Driving assistance method and device

• US 10,195,982 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2014
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Hue, David, El Idrissi, Hafid, Monchy, Etienne
• Primary Examiner(s): Gyllstrom, Bryon T
• Application Number:
  US15/022,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20170001553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 362459
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0291 Preventing dazzlement during driving in the dark
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/20 Indexing codes relating to the driver or the passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/43 following vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/47 Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0121 Operation of devices; Circuit arrangements, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A device for assisting with driving an automotive vehicle, the vehicle being equipped with at least one illuminating device able to emit a beam for illuminating a road scene (SR) in front of the vehicle, the assisting device comprising a variable transmission screen that is intended to be placed between the road scene (SR) and a driver of the vehicle, the assisting device being configured to, when active, control a light emission of at least one light source of the illuminating device and a transmission coefficient of the variable transmission screen, in relation to each other, with a pulsed signal, characterized in that the assisting device is configured to detect a vehicle equipped with a device of the same type via inter-vehicle communication and to modify the pulsed signal so as to avoid antiphase and/or phase effects, when the device detects such a vehicle.

Claims

1. An assisting device for assisting with driving an automotive vehicle, said automotive vehicle including at least one illuminating device to emit a beam for illuminating a road scene in front of said automotive vehicle, the assisting device comprising:

a variable transmission screen that is placed between said road scene and a driver of said automotive vehicle, the assisting device being configured to, when active, control a light emission of at least one light source of said at least one illuminating device and a transmission coefficient of said variable transmission screen, in relation to each other, with a pulsed signal, wherein the assisting device is configured to detect a vehicle equipped with another assisting device of a same type to the assisting device via inter-vehicle communication and to modify said pulsed signal to avoid antiphase and/or phase effects, when the assisting device detects such a vehicle, and the assisting device is configured to emit a recognition signal via the inter-vehicle communication when the vehicle equipped with the another assisting device of the same type, known as a detected vehicle, is detected.

2. The assisting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assisting device includes an emitter and receiver to exchange data wirelessly between vehicles.

3. The assisting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the assisting device determines a frequency and/or a phase of the illuminating beam originating from an approaching vehicle equipped with the another assisting device of the same type.

4. The assisting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the assisting device is configured to modify said pulsed signal by applying a phase shift thereto.

5. The assisting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the assisting device is configured to control said transmission coefficient of said variable transmission screen so that a transparency of said variable transmission screen is maximized when an illuminating beam originating from an approaching vehicle equipped with the another assisting device of the same type is detected.

6. The assisting device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the assisting device is configured to detect simultaneously a plurality of vehicles equipped with the another assisting device of the same type and to operate in a network with said plurality of vehicles.

7. The assisting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assisting device determines a frequency and/or a phase of the illuminating beam originating from an approaching vehicle equipped with the another assisting device of the same type.

8. The assisting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assisting device is configured to modify said pulsed signal by applying a phase shift thereto.

9. The assisting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a phase-shift value (Phi) is chosen pseudo-randomly.

10. The assisting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the assisting device is configured to detect simultaneously a plurality of vehicles equipped with the another assisting device of the same type and to operate in a network with said plurality of vehicles.

11. The assisting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assisting device is configured to control said transmission coefficient of said variable transmission screen so that a transparency of said variable transmission screen is maximized when an illuminating beam originating from an approaching vehicle equipped with the another assisting device of the same type is detected.

12. The assisting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assisting device is configured:

to receive a receipt acknowledgement signal from said detected vehicle; and

to modify said pulsed signal on receipt of said receipt acknowledgement.

13. The assisting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assisting device is configured to detect simultaneously a plurality of vehicles equipped with the another assisting device of the same type and to operate in a network with said plurality of vehicles.

14. A method for assisting with driving an automotive vehicle, said automotive vehicle including at least one illuminating device to emit a beam for illuminating a road scene in front of said automotive vehicle, and a variable transmission screen that is intended to be placed between said road scene and a driver of said automotive vehicle, the method comprising controlling, in relation to each other, a light emission of at least one light source of said at least one illuminating device and a transmission coefficient of said variable transmission screen, with a pulsed signal, wherein the method comprises detecting a vehicle implementing another method for assisting with driving the vehicle of a same type, via inter-vehicle communication, and modifying said pulsed signal so as to avoid antiphase and/or phase effects, when such a vehicle is detected, and the method comprises emitting a recognition signal via the inter-vehicle communication when the vehicle implementing the another method of the same type, known as a detected vehicle, is detected.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said detecting the vehicle comprises detecting a frequency and phase of said illuminating beam of an approaching vehicle.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said modifying said pulsed signal comprises shifting a phase of said pulsed signal.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein a phase-shift value (Phi) is chosen pseudo-randomly.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein controlling said transmission coefficient maximizes said transmission coefficient so that said variable transmission screen is transparent during the approach of said vehicle implementing the another method of the same type.

19. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said assisting method comprises:

and

receiving a receipt acknowledgement signal from said detected vehicle;

modifying said pulsed signal taking place on receipt of said receipt acknowledgement.

20. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the method comprises simultaneously detecting a plurality of equipped vehicles implementing the another method and operating in a network with said plurality of equipped vehicles.