Method and Device for an Assistance System in a Vehicle for Performing an Autonomous or Semi-Autonomous Driving Maneuver

• US 20140214260A1
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Eckert, Alfred, Piller, Bernd, Bayer, Ronald, Lueke, Stefan, Halasy-Wimmer, Georg
• Application Number:
  US14/241,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20140214260A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/326 on or for wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/346 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/48 for parking purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/488 for indicating intention to park
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for an assistance system that serves to perform an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving maneuver of a vehicle, e.g., a parking assistance system in a vehicle, wherein by means of a camera system, image data are acquired from the surroundings of a vehicle and processed in order to perform the driving maneuver. At least one direction in which the vehicle moves when performing the driving maneuver is indicated by means of at least one light signal device.

Claims

1. A method for an assistance system that serves to perform an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving maneuver of a vehicle, particularly a maneuver performed in order to get into or out of a parking space, and in which, by camera system, image data are acquired from the surroundings of a vehicle and processed in order to perform the driving maneuver,

characterized in that

at least one direction in which the vehicle moves when performing the driving maneuver is indicated by at least one light signal device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the light signal device is at least one strip light arranged on the vehicle and comprising several light sources that are arranged next to each other, wherein, in order to indicate the at least one direction, said light sources are driven such that a chaser light moving in the at least one direction is generated.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that

the light signal device is at least one projection device arranged on the vehicle, wherein

the at least one direction is projected onto the surface of a pavement by the projection device.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that

the projection device is a laser and

the at least one direction is projected, in the form of a movement trajectory, onto the surface of the pavement by the laser.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that

the at least one direction is indicated by illuminated hub caps or of illuminated wheel rims.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that

the at least one light signal device is additionally used to illuminate at least one region of the surroundings of the vehicle, particularly in garages and dark entrances.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that

the camera system of the assistance system is a system in which individual images from various regions of the surroundings of the vehicle are acquired by several cameras and suitably transformed image processing devices in order to generate an overall image of the surroundings of the vehicle thereby, and

the overall image is processed in order to perform the driving maneuver.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that

the at least one direction is only indicated if at least one other road user is detected in the image data.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that

in the event of the detection of one or several road user(s), particularly if several light signal devices are arranged on the vehicle, only those light signal devices for indicating the at least one direction which can be seen by the one or the several road user(s) are driven.

10. A device for indicating at least one direction of movement of a vehicle comprising

a camera system that is configured and adapted to acquire individual images from various regions of the surroundings of a vehicle by several cameras and suitably transforms said individual images by image processing devices to generate an overall image of the surroundings of the vehicle thereby,

a light signal device that is configured and adapted to indicate at least one direction of a movement that the vehicle performs during an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving maneuver, wherein

the overall image of the surroundings of the vehicle is processed to perform the autonomous or semi-autonomous driving maneuver of the vehicle and to indicate the at least one direction of movement of the vehicle.

11. A method of carrying out an autonomous or semi-autonomous parking maneuver by which a motor vehicle moves into or out of a parking space, comprising:

using at least one electronic sensor, acquiring data from and indicative of surroundings in an environment outside of said motor vehicle including said parking space in said environment;

using a processor arrangement, processing said data to produce control information;

using a driver assistance system of said motor vehicle, receiving said control information, and dependent thereon controlling said motor vehicle autonomously or semi-autonomously to perform said parking maneuver in which said motor vehicle moves or will move in a movement direction including at least a forward or backward movement component to move said motor vehicle into or out of said parking space; and

using said driver assistance system, activating at least one light signal device provided on said motor vehicle to emit light into said environment outside of said motor vehicle, so that said light visually indicates, to at least one person in said environment, said movement direction including said forward or backward movement component in which said motor vehicle moves or will move when performing said parking maneuver.