding steering movement to initiate the lane change. The measuring interval can also correspond approximately to the predefined blinking time.

[0026] During the measuring interval, a steering angle measurement signal, which is generated, for example, by a steering wheel rotation angle sensor, is checked in a step S16 to determine whether it meets one or more deactivation criteria for deactivating the set turn signal.

[0027] A deactivation criterion could, for example, be that after the timer for the measurement interval has started, a steering movement opposite to the received signal for temporarily activating a turn signal is signaled by the steering angle measurement signal. For example, if the left turn signal was temporarily activated, but the steering angle measurement signal signals a steering movement to the right. In this case, it can be assumed that the driver aborts the lane change by making the opposite steering movement, and therefore further signaling is no longer necessary.

[0028] A deactivation criterion can also be, for example, that within a specified period of time, for example, a few seconds after the start of the timer for the measurement interval, no steering movement corresponding to the received signal for the temporary activation of a turn signal is signaled by the steering angle measurement signal. This means that if the left turn signal was activated for a limited time, but the steering angle measurement signal does not signal a steering movement to the left within a few seconds after the start of the measurement interval timer. In this case, it can be assumed that a driver does not want or cannot change lanes and therefore further signaling is no longer necessary.

[0029] If it is determined in step S16 that a deactivation criterion as explained above is met, the process continues with step S18 already described above and a turn signal deactivation signal for switching off the set left turn signal is generated and output.

[0030] Analogously, this procedure can also be applied to the right turn signal, for example if an originally planned lane change to the right-hand side / to a right-hand lane on the motorway is aborted or not carried out.

[0031] Fig. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a device for automatically controlling a direction indicator of a vehicle, comprising a first timer 10 for temporarily activating the direction indicator after receiving a corresponding signal 12 generated by briefly tapping a turn signal lever 13 to activate the left or right turn signal 14 of a vehicle. Furthermore, a second timer 16 is provided for starting a measuring interval, to which the signal 12 generated by tapping the turn signal lever 13 is also supplied. The second timer 16 generates a corresponding start or stop signal when starting and stopping the measuring interval, which is supplied to a controller 18 for the turn signal control. The controller 18 executes a program that uses an algorithm according to the method described above and with the Fig. 1 are implemented. The controller 18 receives the signal 12 and a steering angle measurement signal 20 as input signals, which is generated and output by a steering wheel rotation angle sensor 21 and reflects a steering movement of the driver. If the program executed by the controller 18 determines that the steering angle measurement signal 20 fulfills a deactivation criterion for the indicator during the current measurement interval (according to the above description of the method with the Fig. 1), the controller 18 generates a turn signal deactivation signal 22, which is fed to the turn signal 14 and leads to the deactivation or switching off of the set turn signal. Reference symbol 10 first timer 12 Signal for temporarily activating a turn signal 13 Turn signal lever 14 Direction indicators (turn signals) 16 second timer 18 controllers for the turn signal control 20 Steering angle measurement signal 21 Steering wheel angle sensor 22 Turn signal deactivation signal

Claims

[1] Method for automatically controlling a direction indicator of a vehicle which is activated for a limited period of time to signal a lane change, comprising the following steps: - Receiving a signal for temporarily activating the direction indicator (S10), - temporary activation of the direction indicator after receiving the signal for temporary activation of the direction indicator (S12), characterized by the following steps: - starting a timer for a measuring interval which is shorter than the duration of the temporary activation of the direction indicator after receiving the signal for the temporary activation of the direction indicator (S14), - Checking a steering angle measurement signal during the measurement interval (S16), and - Deactivation of the direction indicator depending on checking the steering angle measurement signal (p. 18). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that during the measuring interval it is checked whether, after the timer for the measuring interval has started, the steering angle measuring signal signals a steering movement opposite to the received signal for temporarily activating the direction indicator, and a deactivation signal is generated if it is determined that an opposite steering movement is signalled. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that during the measuring interval it is checked whether, within a predetermined period of time after the timer for the measuring interval has started, the steering angle measuring signal signals a steering movement corresponding to the received signal for the temporary activation of the direction indicator, and a deactivation signal is generated if it is determined within the predetermined period of time that no corresponding steering movement is signaled. [4] Device for automatically controlling a direction indicator of a vehicle, activated for a limited period of time to signal a lane change, with - a first timer (10) for temporarily activating the direction indicator after receiving a signal (12) for temporarily activating the direction indicator (14), characterized by - a second timer (16) for starting a measuring interval which is shorter than the duration of the temporary activation of the direction indicator, after receiving the signal (12) for the temporary activation of the direction indicator (14), and - Means (18) for checking a steering angle measurement signal (20) during the measurement interval and for generating a deactivation signal (22) for the direction indicator (14) depending on the checking of the steering angle measurement signal (20). [5] Device according to claim 4, characterized byin that the means (18) for checking are configured to check during the measuring interval whether, after starting the second timer (16), the steering angle measuring signal (20) signals a steering movement opposite to the received signal (12) for temporarily activating the direction indicator (14), and to generate the deactivation signal (22) if it is determined that an opposite steering movement is signaled. [6] Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized byin that the means (18) for checking are configured to check during the measuring interval whether, within a predetermined period of time after the second timer (16) has started, the steering angle measuring signal (20) signals a steering movement corresponding to the received signal (12) for the temporary activation of the direction indicator (14), and to generate the deactivation signal (22) if it is determined within the predetermined period of time that no corresponding steering movement is signaled.

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