Improved detection of an obstacle in the rear area

Abstract

System (100) comprising a computer (105) with a processor and a memory (106), wherein the memory (106) stores instructions executable by the computer (105) to: trigger a first output mechanism in a portable device (140) when a reverse speed of a vehicle (101) exceeds a first threshold; and trigger a second output mechanism in a vehicle (101) when a control unit (107) for detecting a collision with an obstacle in the rear detects an imminent collision with an obstacle in the rear.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Rear obstacle detection systems allow drivers to take action if a collision with a rear obstacle is imminent. A key feature of such systems is the ability to provide an output indicating an impending rear obstacle collision, enabling the driver to take corrective action. However, current rear collision warning mechanisms do not provide driver-specific, tailored, or calibrated output. List of characters Fig. Figure 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system with a portable device that provides an output indicating a possible collision with an obstacle in the rear area. Fig. 2 is an exemplary process for providing a warning from a portable device of a possible collision with an obstacle in the rear area. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0002] Fig. 1 shows a system 100 , which is a portable device 140 includes, for example, devices that communicate with a computing device using a known wireless protocol. 105 a vehicle 101 is interconnected. The computing device 105 is programmed to collect data 115 from one or more data collectors 110 e.g., vehicle sensors 101 , regarding various measurements related to the vehicle 101 to receive. For example, the measured values ​​could be the vehicle's speed. 101 , acceleration and / or deceleration of the vehicle 101 , data relating to the track or steering of the vehicle 101, data on an obstacle in the rear area, biometric data relating to a driver of the vehicle 101 These include, for example, heart rate, respiration, pupil dilation, body temperature, level of consciousness, etc. Further examples of such measured variables can include measurements from vehicle systems and components (e.g., a steering system, a powertrain system, a braking system, internal scanning, external scanning, etc.). The computing device 105 can be programmed to operate the vehicle 101 , in which it is installed and which sometimes serves as a carrier vehicle 101 is referred to as data 115 to capture and / or can be programmed to collect data 115 via a second vehicle 101 e.g., to detect a target vehicle.

[0003] The calculating device 105 It is generally programmed for communication via a CAN bus (short for Controller Area Network) or similar. The computing device 105It may also have a connection to an on-board diagnostics (OBD II) connector. The computing device can be accessed via the CAN bus, OBD II, and / or other wired or wireless mechanisms, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or similar. 105 Reports on various devices in a vehicle 101 e.g. the devices discussed below 140 , 150 , send and / or messages from the various devices, e.g. control units, actuators, sensors, etc., including data collectors 110 , received. Alternatively or additionally, in cases where the computing device 105 actually comprises several devices, the CAN bus or the like is used for communication between devices that are referred to in this disclosure as a computing device 105 are shown.

[0004] The data storage 106It can be of any known type, e.g., hard disk drives, solid-state drives, servers, or any volatile or non-volatile media. The data storage device 106 can the data collectors 110 transmitted recorded data 115 save.

[0005] The computer 105 It can be programmed for obstacle detection in the rear area, as is known, for example, the computer's processor. 105 It could, for example, execute commands to determine if the vehicle 101 The system is designed to detect the risk of a collision with an obstacle in the rear area (e.g., whether a collision risk exists within a certain time, e.g., 3 seconds, exceeding a risk threshold), and to trigger one or more vehicle mechanisms during such an assessment without driver intervention, e.g., braking, steering, accelerator, etc. Furthermore, a control unit can 107for the detection of an obstacle in the rear area, included in or associated with an output mechanism to indicate a collision with an obstacle in the rear area, e.g., sounds and / or visual indications, which are provided via the vehicle's HMI. 101 be provided.

[0006] Data collector 110 They can include various devices. For example, different control units in a vehicle can act as data collectors. 110 work to transmit data via the CAN bus 115 to deliver, e.g., data 115 regarding vehicle speed, acceleration, system and / or component functionality, etc., of any number of vehicles 101 Furthermore, sensors or similar devices could be included in a vehicle and used as data collectors. 110 be designed to allow the computer 105 e.g., to deliver data directly via a wired or wireless connection. Sensor data collectors110 This could include mechanisms such as radar, lidar, sonar sensors, etc., which could be used to determine the distance between the vehicle and the other vehicle. 101 and to measure other vehicles or objects, e.g., an obstacle in the rear area. Other data collectors 110 This could include cameras, breathalyzers, motion detectors, etc., i.e., data collectors. 110 to provide data 115 to evaluate the condition or state of a driver of the vehicle 101 .

[0007] The collected data 115 There can be various things in a vehicle 101 The collected data includes: Examples of collected data 115 are mentioned above, and data 115 are also generally used with the help of one or more data collectors 110 recorded and may also include data stored in the computer 105 can be calculated. In general, collected data can 115arbitrary data collected by the data collectors 110 can be collected and / or calculated from this data.

[0008] The portable device 140 It can be any of a variety of computing devices with a processor and memory, as well as communication capabilities, programmed to be worn on a driver's body. For example, the wearable device could be... 140 a wristwatch, a smartwatch, a vibrating device, etc., suitable for wireless communications using IEEE 802.11 , Bluetooth and / or cellular communication protocols. Furthermore, the portable device may 140 such communication functions are used to communicate directly with a vehicle computer 105 e.g., to communicate using Bluetooth.

[0009] The system 100 can the user device 150 include the user device150 It can be any of the various computing devices that include a processor and memory, e.g., a smartphone, a tablet computer, a PDA, etc. The user device 150 can be used with the vehicle computer 105 and the portable device 140 communicate via the CAN bus, OBD and / or other wireless mechanisms, as described above.

[0010] Fig. 2 shows a process 200 for the benefit of the portable device 140 in conjunction with the control unit for obstacle collision in the rear area 107 The process 200 begins in a block 202 , in which the calculating device 105 an occupant of the vehicle 101 identified. The computing device 105 can identify the driver in one or more ways, e.g. by receiving data from one or more portable devices 140 , user device150 and / or data collectors 110 For example, as is known, the occupant could be identified using image recognition techniques in the computer. 105 using data 115 from a camera data collector 110 User identity can be identified using a portable device. 140 an HMI of the vehicle 101 be entered or the portable device 140 It could identify the user / occupant using captured biometric data, e.g., a fingerprint, etc. Upon identification of the occupant, the computing device can 105 from their data storage 106 Retrieve information about the occupant, including age, height, driving level, preferred mechanisms for receiving information (e.g., haptic, auditory, etc.), etc.

[0011] Next, the computing device records 105 in a block 205 Data 115about an obstacle in the rear area. The data 115 This can include visual data, radar, lidar, sonar, etc.

[0012] Next, the computing device records 105 in a block 210 Data 115 , which determines the speed of the vehicle 101 determine. The data 115 They can originate from, for example, speedometers, accelerometers, etc.

[0013] Next, the computing device determines 105 in a block 212 Whether the driver looks away from the instrument cluster. In conventional reversing scenarios, the driver can look at the instrument cluster to view images from a rear-view camera to see if there are any obstacles behind the vehicle. 101 It may have an interior camera to detect whether the driver is looking at the instrument cluster during the reversing scenario. If the driver is looking at the instrument cluster, the process continues.200 in a block 215 continues. Otherwise, the process continues in one block. 230 Alternatively, the driver can look through a rear window and see the rake device. 105 It can determine whether the driver is looking out the rear window. In some implementations, the block can 212 The process is skipped, meaning the computer does not check whether the driver is looking at the instrument cluster or through the rear window.

[0014] In block 215 The computing device determines whether the vehicle's speed 101 is greater than a first threshold. The first threshold could be, for example, an average reversing speed measured over a period of time, a recommended reversing speed, etc., and can be stored in the data memory. 106 stored and, upon identification of the driver, in block 202can be accessed. An example of a first threshold value could be 16 km / h to prevent excessive maneuvering when reversing, especially for novice drivers. If the vehicle's speed 101 If the value is above the first threshold, then the process continues 200 in a block 230 continues. Otherwise, the process continues in one block. 200 continued. Alternatively, the first threshold can be set at the user device. 150 be saved. Alternatively, the user device can be saved. 150 the vehicle's speed data 101 Use and determine whether the vehicle speed is above the first threshold.

[0015] In the block 220 estimates the computing device 105 a time until impact with the obstacle at the rear. That is, the computing device uses data. 115 , which are in the blocks 205 and 210 to be recorded in order to estimate the time until the vehicle101 impacts the obstacle in the rear area. For example, data can be used. 115 about the distance between the vehicle 101 and the obstacle in the rear area, combined with the current vehicle speed, to estimate the time until impact as follows: t A u f p r a l l = d H i n d e r n i s v A n n ä h e r u n g where t Aufprall the estimated time until impact is, d Hindernis the distance between the vehicle 101 and the obstacle in the rear area is and v Annäherung the speed between the current speed of the vehicle 101 and the obstacle in the rear area.

[0016] Next, investigated in a block 225 the calculating device 105 Whether the estimated time until impact is below a second threshold. The second threshold could, for example, be based on the time required for braking, which depends on the vehicle's current speed. 101, based on an average reaction time of the occupant, etc., and can be stored in the data storage 106 stored and, upon identification of the driver, in the block 202 The second threshold can be retrieved. An example of a second threshold is 1.2 seconds. If the time until impact is below the second threshold, the process continues. 200 in the block 230 on. Otherwise, the process repeats itself. 200 to block 205 back to collect more data.

[0017] In block 230 The computing device delivers 105 a command to the portable device 140 , to trigger one or more output mechanisms. The output mechanisms can include haptic output, e.g., vibration, sound output, and / or visual output, e.g., flashing lights, flashing colors, etc. Based on the information from Block 202One or more output mechanisms can be selected according to the occupant. For example, an occupant who is hard of hearing might prefer a stronger vibration output, while another occupant might prefer a visual output. Advantageously, the computing device can 105 be programmed, e.g. including setting the threshold of the block 215 , to activate the output of the portable device prior to a warning message, an alarm, or the initiation of an evasive maneuver by a conventional control unit for detecting an obstacle in the rear area 107 to effect, for example, a system that provides a warning of an impending rear-end collision or reacts to one by activating vehicle lights, sounds, braking, etc. Alternatively, the user device 150 deliver the command to the portable device to trigger the output mechanisms.

[0018] Next, the computing device determines 105 in a block 235 , whether the control unit is for detecting an obstacle in the rear area 107 a potential collision in the rear area is detected, i.e., whether the vehicle 101 The vehicle will collide with the obstacle in the rear area within the next few seconds. The rear obstacle detection control unit can use radar or vision systems to gather distance and approach speed information to determine whether a collision is imminent and to trigger conventional response systems. The rear obstacle detection control unit uses this data 115 , to determine if the vehicle 101 is about to collide with the obstacle at the rear. If the rear obstacle detection control unit detects an impending rear collision, the process starts. 200 in a block 240on. Otherwise, the process repeats itself. 200 to block 205 back to collect more data.

[0019] In block 240 activates the computing device 105 one or more secondary output mechanisms, i.e., a vehicle warning message, using the control unit for rear collision detection 107 , and the process 200 ends. The calculating device 105 can also issue an additional command to the portable device 140 send a signal to trigger one or more output mechanisms. These secondary output mechanisms can include, for example, a vibrating steering wheel, an alarm via the vehicle's speakers, a flashing light on the dashboard, etc.

[0020] As used herein, the term “essentially”, which modifies an adjective, means that a form, structure, measure, value, calculation, etc. may deviate from a precisely described geometry, distance, dimension, value, calculation, etc., due to deficiencies in materials, processing, manufacturing, sensor measurements, calculations, processing time, communication time, etc.

[0021] Computing devices 105Generally, instructions comprise commands that can be executed by one or more computing devices, such as those mentioned above, and that serve to execute blocks or steps of processes described above. Computer-executable instructions can be compiled or interpreted by computer programs created using various programming languages ​​and / or technologies, including, but not limited to, Java™, C, C++, Visual Basic, JavaScript, Perl, HTML, etc., either alone or in combination. Generally, a processor (e.g., a microprocessor) receives instructions from, for example, memory, a computer-readable medium, etc., and executes these instructions, thereby carrying out one or more processes, including one or more of the processes described herein. Such instructions and other data can be stored and transmitted using a wide variety of computer-readable media.A file in the computing device. 105 Generally, a storage medium is a collection of data stored on a medium readable by a computer, such as a storage medium, RAM, etc.

[0022] A computer-readable medium encompasses any medium that contributes to providing data (e.g., instructions) that can be read by a computer. Such a medium can take many forms, including but not limited to non-volatile media, volatile media, etc. Non-volatile media include, for example, image or magnetic disks and other permanent storage media. Volatile media include dynamic memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes main memory.Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, a DVD, any other optical medium, punched cards, punched tape, any other physical medium with hole patterns, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH EEPROM, any other memory chip or memory cartridge, or any other medium that can be read by a computer.

[0023] Regarding the media, processes, systems, procedures, etc., described herein, it is understood that while the steps of such processes, etc., are described as occurring in a specific, ordered sequence, such processes could be implemented by executing the described steps in a different order than described herein. Furthermore, it is understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be skipped. 200 For example, one or more of the steps could be omitted, or the steps could be in a different order than in Fig.2. The descriptions of systems and / or processes are provided herein, in other words, for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments and should in no way be construed as limiting the disclosed subject matter.

[0024] Accordingly, it is understood that the present disclosure, including the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, as well as the claims below, is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. To a person skilled in the art, many other embodiments and applications than the examples provided would be obvious upon reading the foregoing description. The scope of protection of the invention should not be determined by referring to the foregoing description, but instead by referring to the claims attached herein and / or contained in a non-provisional patent application based thereon, together with the full scope of protection of equivalents claimed by such claims. It is expected and intended that future developments will occur in the field discussed herein and that the disclosed systems and methods will be integrated into such future embodiments.In summary, it is understood that the disclosed subject matter may be subject to modification and alteration.

Claims

[1] System comprising a computer with a processor and memory, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the computer to: to trigger a first output mechanism in a portable device when a vehicle's reverse speed exceeds a first threshold; and to trigger a second output mechanism in a vehicle when a rear-end collision detection control unit detects an impending collision with a rear-end obstacle. [2] System according to claim 1, wherein the commands further include commands to adjust the first threshold when a vehicle occupant is identified. [3] System according to claim 1, wherein the commands further comprise commands to estimate a time until impact on the obstacle in the rear area and to trigger the first output mechanism if the time until impact on the obstacle in the rear area is below a second threshold. [4] System according to claim 2, wherein the commands further include commands to adjust the second threshold when a vehicle occupant is identified. [5] System according to claim 1, wherein the first output mechanism is a haptic output mechanism. [6] System according to claim 1, wherein the first threshold is an average reversing speed of the vehicle. [7] System according to claim 1, wherein the commands further comprise commands to trigger the first output mechanism upon receipt of data from a vehicle interior camera indicating that an occupant is looking away from a vehicle instrument cluster. [8] System according to claim 1, wherein the commands further comprise commands to receive the first threshold from a handheld user device. [9] System according to claim 8, wherein the commands further comprise commands to send the reverse speed data of the vehicle to the handheld user device and to trigger the first output mechanism in the portable device based on data received from the handheld user device. [10] System according to claim 1, wherein the commands further comprise commands to trigger the first output mechanism in the portable device when the rear obstacle collision control unit detects an impending collision with the rear obstacle. [11] Procedure, encompassing: Triggering a first dispensing mechanism in a portable device when the vehicle's reverse speed exceeds a first threshold; and Triggering a second output mechanism in a vehicle when a rear-end collision detection control unit detects an impending collision with a rear-end obstacle. [12] Method according to claim 11, which further comprises adjusting the first threshold when identifying a vehicle occupant. [13] Method according to claim 11, which further comprises estimating a time until impact on the obstacle in the rear area and triggering the first output mechanism when the time until impact on the obstacle in the rear area is below a second threshold. [14] Method according to claim 12, which further comprises adjusting the second threshold when identifying a vehicle occupant. [15] Method according to claim 11, wherein the first output mechanism is a haptic output mechanism. [16] Method according to claim 11, wherein the first threshold is an average reversing speed of the vehicle. [17] Method according to claim 11, which further comprises triggering the first output mechanism upon receiving data from a vehicle interior camera indicating that an occupant is looking away from a vehicle instrument cluster. [18] Method according to claim 11, which further comprises receiving the first threshold value from a handheld user device. [19] Method according to claim 18, which further comprises sending the reverse speed data of the vehicle to the handheld user device and triggering the first output mechanism in the portable device based on data received from the handheld user device. [20] Method according to claim 11, which further comprises triggering the first output mechanism in the portable device when the rear obstacle collision control unit detects an impending collision with the rear obstacle.

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