Method for increasing the safety of a vehicle and central processing unit for a driver assistance system

• US 8,903,616 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Fehse, Meike
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US13/387,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20120191315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/68, 701/72, 701/65, 701/80, 701/93, 701/96, 701/122, 340/995.22, 340/437, 340/438, 340/441, 340/467, 340/518, 340/3.6, 340/FOR.210
• US Class Current: 701/65
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A method is provided for increasing the safety of a vehicle, a region about the vehicle being scanned and a distance between at least one location on the vehicle and a physical limit of this region is measured in at least one direction. Subsequently, it is checked whether the distance exceeds a specifiable threshold value and finally, a warning signal is output and/or the vehicle is braked, if the result of the checking is positive. Moreover, a central processing unit for a corresponding driver assistance system and a driver assistance system are provided.

Claims

1. A method for increasing the safety of a vehicle, comprising:

scanning, by a sensor, a region about the vehicle;

measuring, by a central processing unit, a distance between at least one location on the vehicle and a physical limit of the region in at least one direction;

checking, by the central processing unit, whether the distance exceeds a threshold value; and

performing, by the central processing unit,

at least one of (a) outputting a warning signal and (b) braking the vehicle, if a result of the checking is positive;

wherein the region is scanned at least one of (a) in front, under the vehicle and (b) at a rear, under the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the region is additionally scanned laterally to the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of distances between a plurality of locations on the vehicle and a physical limit of the region are measured.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of distances are measured in a plurality of directions.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the outputting and the braking takes place only when the result of the checking for a specified number or group of distances is positive.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein it is checked additionally whether a change with time in the distance or a change in the distance in relation to a path covered by the vehicle exceeds a threshold value.

7. A method for increasing the safety of a vehicle, comprising:

scanning, by a sensor, a region about the vehicle;

measuring, by a central processing unit, a distance between at least one location on the vehicle and a physical limit of the region in at least one direction;

checking, by the central processing unit, whether the distance exceeds a threshold value; and

performing, by the central processing unit,

at least one of (a) outputting a warning signal and (b) braking the vehicle, if a result of the checking is positive;

wherein the region laterally under the vehicle is scanned.

8. A central processing unit for a driver assistance system, comprising:

a sensor interface for connecting at least one sensor, which is capable of scanning a region about a vehicle;

means for measuring a distance, or receiving a measured distance, between at least one location on the vehicle and a physical limit of the region in at least one direction;

means for checking whether the distance exceeds a threshold value; and

means for at least one of (a) outputting a warning signal and (b) braking the vehicle, if a result of the checking is positive;

wherein the region is scanned at least one of (a) in front, under the vehicle and (b) at a rear, under the vehicle.

9. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one sensor for scanning a region about the vehicle; and

a central processing unit including;

a sensor interface for connecting the central processing unit to the at least one sensor,

means for measuring a distance, or receiving a measured distance, between at least one location on the vehicle and a physical limit of the region in at least one direction,

means for checking whether the distance exceeds a threshold value, and

means for at least one of (a) outputting a warning signal and (b) braking the vehicle, if a result of the checking is positive;

wherein the region is scanned at least one of (a) in front, under the vehicle and (b) at a rear, under the vehicle.