Method for conditioning the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (1) for conditioning a vehicle passenger compartment, the method comprising a first step of determining a risk factor (RF) of driver drowsiness in a driving situation (3), representative of the probability that the driver will fall asleep in that driving situation (3), the method (1) comprising a second step of controlling at least one modification (4) of the environment (2) of the vehicle passenger compartment when the risk factor (RF) of drowsiness determined in the first step exceeds a first predetermined threshold, each modification (4) of the environment (2) of the passenger compartment being designed to decrease the risk factor (RF) of drowsiness, each modification (4) being distinct from the issuance of a notification intended to alert the driver. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Method for conditioning the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

[0001] The technical field relates to vehicle interior conditioning processes aimed at limiting the risks of drowsiness, as well as motor vehicles designed to implement such a conditioning process.

[0002] The concerns of car manufacturers to ensure passenger safety while reducing the risk of accidents constitute a major priority in the development of embedded technologies. Among the critical factors influencing road safety, the early detection of signs of driver fatigue or drowsiness is essential to prevent dangerous situations, since these risks represent a significant proportion of the causes of serious accidents, particularly on long or monotonous journeys.

[0003] Currently, the detection of signs of fatigue is primarily based on systems designed to detect driver drowsiness once fatigue has already set in, thus adopting a corrective approach. Generally, conventional systems consist of observing the driver's behavior to detect, at a more or less early stage, an established state of drowsiness and then issuing an alert to the driver, who is falling asleep, in order to wake them up or make them aware of their state of fatigue.

[0004] However, these solutions often come too late to prevent the emergence of potentially dangerous situations.

[0005] Thus, it becomes imperative to go beyond this corrective approach and there is a need for a solution to actively prevent the onset of fatigue, to offer increased protection and strengthen road safety.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a method for conditioning the passenger compartment in order to prevent driving situations that could generate a risk of driver drowsiness.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a method for conditioning a vehicle passenger compartment, the method comprising a first step consisting of determining a risk factor for driver drowsiness while driving, representing the probability that the driver will fall asleep in that driving situation, the method comprising a second step consisting of controlling at least one modification of the vehicle passenger compartment environment, when the risk factor risk of drowsiness determined in the first stage exceeds a first predetermined threshold, each modification of the passenger compartment environment being designed to decrease the risk factor of drowsiness, each modification being different from the issuance of a notification intended to alert the driver.

[0008] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle designed to implement a process according to the invention.

[0009] Thus, the method according to the invention makes it possible to condition the passenger compartment environment to limit situations conducive to driver fatigue. The method analyzes the driving situation to determine a risk factor representative of the risk of drowsiness; as soon as the risk factor exceeds a predetermined threshold, the method is then able to implement a second step that modifies the passenger compartment environment in order to reduce the risk factor. Therefore, the method according to the invention makes it possible to prevent and limit driving situations likely to cause fatigue. The second step generates an environment less conducive to fatigue and drowsiness. Thus, the method according to the invention represents a preventive solution, unlike known systems, which aim to alert the driver when fatigue has already set in.

[0010] According to one implementation of the conditioning process, the risk factor for falling asleep is determined by taking into account parameters relating to the driving of the vehicle and / or provided by means of observation of the driver in a driving situation.

[0011] Advantageously, the parameters relating to the driving of the vehicle are chosen from among the speed of the vehicle, the use of a cruise control, the movements of the steering wheel, the outside brightness, the driving time, the detection of a departure from a trajectory and / or the time of driving.

[0012] According to one possibility, the observation means include at least one camera observing the driver of the vehicle, preferably an infrared camera.

[0013] In one embodiment of the conditioning process, each modification of the passenger compartment environment consists of modifying at least the music played in the passenger compartment, the temperature of the passenger compartment, the air distribution delivered by a ventilation system, the interior lighting of the passenger compartment, the implementation of driver massage by a massaging seat and / or the diffusion of a fragrance.

[0014] According to one possibility, the conditioning process includes a third step consisting of issuing an alert to the driver when the risk factor of falling asleep exceeds a second predetermined threshold, higher than the first predetermined threshold.

[0015] According to one possibility, the vehicle includes an operating mode in which the process is implemented at regular time intervals.

[0016] Advantageously, the motor vehicle includes a control in the passenger compartment allowing the operating mode in which the process is implemented to be activated and / or deactivated at regular time intervals.

[0017] According to one possibility of the motor vehicle, the operating mode, in which the method is implemented at regular time intervals, is systematically implemented at each start of the vehicle.

[0018] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a schematic view of the process according to the invention.

[0020] A conditioning method 1 according to the invention, shown schematically in the figure, is designed to be implemented by a vehicle according to the invention in order to condition the environment 2 of the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0021] The process 1 includes a first step consisting of determining a risk factor FR of a driver of the motor vehicle falling asleep in driving situation 3, representative of a probability that the driver will fall asleep in this situation.

[0022] The method 1 further comprises a second step consisting of triggering at least one modification 4 of the vehicle interior environment 2 when the risk factor FR of drowsiness determined in the first step exceeds a first predetermined threshold, each modification 4 of the vehicle interior environment 2 being designed to reduce the risk factor FR of drowsiness. Each modification 4 of the environment 2 is then distinct from the issuance of a notification intended to alert the driver.

[0023] The risk factor FR of falling asleep is determined by taking into account parameters 5 relating to the driving 3 of the vehicle and / or provided by means of observation 6 of the driver in a driving situation 3. Five such parameters are advantageously chosen from among vehicle speed, use of cruise control, steering wheel movements, ambient light around the vehicle, driving time, lane departure detection, and / or time of day. Other five driving-related parameters may also be taken into account.

[0024] By way of example, the method 1 according to the invention assigns a value to each parameter 5 and determines the risk factor FR as a product of each of the weighted assigned values. Thus, for example, the risk factor FR is proportional to the vehicle speed in driving situation 3 and / or to the duration of the Driving. The value assigned to steering wheel input is, for example, chosen to characterize the monotony of driving 3. For example, the value associated with the time of day is chosen to be higher when driving 3 is carried out at night. For example, the value associated with outside brightness is higher when the brightness is low.

[0025] Advantageously, the observation means 6 include at least one camera, in particular an infrared camera, observing the driver of the vehicle.

[0026] According to one possible embodiment of the conditioning method 1, each modification 4 of the passenger compartment environment 2 consists of modifying at least the music played in the passenger compartment, the passenger compartment temperature, the air distribution delivered by a vehicle ventilation system, the interior lighting of the passenger compartment, the activation of a driver massage function via a massage seat, and / or the diffusion of a fragrance. Advantageously, the modification(s) 4 of the environment 2 are chosen to induce a state of wakefulness sufficient for driving the vehicle. The modification 4 of the air distribution corresponds to a modification 4 of the fan speed, a modification of at least one direction of an airflow, or a modification of the temperature of at least one airflow.

[0027] According to a particular embodiment of method 1 of the invention, the latter comprises a third step consisting of issuing an alert to the driver when the risk factor FR of drowsiness determined in the first step exceeds a second predetermined threshold, which is higher than the first predetermined threshold. The alert is, for example, a visual and / or audible message designed to warn the driver of the risk of drowsiness and / or to wake up a driver who is drowsy.

[0028] The vehicle according to the invention implementing the method 1 according to the invention advantageously comprises a control unit designed to collect and analyze the parameters 5 relating to the driving of the vehicle and / or provided by the observation means 6. The control unit is also designed to control the modification(s) 4 of the environment 2.

[0029] According to one possibility of the vehicle, it includes an operating mode in which the process is implemented at regular time intervals.

[0030] Advantageously then, the vehicle includes a control in the passenger compartment allowing the operating mode in which the process is implemented to be activated and / or deactivated at regular time intervals.

[0031] Furthermore, according to a possibility of the motor vehicle, the operating mode, in which the process is implemented at regular time intervals, is systematically implemented at each start of the vehicle.

[0032] Thus, method 1 makes it possible to condition the passenger compartment environment 2 to limit situations conducive to driver fatigue. Method 1 analyzes the driving situation to determine a risk factor FR representative of the risk of drowsiness. As soon as the risk factor FR exceeds a predetermined threshold, method 1 can then implement a second step that modifies the passenger compartment environment 2 in order to reduce the risk factor FR. Therefore, method 1 makes it possible to prevent and limit driving situations likely to cause drowsiness.

[0033] The invention is not limited to the method of implementing the conditioning process described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be devised by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A method (1) for conditioning a vehicle interior, the method comprising a first step of determining a risk factor (RF) of driver of the motor vehicle falling asleep in a driving situation (3), representative of a probability that the driver will fall asleep in that driving situation (3), the method (1) comprising a second step of controlling at least one modification (4) of the environment (2) of the vehicle interior, when the risk factor (RF) of falling asleep determined in the first step exceeds a first predetermined threshold, each modification (4) of the environment (2) of the interior being designed to decrease the risk factor (RF) of falling asleep, each modification (4) being different from the issuance of a notification intended to alert the driver.

2. Conditioning method (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the risk factor (RF) of falling asleep is determined by taking into account parameters (5) relating to the driving (3) of the vehicle and / or provided by means of observation (6) of the driver in a driving situation (3).

3. Method (1) of conditioning according to claim 2, characterized in that the parameters (5) relating to the driving (3) of the vehicle are chosen from the speed of the vehicle, the use of a cruise control, the movements of the steering wheel, the outside brightness, the driving time, the detection of a departure from a trajectory and / or the time of driving.

4. A method (1) of packaging according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the observation means (6) comprise at least one camera observing the driver of the vehicle, preferably an infrared camera.

5. Conditioning method (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each modification (4) of the environment (2) of the passenger compartment consists of modifying at least the music played in the passenger compartment, the temperature of the passenger compartment, the air distribution delivered by a ventilation system, the interior lighting of the passenger compartment, the implementation of driver massage by a massage seat and / or the diffusion of a fragrance.

6. Method (1) of conditioning according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a third step consisting of issuing an alert to the driver when the risk factor (RF) of drowsiness exceeds a second predetermined threshold, higher than the first predetermined threshold.

7. Motor vehicle designed to implement a method (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. Motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises an operating mode in which the method (1) is implemented at regular time intervals.

9. Motor vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it includes a control in the passenger compartment allowing the operating mode in which the method (1) is implemented to be activated and / or deactivated at regular time intervals.

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the mode of operation, in which the method (1) is implemented at regular time intervals, is systematically implemented at each start of the vehicle.

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