Driver assistance system

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a driver assistance system for a motor vehicle. The driver assistance system includes a wrong-way driving detection device that detects underway or imminent wrong-way driving of the motor vehicle. The driver assistance system also includes an output device that outputs a signal to a driver of the motor vehicle indicative of a wrong-way driving detection. The driver assistance system, via the output device, is configured to modify an operating state of the infotainment device according to the wrong-way driving detection.

Claims

1. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, comprising: a wrong-way driving detection device having a camera and configured to detect upcoming wrong-way driving or wrong-way-driving underway; and an output device, coupled with an infotainment device, that outputs a signal according to data from the wrong-way driving detection device, wherein the output device is configured to modify an operating state of the infotainment device according to the signal based on the data from the wrong-way driving detection device; wherein the output device is further configured to stop, in response to a driver input while the operating state of the infotainment device is modified according to data from the wrong-way driving detection device, (i) output of a wrong way driving detection warning signal to the driver that is dependent on the wrong-way driving detection, and (ii) modification of the operating state of the infotainment device.

2. The driver assistance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output device modifies the operation of the infotainment device such that the output device mutes or deactivates the infotainment device, or temporarily pauses information output by the infotainment device.

3. The driver assistance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output device is further configured to reset the infotainment device into the operating state prior to the modification, once a wrong-way driving detection has ended.

4. The driver assistance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output device is further configured to switchover a further operating state of an external infotainment system connected to the infotainment device.

5. The driver assistance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output device is configured to maintain an operational readiness of a phone connected to the infotainment device without muting the phone and irrespective of wrong-way driving detection.

6. The driver assistance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the infotainment device includes a navigation system, and wherein the output device is configured to modify the operating state of the infotainment device according to the signal by pausing a route guidance from the navigation system.

7. The driver assistance system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the infotainment device includes a radio, and wherein the output device is configured to modify the operating state of the infotainment device according to the signal by muting the radio.

8. The driver assistance system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wrong-way driving detection device is configured to detect upcoming wrong-way driving in response to the camera detecting at least one no-entry sign.

9. The driver assistance system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the wrong-way driving detection device is configured to detect wrong-way-driving underway in response to the vehicle driving through a virtual gate produced after detection of upcoming wrong-way driving.

10. A vehicle comprising: a wrong-way driving detection device having a camera and configured to detect upcoming wrong-way driving or wrong-way-driving underway; an infotainment system internal to the vehicle that outputs a signal based on data from the wrong-way device, and is configured to modify an infotainment operating state according to the signal; and an external infotainment system coupled with the infotainment system, wherein the infotainment system is further configured to switchover and modify an external infotainment operating state according to the signal; wherein the wrong-way device is further configured to, in response to a driver input while the operating state of the infotainment system is being modified according to data from the wrong-way driving detection device, stop output of the signal to stop (i) output of a wrong way driving detection warning signal to the driver that is dependent on the wrong-way driving detection, and (ii) modification of the operating state of the infotainment system.

11. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the infotainment system modifies the operation of the external infotainment system such that the infotainment system mutes or deactivates the external infotainment system.

12. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the wrong-way device is configured to reset the infotainment system into a prior operating state once the signal is not detected.

13. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the infotainment system is configured to maintain an operational readiness of a phone connected as the external infotainment system irrespective of wrong-way driving detection.

14. The vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the infotainment system modifies the operation of the external infotainment system such that the infotainment system temporarily pauses information output by the external infotainment system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram intended to explain an example of operation of a driver assistance system according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(2) As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

(3) An example scenario is used below to explain, with reference to the flow diagram shown in FIG. 1, an example of operation of a driver assistance system according to the disclosure.

(4) As shown in FIG. 1, a starting point is that a wrong-way driving warning functionality is active in step S10, with initially, as given by step S20, no wrong-way driving warning being output in the relevant Human-Machine Interface (HMI).

(5) In step S30, an automatic check of whether the vehicle is driving on a freeway entrance is performed. If the vehicle is not driving on a freeway entrance, the flow diagram returns to step S20. If driving on a freeway entrance is established on the basis of the query in step S30, in step S40 a query is made as to whether a front camera detects two no-entry signs. If the front camera does not detect two no-entry signs, the flow diagram returns to step S20.

(6) If, however, according to the query in step S40, two no-entry signs are detected, the driver assistance system produces, in step S50, a virtual gate for a wrong-way driving warning. In step S60, a query is made as to whether the vehicle is driving through the virtual gate for a wrong-way driving warning. If the vehicle is not driving through the virtual gate for a wrong-way driving warning, the flow returns to step S20.

(7) If, according to the query in step S60, the vehicle is driving through the virtual gate for the wrong-way driving warning, in step S70 an operation of at least one information or infotainment system is modified, for example pausing, interrupting or muting certain systems such as, for instance, pausing the route guidance from the navigation system, muting infotainment systems such as e.g. radio (if applicable, excluding the phone) and, if applicable, switching over external infotainment systems (such as e.g. Apple CarPlay) connected to the in-vehicle multimedia system to an operating mode as the vehicle HMI.

(8) Simultaneously, as given by step S75, a wrong-way driving warning is output by on-screen display and/or as an acoustic warning sound, so that the driver is prompted to check the driving direction.

(9) After the wrong-way driving warning is output, a check is performed in step S80 as to whether the wrong-way driving situation still exists. If the wrong-way driving situation has resolved itself, for instance because the driver has left the road or changed the driving direction, and the vehicle is moving again correctly, and hence detection of wrong-way driving has ended, the flow diagram returns to step S20. The information or infotainment device is thereby reset into the operating state before the modification to the at least one information or infotainment system.

(10) If the vehicle continues to be in a wrong-way driving situation, the driver has an option to overrule the warning by a suitable input (e.g. actuating an OK button on the steering wheel). If, according to the query in step S90, the driver overrules the warning by actuating an OK button on the steering wheel, the flow diagram returns to step S20. If, according to the query in step S90, the driver does not overrule the warning e.g. by actuating the OK button on the steering wheel, the steps S70 and S75 continue to be performed (i.e. muting or pausing the infotainment systems or of the navigation system and output of the wrong-way driving warning).

(11) While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the disclosure. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosure.