Vehicle having active blind spot lighting and method

• US 8,768,566 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Schwarzhaupt, Andreas, Vegh, Istvan, Wiesel, Urs, Wirnitzer, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH-STEWART, DEMETRA R
• Application Number:
  US13/496,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20120191298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/10 using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves determination of distance by phase measurement G01S15/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/523 for presence detection burglar, theft or intruder alarms G08B13/00, e.g. G08B13/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

In order to provide better monitoring for the side environment of a vehicle a lighting unit to light up a vehicle environment and a detection unit for detecting an object in the vehicle environment are provided. The lighting unit is automatically switched on if the detection unit has detected an object in the vehicle environment.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a lighting unit configured to illuminate a vehicle environment;

a detection unit configured to detect an object in the vehicle environment;

an assistance unit configured to record a signal of the detection unit and at least one additional vehicle signal and to control the lighting unit depending upon the signal of the detection unit and the at least one additional vehicle signal; and

a warning system that warns a user of the vehicle about the object based upon a plurality of speed-dependent warning regions;

wherein the lighting unit is configured to automatically switch on if the detection unit has detected the object in the vehicle environment.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle environment is a blind spot region.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lighting unit is arranged on a passenger side of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lighting unit is configured to switch on unconditionally if the detection unit detects a moving object in the vehicle environment.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lighting unit is configured to switch on upon detection of a stationary object through the detection unit only when the stationary object also lies in a travel path of the vehicle that is estimated by a vehicle-internal computing unit.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a coverage range of the detection unit decreases as vehicle speed increases between zero and a first threshold speed in the plurality of warning regions.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the coverage range of the detection unit remains constant when the vehicle speed is greater than the first threshold speed in a first warning region of the plurality of warning regions.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein, when the vehicle speed is greater than the first threshold speed in a second warning region and a third warning region of the plurality of warning regions, the coverage range of the detection unit decreases as the vehicle speed increases.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of speed-dependent warning regions are defined by a speed of the vehicle and a distance of the object from the vehicle.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein a first warning is provided to the user in a first speed-dependent warning region of the plurality of speed-dependent warning regions, a second warning is provided to the user in a second speed-dependent warning region of the plurality of speed-dependent warning regions, and a third warning is provided to the user in a third speed-dependent warning region of the plurality of speed-dependent warning regions, wherein the first, second, and third warnings are different from each other.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of speed-dependent warning regions are defined by a speed of the vehicle and a distance of the object from the vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein a first warning is provided to the user in a first speed-dependent warning region of the plurality of speed-dependent warning regions, a second warning is provided to the user in a second speed-dependent warning region of the plurality of speed-dependent warning regions, and a third warning is provided to the user in a third speed-dependent warning region of the plurality of speed-dependent warning regions, wherein the first, second, and third warnings are different from each other.

13. A method for operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

illuminating a vehicle environment by a lighting unit;

detecting an object in the vehicle environment by a detection unit;

recording a signal of the detection unit and at least one additional vehicle signal;

controlling the lighting unit depending upon the signal of the detection unit and the at least one additional vehicle signal; and

warning a user of the vehicle about the object based upon a plurality of speed-dependent warning regions;

wherein the lighting unit is automatically switched on if the object is detected in the vehicle environment.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the lighting unit is automatically switched on if a reverse gear of the vehicle is engaged and driving lighting of the vehicle is switched on.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein a coverage range of the detection unit decreases as vehicle speed increases between zero and a first threshold speed in the plurality of warning regions.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the coverage range of the detection unit remains constant when the vehicle speed is greater than the first threshold speed in a first warning region of the plurality of warning regions.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, when the vehicle speed is greater than the first threshold speed in a second warning region and a third warning region of the plurality of warning regions, the coverage range of the detection unit decreases as the vehicle speed increases.