ARRANGEMENT FOR WARNING OF AND/OR FOR CONSIDERATION OF UTILITY-VEHICLE-RELEVANT DRIVING RESTRICTIONS

• US 20140303886A1
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MAN Truck and Bus SE (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: SCHWERTBERGER, Walter, ROEMERSPERGER, Xaver, DOERNER, Karlheinz, VOELL, Sebastian, KRAUS, Sven, ECHTLER, Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 9,429,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/411
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard

Abstract

A device for installation in a utility vehicle for warning or consideration of a utility-vehicle-relevant driving restriction. The device includes a receiving unit for receiving at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information, which is transmitted from an apparatus arranged on a traffic infrastructure or at least adjacent thereto and which relates to the traffic infrastructure, and a provision unit for providing the item of utility-vehicle-relevant information or an item of information based thereon to the driver of the utility vehicle. The apparatus for placement on or at least adjacent to a traffic infrastructure comprises a functional unit for storing or processing at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure and a transmitting unit for transmitting the item of utility-vehicle-relevant information to one or more utility vehicles.

Claims

1. A device for installation in a utility vehicle for one of warning of and consideration of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by a traffic infrastructure, the device having:

a receiving unit for receiving at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure; and

a provision unit for providing one of the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information and at least one item of information based thereon to the driver of the utility vehicle.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an ascertainment unit configured to one of:

ascertain, as a function of the one of received item of utility-vehicle-relevant information and at least one item of utility-vehicle-specific information, whether a driving restriction exists or is imminent for the utility vehicle, and

ascertain a driving recommendation for the utility vehicle if passing the traffic infrastructure is not possible for the utility vehicle or a driving restriction for the utility vehicle is actually ascertained.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a storage apparatus in which the at least one item of utility-vehicle-specific information is stored.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one item of utility-vehicle-specific information comprises the permissible utility vehicle total weight, the actual utility vehicle total weight, the utility vehicle height, the utility vehicle width, and/or the type of the transported load.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the ascertainment is performed as a function of a predicted travel route for the utility vehicle.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the predicted travel route originates from a navigation system or a vehicle control unit.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the predicted travel route comprises at least one direct driver action detected by one or more detection units.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one direct driver action comprises one of setting a utility vehicle turn signal apparatus, a rotational movement of a utility vehicle steering wheel, and actuating a utility vehicle brake.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information comprises a route suggestion for bypassing the traffic infrastructure.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a navigation system or a vehicle control unit configured to consider the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information in its route planning for bypassing the traffic infrastructure.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information comprises at least one of a category of a potential driving restriction for the utility vehicle and a position of the driving restriction.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the potential driving restriction comprises at least one of the following categories:

a maximum permissible clearance height of a tunnel or a bridge,

a maximum permissible vehicle width on a road or construction site route,

a passage restriction for hazardous material transports or transit traffic,

a time-specific driving prohibition,

an exhaust-gas-specific passage restriction,

a cul-de-sac without utility vehicle turning possibility, and

a maximum permissible total mass and/or an actual vehicle mass on a route section.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information additionally informs about which utility vehicle configuration for which it applies.

14. An operating method for a device installed in a utility vehicle for warning of or for consideration of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by a traffic infrastructure, having the following steps:

receiving, by a receiving unit of the device, at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure, and

providing, by a provision unit of the device, the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information or at least one item of information based thereon to the driver of the utility vehicle.

15. An apparatus for placement at or adjacent to a traffic infrastructure for warning of or for communication of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by the traffic infrastructure, comprising:

a functional unit for storing and processing at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure, and

a transmitting unit for transmitting the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information to at least one utility vehicle.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information comprises a route suggestion for bypassing the traffic infrastructure.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information comprises a potential driving restriction for a utility vehicle including at least one of a category of and a position of a driving restriction.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the potential driving restriction comprises at least one of the following:

a maximum permissible clearance height of a tunnel or a bridge,

a maximum permissible vehicle width on a road or construction site route,

a passage restriction for hazardous material transports or transit traffic,

a time-specific driving prohibition,

an exhaust-gas-specific passage restriction,

a cul-de-sac without utility vehicle turning possibility,

a maximum permissible total mass or an actual vehicle mass on a route section.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a receiving unit for receiving at least one of a control command, at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure, and an update thereof.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the transmitting unit is embodied for continuous transmission at defined frequency.

21. An operating method for an apparatus placed at or adjacent to a traffic infrastructure for warning of or for communication of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by the traffic infrastructure, the method comprising the steps of storing at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure and transmitting, by a transmitting unit of the apparatus, the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure to at least one utility vehicle.

22. A system, comprising:

a device for installation in a utility vehicle for one of warning of and/or for consideration of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by a traffic infrastructure, the device having;

a receiving unit for receiving at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure; and

a provision unit for providing one of the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information and at least one item of information based thereon to the driver of the utility vehicle, and

an apparatus for placement at or adjacent to the traffic infrastructure for warning of or for communication of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by the traffic infrastructure, the apparatus having;

a functional unit for storing and processing the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure, and

a transmitting unit for transmitting the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information to the device.

23. A utility vehicle having a device for installation in a utility vehicle for one of warning of and/or for consideration of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by a traffic infrastructure, the device having:

a receiving unit for receiving at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure; and

a provision unit for providing one of the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information and at least one item of information based thereon to the driver of the utility vehicle.