METHOD FOR TRIGGERING SAFETY FUNCTIONS

Abstract

A method for triggering at least two safety functions from a predefined plurality of safety functions in a motor vehicle, including a) recognizing a trigger signal for one first safety function, and b) generating a trigger signal for at least one second safety function, if according to step a) the trigger signal for the first safety function has been recognized, the first safety function being of a first function type and at least one of the second safety functions being of a second function type differing from the first function type.

Claims

1. A method for triggering at least two safety functions from a predefined plurality of safety functions in a motor vehicle, the method comprising: a) recognizing a trigger signal for a first safety function; and b) generating a trigger signal for at least one second safety function when, according to step a), the trigger signal for the first safety function has been recognized, the first safety function being of a first function type and at least one of the second safety functions being of a second function type differing from the first function type.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first safety function and the at least one second safety function are associated with a plurality of the following function types: intervention by at least one driver assistance system, influencing of at least one system for autonomous driving, one of: (i) triggering of at least one protection system for occupants of the motor vehicle, or (ii) changing of a trigger threshold of at least one protection system for occupants of the motor vehicle, triggering of at least one protection system for external road users or changing of a trigger threshold of at least one protection system for external road users, changing at least one active structure of a body of the motor vehicle, adjusting at least one convenience function for the protection of occupants of the motor vehicle, and triggering of at least one multimedia function.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first safety function and the at least one second safety function are associated with a plurality of the following function types: passive functions, which may be triggered by the receipt of a trigger signal, and active functions, which may be triggered by the receipt of a trigger signal and which may also assist in triggering additional safety functions using an emitted signal.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the following sub-steps are carried out before step b) for generating the trigger signal for the second safety function: a1) recognizing whether a hazardous situation exists based on sensor data; and a2) outputting a trigger signal for triggering the first safety function, if a hazardous situation has been recognized in step a1); and wherein step b) includes at least the following sub-steps: b1) monitoring the plurality of safety functions in order to recognize whether a trigger signal for triggering at least one of the safety functions as a first safety function has been output; b2) accessing a metalogic, when in step b1) a trigger signal for triggering the first safety function has been recognized, the metalogic defining links of the plurality of safety functions from one another; and b3) outputting corresponding trigger signals for triggering the at least one second safety function, if a link between the first safety function and the at least one second safety function is defined in the metalogic.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein for each link between one first safety function and one second safety function, at least one parameter, which is taken into account in the triggering of the second safety function, is stored in the metalogic.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein for at least one of the first safety functions, a respective cascade of safety functions to be triggered as second safety functions in step b3) is established in the metalogic.

7. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the steps a) and b) are carried out repeatedly in such a way that all links of triggered safety functions stored in the metalogic are processed to form additional safety functions.

8. A control unit for a motor vehicle, which is configured to trigger at least two safety functions from a predefined plurality of safety functions in a motor vehicle, the control unit configured to: a) recognize a trigger signal for a first safety function; and b) generate a trigger signal for at least one second safety function when, according to step a), the trigger signal for the first safety function has been recognized, the first safety function being of a first function type and at least one of the second safety functions being of a second function type differing from the first function type.

9. The control unit as recited in claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to perform the following before b) for generating the trigger signal for the second safety function: a1) recognize whether a hazardous situation exists based on sensor data; and a2) output a trigger signal for triggering the first safety function, if a hazardous situation has been recognized in step a1); wherein for b), the control unit is configured to: b1) monitor the plurality of safety functions in order to recognize whether a trigger signal for triggering at least one of the safety functions as a first safety function has been output; b2) access a metalogic, when in b1) a trigger signal for triggering the first safety function has been recognized, the metalogic defining links of the plurality of safety functions from one another; and b3) output corresponding trigger signals for triggering the at least one second safety function, if a link between the first safety function and the at least one second safety function is defined in the metalogic; and wherein the metalogic is implemented as a matrix in the control unit, and the control unit being connected to all safety functions and being configured to centrally control the triggering of the safety functions.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable memory medium, on which a is stored a computer program for triggering at least two safety functions from a predefined plurality of safety functions in a motor vehicle, the computer program, when executed by a control unit, causing the control unit to perform: a) recognizing a trigger signal for a first safety function; and b) generating a trigger signal for at least one second safety function when, according to step a), the trigger signal for the first safety function has been recognized, the first safety function being of a first function type and at least one of the second safety functions being of a second function type differing from the first function type.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle and a control unit in accordance with the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a method in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a control unit 12 of a motor vehicle 11, which is configured to carry out a method for triggering safety functions 2 of motor vehicle 11. One of the safety functions 2 is first triggered in this example as a first safety function 3. A corresponding trigger signal of first safety function 3 may be recognized with control unit 12. A metalogic 1 of control unit 12 may then be accessed, as indicated by an arrow. Links between the safety functions 2 are established in metalogic 1. Only the links that start from first safety function 3 are delineated by dashed lines in this representation. In this example, respective trigger signals corresponding to these links are output by control unit 12 as second safety functions 4 for three of the safety functions 2. This, too, is delineated by corresponding arrows. Remaining safety functions 2 (i.e., which are neither first safety function 3 nor second safety function 4) are not triggered here. For the sake of clarity, FIG. 1 only shows how second safety functions 4 are triggered by the triggering of first safety function 3. The triggering of second safety functions 4 may also cause the triggering of additional safety functions 2.

[0051] First safety function 3 is associated with a first function type 5. Second safety functions 4 are associated with a second function type 6 or with a third function type 7. Additional safety functions 2, which are not triggered in this example, are associated with a fourth function type 8. In addition, safety functions 2 may be subdivided into active functions 9 (which are depicted with solid lines) and passive functions 10 (which are depicted with dashed lines).

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of the described method, the various boxes representing the method steps a) and b), in each case with the sub-steps a1) and a2), respectively, b1), b2) and b3). The sub-steps a2) and b3) each output trigger signals for triggering safety functions.