Computer-implemented method for the automatic retraction of an exterior rearview mirror on a motor vehicle

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for the automatic retraction of an exterior rearview mirror of a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: detection (25) that the motor vehicle is located in a traffic jam; detection (27) of the approach of a two-wheeled vehicle from the rear of the motor vehicle; and automatic retraction of the exterior rearview mirror (29) while the two-wheeled vehicle passes alongside the motor vehicle. An automatic retraction system and a motor vehicle incorporating the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Computer-implemented method for automatically retracting an exterior rearview mirror of a motor vehicle Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for automatically retracting an exterior rearview mirror of a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a system for automatically retracting an exterior rearview mirror and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. State of the art

[0002] Driving in the city can be very stressful, especially during traffic jams. Drivers often encounter motorcyclists who weave in and out of cars at low speed or while stopped to save time. While this may seem convenient for motorcyclists, it can pose a risk to other drivers, especially the car's mirrors.

[0003] Indeed, many modern rearview mirrors are equipped with electronic components, such as proximity sensors or reversing cameras, which can be damaged if a motorcyclist hits them while weaving between cars. Repair costs can be very high. This poses a problem for drivers who have to deal with this risk every day. They must be vigilant to avoid motorcyclists, but it can be difficult to spot them in time, especially when they are moving quickly in the narrow spaces between cars.

[0004] There is therefore a real need for a method and system for retracting an exterior rearview mirror when such an event occurs. Description of the invention

[0005] To resolve one or more of the drawbacks cited above, according to a first embodiment, a computer-implemented method for automatically retracting an exterior rearview mirror of a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: • detection that the motor vehicle is located in a traffic jam; • detection of the arrival of a two-wheeler from behind the motor vehicle; • automatic retraction of the exterior mirror while the two-wheeler passes alongside the motor vehicle.

[0006] Thus, the rearview mirrors are protected by folding automatically when a two-wheeler passes.

[0007] Particular characteristics or embodiments, usable alone or in combination are: • the detection that the motor vehicle is located in a traffic jam includes the sub-steps of: • detection that the speed of the motor vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed; • detection of an obstacle at the height of the motor vehicle on a lane parallel to the lane occupied by the motor vehicle; • detecting an obstacle includes detecting that the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle is within a predetermined distance interval; • detecting the arrival of a two-wheeler includes the sub-steps of: • detection that a vehicle arriving from behind is a two-wheeler; then • detection of the position of the two-wheeler in relation to the vehicle track and to a track parallel and contiguous to the vehicle track; • detection of the distance between the two-wheeler and the vehicle; and • generation of an alert to the vehicle driver when the distance between the two-wheeler and the vehicle becomes less than a predetermined distance; • detecting the position of the two-wheeler in relation to the lanes triggers the rest of the process if the two-wheeler heads towards the side of the lane containing the obstacle; • the automatic retraction of the rearview mirror is triggered when the two-wheeler is at a distance less than a predetermined folding margin; and / or • the rearview mirror is returned to its initial operating position when the two-wheeler is detected in front of the vehicle.

[0008] In a second embodiment, a computer program comprises instructions for implementing the steps of a method as defined above during an execution of the program by a computing unit of said apparatus.

[0009] In a third embodiment, a system for automatically retracting an exterior rearview mirror of a motor vehicle comprises: • a traffic jam detector adapted to detect that the motor vehicle is located in a traffic jam; • a detector for the arrival of a two-wheeler from behind the motor vehicle; • an actuator suitable for automatically retracting the exterior mirror while the two-wheeler passes alongside the motor vehicle.

[0010] In a fourth embodiment, a motor vehicle comprises a system according to the third embodiment. Brief description of the figures

[0011] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which: • [Fig.l] represents a top view of a vehicle caught in a traffic jam and comprising a rearview mirror retraction system according to one embodiment; • [Fig.2] represents a flowchart of a retraction process rearview mirror according to one embodiment; • [Fig.3] represents a vehicle comprising a rearview mirror retraction system according to another embodiment; • [Fig.4] represents a flowchart of another embodiment of the detection of a traffic jam situation; and • [Fig.5] represents a flowchart of another embodiment of the detection of a two-wheeler and the automatic retraction of a rear-view mirror. Methods of implementation

[0012] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that these are also usable with other types of vehicle such as vans, vans, etc.

[0013] The terms “front”, “rear”, “top”, “bottom”, “transverse” are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0014] With reference to [Fig.l], a motor vehicle 1 is traveling on lane 3 of a traffic artery comprising several lanes: in addition to lane 3, a lane 5, to the left of lane 3 and in the same direction of travel as lane 3.

[0015] The motor vehicle 1 is caught in a traffic jam symbolized by the presence of vehicles 7, 8, 9 around the vehicle 1.

[0016] A two-wheeler 11 arrives at the rear of the vehicle 1.

[0017] The vehicle 1 comprises sensors of the vehicle's environment. It comprises in particular a traffic jam detector 13 and a detector 15 of the arrival from the rear of the two-wheeler 11.

[0018] These two detectors are connected to a controller 17.

[0019] The controller 17 can, for example, be integrated into the control system of the vehicle 1, as an advanced driver assistance system, commonly called AD AS (for “Advanced driver-assistance Systems” according to English terminology) which makes all driving decisions based on the environment and the programmed destination. The motor vehicle is then referred to as an autonomous motor vehicle. But it can also be a centralized vehicle management system including, or not, driving aids.

[0020] The transfer of data between the different elements is carried out by a CAN type data bus (for “Controller Area Network” in English, or “controller area network”). controllers”) or LIN (for “Local Interconnect Network” in English, or “Local interconnected network” in French).

[0021] The controller 17 is also connected to an actuator 19 allowing one of the exterior rearview mirrors 21, 22 to be automatically retracted.

[0022] The general operation of the automatic track retraction system is as follows, [Fig.2].

[0023] First, step 25, the controller 17 detects that the vehicle 1 is stuck in a traffic jam using the detector 13.

[0024] The vehicle 1 then enters, step 27, a mode for detecting two-wheelers arriving from behind by activating the detector 15.

[0025] When a two-wheeler is detected, its trajectory is monitored, step 28, so that the actuator 19 retracts, step 29, the rearview mirror when the two-wheeler passes alongside the vehicle 1.

[0026] [Fig.l] illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented has an educational purpose to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or their combinations, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers and / or electronic circuits. Each of the components can include at least one computer or a control-command unit. At least one memory can be included in each component. The memory can include computer program instructions or software code.

[0027] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central computing unit, a signal processing processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, etc. The computers can be implemented as a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0028] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0029] For software, the implementation may include modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile type memories, hard disks, random access memories, flash memories, etc.

[0030] Furthermore, the program instructions stored in the memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0031] The computer program instructions stored in the memory are such that, when they are executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the processes described above.

[0032] A detailed embodiment will now be described.

[0033] The vehicle 1 comprises in particular, [Fig.3], corner radars 31, 32, 33, 34 located at each corner of the vehicle 1 and making it possible to detect the presence of a vehicle or obstacle around it.

[0034] The traffic jam detector 13 and the two-wheeler detector 15 described above here comprise the sensors 31, 32, 33, 34 associated with a specially programmed controller, for example the controller 17.

[0035] Traffic jam detection, [Fig.4], comprises two sub-steps. The first sub-step 41 consists of detecting that the speed of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed, for example 30 km / h. For this, the traffic jam detector 13 uses the vehicle speed sensor 1.

[0036] The second sub-step 43 consists of checking, step 45, whether an obstacle, typically another vehicle 7, is located on the parallel lane 5 at the height of the vehicle 1. Indeed, if no obstacle is located on the lane 5, a two-wheeler arriving from behind can overtake the vehicle 1 without having to brush against it and therefore, the system will consider that it is not in a traffic jam situation.

[0037] For this, the system can calculate a blind spot margin for detecting a vehicle in parallel. Then, the vehicle 7 is considered to be present in the blind spot if it occupies lane 5 with an estimate of belonging to lane 5 greater than a certain threshold, for example 70% and if the vehicle 7 is more or less at the same height as the vehicle 1, for example with a longitudinal margin of more or less 2 m or because the vehicle 7 is detected simultaneously by the front corner radar 32 and the rear corner radar 31.

[0038] The system also takes into account, step 47, the available distance between the vehicle 1 and the vehicle 7, either by making an estimate taking into account the width of the vehicle 7, or by a direct measurement. Indeed, a two-wheeler will only try to pass between the vehicles if this distance has a minimum value which can be estimated at the width of the two-wheeler plus a margin. If, moreover, this distance is greater than a certain value, the two-wheeler can pass without brushing against the exterior rear-view mirror. The system therefore considers that the vehicle 1 is in a traffic jam situation which is risky for the exterior rear-view mirrors when the speed of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed, another vehicle is substantially on the side of the vehicle in a parallel lane and the distance between the two vehicles is within a predetermined interval.

[0039] The traffic jam situation being noted, the detection of the arrival from behind of a two-wheeler is carried out by one or both of the rear corner radars 31, 34.

[0040] If a two-wheeler is detected, [Fig. 5], step 49, the system follows the trajectory of the latter to determine, step 51, whether it is returning to lane 3, rather to the left of it, whether it is driving on the parallel lane 5 and rather to the right of it, or navigating from one lane to the other. Depending on the trajectory of the two-wheeler, the system anticipates that the two-wheeler will try to pass to the left or right of the vehicle.

[0041] When the two-wheeler approaches at a distance less than a predetermined distance, the system considers, step 53, that the two-wheeler will try to pass alongside the vehicle 1.

[0042] The driver then receives an alert, step 55, of the arrival of a two-wheeler and the folding of the exterior mirrors.

[0043] The system continues to follow the two-wheeler and taking into account the time required for folding a rear-view mirror, the relative speed of the two-wheeler in relation to the vehicle, it determines, step 57, a folding margin such that, when the two-wheeler reaches this approach distance, step 59, the folding of the rear-view mirrors is triggered, step 61.

[0044] When the two-wheeler has passed, for example, because it is detected by one of the front angle radars 32, 33, the rearview mirror is returned to its normal operating position, step 63.

[0045] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This should be considered as illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this description alone. Numerous alternative embodiments are possible.

[0046] In particular, the above descriptions take as an example a two-wheeler coming up on the left of the vehicle 1. A person skilled in the art will have no difficulty in transposing this description to a two-wheeler coming up on the right of the vehicle.

[0047] If the vehicle is traveling on the central lane of a traffic axis comprising 3 lanes, the system, as described above, estimates the side on which the two-wheeler will overtake the vehicle in order to fold down only the corresponding exterior rear-view mirror.

Claims

Claims

1. Computer-implemented method for automatically retracting an exterior rear-view mirror of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: • detecting (25) that the motor vehicle is located in a traffic jam; • detecting (27) that a two-wheeler is approaching from behind the motor vehicle; • automatically retracting the exterior rear-view mirror (29) while the two-wheeler is passing alongside the motor vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein detecting that the motor vehicle is located in a traffic jam comprises the sub-steps of: • detecting that the speed of the motor vehicle is lower than a predetermined speed; • detecting an obstacle at the height of the motor vehicle on a lane parallel to the lane occupied by the motor vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting an obstacle comprises detecting that the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle is within a predetermined distance interval.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein detecting the arrival of a two-wheeler comprises the sub-steps of: • detecting that a vehicle arriving from behind is a two-wheeler; then • detecting the position of the two-wheeler relative to the vehicle's lane and to a lane parallel and contiguous to the vehicle's lane; • detecting the distance between the two-wheeler and the vehicle; and • generating an alert to the driver of the vehicle when the distance between the two-wheeler and the vehicle becomes less than a predetermined distance.

5. Method according to claim 4 in that it depends on claim 2 or 3, in which the detection of the position of the two-wheeler relative to the lanes triggers the continuation of the method if the two-wheeler heads towards the side of the lane containing the obstacle.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the automatic retraction of the mirror is triggered when the two-wheeler is at a distance less than a predetermined folding margin.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the rearview mirror is returned to its initial operating position when the two-wheeler is detected in front of the vehicle.

8. Computer program product, characterized in that it comprises instructions for implementing the method during execution of the program by a calculation unit of said apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7.

9. System for automatically retracting an exterior rearview mirror of a motor vehicle, comprising: • a traffic jam detector (13) adapted to detect that the motor vehicle is located in a traffic jam; • a detector (15) of arrival from behind the vehicle at the motor vehicle of a two-wheeler; • an actuator (19) adapted to automatically retract the exterior rearview mirror while the two-wheeler passes alongside the motor vehicle.

10. A motor vehicle comprising a system according to claim 9.

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