VEHICLE WARNING DEVICE

Description

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle warning device for vehicles for warning of traffic congestion in and around a danger zone. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In hazardous areas or danger zones, such as those found at level crossings, there is often a risk of collision between a vehicle attempting to cross a level crossing and an approaching train if the vehicle fails to detect the approaching train in time. To avoid such situations in and around these hazardous areas, particularly at level crossings, modern vehicles are equipped with appropriate devices capable of warning a vehicle of an approaching train in the vicinity of a level crossing. WO 2016 / 046268 A1 discloses an example of such a train warning device for vehicles.

[0003] DE 102 57 798 A1 relates to a safety device for, in particular, non-track-bound vehicles, with a monitoring device that monitors a danger area in order to detect obstacles in the danger area and, when an obstacle is detected in the danger area, generates an output signal.

[0004] US 2006 / 116821 A1 relates to a sensor network in an intersection area for detecting the position and speed of vehicles in the area. The collected information is provided to vehicles approaching the intersection to predict collisions, taking into account the traffic light phases at the intersection. This could be avoided because the vehicle would not be warned or the warning would be issued too late.

[0005] DE 10 2012 222 780 A1 relates to a traffic control system to avoid a blockage in a traffic junction, whereby waiting vehicles are instructed to remain behind a stop line until the destination lane has capacity. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] However, dangerous traffic situations for vehicles, especially in the vicinity of level crossings, can also arise if a vehicle has to stop within the crossing area due to a traffic jam, which can certainly occur even before a train approaches the crossing. In this case, such a train warning device for a vehicle is not sufficient to prevent such a situation, as the vehicle would not be warned or the warning would be issued too late. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle warning device and a method for warning a vehicle of traffic congestion in and around danger zones, in particular in the area of ​​railway crossings, in order to avoid a vehicle having to stop within a danger zone of a railway crossing.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims, the description, and the figures.

[0009] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle warning device for warning a first vehicle (120) of traffic congestion in and around a danger zone, comprising a first communication interface configured to receive first data, wherein the first data relate to a movement state of the first vehicle; a second communication interface configured to receive second data from the second vehicle, wherein the second data relate to a movement state of the second vehicle;a processing device configured to determine, on the basis of the first data and the second data, a future position of the second vehicle at a precalculated time at which the first vehicle is located within the danger zone, and wherein the processing device is further configured to transmit a vehicle warning signal to the first vehicle before the first vehicle enters the danger zone if the determined future position of the second vehicle is immediately beyond the danger zone and would cause the first vehicle to stop within this danger zone;

[0010] The vehicle may be a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, a truck, a motorcycle, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

[0011] The vehicle warning device according to the invention achieves the advantage that the vehicle is warned of the danger of a traffic jam in a hazardous area, i.e., in, around, or immediately after a danger zone, which may be a railroad crossing. This prevents the vehicle from entering this hazardous area and stopping. The vehicle is thus informed of the danger of a traffic jam immediately after the hazardous area, even before the vehicle enters the relevant danger zone. In this way, a collision between the vehicle and a potentially approaching train within the hazardous area is avoided if the relevant hazardous area is designed as a railroad crossing.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second communication interface is designed as a Car2X communication interface. This provides the advantage that the second data can be received by the second vehicle via the known Car2X technology.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the processing device is configured to transmit the vehicle warning signal via a wireless Car2X communication interface. This provides the advantage that the vehicle warning signal can be transmitted via the known Car2X technology, allowing the vehicle warning signal to be processed by the first vehicle.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle warning signal indicates a traffic jam immediately behind the danger zone, and the processing device is configured to transmit information about the danger zone along with the vehicle warning signal. This provides the advantage that the driver of the first vehicle is able to plan their route in advance or adjust their driving behavior in a timely manner to avoid entering the danger zone if the driver is informed in advance about the characteristics of the danger zone.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle warning device comprises an interface controller configured to monitor the first communication interface and the second communication interface, and wherein the interface controller is further configured, preferably based on the first data and the second data, to control the processing device to output a vehicle warning signal to the first vehicle. This provides the advantage that the first communication interface, the second communication interface, and the processing device can be controlled centrally.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first communication interface is designed as a wired or wireless communication interface. This provides the advantage that the first communication interface of the first vehicle can be connected to a wired data network of the first vehicle in order to receive vehicle data relating to the movement state of the first vehicle, or that the first communication interface of the first vehicle can be connected to a wireless data network of the first vehicle in order to receive first data relating to the movement state of the first vehicle.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle warning device comprises a display device for visually and / or acoustically displaying the vehicle warning signal. This provides the advantage that the vehicle warning signal can be displayed by the display device, which can be designed, for example, as a screen and / or as an acoustic signal source in the form of a loudspeaker, without having to install additional or further display devices within the first vehicle. A further advantage is that the driver of the first vehicle can be warned in various ways and depending on a predetermined, i.e., calculated, traffic situation into which the first vehicle could encounter and before the first vehicle enters a danger zone.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle warning device can be installed within the first vehicle. This provides the advantage that a vehicle warning device installed in the first vehicle can be directly connected to a data network of the first vehicle.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the danger zone is designed as a level crossing. The level crossing can be either a gated or an ungated level crossing.

[0020] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for warning a first vehicle (120) of traffic congestion in and around a danger zone, comprising the steps of: receiving first data by means of a first communication interface, wherein the first data relate to a movement state of the first vehicle; receiving second data by means of a second communication interface, wherein the second data relate to a movement state of the second vehicle; determining, by means of a processing device, a future position of the second vehicle at a pre-calculated time at which the first vehicle is located within the danger zone, on the basis of the first data and the second data; transmitting, by means of the processing device, a vehicle warning signal to a first vehicle in front of the

[0021] Entry of the first vehicle into the danger zone when the determined future position of the second vehicle is immediately behind the danger zone and would cause the first vehicle to stop within that danger zone.

[0022] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle with a vehicle warning device. DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0023] Further embodiments are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle warning device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagram of a method for transmitting a vehicle warning signal to a first vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense. Further, it is to be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein may be combined with one another unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0025] Fig. 1shows a vehicle warning device 100 for transmitting a vehicle warning signal to a first vehicle 120, wherein the vehicle warning signal indicates, before the first vehicle 120 enters a danger zone, whether a second vehicle 122 located in front of the first vehicle 120 is located immediately behind this danger zone, comprising a first communication interface 101 which is designed to receive first data, wherein the first data relate to a movement state of the first vehicle 120; a second communication interface 103 which is designed to receive second data from the second vehicle 122, wherein the second data relate to a movement state of the second vehicle 122;a processing device 105 configured to determine, on the basis of the first data and the second data, a future position of the second vehicle 122 at a precalculated time at which the first vehicle 120 is located within the danger zone, and wherein the processing device 105 is further configured to transmit the vehicle warning signal to the first vehicle 120 before the first vehicle 120 enters the danger zone if the determined future position of the second vehicle 122 would cause the first vehicle 120 to stop within this danger zone;

[0026] In this context, it should be mentioned that the information about the state of movement of the first vehicle 120 and the second vehicle 122 may each include information about a current speed, a current position or vehicle-specific data, such as the dimensions or a vehicle model specification, of the respective vehicle.

[0027] The processing device 105 can transmit the vehicle warning signal via a wireless Car2X communication network. In this way, the known Car2X technology can be used. Furthermore, the processing device 105 can also be configured to transmit the vehicle warning signal to other vehicles via Car2X technology.

[0028] The first communication interface 101 can be a wired or wireless communication interface. In this way, the first communication interface 101 can be connected to a wired data network of the first vehicle 120 to control vehicle data relating to the state of motion of the first vehicle 120. Furthermore, the first communication interface 101 can be configured as a wireless communication interface that can be connected to a wireless data network of the first vehicle 120 to receive first data relating to the state of motion of the first vehicle 120.

[0029] The second communication interface 103 can be a Car2X communication interface. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first communication interface 101 can also be a Car2X communication interface. This can be particularly useful when the first communication interface 101 communicates, for example, with other technical components of the vehicle warning device 100 and / or with other external devices that can be connected to the first vehicle 120 for mutual data exchange.

[0030] In this context, it should be noted that the second vehicle 122, which sends the second data, comprises a communication interface which is not in Fig. 1 This communication interface of the second vehicle 122 can preferably be a Car2X communication interface so that the second vehicle 122 can optimally communicate with the first vehicle 120.

[0031] The vehicle warning signal signals to the driver of the first vehicle 120 a traffic jam that has already formed in or immediately behind or after the danger area or danger zone due to waiting vehicles, and wherein the processing device 105 is configured to transmit information regarding the danger zone along with the vehicle warning signal. In this way, the driver of the first vehicle 120 is not only warned of a traffic jam, which can preferably be located around or immediately after or behind the danger area in question. The driver of the first vehicle 120 is therefore also informed about the danger area itself, for example, about the exact distance of their vehicle 120 from the danger area in question.This can be useful information for the driver of the first vehicle 120, since this information enables the driver to react in a timely manner to a specific traffic situation in, around or after the danger zone, for example by avoiding the danger zone in a timely manner.

[0032] Information about an impending danger zone on the route of the first vehicle 120 can be obtained in various ways: A first possibility is for the processing device 105 to connect to a local database installed in the first vehicle 120. The local database can contain the necessary information about the danger zone in question.

[0033] A second possibility is for the processing device 105 to connect to an external database installed outside the first vehicle 105 in order to be able to retrieve the necessary information about the respective danger zone in a timely manner. For this application, the vehicle warning device 100 may comprise a third communication interface that is not included in the Fig. 1is shown. The processing device 105 can then connect to this external database via the third communication interface in order to retrieve detailed and updated information about the relevant danger area or the relevant and expected danger zone. The third communication interface can also be designed as a Car2X communication interface, which can be particularly advantageous since the information about the danger area can also be received by other vehicles that also use the known Car2X technology and that may already be closer to the relevant and impending danger area. Alternatively, the first vehicle 120 can also transmit the relevant information about the impending danger area to other vehicles, even if they are also equipped with Car2X technology and may be located behind the first vehicle 120.

[0034] The danger zone can, in particular, be a gated or ungateway crossing. However, the present invention is not limited to such danger zones. For example, danger zones such as a suspension bridge or, more generally, a bridge that is to be crossed by the first vehicle 120 and that is located, for example, within a precalculated and planned route of the first vehicle can also be considered for the present invention, particularly if a traffic jam behind the bridge would cause the first vehicle 120 to stop on the bridge to wait to continue crossing the bridge until the traffic jam has cleared.

[0035] The vehicle warning device 100 as shown in Fig. 1shown, comprises an interface controller 108, which monitors and can optionally also control the first communication interface 101 and the second communication interface 103, and which, preferably based on the first data and second data, controls the processing device 105 such that it transmits a vehicle warning signal to the first vehicle 120. The interface controller 108 thus allows the central control of the first communication interface 101, the second communication interface 103, and the processing device 105 in an efficient manner.

[0036] The vehicle warning device 100 according to Fig. 1further comprises a display device 110 for a visual and / or acoustic display of the vehicle warning signal. The display device 110 can comprise a screen for visually displaying the vehicle warning signal. However, the display device 110 can also be configured to display or output the corresponding vehicle warning signal acoustically, for example, via a loudspeaker, wherein the loudspeaker can be part of the display device 110.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, however, the display device 110 can also provide only a media communication interface in order to be able to use display devices already installed in the first vehicle 120. In this application, the main task of the display device 110 is to translate the vehicle warning signal provided by the processing device 105 into a corresponding data format, which can then be read by the already existing and installed display devices, such as a head-up display, within the first vehicle 120. Such display devices can be installed, for example, as navigation devices with a screen and / or loudspeaker within the first vehicle 120 in order to display the vehicle warning signal to be output visually and / or acoustically.Such an embodiment of the display device 110 has the advantage that the dimensions of the vehicle warning device 100 can be kept to a minimum and display devices already existing and installed in the first vehicle 120 can be used to display or output the vehicle warning signal.

[0038] In this context, it should be mentioned that the type of output of the vehicle warning signal via the corresponding display device 110 can also be made dependent on the respective traffic situation in and around the relevant danger zone. This means that the processing device 105 can decide individually for each potentially occurring and predicted traffic situation, preferably based on the first data and second data, what type of vehicle warning signal will be output to the driver of the first vehicle 120 or how the vehicle warning signal will be transmitted to the driver of the first vehicle 120.For this purpose, the processing device 105 can accordingly take over the control of the display device 110 in order to ensure that the appropriate vehicle warning signal adapted to the respective traffic situation is output - either via the display device 110 and / or via other corresponding additional display devices within the first vehicle 120, which are then controlled accordingly by the processing device 105.

[0039] The vehicle warning device 100 may be installed within the first vehicle 120 and preferably on a plug & play basis if the first vehicle 120 has the necessary physical connectors that are not included in Fig. 1 This allows the vehicle warning device 100 to be very easily removed from and reinserted into the first vehicle 120, for example, for maintenance or software updates.

[0040] Fig. 2shows a diagram of a method for transmitting a vehicle warning signal to a first vehicle 120, wherein the vehicle warning signal indicates, before the first vehicle 120 enters a danger zone, whether a second vehicle 122 located in front of the first vehicle 120 is located immediately behind this danger zone. The method 200 comprises a first step 201 of receiving first data, wherein the first data relate to a movement state of the first vehicle 120. The method 200 comprises a second step 203 of receiving second data, wherein the second data relate to a movement state of the second vehicle 122. The method 200 comprises a third step 205 of determining a future position of the second vehicle 122 at a predicted time at which the first vehicle 120 is located within the danger zone, based on the first data and the second data.The method 200 includes a fourth step 207 of transmitting the vehicle warning signal to a first vehicle 120 before the first vehicle 120 enters the danger zone if the determined future position of the second vehicle 122 would cause the first vehicle 120 to stop within this danger zone. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0041] 100Vehicle warning device 101First communication interface 103Second communication interface 105Processing device 108Interface controller 110Display device 120First vehicle 122Second vehicle 200Procedure 201Receiving first data 203Receiving second data 205Determining a future position 207Sending a vehicle warning signal

Claims

1. Vehicle warning apparatus (100) for warning a first vehicle (120) about traffic congestion in and around a hazard area, comprising: a first communication interface (101) designed to receive first data, the first data relating to a state of motion of the first vehicle (120); a second communication interface (103) designed to receive second data from the second vehicle (122), the second data relating to a state of motion of the second vehicle (122), characterized in that a processing apparatus (105) is designed to take the first data and the second data as a basis for determining a future position of the second vehicle (122) at a predicted time at which the first vehicle (120) is within the hazard area, and the processing apparatus (105) is further designed to transmit a vehicle warning signal to the first vehicle (120) before the first vehicle (120) enters the hazard area if the determined future position of the second vehicle (122) is directly behind the hazard area and would prompt the first vehicle (120) to stop within this hazard area.

2. Vehicle warning apparatus (100) according to Claim 1, wherein the second communication interface (103) is in the form of a Car2X communication interface.

3. Vehicle warning apparatus (100) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing apparatus (105) is designed to transmit the vehicle warning signal via a wireless Car2X communication interface.

4. Vehicle warning apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle warning signal indicates a traffic jam directly behind the hazard area, and wherein the processing apparatus (105) is designed to transmit information about the hazard area together with the vehicle warning signal.

5. Vehicle warning apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle warning apparatus (100) comprises an interface controller (108) designed to monitor the first communication interface (101) and the second communication interface (103), and wherein the interface controller (108) is further designed to preferably take the first data and the second data as a basis for actuating the processing apparatus (105) to output a vehicle warning signal to the first vehicle (120).

6. Vehicle warning apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first communication interface (101) is in the form of a wired or wireless communication interface.

7. Vehicle warning apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle warning apparatus (100) comprises an indicating apparatus (110) for visually and / or audibly indicating the vehicle warning signal.

8. Vehicle warning apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle one apparatus (100) can be installed inside the first vehicle (120).

9. Vehicle warning apparatus (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the hazard area is in the form of a level crossing.

10. Method (200) for warning a first vehicle (120) about traffic congestion in and around a hazard area, comprising the steps of: receiving (201) first data by means of a first communication interface (101), the first data relating to a state of motion of the first vehicle (120); receiving (203) second data by means of a second communication interface (103), the second data relating to a state of motion of the second vehicle (122), characterized by determining (205), by means of a processing apparatus (105), a future position of the second vehicle (122) at a predicted time at which the first vehicle (120) is within the hazard area, on the basis of the first data and the second data; transmitting (207), by means of the processing apparatus (105), a vehicle warning signal to a first vehicle (120) before the first vehicle (120) enters the hazard area if the determined future position of the second vehicle (122) is directly behind the hazard area and would prompt the first vehicle (120) to stop within this hazard area.

11. Vehicle having a vehicle warning apparatus (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 9.