Motor vehicle including a light indicator arranged around the windshield of said vehicle

Abstract

A motor vehicle (MV) cooperating with a navigation system (NAV) capable of calculating a route to be followed by the vehicle (MV), said vehicle (MV) having at least one indicator light (ILD) belonging to a light strip (LBS) extending around the windshield (WH) of the vehicle (MV), and capable of illuminating within the driver's field of vision (FOC) of the vehicle (MV), and a control module (CM) coupled to the light strip (LBS), configured to control the illumination of the indicator light (ILD) in a specified area of ​​the light strip (LBS) around the windshield (WH); said area corresponding to the direction (DNV) of a route to be followed by the vehicle (MV) in relation to a route provided by the navigation system (NAV). (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Motor vehicle comprising a light indicator arranged around the windshield of said vehicle

[0001] The invention relates generally to vehicles with indicator lights, and relates more particularly to a vehicle with an indicator light arranged around the windshield of the vehicle, in relation to a guidance direction information provided by a navigation system belonging to or coupled to the vehicle.

[0002] Existing navigation or navigation assistance systems are embedded in vehicles, generally in connection with a driver assistance system designated by the acronym AD AS (Anglo-Saxon acronym for "Advanced Driver Assistance Systems"), or coupled to vehicles via a vehicle infotainment or multimedia system.

[0003] They provide navigation information (guidance) to the driver in the form of voice messages and / or visual information on a vehicle display screen, including a multimedia screen integrated into the vehicle's dashboard.

[0004] The multimedia screen displays the vehicle's current (real-time) position as located by the navigation system, which generally includes a GPS receiver (Global Positioning System) linked to a map database, as well as the route to be followed by the vehicle on a route calculated from a pre-programmed destination and the vehicle's real-time location. The direction of the route to be followed, relative to the vehicle's position on the route, appears on the navigation screen as an arrow pointing towards said route.

[0005] This type of directional information provision requires the driver to take his eyes off the road and, on the other hand, voice direction instructions can sometimes be misunderstood or even missed.

[0006] The invention therefore aims in particular to provide a solution to the problem of distraction while driving and misinterpretations of navigation information by directly providing directional information in the driver's field of vision using an intuitive visual signal without encroaching on the surface of the windshield.

[0007] To this end, the invention primarily relates to a motor vehicle cooperating with a navigation system capable of calculating a route to be followed by the vehicle; said vehicle comprising at least one indicator light belonging to a light strip extending around the windshield of the vehicle, and capable of illuminating in the field driver's vision of the vehicle, and a control module, coupled to the light strip, configured to control the lighting of the indicator light in a determined area of ​​the light strip around the windshield; said area corresponding to the direction of a road to be followed by the vehicle in relation to a route provided by the navigation system.

[0008] According to one feature, the vehicle further comprises a detection device, coupled to the control module, configured to detect the direction of the driver's gaze; said control module being capable of adapting the position of the light indicator area along the light strip, around the windshield, according to the direction of the driver's gaze.

[0009] According to another feature, the detection device includes at least one camera directed towards the driver's head and an algorithm for processing the images captured by the camera, capable of determining, from the position of the driver's head, the direction of the driver's gaze.

[0010] According to another feature, the light strip comprises a series of a determined total number of adjacent light-emitting diodes, referred to as LEDs, and in which said indicator comprises at least one LED selected from the total number of LEDs by the control module to be lit in the determined area around the windshield and to serve as a visual direction indicator for the driver of the vehicle.

[0011] According to another feature, the indicator light comprises at least a determined number of adjacent LEDs forming a luminous segment whose illumination is controlled by the control module in the determined area around the windshield to serve as a visual direction indicator for the driver of the vehicle.

[0012] According to another feature, the control module is capable of controlling the lighting of a light segment in an area of ​​the light strip corresponding to the upper edge of the windshield in front of the driver at the wheel of the vehicle; said segment serving as a visual indicator of the direction of a road to be followed in a direction extending in a straight line in front of the vehicle.

[0013] According to another feature, the control module is capable of controlling the lighting of a light segment in an area of ​​the light strip corresponding to a lateral edge of the windshield; said light segment serving as a visual indicator of the direction of a road to be followed in a direction extending perpendicularly to the trajectory of the vehicle.

[0014] According to another feature, the control module is capable of controlling the lighting of a light segment in an area of ​​the light strip corresponding to an upper corner of the windshield; said light segment serving as a visual indicator of the direction of a road to be followed in a direction extending obliquely relative to the trajectory of the vehicle.

[0015] The present invention has as its second object a method of controlling the lighting of a light indicator around the windshield of a vehicle as described above; said method, implemented by the control module, consisting, in a first step, of controlling the lighting of the light indicator in a determined area of ​​the light strip around the windshield, according to the direction of the road to follow provided by the navigation system and, in a second step, of adapting said area around the windshield according to the direction of the driver's gaze provided by the detection device.

[0016] Finally, the present invention has as its third and final object a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the latter to implement the steps of the process as described above.

[0017] The invention allows safer and more intuitive navigation by minimizing distractions and providing directional guidance directly into the driver's field of vision without encroaching on the windshield surface.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0019] [Fig.1] schematically illustrates a first arrangement of a light indicator around the windshield of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a second arrangement of the indicator light around the windshield of the motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0021] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a third arrangement of the indicator light around the windshield of the motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0022] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a fourth arrangement of the indicator light around the windshield of the motor vehicle according to the invention; and

[0023] [Fig. 5] illustrates a flowchart of the main steps of a control process for the vehicle indicator light according to the invention.

[0024] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate respectively the first, second, third and fourth arrangements of an IDL light indicator, around the PRB windscreen, inside the cockpit of the VHL motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0025] The IDL indicator light belongs to an RBL light strip arranged around the PRB windscreen of the VHL vehicle.

[0026] The PRB light strip can be integrated into the PRB windscreen or attached to the peripheral edges of the PRB windscreen, or even, in the interior trim of the cockpit, in the immediate vicinity of the PRB windscreen.

[0027] The RBL light strip can be made using LED technology (LED for "Light Emitting Diode" or light-emitting diode), in which case the IDL light indicator consists of at least one so-called electroluminescent light source LED, selected from a predetermined total number of adjacent LEDs distributed along the length of the RBL strip surrounding the PRB windscreen.

[0028] Although LED technology is currently the most accessible in terms of cost, other lighting technologies equivalent to LEDs can be used, such as technologies using LCD (Liquid Crystal Diode) type displays to represent a light indicator that is on or off.

[0029] A preferred embodiment will be described below, with reference to Figures 1 to 4, in which the IDL light indicator comprises several adjacent LEDs, (typically five LEDs) forming a luminous segment belonging to an RBL light strip.

[0030] When illuminated, this IDL light segment appears as a line of light highlighting part of the PRB windshield contour. The prominence of the light line, and therefore its appearance, is determined by the number of LEDs constituting the IDL light segment and / or the brightness of the IDL segment (the intensity of the LEDs).

[0031] The illuminated segment, when lit, can emit light in different colors and with different brightness levels, preferably in colors likely to attract the driver's attention and stand out day and night around the PRB windshield. The color and brightness at night may differ from the color and brightness during the day.

[0032] As an alternative, the IDL luminous segment may comprise several rows of a determined number of adjacent LEDs selected from the RBL strip, also comprising several rows of a determined total number of adjacent LEDs.

[0033] The RBL light strip cooperates with a NAV navigation system, comprising for example a GPS receiver coupled to a map database not shown, via an MCA control module configured to control the lighting of a determined number of adjacent LEDs on the RBL strip, defining the light segment (light indicator) IDL, in a determined area around the PRB windscreen, corresponding to the DNV direction of a road to be followed by the VHL vehicle in relation to a route provided by the NAV navigation system, previously calculated by the NAV navigation system, and displayed on a central ECR screen on the PBD dashboard of the VHL vehicle and in particular, a multimedia screen of the VHL vehicle.

[0034] The VHL vehicle also includes a CAM detection device, coupled to the MCA control module, which allows for the real-time detection of a change in the head position of the COV driver relative to a so-called "head straight" position, corresponding to a position in which the COV driver is looking at the road extending in a straight line ahead, in order to deduce a change in the direction of the COV driver's gaze (DRG).

[0035] The MCA control module is capable of adapting the position of the IDL indicator light area, along the RBL light strip, around the PRB windscreen, according to the direction of the driver's gaze DRG detected by the CAM detection device.

[0036] The CAM detection device includes, for example, at least one camera directed towards the head of the COV driver and an algorithm for processing the images captured by the CAM camera capable of determining, from the change in position of the head of the COV driver, a new direction of the gaze DRG of the COV driver.

[0037] The CAM camera can be positioned on the dashboard PDB, in the driver's position COV, above the windshield PRB, in the cockpit ceiling, near the interior rearview mirror,...

[0038] In the first arrangement illustrated in [Fig.1], the MCA control module controls the lighting of the IDL indicator light in an area of ​​the RBL light strip corresponding to the upper edge of the PRB windscreen, in front of the COV driver at the wheel of the VHL vehicle and centered in the COV driver's driving field of vision, in a DRG direction known as "head straight" (X=0°); the IDL light segment serving as a visual indicator of the direction of a road to be followed in a DNV direction extending in a straight line in front of the VHL vehicle.

[0039] Figure 2 illustrates the second arrangement, similar to that of Figure 1, in which the new illuminated segment of the IDL indicator light is determined by a change in gaze direction detected by the CAM detection device. This new IDL segment appears visually shifted to the right of the previous segment (Figure 1) in the direction of arrow f(x), to follow the change in head position and thus the rightward direction of the driver's gaze (DRG).

[0040] In the example considered in [Fig.2], the head of the COV driver, and therefore the direction of the gaze DRG, has moved at an angle of x=45° to the right with respect to the direction x=0° called "head straight" of [Fig.1].

[0041] Fig. 3 illustrates the third arrangement in which the MCA control module controls the lighting of the IDL indicator light in an area of ​​the RBL light strip corresponding to a lateral edge of the PRB windscreen, here the left lateral edge; the IDL indicator light serving as a visual direction indicator of a road to be followed in a DNV direction perpendicular to the trajectory of the VHL vehicle, on the left.

[0042] Figure 4 illustrates the fourth arrangement in which the MCA control module controls the illumination of the IDL indicator light in an area of ​​the RBL light strip corresponding to an upper corner of the PRB windscreen, here the upper right corner; the IDL indicator light serving as a visual direction indicator DNV of a road to follow in an oblique direction, to the right of the trajectory of the VHL vehicle.

[0043] Fig. 5 illustrates, by way of a logic diagram, the main steps of a method for controlling the lighting of the IDL indicator light on the RBL light strip of the vehicle according to the invention.

[0044] The method, implemented by the MCA control module, consists, in a first step 100, of controlling the lighting of the IDL indicator light, in a determined area of ​​the RBL light strip arranged around the PRB windscreen, according to the direction of the road to follow DNV provided by the NAV navigation system and in a second step 200, of adapting said area according to the direction of the driver's gaze DRG COV provided by the CAM detection device.

[0045] The management process implements a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the computer to implement the steps of the process according to the invention.

[0046] The present invention offers a non-intrusive vehicle guidance aid solution, using the contour of the vehicle's windshield as a support for a visual signaling means related to the direction to be followed by the vehicle.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle (MV) cooperating with a navigation system (NAV) capable of calculating a route to be followed by the vehicle (MV); said vehicle (MV) comprising at least one indicator light (ILD) belonging to a light strip (LBS) extending around the windscreen (WBS) of the vehicle (MV), and capable of illuminating in the driver's field of vision (FOV) of the vehicle (MV), and a control module (CM) coupled to the light strip (LBS), configured to control the illumination of the indicator light (ILD) in a determined area of ​​the light strip (LBS) around the windscreen (WBS);said zone corresponding to the direction (DNV) of a road to be followed by the vehicle (VHL) in relation to a route provided by the navigation system (NAV), and in which the detection device (CAM) includes at least one camera oriented towards the driver's head (COV) and an algorithm for processing the images captured by the camera, capable of determining, from the position of the driver's head (COV), the direction of the driver's gaze (DRG) (COV).

2. Motor vehicle (MV) according to the preceding claim, wherein the vehicle (MV) further comprises a detection device (CAM), coupled to the control module (CM), configured to detect the direction of gaze (DRG) of the driver (VD); said control module (CM) being capable of adapting the position of the light indicator area (LID), along the light strip (LBL), around the windscreen (WSC), according to the direction of gaze (DRG) of the driver (VD).

3. Vehicle (VHL) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light strip (RBL) comprises a series of a determined total number of adjacent light-emitting diodes, referred to as LEDs, and wherein said indicator (IDL) comprises at least one LED selected from the total number of LEDs by the control module (MCA) to be illuminated in the determined area around the windscreen (PRB) and to serve as a visual direction indicator for the driver (COV) of the vehicle (VHL).

4. Vehicle (VHL) according to the preceding claim, in which the indicator light (IDL) comprises at least one number determined adjacent LEDs forming a luminous segment whose illumination is controlled by the control module (MCA) in the determined area around the windshield (PRB) to serve as a visual direction indicator for the driver (COV) of the vehicle (VHL).

5. Vehicle (VHL) according to the preceding claim, wherein the control module (MCA) is capable of controlling the illumination of a light segment (IDL) in an area of ​​the light strip (RBL) corresponding to the upper edge of the windscreen (PRB) in front of the driver (COV) at the wheel of the vehicle (VHL); said segment (IDL) serving as a visual direction indicator of a road to be followed in a direction (DNV) extending in a straight line in front of the vehicle (VHL).

6. Vehicle (VHL) according to claim 4, wherein the control module (MCA) is capable of controlling the illumination of a light segment (IDL) in an area of ​​the light strip (RBL) corresponding to a lateral edge of the windscreen (PRB); said light segment (IDL) serving as a visual direction indicator of a road to be followed in a direction (DNV) extending perpendicularly to the trajectory of the vehicle (VHL).

7. Vehicle (VHL) according to claim 4, wherein the control module (MCA) is capable of controlling the illumination of a light segment (IDL) in an area of ​​the light strip (RBL) corresponding to an upper corner of the windscreen (PRB); said light segment (IDL) serving as a visual direction indicator of a road to be followed in a direction (DNV) extending obliquely with respect to the trajectory of the vehicle (VHL).

8. Method of controlling the illumination of a light indicator (IDL) around the windshield (PRB) of a vehicle (VHL) according to the preceding claims; said method, implemented by the control module (MCA), consisting, in a first step (100), of controlling the illumination of the light indicator (IDL), in a determined area of ​​the light strip (RBL) around the windshield (PRB), according to the direction (DNV) of the road to be followed provided by the navigation system (NAV) and, in a second step (200), of adapting said area around the windshield (PRB) according to the direction of gaze (DRG) of the driver (COV) of the vehicle (VHL) provided by the detection device (CAM).

9. Product computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of the process according to claim 8.

Images