Data processing unit for driver assistance device and method for providing current fusioned situation data

The invention relates to a data processing unit for assistance facilities Motor vehicles with an input interface for road network data and a Input interface for setting data of at least one to hold Information about the environment of the motor vehicle provided ambient sensor.

The invention further relates to a method for providing current fused situation data at least one Assistant device in motor vehicles.

Devices in motor vehicles, such as navigation devices, the one have access to digital data, are well known. These facilities ie manufacturer or linked specifically defined with proprietary interfaces, Interfaces connected to other systems, such. As display and Operating devices.

Furthermore predictive assistance systems in vehicles are known, on the Based on relevant map data for an area around the current vehicle position around and on the basis of data on the vehicle movement, for example to serve support the vehicle guidance. Such assistance devices may for example, be locating devices or navigation systems etc.

From EP 1111336 A1 and EP 1111338 A2 is a Assistance device for motor vehicles is known in which on the basis of digital Map data and the current vehicle position, the map data for the relevant Environment determines the current vehicle position and for accessing Driver assistance devices are stored. These relevant map data also horizon are called.

The problem with sharing digital road network data to predictive Assistance systems in vehicles is that this always in a certain extent are faulty. These errors occur not only in the collection, but also the fact that the data become obsolete. The digital map data namely mostly on digital data carriers such as CD-ROMs, the users made available. Here, a time lag between the collection formed the Map data and the provision of media to the user and an obsolescence during the useful life of the consumer.

Furthermore, there is a problem, assistance systems in vehicles required Straßennetz- and environmental data as uniform as possible on a single standard to provide interface.

Under road network data for the purposes of the present invention map data understood that in addition to information on structural factors such. B. Bends, road geometry bases, traffic signs, zebra crossings, bridges, Tunnels, slopes, pavement, edge development, number of lanes, lane widths, One-way streets, construction of roads etc. separations also position information contain such. B. current estimated positions, current possible positions on the Road network each with velocity, position, uncertainty environment, Probability etc.

The object is therefore to provide an improved data processing unit for Assistant devices in motor vehicles and a method for providing current situation merged data to at least one assistant device in to provide motor vehicles.

The object is achieved according to the generic data processing unit achieved in that the data processing unit comprises means for combining the Road network data and the environment data has to the road network data with the update environmental data, modify and / or supplement and / or the Environmental data by means of the road network data to modify, and an output interface for forwarding the merged Straßennetz- and environmental data as merged Situation data in a uniform data protocol at least one Assistant device has.

The merger of the road network data with information from Environment information sources on the environment of the motor vehicle before transferring to other assistance devices may mistake the road network data corrected and gaps be complemented in the digital road network data. In addition to the Assistant facilities only with a uniform interface for the merged Situation data is provided and it can specialized terminals for Variety of environmental sensors omitted. When transmitting Straßennetz- and environment data to the assistant devices via a data bus has the Fusion of Straßennetz- and environment data on merged data situation also the Advantage that the information is already compressed on the source of information and so less of the bandwidth of bus systems in motor vehicles in claim must be taken.

The object is further achieved by the method of providing current fused situation data at least one Assistant means dissolved in motor vehicles according to the invention by

Merging road network data and environment data with information on the surroundings of the motor vehicle, the road network data with the environment data updated, modified and / or supplemented, and

Sharing the merged Straßennetz- and environmental data than current merged situation data at least one assistant device of the motor vehicle.

The addition of road network data through the data environment of another Environment sensors of another and / or current view of the environment have motor vehicle, has the advantage that data errors z. B. by aging, faulty Detection and incorrect positioning can be reduced and thus the Data quality can be significantly improved. In addition, certain Data available through the information fusion only for assistance functions, eg. As the Evaluation of variable message signs by video sensors. Furthermore, standardized interfaces are easily extended to include additional data. This increases acceptance and application possibilities of the interface to assistance facilities. The Fusion of Straßennetz- and environmental data allows the integration of freely scalable more additional sensors and information sources corresponding to the respective System requirements, the sensors can provide information about the Information content of the road network data is going and complement these.

As environmental sensors, for example, video cameras, direction indicator signal generator, Distance sensors for determining the distance of the motor vehicle to before traveling or following vehicles, vehicle-to-vehicle communication devices, Vehicle-environment communication facilities, rain sensors, temperature sensors, Driving dynamics sensors, weight sensors, real-time clock and / or lateral distance sensors be provided separately or in any combination.

The data processing unit, for example, in a Assistant device can be integrated.

It is particularly advantageous, however, if this is independent of and to the Output interface of the data processing unit a Datenverteilmittel with a Plurality of outputs for parallel connection of assistant devices is coupled. The Datenverteilmittel (Splitter) are adapting Data rates and distribution of the full or each selected portions of the merged data situation formed on the assistance devices. In this way can the fused situation data to a plurality of assistant devices be distributed without this as far interfaces for both digital Road network data, and must provide for environmental data.

It is advantageous if the horizon selection means for selecting relevant road network data for the area around the current vehicle position from the digital road network data are provided to provide the so-called horizon. These Horizon selection means with its output can on a standard interface for be clamped digital road network data, the merging of the environment data Ie carried out with the selected relevant road network data with the horizon.

Alternatively, the horizon selection means can also behind the output interface of the Data processing unit to be clamped for the merged situation data to the fused situation data on the current physical environment of the motor vehicle to restrict.

The data fusion prior to the determination of the horizon has the advantage that defective or not before further processing eliminates current data, supplemented or can be corrected, and hence the traffic is kept low.

Similarly, in the process according to the invention comprises selecting relevant road network data for the area around the current vehicle position from the digital road network data and merging the data with the selected environment relevant road network data for the case of Information Fusion behind the so-called Horizon, or in the event of an information fusion of horizons selecting relevant road network data for the area around the current vehicle position from the fused situation data to the merged situation data current to the limiting spatial environment of the motor vehicle.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It show:<sl><li>Figure 1 - Block diagram of a method for merging digital Road network data and environment information from the horizon;</li><li>Figure 2 - Block diagram of a method for merging digital Road network data and environment data over the horizon;</li><li>Figure 3 - Block diagram of a method for merging digital Road network data and environmental data in a proprietary system;</li><li>Figure 4 - Block diagram of a method for merging the horizon, Environmental data and digital road network data, bypassing a standard interface;</li><li>Figure 5 - Block diagram of a method with a data rate matching and Distribution fused situation data to assist facilities.</li></sl>

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a method to recognize, in which digital Road network data 1 with environment data 2 to 3 fused situation data are merged. The digital road network data 1 can eg. As on a stored media and provided by a navigation device. You can are also broadcast by a navigation center to a motor vehicle.

The environment data 2 are received with environment sensors on the motor vehicle are arranged. As environmental sensors, for example, video cameras, Direction indicator signal transmitter, proximity sensor for determining the distance of the Motor vehicle for driving ahead or trailing vehicles, vehicle-to-vehicle communication equipment (Communication systems for receiving external sensor signals or environmental data from other vehicles), vehicle-environment communication equipment (Communication systems to receive external Sensor signals from fixed transmitters such. As beacon, radio, radio or TV chemi-) Rain sensors, temperature sensors, vehicle dynamics sensors, weight sensors, Time clock and / or lateral distance sensors used, for example, a parking aid will.

The step of combining the digital road network data 1 and the data environment 2 takes place in an adapted, for example by suitable programming to modify the data processing unit to update the road network data 1, and / or supplement. Here are extracted from the environment data 2 Information evaluated on the environment of the motor vehicle and to update, modification and / or supplement the digital road network data used 1. Likewise, the Environment data 2 may be modified by means of road network data. The combined Straßennetz- and environment data 1, 2 are with a merged situation data 3 Selection means further compressed so that relevant road network data 4 as the horizon for the vicinity of the current vehicle position are selected. The horizon is then to a standard interface 5 predictive assistant means 6a, 6b Provided.

The merging of the digital road network data 1 and data 2 environment in addition the updating of the digital road network data 1 has the advantage that the predictive Assistant means 6a, 6b no custom interfaces for ambient sensors must have in order to receive the environmental data. 2

Figure 2 can be another embodiment of the method for merging 3 recognize digital road network data 1 and data environment. 2 Here, the digital road network data 1, first at the relevant road network data 4 to the limited current position of the vehicle around, ie first of the digital road network data 1 the horizon determined. A standard interface 5 the relevant road network data 4 are then merged with the environment data 2 and the combined current situation merged data then in a uniform data protocol (data format) to the predictive assistant means 6a, 6b forwarded.

Figure 3 can be a different embodiment of the method according to the invention with a merging of the digital road network data 1 and data 2 environment in a recognize proprietary system. Although no standard interface 5 for the horizon is present, but a proprietary interface is used, can nevertheless centrally data fusion occur.

Figure 4 suggests a further embodiment of the method with circumvention of the standard interface 5 for recognizing the horizon. The relevant Road network data 4 (horizon) are generated from the digital road network data 1 and provided via a standard interface 5 of the data processing unit. It is essential, however, that the digital road network data 1 unlimited on a passed another interface in the data processing unit and the environment data 2 are merged. The horizon is additionally taken into account.

The combined current situation merged data is then the predictive assistant devices 6a, 6b provided.

Figure 5 makes an extension of the method realize where after merging with the help of the data rates of 7 Datenverteilmitteln merged data situation 3 in the transmission of the assistant devices 6a, 6b each adapted and merged data situation 3 or possibly each different portions thereof distributed to the assistant device 6a, 6b. The Datenverteilmittel 7, also called chips, a cache memory can additionally have to keep the data traffic after the data fusion low and the Data processing unit for combining the digital road network data and 1 the environment data 2 to relieve.

Such Datenverteilmittel 7 may also optionally behind a standard interface 5 be provided to keep the traffic in the horizon low and the relieve horizon.