System and method for safety improvement during operation of a motor vehicle

• US 10,315,560 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Liljestrand, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US15/501,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20170246987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 702154
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/54 for indicating speed outside of the vehicle

Abstract

A method for safety improvement during operation of a motor vehicle (100) includes the steps of: —determining a prevailing speed of the vehicle (100); automatically activating a warning flasher function (275) on the basis of determined values pertaining to at least some combination of conditions based on: vehicle speed (V) and gradient (L) of the running surface on which the vehicle (100) is travelling, and the speed of the vehicle (100) compared with surrounding traffic and the gradient (L) of the running surface on which the vehicle (100) is travelling. Also a computer program product including program code (P) for a computer (200; 210) for implementing the method is disclosed. Also a system for safety improvement during operation of a motor vehicle (100) and to a motor vehicle (100) which is equipped with the system are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a warning flasher of a motor vehicle traveling on a running surface, the method comprising:

determining a prevailing speed of said vehicle;

automatically activating the warning flasher when a gradient of the running surface is greater than a threshold and at least one of the following conditions is met;

(1) a speed of the vehicle is below a set value, or

(2) a difference between the speed of the vehicle compared with a speed of surrounding traffic exceeds a predetermined value,

wherein the warning flasher is on at least one of a front, back and side of the motor vehicle and is configured to warn drivers of other vehicles.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining whether said prevailing vehicle speed is below a predetermined value;

determining whether said gradient is greater than a predetermined value; and

automatically activating said warning flasher in cases where said determined conditions are fulfilled, irrespective of whether said gradient is uphill or downhill.

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining a power mobilization of the vehicle; and

determining the vehicle speed as a basis for deciding whether or not said automatic activation of said warning flasher should take place.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining required braking action of the vehicle; and

determining the vehicle speed during said braking action as a basis for deciding whether or not said automatic activation of said warning flasher should take place.

5. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

determining surrounding traffic speeds and comparing the surrounding traffic speeds with the vehicle'"'"'s determined prevailing speed as a basis for deciding whether or not said automatic activation of said warning flasher should take place.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

automatically deactivating said automatically activated warning flasher when said conditions for automatic activation are no longer fulfilled.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium product incorporating code configured to control an electronic control unit or a computer connected to the electronic control unit to perform the method of claim 1 when said code is run on the electronic control unit or the computer connected to the electronic control unit.

8. A system for operating a warning flasher of a motor vehicle traveling on a running surface, the system comprising:

a speed determining device configured to determine a prevailing speed of said vehicle;

a flasher activation device configured to automatically activate a warning flasher;

said flasher activation device being configured to automatically activate said warning flasher when a gradient of the running surface is greater than a threshold, and at least one of the following conditions is met;

(1) the prevailing speed of the vehicle is below a set value, or

(2) a difference between the prevailing speed of the vehicle compared with the speed of the surrounding traffic is greater than a predetermined value,

wherein the warning flasher is on at least one of a front, back and side of the motor vehicle and is configured to warn drivers of other vehicles.

9. A system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a gradient determining device configured for determining whether said gradient is greater than a predetermined value,

wherein the speed determining device is configured for determining whether said prevailing vehicle speed is below a predetermined value; and

said flasher activation device is configured for automatically activating said warning flasher in cases where determined conditions are fulfilled, irrespective of whether said gradient is uphill or downhill.

10. A system according to claim 8, comprising:

a determining device configured for determining a power mobilization of the vehicle; and

wherein the speed determining device is configured for determining resulting vehicle speed as a basis for deciding whether or not said automatic activation of said warning flasher should take place.

11. A system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a braking action device configured for determining required braking action of the vehicle; and

wherein the speed determining device is configured for determining resulting vehicle speed during said braking action as a basis for deciding whether or not said automatic activation of said warning flasher should take place.

12. A system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a traffic speed determining device configured for determining surrounding traffic speeds and for comparing said surrounding traffic speeds with the vehicle'"'"'s determined prevailing speed for deciding whether or not said automatic activation of said warning flasher should take place.

13. A system according to claim 12, further comprising:

said traffic speed determining device being configured for automatically deactivating said automatically activated said warning flasher when said conditions for said automatic activation are no longer fulfilled.

14. A motor vehicle provided with a system according to claim 8.

15. A motor vehicle according to claim 14, in the form of a truck, bus or car.