Method and device for controlling a light source installed in a vehicle when the vehicle is parked

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling a light source (101) installed in a vehicle (10). To this end, initial data representing the validation status of a parking space payment request (121) are received. This initial data includes information representing the parking duration in the space (121). A second piece of information representing the remaining authorized parking time at a given moment is determined based on the first piece of information. The light source (101) is controlled based on the initial data, with the color of the light emitted by the light source (101) being controlled according to the second piece of information. (See Figure 1 for abbreviations.)

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling a light source installed in a vehicle when the vehicle is parked technical field

[0001] The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a light source installed in a vehicle, particularly but not exclusively a motor vehicle. The invention further relates to a method and device for controlling the color emitted by the light source based on payment information for a parking space. Technological background

[0002] Vehicle parking, particularly in urban areas, is regulated and regularly subject to payment of a fee that depends on the duration of parking. Failure to pay may result in a fine for the driver of a vehicle parked in a paid parking space. Payment of the fee is increasingly made electronically, particularly through the use of mobile applications installed and running on mobile communication devices such as smartphones.

[0003] One of the problems associated with these electronic payment methods is that the driver does not have easy access to payment information. To do so, the driver generally has to open the mobile application and check that payment has been made and that the authorized parking time has not expired, otherwise they risk receiving a fine. Summary of the present invention

[0004] One object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0005] An object of the present invention is, for example, to improve access to regulatory information for parking a vehicle in a paid parking space.

[0006] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a light source embedded in a vehicle, the light source being configured to emit light in a plurality of colors, the method being implemented by at least one processor and comprising the following steps: - receipt of initial data representing the validation status of a parking space payment request, the initial data including a first piece of information representing the duration of parking in the parking space; - determining a second piece of information representing the remaining authorized parking time at a given moment, based on the first piece of information; and - control of the light source based on the first data, the control including a control of a color of light emitted by the light source based on the second information after switching off a vehicle engine.

[0007] Using a light source mounted in the vehicle to emit a colored light that corresponds to the remaining authorized parking time when the vehicle is stopped with the engine off allows a user to have visual feedback on the status of the parking regulations, and in particular on the remaining authorized parking time. Thus, depending on the color emitted, the vehicle user can take the necessary actions to avoid receiving a fine for non-payment of the parking fee.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the light source is controlled to emit light when the validation state corresponds to a validated state, the color of light corresponding to: - a first color of light when the second piece of information represents a remaining authorized parking time at the current moment that is greater than a threshold duration; - a second color of light when the second piece of information represents a remaining authorized parking time at the current moment that is less than the threshold time and greater than 0; and - a third color of light when the second piece of information represents an authorized parking time that has elapsed at the current moment.

[0009] According to a further variant, the first color corresponds to a green color, the second color corresponds to an orange color and the third color corresponds to a red color.

[0010] According to yet another variant, the method further includes a step of receiving second data representative of a position of the vehicle prior to the shutdown of the vehicle's engine, the control of the light source being further dependent on the second data.

[0011] According to an additional variant, the light source is controlled to emit light when the position corresponds to a position on a public road.

[0012] According to an additional variant, the first data is received from a mobile application implemented on a mobile communication device connected in communication to the vehicle.

[0013] According to another variant, the first data is received from an embedded application implemented in the vehicle.

[0014] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a control device for a light source embedded in a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for the implementation of the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0015] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention and a light source configured to emit light in a plurality of colours.

[0016] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which includes instructions adapted for carrying out the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0017] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or an intermediate form between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0018] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0019] On the one hand, the recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium can include a storage means, such as a ROM, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit-type ROM, or a magnetic recording means or a hard disk drive.

[0020] On the other hand, this recording medium can also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be transmitted via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or radio frequency, by self-directing laser beam, or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention can, in particular, be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0021] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the process in question. Brief description of the figures

[0022] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the particular and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the attached Figures 1 to 3, in which:

[0023] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates a vehicle parking environment, according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] [Fig.2] illustrates a device configured to control a light source on board the vehicle of [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] [Fig.3] illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a method for controlling a light source on board a vehicle of the [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of achievements

[0026] A method and a device for controlling a light source on board a vehicle will now be described in what follows with joint reference to Figures 1 to 3. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description that follows.

[0027] The terms "first," "second" (or "firsts," "seconds"), etc., are used in this document by arbitrary convention to allow for the identification and distinction of different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0028] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the control of a light source installed in a vehicle, corresponding for example to one or more light-emitting diodes, known as LEDs (Light-Emitting Diode), is implemented by one or more vehicle computers, for example via one or more processors. The light source is configured to emit light in several colors, the light source thus corresponding for example to a group of LEDs, for example 3 LEDs, with a red LED, a green LED and a blue LED to form an RGB LED (Red, Green, Blue).

[0029] Initial data representing the validation status of a parking space payment request are received, for example, from a mobile parking application or from an embedded parking application in the vehicle. This initial data includes information representing the parking duration in the space, which corresponds to a duration of Parking is defined from a start time or an authorized parking end time. A second piece of information, representing the remaining authorized parking time at a given moment, is determined at that moment based on the first piece of information. This second piece of information corresponds, for example, to the remaining paid and therefore authorized parking time, expressed, for example, in minutes. Finally, the light source is controlled based on the initial data, particularly its validation status. Controlling the light source includes controlling the color of light emitted by the light source based on the second piece of information after a vehicle engine is switched off. This control includes transmitting control or power signals to the light source so that it emits light in the desired color.

[0030] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an environment 1 of a vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Vehicle 10 corresponds, for example, to a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, with electric motor(s), or even a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors. Vehicle 10 thus corresponds, for example, to a land vehicle, for example a car, a truck, a bus.

[0032] The vehicle 10 is configured to communicate, i.e. to transmit and receive, data with a mobile communication device 101 when the latter is connected in wired communication (for example via a USB connection (from the English "Universal Serial Bus" or "Universal Serial Bus" in French)) or wirelessly (for example via a Wifi® or Bluetooth® type connection) to the vehicle 10 and / or the vehicle 10 is configured to communicate data with one or more remote devices 110, for example one or more "cloud" servers 100 (or "cloud" in French).

[0033] The vehicle 10 carries for this purpose a wireless communication system including for example a wired connection interface or module and a wireless communication interface or module, also called a telematic control unit, or TCU (from the English "Telematic Control Unit").

[0034] Fig. 1 also illustrates an example of a wireless communication environment, for example an environment with a wireless communication network infrastructure of the terrestrial cellular network type using, for example, a wireless communication mode of the LTE (Long Term Evolution) type, 4G or 5G.

[0035] The vehicle 10 advantageously includes or incorporates a light source 101 configured to emit light in several colors, for example in any color obtained by combining the 3 colors red, green and blue, known as RGB. The Light source 101, for example, corresponds to an array of LEDs comprising one LED configured to emit red light, one LED configured to emit green light, and one LED configured to emit blue light. An LED array has the advantage of consuming little electrical energy when emitting light, thus preserving the vehicle's battery 10.

[0036] The light source 101 is arranged for example at the base of the interior central rearview mirror of the vehicle 10, at the top and in the middle of the windshield of the vehicle 10. The light source 101 is arranged for example so that the light emitted by the light source 101 is visible from outside the vehicle 10, and according to a variant also from inside the vehicle 10.

[0037] The light source 101 corresponds for example to an LED (or group of LEDs) present on certain hybrid vehicles and intended to indicate when the hybrid vehicle is powered solely by the electric motor (LED lit in a specific color, for example in the color cyan) or by the internal combustion engine (LED off).

[0038] The vehicle 10 also carries, for example, a navigation and geolocation system, also called a GNSS (Geolocation and Navigation by a Satellite System) system, for example a GPS type system (from the English "Global Positioning System" or in French "Système de géo-positionnement par satellites") or Galileo, such a system being configured to calculate a route for the vehicle 10 and to obtain the current position of the vehicle 10 at any time.

[0039] The light source 101 is controllable according to a set of parameters, that is to say, the light source 101 is controllable to control its light emission according to one or more parameters such as: - luminous intensity, for example expressed in candelas (cd); and / or - the color, for example the color defined in a specific color space such as the RGB color model or the CMYK color model (from the English "Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black" or in French "cyan, magenta, jaune, noir"); and / or - the color temperature, for example expressed in Kelvin (K).

[0040] At a minimum, the light emitted by the light source 101 is controlled according to the parameter of the emitted color.

[0041] According to a first embodiment, an embedded parking application is implemented by the vehicle 10, that is to say that the embedded parking application is installed in the vehicle 10 and executed by a computer of the vehicle 10.

[0042] Such an embedded parking application is configured to perform online payment for a parking space such as a parking space Parking space 121. To this end, the mobile parking application connects to a cloud server 110 to process payment for parking space 121 for a predetermined amount corresponding to a parking duration chosen by the vehicle user 10. When the vehicle user 10 has confirmed the desired parking duration (for example, via a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) displayed on a screen inside the vehicle 10), the onboard parking application sends a request to the server 110 via the vehicle's wireless communication system and the terrestrial cellular network infrastructure to process payment for the parking duration. If the payment is validated by the server 110, an acknowledgment confirming the payment is, for example, sent back from the server 110 to the onboard parking application.

[0043] The embedded parking application operates, for example, by associating with the vehicle's navigation system 10 to transmit the current position of vehicle 10, corresponding, for example, to the last position determined by the navigation system when the engine was switched off. The current position of vehicle 10 is transmitted to the server 110 to determine the applicable parking rate in the zone of environment 1 that includes the current position of vehicle 10.

[0044] The request includes, for example, a vehicle identifier 10 to associate the payment made for parking space 121 with vehicle 10. The vehicle identifier 10 corresponds, for example, to the registration number of vehicle 10. Such an association allows the agents in charge of checking the payment for parking if the user of vehicle 10 has indeed made the required payment to park in parking space 121, the agents having access to the server 110 via a mobile communication device provided for this purpose.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the embedded parking application is further configured to receive from the server 110 information representative of the parking spaces available in the area of ​​the vehicle 10 including the current position of the vehicle 10 (or in an area including the position of the destination of a journey made with the vehicle 10), the free parking spaces being identified on the map of the navigation system of the vehicle 10. The user of the vehicle 10 can thus view on the screen of the vehicle 10 where the free parking spaces are located and request the navigation system to calculate a route to a selected free parking space.

[0046] According to a second embodiment, a mobile application called parking is implemented by the mobile communication device 11, that is to say that the mobile parking application is installed on the mobile communication device 11 and executed by one or more processors of the mobile communication device 11.

[0047] The mobile parking application is similar to the previously described embedded parking application.

[0048] Such a mobile parking application is known to a person skilled in the art and corresponds, for example, to a mobile application on the application store of the mobile communication device 11, which corresponds, for example, to a smartphone or a tablet.

[0049] By way of example, the mobile parking application corresponds to a mobile application such as PayByPhone®, EasyPark®, Flowbird®, On-Street Parking® or any other known mobile parking application.

[0050] A control process for the light source 101 on board the vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more processors, for example by one or more processors of a computer controlling a lighting system of the vehicle 10.

[0051] In a first operation of the process, initial data representing a validation state of a request for the regulation of parking space 121 are received.

[0052] This initial data is received from the on-board parking application according to the first embodiment or from the mobile parking application implemented on the mobile communication device 11 according to the second embodiment.

[0053] The first data is received via one or more data buses linking the computer running the on-board parking application and the computer implementing the process according to the first embodiment.

[0054] The first data is received via a wireless connection between the mobile communication device 11 and the vehicle 10 according to the second embodiment.

[0055] The first data is received following the issuance of a request for payment of the sum due for parking in parking space 121 via the on-board parking application or the mobile parking application.

[0056] The validation state corresponds to: - a validated state when the server 110 receiving the request has validated and accepted the submitted settlement; or - an invalidated or refused status when the server 110 receiving the request has invalidated, refused or rejected the submitted settlement.

[0057] The first data received also includes initial information representing a parking duration in parking space 121 corresponding to the parking duration for which payment was made.

[0058] The first piece of information corresponds, for example, to: - a duration (for example in minutes) for which parking in parking space 121 is authorized and paid for from a start time corresponding to the payment time or a time indicated by the vehicle user 10 when they made the payment via the on-board parking application or the mobile parking application; or - a parking end time (for example in hours and minutes) until which parking in parking space 121 is authorized and paid for, this parking end time corresponding to a time indicated by the user of vehicle 10 when he made the payment via the on-board parking application or the mobile parking application.

[0059] In a second operation of the process, a second piece of information representing a remaining authorized parking time is determined at a current time based on the first piece of information.

[0060] The second piece of information is calculated from the current moment and the first piece of information. The second piece of information represents the remaining time, at the current moment, during which the vehicle 10 is entitled to remain parked in parking space 121 according to the duration paid for during payment via the on-board parking application or the mobile parking application.

[0061] This second piece of information is, for example, expressed in minutes. When this duration or remaining time has elapsed, the user of vehicle 10 risks receiving a fine for non-payment of parking fees if vehicle 10 remains parked in parking space 121.

[0062] In a third operation of the process, the light source 101 is controlled according to the first data.

[0063] When the first data are representative of a validation state corresponding to the validated state of the regulation, then the light source is controlled to emit light.

[0064] To this end, the computer in charge of controlling the light source 101 transmits a control signal (also called a command signal) to the light source 101 so that the latter emits light. The command signal corresponds, for example, to a specific supply voltage to the light source 101, which controls the emission of light by the light source 101.

[0065] The luminous intensity of the light emitted by the light source 101 is, for example, controlled by varying the value of the supply voltage.

[0066] When the first data are representative of a validation state corresponding to the invalidated state of the regulation, then the light source is controlled so as not to emit light and to remain off.

[0067] According to an optional embodiment, the control of the light source is further a function of second data representing the position of the vehicle immediately preceding the switching off of the vehicle's engine.

[0068] According to this optional embodiment, the second data is received from the navigation system of vehicle 10. The position of vehicle 10 before the engine is switched off is representative of the parking position of vehicle 10.

[0069] According to this optional embodiment, the light source 101 is controlled to emit light when the first data are representative of a validation state corresponding to the validated state of the regulation and when the position of the vehicle 10 represented by the second data corresponds to a position on a public road.

[0070] A public road corresponds to all the traffic lanes in the public domain allocated to the needs of land traffic, with the exception of railways.

[0071] Checking that the parking of vehicle 10 is on a road 120 belonging to the public domain makes it possible to exclude private parking areas managed by private companies or belonging to individuals.

[0072] According to this optional embodiment, the light source 101 is controlled not to emit light when the first data are representative of a validation state corresponding to the invalidated state of the regulation and / or when the position of the vehicle 10 represented by the second data corresponds to a position off public road.

[0073] According to the third operation of the process, the color of the light emitted by the light source 101 is controlled according to the second information representing the remaining authorized (i.e. settled or paid) parking time at the current moment.

[0074] The color of the emitted light is controlled to match: - a first color of light (for example a green color) when the second piece of information is representative of a remaining authorized parking time at the current moment greater than a threshold time; - a second light color (for example, orange) when the second piece of information indicates that the remaining authorized parking time at the current moment is less than the threshold time and greater than 0 minutes; and - a third light color (for example, red) when the second piece of information indicates that the authorized parking time has elapsed at the current moment, that is, when the second piece of information indicates that the paid parking time has expired and that vehicle 10 is likely to be ticketed for failure to pay for parking in parking space 121, which is currently occupied.

[0075] The threshold duration is, for example, equal to 15 minutes. According to other examples, the threshold duration is equal to 20, 30, 45 or 60 minutes.

[0076] Controlling the color of the emitted light according to the remaining authorized parking time at the current moment allows the user to have, on the one hand, visual confirmation that the parking regulation has been accepted and taken into account and, on the other hand, simple information on the duration for which the vehicle 10 is authorized to remain in the parking space 121 according to the regulation made via the on-board parking application or the mobile parking application.

[0077] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a device 2 configured to control a Light source integrated into a vehicle, for example, light source 101 of vehicle 10. Device 2 corresponds, for example, to a device integrated into vehicle 10, for example, a computer.

[0078] According to a particular embodiment, device 2 corresponds to a mobile communication device, for example mobile communication device 101.

[0079] Device 2 is, for example, configured to carry out the operations described opposite [Fig. 1] and / or the steps of the process described opposite [Fig. 3]. Examples of such a device 2 include, but are not limited to, embedded electronic equipment such as a vehicle's on-board computer, an electronic control unit such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, or a telematics control unit (TCU). The elements of device 2, individually or in combination, may be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components. Device 2 may be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules, or a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0080] The device 2 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 20 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the process and / or for executing instructions from the software embedded in the device 2. The processor 20 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 2 further comprises at least one memory 21, corresponding, for example, to volatile and / or non-volatile memory, and / or includes a memory storage device that may include volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0081] The computer code of the embedded software(s) including the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored on memory 21.

[0082] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 2 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (Telematic Control Unit), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0083] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 2 comprises a block 22 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 22 comprise one or more of the following interfaces: - radio frequency RF interface, for example of the Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or of the Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or of the Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced; - USB interface (from the English "Universal Serial Bus" or "Universal Serial Bus" in French); - HDMI interface (from the English "High Definition Multimedia Interface", or "High Definition Multimedia Interface" in French); - LIN interface (from the English "Local Interconnect Network", or in French "Réseau interconnecté local").

[0084] According to another particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 2 includes a communication interface 23 which allows communication to be established with other devices (such as other computers in the embedded system) via a communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds, for example, to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds, for example, to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network) type, CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate) type, FlexRay (standardized by ISO 17458) or Ethernet (standardized by ISO / IEC 802-3).

[0085] Figure 3 illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a process for controlling a light source installed in a vehicle, for example the light source 101 of the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The method is implemented, for example, by a device embedded in the vehicle 10 or by the device 2 of [Fig.2].

[0086] In a first step 31, initial data representing a validation state of a parking space settlement request are received, the initial data including initial information representing a parking duration on the parking space.

[0087] In a second step 32, a second piece of information representing a remaining authorized parking time at a current time is determined as a function of the first piece of information.

[0088] In a third step 33, the light source is controlled according to the first data, the control including a control of a color of light emitted by the light source according to the second information after switching off a vehicle engine.

[0089] According to one variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to [Fig.1] apply to the steps of the process in [Fig.3].

[0090] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method for controlling the color of the light emitted by the light source of a vehicle, which would include secondary steps without departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for implementing such a method.

[0091] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-based motor vehicle, comprising the device 2 of [Fig.2] and a light source such as the light source 101.

Claims

Demands

1. Method for controlling a light source (101) mounted in a vehicle (10), said light source (101) being configured to emit light in a plurality of colors, said method being implemented by at least one processor and comprising the following steps: - receiving (31) first data representing a validation state of a parking space payment request (121), said first data comprising first information representing a parking duration in said parking space (121); - determining (32) second information representing a remaining authorized parking duration at a current time as a function of said first information;and - control (33) of said light source according to said first data, said control including a control of a color of light emitted by said light source (101) according to said second information after extinguishing an engine of said vehicle (10).;

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said light source (101) is controlled to emit light when said validation state corresponds to a validated state, said light color corresponding to: - a first light color when said second information is representative of a remaining authorized parking time at said current time greater than a threshold time; - a second light color when said second information is representative of a remaining authorized parking time at said current time less than said threshold time and greater than 0; and - a third light color when said second information is representative of an elapsed authorized parking time at said current time.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said first colour corresponds to a green colour, said second colour corresponds to an orange colour and said third colour corresponds to a red colour.

4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a step of receiving second data representative of a position of said vehicle (10) prior to said shutdown of the engine of said vehicle (10), the control (33) of said light source (101) being further a function of said second data.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein said light source (101) is controlled to emit light when in addition said position corresponds to a position on a public road (120).

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first data are received from a mobile application implemented on a mobile communication device (11) connected in communication to said vehicle (10).

7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first data are received from an embedded application implemented in said vehicle (10).

8. Computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when such instructions are executed by at least one processor.

9. Device (2) for controlling a light source (101) mounted in a vehicle (10), said device (2) comprising a memory (21) associated with at least one processor (20) configured for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Vehicle (10) comprising the device (2) according to claim 9 and a light source (101) configured to emit light in a plurality of colours.

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