METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR HIGHLIGHTING AN EXPECTED MOVEMENT PATH OF A VEHICLE

• US 20130054089A1
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Stefan Nordbruch
• Inventors: NORDBRUCH, Stefan, Galbas, Roland, Ruehle, Armin
• Granted Patent: US 9,493,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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 highlighting an expected movement path of a vehicle, comprising:

determining a traffic situation using an item of information concerning a surrounding environment of the vehicle;

determining the expected movement path based on the traffic situation; and

providing a control signal for controlling a roadway marking device, using the movement path, to highlight the expected movement path.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the providing of the control signal includes providing the control signal to control at least one headlamp of the vehicle as the roadway marking device.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the providing of the control signal includes providing the control signal to control at least one vehicle-external illumination device as the roadway marking device.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the providing of the control signal includes providing the control signal to control at least one headlamp of at least one other vehicle as the roadway marking device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the determining of the traffic situation using an item includes determining the traffic situation using at least one of a course of the roadway, recognized obstacles, weather conditions, and roadway conditions.

6. 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 situation being further determined in the determining the traffic situation, the traffic data is used.

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

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

determining a traffic situation using an item of information concerning a surrounding environment of the vehicle;

determining the expected movement path based on the traffic situation;

providing a control signal for controlling a roadway marking device, using the movement path, to highlight the expected movement path;

receiving a control signal via an interface to the vehicle; and

controlling of the roadway marking device using the control signal to highlight the expected movement path of the vehicle.

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

a device configured to determine a traffic situation using an item of information concerning a surrounding environment of the vehicle;

a device to determine the expected movement path based on the traffic situation; and

a device to provide a control signal for controlling a roadway marking device using the expected movement path to highlight the expected movement path.

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

determining a traffic situation using an item of information concerning a surrounding environment of the vehicle;

determining the expected movement path based on the traffic situation; and

providing a control signal for controlling a roadway marking device, using the movement path, to highlight the expected movement path.