Method for controlling a screen to signal a slope, associated device and motor vehicle.

Abstract

Method for controlling a screen (150) of a motor vehicle (110) traveling on a roadway, in a direction of travel, the motor vehicle (100) comprising a camera (140), characterized in that it comprises the following steps, implemented in the motor vehicle (100): Receiving, from the camera (140), an image of an area of ​​the roadway downstream of the motor vehicle (100) in the direction of travel,Detecting a portion of the roadway comprising a slope,Sending to the screen (150) an instruction commanding the screen (150) to display the image of the area of ​​the roadway, the instruction commanding the screen (150) to display, in addition, a pattern superimposed on the image of the area of ​​the roadway provided that the slope is greater than the threshold. Figure for abstract: figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Method for controlling a screen to signal a slope, associated device and motor vehicle.

[0001] The invention relates to motor vehicles and the display of information in motor vehicles.

[0002] In particular, there is a need to increase safety in motor vehicles.

[0003] For this purpose, the invention relates to a method for controlling a screen (located for example in a passenger compartment) of a motor vehicle traveling on a roadway, in one direction of travel, (to signal a slope) the motor vehicle comprising a camera (filming an area of ​​the roadway downstream of the motor vehicle, in the direction of travel, and possibly, an environment of the area of ​​the roadway), characterized in that it comprises the following steps, implemented in the motor vehicle: • Reception, from the camera, of an image of an area of ​​the roadway (and possibly, of an environment of said area of ​​the roadway) downstream of the motor vehicle in the direction of travel, and • Detection of a portion of the roadway including a slope (average, maximum, point, or minimum), • Then, sending to the screen an instruction commanding the screen to display the image of the area of ​​the roadway (and possibly an environment of said area of ​​the roadway), the instruction commanding the screen to display, in addition, a pattern superimposed on the image of the area of ​​the roadway, provided that the slope is greater than (or equal to) the threshold (and the method may comprise a step of displaying the image and the pattern on the screen).

[0004] Thus, the pattern informs a driver of the motor vehicle of the potential danger that a significant slope, greater than the threshold, may constitute. Safety is thus improved.

[0005] For example, the portion of the roadway extends from a first point of the roadway to a second point of the roadway.

[0006] If the slope is strictly less than the threshold, the instruction commanding the screen to display the image of the area of ​​the roadway is still sent to the screen, the roadway in front of the motor vehicle being displayed continuously.

[0007] For example, these steps may be repeated.

[0008] The camera is for example fixed relative to the motor vehicle. The camera comprising a field, the area of ​​the roadway is in the field of the camera. In other words, the field defines the area of ​​the roadway.

[0009] For example, it is understood that an area of ​​the roadway, a portion of the roadway, or a point of the roadway is downstream of the motor vehicle (in other words: precedes the motor vehicle) in the direction of travel, if the shortest trajectory (on the roadway), in the direction of travel; from the motor vehicle to respectively the area of ​​the roadway, the portion of the roadway, or the point of the roadway, is also the shortest trajectory, between the motor vehicle and respectively the area of ​​the roadway, the portion of the roadway, or the point of the roadway, (on the roadway), in all directions of travel. In other words, the motor vehicle will reach the area of ​​the roadway or the point of the roadway, in the direction of travel.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the motor vehicle travels on (in other words: in) the portion of the roadway. For example, in this case, the pattern is superimposed on an image (of a part of) the portion of the roadway, for example so as to indicate to a driver of the motor vehicle that the motor vehicle is in the portion of the roadway or at the end of the portion of the roadway.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the first point of the roadway and the second point of the roadway are downstream of the motor vehicle (in other words: the portion of the roadway is downstream of the motor vehicle), in the direction of travel. Thus, the pattern can indicate to a driver of the motor vehicle that the motor vehicle is at the start of the portion of the roadway.

[0012] For example, the pattern is superimposed on an image of a portion of the area of ​​the roadway located between the first point of the roadway and the motor vehicle, in other words, the pattern is superimposed on an image of a portion of the area of ​​the roadway located between the portion of the roadway and the motor vehicle.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the portion of the roadway is located at a distance of less than 1000 meters from the motor vehicle, but of course, it can be further from the motor vehicle. In other words, according to one embodiment, the first point of the roadway being closer or as close to the motor vehicle as the second point of the roadway, the motor vehicle is not on the portion of the roadway and the first point of the roadway is located at a distance of less than 1000 meters from the motor vehicle, but of course, it can be further from the motor vehicle.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the detection of the portion of the roadway may comprise the following steps, including when the motor vehicle is traveling on the portion of the roadway: Receiving a geographic location of the motor vehicle, for example from a satellite geolocation module of the motor vehicle, for example of the so-called “GPS” type (alternatively, from the road infrastructure), • Search for the portion of roadway in the road map, for example at a distance within a second threshold (the second threshold is for example less than or equal to 1000 meters) from the motor vehicle, or such that the distance between the first point and the motor vehicle is less than the second threshold, • Reading the slope in the road map (in this case, for example, and generally, according to the invention, the method may comprise a step of comparing the slope with the threshold. As a variant; reading, in the road map, information indicating whether the slope is greater than the threshold or not).

[0015] Alternatively, the portion of the roadway is determined by a road infrastructure or another vehicle traveling downstream of the motor vehicle and the slope (or the information indicating whether the slope is greater than the threshold or not) is communicated to the motor vehicle by the infrastructure or the other motor vehicle.

[0016] According to a variant, when the vehicle is traveling on the portion, the method may comprise a step of receiving an angle formed by a direction of movement of the motor vehicle with the horizontal (in other words: the attitude of the motor vehicle), the slope being this angle. For example, in this case, the method according to the invention may not comprise a step of searching for the portion of roadway in the road map. During the detection step, the portion of roadway detected is quite simply the one on which the motor vehicle is located (vertically).

[0017] If a route of the motor vehicle is known during the search for the portion of roadway, the portion of the roadway can be searched in this route.

[0018] Detecting the portion of the roadway may include determining whether the motor vehicle is on the portion of the roadway or the portion of the roadway downstream of the motor vehicle. However, alternatively, a searching step (e.g., the portion searching step above) may search only a portion of the roadway that is downstream of the vehicle or on which the motor vehicle is located.

[0019] For example, the portion of the roadway is in (i.e., on) the roadway area. Alternatively, the roadway area may be located between the motor vehicle and the portion of the roadway, or the two areas may overlap.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the instruction commands the screen to display, in addition, the slope, superimposed on the image of the area of ​​the roadway, provided that the slope is greater than the threshold.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the threshold is between 2% and 12%, by example between 2% and 6%, when the road area is part of a highway, and between 8% and 12% in other cases. However, of course, other threshold values are possible.

[0022] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions executable by a microprocessor or a microcontroller or a computer, to implement the steps of the method according to the invention, when it is executed by the microprocessor or the microcontroller or the computer.

[0023] The method according to the invention can be implemented by an electronic device (or an automobile). The invention therefore also relates to an electronic device (or an automobile) configured to implement the steps of the method according to the invention, as well as an automobile comprising the electronic device.

[0024] The characteristics and advantages of the computer program, the electronic device, and the vehicle are identical to those of the method according to the invention (without it being necessary to repeat them here).

[0025] When the electronic device, the motor vehicle, (or another element) is "configured to" (or "capable of") performing or implementing a step or an operation, this implies, for example, that the element comprises means for performing the step or the operation. The means preferably comprise electronic means, for example a computer program, data in memory, specialized electronic circuits, wired or wireless connections, a microprocessor and / or a microcontroller.

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description which follows, comprising embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which: • [Fig.l] represents an electronic device and a motor vehicle, according to an embodiment of the invention, in top view, • [Fig.2] and [Fig.4] represent the motor vehicle and the slope of the road on which the motor vehicle is traveling, during steps of the method of [Fig.6]. • [Fig.3] and [Fig.5] represent the display by a screen of the motor vehicle during stages of the implementation of the process of [Fig.6]. • [Fig.6] represents an implementation of the method according to the invention, according to a exemplary embodiment, by the electronic device and the motor vehicle of [Fig.l].

[0027] In [Fig.l], certain elements are, of course, seen through transparency.

[0028] Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, with reference to Figures 1 to 6.

[0029] [Fig.l] represents a vehicle 100 which is a motor vehicle. The vehicle 100 comprises a passenger compartment 120, and a microprocessor 110 to which the following elements of the motor vehicle 100 are connected: • A satellite geolocation module 130, for example of the so-called “GPS” type, • A 140 camera, • A 150 screen located in the 120 passenger compartment.

[0030] With reference to [Fig.6], in step S00, the vehicle 100 travels on a roadway 300 as shown [Fig.2], according to a predefined route, and the microprocessor 110 receives, from the camera 140, an image IM310_l of the zone 310_l of the roadway 300 (and of an environment of the zone 310_l) downstream of the motor vehicle 100 in the direction of travel si. The roadway 300 is part of a motorway.

[0031] The camera 140 is for example fixed relative to the motor vehicle 100. The camera 140 comprising a chl field, the zone 310_l of the roadway 300 is in the chl field of the camera 140. In other words, the chl field defines the zone 310_l of the roadway 300.

[0032] In step S10, the microprocessor detects a portion 320 of the roadway 300 extending from a first point 311 of the roadway 300 to a second point 312 of the roadway 300 and comprising an average slope of 5%.

[0033] As shown in [Fig.2], the portion 320 of the roadway 300, the first point 311 of the roadway 300 and the second point 312 of the roadway 300 are downstream of the motor vehicle 100, in the direction of travel si.

[0034] As illustrated [Fig.2], the first point 311, in other words the portion 320 of the roadway 300, is located 50 meters downstream of the motor vehicle 100, in the direction of travel, and the portion 320 of the roadway 300 is in the zone 310_l of the roadway 300.

[0035] The detection of the portion 320 of the roadway 300, in step S10, may comprise the following steps: • Reception of a geographical location of the motor vehicle 100, for example from the satellite geolocation module 130, • Search for portions located at a distance of less than 50 meters from the vehicle 100, in the route, in the road map 111 in memory of the microprocessor 110, the portion 320 of the roadway 300 being the result of this search, • Reading the slope of section 320 of the roadway in road map 111. • Comparison of the 5% slope with the 4% threshold.

[0036] In step S20, the microprocessor 110 sends to the screen 150 an instruction commanding the screen 150 to display the image IM310_l of the zone 310_l of the roadway 300. Since the slope of 5% is greater than the threshold of 4%, the instruction commands the screen 150 to display, in addition, a pattern Ml and the slope PP1, namely 5%, superimposed on the image IM310_l of the zone 310_l of the roadway 300. The pattern Ml has the shape of a gantry.

[0037] For example, the pattern Ml is superimposed on an image of a part 330 of the zone 310_l of the roadway 300 located between the first point 311 and the motor vehicle 100.

[0038] In step S30, the screen 150 then produces the display shown [Fig.3].

[0039] [Fig. 5] shows a display, by the screen 150, at a step S40, while the vehicle 100 has continued the route, following the step S30, and the vehicle 100 is on the portion 320 of the roadway 300 as shown [Fig. 4]. This display may result from steps identical to steps S00, S10, S20 repeated during the movement of the motor vehicle (but possibly, step S10 may use the portion 320 previously detected). This display comprises a pattern M2, in the form of an arrow, and the slope PP2, superimposed on the image IM310_2 of the area 310_2 also shown [Fig. 4].

[0040] When the vehicle 100 is at the end of the portion 320, the display can then again superimpose a gantry identical to the pattern M1 so as to signal the end of the portion 320.

[0041] Other shapes are of course possible for the patterns M1 and / or M2. For example, the pattern M2 can be replaced by the pattern M1, in the form of a portico, along the portion 320.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for controlling a screen (150) of a motor vehicle (110) traveling on a roadway (300), in a direction of travel (si), the motor vehicle (100) comprising a camera (140), characterized in that it comprises the following steps, implemented in the motor vehicle (100): • Reception (S00), from the camera (140), of an image (IM310_l) of an area (310_l) of the roadway (300) downstream of the motor vehicle (100) in the direction of travel (si), and • Detection (S10) of a portion (320) of the roadway (300) comprising a slope, • Sending (S20) to the screen (150) an instruction commanding the screen (150) to display the image (IM310_l) of the area (310_l) of the roadway (300), the instruction commanding the screen (150) to display, in addition, a pattern (Ml) superimposed on the image (IM310_l) of the area (310_l) of the roadway, provided that the slope is greater than a threshold.

2. Method for controlling a screen (150) according to claim 1 in which the motor vehicle (100) travels on the portion (320) of the roadway (300).

3. Method for controlling a screen (150) according to claim 1 in which the portion (320) of the roadway (300) is downstream of the motor vehicle (100), in the direction of travel (si).

4. Method for controlling a screen (150) according to the preceding claim, in which the portion (320) of the roadway (300) is located at a distance of less than 1000 meters from the motor vehicle.

5. A method of controlling a screen (150) according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the portion (320) of the roadway (300) is in the area (310_l) of the roadway (300).

6. A method of controlling a display according to any preceding claim wherein the threshold is between 2% and 12% percent.

7. A method of controlling a screen according to any preceding claim wherein the instruction controls the screen (150) to display, in addition, the slope (PP1), superimposed on the image (IM310_l) of the area (310_l) of the roadway, provided that the slope is greater than the threshold.

8. Computer program comprising instructions, executable by a microprocessor or a microcontroller, for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when executed by the microprocessor or the microcontroller.

9. Electronic device (110) configured to implement the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Motor vehicle (100) comprising the electronic device (110) according to the preceding claim.

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