METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE, SYSTEM

Abstract

A method for operating a motor vehicle having at least one vehicle communication arrangement fixed to the body. Signals are emitted by a user device, which can be handled independently of the motor vehicle and can be assigned or is assigned to a driver of the motor vehicle, and are received by the vehicle communication arrangement. A distance between the user device and the motor vehicle is monitored on the basis of the received signals. Provision is made for the distance to be monitored during operation of the motor vehicle and for a safety operating state of the motor vehicle to be activated when a distance exceeding a predefined threshold value is detected.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A method for operating a motor vehicle having at least one vehicle communication arrangement fixed to a body of the motor vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: emitting signals by a user device, which can be handled independently of the motor vehicle and can be assigned or is assigned to a driver of the motor vehicle; receiving the emitted signal by the vehicle communication arrangement; monitoring a distance between the user device and the motor vehicle based on the received signals, wherein the distance is monitored during operation of the motor vehicle; and activating a safety operating state of the motor vehicle based on detecting that the distance exceeds a predefined threshold value.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the safety operating state of the motor vehicle is activated by shutting down a drive device of the motor vehicle.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein based on detecting the distance exceeding the threshold value, a braking device of the motor vehicle is actuated for the purposes of generating a braking torque.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: monitoring a location of the user device in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle, and actuating the braking device based on the location detected.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the motor vehicle and/or the user device emits an emergency call signal fully automatically when the distance exceeding the threshold value is detected.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the emergency call signal contains information regarding a traveling speed of the motor vehicle at a time of the detection of the distance exceeding the threshold value and/or regarding the distance between the user device and the motor vehicle after the deceleration of the motor vehicle to a standstill.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein a time period is predefined and the safety operating state of the motor vehicle is activated only after the time period has elapsed.

22. The method according to claim 15, wherein a distance is predefined and the safety operating state of the motor vehicle is activated only after the motor vehicle has traveled the predefined distance after the distance exceeding the threshold value has been detected.

23. A system, comprising: a motor vehicle having at least one vehicle communication arrangement fixed to a body of the motor vehicle; and at least one user device which can be handled independently of the motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle communication arrangement is configured to receive signals emitted by the user device; a controller configured to monitor a distance between the user device and the motor vehicle during operation of the motor vehicle based on the received signals, and to activate a safety operating state of the motor vehicle based on detecting that the distance exceeds a predefined threshold value.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to control a drive device of the motor vehicle and/or a braking device of the motor vehicle, to activate the safety operating state of the motor vehicle.

25. The system according to claim 23, further comprising: at least one further vehicle communication arrangement, wherein the vehicle communication arrangement and the further vehicle communication means are fixed to the body of the motor vehicle at a distance from one another.

26. The system according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the at least one vehicle communication arrangement is configured as a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) module and/or at least one of the at least one vehicle communication arrangement is configured as an ultra-wideband (UWB) module.

27. The system according to claim 23, wherein the user device is a smartphone or smartwatch.

28. The system according to claim 23, wherein the motor vehicle is a motorcycle, or a quad, or a snowmobile, or a jet ski.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a system for operating a motor vehicle, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a method for operating the motor vehicle, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a system 1. The system 1 comprises a motor vehicle 2. In the present case, the motor vehicle 2 is a snowmobile 2. According to a further exemplary embodiment, the motor vehicle 2 is, for example, a motorcycle, a quad, or a jet ski.

[0024] The motor vehicle 2 comprises a vehicle communication means (i.e., arrangement) 3 fixed to the body. The vehicle communication means 3 is configured to communicate wirelessly. For example, the vehicle communication means 3 is a BLE module or a UWB module.

[0025] The system 1 also comprises a user device 4 which can be handled independently of the motor vehicle 2 and which is assigned to a driver, not shown, of the motor vehicle 2. According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the user device 4 is a smartphone 4. Alternatively, the user device 4 is a smartwatch, for example. If the driver uses the motor vehicle 2, the driver typically stores the user device 4 in a pocket of a garment. As such, the distance between the user device 4 and the motor vehicle 2 corresponds to the distance between the driver and the motor vehicle 2.

[0026] The user device 4 is configured to emit signals. The vehicle communication means 3 is configured to receive signals emitted by the user device 4.

[0027] The motor vehicle 2 also comprises a controller 5. The controller 5 is configured to control the motor vehicle 2. For example, the controller 5 is configured to control a drive device of the motor vehicle 2 and/or a braking device of the motor vehicle 2.

[0028] The controller 5 is also configured to monitor or ascertain the distance between the user device 4 and the motor vehicle 2 on the basis of the signals received by the vehicle communication means 3. In the present case, there is only one vehicle communication means 3. Accordingly, the controller 5 is configured to monitor the distance between the user device 4 and the vehicle communication means 3 as a distance between the user device 4 and the motor vehicle 2.

[0029] Referring below to FIG. 2, an advantageous method for operating the motor vehicle 2 is explained in greater detail.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the method using a flow chart. It is assumed that the driver is initially traveling using the motor vehicle 2 and is carrying the user device 4. The motor vehicle 2 is thus in operation.

[0031] In a first step S1 the user device 4 continuously emits signals that are receivable by the vehicle communication means 3. If the vehicle communication means 3 is configured as a BLE module, the user device 4 emits Bluetooth signals. If the vehicle communication means 3 is configured as a UWB module, the user device 4 emits ultra-wideband signals.

[0032] In a second step S2, the emitted signals are received by the vehicle communication means 3 and provided to the controller 5. For this purpose, the vehicle communication means 3 is communicatively connected to the controller 5 wirelessly or in a wired manner.

[0033] In a third step S3, the controller 5 monitors the current distance of the user device 4 from the vehicle communication means 3. The controller 5 thus continuously detects the current distance. For example, the controller 5 monitors the current distance on the basis of the propagation times of the received signals.

[0034] In a fourth step S4, the controller 5 compares the distance detected in step S3 to a predefined threshold value. In the present case, a threshold value of 1.5 m is predefined. The threshold value corresponds to the radius r1 of the sphere K1 shown in FIG. 1. The vehicle communication means 3 forms the center point of the sphere K1. Thus, if the distance is less than the threshold value, then the user device 4 is located within the sphere K1. If the distance is greater than the threshold value, then the user device 4 is located outside the sphere K1.

[0035] If the comparison shows that the distance detected in step S3 is below the threshold value, then reference is made to a fifth step S5. This is usually the case when the driver with the user device 4 is located on the motor vehicle 2. In the fifth step S5, controller 5 then controls the drive device and the braking device of the motor vehicle 2 on the basis of an actuation of an acceleration specifying device of the motor vehicle 2 or on the basis of an actuation of a deceleration specifying device of the motor vehicle 2.

[0036] If, however, the comparison shows that the distance ascertained in step S3 exceeds the threshold value, then reference is made to a sixth step S6. This is the case, for example, if the driver with the user device 4 has fallen off the motor vehicle 2 due to an accident involving the motor vehicle 2. In the sixth step S6, the controller 5 then activates a safety operating state of the motor vehicle 2. In the present case, the controller 5 controls the drive device such that the drive device is switched off. The operation of the motor vehicle 2 is thus interrupted by the controller 5. The controller 5 also preferably controls the braking device such that the braking device provides a braking torque that decelerates the motor vehicle 2. As a result, the motor vehicle 2 is quickly decelerated to a standstill.

[0037] In a seventh step S7, the motor vehicle 2 and/or the user device 4 emits an emergency call signal fully automatically. Preferably, the emergency call signal contains information for facilitating a rescue operation, for example information regarding the traveling speed of the motor vehicle 2 at the time of detection of a distance exceeding the threshold value and/or regarding the distance of the user device 4 from the motor vehicle 2 after the deceleration of the motor vehicle 2 to a standstill.

[0038] According to a further exemplary embodiment of the system 1, there is at least one further vehicle communication means (i.e., arrangement), wherein the vehicle communication means 3 and the further vehicle communication means are fixed to the body at a distance from one another. For example, the vehicle communication means 3 is arranged in the area of a front end 6 of the motor vehicle 2 and the further vehicle communication means is arranged in the area of a rear end 7 of the motor vehicle 2. Arranging the two vehicle communication means in this way allows the location of the user device 4 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 2 relative to the motor vehicle 2 to be monitored on the basis of the signals received by the vehicle communication means. Preferably, when the distance exceeding the threshold value is detected, the braking device is actuated on the basis of the detected location in the direction of the longitudinal axis. For example, the braking device is only actuated for the purposes of generating a braking torque which decelerates the motor vehicle 2 when it is detected that the user device 4 and thus the driver are located in front of the motor vehicle 2 in the direction of the longitudinal axis. This can occur, for example, in the event of a collision or driving over a bump.

[0039] According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the safety operating state of the motor vehicle 2 is activated immediately upon detection of the distance exceeding the threshold value.

[0040] According to a further exemplary embodiment, the safety operating state is activated with a delay. For example, a time period is predefined for this purpose and the safety operating state of the motor vehicle 2 is activated only after the time period has elapsed. Alternatively or additionally, a distance is predefined and the safety operating state of the motor vehicle 2 is activated only after the motor vehicle 2 has traveled the predefined distance after the detection of the distance exceeding the threshold value. This exemplary embodiment of the method is particularly advantageous if the distance between the user device 4 and the motor vehicle 2 exceeds the threshold value because a thief has stolen the motor vehicle 2 from the driver while it is in operation. Because the safety operating state of the motor vehicle 2 is activated with a delay, the thief will first distance themself and the motor vehicle 2 from the driver. This is for the safety of the driver. For example, a time period of 1 minute is predefined, or a distance of 200 m.