Vehicle driver assistance system

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle driver assistance system (1) comprising: a display device (2), a computer (3) configured to receive, over a vehicle journey, an actual speed (Vreal) of the vehicle and a regulated speed (Vreg), the computer (3) being configured to control the display device (2) to display a succession of images that vary according to a comparison of the actual speed of the vehicle and the regulated speed. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle driving assistance system

[0001] The present invention relates in particular to a vehicle driving assistance system.

[0002] The present invention finds particular applications on a vehicle which can be of land, sea or air type.

[0003] On current motor vehicles, the vehicle's actual instantaneous speed is displayed on a speedometer, either as a needle gauge or as a digital display. This allows the instantaneous speed to be known, but does not make it easy to determine whether the speed limit is being observed. In some vehicle versions, a warning light (for example, in the form of a logo symbolizing a speed limit sign) illuminates when the speed limit is exceeded, which aids in speed control. However, this solution requires some additional visual attention from the driver, who must visually focus on this warning light while concentrating on driving.

[0004] The present invention aims in particular to provide better assistance with speed regulation during driving.

[0005] The invention thus relates to a vehicle driving assistance system comprising: - a display device, - a computer configured to receive, on a vehicle journey, an actual vehicle speed data and a regulatory speed data, the computer being configured to control the display device to display a succession of images which vary according to a comparison of the actual vehicle speed data and the regulatory speed data.

[0006] Thanks to the succession of images displayed on the display device, the driver is informed in real time of the vehicle's speed relative to the legal speed limit. This sequence of images used in the invention differs from a known binary (off / on) display, and in particular allows the driver to be continuously informed of their speed.

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer, in particular of the electronic type (or ECU for short), is configured to control the display device to display images regardless of the actual speed situation in relation to the regulatory speed.

[0008] In the invention, the display of images, which defines a graphic representation, can thus occur continuously, and this graphic representation varies according to the vehicle's speed. This allows the driver to continuously receive the images and perceive the changes in the images without having to exert increased concentration. It is these changes in the images that alert the driver in the event of exceeding the speed limit. The invention thus provides an intuitive perception of speed and therefore intuitive assistance to the driver in respecting the speed limit.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer is configured to control the display device to display the succession of images on which any speed value is absent.

[0010] Thus, the driver does not need to know the actual speed or the legal speed limit. They are simply informed of a speeding situation or an imminent risk of exceeding the speed limit. This differs from traditional systems in which the driver must read a speedometer to know if they are speeding.

[0011] Alternatively, the image may contain a reference to the vehicle's actual speed. If so, the speed value may be displayed on another display device in the vehicle.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, the display device is distinct from a display of the vehicle's instantaneous actual speed. Thus, the display device according to the invention can be distinct from a traditional speedometer, whether analog or digital.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the display device is configured to surround a speed display, either analog or digital.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the display device comprises a screen on a dashboard or on a central column or at the level of a left pillar, a head-up display or a virtual or augmented reality headset or glasses. This list is not exhaustive.

[0015] The screen can be of LCD, OLED or other type.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer is configured to compare the actual speed data of the vehicle and the regulatory speed data, determining the difference between the instantaneous actual speed of the vehicle and the regulatory speed.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer is configured to determine a difference between the actual instantaneous speed of the vehicle and the regulatory speed, and to control the display of images based on this difference, in particular, when this difference decreases, by: - increasing the animation speed of the shapes composing the images, and / or - changing the shapes composing the images, these shapes potentially becoming larger and / or more numerous, and / or - changing the position of shapes composing the images, and / or - modifying the color of shapes composing the images, in particular by giving these shapes a tint tending towards yellow, orange or red.

[0018] Thus, the displayed images can present an increasingly intense warning character as the gap narrows, signifying that the risk of speeding becomes ever greater. The warning character can be maximal in the case of significant speeding.

[0019] Conversely, when the vehicle's actual speed decreases, the images evolve in the opposite way. In a sense, the alert level gradually decreases.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the animation of the shapes composing the images corresponds to their movement in the image, with or without deformation of their shape.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer is configured to control the display of images composed of geometric shapes, such as polygonal shapes, for example triangles, rectangles, or circles.

[0022] All other forms may be used.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the geometric shapes overlap for at least some of them. The geometric shapes may be more or less transparent.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the shapes are animated and change color according to the difference between the actual speed and the regulated speed.

[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, the display device is configured to allow the display of images adapted to peripheral vision for the driver.

[0026] Such peripheral perception makes it possible not to require, excessively, the driver's attention to speed and therefore relieve him of this monitoring activity.

[0027] It may be recalled that peripheral vision is an important part of human vision. Unlike foveal vision, in which the eye focuses (for 200 to 400 ms) on a fixation point to obtain high-resolution details, peripheral vision delivers global, compressed, and distorted impressions of the entire field of vision.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, to enable peripheral vision, the display device, or screen, is arranged at the level of a central column which is an extension of the dashboard towards the area located between the two front seats, namely the driver's seat and the passenger's seat (this central column being called the "stack center"). Alternatively, the display device is arranged at left side of the dashboard, that is, at the level of a left front pillar of the vehicle's passenger compartment, namely to the left of the windshield. Preferably, the display device is not placed in the center of the driver's field of vision.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the display device, in particular a head-up display (HUD), is configured to display images in the form of a peripheral display relative to the driver's field of vision, thus allowing visual messages displayed by the system to be seen in the driver's peripheral vision. In this case, the driver's attention is not focused on a single image, and the peripheral display provides feedback to the driver.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the system is configured to produce a projection of information onto one or more parts of the passenger compartment, such as one of the pillars, the dashboard, the steering wheel, or the center console, in order to complement information from the system's display device.

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, the display device according to the invention is a hidden display (also called a "Hidden Display") configured to display information or messages when the display is activated, and being concealed, in particular by a decorative element (for example, a decorative element imitating the wood or leather texture of a dashboard or center console), when the display is deactivated. The hidden display may include, for example, a black and white or color TFT display, or allow projection onto the back of a surface. The "Hidden Display" technology makes it possible to make any surface in the car interior interactive or informative, and to display information only when it is necessary and relevant. Otherwise, no content is present on this surface; it is therefore inert and serves as a purely decorative surface.For example, the hidden display is associated with a decorated surface, which may be in the form of a printed film, which can be more or less complex. This film is then glued onto a substrate, which can be either glass or optical plastic, and the whole assembly is then glued, for example, onto a TFT panel in a suitable manner, particularly to avoid unwanted air gaps.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in a state of speeding when the actual speed of the vehicle is greater than the regulated speed, and the computer is configured to command the display device to display one or more images specific to this state of speeding, in the form of a visual alert.

[0033] For example, the images displayed for this state of speeding are composed of shapes of yellow, orange or red color, these shapes also being in motion relative to each other.

[0034] The invention allows for a quick and unambiguous reading of the exceeding of the regulatory speed.

[0035] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in a state of extreme speeding when the actual speed of the vehicle is greater than the regulatory speed by a predetermined deviation (for example, by more than 10 or 20 km / h), and the computer is configured to command the display device to display one or more images specific to this state of extreme speeding, in the form of a more prominent visual alert.

[0036] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer is configured to take into account several levels of exceeding the regulatory speed, and adapt the images according to these levels.

[0037] As the speeding increases, the images may become more animated and / or more intense in color and / or occupy more space on the display device.

[0038] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer is configured to determine if the vehicle is in a vehicle standstill state when the actual speed of the vehicle is zero, and the computer is configured to command the display device to display a specific image for this vehicle standstill state.

[0039] Thus, even when the vehicle is stopped, there is a display of a graphic representation, informing the driver of the vehicle's stop.

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in a legally compliant speed state when the actual speed of the vehicle is below the legal speed, and the computer is configured to command the display device to display an image specific to this legally compliant speed state.

[0041] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in a regulatory speed limit state when the actual speed of the vehicle is equal to the regulatory speed, and the computer is configured to command the display device to display an image specific to this speed limit state.

[0042] According to one aspect of the invention, the calculator is part of a vehicle on-board computer.

[0043] According to one aspect of the invention, the computer is part of a remote computer, communicating with the vehicle via a link, in particular a mobile network type, for example of the 5G type.

[0044] According to one aspect of the invention, the system is configured to allow the acquisition of real speed data via a vehicle system and / or GPS data.

[0045] According to one aspect of the invention, the system is configured to allow the acquisition of regulatory speed data via a sign recognition camera and / or GPS mapping.

[0046] The invention also relates to a method for assisting the driving of a vehicle, comprising the following steps: - provide a display device, - from an actual vehicle speed data and a regulatory speed data, command the display device to display a succession of images that vary according to a comparison of the actual vehicle speed data and the regulatory speed data.

[0047] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0048] - Figure 1 illustrates, schematically and partially, a system for assisting the driving a vehicle according to an example of implementation of the invention;

[0049] - Figure 2 shows an image displayed by the display device of the system [Fig.1], in a state of vehicle stoppage;

[0050] - Figure 3 shows an image displayed by the display device of the system [Fig.l], in a state of speed conforming to regulations;

[0051] - Figure 4 shows an image displayed by the display device of the system [Fig.l], in a state of regulatory speed limit;

[0052] - Figure 5 shows an image displayed by the system's display device [Fig.1], in a state of excessive speed;

[0053] - Figure 6 shows an image displayed by the display device of the system [Fig.1], in a state of extreme speeding.

[0054] Figure 1 shows a vehicle driver assistance system comprising: - a display device 2, - a computer 3 configured to receive, on a vehicle journey, a real speed data Vreal of the vehicle and a regulatory speed data Vreg, the computer being configured to control the display device 2 to display a succession of images II, 12... 15 which vary according to a comparison of the real speed data Vreal of the vehicle and the regulatory speed data Vreg.

[0055] The on-board computer 3, of the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) type, is configured to control the display device 2 to display images regardless of the actual speed situation Vreal compared to the regulated speed Vreg.

[0056] The image display II, 12...15, which defines a graphic representation, is continuous, and this graphic representation varies according to the vehicle's speed. This allows the driver to continuously receive the images and perceive changes in the images without having to exert increased concentration.

[0057] System 1 is configured to allow the acquisition of real speed data Vreal via a GPS data reception 4, or the system is configured to allow the acquisition of real speed data via a vehicle system.

[0058] System 1 is configured to allow the acquisition of regulatory speed data via an on-board camera 5 coupled to a traffic sign recognition system 6.

[0059] The display device 2 is distinct from a display of the vehicle's actual instantaneous speed. Thus, the display device 2 according to the invention can be distinct from a traditional speed display, whether analog or digital.

[0060] The display device 2 includes a screen on a dashboard or on a center column (or center console) or on a left-hand pillar, a head-up display, or a virtual or augmented reality headset or glasses. This list is not exhaustive. The screen may be of the LCD, OLED, or other type.

[0061] The calculator 2 is configured to compare the actual speed data Vreal of the vehicle and the regulatory speed data Vreg, determining the difference DeltaV between the instantaneous actual speed of the vehicle and the regulatory speed.

[0062] Based on this difference DeltaV between the vehicle's actual instantaneous speed Vreal and the regulatory speed Vreg, the control unit 3 commands the display of the images according to this difference. When this difference DeltaV decreases, the control unit 3 commands: - an increase in the animation speed of the shapes composing the images, and / or - an evolution of the shapes composing the images, these shapes potentially becoming larger and / or more numerous, and / or - an evolution in the position of shapes composing the images, and / or - a change in the color of shapes composing the images, in particular by giving these shapes a tint tending towards yellow, orange or red.

[0063] Thus, the images displayed II, 12... 15 can present an increasingly intense warning character as the gap narrows, signifying that the risk of speeding becomes ever greater. The warning character can be maximal in the case of significant speeding.

[0064] Conversely, when the vehicle's actual speed decreases, images II, 12... 15 evolve in the opposite way. In a sense, the alert level gradually decreases.

[0065] We will continue to describe the different images and their evolutions as a function of the speed difference DeltaV.

[0066] In a vehicle standstill state, when the vehicle's actual speed Vreal is zero, the control unit 3 is configured to command the display device 2 to display an image II specific to this vehicle standstill state. In this state, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], the image II comprises three reference triangles labeled 10, 11, and 12 in three different colors, and a main shape 20, also triangular but larger than the three reference triangles 10, 11, and 12. The triangular shape 20 points here to the reference triangle 10, which is white, the color associated with the vehicle standstill state. White is symbolized by the absence of patterns in the shape.

[0067] The reference triangles will remain stationary regardless of how the images change, and serve as markers on the display surface. Image II is relatively simple. Other shapes and colors can, of course, be chosen.

[0068] When the computer 3 detects, during the driving of the vehicle, a legally compliant speed state (the actual non-zero speed Vreal of the vehicle is less than the regulatory speed Vreg), the computer 3 is configured to command the display device 2 to display an image 12 specific to this legally compliant speed state.

[0069] For this image 12, the main geometric shape 20, a triangle, is colored green (a color symbolized by dotted patterns), and the geometric shape 20 undergoes a gradual deformation, allowing for an intuitive visualization of the actual speed Vreal relative to the regulated speed Vreg. The geometric shape 20 is perceived by the driver as rotating like a needle moving from one marker 10, 11, 12 to the next.

[0070] When the computer 3 detects that the vehicle is in a regulatory speed limit state (when the actual speed Vreal of the vehicle is equal to the regulatory speed Vreg), the computer 3 commands the display device 2 to display an image 13 specific to this speed limit state.

[0071] In this image 13, the main geometric shape 20 remains green, as does the marker 11, and other geometric shapes 30 appear, also in green. The marker 11, in green, indicates the maximum speed limit.

[0072] This image 13 indicates to the driver that the speed limit has been reached. The main shape 20 is accompanied by a graphic animation of additional geometric shapes 30 of the same color, allowing for easy reading by the driver's peripheral vision. The additional shapes 30 are not necessarily spatially peripheral on the display device, although they are suitable for peripheral vision, that is, vision which delivers Global, compressed and distorted impressions of the total field of vision. Peripheral vision extends into a visual area around that of foveal vision.

[0073] In the example described, the animation of the shapes composing the images corresponds to their movement in the image.

[0074] When the computer 3 detects that the vehicle is in a state of speeding (when the actual speed of the vehicle is higher than the regulated speed just after exceeding the speed limit), the computer 3 commands the display device 2 to display an image 14 specific to this state of speeding.

[0075] In this image 14, the main shape 20, the marker 12 and the additional shapes 30 are colored red (color symbolized by a pattern of stripes).

[0076] The shapes 30 are in motion relative to each other. This image 14, predominantly red, allows for a quick and unambiguous reading of the exceeding of the legal speed limit.

[0077] When the computer 3 detects that the vehicle is in a state of extreme speeding (when the actual speed Vreal of the vehicle is greater than the regulatory speed Vreg by a predetermined difference, for example by more than 20 km / h), the computer 3 commands the display device 2 to display an image 15 specific to this state of extreme speeding.

[0078] Geometric shapes have become more numerous on this image 15 than on the previous images.

[0079] This image 15 is accompanied, in peripheral vision, by a prominent graphic animation that is proportionate according to the speed limit threshold Vreg. The image 15 is accompanied by complex behaviors of shapes 20 and 30 allowing for greater visual impact; these behaviors being, for example, pulses, flashes, and various animations applied to the geometric shapes composing the image 15.

[0080] Thanks to the succession of images displayed on the display device 2, the driver is informed in real time of the vehicle's speed situation in relation to the regulatory speed, and can adapt his speed.

Claims

Demands

1. A vehicle driving assistance system (1) comprising: - a display device (2), - a computer (3) configured to receive, on a vehicle journey, a real speed data (Vreal) of the vehicle and a regulatory speed data (Vreg), the computer (3) being configured to control the display device (2): • to display a succession of images (II, 12... .15) which vary according to a comparison of the actual speed data of the vehicle and the regulatory speed data, and • to display the images regardless of the actual speed situation relative to the regulatory speed, wherein the computer (3) is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in a speeding state when the actual speed of the vehicle is greater than the regulatory speed, and the computer is configured to command the display device to display one or more images specific to this speeding state, in the form of a visual alert, and wherein the images displayed for this speeding state are composed of yellow, orange or red colored shapes, these shapes being further in motion relative to each other.

2. A driver assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (2) comprises a screen on a dashboard or on a central column or at the level of a left pillar, a head-up display or a virtual or augmented reality headset or glasses.

3. A driver assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the computer (3) is configured to determine a difference between the instantaneous actual speed (Vreal) of the vehicle and the regulated speed (Vreg), and to control the display images according to this gap, in particular, when this gap is reduced, by: - ​​increasing the animation speed of shapes composing the images (II, 12...15), and / or - changing the shapes composing the images (II, 12...15), these shapes being able to become larger and / or more numerous, and / or - changing the position of shapes composing the images (II, 12...15), and / or - changing the color of shapes composing the images (II, 12...15), in particular by giving these shapes a tint tending towards yellow, orange or red.

4. A driving assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the computer (3) is configured to control the display of images (II, 12...15) composed of geometric shapes, such as polygon shapes, for example triangles, rectangles, or circles.

5. A driver assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (2) is configured to allow the display of images adapted to peripheral vision for the driver.

6. A driver assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, as speeding increases, the images become more animated and / or more intense in color and / or occupy more space on the display device (2).

7. A driver assistance system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (1) is configured to enable the acquisition of regulatory speed data via a traffic sign recognition camera (5) and / or GPS mapping.

8. A method for assisting the driving of a vehicle, comprising the following steps: - providing a display device (2), Using a computer (3) to control the display device based on the vehicle's actual speed and the regulatory speed. • to display a series of images that vary based on a comparison of the vehicle's actual speed (Vreal) and the regulatory speed (Vreg), and • to display images regardless of the actual speed situation compared to the regulatory speed.

Images