Method and device for lateral guidance of a vehicle

• US 7,292,920 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2004
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Maass, Alexander, Fleischer, Klaus-Guenther
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/801,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20040249535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 701/41, 701/300, 701/301, 701/117, 340/901, 340/903, 340/425.5, 340/691.1, 340/346, 348/148, 348/54, 348/143, 180/169, 180/170
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/08 Lane monitoring; Lane Keeping Systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/082 using alarm actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for the lateral guidance of a vehicle. A warning device that outputs a warning signal when straying from a traffic lane is able to be turned off by a switching means when driving on a road that is not suitable for lateral guidance, in particular an inner-city road, and be turned on again when reaching a road that is suitable for lateral guidance.

Claims

1. A method for a lateral guidance of a vehicle, the vehicle including a lane detection device, the lane detection device including a warning device for alerting a driver of the vehicle when straying from a traffic lane, the method comprising:

when driving on roads that are not suitable for lateral guidance, automatically turning off the warning device; and

turning the warning device back on automatically when roads are reached once more that are suitable for lateral guidance.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the roads that are not suitable for lateral guidance are inner-city streets.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the warning device is turned on again when the vehicle exceeds a preselected minimum speed after the warning device has previously been turned off.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the warning device is turned on again after a minimum speed of about 60 km/h has been reached.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting position changes of the vehicle at intervals of multiple 10 ms.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting position changes of the vehicle at intervals of 40 ms.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising turning on at least one of additional comfort and safety functions of the vehicle when the warning device is turned off.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, when the warning device is turned off, setting a device for regulating a speed of the vehicle, present in the vehicle, to a preselected setpoint speed.

9. A method for a lateral guidance of a vehicle, the vehicle including a lane detection device, the lane detection device including a warning device for alerting a driver of the vehicle when straying from a traffic lane, the method comprising:

when driving on roads that are not suitable for lateral guidance, turning off the warning device;

turning the warning device back on when roads are reached once more that are suitable for lateral guidance;

determining a track curve traveled by the vehicle over a certain distance;

determining a width of the track curve and comparing the width to a preselected value for the width; and

turning off the warning device when the preselected value for the width of the track curve has been exceeded.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the preselected value is a limit value.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the preselected value is a threshold value.

12. A method for a lateral guidance of a vehicle, the vehicle including a lane detection device, the lane detection device including a warning device for alerting a driver of the vehicle when straying from a traffic lane, the method comprising:

when driving on roads that are not suitable for lateral guidance, turning off the warning device;

turning the warning device back on when roads are reached once more that are suitable for lateral guidance; and

to determine a track curve of the vehicle, ascertaining position changes of the vehicle at preselected instants and linking drive segments lying between determined positions to form a track curve of the vehicle.

13. A method for a lateral guidance of a vehicle, the vehicle including a lane detection device, the lane detection device including a warning device for alerting a driver of the vehicle when straying from a traffic lane, the method comprising:

when driving on roads that are not suitable for lateral guidance, turning off the warning device;

turning the warning device back on when roads are reached once more that are suitable for lateral guidance; and

setting a light system of the vehicle to a low beam when the warning device is turned off.

14. A device for a lateral guidance of a vehicle, the vehicle including means for providing lateral guidance which includes a warning device to alert a driver of the vehicle when straying from a traffic lane, the device comprising:

a switching arrangement for automatically turning the warning device off when driving on roads that are unsuitable for lateral guidance, and for automatically turning the warning device on again when roads that are suitable for lateral guidance are reached once again.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the roads that are unsuitable for lateral guidance are inner-city roads.