A sensing device for capturing surroundings of a motor vehicle, as well as a motor vehicle

Abstract

An adjustable height sensing device 12 for a motor vehicle 10, comprising: at least one sensing element 16 attached to a height adjustable element 18. The sensing device may be a camera, LIDAR, RADAR or ultrasonic sensor. The height adjustable element may be a telescopic pole. The sensing device may be retractable into a storage space 20 of the vehicle. The sensing element may be movably attached to the height adjustable pole. The height of the high telescopic sensor may be adapted depending on the current vehicle surroundings e.g. retracted for power lines, covered parking garages etc. The sensing device may generate a warning message for a vehicle occupant if a potential hazard is captured.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sensing device for capturing surroundings of a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising the sensing device. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] According to sensing devices of motor vehicles, for example camera sensors, radar sensors, or lidar sensors, there is an issue with acquiring sensor information around a vehicle, when there are other objects obstructing the detection of the detected event. For example, seeing past vehicles in front of a driver. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a sensing device, which can overcome these issues. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a sensing device, as well as a corresponding motor vehicle, by which an improved capturing of surroundings of a motor vehicle can be realized.

[0004] This object is solved by a sensing device, as well as a corresponding motor vehicle according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a sensing device for capturing surroundings of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one sensing element.

[0006] According to an embodiment the sensing element is attached to a high adjustable element relative to the motor vehicle, wherein the high adjustable element is configured for being attached at the motor vehicle.

[0007] Therefore, an improved capturing of surroundings of the motor vehicle can be realized.

[0008] Therefore, the sensing device allows data acquisition, seeing past motor vehicles immediately in front of for example a driver of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, perspectives of a so-called autopilot system may be surpassed. The sensing device may contribute to traffic reports and may further complement dash cam video for insurance purposes in the commercial and private vehicles. Furthermore, the sensing device may assist in the driver's education instructions.

[0009] In particular, the sensing device may be a so-called extendable vision system (EVS) and may be for example a camera or another sensor, for example a radar sensor, a lidar sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, mounted on an extendable pole, which may be regarded as the high adjustable element. The pole may be retractable inside of the motor vehicle so as to prevent theft or vandalism. Furthermore, the maximum height of extension may consider road factors such as power / telephone utility lines, traffic lights, bridges, pedestrian overpasses, overhead road signs, security gates, tunnels, overhead structures such as fuel station canopies, and toll booths. The retractable feature may also allow for vehicle maneuvering and park instructions, home garages, areas with low clearance trees or other landscaping, in fast food drive-through lanes. The sensing device may also have some left, center, right adjustment to deal with terrain such road curvature or specific traffic conditions. The motion adjustment range may be limited to the vehicle's body width so as to prevent contact with vehicles in other lanes. The sensing device may be periodically switched to ground level in order to prevent the driver completely loosing ground level perspective. In particular, the sensing device may be configured to be comparable with a drone eye angle on traffic.

[0010] According to an embodiment the high adjustable element is a telescopic element.

[0011] In another embodiment the sensing element is a camera.

[0012] In another embodiment the sensing device is retractable into a storage space of the motor vehicle.

[0013] According to another embodiment the sensing element is attached movable at the high adjustable element.

[0014] According to another embodiment the height of the high adjustable element is adapted depending on the current surroundings of the motor vehicle.

[0015] Another aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least the sensing device according to the preceding aspect.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments of the sensing device may to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the motor vehicle.

[0017] In particular, if a hazard may occur, the sensing device is configured for generating a warning signal for an occupant in the motor vehicle.

[0018] The sensing device may comprise a computing unit / electronic computing device. The computing unit may in particular be understood as a data processing device, which comprises processing circuitry. The computing unit can therefore in particular process data to perform computing operations. This may also include operations to perform indexed accesses to a data structure, for example a look-up table, LUT.

[0019] In particular, the computing unit may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and / or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The computing unit may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and / or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The computing unit may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or other of said units.

[0020] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0021] A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM.

[0022] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figure and / or shown in the figure alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0023] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and / or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0024] Therefore, the only Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view according to an embodiment of a motor vehicle comprising an embodiment of a sensing device.

[0025] In the figure the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0027] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0028] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises” or “comprise” does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0029] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view according to an embodiment of a motor vehicle 10. The motor vehicle 10 comprises at least a sensing device 12. The sensing device 12 is configured for capturing surroundings 14 of the motor vehicle 10. The sensing device 12 may comprise at least one sensing element 16, which may be in particular a camera. Alternatively, the sensing element 16 may be a radar sensing element, a lidar sensing element or an ultrasonic sensing element.

[0031] According to the shown embodiment, the sensing element 12 is attached to a high adjustable element 18 relative to the motor vehicle 10, wherein the high adjustable element 18 is configured for being attached at the motor vehicle 10.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 1, the high adjustable element 18 may be a telescopic element. Furthermore, as already mentioned, the sensing element 16 may be a camera.

[0033] In another embodiment, the sensing device 12 is retractable into a storage space 20 of the motor vehicle 10.

[0034] Furthermore, it is shown, that the sensing element 16 is attached movable at the high adjustable element 18. Furthermore, also the high adjustable element 18 may be movable relative to the motor vehicle 10.

[0035] Furthermore, the maximum height 22 of the high adjustable element 18 is adapted depending on the current surroundings 14 of the motor vehicle 10.

[0036] In particular, Fig. 1 shows an extendable vision system, which may be the sensing device 12, which may be either a camera or a sensor mounted on the extendable pole, which is the high adjustable element 18. The pole may be retractable inside of the motor vehicle 10 so as to prevent theft or vandalism. The maximum height 22 of the extension may consider road factors such as power / telephone utility lines, traffic lights, bridges, pedestrian overpasses, overhead road signs, security gates, tunnels, overhead structures such as fuel station canopies, and toll booths. The retractable feature may also allow for vehicle maneuvering and park instructors, home garages, areas with low clearance trees or other landscaping, and fast food drive-through lanes. The sensing device 12 may also have some left, center, right adjustment to deal with terrain such as road curvature or specific traffic conditions. The motion adjustment range may be limited to the vehicle's body width so as to prevent contact with vehicles in other lanes. The video camera may periodically switch to ground level in order to prevent a driver completely losing ground level perspective. Reference signs 10 Motor vehicle 12 Sensing device 14 Surroundings 16 Sensing element 18 High adjustable element 20 Storage space 22 height

Claims

1. A sensing device (12) for capturing surroundings (14) of a motor vehicle (10), comprising at least one sensing element (16), characterized in thatthe sensing element (16) is attached to a high adjustable element (18) relative to the motor vehicle (10), wherein the high adjustable element (18) is configured for being attached at the motor vehicle (10).

2. The sensing device (12) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe high adjustable element (18) is a telescopic element.

3. The sensing device (12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe sensing element (16) is a camera.

4. The sensing device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe sensing device (12) is retractable into a storage space (20) of the motor vehicle (10).

5. The sensing device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in thatthe sensing element (16) is attached movable at the high adjustable element (18).

6. The sensing device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in thatthe height (22) of the high adjustable element (18) is adapted depending on the current surroundings (14) of the motor vehicle (10).

7. The sensing device (12) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in thatthe sensing device (12) is configured for generating a warning message for an occupant of the motor vehicle (10), if the sensing device (12) captures a potential hazard.

8. A motor vehicle (10) comprising at least the sensing device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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