Driving Assistance System and Driving Assistance Method for a Vehicle

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for a driving assistance system of a vehicle are provided. A user input is received to select an automated driving mode from two or more different automated driving modes. A determination is made as to whether the selected automated driving mode is available when selected by the user input. If the selected automated driving mode is available when selected by the user input, activating the selected automated driving mode is postponed for a first time interval. Alternatively, if the selected automated driving mode is unavailable when selected by the user input, attempting to activate the selected automated driving mode is postponed for a second time interval that is longer than the first time interval.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A driving assistance system for a vehicle, comprising: a user interface configured to receive a user input to select an automated driving mode from two or more different automated driving modes; and at least one processor configured to: follow a user input to select a first automated driving mode and postpone activating the selected first automated driving mode for a first time interval if the selected first automated driving mode is available when selected by the user input, follow a user input to select a second automated driving mode, postpone attempting to activate the selected second automated driving mode for a second time interval if the selected second automated driving mode is unavailable when selected by the user input, wherein the second time interval is longer than the first time interval.

12. The driving assistance system according to claim 11, wherein the two or more different automated driving modes are able to be selected successively using the user interface.

13. The driving assistance system according to claim 11, wherein the user interface comprises: a display device configured to display the two or more different automated driving modes for selection by a user.

14. The driving assistance system according to claim 11, wherein the user interface is configured to: output a message to a user when the attempt to activate the selected automated driving mode after the second time interval has elapsed fails.

15. The driving assistance system according to claim 11, wherein the first time interval is 2 seconds or 1 second or less; and/or the second time interval is 10 seconds or 5 seconds or 2 seconds or less.

16. The driving assistance system according to claim 11, wherein the two or more different automated driving modes have a degree of automation according to SAE Level 1 or SAE Level 2.

17. The driving assistance system according to claim 11, wherein the two or more different automated driving modes are selected from: a speed limiter, a cruise control system, an automatic distance control system, and/or a lane keep assistant.

18. A motor vehicle comprising: the driving assistance system according to claim 11.

19. A driving assistance method for a vehicle, comprising: receiving a user input to select an automated driving mode from two or more different automated driving modes; determining whether the selected automated driving mode is available when selected by the user input; and if the selected automated driving mode is available when selected by the user input, postponing activating the selected automated driving mode for a first time interval, or if the selected automated driving mode is unavailable when selected by the user input, postponing attempting to activate the selected automated driving mode for a second time interval that is longer than the first time interval.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions operable, when executed by one or more computing systems, to: receive a user input to select an automated driving mode from two or more different automated driving modes; determine whether the selected automated driving mode is available when selected by the user input; and if the selected automated driving mode is available when selected by the user input, postpone activating the selected automated driving mode for a first time interval, or if the selected automated driving mode is unavailable when selected by the user input, postpone attempting to activate the selected automated driving mode for a second time interval that is longer than the first time interval.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 schematically shows a vehicle having a driving assistance system for automated driving according to examples of the present subject matter.

[0046] FIGS. 2A-C show a display device of a user interface of a driving assistance system according to examples of the present subject matter, and

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a driving assistance method according to examples of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Unless indicated otherwise, the same reference signs are used for identical and functionally identical elements below.

[0049] FIG. 1 schematically shows a vehicle 10 having a driving assistance system 100 for automated driving according to examples of the present subject matter.

[0050] In the case of automated driving, the longitudinal and/or transverse guidance of the vehicle 10 takes place automatically. The driving assistance system 100 thus takes over the vehicle guidance. For this purpose, the driving assistance system 100 controls the drive 20, the transmission 22, the hydraulic service brake 24 and/or the steering system 26 using intermediate units, not illustrated.

[0051] In order to plan and perform the automated driving, environment information from a surroundings sensor system that observes the vehicle environment is received by the driver assistance system 100. The surroundings sensor system may for example comprise at least one lidar system and/or at least one radar system and/or at least one exterior camera and/or at least one ultrasound system and/or at least one laser scanner.

[0052] The driving assistance system 100 comprises at least one user interface 110 that is configured to receive user inputs for the purpose of changing between two or more different automated driving modes; and at least one processor unit 130.

[0053] The at least one processor unit 130 is configured, following a user input for the purpose of selecting an automated driving mode, to postpone activating the selected automated driving mode for a first time interval if the selected automated driving mode is available when selected by the user input; and following a user input for the purpose of selecting an automated driving mode, to postpone attempting to activate the selected automated driving mode for a second time interval if the selected automated driving mode is unavailable when selected by the user input.

[0054] The second time interval is in this case longer than the first time interval.

[0055] The first time interval, if the selected automated driving mode is available, may be for example 2 seconds or less, in particular 1 second or less. Due to the first time interval, a change thus does not take place to the active control mode immediately, but rather only after the predefined time has elapsed, even when the selected automated driving mode is available. This allows the user to skip successively through a list of automated driving modes, without each automated driving mode being activated immediately. In other words, the user is able to skip over automated driving modes without these being activated.

[0056] The second time interval, if the selected automated driving mode is unavailable, may be 10 seconds or less, in particular 5 seconds or less or 2 seconds or less.

[0057] Due to the longer second time interval between selection of and attempt to activate unavailable automated driving modes, the user has more time to recognize this circumstance and to select another (available) automated driving mode, without an attempt to activate the unavailable automated driving mode taking place. In a further case, it may be the case that the selected automated driving mode is only briefly unavailable. It may then be the case, due to the longer time interval between selection and activation attempt, that the activation attempt starts only when the initially unavailable selected automated driving mode is available again. As a result, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of error messages to the user indicating a failed activation attempt.

[0058] FIGS. 2A-C show a display device 200 of a user interface of a driving assistance system according to examples of the present subject matter.

[0059] The display device 200 of the user interface may be configured to display two or more different automated driving modes for selection by the user. In some examples, the display device 200 may be a display, such as for example a touchscreen. The display device 200 is typically installed in or on the dashboard of the vehicle. The display device 200 may for example be a head unit. In some examples, the display device 200 is an LCD display, a plasma display or an OLED display.

[0060] In some examples, the display device 200 may be configured to display a list of the two or more different automated driving modes. In the example of FIGS. 2A-C, three different automated driving mode 201, 202 and 203 are illustrated. The two or more different automated driving modes may for example be a speed limiter, a cruise control system, an automatic distance control system, a lane keep assistant or combinations thereof.

[0061] Optionally, the display of the two or more different automated driving modes comprises an availability state of each automated driving mode (for example available or unavailable). In other words, the user is able to be informed about the availability state of the individual driving modes. In the example of FIGS. 2A-C, a first automated driving mode 201 has a first availability state 211 (available), a second automated driving mode 202 has a second availability state 212 (unavailable), and a third automated driving mode 203 has a third availability state 213 (available).

[0062] The different automated driving modes may be able to be selected successively. In particular, the user is able to skip successively through the list and select an automated driving mode through repeated user inputs, such as for example by actuating a mode switch.

[0063] For this purpose, the user interface may comprise an actuator that is provided for the user input for the purpose of selecting the automated driving modes and/or changing between automated driving modes.

[0064] The actuator may be a tactile actuation element, such as for example an individual switch, an individual button or a rotary knob. As an alternative, the actuator may be provided by the display device 200, which may be a touchscreen. In this case, for example, a separate display element (not shown) serving as actuator may be displayed on the display device 200 and actuated by the user.

[0065] If the user selects an available automated driving mode (illustrated in FIGS. 2A and C by the thicker frames at 201 and 203), the selected automated driving mode is activated after the first time interval, for example after around 1 second. Due to the first time interval, a change does not take place to the active control mode immediately, but rather only after the predefined time has elapsed. This allows the user to skip successively through the list of automated driving modes, without each automated driving mode being activated immediately. In other words, the user is able to skip over automated driving modes without these being activated.

[0066] If the user however selects an unavailable automated driving mode (illustrated in FIG. 2B by the thicker frame at 202), the automated driving mode is activated after the second time interval, for example after around 2 seconds.

[0067] Due to the longer second time interval between selection of and attempt to activate unavailable automated driving modes, the user has more time to recognize this circumstance and to select another automated driving mode, without an attempt to activate the unavailable automated driving mode taking place. In a further case, it may be the case that the selected automated driving mode is only briefly unavailable. It may then be the case, due to the longer time interval between selection and activation attempt, that the activation attempt starts only when the initially unavailable selected automated driving mode is available again. As a result, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of error messages to the user indicating a failed activation attempt.

[0068] In some examples, the user interface is furthermore configured to output a message to the user when the attempt to activate the selected automated driving mode after the second time interval has elapsed fails. The message may be output acoustically and/or optically and/or haptically to the driver, for example through an appropriate display on the display device 200.

[0069] FIG. 3 schematically shows a flowchart of a driving assistance method 300 for a vehicle according to examples of the present subject matter. The driving assistance method 300 may be implemented by appropriate software that is able to be executed by one or more processors (for example a CPU).

[0070] The driving assistance method 300 comprises, in block 310, receiving a user input for the purpose of selecting an automated driving mode from two or more different automated driving modes and/or changing from a first (currently active) automated driving mode to a second (currently not active) automated driving mode. The driving assistance method 300 furthermore comprises, in block 320, determining whether the selected automated driving mode is available when selected by the user input.

[0071] If the selected automated driving mode is available when selected by the user input, the method 300 postpones activating the selected automated driving mode for a first time interval (block 330).

[0072] If the selected automated driving mode is unavailable when selected by the user input, the method postpones attempting to activate the selected automated driving mode for a second time interval that is longer than the first time interval.

[0073] According to the present subject matter, different time intervals are provided for the activation of an automated driving mode selected by a user depending on whether or not the selected automated driving mode is available at the time of selection. If the selected automated driving mode is available at the time of selection, the time interval until activation is shorter than if the selected automated driving mode is unavailable. By way of example, it may be the case that the selected automated driving mode is only briefly unavailable. In this case, it may be the case, due to the longer time interval between selection and activation attempt, that the activation attempt starts only when the initially unavailable selected automated driving mode is available again. This makes it possible to reduce the occurrence of error messages to the user indicating a failed activation attempt.

[0074] The term module (and other similar terms such as unit, subunit, submodule, etc.) in the present disclosure may refer to a software module, a hardware module, or a combination thereof. Modules implemented by software are stored in memory or non-transitory computer-readable medium. The software modules, which include computer instructions or computer code, stored in the memory or medium can run on a processor or circuitry (e.g., ASIC, PLA, DSP, FPGA, or other integrated circuit) capable of executing computer instructions or computer code. A hardware module may be implemented using one or more processors or circuitry. A processor or circuitry can be used to implement one or more hardware modules. Each module can be part of an overall module that includes the functionalities of the module. Modules can be combined, integrated, separated, and/or duplicated to support various applications. Also, a function being performed at a particular module can be performed at one or more other modules and/or by one or more other devices instead of or in addition to the function performed at the particular module. Further, modules can be implemented across multiple devices and/or other components local or remote to one another. Additionally, modules can be moved from one device and added to another device, and/or can be included in both devices and stored in memory or non-transitory computer readable medium.

[0075] Although the present subject matter has been explained and illustrated in more detail through preferred examples the present subject matter is not restricted by the disclosed examples, and other variations may be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the present subject matter. It is therefore clear that there are a large number of variation possibilities. It is likewise clear that examples mentioned by way of example actually only constitute examples that should in no way be understood as limiting for instance the scope of protection, the application possibilities or the configuration of the present subject matter. On the contrary, the above description and the description of the figures give a person skilled in the art the ability to implement the examples in specific terms, wherein a person skilled in the art having knowledge of the disclosed concept of the present subject matter is able to make many changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in one example, without departing from the scope of protection, which is defined by the claims and their legal counterparts, such as for instance more detailed explanations in the description.