Method and device for driver information and to react to leaving the lane

• US 20060152346A1
• Filed: 05/26/2003
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Maass, Alexander, Heckel, Joerg
• Granted Patent: US 7,382,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.500
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A method and a device are proposed for driver information and for a reaction upon the leaving of the traffic lane by the vehicle. The diver warning and the driver intervention are a function, in this context, of the driving situation, especially of the type of an edge marking of the traffic lane.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method for driver information and for a reaction when leaving a traffic lane, comprising:

performing at least one of providing a warning including driver information and a vehicle intervention as a reaction if a vehicle threatens to leave the traffic lane; and

recording at least one boundary of the traffic lane, wherein the warning and the reaction are a function of a driving situation of the vehicle.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

determining the driving situation by at least one of the type of boundary markings and a traffic situation in a neighboring lane in a direction towards which leaving is to be expected.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the warning and the reaction takes place if a boundary marking of the traffic lane is a solid line traffic lane marking.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein:

the driver warning and the vehicle intervention one of do not occur and occur less conspicuously, if a boundary marking of the traffic lane is a broken line traffic lane marking.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein:

the driver warning and the vehicle intervention occur if, in a neighboring lane, into which the vehicle may possibly enter, oncoming traffic is to be expected.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein:

the driver warning and the vehicle intervention occur one of delayed in time and with less intensity, if the neighboring lane, into which the vehicle may possibly travel, is a breakdown strip.

17. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein a less conspicuous warning occurs in that at least one of a blinker noise and an acoustical warning having at least one of a softer tone and one of a smaller optical display and a less conspicuous optical display takes place.

18. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein in response to a broken line traffic marking, the driver warning and the driver intervention take place only if one of oncoming traffic was actually recognized and a vehicle is moving in the same travel direction near the vehicle.

19. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein in response to a suppressed and inconspicuous driver warning, an activation of a corresponding blinker takes place to inform other traffic participants.

20. A device for driver information and for reaction upon leaving the traffic lane, comprising:

an evaluation unit that activates at least one of a warning to the driver and a vehicle intervention when a threat of leaving the traffic lane occurs; and

a microcomputer including a program that records at least one boundary marking of the traffic lane, wherein at least one of the driver warning and the vehicle intervention is a function of a driving situation.