Arrangement for warning of and/or for consideration of utility-vehicle-relevant driving restrictions

• US 9,429,441 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: MAN Truck & Bus AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Roemersperger, Xaver, Voell, Sebastian, Kraus, Sven, Echtler, Johannes, Doerner, Karlheinz, Schwertberger, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Kan, Yuri
• Application Number:
  US14/244,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20140303886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 701/33.4, 701/411, 701/431, 701/532, 701/417, 701/461, 340/425.5, 340/907, 340/901
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3461 Preferred or disfavoured areas, e.g. dangerous zones, toll or emission zones, intersections, manoeuvre types, segments such as motorways, toll roads, ferries
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 where the route is computed onboard

Abstract

A device for installation in a utility vehicle for warning or consideration of a utility-vehicle-relevant driving restriction. The device includes a receiving unit for receiving at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information, which is transmitted from an apparatus arranged on a traffic infrastructure or at least adjacent thereto and which relates to the traffic infrastructure, and a provision unit for providing the item of utility-vehicle-relevant information or an item of information based thereon to the driver of the utility vehicle. The apparatus for placement on or at least adjacent to a traffic infrastructure comprises a functional unit for storing or processing at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure and a transmitting unit for transmitting the item of utility-vehicle-relevant information to one or more utility vehicles.

Claims

1. A device for installation in a utility vehicle for one of warning of and consideration of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by a traffic infrastructure, the device having:

a receiver receiving at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure;

a provision unit for providing one of the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information and at least one item of information based thereon to the driver of the utility vehicle, and

an ascertaining unit configured to ascertain, as a function of the one of received item of utility-vehicle-relevant information and at least one item of utility-vehicle-specific information and as a function of a predicted travel route for the utility vehicle, whether the traffic infrastructure produces a driving restriction that exists or is imminent for the utility vehicle, and a driving recommendation for the utility vehicle, the ascertaining unit being one of a computer, processor, and controller,

wherein the predicted travel route includes at least one direct driver action detected by at least one sensor, the at least one driver action comprising at least one of setting a utility vehicle turn signal apparatus, a rotational movement of a utility vehicle steering wheel, and actuating a utility vehicle brake.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the ascertainment unit is further configured to ascertain a driving recommendation for the utility vehicle if passing the traffic infrastructure is not possible for the utility vehicle or a driving restriction for the utility vehicle is actually ascertained.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage apparatus in which the at least one item of utility-vehicle-specific information is stored.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one item of utility-vehicle-specific information comprises the permissible utility vehicle total weight, the actual utility vehicle total weight, the utility vehicle height, the utility vehicle width, and/or the type of the transported load.

5. The device according to claim 1, the predicted travel route originates from a navigation system.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one tern of utility-vehicle-relevant information comprises a route suggestion for bypassing the traffic infrastructure.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a navigation system configured to consider the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information in its route planning for bypassing the traffic infrastructure.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information comprises at least one of a category of a potential driving restriction for the utility vehicle and a position of the driving restriction.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the potential driving restriction comprises at least one of the following categories:

a maximum permissible clearance height of a tunnel or a bridge,

a maximum permissible vehicle width on a road or construction site route,

a passage restriction for hazardous material transports or transit traffic,

a time-specific driving prohibition,

an exhaust-gas-specific passage restriction,

a cul-de-sac without utility vehicle turning possibility, and

a maximum permissible total mass and/or an actual vehicle mass on a route section.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information additionally informs about which utility vehicle configuration for which it applies.

11. An operating method for a device installed in a utility vehicle for warning of or for consideration of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by a traffic infrastructure, having the following steps:

receiving, by a receiver of the device, at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure,

providing, by a provision unit of the device, the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information or at least one item of information based thereon to the driver of the utility vehicle, and

ascertaining, by an ascertainment unit, as a function of the one of received item of utility-vehicle-relevant information and at least one item of utility-vehicle-specific information and as a function of a predicted travel route for the utility vehicle, whether the traffic infrastructure produces a driving restriction that exists or is imminent for the utility vehicle, and a driving recommendation for the utility vehicle, the ascertaining unit being one of a computer, processor, and controller,

wherein the predicted travel route includes at least one direct driver action detected by at least one sensor, the at least one driver action comprising at least one of setting a utility vehicle turn signal apparatus, a rotational movement of a utility vehicle steering wheel, and actuating a utility vehicle brake.

12. A system, comprising:

a device for installation in a utility vehicle for one of warning of and/or for consideration of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by a traffic infrastructure, the device having;

a receiver receiving at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure;

a provision unit for providing one of the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information and at least one item of information based thereon to the driver of the utility vehicle; and

an ascertainment unit configured to ascertain, as a function of the one of received item of utility-vehicle-relevant information and at least one item of utility-vehicle-specific information, and as a function of a predicted travel route for the utility vehicle, whether the traffic infrastructure produces a driving restriction that exists or is imminent for the utility vehicle, and a driving recommendation for the utility vehicle, the ascertaining unit being one of a computer, processor and controller,

wherein the predicted travel route includes at least one direct driver action detected by at least one sensor, the at least one driver action comprising at least one of setting a utility vehicle turn signal apparatus, a rotational movement of a utility vehicle steering wheel, and actuating a utility vehicle brake, and

an apparatus for placement at or adjacent to the traffic infrastructure for warning of or for communication of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by the traffic infrastructure, the apparatus having;

a memory for storing the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure, and

a transmitter transmitting the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information to the device.

13. A utility vehicle having a device for installation in a utility vehicle for one of warning of and/or for consideration of a driving restriction at least potentially produced by a traffic infrastructure, the device having:

a receiver receiving at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information relating to the traffic infrastructure;

a provision unit for providing one of the at least one item of utility-vehicle-relevant information and at least one item of information based thereon to the driver of the utility vehicle; and

an ascertainment unit configured to ascertain, as a function of the one of received item of utility-vehicle-relevant information and at least one item of utility-vehicle-specific information, and as a function of a predicted travel route for the utility vehicle, whether the traffic infrastructure produces a driving restriction that exists or is imminent for the utility vehicle, and a driving recommendation for the utility vehicle, the ascertaining unit being one of a computer processor, and controller,

wherein the predicted travel route includes at least one direct driver action detected by at least one sensor, the at least one driver action comprising at least one of setting a utility vehicle turn signal apparatus, a rotational movement of a utility vehicle steering wheel, and actuating a utility vehicle brake.