Safety system, and safety method for a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety system (100) for a vehicle (10), the safety system comprising: - a plurality of functional modules (110A, 110B, 110C) which are designed to implement a plurality of safety functions, the plurality of safety functions comprising at least one first safety function and multiple second safety functions; and - a user interface module (120) which is designed to receive a first user input and a subsequent second user input, wherein the safety system (100) is designed to: - suspend the multiple second safety functions upon receipt of the first user input; and - suspend the at least one first safety function upon receipt of the second user input if at least one suspension criterion is fulfilled.

Description

[0001] Safety system and safety procedures for a vehicle

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a safety system for a vehicle, a vehicle with such a safety system, a safety procedure for a vehicle, and a storage medium for executing the safety procedure. The present disclosure relates in particular to an efficient deactivation of safety functions.

[0003] State of the art

[0004] Vehicle safety features, such as the autonomous emergency braking system (AEB), are designed to prevent accidents or mitigate their impact. However, some of these safety features can be intrusive for the driver, leading to occasional desires to deactivate them, at least temporarily. For some of these safety features, legal regulations may require them to reactivate automatically upon restarting the vehicle after deactivation, necessitating another deactivation by the driver. Therefore, making the deactivation process as intuitive and straightforward as possible can be advantageous.

[0005] Disclosure of the invention

[0006] It is an objective of the present disclosure to specify a safety system for a vehicle, a vehicle with such a safety system, a safety procedure for a vehicle and a storage medium for executing the safety procedure, which enable intuitive and easy operation, in particular suspensions, of safety functions.

[0007] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0008] According to an independent aspect of the present disclosure, a safety system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is specified. The safety system comprises a plurality of functional modules configured to implement a plurality of safety functions, wherein the plurality of safety functions includes at least one first safety function and several second safety functions; and a user interface module configured to receive a first user input and a subsequent second user input. The safety system is configured to suspend the several second safety functions upon receipt of the first user input, and to suspend the at least one first safety function upon receipt of the second user input if at least one suspension criterion is satisfied.

[0009] According to the invention, several safety functions are collectively disabled by a single user input. Upon further user input, another safety function, which, for example, must not be disabled simultaneously with the other safety functions, can also be disabled. This allows safety functions to be disabled, at least temporarily, with just a few user inputs, while complying with certain (e.g., legal) regulations. As a result, user convenience can be improved.

[0010] The function modules and the user interface module may include software components / algorithms that are set up to run on at least one processor and thereby perform the functionalities of the respective module.

[0011] Preferably, each functional module of the plurality of functional modules is configured to implement one or more safety functions. For example, each functional module can implement only a single safety function, or at least one of the functional modules can implement more than one safety function.

[0012] Preferably, the user interface module includes at least one control element for receiving the first user input and the second user input.

[0013] Preferably, the at least one control element is a touch-sensitive control element, such as a touch field or touch pad, or a tactile control element, such as a switch (e.g. push switch and / or rotary switch) or other mechanically actuated key element.

[0014] Preferably, the first and second user inputs are received at the same control element of the user interface module. This allows the safety functions to be intuitively overridden by operating the same control element twice. The control element can, for example, be located on the center console of the vehicle, but the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0015] By actuating at least one control element, the safety functions are suspended. The term "suspension," as used in this disclosure, refers to an (in particular temporary) interruption of the functionality of the safety functions. In some embodiments, suspension can mean deactivating the safety functions. In this case, the safety functions are completely switched off or deactivated so that they no longer perform any protective measures. However, in some embodiments, suspension can also mean that the safety functions are not deactivated but no longer perform any interventions. In particular, the safety functions can remain technically active and switched on, but no longer actively intervene in the operation or implement any protective measures.For example, the security functions are put into a mode where they only monitor and create logs, but do not take any active protective measures.

[0016] Preferably, the multitude of safety functions includes: an Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) function; and / or a Lane Keeping Assistant (LKA) function; and / or a Lane Departure Warning (LDW) function; and / or a Driver Attention Alert (DAA) function; and / or a Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) function; and / or an Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK) function; and / or a Forward Collision Warning (FCW) function; and / or a Distance Alert function.

[0017] Preferably, at least one of the first safety features includes or is an automatic emergency braking (AEB) function. This function monitors the traffic in front of the vehicle, for example, using sensors and cameras. In the event of an impending collision, it warns the driver and, if necessary, brakes automatically to prevent a collision or reduce the speed upon impact.

[0018] Preferably, the multiple secondary safety features include a lane keeping assist (LKA) function. The lane keeping assist function uses cameras, for example, to detect lane markings and helps the driver keep the vehicle in its lane. If the vehicle unintentionally leaves its lane, the lane keeping assist function intervenes by warning the driver or actively steering the vehicle back into its lane.

[0019] Preferably, at least one first safety function is the automatic emergency braking (AEB) function, and the several second safety functions include the lane keeping assist (LKA) function. This ensures that the emergency braking and lane keeping assist functions are not deactivated simultaneously, but sequentially, thus complying with certain regulations and requirements.

[0020] Preferably, at least one suspension criterion includes or is a speed threshold.

[0021] Preferably, the safety system is configured to suspend at least one first safety function only when the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the speed threshold, upon receipt of the second user input.

[0022] Preferably, the speed threshold is 20 km / h or less, 15 km / h or less, or 10 km / h or less. In some embodiments, the speed threshold may be 10 km / h.

[0023] Preferably, the speed limit is a statutory speed limit.

[0024] However, the present disclosure is not limited to the speed threshold as a suspension criterion, and other reasons for prevention are conceivable that would prevent the suspension of at least one first safety function.

[0025] Preferably, the user interface module is configured to issue at least one driver warning after receiving the first user input if at least one suspension criterion is not met. This allows the driver to be informed that at least one initial safety function cannot be deactivated, for example, because the vehicle speed is too high.

[0026] Preferably, the user interface module is configured to output at least one driver instruction to the driver visually and / or audibly and / or haptically.

[0027] The user interface module can comprise at least one first output device for displaying visual driver information. In some embodiments, the at least one first output device can comprise at least one display device for displaying the visual driver information. The at least one display device can comprise a display, in particular an LCD display, a plasma display, or an OLED display. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one display device can comprise a projection device configured to display information directly in the driver's field of vision, in particular to project it onto a windshield. In some embodiments, the at least one display device can be a central information output device of an infotainment system, such as a head unit or a pillar-to-pillar display. Preferably, the at least one display device is permanently installed in the vehicle.

[0028] The user interface module can include at least one second output device for outputting the acoustic driver instructions. In some embodiments, the at least one second output device can include at least one loudspeaker, in particular at least one vehicle interior loudspeaker, for outputting the acoustic driver instructions.

[0029] The user interface module can include at least one third output device for displaying haptic driver information, or be connected to at least one third output device and control it to display haptic driver information. This at least one third output device can, for example, include a vibration mechanism in a steering wheel and / or a seatbelt tensioner in a driver's seat.

[0030] Preferably, the user interface module is configured to issue at least one (e.g., further) driver warning after receiving the first user input, indicating that the several secondary safety functions have been suspended.

[0031] According to a further independent aspect of the present disclosure, a safety system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is specified. The safety system comprises a plurality of functional modules configured to implement a plurality of safety functions, wherein the plurality of safety functions includes at least one first safety function and several second safety functions; and a user interface module configured to receive a first user input and a subsequent second user input. The safety system is configured, upon receipt of the first user input, to suspend the at least one first safety function if at least one suspension criterion is satisfied, and upon receipt of the second user input, to suspend the several second safety functions.

[0032] According to another independent aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is specified. The vehicle comprises the safety system according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0033] The term "vehicle" includes cars, trucks, vans, buses, motorhomes, motorcycles, etc., used for the transport of people, goods, etc. In particular, the term includes motor vehicles for passenger transport.

[0034] According to a further independent aspect of the present disclosure, a safety method for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, is specified. The safety method comprises providing, through a plurality of functional modules, a plurality of safety functions, wherein the plurality of safety functions comprise at least one first safety function and several second safety functions; receiving, through a user interface module, a first user input; suspending the several second safety functions upon receipt of the first user input; receiving, through the user interface module, a second user input; and suspending the at least one first safety function upon receipt of the second user input if at least one suspension criterion is satisfied.

[0035] The security procedure can implement the aspects of the security system described in this document.

[0036] According to another independent aspect of the present disclosure, a software (SW) program is specified. The SW program can be configured to run on one or more processors and thereby execute the safety procedure for a vehicle described in this document.

[0037] According to another independent aspect of the present disclosure, a storage medium is specified. The storage medium may include a software program configured to run on one or more processors and thereby execute the safety procedure for a vehicle described in this document.

[0038] According to another independent aspect of the present disclosure, software with program code is specified. The software is designed to carry out the safety procedure for a vehicle when the software runs on one or more software-controlled devices.

[0039] According to another independent aspect of the present disclosure, a safety system for a vehicle is specified. The safety system comprises one or more processors; and at least one memory associated with the one or more processors and containing instructions that can be executed by the one or more processors to carry out the safety procedure for a vehicle described in this document.

[0040] A processor or processor module is a programmable computing unit, i.e., a machine or an electronic circuit that controls other elements according to given instructions and thereby advances an algorithm (process).

[0041] Brief description of the drawings

[0042] Examples of the manifestation of the revelation are shown in the figures and are described in more detail below. They show:

[0043] Figure 1 schematically shows a vehicle with a safety system according to embodiments of the present disclosure,

[0044] Figure 2 schematically shows a sequence of steps for the suspension of safety functions according to embodiments of the present disclosure, and

[0045] Figure 3 shows a flowchart of a safety procedure according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0046] Implementations of the revelation

[0047] Unless otherwise noted, the same reference symbols are used for identical and equivalent elements in the following.

[0048] Figure 1 schematically shows a vehicle 10 with a safety system 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 2 schematically shows a sequence of a suspension of safety functions according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The safety system 100 comprises a plurality of functional modules 110A, HOB, HOC configured to implement a plurality of safety functions, wherein the plurality of safety functions includes at least one first safety function and several second safety functions. Although the example in Figure 1 shows three functional modules 110A, HOB, 110C, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to this and any other number of functional modules may be present.

[0049] In some non-limiting embodiments, the multitude of safety functions include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and / or Lane Keeping Assistant (LKA) and / or Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and / or Driver Attention Alert (DAA) and / or Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and / or Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK) and / or Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and / or Distance Alert.

[0050] The security system 100 further comprises a user interface module 120, which is configured to receive an initial user input and a subsequent second user input. Upon receiving the first user input, the security system 100 is configured to suspend several secondary security functions, and upon receiving the second user input, to suspend at least one primary security function if at least one suspension criterion is met.

[0051] In some embodiments, the user interface module 120 comprises at least one control element for receiving the first user input and the second user input. Preferably, the at least one control element is a touch-sensitive control element, such as a touch panel or touch pad, or a tactile control element, such as a switch (e.g., push button and / or rotary switch) or other mechanically actuated key element.

[0052] Preferably, the first and second user inputs are received at the same control element of the user interface module 120. This allows the safety functions to be intuitively overridden by operating the same control element twice. The control element can, for example, be located on the center console of the vehicle, but the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0053] The security system 100 is configured to suspend several secondary security functions upon receiving the first user input, and to suspend at least one primary security function upon receiving the second user input if at least one suspension criterion is met. This enables a simple operating cascade that allows for the rapid suspension of all security functions with as few operating steps as possible.

[0054] In some embodiments, at least one first safety function is the automatic emergency braking (AEB) function, and the several second safety functions include the lane keeping assist (LKA) function. This means that the automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist functions are not deactivated simultaneously, but sequentially, so that certain regulations and requirements can be met.

[0055] With reference to Figure 2, an exemplary procedure for suspending the safety functions is explained below.

[0056] Block A involves user input from the driver, such as a long press of a specific control element. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the example of a long press, and other operating actions are conceivable, such as operating a button on the steering wheel, touching a control panel on a vehicle display, operating another button in the cockpit, voice control, an operating gesture, a single click, a double click, etc.

[0057] In Block B, several safety functions are disabled, such as all safety functions except for the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) function.

[0058] After all safety functions except the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) function have been deactivated, block C checks whether the current vehicle speed is below a speed threshold of, for example, 10 km / h.

[0059] If the speed exceeds the speed threshold, the Automatic Emergency Brake Assist (AEB) function in block D is not deactivated and the driver may optionally be notified.

[0060] If the speed falls below the speed threshold, the driver is notified in block E that all safety functions except the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) function have been deactivated. The driver may also be asked, for example via a pop-up on the display, a voice prompt, etc., whether they wish to deactivate the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) function as well.

[0061] If the driver makes a conscious confirmation in block Fl, such as by clicking on the display, confirming via voice, etc., then in block G the emergency braking assist function (AEB) is also deactivated in addition to the other safety functions.

[0062] However, if an explicit negation is made in block F2 through a corresponding user input, the automatic emergency braking (AEB) function remains active (block H).

[0063] If the driver does not consciously confirm or deny anything in block F3, the Automatic Emergency Brake Assist (AEB) function remains active (block H), and the popup in the display mentioned previously in relation to block E can also be closed.

[0064] Figure 3 shows a flowchart of a security method 300 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The security method 300 can be implemented by appropriate software that can be executed by one or more processors (e.g., a CPU).

[0065] The security procedure 300 comprises, in block 310, the provision of a plurality of security functions by a plurality of function modules, wherein the plurality of security functions includes at least one first security function and several second security functions; in block 320, the receipt of a first user input by a user interface module; in block 330, the suspension of several second security functions upon receipt of the first user input; in block 340, the receipt of a second user input by the user interface module; and in block 350, the suspension of at least one first security function upon receipt of the second user input if at least one suspension criterion is met.

[0066] According to the invention, several safety functions are collectively disabled by a single user input. Upon further user input, another safety function, which, for example, must not be disabled simultaneously with the other safety functions, can also be disabled. This allows safety functions to be disabled, at least temporarily, with just a few user inputs, while complying with certain (e.g., legal) regulations. As a result, user convenience can be improved.

[0067] Although the invention has been further illustrated and explained in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived from them by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of possible variations exist. It is also clear that the embodiments mentioned as examples are truly only examples and are not to be understood in any way as limiting, for example, the scope of protection, the possible applications, or the configuration of the invention.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without leaving the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Safety system (100) for a vehicle (10), comprising: a plurality of function modules (110A, HOB, 1 IOC) configured to implement a plurality of safety functions, wherein the plurality of safety functions includes at least one first safety function and several second safety functions; and a user interface module (120) configured to receive a first user input and a subsequent second user input, wherein the safety system (100) is configured to: suspend the several second safety functions upon receipt of the first user input, and suspend the at least one first safety function upon receipt of the second user input if at least one suspension criterion is met.

2. Security system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the user interface module (120) comprises at least one control element, and wherein the first user input and the second user input are received at the same control element of the user interface module (120).

3. Safety system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one first safety function comprises or is an emergency braking assistance function.

4. Safety system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the multiple second safety functions include a lane keeping assist function.

5. Safety system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one suspension criterion comprises or is a speed threshold.

6. Safety system (100) according to claim 5, wherein the safety system (100) is configured to suspend the at least one first safety function only when the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the speed threshold, upon receipt of the second user input.

7. Safety system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the user interface module (120) is configured to output at least one driver warning after receiving the first user input, in particular if at least one suspension criterion is not met.

8. Vehicle (10), in particular motor vehicle, comprising the safety system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Safety procedures (300) for a vehicle (10), comprising: Providing (310) through a plurality of function modules (110A, HOB, 110C), a plurality of safety functions, wherein the plurality of safety functions includes at least one first safety function and several second safety functions; Received (320), through a user interface module (120), an initial user input; Suspension (330) of several secondary security functions upon receipt of the first user input; Received (340), through the user interface module (120), a second user input; and Suspension (350) of at least one first safety function upon receipt of the second user input, if at least one suspension criterion is met.

10. Storage medium comprising a software program configured to run on one or more processors and thereby to execute the security method (300) according to claim 9.

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