Driving System for an Automated Drive with a Steering Wheel Display for Displaying the Distance to an End Point of the Automated Drive, and Method for Displaying the Distance

Abstract

A driving system for an automated drive for a motor vehicle includes a steering wheel display with a lighting strip structure. The lighting strip structure of the steering wheel display is luminous in a defined lighting color for a duration which can be modified according to the actuation. The driving system is designed to control the steering wheel display such that the lighting strip structure is luminous in the lighting color over a starting length during the automated drive. Upon approaching an end of the automated drive lying ahead, the driving system determines that the vehicle has approached an end point of the automated drive lying ahead in such a manner that a specified approach condition has been satisfied. In response thereto, the steering wheel display is actuated such that the lighting strip structure is luminous in the lighting color with a successively decreasing length starting from the starting length as the distance to the end point of the automated drive decreases successively in order to prepare the driver to completely or at least partly take over control of the vehicle again.

Claims

1. A driving system for automated driving for a motor vehicle, the driving system comprising: a steering wheel display having a light band structure, wherein the light band structure is capable of emitting light in an emitted light color with a length that is variable depending on actuation, wherein the driving system is operatively configured to: control the steering wheel display such that, during automated driving, the light band structure emits light of the emitted light color along a starting length; determine that the vehicle has approached an upcoming endpoint for automated driving such that a specific approach condition has been met; and as a reaction thereto, control the steering wheel display such that, in the case of a successively decreasing distance from the endpoint for automated driving, the light band structure emits light in the emitted light color with successively decreasing length, beginning with the starting length, to prepare the driver for once again fully or at least partially taking over control of the vehicle.

2. The driving system for automated driving according to claim 1, wherein the light band structure is integrated in the steering wheel rim.

3. The driving system for automated driving according to claim 1, wherein the light band structure corresponds to a ring, and the driving system is further configured to control the steering wheel display such that the light band structure emits light as a ring during automated driving.

4. The driving system for automated driving according to claim 1, wherein the light band structure has a left and a right part, and the driving system is further configured to: control the steering wheel display such that, in the case of a successively decreasing distance to the endpoint for automated driving, the left and the right part of the light band structure each emit the emitted light color with successively decreasing length, wherein illumination in the emitted light color decreases starting from an upper and/or lower region of the light band structure.

5. The driving system according to claim 4, wherein the light band structure is integrated in the steering wheel rim, and the driving system is further configured to reduce the respective length along which the left and right parts of the light band structure emit light in the emitted light color to a defined minimum length, wherein the regions of minimum length of the left and right parts that emit light in the emitted light color in each case mark the contact region for touching the steering wheel.

6. The driving system for automated driving according to claim 1, wherein the driving system is further configured to: determine, for each point from a plurality of successive defined points on the section before the endpoint, the reaching of a respective point along the section before the endpoint, and after a respective point has been reached, reduce in each case the length along which the light band structure emits light in the emitted light color.

7. The driving system according to claim 6, wherein the points are situated at a predefined temporal distance with respect to one another and to the endpoint.

8. The driving system according to claim 1, wherein the driving system is further configured to: determine that a driver puts his or her hands back on the steering wheel, as a reaction thereto, reduce the length along which the light band structure emits light in the emitted light color to zero so as to signal to the driver the transfer of the driving task to the driver.

9. The driving system according to claim 1, wherein the driving system is further configured to: determine that a driver puts his or her hands back on the steering wheel, as a reaction thereto, reduce the length along which the light band structure emits light in the emitted light color faster as compared to the distance dependent reduction in length so as to signal to the driver the transfer of the driving task to the driver.

10. The driving system according to claim 4, wherein the left and right parts are parts of a ring.

11. A method for notifying a driver of a motor vehicle about an upcoming end of automated driving, wherein the motor vehicle comprises a driving system for automated driving which comprises: a steering wheel display having a light band structure, wherein the light band structure is capable of emitting light in an emitted light color with a length that is variable depending on actuation, the method comprising the steps of: controlling the steering wheel display such that, during automated driving, the light band structure emits light of the emitted light color along a starting length; determining that the vehicle has approached an upcoming endpoint for automated driving such that a specific approach condition has been met; and as a reaction thereto, controlling the steering wheel display such that, in the case of a successively decreasing distance from the endpoint for automated driving, the light band structure emits light in the emitted light color with successively decreasing length, beginning with the starting length, to prepare the driver for once again fully or at least partially taking over control of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a steering wheel having a steering wheel display.

[0049] FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart for controlling the steering wheel display.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary sequence of display states of the steering wheel display over the temporal distance t to the endpoint of the automation section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a steering wheel 1 having a steering wheel display. The steering wheel display has a light band structure 2 in the form of a ring, which is integrated in the steering wheel rim. The light band structure 2 comprises a chain of light-emitting elements 3 of the same type which are arranged one next to the other. The light-emitting elements 3 are for example light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Each light-emitting element 3 can comprise one or more light-emitting diodes, for example two or three diodes, in particular in the case of a light-emitting element 3 which is capable of emitting different emitted light colors.

[0052] The light-emitting elements 3 are preferably arranged behind a light-transmissive layer 4 that is embedded in the steering wheel rim and through which light is output.

[0053] The light-emitting elements 3 can preferably be actuated individually. It is advantageous if the light-emitting elements 3 can emit light of different colors, for example blue, yellow and red.

[0054] Depending on the distance, number of the light-emitting elements 3 and scattering of the light, the luminous character can range from a substantially homogeneous illumination in the region of the active light-emitting elements 3 to a rather loose chain of light-emitting points.

[0055] The steering wheel display is part of a user interface of an exemplary driving system for automated driving. The driving system has a driving mode for highly automated driving with automated longitudinal and lateral control, for example for driving on the motorway. Furthermore, further driving modes with a lower level of automation are conceivable, for example a driving mode for partially automated driving with automated longitudinal and lateral control, and a driving mode for assisted driving with automated longitudinal control and/or a different driving mode for assisted driving with automated lateral control. The example described below with reference to the driving mode for highly automated driving is also transferable to other levels of automation.

[0056] An exemplary sequence of the steering wheel display with decreasing remaining distance to an endpoint for highly automated driving will be illustrated below in conjunction with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0057] The sequence starts with a state in which the driving mode for highly automated driving is active and the longitudinal and lateral control of the vehicle is performed by the driving system. In this state, the light band structure emits light as a closed ring in a first color that is assigned to highly automated driving due to a corresponding actuation of the steering wheel display (see step 100); for this purpose, all the light-emitting elements 3 emit light in the first emitted light color, for example blue. The length of the right and left light-emitting regions of the ring is in each case l.sub.0. This is preferably a permanent emission of light.

[0058] Based on the section distance s to a known endpoint for highly automated driving and a prognosis relating to the speed up to the endpoint, the current time distance t to the endpoint for highly automated driving is continually estimated.

[0059] For controlling the steering wheel display, fixed time distances t.sub.1, t.sub.2, . . . , t.sub.n-1, t.sub.n, t.sub.G, t.sub.R, t.sub.MRM to the endpoint for highly automated driving are predefined with n>2, wherein the following relationship applies:

t.sub.1>t.sub.2>t.sub.2+1 . . . >t.sub.n-1>t.sub.n>t.sub.G>t.sub.R>t.sub.MRM

[0060] The variable n indicates the number of steps with which the length of the regions emitting light of the first emitted light color is reduced, for example 5 steps.

[0061] Per reduction step, a defined number of the uppermost and lowermost light-emitting elements 3 that still emit light of the first emitted light color before the respective length reduction are switched off. Alternatively, it would also be possible for these light-emitting elements 3 to switch to a different emitted light color. The decrease in length takes place in the same way for the left and right side of the light-emitting display. The decrease from the top and the bottom can be substantially symmetric; however, this is not necessary.

[0062] After the current time distance t has become less than or equal to the specified time distance t.sub.1 (see interrogation 110 in FIG. 2), the light-emitting length l with which the left and right part of the steering wheel display emits blue light is reduced to the length l=l.sub.1 (see FIG. 3 and step 120 in FIG. 2) by switching off a defined set of the uppermost and lowermost light-emitting elements 3 emitting light in the first emitted light color. With the reduction in length, it would also be possible to switch from permanent light emission to flashing light emission.

[0063] After the current time distance t has become less than or equal to the specified time distance t.sub.2 (see interrogation 130 in FIG. 3), the light-emitting length l with which the left and right part of the steering wheel display emits light in the first emitted light color is reduced to the length l=l.sub.2 (see FIG. 3 and step 140) by switching off a further defined set of the uppermost and lowermost light-emitting elements 3 emitting light in the first emitted light color.

[0064] If the driver does not take over the driving task, the length is successively reduced with reaching of the individual time distances t.sub.i until the length l with which the left and right part of the steering wheel display emits light of the first emitted light color is reduced to the minimum length l=l.sub.n0 (see step 160) after the time distance t.sub.n to the endpoint for automated driving was reached (see the interrogation 150). Alternatively, it would also be possible for the length to be successively reduced to zero upon reaching the individual time distances t.sub.i.

[0065] The region of minimum length l.sub.n of the left and the right half that emits light in the emitted light color marks the contact region for touching the steering wheel.

[0066] If the driver does not take over the driving task, the emitted light color is switched, after reaching the time distance t.sub.G (see interrogation 170), from the first emitted light color to a second emitted light color (see step 180) having a higher warning character as compared to the first emitted light color (for example to the color yellow). The length l.sub.n is maintained in this case. If the length l in the alternative configuration was already reduced to zero previously, the length is correspondingly increased. The light emission is preferably pulsed.

[0067] If the driver does not take over the driving task, the emitted light color, after reaching the time distance t.sub.R (see interrogation 190), is switched from the second emitted light color to a third emitted light color (see step 200) having a higher warning character as compared to the second emitted light color (for example to the color red). The length l.sub.n is maintained in this case. The light emission is preferably a flashing emission.

[0068] If the driver does not take over the driving task, the steering wheel display, after reaching the time distance t.sub.MRM (see interrogation 210), is actuated such that the light-emitting ring emits light of the second emitted light color as a closed ring (see step 220). This emission of light is preferably a permanent emission. Provision is preferably made for the vehicle to then perform an emergency stop maneuver.

[0069] It was assumed above that the time distance t is initially greater than t.sub.1. However, if it is determined only after the time distance t.sub.1 has been reached that an end of the automation is coming up, the light-emitting state associated with the time distance t is taken over and then, with further decrease in the time distance, the light-emitting state is changed according to the previous description. If the remaining time duration for the light-emitting state falls below a specific level, it is possible to directly wait for the light-emitting state that follows in the sequence or to correspondingly switch over earlier directly into said light-emitting state.

[0070] If, beginning with the starting length l.sub.0, a light-emitting state with light emission of a first color and a reduced light-emitting length l.sub.i is to be taken over, the light-emitting length can be reduced incrementally, beginning with the starting length l.sub.0, to the target length l.sub.i in quick succession.

[0071] At least after reaching the time distance t.sub.1, the driver can take over the driving task by placing his or her hands on the steering wheel 1. Using hands-on sensor technology in the steering wheel, the point at which the driver puts his or her hands on the steering wheel 1 is detected. As a reaction thereto, the remaining regions of the steering wheel display that emit light of the first emitted light color are reduced to zero in quick succession and the driving task is transferred to the driver. This reaction can be dependent on whether one or more optional further conditions have been met, for example whether the driver is looking at the traffic situation ahead. The rapid decrease to zero signals to the driver the transfer of the driving task to the driver.

[0072] FIG. 3, in the lower region of the diagram, illustrates an exemplary behavior of the steering wheel display when the driver at the time point t.sub.x puts his or her hands on the steering wheel to take over the driving task.

[0073] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.