Method and device for avoiding a tunnel vision

• US 9,963,152 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2015
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Voelkel, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Black-Childress, Rajsheed
• Application Number:
  US14/789,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20160009289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A method for avoiding a tunnel vision of a motor vehicle driver includes detecting an instantaneous viewing direction of the driver; comparing the instantaneous viewing direction with at least one previous viewing direction; detecting a tunnel vision if a rate of change between the viewing directions and/or if an angular range of the viewing direction is not reached; and stimulating the motor vehicle driver to avoid the tunnel vision. A device for avoiding a tunnel vision of the driver includes a camera for detecting an instantaneous viewing direction of the motor vehicle driver; a control unit for comparing the instantaneous viewing direction with at least one previous viewing direction and for detecting a tunnel vision if a rate of change between the viewing directions and/or if an angular range of the viewing direction is not reached, and a device for stimulating the motor vehicle driver to avoid the tunnel vision.

Claims

1. A method for avoiding a tunnel vision of a motor vehicle driver driving a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a plurality of viewing directions of the motor vehicle driver, each viewing direction corresponding to a different moment in time, and the plurality of viewing directions corresponding to a predefined period of time;

storing the plurality of viewing directions;

detecting, via a control unit, an instantaneous viewing direction of the motor vehicle driver, wherein a time of the instantaneous viewing direction is preceded by the predefined period of time;

comparing, via the control unit, the instantaneous viewing direction with more than one of the stored viewing directions of the period of time to determine a rate of change between the instantaneous viewing direction and at least one of the stored viewing directions;

determining a risk of collision with an obstacle that is within a field of view of the motor vehicle driver;

detecting, via the control unit, a tunnel vision if the risk of collision is above a predetermined criterion and the rate of change is below a limiting value; and

in response to detecting the tunnel vision, stimulating the motor vehicle driver to avoid the tunnel vision.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle driver is stimulated if, in addition, a predictive safety system of the motor vehicle detects a danger in an instantaneous path of travel of the motor vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the stimulation includes a notification concerning a collision-free path of travel for the motor vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the stimulation is a visual stimulation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a view vector is generated from the viewing direction and the view vector is analyzed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the limiting value is 0.1°

/ms.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the limiting value is 0.05°

/ms.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein an imminent tunnel vision is detected if the rate of change decreases.

6. A device for avoiding a tunnel vision of a motor vehicle driver, comprising:

a camera that;

detects a plurality of viewing directions of the motor vehicle driver, each viewing direction corresponding to a different moment in time, and the plurality of viewing directions corresponding to a predefined period of time, and

detects an instantaneous viewing direction of the motor vehicle driver, wherein a time of the instantaneous viewing direction is preceded by the predefined period of time;

a control unit to determine a risk of collision with an obstacle that is within a field of view of the motor vehicle driver, and to perform a comparison of the instantaneous viewing direction with inure than one of the stored viewing directions of the period of time to determine a rate of change between the instantaneous viewing direction and at least one of the stored viewing directions, wherein;

the control unit detects a tunnel vision if the risk of collision is above a predetermined criterion and the rate of change is below a limiting value; and

a stimulating device to stimulate, in response to the control unit detecting the tunnel vision, the motor vehicle driver to avoid the tunnel vision.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the device for stimulating includes a visual display.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the visual display is situated in the area of the windshield of the motor vehicle.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the visual display has at least one LED and/or a laser for displaying information.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein the limiting value is 0.1°

/ms.

13. The device of claim 6, wherein the limiting value is 0.05°

/ms.

15. The device of claim 6, wherein the control unit is adapted to detect an imminent tunnel vision if the rate of change decreases.