Managing the operation of a motor vehicle's digital rearview system to ensure the safe exit of the vehicle by the driver or a front-seat passenger.

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for managing the operation of a digital rear-view system in a motor vehicle (1) to ensure the safe exit of the vehicle by the driver and the front passenger. The invention also relates to a device (100) implementing such a method, as well as to a motor vehicle (1) comprising such a device. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Management of the operation of a digital rear-view system of a motor vehicle so as to secure the exit from the vehicle of the driver or a passenger seated in the front Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of digital rearview systems for motor vehicles. The invention relates in particular to a method for managing the operation of a digital rearview system of a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a computer device implementing such a method, as well as a motor vehicle comprising such a device. The invention applies to motor vehicles such as land motor vehicles, in particular cars. State of the prior art

[0002] It is known that motor vehicles have traditionally been equipped with mirror rearview mirrors to enable drivers to monitor the space behind and to the sides of the vehicle while driving. It is also known, in particular from patent application FR3100178, that, in certain modern vehicles, a digital rearview system uses two cameras and two screens to replace traditional mirror rearview mirrors.

[0003] However, with traditional mirror rearview mirrors, the driver or a front passenger exiting the vehicle can use the rearview mirror to monitor the space behind the vehicle and, when opening the door to exit the vehicle, can move their head to maintain a view of that space in the rearview mirror. In contrast, with a digital rearview system, the cameras that capture the space behind and to the sides of the vehicle are typically mounted on the front doors, most often in the location where traditional mirror rearview mirrors are usually mounted. As a result, when the front door opens, the camera's field of vision changes so that the space behind the vehicle is no longer visible on one of the screens. The driver or front passenger exiting the vehicle thus loses the security afforded by traditional mirror rearview mirrors. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention aims to overcome this drawback. Its aim is to provide a method and a device which make it possible to secure the exit of the driver or passenger installed at the front of the vehicle in the same way as traditional mirror rearview mirrors. Thus, the invention aims to provide a solution so that the driver or the The front passenger who exits the vehicle can continue to view the space behind the vehicle when opening the door to exit the vehicle. In this way, the invention aims to improve the safety of digital rearview systems and, therefore, that of the vehicles that use them.

[0005] In order to achieve these aims, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method for managing, by a computer device on board a motor vehicle, the operation of a digital rearview system of the vehicle, said system comprising a first screen arranged to the left of the driver's position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a second screen arranged to the right of the driver's position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a first camera arranged on the left front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its left side, a second camera arranged on the right front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its right side,a third camera arranged to take a shot of the space located behind the vehicle and on its left side when the left front door is open and a fourth camera arranged to take a shot of the space located behind the vehicle and on its right side when the right front door is open, the method comprising the steps of: , • determine whether a front door of the vehicle is open; and • cause the dissemination of an image created from data generated by the third or fourth camera on the first or second screen depending on which front door is open.

[0006] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a device for managing the operation of a digital rearview system of a motor vehicle, said system comprising a first screen arranged to the left of the driving position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a second screen arranged to the right of the driving position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a first camera arranged on the left front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its left side, a second camera arranged on the right front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its right side,a third camera arranged to take a picture of the space located behind the vehicle and on its left side when the left front door is open and a fourth camera arranged to take a picture of the space located behind the vehicle and on its right side when the right front door is open, the device comprising an information processing unit, with one or more processors, and a data storage medium, which are configured to implement a method as described above.

[0007] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer program comprising program code instructions for executing the steps of a method as described above when said program is executed by at least one processor.

[0008] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a computer-readable medium, on which a program as described above is recorded.

[0009] According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a digital rearview system, said system comprising a first screen arranged to the left of the driver's position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a second screen arranged to the right of the driver's position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a first camera arranged on the left front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its left side, a second camera arranged on the right front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its right side, the vehicle furthermore carrying a device as described above,a third camera arranged to take a shot of the space behind the vehicle and on its left side when the left front door is open and a fourth camera arranged to take a shot of the space behind the vehicle and on its right side when the right front door is open.

[0010] According to a variant, the third camera can be arranged in the frame of the left front door.

[0011] According to another variant, the fourth camera can be arranged in the frame of the right front door. Brief description of the figures

[0012] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended figures, in which:

[0013] [Fig-1] is a schematic illustration of a part of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0014] [Fig.2] is a functional diagram of a device according to the invention;

[0015] [Fig.3] is a flowchart of the steps of a method according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0016] [Fig. 1] shows a schematic illustration of a part of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. This is equipped with a digital rearview system, which conventionally comprises a first screen 2 arranged to the left of the driver's position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a second screen 3 arranged to the right of the driver's position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a first camera 4 arranged on the left front door of the vehicle for taking pictures of a space located behind the vehicle and on its left side and a second camera 5 arranged on the front door right of the vehicle to take shots of a space located behind the vehicle and on its right side. Conventionally, a shot taken by the first camera 4 is thus broadcast on the first screen 2, while a shot taken by means of the second camera 5 is broadcast on the second screen 3.

[0017] The vehicle 1 according to the invention is also equipped with an access management apparatus 8, which can establish in an ordinary manner, for example by means of a sensor, when a front door of the vehicle is open.

[0018] Advantageously, the digital rearview system comprises a third camera 6 arranged so as to be able to take a picture of the space located behind the vehicle and on its left side when the left front door of the vehicle 1 is open, as well as a fourth camera 7 arranged to take a picture of the space located behind the vehicle and on its right side when the right front door is open. Thus, the third camera 6 has substantially the same field of vision as the first camera 4 when the left front door of the vehicle is open, while the fourth camera 7 has substantially the same field of vision as the second camera 5 when the right front door of the vehicle 1 is open.

[0019] Preferably, the third camera 6 is arranged in the frame of the left front door, while the fourth camera is arranged in the frame of the right front door. In this way, these cameras are thus advantageously protected from dirt. Alternatively, they are fixed on the internal face of each of the front doors of the vehicle 1.

[0020] Furthermore, the vehicle 1 according to the invention advantageously incorporates a device 100 for managing the operation of a digital rearview system of a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as described below, which implements a method for managing the operation of a digital rearview system of a motor vehicle within the meaning of the present invention, as briefly summarized below and described in detail below.

[0021] When implementing the method, the device 100 according to the invention monitors the opening of the front doors of the vehicle 1. As soon as one of these is open, it then causes the broadcasting of a shot taken by means of the third 6 or the fourth camera 7 on the first 2 or the second screen 3 depending on which front door is open. Thus, the driver or a front passenger who is leaving the vehicle can advantageously continue to view the space behind the vehicle 1 on one of the screens while opening the door to exit the vehicle 1. This is how the exit from the vehicle 1 of the driver or the passenger seated at the front is made safe in a manner equivalent to traditional mirror rearview mirrors.

[0022] In [Fig.2] the device 100 for managing the operation is illustrated in more detail of a digital rearview system for a motor vehicle according to the invention. It is essentially a computer device, which comprises at least one information processing unit 101, comprising one or more processors, a data storage medium 102, on which is recorded in particular a program which comprises program code instructions for executing the steps of the method according to the invention described below, and an input and output interface 103 allowing the reception and transmission of data.

[0023] Preferably, the device 100 according to the invention is integrated into an independent computer and it interacts via its input and output interface 103 and by means of a wired communication network of the vehicle (e.g. CAN, Ethernet, MOST) with the digital rearview system, in particular its cameras and its screens, and with the access management equipment 8. Alternatively, the device 100 according to the invention is partially or fully part of a computer of the digital rearview system. As a result, it can, in particular, determine whether a front door of the vehicle 1 is open, and it is able to cause the broadcasting of an image created from data generated by the third 6 or the fourth camera 7 on the first 2 or the second screen 3.

[0024] According to the invention, all the elements described above contribute to enabling the implementation of a method for managing the operation of a digital rearview system of a motor vehicle, as described below in connection with [Fig.3].

[0025] [Fig. 3] illustrates by means of a flowchart the steps of the method according to the invention.

[0026] According to a first step 201 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention determines whether a front door of the vehicle is open. To do this, it interacts with the access management apparatus 8, which is configured to be able to establish the opening of a front door of the vehicle 1. And when it establishes that a front door is open, the device 100 according to the invention carries out the following step of the method according to the invention described below.

[0027] According to a second step 202 of the method according to the invention, the device 100 according to the invention causes the broadcasting of an image created from data generated by the third 6 or the fourth camera 7 on the first 2 or the second screen 3 depending on which front door is open.

[0028] To do this, the device 100 according to the invention interacts with the digital rearview system by controlling the latter so that it uses the data generated by the third 6 or the fourth camera 7 instead of those generated by the first 4 or the second camera 5. Thus, if it is the left front door which is open, the device 100 according to the invention causes the broadcasting of an image created from data generated by the third camera 6 on the first screen 2. The driver can thus advantageously continue to view the space behind the vehicle and on its left side while opening the left front door to exit the vehicle 1. On the contrary, when it is the right front door that is open, the device 100 according to the invention then causes the broadcasting of an image created from data generated by the fourth camera 7 on the second screen 3. The passenger seated at the front can thus continue to view the space behind the vehicle and on its right side while opening the right front door to exit the vehicle.

[0029] Therefore, by means of the method and device according to the invention described above, a driver or a passenger seated at the front is allowed to continue to view the space behind the vehicle while opening a door to exit the vehicle. This provides a digital rearview system which ensures the safety of the driver and the passenger seated at the front in a manner equivalent to that permitted by traditional mirror rearview mirrors.

Claims

Claims

1.

2. Management method, by a computer device (100) embedded in on board a motor vehicle (1), of the operation of a digital rearview system of the vehicle, said system comprising a first screen (2) arranged to the left of the driving position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a second screen (3) arranged to the right of the driving position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a first camera (4) arranged on the left front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its left side, a second camera (5) arranged on the right front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its right side, a third camera (6) arranged to take a picture of the space located behind the vehicle and on its left side when the left front door is open and a fourth camera (7) arranged to take a picture of the space located behind the vehicle and on its right side when the right front door is open,characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:, determining whether a front door of the vehicle is open; and causing an image created from data generated by the third (6) or fourth camera (7) to be broadcast to the first (2) or second screen (3) depending on which front door is open. Device (100) for managing the operation of a refrigeration system Digital vision of a motor vehicle (1), said system comprising a first screen (2) arranged to the left of the driving position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a second screen (3) arranged to the right of the driving position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a first camera (4) arranged on the left front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its left side, a second camera (5) arranged on the right front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its right side, a third camera (6) arranged to take a picture of the space located behind the vehicle and on its left side when the left front door is open and a fourth camera (7) arranged to take a picture of the space located behind the vehicle and on its right side when the right front door is open, characterized in that the device comprises at least one information processing unit (101), comprising at least one processor, and a data storage medium (102), which are configured to implement a method according to claim 1.

3. A computer program comprising program code instructions for performing the steps of a method according to claim 1 when said program is executed on a computer.

4. Support usable in a computer, characterized in that a program according to claim 3 is recorded therein.

5. Motor vehicle (1) equipped with a digital rearview system, said system comprising a first screen (2) arranged to the left of the driver's position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a second screen (3) arranged to the right of the driver's position in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, a first camera (4) arranged on the left front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its left side, a second camera (5) arranged on the right front door of the vehicle to take a picture of a space located behind the vehicle and on its right side, characterized in that the vehicle comprises a device (100) according to claim 2,a third camera (6) arranged to take a picture of the space behind the vehicle and on its left side when the left front door is open and a fourth camera (7) arranged to take a picture of the space behind the vehicle and on its right side when the right front door is open.,

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the third camera (6) is arranged in the frame of the left front door.

7. Vehicle according to one of claims 5-6, characterized in that the fourth camera (7) is arranged in the frame of the right front door.

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