METHOD FOR PROCESSING GPS POSITION SIGNALS IN A VEHICLE

Abstract

A method for processing GPS position signals in a vehicle is proposed, wherein the GPS position signals of the vehicle are received successively at a predefined time interval and are processed in order to control the vehicle, and wherein at least one intermediate position value of the vehicle is determined within the time period formed by the time interval between two successive GPS position signals. Furthermore, a control device is proposed for carrying out the method.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A method for processing GPS position signals in a vehicle, the method comprising: receiving GPS position signals of the vehicle successively at a predefined time interval; processing the GPS position signals in order to control the vehicle; and determining at least one intermediate position value of the vehicle within a time period formed by the predefined time interval between two successive GPS position signals.

12. The method according to claim 11, comprising: forecasting control of the vehicle by using each at least one intermediate position value as a future vehicle position.

13. The method according to claim 11, comprising: determining a vehicle speed; and calculating the at least one intermediate position value from the determined vehicle speed.

14. The method according to claim 12, comprising: determining a vehicle speed; and calculating the at, least one intermediate position value from the determined vehicle speed.

15. The method according to claim 12, comprising: specifying a predefined raster for the time interval; and specifying a maximum number of intermediate position, values to be determined based on the predefined raster.

16. The method according to claim 13, comprising: specifying a predefined raster for the time interval; and specifying a maximum number of intermediate position values to be determined based on the predefined raster.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein determining the at least one intermediate position values is terminated after a predefined number of intermediate position values has been reached.

18. The method according to claim 17, comprising: determining a distance traveled by the vehicle based on a last received GPS position signal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein determining the distance traveled is performed by integrating the vehicle speed.

20. The method according to claim 19, comprising: setting a TimeOut when an integration of the vehicle speed exceeds a threshold value.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein determining the at least one intermediate position value is carried out beyond a time interval defined by setting the TimeOut.

22. A control device for carrying out the method according to claim 11.

23. A control device for carrying out the method according to claim 21.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The Following are Shown:

[0023] FIG. 1: a flowchart of a method according to the invention for processing GPS position signals in a vehicle; and

[0024] FIG. 2: a diagram showing vehicle positions specified by GPS position signals and calculated intermediate position values along a forecast horizon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary flow diagram of a method according to the invention for processing GPS position signals in a vehicle, in particular in a commercial vehicle, for example a truck.

[0026] The method begins with the start of the method. Then, in a first method step 1, it is checked whether a new GPS position signal is available. If this is the case, in a second method step 2, intermediate position values are calculated from a vehicle speed, for example after 0.3 seconds, 0.6 seconds, etc. The calculated new intermediate position values are accepted as supporting points for position detection.

[0027] In a third method step 3, it is checked whether a maximum number of intermediate position values is reached. If this is not the case, the second method step 2 is repeated, and further intermediate position values are calculated. However, if the maximum number of intermediate position values is reached, it is provided in a fourth method step 4 that no further intermediate values are calculated and accepted.

[0028] If no new GPS position signal is available in the first method step 1, the distance traveled by the vehicle is calculated in the context of a fifth method step 5 via simple integration of the vehicle speed.

[0029] In a next sixth method step 6, a TimeOut is set when the integrated distance exceeds a threshold. The so-called TimeOut is thus detected. This means that no new GPS position signals are received. Accordingly, in a seventh method step 7, a continuous acceptance of the calculated intermediate position values is provided for the positioning.

[0030] If no TimeOut is set, the fifth method step 5 is repeated, in which the distance traveled is calculated by integration of the vehicle speed.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary diagram of vehicle positions as a forecast horizon in meters, wherein the vehicle position results from the GPS position signals received by dashed lines III.

[0032] Further, between two received GPS position signals, additional intermediate position values are calculated, thereby allowing the staircase-shaped profile to be significantly refined, so that the quality of the position determination of the vehicle is significantly improved, which results from the forecast horizon through the two calculated intermediate position values marked with II. Shortly before receiving a new GPS position signal, no further intermediate position value is calculated, so that, in this example, only two intermediate position values result, and the third is no longer calculated. The line profile I shows results from the integration of the speed signal, which is used when the so-called TimeOut is set.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0033] 1—First method step—check whether GPS position signals are available [0034] 2—Second method step—calculate intermediate position values [0035] 3—Third method step—check whether maximum number of intermediate position values is reached [0036] 4—Fourth method step—no further intermediate values are accepted [0037] 5—Fifth method step—calculate distance traveled [0038] 6—Sixth method step—check whether TimeOut is set [0039] 7—Seventh method step—continuously accept intermediate values [0040] I. Position from integration of the speed signal [0041] II. Two self-calculated intermediate position values [0042] III. Dashed line as GPS signal