Auxiliary system for motor vehicles

• US 8,289,141 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Haberland, Udo
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/296,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/435, 340/904, 340/943, 340/932.2, 342/70, 180/169, 701/301
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/006 using a distance sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9314 Parking operations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93185 Controlling the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9319 Controlling the accelerator
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9321 Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area

Abstract

The invention relates to an assistance system for motor vehicles (20), said system having a distance detection system (4) and a warning system (6), wherein provision is made of an evaluation unit (18) which combines items of information (12, 14, 16) obtained by the distance detection system (4) and by the warning system (6). The invention also relates to a method for operating an assistance system (2).

Claims

1. An auxiliary system comprising:

a distance detection system configured to determine a distance between a motor vehicle and one or more stationary obstacles located in a side area relative to the motor vehicle;

a warning system configured to provide a warning signal upon detection of one or more moving obstacles located in a side or rear area relative to the motor vehicle, the warning system comprising;

a first system configured to detect moving obstacles that are located in an area not visible to a driver in a rear-view mirror of the motor vehicle;

a second system configured to detect moving obstacles that approach the motor vehicle from a rear direction;

an evaluation unit configured to process data from the distance detection system and at least one of data from the first system and data from the second system to determine whether to suppress the warning signal.

2. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein the warning system comprises a system to aid in changing lanes.

3. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein the warning system comprises a system for preparing the motor vehicle for an imminent accident.

4. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein the warning system comprises a parking help system.

5. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein the warning system comprises a system for automating driving and braking processes.

6. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein the distance detection and/or warning system comprise at least one of:

one or more radar sensors and one or more ultrasound sensors.

7. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein different angular regions of a multi-beam radar are assigned to the distance detection system and the warning system.

8. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein different angular regions of a radar system with a swiveling radar beam are assigned to the distance detection system and the warning system.

9. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein individual sensors are assigned to the distance detection system and the warning system.

10. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein sensors of varying types of construction are assigned to the distance detection system and the warning system.

11. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein a sensor or sensors of at least one of the distance detection system and the warning system are located in a lateral area of the front bumper of the motor vehicle.

12. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein a sensor or sensors of at least one of the distance detection system and the warning system are located in a lateral area of the rear bumper of the motor vehicle.

13. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein a sensor or sensors of at least one of the distance detection system and the warning system are located in a rear-view mirror of the motor vehicle or immediately next to it.

17. The auxiliary system according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary system is configured to filter an angular motion of the moving object detected and to determine the distance between the motor vehicle and the stationary obstacle without using the angular motion to determine the distance.

14. A process, comprising:

determining if a moving obstacle is in an area comprising an area not visible to a driver in a rear-view mirror;

determining if a moving obstacle is approaching the motor vehicle from a rear direction;

detecting a moving vehicle in response to the determining if a moving obstacle is in an area comprising an area not visible to a driver in a rear-view mirror and the determining if a moving obstacle is approaching the motor vehicle from a rear direction;

determining a distance between the motor vehicle and a stationary obstacle located in a side area relative to the motor vehicle; and

determining whether to suppress a warning signal indicating that the moving obstacle is detected in response to the distance determined.

15. The process according to claim 14, further comprising suppressing the warning signal if the distance determined is less than a minimum distance.

16. The process according to claim 14, further comprising filtering an angular motion of the moving object detected,

wherein determining the distance between the motor vehicle and the stationary obstacle comprises not using the angular motion to determine the distance.