Driver assistance method

• US 20090093927A1
• Filed: 10/07/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: MUELLER-SCHNEIDERS, STEFAN, GHOSH, SHARMILA
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0237 circuits concerning the atmospheric environment meteorology G01W
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/42 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/045 Improving turning performance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/068 Road friction coefficient
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/072 Curvature of the road
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/076 Slope angle of the road
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the assistance of a driver of a vehicle during a journey along a road, in which bend data indicating the course of a bend in the road extending in front of the vehicle seen in the direction of travel and road condition data indicating the condition of the road surface disposed in front of the vehicle seen in the direction of travel are determined and a recommended maximum speed allowing a safe driving through the bend is determined with reference to the bend data and to the road condition data.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle by providing a recommended maximum speed for a bend in a road prior to the vehicle traveling in the bend, comprising:

determining bend data indicating a course of the bend in the road;

determining road condition data indicating a condition of a road surface in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel;

analyzing the bend data and the road condition data to determine a recommended maximum speed; and

providing the recommended maximum speed to the driver in advance of the vehicle entering in the bend.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the bend data is determined from a digital map available to the vehicle.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the road condition data comprises information indicating the quality of the road surface.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the road condition data comprises information indicating wetness of the road surface.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the road condition data is received from a communication means located outside of the vehicle.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein determining the recommended maximum speed includes using a road sign arrangement along the road.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein determining the recommended maximum speed includes using information about visibility conditions in front of the vehicle.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the visibility conditions are estimated when headlamps on the vehicle are actuated.

9. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the bend data, the road condition data, the road signs, and the visibility conditions are estimated using a camera, said camera taking at least one image of the road surface in front of the vehicle, and the camera detecting the bend data, the road condition data, the road signs, and the visibility conditions from an environmental zone disposed on the image.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a warning signal is output to the driver when an actual speed of the vehicle in the bend exceeds the recommended maximum speed.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the vehicle is automatically slowed down to the recommended maximum speed when the actual speed exceeds the recommended maximum speed.

12. A driver assistance system for assisting a driver of a vehicle by providing a recommended maximum speed to the driver for driving in a bend of a road prior to the vehicle traveling in the bend, comprising:

a first module for determining bend data representing the direction of the bend of the road;

a second module for determining road condition data representing a condition of a road surface in front of the vehicle; and

a processor module in electrical communication with the first and second modules, said processor module analyzing the bend data and the road condition data to determine a recommended maximum speed for driving in the bend.