Human-machine interface for preventive driving assistance

Abstract

The invention relates to a human-machine interface for a vehicle, said interface being adapted to produce at least one semi-automatic lane-changing function for said vehicle, this interface further comprising a displayable function for verifying whether at least one semi-automatic lane-changing function for said vehicle is activated or not. The invention also relates to a method for obtaining such a display and the associated algorithm. The invention further relates to a semi-automatic lane-changing method for a vehicle comprising such a human-machine interface, as well as a vehicle comprising such an interface. Abstract figure: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Human-machine interface for preventive driving assistance

[0001] The invention relates to a human-machine interface for a vehicle comprising a displayable function making it possible to check whether at least one SACV function (semi-automatic lane change function) of said vehicle can be activated or not, a semi-automatic lane change method and a vehicle comprising such an interface. The invention also relates to a method for obtaining such a display and the associated algorithm.

[0002] Semi-automatic lane change functions (SALC) are known from the state of the art, which allow the driver of a vehicle to change lanes semi-automatically by activating a control, for example by activating the turn signal control.

[0003] The known implementation method therefore involves the vehicle being on a multi-lane road without pedestrians or cyclists (such as an expressway or a motorway) and activating a command, for example by activating the turn signal control. The activation of the command can be impulse or fixed. The driver ensures that the adjacent destination lane is free on the side where the turn signal has been activated. Assistance (via, for example, cameras or presence radars) can also perform this verification function. A human-machine interface is displayed to ask the driver to confirm his request. Once confirmation has been made, the lane change maneuver is launched (you just have to keep your hands on the steering wheel).

[0004] This maneuver, however, has several drawbacks. Indeed, the activation of the maneuver may be conditioned by one or more factors that the driver has not necessarily taken into account. For example, this activation may be conditioned by the speed of the vehicle, the type of lane, the presence of another vehicle, an object and / or a person on the lane where the driver wishes to move.

[0005] Thus, based on the current design and the need described upstream on any vehicle for the SALC function, there are cases where the SALC function cannot be activated (for example: the case of low speed, for example less than 70Km / h, or when the corner radar is misaligned or blind), yet nothing warns the driver of this status. Thus, the driver thinks that as long as his function is selected, he can simply activate the command to start the procedure. However, the driver is surprised by doing this command activation and nothing happens. From a vehicle dynamics point of view, such a refusal to execute the This command is normal because not all the necessary conditions for implementing the activation are met. This creates confusion for the driver who cannot simply and completely assess the conditions for implementing the activation of the SALC function. This therefore creates a source of confusion that distracts the driver, impacting driving safety. In addition, the driver may think that a breakdown has occurred, and may complain to after-sales service.

[0006] Thus, the driver lacks information on the evolutionary capabilities of his vehicle, which poses a problem in particular of driving safety.

[0007] The aim of the invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a human-machine interface for a vehicle, said interface being adapted to produce at least one semi-automatic lane change function (SACV) of said vehicle. This interface further comprises a displayable function making it possible to check whether at least one SACV function of said vehicle can be activated or not.

[0008] The term "human-machine interface" refers to an interface such as a dashboard, which allows a user to communicate with a machine, a computer program or an even more complex system.

[0009] The first advantage of the present invention is thus to increase driving safety by informing the driver of the SACV functions available or not in real driving time.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to minimize the actions of the driver by avoiding him having to restart the command to activate a SACV function that he would have tried to activate previously.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to highlight the favorable moment to request the activation of a SACV function.

[0012] Preferably, said at least one SACV function can be activated by a manual control, such as a turn signal switch or a control button, or by voice command.

[0013] More preferably, said at least one SACV function can be activated by a turn signal switch.

[0014] In a particular embodiment, said at least one SACV function can be activated by a combination of actuation of two controls, the first control being dedicated to putting into standby mode or to completely turning off said at least one SACV function and a second control being dedicated to activating said at least one SACV function during the phases of evolution of the vehicle while driving. Thus, the first control can be a voice control or a manual control such as a push button or a rotary control arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, for example on an armrest, a switch driving or on the dashboard, or a control that can be activated via a touch screen. The second control dedicated to activating said at least one SACV function during the phases of vehicle movement while driving is preferably a turn signal switch or a control button. In this embodiment, the "standby" mode of the SACV function makes it possible to put the SACV function on standby for activation by the second control while driving the vehicle. Thus, if the driver does not wish to inadvertently activate a SACV function for example, the first control makes it possible to completely switch off this type of function.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, said interface is a passive screen with remote controls, a touch screen, a head-up display with remote controls or a combination thereof.

[0016] The interest of the present invention is in fact to inform the driver in real time whether the SACV function(s) can be activated or not and therefore any means, such as a passive screen with remote controls, a touch screen, a head-up display with remote controls or a combination of these, makes it possible to provide him with this information.

[0017] Preferably, the display comprises predefined patterns to indicate that at least one SACV function of said vehicle can be activated or not. Thus, the driver can recognize in a simple and almost immediate manner that at least one SACV function of said vehicle can be activated or not. In a particular embodiment, the choice of pattern can be made by the driver himself, thus allowing him greater speed in learning the interface according to the present invention.

[0018] In particular, the predefined patterns comprise hatchings. Such hatchings are simple and visual representations to aid in recognizing whether at least one SACV function of said vehicle is activatable or not.

[0019] In a particular embodiment, the hatchings may take different colors to signify whether different conditions are met.

[0020] For example, red hatching means that the safety of the vehicle is compromised if at least one of the SACV functions of said vehicle is activated. Orange hatching means that at least one SACV function of said vehicle can be activated, but not all of them. Green hatching means that all of the SACV functions of said vehicle can be activated.

[0021] In a particular embodiment, said interface is connected to a three-dimensional detection system such as a radar. The three-dimensional detection system is a simple and effective means of avoiding a road accident, in particular in addition to the driver's vigilance.

[0022] Preferably, said interface comprises an emergency stop system for the SACV function(s). Thus, if the driver considers, for example, that the safety conditions are not met and considers that the SACV function(s) must be stopped, it can activate the emergency stop system of the SACV function(s).

[0023] The invention also relates to a semi-automatic method for changing lanes of a vehicle comprising a human-machine interface as described above. This method comprises the following successive steps: (al) the driver of the vehicle checks the availability of at least one semi-automatic lane change function (SACV) of said vehicle; bl) the driver activates a SACV function; and cl) the human-machine interface performs the SACV function.

[0024] The invention also relates to a display method for a vehicle comprising a human-machine interface as described above, making it possible to verify whether at least one SACV function of said vehicle can be activated or not, comprising the following steps: a2) at least one parameter, such as a radar front and / or a minimum speed, conditions the feasibility of performing at least one SACV function, b2) display on a support visible to the driver of said vehicle of at least one predefined pattern to indicate whether at least one SACV function of said vehicle can be activated or not.

[0025] Preferably, step a2) is carried out by a first computer (i.e. an engine control unit “ECU”) for example of the flow mapping type (also called “VSM”) and step b2) is carried out by a second computer (i.e. an engine control unit “ECU”) for example of the “on-board infotainment” type (also called “IVI”).

[0026] The subject of the present invention also relates to an algorithm for implementing the display method for a vehicle comprising a human-machine interface as described above, making it possible to verify whether at least one SACV function of said vehicle can be activated or not.

[0027] The invention further relates to a vehicle comprising an Interface as described above.

[0028] Advantageously, the vehicle is a vehicle for transporting people and / or goods.

[0029] Indeed, said interface can be installed in a passenger transport vehicle, such as a private vehicle with or without a license such as a car, a motorcycle or even a scooter, or a bus, or in a utility vehicle such as a van, a pickup truck or even a truck.

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended figures in which: [Fig.l] schematically illustrates an example of a display where no SACV function of said vehicle can be activated; [Fig.2] schematically illustrates an example of a display where a SACV function of said vehicle can be activated.

[0031] With reference to [Fig.l], a display according to the present invention is shown, in which a steering wheel 1 (or any other element representative of the vehicle being driven - hood, car, etc.) is placed in the center and at the bottom of the display. In front of the steering wheel 1, on the lane taken 4, there are zones 2 covered by the radar placed according to their proximity to the vehicle being driven. On the left side of the lane taken 4, there is the left lane 3 and to the right of the lane taken 4, there is the right lane 6. A vehicle 5 has been detected here by the radar of the car being driven, on the same lane taken 4. Hatching 7 on the left lane 3 and on the right lane 6 means that the SACV functions of said vehicle cannot be activated.

[0032] With reference to [Fig. 2], a display according to the present invention is shown, in which a steering wheel 1 (or any other element representative of the vehicle being driven - hood, car, etc.) is placed in the center and at the bottom of the display. In front of the steering wheel 1, on the lane taken 4, there are zones 2 covered by the radar placed according to their proximity to the vehicle being driven. On the left side of the lane taken 4, there is the left lane 3 and to the right of the lane taken 4, there is the right lane 6. A vehicle 5 has been spotted here by the radar of the car being driven, on the same lane taken 4. Hatching 7 on the right lane 6 means that the SACV function of said vehicle to swerve to the right is not activatable (for example a white line on the road prohibits swerving).

[0033] Figures 1 and 2 are provided as non-limiting examples. A color code on the display may, in different embodiments, make it possible to identify whether one or more SACV functions can be activated or not.

Claims

Claims

1. Human-machine interface for a vehicle, said interface being adapted to allow a user to communicate with a machine to produce at least one semi-automatic lane change function (SACV) of said vehicle, characterized in that said interface further comprises a displayable function making it possible to check whether at least one SACV function of said vehicle can be activated or not.

2. Interface according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one SACV function can be activated by a manual control, such as a turn signal switch or a control button, or by voice command.

3. Interface according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said interface comprises a passive screen with remote controls, a touch screen, a head-up display with remote controls or a combination thereof.

4. Interface according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the display comprises predefined patterns to indicate that at least one SACV function of said vehicle is activatable or not.

5. Interface according to claim 4, characterized in that the predefined patterns comprise hatching.

6. Interface according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said interface is connected to a three-dimensional detection system such as a radar.

7. Semi-automatic method for changing lanes of a vehicle comprising a human-machine interface according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said method comprises the following successive steps: a1) the driver of the vehicle checks the availability of at least one semi-automatic lane change function (SACV) of said vehicle; b1) the driver activates a SACV function; and c1) the human-machine interface communicates with a machine to carry out the SACV function.

8. Display method for a vehicle comprising a human-machine interface according to any one of claims 1 to 6, making it possible to check whether at least one SACV function of said vehicle can be activated or not, comprising the following steps: a2) at least one parameter, such as a radar front and / or a minimum speed, conditions the feasibility of executing at least one SACV function; and b2) display on a support visible to the driver of said vehicle of at least one predefined pattern to signify that at least one SACV function of said vehicle can be activated or not.

9. A computer program comprising program code means for carrying out the steps of the method according to claim 8, when said program is executed on a computer.

10. A vehicle comprising an interface according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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