Method for producing a localized warning of dangerous situations for vehicles

• US 8,330,620 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Stählin, Ulrich, Swoboda, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie
• Application Number:
  US12/447,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 340/902, 340/905
• US Class Current: 340/902
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered

Abstract

A method for issuing warnings in vehicles about hazardous situations as a function of their location. A position of the first vehicle is transmitted as first information and actuated warning signal of the first vehicle are transmitted as second information to surrounding vehicles. The information is received by the surrounding vehicles and the first information is compared and evaluated with information relating to a position of the surrounding vehicles. In the event of a hazardous situation for the surrounding vehicles, corresponding measures for minimizing the hazardous situations are initiated in the surrounding vehicles.

Claims

1. A method for issuing warnings in vehicles about hazardous situations as a function of their location, wherein the respective vehicles which are involved in the method include means for exchanging information, means for outputting warning signals, means for determining their own location coordinates, driver assistance systems and vehicle safety systems, said method comprising the steps of:

a) activating the means for outputting warning signals in a first vehicle;

b) transmitting a position of the first vehicle via the means for exchanging information as first information and transmitting an actuated warning signal to the surrounding vehicles as second information;

c) receiving the first and second information in at least one further vehicle via the means for exchanging information;

d) comparing and evaluating the first information received in step (c) with further information relating to the position of the further vehicle; and

e) initiating measures for minimizing a hazardous situation in the event of a hazardous situation for the vehicles which are in the surroundings by means of the driver assistance and vehicle safety systems in the respective receiving vehicles, and

wherein before the information is transmitted, the warning signal is monitored over a specific time period and a transmission is not made by the means for exchanging information until a velocity of the transmitting vehicle drops below a specific threshold and the transmission takes place as a broadcast transmission, a multicast transmission, a unicast transmission, or any combination thereof.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the information of a vehicle data bus is checked to verify a plausibility of the warning signal.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein upon detecting a stationary state of the transmitting vehicle, a functionality of at least one of the drive unit and the tires of the transmitting vehicle is evaluated, and if at least one of the drive unit or the tires of the transmitting vehicle is non-functional, information relating to the non-functional status of the transmitting vehicle is transmitted to vehicles in the surroundings via the means for exchanging information.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein in the transmitting vehicle which outputs a warning signal, a status of doors, a trunk or a hood of the transmitting vehicle is monitored and information relating to the status of the doors, the trunk and/or the hood is transmitted to the vehicles in the surroundings.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4,

wherein in the receiving vehicle which outputs a warning signal, information relating to the status of the doors, the trunk and/or the hood of the transmitting vehicle is checked.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1,

wherein upon removing a warning triangle from the transmitting vehicle, information relating to the status of the warning triangle is transmitted to the vehicles in the surroundings.