Method and device for triggering emergency braking

• US 7,565,242 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Randler, Martin, Lucas, Bernhard, Wilhelm, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/201,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20060058964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 701 29- 41, 701/301, 701/302, 701/200, 701/93, 701/96, 340/437, 340/435, 340/436, 340/901, 340/903
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01259 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads

Abstract

A method and a device for triggering emergency braking of a vehicle for avoiding a collision or for reducing the severity of a collision, the vehicle having at least one object detection sensor, an ascertainment being made as a function of the detected objects as to whether a collision with an object is imminent and a risk to one'"'"'s own vehicle in the event of a triggering of emergency braking being ascertained as a function of the current surrounding situation, the triggering threshold for emergency braking being variable in such a way that the probability for a false triggering is increased if a calculated risk posed by emergency braking is low and the triggering threshold for emergency braking being variable in such a way that the probability for a false triggering is lowered if a calculated risk posed by emergency braking is higher.

Claims

1. A method for triggering an emergency braking of a vehicle for one of avoiding a collision and reducing a severity of a collision, the vehicle having at least one detection sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

ascertaining a probability of collision as a function of a detected object;

triggering the emergency braking as a function of the probability of collision; and

ascertaining a risk to the vehicle in the event that the emergency braking is triggered as a function of a current situation in surroundings of the vehicle, wherein a triggering threshold for the emergency braking is variable in such a way that, if the ascertained risk posed by the emergency braking is low, a probability for false triggering is increased, and if the ascertained risk posed by the emergency braking is higher, then the probability for false triggering is reduced.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the false triggering is a triggering of a deceleration device, in a deceleration characteristic of which no collision occurred.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the ascertained risk posed by the emergency braking is ascertainable from moving and stationary objects detected in the surroundings of the vehicle.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein for ascertaining the risk posed by emergency braking at least one of the following is evaluated:

a number of lanes of a road traveled;

a currently used lane;

a traffic density due to detected, moving objects of the road traveled;

a velocity of the vehicle;

positions of stationary objects at an edge of a roadway;

curves in a further course of the roadway radii of curvature of the curves; and

the ascertained probability of collision.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein objects in the surroundings are detected by an object detection sensory system that includes one of a radar sensor, a laser sensor, a video sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and a combination of the radar sensor, the laser sensor, the video sensor, and the ultrasonic sensor.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein together with the triggering of the emergency braking, occupant restraint systems including at least one of an airbag and a belt tensioner are capable of being activated.

7. A device for triggering an emergency braking of a vehicle for one of avoiding a collision and reducing a severity of a collision, comprising:

a calculation device; and

at least one detection sensor for producing ascertained object data that is supplied to the calculation device, wherein;

the calculation device ascertains, as a function of a detected object, whether a collision with the detected object is imminent and is able to trigger the emergency braking as a function of a probability of the collision;

the calculation device ascertains a risk to the vehicle in the event that the emergency braking is triggered as a function of a current situation in surroundings detected by the at least one object detection sensor;

triggering threshold for the emergency braking is variable in such a way that a probability for a false triggering is increased if the ascertained risk posed by the emergency braking is low; and

the triggering threshold is variable in such a way that the probability for the false triggering is reduced if the ascertained risk posed by the emergency braking is greater.

8. A device for triggering an emergency braking of a vehicle for one of avoiding a collision and reducing a severity of a collision, comprising:

a control unit; and

at least one detection sensor that is configured to produce, and supply to the control unit, object data;

wherein;

the control unit is configured to;

ascertain a probability of collision as a function of a detected object indicated by the object data;

trigger the emergency braking as a function of the probability of collision; and

ascertain a risk to the vehicle in the event that the emergency braking is triggered as a function of a current situation in surroundings of the vehicle, the current situation indicated by the object data; and

a triggering threshold for the emergency braking is variable in such a way that, if the ascertained risk posed by the emergency braking is low, a probability for false triggering is increased, and if the ascertained risk posed by the emergency braking is higher, then the probability for false triggering is reduced.

9. The device as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a deceleration device, wherein the false triggering includes a triggering of the deceleration device.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the ascertained risk posed by the emergency braking is ascertainable from moving and stationary objects detected in the surroundings of the vehicle.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein for ascertaining the risk posed by emergency braking at least one of the following is evaluated:

a number of lanes of a road traveled;

a currently used lane;

a traffic density due to detected, moving objects of the road traveled;

a velocity of the vehicle;

positions of stationary objects at an edge of a roadway;

curves in a further course of the roadway radii of curvature of the curves; and

the ascertained probability of collision.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one detection sensor includes one of at least one of a radar sensor, a laser sensor, a video sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the device is configured such that, together with the triggering of the emergency braking, an occupant restraint system, including at least one of an airbag and a belt tensioner, is activated.