Warning device and method for warning a vehicle driver of a motor vehicle

• US 9,650,057 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Langenhan, Thorsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US14/445,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20150015386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 340438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/066 actuating a signalling device B60K28/063 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0072 Controller asks driver to take over
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time

Abstract

A warning device in a motor vehicle is provided for warning a vehicle driver as a function of a triggering signal of a driver assistance system in response to a certain event requiring a driver take-over. In this case, a mobile terminal is present in the vehicle, which can be connected with the driver assistance system and has a corresponding program module, by which the unrestricted use of the mobile terminal is basically permitted, but which, interrupts the unrestricted use and outputs a warning signal, prompting the driver to take over when the triggering signal is received.

Claims

1. A system for warning a driver of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a driver assistance system configured to at least partially take-over vehicle navigation from the driver, and to output a triggering signal in response to a certain event requiring a driver take-over of the vehicle navigation from the driver assistance system;

a mobile terminal located in the vehicle, the mobile terminal being coupled to the driver assistance system and having a corresponding program module by which unrestricted use of the mobile terminal is permitted in the vehicle, wherein

the program module interrupts the unrestricted use and outputs a warning signal via the mobile terminal prompting the driver to take over said vehicle navigation from the driver assistance system when the triggering signal is received by the mobile terminal.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the warning signal comprises at least one specific operating instruction for the driver of the motor vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein when the warning signal is output, further use of the mobile terminal is prevented until defined interventions in a drive of the motor vehicle have been carried out.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the triggering signal is output by the driver assistance system to the mobile terminal only when the mobile terminal is actuated.

5. A mobile terminal for use with a driver assistance system of a motor vehicle, wherein

the mobile terminal is connectable to the driver assistance system in the motor vehicle that is configured to at least partially take-over vehicle navigation from a driver of the motor vehicle and includes a program module by which unrestricted use of the mobile terminal is permissible in the vehicle, and

the unrestricted use of the mobile terminal is interrupted upon receiving a triggering signal from the driver assistance system in response to a defined event requiring a driver take-over of the vehicle navigation from the driver assistance system, the program module outputting a warning signal to the driver, via the mobile terminal, prompting the driver to take-over said vehicle navigation from the driver assistance system.

6. The mobile terminal according to claim 5, wherein the warning signal comprises a specific operating instruction for control of the motor vehicle.

7. The mobile terminal according to claim 5, wherein when the warning signal is output, further use of the mobile terminal is prevented until at least one specific drive intervention has been carried out.

8. A method for warning a vehicle driver that a driver take-over action from a driver assistance system is necessary, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a mobile terminal in the vehicle, the mobile terminal being connected to a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle that is configured to at least partially take-over vehicle navigation from the vehicle driver and having a program module by which unrestricted use of them mobile terminal is permitted in the vehicle; and

receiving, by the mobile terminal, from the driver assistance system, a triggering signal in response to a defined event requiring the driver take-over of the vehicle navigation from the driver assistance system; and

upon receiving the triggering signal, interrupting the unrestricted use of the mobile terminal and outputting, via the mobile terminal, a warning signal prompting the driver to take over said vehicle navigation from the driver assistance system.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the act of:

preventing further use of the mobile terminal until a specific driver intervention action occurs.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the triggering signal is received only when the mobile terminal is actuated.