method and device for avoiding a tunnel vision

• US 20160009289A1
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: VOELKEL, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 9,963,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A method for avoiding a tunnel vision of a motor vehicle driver includes detecting an instantaneous viewing direction of the driver; comparing the instantaneous viewing direction with at least one previous viewing direction; detecting a tunnel vision if a rate of change between the viewing directions and/or if an angular range of the viewing direction is not reached; and stimulating the motor vehicle driver to avoid the tunnel vision. A device for avoiding a tunnel vision of the driver includes a camera for detecting an instantaneous viewing direction of the motor vehicle driver; a control unit for comparing the instantaneous viewing direction with at least one previous viewing direction and for detecting a tunnel vision if a rate of change between the viewing directions and/or if an angular range of the viewing direction is not reached, and a device for stimulating the motor vehicle driver to avoid the tunnel vision.

Claims

1. A method for avoiding a tunnel vision of a motor vehicle driver, the method comprising:

detecting an instantaneous viewing direction of the motor vehicle driver;

comparing the instantaneous viewing direction with at least one previous viewing direction;

detecting a tunnel vision if a rate of change between the viewing directions is not reached and/or if an angular range of the viewing direction is not reached; and

stimulating the motor vehicle driver to avoid the tunnel vision.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle driver is stimulated if, in addition, a predictive safety system of the motor vehicle detects a danger in an instantaneous path of travel of the motor vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the stimulation includes a notification concerning a collision-free path of travel for the motor vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the stimulation is a visual stimulation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a tunnel vision is detected if the rate of change and/or the angular range are below a threshold value for a predefined period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a view vector is generated from the viewing direction and the view vector is analyzed.

7. A device for avoiding a tunnel vision of a motor vehicle driver, comprising:

a camera to detect an instantaneous viewing direction of the motor vehicle driver;

a control unit to compare the instantaneous viewing direction with at least one previous viewing direction and to detect a tunnel vision if a rate of change between the viewing directions is not reached and/or if an angular range of the viewing direction is not reached; and

a stimulating device to stimulate the motor vehicle driver to avoid the tunnel vision.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the device for stimulating includes a visual display.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the visual display is situated in the area of the windshield of the motor vehicle.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the visual display has at least one LED and/or a laser for displaying information.