METHOD AND DEVICE FOR WARNING THE DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF LACK OF ATTENTION

• US 20150102929A1
• Filed: 09/18/2012
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schroeder, Wolfgang, Grinenval, Charlotte
• Granted Patent: US 9,908,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

In a method for warning the driver of a motor vehicle in the event of lack of attention, in order to improve the acceptance of such systems among drivers, it is provided to monitor the driver with regard to lack of attention and also to ascertain the instantaneous driving situation of the vehicle, and, if lack of attention of the driver has been determined, to output a warning signal only in certain driving situations, but not in others.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method for warning a driver of a host motor vehicle in the event of a lack of attention by the driver, comprising:

monitoring the driver'"'"'s attention level to ascertain a lack of attention by the driver;

ascertaining a driving situation of the vehicle; and

generating, in the event the lack of attention by the driver has been ascertained, a warning signal as a function of the driving situation of the vehicle.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the intensity of the generated warning signal is varied as a function of the driving situation of the vehicle.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one driving situation is predefined in which a warning signal is to be output in the event of lack of attention by the driver, and wherein the warning signal is generated in the event of the lack of attention by the driver if the vehicle is in the at least one predefined driving situation.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one further driving situation is predefined in which a warning signal is not to be output in the event of lack of attention of the driver, and wherein the warning signal is not generated in the event of the lack of attention by the driver if the vehicle is in the at least one further predefined driving situation.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one driving situation in which a warning signal is to be output in the event of lack of attention by the driver is defined by at least one of the following conditions:

the speed of the host vehicle is greater than a predefined threshold value;

the host vehicle is one of crossing an intersection or approaching the intersection;

the host vehicle is being driven on a route including one of a mountain road, twisting turns, deer crossings, a school zone or a crosswalk;

the host vehicle is in the proximity of a rear end of one of a traffic jam or a construction site;

weather conditions including one of rain, fog, snow or freezing temperatures;

the host vehicle is pulling a trailer; and

the host vehicle is being driven in the dark.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least one further driving situation in which a warning signal is not to be output in the event of lack of attention by the driver is defined by at least one of the following conditions:

the speed of the host vehicle is less than a predefined threshold value;

the host vehicle is not crossing an intersection and not approaching the intersection;

the host vehicle is not being driven on a route including one of a mountain road, twisting turns, deer crossings, a school zone or a crosswalk;

the host vehicle is not in the proximity of a rear end of one of a traffic jam or a construction site;

weather conditions do not include any one of rain, fog, snow or freezing temperatures;

the host vehicle is not pulling a trailer; and

the host vehicle is being driven in during daylight hours.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein a driving behavior of the driver is monitored with the aid of at least one sensor, and a lack of attention by the driver is ascertained from sensor data output by the at least one sensor.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the driving behavior of the driver is monitored with the aid of output signals generated by at least one of an in-car camera, a steering wheel sensor, a brake pedal sensor, or an accelerator pedal sensor.

19. A device for warning a driver of a host motor vehicle in the event of a lack of attention by the driver, comprising:

a sensor system for monitoring signals relating to the driver'"'"'s attention level to ascertain a lack of attention by the driver;

means for ascertaining a driving situation of the vehicle; and

an evaluation unit configured to (i) evaluate output signals of the sensor system and the means for ascertaining the driving situation of the vehicle, and (ii) generate, in the event the lack of attention by the driver has been ascertained, a warning signal as a function of the driving situation of the vehicle.

20. The device as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one driving situation is predefined in which a warning signal is to be output in the event of lack of attention by the driver, and wherein the warning signal is generated in the event of the lack of attention by the driver if the vehicle is in the at least one predefined driving situation.