Distance Information System and Method for a Motor Vehicle

• US 20150203024A1
• Filed: 01/22/2015
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: KAGERER, Walter, HUEBNER, Nils, KNOLLER, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 10,773,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18163 Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects

Abstract

A distance information system and method are provided for a motor vehicle. At least one sensor measures the distance between the own motor vehicle and a vehicle situated ahead. A control unit is configured to determine as a function of signals of the sensor whether the measured distance is less than a specified minimum distance for longer than a specified time period. At least one optical display is activated when it is determined that the measured distance is less than the specified minimum distance for more than a specified time period. The minimum distance and/or the time period is/are defined as a function of a detected or inferred lane-change situation.

Claims

1. A distance information system for a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one sensor configured to measure a distance between an own motor vehicle and a vehicle situated ahead;

a control unit configured to determine, as a function of a signal of the at least one sensor, whether the distance measured is less than a specified minimum distance for longer than a specified time period; and

at least one optical display configured to be activated when the distance measured is less than the specified minimum distance for more than the specified time period, wherein

the specified minimum distance and/or the specified time period are defined as a function of a detected or inferred lane change situation.

2. The distance information system according to claim 1, wherein the specified minimum distance and/or the specified time period are defined as a function of a detected orinferred lane-change situation of the own motor vehicle.

3. The distance information system according to claim 1, wherein the detected or inferred lane change situation is an overtaking lane-change situation of the own motor vehicle, and further wherein a shorter minimum distance and/or a longer time period are specified than in a non-lane-change situation.

4. The distance information system according to claim 3, wherein the overtaking lane-change situation is detected or inferred as a function of acceleration of the motor vehicle and/or of a turn signal activation of the motor vehicle.

5. The distance information system according to claim 1, wherein the lane change situation is a detected or inferred lane-change of a vehicle situated ahead of the own vehicle or of a vehicle situated in a neighboring lane and changing into a lane of the own vehicle.

6. The distance information system according to claim 1, wherein the lane change situation is a veering-out lane-change situation of the vehicle situated ahead of the own vehicle or a veering-in lane-change situation of a vehicle situated in a neighboring lane and changing into the lane of the own vehicle, and further wherein a smaller minimum distance and/or a longer time period are specified in such lane change situations compared to a non-lane-change situation.

7. The distance information system according to claim 6, wherein the veering-out lane-change situation or the veering-in lane-change situation is detected or inferred as a function of lateral movement.

8. The distance information system according to claim 7, wherein the lateral movement is a relative lateral movement of the vehicle situated ahead with respect to the own vehicle or of the vehicle situated in the neighboring lane with the respect to the own vehicle.

9. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a distance information system, the distance information system comprising;

at least one sensor configured to measure a distance between an own motor vehicle and a vehicle situated ahead;

a control unit configured to determine, as a function of a signal of the at least one sensor, whether the distance measured is less than a specified minimum distance for longer than a specified time period; and

at least one optical display configured to be activated when the distance measured is less than the specified minimum distance for more than the specified time period, wherein

the specified minimum distance and/or the specified time period are defined as a function of a detected or inferred lane change situation.

10. A method of operating a distance information system of a motor vehicle equipped with a sensor for measuring a distance between an own motor vehicle and a vehicle situated ahead, the method comprising the acts of:

determining a distance between the own motor vehicle and the vehicle situated ahead;

determining whether a lane change situation is occurring;

if a determined lane change situation is occurring, varying a defined minimum distance and/or a defined time period; and

activating a display upon determining whether the measured distance is less than the defined minimum distance for more than the defined time period.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the defined minimum distance and/or the defined time period are specified as a function of a determined lane-change situation of the own motor vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a shorter defined minimum distance and/or a longer defined time period is specified in an overtaking lane-change situation of the own motor vehicle than in a non-lane-change situation.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the act of:

detecting or inferring the overtaking lane-change situation as a function of an acceleration of the own motor vehicle and/or of a turn signal activation of the own motor vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the lane change situation is a lane-change situation of the vehicle situated ahead or of a vehicle situated in a neighboring lane and changing into a lane of the own vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the lane-change situation is a veering-out lane-change situation of the vehicle situated ahead or a veering-in lane-change situation of a vehicle situated in a neighboring lane, wherein a smaller defined minimum distance and/or a longer defined time period is specified in the lane-change situation than in a non-lane-change situation.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the act of:

detecting the veering-out or veering-in lane change situation as a function of a relative lateral movement of the vehicle situated ahead or the vehicle situated in the neighboring lane, respectively, with respect to the own vehicle.