METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A VISUAL WARNING SIGNAL

• US 20100079270A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Dambier, Michael, Rimini-Doering, Maria, KRAUTTER, Wolfgang, Manstetten, Dietrich
• Granted Patent: US 8,390,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/436
• 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 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• 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 2370/334 Projection means
• 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 35/29 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: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for displaying a visual warning signal to warn a driver of a vehicle about a traffic situation determined to be critical, in which based on sensor data furnished by at least one sensor unit, a line of sight of the driver is determined. From a group of at least two separately controllable display units, a display unit for displaying the visual warning signal is selected depending on the line of sight.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a visual warning signal to warn a driver of a vehicle about a traffic situation determined to be critical, comprising the steps of:

determining a line of sight of the driver, based on sensor data furnished by at least one sensor unit; and

selecting a display unit for displaying the visual warning signal depending on the line of sight from a group of at least two separately controllable display units.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a single display unit is selected.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein in order to display the visual warning signal, respective display units are triggered via respective separate interfaces for supplying image data.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein in order to display the visual warning signal, respective display units are triggered via respective separate interfaces for supplying image data.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a first sensor unit is an image capture unit that furnishes first sensor data in the form of image data or the first sensor unit is an image recognition unit that furnishes first sensor data in the form of the line of sight of the driver, and an additional, second sensor unit is preferably comprised of at least one control mechanism to be operated by the driver, which second sensor unit furnishes additional sensor data in the form of data relating to a control task being performed by the driver.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein a first sensor unit is an image capture unit that furnishes first sensor data in the form of image data or the first sensor unit is an image recognition unit that furnishes first sensor data in the form of the line of sight of the driver, and an additional, second sensor unit is preferably comprised of at least one control mechanism to be operated by the driver, which second sensor unit furnishes additional sensor data in the form of data relating to a control task being performed by the driver.

7. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein a first sensor unit is an image capture unit that furnishes first sensor data in the form of image data or the first sensor unit is an image recognition unit that furnishes first sensor data in the form of the line of sight of the driver, and an additional, second sensor unit is preferably comprised of at least one control mechanism to be operated by the driver, which second sensor unit furnishes additional sensor data in the form of data relating to a control task being performed by the driver.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual warning signal is a sample image of a traffic situation, a sample video sequence of a traffic situation, a real image of a current traffic situation of the vehicle, or a real video sequence of a current traffic situation of the vehicle.

9. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the visual warning signal is a sample image of a traffic situation, a sample video sequence of a traffic situation, a real image of a current traffic situation of the vehicle, or a real video sequence of a current traffic situation of the vehicle.

10. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the visual warning signal is a sample image of a traffic situation, a sample video sequence of a traffic situation, a real image of a current traffic situation of the vehicle, or a real video sequence of a current traffic situation of the vehicle.

11. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the visual warning signal is a sample image of a traffic situation, a sample video sequence of a traffic situation, a real image of a current traffic situation of the vehicle, or a real video sequence of a current traffic situation of the vehicle.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the visual warning signal is selected depending on a determined type of the critical traffic situation.

13. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the visual warning signal is selected depending on a determined type of the critical traffic situation.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the visual warning signal is selected depending on a determined type of the critical traffic situation.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a display unit is a head-up display, a display unit of an instrument cluster, a display unit of a navigation device, a display unit of a head unit, a display unit of a mobile phone, or a display unit of a mobile computing device.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein a display unit is a head-up display, a display unit of an instrument cluster, a display unit of a navigation device, a display unit of a head unit, a display unit of a mobile phone, or a display unit of a mobile computing device.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein after the driver actuates an input unit, the display of the visual warning signal is terminated.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein after the driver actuates an input unit, the display of the visual warning signal is terminated.

19. A control unit for selecting a display unit from a group of at least two display units for displaying a visual warning signal in order to warn a driver of a vehicle about a critical traffic situation, the control unit comprising:

at least one first interface for triggering a first display unit;

at least one additional, second interface for triggering an additional, second display unit;

a third interface connected to at least one sensor unit that furnishes sensor data based on which the control unit determines a driver'"'"'s line of sight;

a fourth interface connected to a detecting unit for detecting a critical traffic situation, with the detecting unit signaling the control unit when a critical traffic situation has been detected, wherein when the control unit is signaled that a critical traffic situation has arisen, the control unit selects one of the display units to display the visual warning signal depending on the line of sight of the driver.

20. The control unit as recited in claim 19, wherein the control unit selects a single display unit.