A method for operating a height limitation-monitoring device of a vehicle, a computer program product, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a height limitation-monitoring device (10) of a vehicle (12), comprising the steps of: determining by a navigation device (14) of the height limitation-monitoring device, a current geographical position of the vehicle; retrieving by the height limitation-monitoring device a recorded height limitation value for a predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle from a height limitation map (16); and outputting by the height limitation monitoring device a warning signal if the recorded height limitation value meets a predefined warning condition with respect to a vehicle height value of the vehicle, stored in the height limitation-monitoring device.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for operating a height limitation-monitoring device of a vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as to a corresponding height limitation-monitoring device. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] Many parking garages especially in high density metro areas are built with low ceilings. There are other low hanging structures as well, like small tunnels or bridges. Some vehicles are too high to fit underneath those structures. There is a risk of a driver attempting to drive under these structures and colliding. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding height limitation-monitoring device, by which a risk of a collision of a vehicle with a structure may be decreased.

[0004] This object is solved by a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding height limitation-monitoring device according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for operating a height limitation-monitoring device of a vehicle. The method comprises a step of determining, by a navigation device of the height limitation-monitoring device, a current geographical position of the vehicle. The method comprises a step of retrieving, by the height limitationmonitoring device, a recorded height limitation value for a predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle from a height limitation map. The method comprises a step of outputting, by the height limitation-monitoring device, a warning signal if the recorded height limitation value meets a predefined warning condition with respect to a vehicle height value of the vehicle, stored in the height limitation-monitoring device.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides a solution for warning a driver if the recorded height limitation in the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle meets the predefined warning condition with respect to the vehicle height value of the vehicle.

[0007] According to an embodiment, the method comprises the step of determining, by a height limit sign detection device of the height limitation-monitoring device, an indicated height limitation value for the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle, based on a height limitation sign, detected by the height limit sign detection device.

[0008] According to the embodiment, the method comprises the step of outputting, by the height limitation-monitoring device, the warning signal if the indicated height limitation value meets the predefined warning condition with respect to the vehicle height value of the vehicle.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the method comprises the step of storing, by the height limitation-monitoring device, the indicated height limitation value for the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle in the height limitation map.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the method comprises the step of determining, by an environment sensor device of the height limitation-monitoring device, a sensed height limitation value of a structure in the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the method comprises the step of outputting, by the height limitation-monitoring device, the warning signal if the sensed height limitation value meets the predefined warning condition with respect to the vehicle height value of the vehicle.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the method comprises the step of storing, by the height limitation-monitoring device, the sensed height limitation value for the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle in the height limitation map.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the method comprises the step of synchronizing the height limitation map with a central height limitation map of a server external to the vehicle.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the method comprises the step of sending the warning signal to an instrument cluster of the vehicle to initiate an output of an acoustic signal and / or a visual signal and / or a haptic signal by the instrument cluster.

[0015] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to the preceding aspect.

[0016] A still further aspect of the present invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to the preceding aspect.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a height limitation-monitoring device, wherein the height limitation-monitoring device is configured for performing a method according to the first aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the height limitation-monitoring device.

[0018] Advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the computer program product, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as the height limitation-monitoring device. Therefore, the system comprises means for performing the method.

[0019] A computing unit / electronic computing device 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] In various embodiments, the computing unit may include one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0022] 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.

[0023] Further advantages, features, and details of the present invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. 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 figures and / or shown in the figures 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 DRAWINGS

[0024] The novel features and characteristic of the present 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. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of the height limitation-monitoring device 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.

[0025] The drawings show in:

[0026] Fig. 1 a flow chart of a method for operating a height limitation-monitoring device of a vehicle; and

[0027] Fig. 2 a schematic diagram of a height limitation-monitoring device of a vehicle.

[0028] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] 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.

[0030] While the present 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the present 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.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows in a flow chart a method for operating a height limitation-monitoring device 10 of a vehicle 12 shown in Fig. 2. The steps for the height limit sign assist functionality may be implemented by the height limitation-monitoring device 10 or another comparable device.

[0034] In a step S1, a vehicle 12 comprising the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may approach a structure. The structure may have a height limitation.

[0035] In a second step S2, a navigation device 14 (as shown in Fig. 2) of the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may determine a current geographical position of the vehicle 12.

[0036] In a step S3 the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may request a recorded height limitation value for the current geographical position of the vehicle 12 from a height limitation map 16 (as shown in Fig. 2).

[0037] If the recorded height limitation value for the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle 12 is provided by the height limitation map 16, which may be a GPS history map, the method may proceed to a step S4 in which the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may determine whether the recorded height limitation value satisfies a predefined warning condition with respect to a vehicle height value of the vehicle 12 stored in the height limitation-monitoring device 10. For example, the predefined warning condition may include the recorded height limitation value being less than the vehicle height value plus a predefined buffer value. A buffer value may be added to the recorded height limitation value.

[0038] If the predefined warning condition is met, the method may proceed with a step S5, wherein the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may output a warning signal to an instrument cluster 28 (as shown in Fig. 2) of the vehicle 12 to warn a driver of the vehicle 12. Otherwise, the method will continue with a step S7 if the predefined warning condition is not met.

[0039] In a step S6, after step S5, the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may store the current geographical position of the vehicle 12 to the height limitation map 16 and central height limitation map 24 shown in Fig. 2.

[0040] Alternatively, if the recorded height limitation value is not provided by the height limitation map 16, the method may also proceed to step S7, wherein the height limitationmonitoring device 10 may detect the presence of a height limit sign 38. If the indicated height limitation value for the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle 12 is present and may be detected by the height limit sign detection device 22 (as shown in Fig. 2), the method may proceed with a step S8, wherein the height limit sign detection device 22 provides the indicated height limitation value to the height limitation-monitoring device 10. The height limitation-monitoring device 10 may request the height limit from the height limit sign detection device 22 to determine the indicated height limit for the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle 12 from the height limit sign 38 in a step S8.

[0041] In a step S9, the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may determine whether the indicated height limitation value meets the predefined warning condition with respect to the vehicle height value of the vehicle 12 stored in the height limitation-monitoring device 10. For example, the predefined warning condition may include the indicated height limitation value being less than the vehicle height value plus a predefined buffer value. A buffer value may be added to the indicated height limitation value.

[0042] If the predefined warning condition is met, the method may proceed with a step S10, wherein the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may output the warning signal to the instrument cluster 28 of the vehicle 12 to warn a driver of the vehicle 12. Otherwise, if the predefined warning condition is not met, the method may continue with a step S12 wherein no further steps may be taken until the vehicle 12 approaches another structure.

[0043] In a step S11, after step S10, the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may store the current geographical position of the vehicle 12 and the indicated height limitation value to the height limitation map 16 and central height limitation map 24.

[0044] If the height limit sign detection device 22 does not provide the indicated height restriction value, the method may proceed to a step S13, wherein the height limitationmonitoring device 10 may request whether a sensed height limitation value of the structure is provided by an environment sensor device 26 of the height limitationmonitoring device 10. For example, if the indicated height limitation value for the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle 12 is not present and may not be detected by the height limit sign detection device 22 based on a height limit sign 38, the method may proceed with a step S13.

[0045] At step S13, a sensor device 26 and / or sensor fusion electronic control unit 34 as shown in Fig. 2 may determine a sensed height limitation value based on data from sensor device 26, and other sensors such as camera 20, Radar 30, and / or Lidar 32 as shown in Fig. 2. The data from sensor device 26, camera 20, Radar 30, and / or Lidar 32, may be fused by a sensor fusion electronic control unit 34 as shown in Fig. 2 and used to measure the height of the structure and to determine the sensed height limitation value.

[0046] If the sensed height limitation value for the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle 12 is provided by the sensor device 26 and / or another comparable device such as from camera 20, height limit sign detection device 22, Radar 30, or Lidar 32, the method may proceed to a step S14 in which the height limitationmonitoring device 10 may determine whether the sensed height limitation value satisfies the predefined warning condition with respect to the vehicle height value of the vehicle 12 stored in the height limitation-monitoring device 10. For example, the predefined warning condition may include the sensed height limitation value being less than the vehicle height value plus a predefined buffer value. A buffer value may be added to the sensed height limitation value.

[0047] If the predefined warning condition is met, the method may proceed with a step S15, wherein the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may output the warning signal to the instrument cluster 28 of the vehicle 12 to warn a driver of the vehicle 12.

[0048] In a step S16, the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may store the current geographical position of the vehicle 12 and the sensed height limitation value to the height limitation map 16 and central height limitation map 24.

[0049] Otherwise, if the predefined warning condition is not met, the method may proceed with a step S17 wherein no further steps may be taken until the vehicle 12 approaches another structure.

[0050] Fig. 2 shows in a schematic diagram a height limitation-monitoring device 10 of a vehicle 12. [0051 ] The height limitation-monitoring device 10 of the vehicle 12 may comprise a sensor device 26 and a height limit sign detection device 22. The height limit sign detection device 22 may include a vehicle front facing stereo or mono multi-purpose camera 20 that may detect the height limit of a height limit sign 38 such as a sign at the entrance to a parking garage.

[0052] The sensor device 26 and / or the height limit sign detection device 22 may include a camera 20 configured to detect a height limit sign 38 mounted on the structure and / or to detect the height of the structure. All available sensor modalities such as a radar 30, a lidar 32, the camera 20, and / or other sensors, may provide their respective data, images, and frames to a sensor fusion electronic control unit 34 to detect the structure and the height of the structure. The sensor fusion electronic control unit 34 may receive data from sensor device 26, camera 20, height limit sign detection device 22, Radar 30, and / or Lidar 32 and may fuse the data to determine the indicated height limitation value or the sensed height limitation value of the structure. In some embodiments, the functionality of the sensor fusion electronic control unit 34 may be implemented on a control unit 36 of the height limitation-monitoring device 10 or another electronic control unit.

[0053] The control unit 36 of the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may request the height limit sign detection device 22 to extract features of the height limit sign 38, like an indicated height limitation value on the sign and / or a confidence of existence of the height limit sign 38. The control unit 36 of the height limitation-monitoring device 10 may initiate the method steps to determine if a warning is needed, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0054] The height limitation-monitoring device 10 may include a navigation device 14, which may be a GPS navigation system, configured to provide a current location of the vehicle 12.

[0055] The height limitation-monitoring device 10 may transmit and receive data such as a height limit from a server 18 external to the vehicle 12. The server 18 may include a central height limitation map 24, which may be synchronized with the height limitation map 16 of the vehicles 12.

[0056] The server 18 may be configured as a GPS critical height limitation history map backend. The server 18 may include the central height limitation map 24 as a history map stored in the cloud and may provide data such as the recorded height limitation value to the control unit 36.

[0057] The instrument cluster 28 may provide a visual and / or audible warning to the driver of the vehicle 12 if one of the height limitation values in the environment of the current geographic location of the vehicle 12 is lower than the vehicle height value.

[0058] A height limitation assist system is provided that may redundantly detect and continuously monitor if the vehicle height is close to the structure height and to warn the driver, if necessary. A height value of a structure may be a determined based on the method steps shown in Fig. 1.

[0059] As soon as the vehicle 12 encounters a critical height location, the vehicle 12 sends the location information to the height limitation map 16 and / or the central height limitation map 24. The maps 16, 24 may store critical height locations over time and transmit data to one or more vehicles 12 connected to the height limitation assist system. Reference signs 10 height limitation-monitoring device 12 vehicle 14 navigation device 16 height limitation map 18 server 20 camera 22 height limit sign detection device 24 central height limitation map 26 sensor device 28 instrument cluster 30 Radar 32 Lidar 34 sensor fusion electronic control unit 36 control unit 38 height limit sign S1 toS17 steps

Claims

1. A method for operating a height limitation-monitoring device (10) of a vehicle (12), comprising the steps of:- determining, by a navigation device (14) of the height limitation-monitoring device (10), a current geographical position of the vehicle (12);- retrieving by the height limitation-monitoring device (10) a recorded height limitation value for a predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle (12) from a height limitation map (16); and- outputting, by the height limitation-monitoring device (10) a warning signal if the recorded height limitation value meets a predefined warning condition with respect to a vehicle height value of the vehicle (12), stored in the height limitation-monitoring device (10).

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:- determining, by a height limit sign detection device (22) of the height limitationmonitoring device (10), an indicated height limitation value for the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle (12) based on a height limitation sign (38), detected by the height limit sign detection device (22);- outputting, by the height limitation-monitoring device (10), the warning signal if the indicated height limitation value meets the predefined warning condition with respect to the vehicle (12) height value of the vehicle (12).

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising the step of:- storing, by the height limitation-monitoring device (10), the indicated height limitation value for the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle (12) based in the height limitation map (16).

4. The method according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, comprising the steps of:- determining, by a sensor device (26) of the height limitation-monitoring device (10), a sensed height limitation value of a structure in the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle (12); and- outputting by the height limitation-monitoring device (10) the warning signal if the sensed height limitation value meets the predefined warning condition with respect to the vehicle height value of the vehicle (12).

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising the step of:- storing, by the height limitation-monitoring device (10), the sensed height limitation value for the predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle (12) in the height limitation map (16).

6. The method according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, comprising the step of:- synchronizing the height limitation map (16) with a central height limitation map (24) of a server (18) external to the vehicle (12)7. The method according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, comprising the step of:- sending the warning signal to an instrument cluster (28) of the vehicle (12) to initiate an output of an acoustic signal and / or a visual signal and / or a haptic signal by the instrument cluster (28).

8. A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to claim 8.

10. A height limitation-monitoring device (10) of a vehicle (12), characterized in that- the height limitation-monitoring device (10) comprises a navigation device (14), configured to determine a current geographical position of the vehicle (12);- the height limitation-monitoring device (10) is configured to retrieve a recorded height limitation value for a predefined environment of the current geographical position of the vehicle (12) from a height limitation map (16); and- the height limitation-monitoring device (10) is configured to output a warning signal if the recorded height limitation value meets a predefined warning condition with respect to a vehicle (12) height value of the vehicle (12), stored in the height limitation-monitoring device (10).15

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