Motor vehicle safety system for preventing collision

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety system for a motor vehicle intended to prevent a collision. The safety system comprises at least one obstacle detection device (4), a power steering device (12) for a motor vehicle (2) and a control unit (10) connected to the two preceding devices. The invention is remarkable in that the power steering device (12) is capable of modifying the trajectory of a motor vehicle (2), equipped with the safety system, without modifying the position of the steering wheel of said vehicle, and in that the control unit (10) is programmed to actuate the power steering device (12), when said unit perceives a risk of collision, via the obstacle detection device (4), so that the power steering device (12) modifies the trajectory of the motor vehicle (2), without modifying the position of its steering wheel. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Safety system for a motor vehicle intended to prevent a collision Technical field to which the invention relates

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of the automobile industry and, more particularly, to a safety system aimed at preventing the rollover of a motor vehicle during a front side impact. Technological background

[0002] Improving the safety of motor vehicles is a constant objective, and many systems have been developed to improve the safety of passengers and other road users.

[0003] Among these systems, we can cite anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electronic stability control systems (ESC), emergency braking assistance systems (AEB) and obstacle detection systems. Obstacle detection systems can advantageously be coupled with the preceding systems in order to help the driver avoid a collision or reduce its severity.

[0004] For example, document US11173894 proposes a safety system for motor vehicles which aims to enhance the stability of the vehicle in the event of an obstacle avoidance maneuver. This system uses a combination of sensors and controllers to detect an emergency situation and assist the driver in safely performing an avoidance maneuver.

[0005] To do this, the system includes a steering wheel angle sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor and a yaw rate sensor, as well as an electronic controller which processes the signals from these sensors to determine the appropriate response of the system.

[0006] The system proposed by document US11173894 uses a two-stage control strategy to assist the driver in avoiding a collision. First, the system detects an emergency situation using sensor signals and activates an audible and visual warning to alert the driver. Then, the system applies steering force to the steering wheel to assist the driver in safely performing an evasive maneuver. The system may also apply braking force to the front and rear wheels to help stabilize the vehicle during the maneuver.

[0007] Although the system proposed by document US 11173894 offers assistance While valuable to the driver in avoiding a collision by performing an evasive maneuver, it nevertheless has the disadvantage of requiring driver intervention to initiate this maneuver. This limitation can be problematic in situations where the driver is distracted, fatigued, or otherwise unable to react quickly and effectively to an emergency situation.

[0008] The invention aims to propose a more efficient safety system than that proposed by document US11173894, by making it possible to compensate for a lack of attention on the part of the driver in the event of an imminent collision, in order to avoid the collision or at least mitigate its effects by reducing the force of impact. Subject of the invention

[0009] To this end, the invention proposes a safety system for a motor vehicle intended to prevent a collision. The safety system comprises at least one obstacle detection device, a power steering device for a motor vehicle and a control unit connected to the two preceding devices.

[0010] Remarkably, the power steering device is capable of modifying the trajectory of a motor vehicle equipped with the safety system, without modifying the position of the steering wheel of said vehicle, and the control unit is programmed to actuate the power steering device when said unit perceives a risk of collision, via the obstacle detection device, so that the power steering device modifies the trajectory of the motor vehicle, without modifying the position of its steering wheel.

[0011] Advantageously, the safety system proposed by the invention allows a motor vehicle equipped with said system to initiate a maneuver to avoid an obstacle without action on the part of the driver. As a result, the invention makes it possible to overcome a lack of attention on the part of the driver, in order to initiate more quickly and more safely a maneuver to avoid an imminent collision with an obstacle.

[0012] The term "obstacle" means any fixed or mobile element capable of hindering and / or undesirably modifying the movement of a motor vehicle equipped with the safety system according to the invention. The term "obstacle" can therefore designate an element of street furniture, another vehicle or another road user. Fixed obstacles can include posts, walls, barriers, etc., while mobile obstacles can include pedestrians, animals, cyclists, etc.

[0013] According to another advantage, this avoidance maneuver is carried out without having to modify the position of the steering wheel of the vehicle, so as not to injure the driver when he is holding the steering wheel.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention, when the control unit perceives a risk of collision, via the obstacle detection device, The control unit is programmed to operate the power steering device to alter the trajectory of the motor vehicle to minimize the risk of collision.

[0015] Preferably, when the control unit perceives a risk of collision, via the obstacle detection device, the control unit is programmed to actuate the power steering device in order to modify the trajectory of the motor vehicle so that its trajectory tends to be parallel to the direction of movement of the obstacle going to strike the motor vehicle, relative to said obstacle detection device.

[0016] This embodiment advantageously makes it possible to attenuate the shock of the collision, when it cannot be avoided, by modifying the trajectory of the motor vehicle so that it tends to be as close as possible to the trajectory of the obstacle striking the motor vehicle. The trajectory of the obstacle is measured relative to the obstacle detection device, through which the control unit perceives this risk of collision.

[0017] According to another embodiment, when the control unit actuates the power steering device, the power steering device is capable of acting on at least one element of a steering member of a motor vehicle, with the exception of the steering wheel. Preferably, the power steering device is capable of acting on the steering rack and / or the steering rods of a motor vehicle.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the power steering device is an electronic steering device. By "electronic steering device" is meant a steering system that uses electronic signals to control the steering of a motor vehicle, rather than traditional mechanical connections between the steering wheel and the front wheels. This type of system is also known as "steer by wire" or "steer on demand" or by the English expression "Steer By Wire".

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, the control unit is connected to an electronic stability device of a motor vehicle, and the control unit is programmed to actuate the electronic stability device, after the detection of a collision with the obstacle perceived by the obstacle detection device.

[0020] Preferably, the control unit is programmed to actuate the electronic stability device a few milliseconds after the collision.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the invention, the control unit is programmed to actuate the electronic stability device in order to slow down a motor vehicle equipped with said system, by distributing the braking force of the motor vehicle so as to prevent said vehicle from overturning.

[0022] Of course, the various features, variants and embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0023] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a safety system as described above.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, at least one obstacle detection device is present at the front of the motor vehicle.

[0025] Preferably, at least one obstacle detection device is arranged so as to be able to perceive a risk of lateral collision with an obstacle. Description of figures

[0026] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0027] [Fig-1] represents a simplified and schematic view of a motor vehicle equipped with a safety system according to the invention, intended to prevent a collision;

[0028] [Fig.2] represents the motor vehicle illustrated by [Fig.l], when the system of safety perceives a risk of lateral collision with an obstacle;

[0029] [Fig.3] represents the motor vehicle illustrated by [Fig.2], when the system of safety changes the trajectory of the motor vehicle in order to avoid collision. Detailed description of the invention

[0030] As a reminder, the invention proposes a more efficient safety system to enable a motor vehicle to avoid an imminent collision or at least mitigate its effects by reducing the impact force.

[0031] A motor vehicle 2 equipped with a safety system according to the invention is illustrated by [Fig.l] below. According to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention, the safety system comprises several obstacle detection devices 4. The devices are placed at the front 6 and the rear 8 of the motor vehicle, so as to be able to detect the presence of an obstacle 16, in this case another motor vehicle, likely to cut across the path of the motor vehicle 2.

[0032] Preferably, the obstacle detection devices 4 are oriented so as to be able to detect a risk of lateral collision. By way of non-limiting example, the obstacle detection devices 4 consist of cameras and / or infrared sensors.

[0033] The safety system also comprises a control unit 10 connected to each obstacle detection device. By the term "connected" is meant that the control unit 10 is connected to the obstacle detection devices 4 via cables or wireless connections, so as to receive the signals and data sent by the latter. The control unit is configured to process this data and make decisions based on the results obtained.

[0034] The control unit 10 is also connected to a power steering device 12, configured to modify the trajectory of the motor vehicle 2, without modifying the position of the steering wheel 14 of the vehicle. The power steering device is designed to act on at least one component of the steering member of a motor vehicle, excluding the steering wheel.

[0035] Preferably, the power steering device 12 is capable of acting on the steering rack and / or the steering rods of the motor vehicle. The power steering device may optionally comprise means for decoupling the steering wheel and / or the steering shaft from the elements mentioned above, when said device modifies the trajectory of the motor vehicle.

[0036] The control unit 10 comprises means for storing a collision avoidance method, as described below, as well as calculation means capable of implementing said method.

[0037] The avoidance method implemented by the safety system comprises a first step illustrated by [Fig.2], consisting of evaluating the risk of imminent collision with another vehicle 16.

[0038] When this risk is considered sufficiently high, the avoidance method implements a second step illustrated by [Fig. 3], consisting of activating the power steering device 12 so as to modify the orientation of the front wheels 18 of the motor vehicle in order to modify its trajectory, without modifying the position of the steering wheel 14.

[0039] Preferably, the control unit 10 is capable of calculating the trajectory of the other vehicle 16 likely to collide with the motor vehicle 2, so as to take into account their respective trajectory when the orientation of the front wheels 18 is modified by the power steering device 12.

[0040] More specifically, the control unit 10 modifies the orientation of the front wheels 18 in order to avoid the collision. If this is not possible, the control unit 10 modifies the orientation of the front wheels 18 in order to reduce the violence of the collision. To do this, the control unit 10 favors a trajectory of the motor vehicle 2 aimed at tending towards the same trajectory, for example, of the motor vehicle involved in the upcoming collision. Thus, advantageously, the violence of the collision is reduced.

[0041] According to an alternative embodiment, the control unit is connected to an electronic stability device of the motor vehicle, not shown in the figures. This device is configured to maintain control of the motor vehicle in difficult driving situations, such as sharp turns, emergency braking or sudden changes in direction.

[0042] The control unit is then able to implement a third step of the avoidance method described above, consisting of actuating the electronic stability device, following the collision, in order to prevent the motor vehicle from overturning. Preferably, this third step is implemented a few milliseconds after the impact.

Claims

Claims

1. Safety system for a motor vehicle (2) intended to prevent a collision, comprising at least one obstacle detection device (4), a power steering device (12) for a motor vehicle (2) and a control unit (10) connected to the two preceding devices, characterized in that the power steering device (12) is capable of modifying the trajectory of a motor vehicle (2) equipped with the safety system, without modifying the position of the steering wheel of said vehicle, and in that the control unit (10) is programmed to actuate the power steering device (12) when said unit perceives a risk of collision, via the obstacle detection device (4), so that the power steering device (12) modifies the trajectory of the motor vehicle (2), without modifying the position of its steering wheel.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that when the control unit (10) perceives a risk of collision, via the obstacle detection device (4), the control unit (10) is programmed to actuate the power steering device (12) in order to modify the trajectory of the motor vehicle (2) to minimize the risk of collision.

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that when the control unit (10) perceives a risk of collision, via the obstacle detection device (4), the control unit (10) is programmed to actuate the power steering device (12) in order to modify the trajectory of the motor vehicle (2) so that its trajectory tends to be parallel to the direction of movement of the obstacle going to strike the motor vehicle, relative to said obstacle detection device (4).

4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the power steering device (12) is an electronic steering device.

5. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control unit (10) is connected to an electronic stability device of a motor vehicle (2), and in that the control unit (10) is programmed to actuate the electronic stability device, after the control unit (10) perceives a risk of collision via the obstacle detection device (4).

6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the control unit (10) is programmed to activate the electronic stability device, a few milliseconds after a collision suffered by the motor vehicle.

7. System according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the control unit (10) is programmed to actuate the electronic stability device, in order to slow down a motor vehicle (2) equipped with said system, by distributing the braking force of the motor vehicle so as to prevent said vehicle from overturning.

8. Motor vehicle (2) comprising a system according to one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one obstacle detection device (4) is present at the front (6) of the motor vehicle (2).

10. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one obstacle detection device (4) is arranged so as to be able to perceive a risk of lateral collision with an obstacle.

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