Warning device, corresponding method and computer program product for a single-track vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a warning device (100) having means (102) for detecting a speed limit. Furthermore, the warning device (100) has a test device (104) which is configured to carry out a first test on the basis of an instantaneous acceleration and an instantaneous speed of the vehicle to determine whether the instantaneous acceleration is suitable for changing a vehicle speed, within a predetermined time period and / or a predetermined distance travelled, to a value which lies in a speed range based on the detected speed limit. The warning device (100) also comprises a warning means (106) which is configured to output a first warning message if the first test by the test device (104) shows that the instantaneous acceleration is not suitable.

Description

Warning device and corresponding method and computer program product for a single-track vehicle FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0001] The invention relates to a warning device, a warning method and a computer program product for a single-track vehicle. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Compliance with speed limits is essential for the safety of drivers of single-track vehicles, especially motorized single-track vehicles such as mopeds, scooters, motorcycles, and e-bikes. Drivers must comply with speed limits, which may vary depending on the road type, environment (urban or rural), and country-specific traffic regulations, to ensure road safety and minimize danger to themselves and other road users. Reliable information for drivers regarding exceeding a speed limit is therefore crucial for the safety of all road users.

[0003] In addition, unlike multi-track vehicles, single-track vehicles generally cannot be equipped with automatic cruise control, as single-track vehicles are inherently less stable than multi-track vehicles, such as cars or trucks. Sudden braking or acceleration triggered by the automatic cruise control can affect the balance of the single-track vehicle, which can be dangerous, especially in curves or poor road conditions.

[0004] Devices and methods for warning the driver of single-lane vehicles when a speed limit is exceeded are known in the art.

[0005] DE 10 2007 034 505 A1, for example, discloses a method and device for traffic sign recognition that can be integrated into a motorcycle. The device is equipped with a display and warning unit that can emit a visual and / or acoustic warning signal when the maximum permitted speed is exceeded and / or a minimum speed is undershot.

[0006] However, issuing a warning signal when exceeding the maximum permissible speed and / or falling below a minimum speed has the disadvantage that at the time the warning the corresponding speed limit has already been exceeded and thus the safety of the driver and other road users is already at risk.

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved warning device with a corresponding warning method and computer program product. The objects underlying the invention are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the subject matter of the independent claims are characterized in the subclaims. SUMMARY

[0008] In one aspect, a warning device for a single-track vehicle is disclosed, which has means for detecting a speed limit. Furthermore, the warning device has a testing device configured to perform a first test based on an instantaneous acceleration and an instantaneous speed of the vehicle to determine whether the instantaneous acceleration is suitable for changing a vehicle speed within a predetermined period of time and / or a predetermined distance traveled to a value that lies within a speed interval based on the speed limit. The warning device further comprises a warning means configured to output a first warning message if the first test by the testing device reveals that the instantaneous acceleration is unsuitable.

[0009] Such a warning device could have the advantage of reliably warning the driver of a possible speed limit violation during acceleration or braking. For the purposes of this application, exceeding a speed limit refers to both exceeding a specified maximum speed and falling below a specified minimum speed. The maximum or minimum speed could be a legally prescribed maximum speed or a legally prescribed or recommended minimum speed. The permissible maximum or minimum speed could also be a speed defined by the driver.For the purposes of this application, acceleration or acceleration is understood to mean both an increase in speed (positive acceleration), for example by increasing engine power or by driving downhill, and a decrease in speed (negative acceleration), for example by reducing engine power, braking or driving uphill.

[0010] Based on a warning message issued by the warning device, the driver could adjust acceleration to avoid exceeding the speed limit altogether. This could prevent the safety of the driver or other road users from being endangered. The risk of injury to the driver caused by excessively high or too low speed is reduced. The certainty that the warning device is helping the driver comply with the speed limit also allows the driver to concentrate more on other aspects of driving. The first test could be performed repeatedly at a frequency that can be adjusted so that the number of warning messages issued is as small as possible while still maintaining sufficiently high warning sensitivity. By taking into account the instantaneous speed and acceleration, and the dependence of the test result on a predetermined period of time or a predetermined distance, the first test could, for example, be adjusted so that the warning message is only issued in situations that endanger the safety of road users.In this way, the total number of warning messages could be reduced while maintaining road safety, thus reducing driver distraction and allowing the driver to concentrate better on the road.

[0011] The speed interval is formed by an upper and / or a lower limit, whereby the limits could belong to the interval, in this case it would be a closed interval. The upper limit could be a legally permitted maximum speed and the lower limit a legally prescribed minimum speed. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable for the driver to set both limits or a single limit. If one of the two limits is not specified by law or by the driver, the speed interval is only a unilaterally limited interval. It is also conceivable to assign definable tolerances to one or both limits of the speed interval in order to further reduce the total number of warning messages.Furthermore, since the warning message is no longer issued once the acceleration has been adjusted accordingly, which can be quickly achieved, for example, by applying the brakes or reducing or increasing engine power, the driver receives immediate feedback as to whether their adjustment is sufficient to avoid exceeding the speed limit. This could further reduce driver distraction, allowing them to focus more fully on the road ahead.

[0012] According to one example, the detection of the speed limit also includes detecting the start of the speed limit relative to a position of the vehicle. For example, it could be determined whether the start of the speed limit lies behind the position of the vehicle in the direction of travel, i.e. whether the vehicle is in a section of road in which the detected speed limit applies, or whether the start of the detected speed limit lies ahead of the position of the vehicle in the direction of travel and thus the section of road in which the detected speed limit applies is only reached when the vehicle continues driving without changing its direction of travel. In the first case, the distance between the position of the vehicle and the start of the currently applicable speed limit, the predetermined period of time or the predetermined distance could, for example, be adjusted so that the warning message is issued even earlier in situations that are particularly critical for road safety. The distance between the position of the vehicle and the start of the speed limit could correspond to the distance actually traveled by the vehicle since reaching the start of the speed limit. This means that on a bend-free section of road the distance could correspond to the straight line between the vehicle and the start of the section of road, whereas on a bend-containing section of road the distance could be longer than this straight line. It is also possible that the straight line is always used as the distance.

[0013] According to one example of this, the testing device is further configured, in the event that the start of the speed limit lies behind the position of the vehicle in the direction of travel, to carry out a second check to determine whether the instantaneous speed lies within the speed interval, wherein the warning means is further configured to issue a second warning message if the second check shows that the instantaneous speed is not within the speed interval, wherein optionally the second warning message is not issued if the first check shows that the instantaneous acceleration is suitable for changing the vehicle speed to a value that lies within the speed interval within a predetermined period of time and / or a predetermined distance traveled.In this way, the driver could be warned even more urgently by the second warning message when they are not only about to breach a speed limit, but have actually already exceeded it. The second warning message could thus reliably increase the driver's awareness of the speed limit being breached, thereby prompting them to adjust their acceleration even more. If, in addition, the second warning message is no longer issued the moment the acceleration has been changed to a suitable value, i.e. depending on the first check, and not, as with existing warning systems, only when the current speed is within the permitted speed limit, driver distraction could be reduced, allowing the driver to focus their full attention on the road again.If, however, the second warning message is not dependent on the outcome of the first test, the severity of the warning could be increased if a speed limit is actually exceeded. For example, the driver could choose one of the two aforementioned warning configurations.

[0014] According to a further example, the testing device and / or the warning means is further configured to carry out the first test and / or to issue the first warning message only if the start of the speed limit in the direction of travel is before the position of the vehicle to be output if a distance between the position of the vehicle and the start of the speed limit is less than a predetermined distance value and / or a time period that would be required to cover a distance corresponding to the distance at the current speed is less than a predetermined time period value.

[0015] This could allow the driver to be warned as soon as they approach the start of a speed limit and their current acceleration would cause them to immediately exceed the speed limit upon reaching the section of road where the speed limit applies. If the warning is only issued when a distance or duration value is exceeded, this could prevent the driver from being warned unnecessarily early, which would in turn distract the driver from the traffic for an unnecessarily long time.

[0016] For example, if the test device is configured to select the distance value and the duration value depending on the instantaneous speed, in particular based on thresholds based on a pre-braking time or the driver's reaction time, the point in time at which a warning message is issued before reaching a speed limit in the direction of travel could be even better adapted to the respective situation. For example, a corresponding point in time could be selected significantly earlier at a high instantaneous speed, for example, 200 km / h, than at an instantaneous speed of 50 km / h, since at a high speed, the driver has less time to adjust their acceleration for a given distance.If the distance and duration values ​​are selected depending on the driver's pre-braking time or reaction time, the point at which the warning is triggered could be based on particularly practical assumptions, since, for a given current speed, the pre-braking time can be used to determine an average distance within which the driver could still safely reduce their speed. The same applies to a conceivable consideration of the reaction time at a given current speed, since, when increasing / decreasing engine power, an average distance can be determined within which the driver could still safely adjust their speed.

[0017] According to a further example, the testing device could be configured to select the distance and / or the time period depending on the instantaneous speed and the speed limit and / or, in the event that the start of the speed limit is in front of the position of the vehicle in the direction of travel, to select the distance value and / or the time duration value depending on the instantaneous speed and the speed limit, in particular based on one of the following criteria: Difference between current speed and speed limit, squared difference between instantaneous speed and speed limit, exponential difference between instantaneous speed and speed limit, one of the above values ​​taking into account the instantaneous speed twice, whereby the consideration is carried out in particular by forming the product or the quotient of one of the above values ​​and the instantaneous speed. The squared difference is (instantaneous speed - speed limit) 2 and the exponential difference is e( Momentan 8 eschwindi 8 |<eit ■Speed8| <eits|irriit)

[0018] In this way, the parameters distance, time period, distance value, and time duration value could be adapted to the situation. By simultaneously taking into account the current speed and speed limit, the point in time at which the driver is warned can be selected particularly appropriately, thus reducing the number of potentially unnecessary warnings. For example, if there is a large difference between the current speed and the speed limit, the distance and time period are selected to be correspondingly short, requiring the driver to adjust their acceleration more than would be the case with only a small difference between the current speed and the speed limit. An adjustment could be made, for example, by reducing / increasing engine power or initiating / ending braking, or reducing / increasing the intensity of the braking.

[0019] In addition, the current speed could be taken into account twice, making situational adaptation particularly effective. At higher speeds, with an otherwise identical difference between the current speed and the speed limit, the distance traveled is longer and the warning is issued earlier than at lower speeds. This would give the driver more time to adjust their acceleration, which would contribute to road safety, especially in cases of high current speed.

[0020] Likewise, if, for example, the start of the speed limit is ahead of the vehicle's position in the direction of travel, the distance value and / or the duration value could be selected according to the same criteria, resulting in similar advantages. The distance value or duration value could also be adapted more precisely to the situation in this way, allowing the driver, for example, to be warned at a greater distance from the start of the speed limit when driving at a high current speed, thus giving them more time to adjust their acceleration.

[0021] According to a further example, the distance and / or the period and / or the distance value and / or the duration value could be selected using a lookup table containing different combinations of the criteria and associated distances and / or time periods and / or distance values ​​and / or duration values. This enables particularly fast and resource-efficient checks. For example, the lookup table could be used to quickly determine which stored value the specific criterion comes closest to or which value it exceeds, and the parameter(s) assigned to this value could be queried. Alternatively or additionally, fixed values ​​that are independent of the speed could be defined as distance and / or duration values. For example, a distance value of 150 m and / or a duration value of 5 s could be specified, so that a warning message is only issued when the vehicle would have to cover less than 150 m or travel at the current speed for less than 5 s to reach the start of the speed limit. By defining fixed distance or duration values, the speed limit can be increased or decreased accordingly.On the one hand, duration values ​​could ensure that the driver has sufficient time to adjust their acceleration accordingly, regardless of the current speed. On the other hand, they could ensure that a warning is not issued too early, i.e., too far in advance of the start of the speed limit, so as not to unnecessarily distract the driver.

[0022] According to another example, the speed interval is a one-sided open interval limited exclusively by an upper limit if one of the following conditions is met: • the upper limit of the speed interval is < a first speed threshold, in particular < 20 km / h, • the instantaneous speed of the vehicle is < a second speed threshold, in particular < 10 km / h, • the maximum speed of the vehicle is below the upper limit of the speed interval.

[0023] In this way, a warning message is not issued if the minimum speed is imminently exceeded, but only when acceleration is so high that the maximum speed is exceeded within the predetermined distance and one of the aforementioned conditions is met. For example, if the driver is on a section of road where a maximum speed of 20 km / h is permitted, i.e. the upper limit of the speed interval is < 20 km / h, warning the driver if acceleration or speed is too low would be unnecessary. In such a traffic situation, danger from driving too slowly is practically impossible, and the driver would be unnecessarily distracted from the road by unnecessary warning messages.

[0024] Likewise, the exclusive warning of a possible exceedance of the permitted maximum speed could increase road safety if the current speed of the The vehicle's speed is < a second speed threshold, in particular < 10 km / h. In such a situation, for example, when parking, maneuvering, or in slow-moving traffic, a warning about a possible undershoot of the minimum speed would also unnecessarily distract the driver.

[0025] If the vehicle's maximum speed is below the permitted speed limit, as could be the case with scooters, for example, which are limited to 45 km / h in certain countries, issuing a warning message when the minimum speed is imminent would be counterproductive for road safety on sections of road where the permitted speed limit is higher than the vehicle's maximum speed, as these warnings would also unnecessarily distract the driver from the traffic. Furthermore, if the vehicle were in such a section of road, the driver would be repeatedly or continuously warned, which would be particularly detrimental to the driver's concentration.

[0026] According to another example, the single-track vehicle is a moped, scooter, motorcycle, or e-bike. Reliable notification of the driver of one of the aforementioned vehicles regarding exceeding a speed limit using a warning device according to the invention is particularly easy in this case, since these vehicles are generally already equipped with a sufficient power supply and / or on-board electronics that can, for example, provide the current speed and acceleration to operate such a warning device.

[0027] According to a further example, the means for detecting a speed limit comprise a camera device, wherein traffic signs are identified and evaluated based on the images captured by the camera device in order to thus detect a speed limit and its start relative to the position of the vehicle and / or a satellite-based navigation system which, in conjunction with map data, detects the speed limit and its start relative to the position of the vehicle. If the identification and evaluation of traffic signs is carried out based on camera images, temporary speed limits and their start could in particular be reliably detected. Such temporary speed limits and their start are indicated, for example, by temporarily installed traffic signs, e.g., in front of or in construction sites, or by so-called variable message signs.If the speed limit and its start are detected by a satellite-based navigation system in conjunction with map data, detection could be reliably ensured even when visual contact between the vehicle and a traffic sign indicating the start of a speed limit is limited. Visual contact may be limited, for example, in weather conditions that result in poor visibility or when the speed limit begins behind a curve or crest.

[0028] According to one example, the camera device and / or the satellite-based navigation system are mounted on the single-track vehicle. This allows the camera and / or the satellite-based navigation system to be integrated particularly easily and reliably into the vehicle's electronic system. In particular, the camera and / or the satellite-based navigation system could be coupled to the vehicle's electronic system via an existing bus system, thus making the data captured by the camera and / or the navigation system available, for example, to a computing unit for recording the speed limit and, optionally, the start of the speed limit.If the camera device is mounted on the single-track vehicle, the camera's orientation could also be optimized for traffic sign detection, as a correct and consistent orientation of the camera's field of view has a positive effect on the quality of traffic sign recognition. The camera device and navigation system could also be supplied with power more reliably when mounted on the vehicle.

[0029] According to a further example, the testing device is an electronic processing unit, in particular an electronic control unit. This would allow the testing device to be integrated particularly easily and reliably into an existing electronic system of the vehicle, and the tests to be carried out particularly efficiently, since a corresponding electronic processing unit of a vehicle can be used for this purpose and generally has a microcontroller or processor, a memory, and a communications module via which it can be coupled to other vehicle systems. To carry out the test, the testing device could, for example, receive data from the means for detecting a speed limit or data from dedicated speed or acceleration sensors via the communications module and execute the machine-readable instructions stored in the memory on the microcontroller or processor.Depending on the result of the test, a corresponding command could then be sent to the warning device via the communication module.

[0030] According to another example, the warning device is one of a group consisting of a light source, warning light, display or similar device, loudspeaker, haptic feedback system, or combinations thereof. This allows the type of warning message to be individually adapted to the respective vehicle.

[0031] According to a further example, if the test is negative, the first test also includes determining the difference between the speed reached at the end of the predetermined distance / period of time with constant acceleration and the exceeded or undershot limit of the speed interval, wherein the warning means is configured to issue the first warning message in a selectable manner and / or with a selectable intensity and the type or intensity of the warning message is selected depending on the determined difference. This would allow the intensity and / or type of warning to be adapted to the situation, so that, for example, the driver is warned more intensively if there is an imminent significant exceedance of the permitted speed limit than if there is an imminent slight exceedance of the permitted speed limit.

[0032] In another aspect, a method for warning the driver of a single-track vehicle is disclosed, which method includes detecting a speed limit. The method further includes checking, based on an instantaneous acceleration and an instantaneous speed, whether the instantaneous acceleration is suitable for changing a vehicle speed within a predetermined period of time or a predetermined traveled distance to a value that lies within a speed interval based on the speed limit. The method further includes outputting a warning message if the check reveals that the instantaneous acceleration is unsuitable.

[0033] Such a method makes it possible to reliably warn the driver of a possible speed limit violation during acceleration or braking. Furthermore, the features and advantages related to the device can be transferred to the method, so further repetition is unnecessary here.

[0034] In a further aspect, a computer program product is disclosed, in particular a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer program product comprises computer-executable code, wherein the code is executable by at least one processor of a computing device to cause the computing device to perform the method disclosed herein.

[0035] Aspects of the present invention are described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or schematic representations of methods, apparatus, and computer program products according to examples of the invention. It is noted that each block or portions of the blocks of the flowchart illustrations, illustrations, and / or schematic representations may be implemented by computer program instructions, optionally in the form of computer-executable code. It is further noted that combinations of blocks in different flowchart illustrations or schematic representations may be combined if they are not mutually exclusive.These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device to produce a device such that the instructions, executed via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing device, produce means for performing the functions / steps specified in the block or blocks of flowcharts or schematic diagrams.

[0036] It is understood that one or more of the above examples may be combined with each other, as long as the examples are not mutually exclusive. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0037] The following examples are explained in more detail using the drawings. They show:

[0038] Fig. 1 shows a schematic structure of a warning device and

[0039] Fig. 2 is a flowchart of a warning procedure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0040] In the following, elements that are identical or functionally equivalent or that correspond to one another in terms of their functions are identified by the same reference symbols.

[0041] Figure 1 shows a block diagram of an exemplary warning device 100. The warning device serves to enable the driver of a single-track vehicle, such as a moped, scooter, motorcycle, or e-bike, to check whether their current acceleration is suitable for meeting given speed specifications. In the following, it is assumed, without loss of generality, that the single-track vehicle is a motorcycle. In the non-limiting example of Fig. 1, the warning device 100 comprises means 102 for detecting a speed limit, a test device 104, and a warning means 106.

[0042] The test device 104 and the means 102 for detecting a speed limit could be implemented as different units or assemblies that operate independently of one another in terms of signaling. Alternatively, the test device 104 and the means 102 for detecting a speed limit could be integrated into the same assembly or unit. For example, the test device 104 and the means 102 for detecting a speed limit could be realized using analog or digital electronics, in particular in the form of one or more integrated circuits. The test device 104 and the means 102 for detecting a speed limit could also be implemented as software modules executed on a generic or specialized processor or microcontroller, in particular a central processing unit (CPU).Between the testing device 104 and the speed limit detection means 102, one or more communication channels could be implemented, allowing a transmission of signals between the two said elements.

[0043] In particular, the means 102 for detecting a speed limit and the testing device 104 could each be implemented as a separate unit or as part of an electronic processing unit, in particular an electronic control unit (ECU), of the vehicle, wherein such an electronic processing unit or the electronic control unit generally comprises a microcontroller or processor, a memory and a communication module.

[0044] In the non-limiting example of Fig. 1, the means 102 for detecting a speed limit are implemented as an electronic control unit with a camera device and navigation satellite system coupled thereto, although variants with only a camera device or the navigation satellite system are also conceivable. The camera device could be coupled via a bus system, for example, a Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) bus, or a dedicated data line. The navigation satellite system could be coupled to the electronic control unit via the same bus system or, for example, via a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus.

[0045] The means 102 for detecting a speed limit are configured to detect a speed limit. Optionally, they could also be configured to detect the start of the speed limit relative to the position of the vehicle. Both could be implemented by camera-based traffic sign recognition (TSR), whereby traffic signs are identified and evaluated based on the images captured by the camera in order to be able to detect a speed limit. For this purpose, the camera device coupled to the means 102 for detecting a speed limit could be attached to the single-track vehicle, whereby the attachment could be permanent. With a permanent attachment, for example, the attachment location could be chosen more freely and the orientation of the camera could be fixed more easily.The identification and evaluation of the captured traffic signs could be achieved by the computing unit using visual analysis, first extracting characteristic features, such as shapes and color combinations of traffic signs, from the captured images. These extracted features could then be compared with the features of known traffic signs stored in a database contained in the memory.

[0046] The camera images could also be used to determine the start of the speed limit relative to the vehicle's position. Determining the relative position of the start of the speed limit based on the camera images could, for example, be done by visually analyzing the pixel-by-pixel size of a traffic sign indicating the start of the speed limit. For the visual analysis, the size of an object could, for example, be recorded pixel-by-pixel. whose actual dimensions are known, such as road markings, and used as a reference object. Using the reference object, the distance to the traffic sign indicating the start of the speed limit could be determined using trigonometric calculations. A LUT table stored in the memory of the means 102 for detecting a speed limit or in a memory of a central electronic control unit coupled to the means 102 for detecting a speed limit, which contains combinations of the size of standardized traffic signs in pixels and an associated distance of the vehicle from the traffic sign, is also conceivable. The detection of instantaneous speed and acceleration based on camera images could also be achieved, for example, through so-called "feature tracking," i.e., tracking specific features in consecutive images. For example, lines on the road, traffic signs, or features of road boundaries could be used as reference points, and how their position changes from image to image could be continuously recorded. By tracking these features and analyzing their changes in position, instantaneous speed and acceleration can be calculated. Other conceivable alternatives for determining speed and acceleration based on camera images are so-called "optical flow analysis" or the use of multiple cameras. In the latter case, the speed and acceleration can be determined by measuring the parallax and its change over time.

[0047] The detection of a speed limit and its start relative to the vehicle's position could also be based on data from a satellite-based navigation system, such as GPS, GLONASS, or GALILEO, in combination with high-resolution map data stored in memory. For this purpose, the satellite-based navigation system coupled to the speed limit detection means 102 could be mounted on the single-track vehicle, with the mounting being permanent. Satellite-based navigation systems, for example, could have the advantage of being able to provide information about upcoming speed limits before they can be detected by TSR.

[0048] For this reason, a combination of camera-based and satellite-based detection of a speed limit could combine the advantages of a reliable determination of the vehicle position relative to the start of the speed limit through satellite-based positioning and the timeliness and adaptability of camera-based real-time traffic sign recognition. Using images from a camera-based traffic sign recognition system and / or data from a satellite-based navigation system, additional information could be provided in addition to the speed limit, such as the type of road (traffic-calmed area, country road, motorway, etc.), whether the vehicle is located within or outside of a built-up area, or in the case of The camera-based traffic sign recognition can also detect traffic conditions such as weather conditions, road surface pollution, etc., which could be processed by the computing unit of the means 102 for detecting a speed limit or the testing device 104. A combination of camera-based traffic sign recognition and measuring the distance to the detected traffic sign using a radar sensor or a laser is also conceivable.

[0049] The test device 104 could be implemented as a pure software module running on a generic processor, for example, a processor of an electronic control unit. Implementing the test device 104 as a combination of a software module and a dedicated processing unit or a microcontroller in the electronic control unit in conjunction with a dedicated memory is also conceivable. Instead of a dedicated memory, access to the memory of another electronic control unit is also conceivable.

[0050] In the non-limiting example of Fig. 1, the test device 104 is implemented as an electronic control unit, i.e., the test device 104 comprises a microcontroller or a processor, a memory, and a communications module. The machine-readable instructions for performing the test could be stored in the memory and executed by the microcontroller or processor.

[0051] For example, the testing device 104 could receive a speed limit detected by the speed limit detection means 102 via the communication module or separate signal lines between the testing device 104 and the speed limit detection means 102. Optionally, the testing device 104 could receive the start of the speed limit relative to the position of the vehicle in the same way.

[0052] The test device 104 could also receive the instantaneous speed and acceleration of the vehicle from the speed limit detection means 102, which could provide these, for example, based on the camera images or the position determined by a navigation satellite system and its change over time. Alternatively, the test device 104 could be coupled to dedicated speed and / or acceleration sensors mounted on the vehicle, from which the instantaneous speed and / or acceleration of the vehicle is received. In many cases, such sensors are already part of the vehicle electronics and are connected to the vehicle electronics via a bus system, so that the corresponding data could be easily made available to the test device 104.

[0053] The testing device 104 is configured to perform a first check based on the received instantaneous acceleration and the instantaneous speed of the vehicle to determine whether the instantaneous acceleration is suitable for changing the vehicle speed within a predetermined period of time and / or a predetermined distance traveled to a value that lies within a speed interval based on the speed limit. The speed interval could be formed by the permissible maximum speed as the upper limit and the permissible minimum speed as the lower limit.The test could be carried out by means of an algorithm which, based on the values ​​of the instantaneous speed, the instantaneous acceleration and the upper and lower limits of the speed interval, calculates whether, with constant acceleration, the instantaneous speed at the end of the distance travelled lies within the speed interval, whereby the upper and lower limits could optionally be included in the speed interval.

[0054] The permitted maximum or minimum speed could be a legally prescribed maximum speed or a legally prescribed or recommended minimum speed. Alternatively or additionally, the permitted maximum or minimum speed could each be a speed defined by the driver. If there is no legally prescribed maximum speed in the relevant section of road and the driver has not defined a permitted maximum speed, the speed interval could be an open-ended interval with only one lower limit, and the warning device could only issue a warning if there is a risk of the permitted minimum speed being exceeded. The same applies to the speed interval if there is no legally prescribed or recommended minimum speed in the relevant section of road and the driver has not defined a permitted minimum speed.In this case, the speed interval could be an interval that is open at the bottom and has only one upper limit, and the warning device could only issue a warning message if there is a risk of exceeding the maximum permitted speed.

[0055] If neither a maximum or minimum permissible speed has been defined by the driver and there is neither a legally prescribed maximum or minimum speed in the section of road, the warning device could set the issuing of warning messages related to the section of road in which the vehicle is currently located. A speed limit of a section of road following in the direction of travel could then be detected by the warning device and the driver could be warned in case of an imminent exceedance. For example, if the driver defines the maximum permissible speed himself, which serves road safety, for example, when driving with tires that are only approved for a certain maximum speed, the driver could be reliably warned by the warning device 100 before the maximum permissible speed of the tires is exceeded and thus safe driving is no longer guaranteed.

[0056] It is also conceivable to provide both the upper and lower limits of the speed interval with adjustable tolerance limits, which could, for example, be selected by the driver themselves. This would allow the sensitivity of the warning device 100 to be adjusted, thus reducing the total number of warning messages without endangering road safety.

[0057] The first test performed by test device 104 can determine whether the instantaneous acceleration needs to be adjusted to avoid exceeding a speed limit within a distance or a period of time. The distance and period of time could be selected such that the driver does not receive an unnecessary number of warning messages while ensuring road safety. In particular, the distance and period of time could be dynamically adjusted to the situation by taking into account the instantaneous speed and the speed limit. For example, if there is a large difference between the speed limit and the instantaneous speed, the distance is longer and the period of time is shorter. This means that a warning is issued earlier than if the difference is small, giving the driver more time to adjust the acceleration or even initiate braking or increase its intensity.

[0058] The following exemplary Table 1 summarizes various combinations of instantaneous speed and speed limit as well as the criteria resulting from this combination with the associated distance. Table 1

[0059] A reference value for the distance determined based on the difference could be set at 15 m for a difference between the current speed and the speed limit of 5 km / h, as in the example in Table 1 (see Table 1, row 1). The distance determined based on a difference x could be calculated from the quotient of the difference x and the reference value of 5, whereby the quotient could be multiplied by a distance of 15 m.

[0060] A reference value for the distance determined from the squared difference could be used, as in the example Table 1, analogously for a squared difference between the current speed and the speed limit of 25 km 2 / h 2 be set to 15 m (see Table 1, line 1). The distance determined from a squared difference y could be determined analogously from the quotient of the squared difference y and the reference value 25, where the quotient is multiplied by a distance of 15 m. In order to obtain practical values ​​for the distance, this value could, for example, be multiplied by a correction factor such as 0.6. Other correction factors or calculation methods, such as introducing an upper limit for the distance in order to arrive at a practical distance based on a squared difference, are also conceivable.

[0061] A reference value for the distance determined using the exponential difference could, as in the example Table 1, be set analogously for an exponential difference between the instantaneous speed and the speed limit of 148 at 15 m (see Table 1, line 1). The distance determined using an exponential difference z could be determined analogously from the quotient of the exponential difference z and the reference value 148, where the quotient is multiplied by a distance of 15 m. In order to obtain practical values ​​for the distance, this value could, for example, be multiplied by a correction factor, e.g. 2 x 10\, where k is greater the greater the exponential difference. Other correction factors or calculation methods, such as introducing an upper limit for the distance in order to arrive at a practical distance based on a squared difference, are also conceivable.

[0062] Table 1 shows that the squared and exponential differences increase more rapidly with the difference between the current speed and the speed limit than the difference itself, which also increases the distance determined based on these values. This could allow the selected route and the resulting sensitivity of the system to be adjusted even more effectively to meet needs, and the driver could be warned relatively sooner, for example, in the event of larger differences between the current speed and the speed limit.

[0063] The determination of corresponding time periods could, for example, be carried out in an analogous manner; for reasons of better clarity, the additional presentation of the time periods in Table 1 was omitted. The corresponding time periods could, for example, be determined based on the determined distance by multiplying it by the inverse of the corresponding instantaneous speed.

[0064] The determination of distance values ​​or duration values ​​can also be carried out analogously to the determination of the distance, whereby the corresponding reference values ​​and correction values ​​can be adjusted. For the sake of clarity, the additional representation of the distance values ​​and duration values ​​has been omitted in Table 1.

[0065] It is also conceivable that in a case where the instantaneous speed is below the permitted minimum speed, a different distance or a different time period is chosen than in a case where the instantaneous speed is above the permitted maximum speed. The distance or the time period for a speed change of, for example, 20 km / h is generally shorter when reducing speed than the corresponding distance or the corresponding time period when increasing speed, at least when comparing braking with acceleration by increasing engine power. The instantaneous acceleration values ​​achievable during braking are generally higher than during acceleration by increasing engine power.This circumstance can be taken into account by choosing different distances or time periods depending on the sign of the difference, given the same absolute difference between the instantaneous speed and the speed limit.

[0066] The test device 104 could also be configured, in the event that a test is negative, to also determine the difference between the instantaneous speed or the speed reached at the end of the predetermined distance / predetermined period and the exceeded or undershot limit of the speed interval. For example, if the first test shows that, with constant acceleration starting from 90 km / h, the vehicle speed at the end of the distance is 150 km / h and the permissible maximum speed is 100 km / h, the determined difference is 50 km / h. The same applies to an example journey at a speed of 120 km / h with a permissible maximum speed of 70 km / h; here, the difference between the instantaneous speed and the exceeded upper limit of the speed interval is calculated. Based on the difference, it can be determined to what extent the acceleration or the instantaneous speed needs to be adjusted.In such a scenario, a warning message could be issued, the intensity and / or type of which depends on the difference.

[0067] The warning means 106 could be implemented as a light, warning light, display or similar, a loudspeaker, a haptic feedback system, or combinations thereof. In the non-limiting example of Fig. 1, the warning means 106 is implemented as a display that can show various symbols or text, has dedicated warning lights, and extends over a portion of the vehicle's dashboard. In addition, the warning means 106 is also implemented as a loudspeaker in the dashboard and as a haptic feedback system in the vehicle's handlebar. In the non-limiting example of Fig. 1, the warning means 106 is coupled to the test device 104, for example, via a bus system, in particular via a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, and receives the test results from the test device 104. The warning means 106 is configured to output a first warning message in the event of a negative result of a first test, i.e.in the case where the instantaneous acceleration is not suitable for changing the vehicle speed to a value within the permissible speed range within a predetermined period of time and / or a predetermined distance traveled. Visual, acoustic or haptic warning messages and combinations of these are conceivable as warning messages. The visual warning message could, for example, be issued in the form of text, symbols such as the corresponding speed limit traffic signs or general warning symbols such as an exclamation mark or a red triangle on a white background or in the form of warning lights illuminating or combinations thereof. In addition to a permanent visual warning message, pulsating, flashing, flickering or other patterned versions of the visual warning message are also conceivable.

[0068] It is also conceivable for the backlighting of parts of the dashboard (i.e. the "instrument panel" or "cockpit") or of the entire dashboard to pulsate, flash, flicker or illuminate in another pattern to provide a visual warning to the driver. The type and intensity of the optical warning message, i.e. the color, luminosity, frequency and intensity of the illumination, pulsation, flashing, flickering or general illumination pattern, could be selected depending on the difference between the speed reached at the end of the predetermined distance or period of time and the speed limit exceeded or undershot. For example, a warning symbol could illuminate yellow for a difference between 5 and 10 km / h, orange for a difference between 10 and 20 km / h and red for a difference between 20 and 25 km / h, while the warning symbol flickers red for a difference > 25 km / h.For example, a larger number of warning lights could be switched on as the difference increases, or the lighting pattern could be changed as the difference increases.

[0069] An acoustic warning message could, for example, be issued in the form of a warning tone or a spoken warning text in a customizable language via a loudspeaker. The intensity of an acoustic warning could be selected analogously to that of the visual warnings. An acoustic warning could, for example, be emitted through speakers mounted on the vehicle. It is also conceivable to transmit acoustic warnings directly to the driver's headphones or helmet, which has integrated speakers, via wired or wireless transmission, for example, via a Bluetooth connection.

[0070] A haptic warning could, for example, be issued in the form of a vibration. For example, parts of the handlebar, including the throttle grip that controls engine power, or the opposite grip to which the brake is attached, or the entire handlebar of the vehicle could vibrate in a predefined pattern. The predefined patterns could be designed to be easy for the driver to recognize and interpret. The intensity or vibration pattern of a haptic warning could also be selected based on the difference, similar to that of visual warnings. The use of such haptic warnings could warn the driver immediately and intuitively, without the need for visual or acoustic signals.This is particularly useful in conditions where the driver may be distracted or where visual and audible warnings are difficult to perceive, such as at high speeds, in noisy traffic, or in poor visibility. Likewise, combinations of visual, audible, or haptic warnings could be selected depending on the difference. For example, a warning symbol could illuminate yellow for a difference between 5 and 10 km / h, a warning tone could be emitted for a difference between 10 and 20 km / h, and the throttle grip could vibrate for a difference > 30 km / h.

[0071] Furthermore, if the start of the speed limit lies behind the position of the vehicle in the direction of travel, the warning means 106 could be configured to issue a second warning message if the second test of the testing device 104 reveals that the vehicle's current speed is not within the speed range. Similar to the first warning message, the second warning message could also be issued as a visual, acoustic, or haptic warning message. The variants mentioned for the first warning message are also conceivable for the second warning message. Similar to the first warning message, the type and intensity of the second warning message could also be varied depending on the difference between the current speed and the speed range limit exceeded or undershot.A combination of different symbols for the first and second warning messages is also conceivable, such as a yellow light / symbol for the first warning message and a red light / symbol for the second warning message. This allows drivers to be quickly warned of a potential or already completed violation of the speed limit based on the color coding familiar from road use. The first warning message could also flash, pulsate, flicker, or illuminate. be implemented in a different lighting pattern of a warning light or warning symbol and the second warning message may consist of continuous lighting, flashing, pulsing, flickering or illumination in a different lighting pattern of that warning light or warning symbol.

[0072] A possible variant of the non-limiting example in Fig. 1 is a connection of the speed limit detection means 102, the testing device 104, and the warning device 106 to the vehicle's CAN bus, thereby interconnecting them. In this variant, the vehicle's acceleration and speed sensors are also connected to the CAN bus.

[0073] In this variant, the means 102 for detecting a speed limit are implemented, for example, as an electronic control unit in combination with corresponding machine-readable instructions, which is connected, for example, to the camera device via a Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST) bus or a dedicated data line and additionally to a satellite-based navigation system via the CAN bus. The means 102 for detecting a speed limit processes the images captured by the camera device as well as the position data of the satellite-based navigation system by executing the machine-readable instructions.The speed limit determined by this processing and the position of its start relative to the vehicle are then transmitted via the CAN bus to the test device 104, which in this variant is also implemented as an electronic control unit in combination with corresponding machine-readable instructions.

[0074] In this variant, for example, the acceleration and speed sensors also transmit the current acceleration and the current speed via the CAN bus to the testing device 104, whereby acceleration and speed could also be determined by the means 102 for detecting a speed limit and transmitted to the testing device 104. Prompted by the machine-readable instructions, the testing device 104 selects the route underlying the instantaneous acceleration test based on the received instantaneous speed and the received speed limit and checks whether the instantaneous acceleration has been selected by the driver such that the detected speed limit is exceeded with constant acceleration within the route.Depending on the result of the test, the test device 104 sends a command via the CAN bus to the warning device 106, causing the warning device 106 to issue a corresponding warning message. Based on the position of the start of the speed limit, which the speed limit detection means 102 has transmitted to the test device 104, the test device 104 can verify whether the test should be performed at all or whether, for example, the start of the speed limit is still too far away.

[0075] In principle, a distinction can be made between three warning scenarios. 1. The start of the speed limit is located behind the vehicle in the direction of travel and the vehicle's current speed is within the permitted speed interval. 2. The start of the speed limit is located behind the vehicle in the direction of travel, i.e. has already been passed by the vehicle, and the vehicle's current speed is outside the permitted speed interval, i.e. the current speed is either above a minimum speed or below a maximum speed. 3. The start of the speed limit is in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel and the vehicle is approaching the start.

[0076] In an exemplary first scenario, the vehicle is on a section of road with a legally prescribed speed limit of 100 km / h and accelerates from an instantaneous speed of 90 km / h. Here, it is assumed that the upper limit of the speed interval is the legally prescribed speed limit of 100 km / h. In this scenario, the test device 104 could select a distance of 30 m for the first test based on the difference between the instantaneous speed and the speed limit of 10 km / h (see Table 1, line 2, here generally for an absolute speed difference of 10 km / h). This results in a maximum acceleration value of 2.44 m / s. 2 , which generally represents a moderate acceleration for a motorcycle, for example. Should the rider experience an instantaneous acceleration > 2.44 m / s 2for example, by increasing the engine power, the result of the first test is that the instantaneous acceleration is not suitable and the warning device 106 issues a first warning message.

[0077] In an exemplary second scenario, in which the motorcycle, analogous to the exemplary first scenario, is in a section of road with a speed limit of 100 km / h, the rider accelerates too sharply despite the warning message and thereby exceeds the permissible maximum speed of 100 km / h, for example by 20 km / h. This would result in the second test by the testing device 104 being positive, i.e. the instantaneous speed is not within the speed range, as it is above the permissible maximum speed. The warning device 106 subsequently issues a second warning message, which could warn the rider even more urgently. Based on the difference between the instantaneous speed and the speed limit of 20 km / h, the testing device 104 now calculates a distance of 60 m is selected for the instantaneous acceleration test (see Table 1, line 3). As long as the driver does not adjust their acceleration accordingly, for example, by reducing engine power, the test result is negative, and the first warning message is issued by warning device 106. As soon as the driver reduces the acceleration to a suitable level, the first test is positive, and the first and, optionally depending on this, the second warning message are no longer issued.

[0078] In a third exemplary scenario, in which the start of the speed limit is in front of the vehicle, the vehicle approaches a section of road with a legally permitted maximum speed of 80 km / h at a speed of 100 km / h, but the section has no legally prescribed minimum speed. Here, it is assumed that the upper limit of the speed interval is the legally permitted maximum speed plus a tolerance of 3 km / h, resulting in 83 km / h. In this example, the speed interval has no lower limit and is therefore only unilaterally restricted, since a minimum speed is not prescribed by law and it can be assumed that the driver has not set a minimum speed.

[0079] Based on the difference between the current speed and the legally permitted maximum speed, the test device 104 selects, for example, a predetermined period of 3 s for testing the current acceleration. In addition, an exemplary fixed time value of 5 s has been specified with regard to the distance to the next speed limit. It is assumed here that this time value has been specified independently of speed. Likewise, as already described above, it is possible to specify the time value as a function of the current speed or as a function of the current speed and the legally permitted maximum speed. By making this determination, the test device 104 performs the test of the current acceleration from the point in time at which the start of the speed limit is less than 5 s away from the vehicle at the current speed (here, a speed of 100 km / h).Analogous to the first two scenarios, the warning device 106 issues a first warning message if the result of the test is negative, i.e., if the speed reduction is not sufficient to achieve a speed of < 83 km / h upon reaching the speed limit. If the speed reduction is already sufficient before reaching the 5-s time window, no warning message is issued by the warning device 106.

[0080] It should be noted that, as an alternative to carrying out the test of the instantaneous acceleration by the test device 104 from the above-mentioned point in time, from which the start of the speed limit at the current speed is less than a certain period of time or spatially at a certain distance from the vehicle, it is also possible to The test must be carried out continuously. In this case, however, any warning message would only be issued from the point in time at which the start of the speed limit at the current speed is less than a certain time period or at a certain spatial distance from the vehicle.

[0081] If the vehicle is on a section of road with a speed limit and is approaching the beginning of a speed limit in the direction of travel, the check to determine whether the instantaneous acceleration is suitable is performed based on the speed limit in the direction of travel at the moment the distance value and / or the duration value specified as an example are exceeded. However, the distance value and / or the duration value can also be dynamically determined based on various criteria analogous to Table 1 above.

[0082] Figure 2 shows a flowchart of an exemplary warning method 200, wherein a speed limit is detected in block 210. In block 220, a check is carried out based on an instantaneous acceleration and an instantaneous speed to determine whether the instantaneous acceleration is suitable for changing a vehicle speed within a predetermined period of time or a predetermined distance traveled to a value that lies within a speed interval based on the speed limit. If the check as to whether the instantaneous acceleration is suitable is negative, a warning message is issued in block 230. If, however, the check shows that the instantaneous acceleration is suitable, no warning message is issued, as can be seen from block 240.

[0083] The procedure could be carried out repeatedly at a frequency that can be adjusted so that the number of warning messages issued is as low as possible while maintaining a sufficiently high test rate for road safety. If the procedure is carried out at too high a frequency, too many warning messages will be issued because, for brief moments, particularly at the beginning of an acceleration process, the test based on the instantaneous acceleration will produce a negative result and thus result in the issue of a warning message. If the frequency is too low, a reliable warning to the driver about a possible exceeding of a speed limit can no longer be guaranteed due to insufficient temporal resolution. A suitable frequency, for example, is between 10 ms and 100 ms, preferably between 20 ms and 50 ms.

[0084] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and the foregoing description, this illustration and description are to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed examples.

[0085] Other variations of the disclosed examples may be understood and practiced by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, based on the drawings, the description, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain features are recited in divergent dependent claims does not mean that a combination of those features cannot be advantageous. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection.

[0086] A single processor or other unit may perform the functions of several elements recited in the claims. A computer program may be stored / distributed on a suitable medium, for example, an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied with or as part of other hardware, but it may also be distributed in other forms, for example, via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunications systems.

[0087] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied in the form of an apparatus, a method, or a computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a pure hardware variant, a pure software variant (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or a variant combining software and hardware aspects, which may be generally referred to herein as a "circuit," "module," or "system." Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable code embodied thereon.

[0088] Any combination of one or more computer-readable media may be used. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. As used herein, a "computer-readable storage medium" includes any tangible storage medium capable of storing instructions executable by a processor or computing system of a computing device. The computer-readable storage medium may be referred to as a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium may also be referred to as a tangible computer-readable medium. In some examples, a computer-readable storage medium may also be capable of storing data accessible by the processor or computing system of the computing device. Examples of computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to: a floppy disk, a magnetic hard disk, disk drive, a solid-state hard drive, a flash memory, a USB stick, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, and the register file of the processor or computing system. Examples of optical disks are compact disks (CDs) and digital versatile disks (DVDs), for example CD-ROM, CD-RW, CD-R, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW, or DVD-R disks. The term "computer-readable storage medium" also refers to various types of recording media that the computing device can access over a network or communications link. For example, data can be retrieved via a modem, over the Internet, or over a local area network.Computer-executable code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted by any suitable medium, including, but not limited to, wireless transmission, wireline transmission, fiber optic cable, radio frequency transmission, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing media.

[0089] A computer-readable signal medium may contain a propagated data signal with computer-executable code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a transmitted signal may take any form, including, but not limited to, electromagnetic or optical signals, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium may be any computer-readable medium, other than a computer-readable storage medium, that can convey, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0090] A "computer memory," "storage unit," or "memory" is an example of a computer-readable storage medium. Computer memory is any memory that can be directly accessed by a processor or computing system.

[0091] A "processor system," "processor unit," "computing system," or "computing unit," as used herein, includes an electronic component capable of executing a program or machine-executable instruction or computer-executable code. References to the processor system or computing system, including an example "a processor system" or "a computing system," should be understood to mean that the example may include more than one processor system, processor unit, computing system, computing unit, or processor core. The processor system or computing system may, for example, be a multi-core processor. A processor system, processor unit, computing system, or computing unit may also refer to a collection of processor units or computing units within a single computer system or distributed across multiple computer systems.The term "processor system", "processor unit", "computing system" or "computing unit" should also be interpreted in this way. It may refer to a collection or network of computing devices, each comprising a processor or computing system. The machine-executable code or instructions may be executed by multiple computing systems or processors residing within the same computing device or even distributed across multiple computing devices.

[0092] Machine-readable or machine-executable instructions, or computer-readable code, may comprise instructions or a program that causes a processor or other computing system to carry out an aspect of the present invention. Computer-executable code for performing operations for aspects of the present invention may be written and compiled into machine-executable instructions in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object-oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. In some cases, the computer-executable code may be in high-level or precompiled form and used in conjunction with an interpreter that generates the machine-executable instructions on the fly.In other cases, the machine-executable instructions or computer-executable code may be in the form of programming for programmable logic gate arrays.

[0093] The executable computer code may be executed entirely on the user's computer unit, partially on the user's computer unit, as a standalone software package, partially on the user's computer unit and partially on a remote computer unit, or entirely on the remote computer unit or server. In the latter case, the remote computer unit may be connected to the user's computer unit via any network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be established with an external computer unit (for example, via the Internet with the assistance of an Internet service provider).

[0094] These machine-executable instructions or computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can instruct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture that includes instructions that perform the function / action specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0095] The machine-readable or machine-executable instructions or computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing device, or other devices to cause a series of method steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable device, or other devices to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions executing on the computer or other programmable device provide processes for implementing the functions / actions specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS Warning device Means for detecting a speed limit Test device Warning means Warning method

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A warning device (100) for a single-track vehicle, comprising: a. means (102) for detecting a speed limit, b. a testing device (104), wherein the testing device (104) is configured to carry out a first test based on an instantaneous acceleration and an instantaneous speed of the vehicle to determine whether the instantaneous acceleration is suitable for changing a vehicle speed within a predetermined period of time and / or a predetermined distance traveled to a value that lies within a speed interval based on the speed limit, c. a warning means (106), wherein the warning means (106) is configured to output a first warning message if the first test shows that the instantaneous acceleration is not suitable.

2. Warning device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the detection of the speed limit also includes detection of a start of the speed limit relative to a position of the vehicle.

3. Warning device (100) according to claim 2, wherein - the testing device (104) is further configured to carry out a second test, in the event that the start of the speed limit lies behind the position of the vehicle in the direction of travel, as to whether the instantaneous speed lies within the speed interval, and wherein - the warning means (106) is further configured to issue a second warning message if the second check shows that the instantaneous speed is not within the speed interval, wherein optionally the second warning message is not issued if the first check shows that the instantaneous acceleration is suitable.

4. Warning device (100) according to claim 2, wherein, in the event that the start of the speed limit is located in front of the position of the vehicle in the direction of travel, the testing device (104) and / or the warning means (106) is further configured to carry out the first test or to issue the first warning message only if a distance between the position of the vehicle and the start of the speed limit is less than a predetermined distance value and / or a time period that would be required to cover a distance corresponding to the distance at the current speed is less than a predetermined time period value.

5. Warning device (100) according to claim 4, wherein the testing device (104) is configured to select the distance value and the time duration value as a function of the instantaneous speed, in particular based on threshold values ​​based on a pre-braking time or a reaction time of the driver.

6. Warning device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the checking device (104) is configured to select the distance and / or the time period depending on the instantaneous speed and the speed limit and / or, in the event that the start of the speed limit lies in front of the position of the vehicle in the direction of travel, to select the distance value and / or the time duration value depending on the instantaneous speed and the speed limit, in particular in each case based on one of the following criteria: Difference between instantaneous speed and speed limit, squared difference between instantaneous speed and speed limit, exponential difference between instantaneous speed and speed limit, one of the aforementioned values ​​taking the instantaneous speed into account twice, wherein the consideration particularly includes forming a product or a quotient of one of the aforementioned values ​​and the instantaneous speed.

7. Warning device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the distance and / or the time period and / or the distance value and / or the time duration value are selected using a lookup table which contains different combinations of the criteria and associated distances and / or time periods and / or distance values ​​and / or time duration values.

8. Warning device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the speed interval is a unilaterally open interval limited exclusively by an upper limit if one of the following conditions is met: the upper limit of the speed interval is < a first speed threshold, in particular < 20 km / h, the instantaneous speed of the vehicle is < a second speed threshold, in particular < 10 km / h, the maximum speed of the vehicle is below the upper limit of the speed interval.

9. Warning device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the single-track vehicle is a moped, scooter, motorcycle or e-bike.

10. Warning device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the means (102) for detecting a speed limit comprise a camera device, wherein the means (102) are designed to identify and evaluate traffic signs on the basis of the images captured by the camera device in order to thus detect a speed limit and / or its start relative to the position of the vehicle and / or comprise a satellite-based navigation system which, in conjunction with map data, detects the speed limit and / or its start relative to the position of the vehicle.

11. Warning device according to claim 10, wherein the camera device and / or the satellite-based navigation system is arranged on the single-track vehicle.

12. Warning device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the testing device (104) is an electronic processing unit, in particular an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

13. Warning device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the warning means (106) is one of a group consisting of a lighting means, warning light, display or the like, loudspeaker, haptic feedback system or combinations thereof.

14. A warning method (200) for warning the driver of a single-track vehicle, the method comprising: Detecting a speed limit, Checking, based on an instantaneous acceleration and an instantaneous speed of the vehicle, whether the instantaneous acceleration is suitable for changing a vehicle speed within a predetermined period of time and / or a predetermined distance travelled to a value that lies within a speed interval based on the speed limit, Issue an initial warning message if the test shows that the instantaneous acceleration is not suitable.

15. A computer program product, in particular a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer program product comprises computer-executable code, wherein the code is executable by at least one processor of a computer device to cause the computer device to perform the warning method (200) according to claim 9.

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