Device and method for outputting a signal when there is a hazardous underlying surface under a vehicle

• US 8,890,713 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Breuer, Karsten, Gerami-Manesch, Bijan, Hanslik, Daniel, Hoffmann, Guido, Sandkuhler, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US13/704,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20140049405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 340/901, 340/905
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/002 for parking purposes, e.g. for warning the driver that his vehicle has contacted or is about to contact an obstacle warning arrangements in garages E04H6/42
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/12 Friction
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/303 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/3185 typically monochromatic or band-limited
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/21 Polarisation-affecting properties G01N21/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/314 with comparison of measurements at specific and non-specific wavelengths dual wavelength spectrometry G01J3/427
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/35 using infrared light G01N21/39 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3554 for determining moisture content
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/55 Specular reflectivity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0216 Vehicle borne
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096766 where the system is characterised by the origin of the information transmission

Abstract

A method and a device for outputting a signal when there is a hazardous surface under a vehicle includes providing an optical surface sensor for determining one or more parameters of the underlying surface, a stationary-state-determining device for determining whether the vehicle is stationary or is to be brought to a standstill, and an output device that outputs a signal if the underlying surface has been determined to be hazardous on the basis of the parameter(s), and the vehicle is stationary or is to be brought to a standstill.

Claims

1. A device for outputting a signal when there is a hazardous underlying surface under a vehicle, the device comprising:

an optical surface sensor configured to determine at least one parameter of the underlying surface;

a stoppage ascertainment unit configured to determine whether the vehicle is stationary or is to be brought to a stop; and

an output unit configured to output a signal;

(i) when the underlying surface has been determined to be hazardous on the basis of the at least one parameter; and

(ii) whether the vehicle is stationary or is to be brought to a stop.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output unit comprises a display unit arranged one of on or in proximity to a vehicle door.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical surface sensor is arranged one of on or in proximity to a vehicle door.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hazardous underlying surface is at least one of a soft and slippery underlying surface.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical surface sensor comprises:

a light source unit configured to emit light of at least one wavelength onto the underlying surface, and

at least one first detector configured to detect light reflected from the underlying surface.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the light source unit and the at least one first detector are arranged in a housing.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stoppage ascertainment unit is connected to the optical surface sensor and is configured to receive data from the optical surface sensor.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is configured to attach to the vehicle.

15. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hazardous underlying surface is covered by at least one of water, snow, ice, and grass.

19. The device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a light source polarizer that polarizes light emitted by the light source unit; and

an emitter optic that at least one of focuses and aligns light emitted from the light source unit on a region of the underlying surface.

20. The device as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

a first converging optic that directs the light emitted by the light source to a first detector of the at least one first detector; and

a first polarization filter arranged substantially perpendicularly with respect to the light source polarizer that prevents specularly reflected light from reaching the first detector such that substantially only diffusely reflected light reaches the first detector.

21. The device as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

a second converging optic that directs the light emitted by the light source to a second detector of the at least one first detector.

22. The device as claimed in claim 21, further comprising:

a second polarization filter arranged substantially parallel with respect to the light source polarizer that such that substantially only specularly reflected light reaches the second detector.

23. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output unit comprises an optical projector that projects a warning signal in a region of the underlying surface in proximity to a vehicle door.

9. A method for outputting a signal when there is a hazardous underlying surface under a vehicle, the method comprising:

emitting at least one light beam onto the underlying surface;

detecting light reflected on the underlying surface;

ascertaining on the basis of the detected reflected light whether the underlying surface is hazardous;

ascertaining whether the vehicle is stationary or is to be brought to a stop; and

outputting a signal;

(i) when the underlying surface has been ascertained to be hazardous; and

(ii) the vehicle is stationary or is to be brought to a stop.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein ascertaining whether the vehicle is stationary or is to be brought to a stop comprises detecting at least one of actuation of a parking brake, actuation of a transit stop brake, shutdown of the engine, disengagement of a safety belt, and opening of a vehicle door.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein ascertaining whether the underlying surface is hazardous includes detecting at least one of water, snow, ice, grass, and a soft underlying surface.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein emitting at least one light beam onto the underlying surface is effected in a region of a vehicle door.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein emitting at least one light beam onto the underlying surface includes light of at least one wavelength in the infrared range.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein ascertaining whether the vehicle is stationary or is to be brought to a stop is effected on the basis of the detected reflected light.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the light includes three wavelengths in the infrared range.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, comprising:

comparing measured intensity ratios of the three wavelengths to determine whether the underlying surface is hazardous.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, comprising:

emitting the three wavelengths in parallel and sequentially offset in time.