Method and control device for highlighting an expected movement path of a vehicle

• US 9,493,109 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Nordbruch, Stefan, Galbas, Roland, Ruehle, Armin
• Primary Examiner(s): Kan, Yuri
• Application Number:
  US13/592,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20130054089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/301, 701/300.301, 701/49, 340/435, 340/905, 340/468, 340/469, 340/903, 382/103, 352/94, 362/464, 362/466, 362/465, 315/294
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/12 due to steering position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/14 Other vehicle conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/32 Road surface or travel path
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/47 Direct command from other road users, i.e. the command for switching or changing the beam is sent by other vehicles or road devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting

Abstract

A method for highlighting an expected movement path of a vehicle, the method including a step of determining a traffic situation using an item of information concerning a surrounding environment of the vehicle. In addition, the method includes a step of determining the expected movement path based on the traffic situation. In addition, the method includes a step of providing a control signal for controlling a roadway marking device using the movement path in order to highlight the expected movement path.

Claims

1. A method for illuminating an expected movement path of a vehicle, comprising:

detecting, by a camera, at least one item of information concerning an environment surrounding the vehicle;

determining, by a control device in the vehicle, the following;

a traffic situation using the detected at least one item of information, and

the expected movement path of the vehicle based on the traffic situation;

generating, by the control device, a control signal to control a roadway marking device in a manner corresponding to the control signal, the roadway marking device including a receiver, a processing device, and illumination elements;

transmitting, by a transmitter in the vehicle, the control signal from the vehicle and to the receiver of the roadway marking device; and

illuminating, by the illumination elements of the roadway marking device, the expected movement path of the vehicle according to the control signal received by the roadway marking device,

wherein the roadway marking device is remote to the vehicle,

wherein the expected movement path of the vehicle is a planned trajectory of the vehicle,

wherein the roadway marking device includes at least one of;

at least one other vehicle, a streetlight, and a roadway surface capable of illumination.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the roadway marking device includes at least one vehicle-external illumination device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the item of information concerning the surrounding environment includes at least one of a course of the roadway, recognized obstacles, weather conditions, and roadway conditions.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving traffic data one of from at least one other vehicle or from persons who send first-person object information, the traffic data being further considered in the determining the traffic situation.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein, the determining the expected movement path of the vehicle includes using at least one of a speed of the vehicle and a direction of the vehicle.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the roadway marking device is visible to other drivers.

10. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the traffic data includes at least one of a traffic situation from an angle of view of an other vehicle and parameters of the other vehicle, wherein the other vehicle is situated in traffic surrounding the vehicle.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the parameters of the other vehicle include at least one of a direction of travel of the other vehicle, a position of the other vehicle, and a speed of travel of the other vehicle.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

implementing an evasion tactic, wherein the evasion tactic is performed by at least one of a driver or a vehicle system.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the expected movement path of the vehicle has a width that does not exceed a travel lane width.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the roadway marking device includes at least one headlamp of the at least one other vehicle.

6. A method for illuminating an expected movement path of a vehicle using a roadway marking device situated in an environment surrounding the vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting, by a camera, an item of information concerning the environment surrounding the vehicle;

determining, by a control device in the vehicle, the following;

a traffic situation using the detected item of information, and

the expected movement path of the vehicle based on the traffic situation;

generating, by the control device, a control signal to control the roadway marking device in a manner corresponding to the control signal, the roadway marking device including a receiver, a processing device, and illumination elements;

transmitting, by a transmitter in the vehicle, the control signal from the vehicle and to the receiver of the roadway marking device;

receiving a control signal at the roadway marking device via an interface to the vehicle; and

controlling the illumination elements of the roadway marking device to illuminate the expected movement path of the vehicle according to the control signal received by the roadway marking device,

wherein the environment surrounding the vehicle, in which the roadway marking device is situated, is remote to the vehicle, and

wherein the expected movement path of the vehicle is a planned trajectory of the vehicle,

wherein the roadway marking device includes at least one of;

at least one other vehicle, a streetlight, and a roadway surface capable of illumination.

15. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the expected movement path of the vehicle has a width that does not exceed a travel lane width.

7. A control device for illuminating an expected movement path of a vehicle, the control device comprising:

a device in the vehicle configured to;

receive, from a camera, an item of information concerning a surrounding environment of the vehicle, and

determine a traffic situation using the received item of information concerning the surrounding environment of the vehicle;

a device in the vehicle configured to determine the expected movement path of the vehicle based on the traffic situation; and

a device in the vehicle including a transmitter, the device configured to;

generate a control signal to control, in a manner corresponding to the control signal, a roadway marking device including a receiver, a processing device, and illumination elements,

transmit, by the transmitter, the control signal from the vehicle and to the receiver of the roadway marking device in order to illuminate, by the illumination elements of the roadway marking device, the expected movement path of the vehicle according to the control signal,

wherein the roadway marking device is remote to the vehicle, and

wherein the expected movement path of the vehicle is a planned trajectory of the vehicle,

wherein the roadway marking device includes at least one of;

at least one other vehicle, a streetlight, and a roadway surface capable of illumination.

12. The control device as recited in claim 7, wherein the device configured to determine a traffic situation using an item of information concerning a surrounding environment of the vehicle is at least one of a camera, radar, lidar, and speed sensors.

16. The control device as recited in claim 7, wherein the expected movement path of the vehicle has a width that does not exceed a travel lane width.

8. A computer program product having program code for illuminating an expected movement path of a vehicle, the program code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform:

detecting, by a camera, at least one item of information concerning an environment surrounding the vehicle;

determining, by a control device in the vehicle, the following;

a traffic situation using the detected at least one item of information, and

the expected movement path of the vehicle based on the traffic situation;

generating, by the control device, a control signal to control a roadway marking device in a manner corresponding to the control signal, the roadway marking device including a receiver, a processing device, and illumination elements;

transmitting, by a transmitter in the vehicle, the control signal from the vehicle and to the receiver of the roadway marking device; and

illuminating, by the illumination elements of the roadway marking device, the expected movement path of the vehicle according to the control signal received by the roadway marking device,

wherein the roadway marking device is remote to the vehicle, and

wherein the expected movement path of the vehicle is a planned trajectory of the vehicle,

wherein the roadway marking device includes at least one of;

at least one other vehicle, a streetlight, and a roadway surface capable of illumination.

17. The computer program product as recited in claim 8, wherein the expected movement path planned trajectory of the vehicle has a width that does not exceed a travel lane width.