METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ASSISTING IN DRIVING A VEHICLE

• US 20090187343A1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Arnon, Marc, Koch-Groeber, Hermann, Uhler, Werner, Jaeger, Danny
• Granted Patent: US 8,275,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/146 Instrument input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/338 Light strips
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/146 Input by gesture
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/152 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/338 Light strips
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/02 : related to ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 : Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 : for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees

Abstract

A method and device for assisting in driving a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, having a surroundings detector for detecting at least a partial area of the surroundings of the vehicle, an output device for the output of information concerning the vehicle surroundings obtained from the surroundings detection to a driver, and an evaluation unit for determining a risk level based on the vehicle-surroundings information. To facilitate driving of the vehicle, it is provided that at least a portion of the vehicle-surroundings information provided for determining the risk level, and the risk level determined by the evaluation unit are output continuously by the output device to the driver during operation of the vehicle.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A method for assisting in driving a motor vehicle, comprising:

detecting, with a surroundings detector, at least a partial area of surroundings of the vehicle;

outputting information concerning the vehicle surroundings obtained from the surroundings detection to a vehicle driver using an output device; and

determining, using an evaluation unit, a risk level based on the vehicle-surroundings information;

wherein at least a portion of the vehicle-surroundings information provided for determining the risk level and the risk level determined by the evaluation unit are output continuously by the output device to a driver during operation of the vehicle.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein a reliability of an assertion with respect to the risk level is determined by the evaluation unit, and the reliability of the assertion is output continuously by the output device to the driver during operation of the vehicle.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one of the vehicle-surroundings information, the risk level, and the reliability of the assertion is output visually by the output device.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of the risk level is output using a color-variable color display, and a color of the color display is a measure for the risk level.

19. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the reliability of the assertion is output using a bar display that is variable in length, and a length of the bar display is a measure for the reliability of the assertion.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the risk level is output using a blinking display, and at least one of a blinking frequency and a build-up speed of the display is a measure for the risk level.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the reliability of the assertion is output using a display that is variable in light intensity, and a light intensity of the display is a measure for the reliability of the assertion.

22. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the vehicle-surroundings information is output by the output device on the display device at a position on the display device corresponding to a location of a possible risk in the surroundings of the vehicle.

23. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein vehicle sensors are evaluated with respect to at least one of driving conditions and operating conditions of the vehicle, at least one of a risk emanating from the vehicle condition and driving conditions of the vehicle is analyzed and taken into consideration for the output of the risk level.

24. A device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a surroundings detector adapted to detect at least a partial area of surroundings of the vehicle;

an output device adapted to output information concerning the vehicle surroundings obtained from the surroundings detection to a vehicle driver; and

an evaluation unit adapted to determine a risk level based on the vehicle-surroundings information;

wherein the output device is controllable in such a way that at least a portion of the vehicle-surroundings information provided for determining the risk level, and the risk level are output continually by the output device to the driver.

25. The device as recited in claim 24, wherein the output device includes a display screen.

26. The device as recited in claim 24, wherein the output device includes a lighting chain.

27. The device as recited in claim 24, wherein the evaluation unit is adapted to determine a reliability of an assertion with respect to the risk level, and the output device is controllable in such a way that the reliability of the assertion is output continually by the output device to the driver.

28. The device as recited in claim 24, wherein the evaluation unit is connected to at least one vehicle sensor adapted to detect at least one of a vehicle condition, driving conditions of the vehicle to determine a risk level emanating from the vehicle condition, and the driving conditions of the vehicle.