Curve warning system

0001The invention relates to a method for warning a driver a vehicle from possible collisions with objects when cornering, in which exploiting dividend next to the vehicle Objects are captured and output a warning signal , when a collision is imminent.

0002Drivers of particularly long vehicles often have trouble to detect if the rear wheels of their vehicle in tight corners lateral object or obstacle, such as a curb or post roll over, or strip or endanger people.

0003There are known distance sensors which the operator before or Report located after the vehicle object. Such sensors could also be used the side of the vehicle. though would constantly respond to such sensors, if Objects, particularly curbs, located laterally on the vehicle, although there is no risk when driving straight ahead, this to roll over. Dignity with such obstacles ad given or warning to the driver, he'd attention loose and endanger the traffic in addition.

0004DE 101 25 966 ​​A1 is a curve warning system for motor vehicles, especially for motor vehicles with great length, known. A sensor means detects the steering angle of the Front of the vehicle and - steerable at more Axles - also the steering angle. A recognizer detects obstacles in the lateral environment of the motor vehicle. When the detection device detects an obstacle, calculated using the calculating means or the Steering angle and the running speed of the vehicle ahead, whether a collision is imminent with the obstacle, and generates risk of collision, a warning signal for the driver.

0005Object of the present invention is a method and to create a curve warning system, with which a risk of collision can be reliably detected.

0006This task is accomplished by a process of initially dissolved mentioned type, wherein the swept path of the Rear axle of the vehicle is determined and is checked, whether a detected object is within the swept path. there Note that the swept path of the towing path corresponds to the lane of the rear wheels of the vehicle is determined. The unsteered rear wheels of a vehicle describe during travel a narrower arc than the steered front wheels. For this reason, are often objects or obstructions by the rear wheels detected that the of be bypassed front wheels. the swept path is now determined can be checked whether a detected object by the rear wheels will be detected or not. If a recognized Object within the swept path, ie on a collision course, the driver can be warned, so that the driver either the cam or modify the vehicle in can stop. Preferably objects such as curbs, People and traffic signs detected. Because detected is whether a detected object of the detection area will get into the vehicle at continue, is a warning signal output only when this is actually the case. It is not always output a warning signal if an object is detected. If the vehicle is, for example, parallel to a curb, no warning signal is generated, since the Curb does not fall into the drag of the rear axle. The vehicle may be a vehicle monomial or a multi-section vehicle, as a team, consisting of a tractor and trailer, act.

0007In a preferred process variant, it is provided that the steering angle or a proportional size of the vehicle is detected and from this the drag curve. ever on the steering angle, different pivot points for result the vehicle and thus associated swept paths. By Detecting the steering angle can therefore determine the swept path and may be determined whether an object on the will be swept path.

0008Advantageously, the lateral distance of the vehicle is determined to the detected objects. can by this measure are particularly easy determined whether an object on the Swept path or not. In addition, the method enables the detection of moving objects, the z. B. even enter the drag curve by measuring and Evaluation are repeated continuously.

0009In a preferred process variant, the driver is a given audible and / or visual warning when an object located on the swept path. An audible alarm, for example, be a warning, a visual warning, a Flashes or for example a barrier display in a its display in the cab.

0010In a particularly preferred process variant, may be provided be that it is checked whether the detected objects to move and to fall to the detected trailing curve threatening. This measure may, in particular road safety increase of city buses and school buses. The Trips and falls a person can thus reported early will. Such events lead especially in the elderly People and children to Überrollungsunfällen frequently. The inventive method can such Überrollungsunfälle be avoided. For checking whether an moving object is caught in the drag curve is For example, assumed that the object's direction and speed maintains. In addition, provided be that the current speed of the object detected becomes.

0011If the position of the detected objects is determined and with correlating a stationary coordinate system, can additional nachgeschleppte axles of the vehicle by nachgeschleppten vehicle parts during the collision check be taken into account, without the associated side of the vehicle the nachgeschleppten Fahrzeugteile own side Distance sensors are necessary. As nachgeschleppte Spare parts are, for example Achsauflieger, truck tractors, Trailers and nachgeschleppte section of articulated buses in question. This measure enables a driver a tractor, to change the nature or length of the trailer, without losing the function of warning device. Advantageously, the position with a stationary Coordinate system, ie not with a vehicle-fixed Coordinate system correlated.

0012In a further development of the method can be provided, that in addition to the steering angle, the distance traveled by the vehicle Distance is detected and the correlation detected by the Steering angle and the detected travel distance is performed.

0013It is particularly preferred if nachgeschleppte for Axle of a vehicle part nachgeschleppten a swept path is determined. Based on such a drag curve can be determined are whether an object on the swept path of nachgeschleppten Axis. If this is the case, can also a warning signal is output.

0014It can be provided that the type of nachgeschleppten is part of the vehicle selected by the driver. Thus, for each attached trailer style the swept path of nachgeschleppten Axis are determined and may receive a warning if is an object on a collision course.

0015In a preferred process variant, it is provided that a drag curve portion at least partially illuminated becomes. By this measure the traffic safety is increased. The illumination is particularly advantageous in bad weather or at night. It can be provided be that the illumination only activated or activated is when poor visibility conditions prevail. The swept path area can adjoining the swept path environment and the swept path itself comprise at least partially.

0016In a further development of the method can be provided, that the swept path is illuminated such that other Road users are not dazzled. By this measure, road safety is further increased.

0017It can be provided that the drag curve area always is illuminated only in a warning event. The illumination additionally has a warning function, and not only for the Driver but also for themselves exploiting dividend next to the vehicle Road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Here, an audible warning is given to the outside will.

0018The object is also achieved by a curve warning system having a detection device for detecting objects in the lateral environment of a vehicle, an evaluation, which evaluates whether a collision with a detected threatening object and a warning means that in case of imminent Collision sounds an alarm. The evaluation includes Means for determining the drag of the rear axle of the vehicle and for checking whether a detected object on Trolling curve. With such a curve warning system collisions can located ends with on the side of the vehicle Objects can be reliably prevented.

0019In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the detection means arranged laterally on the vehicle Sensors, in particular distance sensors comprises. By Distance sensors, the distance of the objects to the vehicle be determined. Basis of the detected distances can be determined are whether an object on the swept path is or not.

0020When a steering angle sensor is provided, the tractrix the rear axle are particularly easily determined.

0021In a preferred embodiment, an odometer provided. Because of the odometer and the steering angle sensor determined data, the position of the detected identified objects in a fixed coordinate system will. Thus, objects can be taken into account, the on the swept path of an axis of a nachgeschleppten nachgeschleppten Vehicle part lying.

0022In a preferred embodiment, a warning indicator provided. On the warning to the driver may visually displayed be that an object is located on the swept path.

0023By selecting means, in particular a menu selection or Keypad can be selected, whether and what kind of vehicle part is pulled by the tractor. In addition, be provided that the selection means a side illumination the swept path can be activated. The display device and the selection means may in a unit be combined.

0024Traffic safety can be further increased when lights to illuminate at least part of the towing curve are provided. This measure not only the warned drivers but also other road users and pointed out that the illuminated area of ​​the Rear axle of the vehicle or a trailer be traveled becomes.

0025In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the lamps are driven by the evaluation device. The lights can be controlled by the evaluation unit in such a way be that they illuminate only the swept path, when a Object was detected in the swept path.

0026Further features and advantages of the invention will be made the following description of an embodiment of Invention, with reference to the figures of the drawing, the inventively essential show detail, and from the claims. The individual features can either individually or collectively in any combination in a variant of the invention be realized.

0027Embodiments of the invention are based on a drawing explained in more detail. They show:<dl tsize="6"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a highly schematic plan view of a Vehicle;</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a schematic diagram for explaining determining the swept path.</dd></dl>

0028In the <b>Fig. 1</b> is a plan view of a vehicle <b>1</b> shown, the both sides sensors <b>2-11</b>, Particularly distance sensors, having. Through the sensors 2 to 11 objects, located next to the vehicle 1 is detected. The sensors 2 to 11 are part of a recording device. they are having an evaluation <b>12</b> in conjunction with the connection of sensors 7-11 to the evaluation 12 only indicated. The evaluation will be 12 In addition, the signals of a steering angle sensor 13 and a odometer <b>14,</b> the distance traveled by the vehicle 1 determined distance or a variable proportional thereto, supplied. From these signals, the evaluation device determines 12 the drag of the rear axle 15 of the vehicle 1 and whether a detected object is located on the swept path. determined the evaluation device 12 that one of the sensors 2 to 11 detected object is on the swept path, is a warning device <b>16</b> the driver output a warning signal, for example, by flashing signals. In addition, can also be provided acoustic warning means on the warning signal is discharged to the outside as an acoustic warning. The Warning device 16 also includes a menu selection, via which the driver can select whether a dragged to the vehicle 1 Vehicle part, such as a trailer is attached. also the driver can go through the selection of the warning device 16 Select whether lights <b>17 to 24</b> for partially at least Illuminating the tractrix curve and / or the adjacent Environment to be activated.

0029In the <b>FIG. 2</b> the vehicle 1 with steered front wheels<b>30, 31</b> shown. Through the rear axle 15 is a extended line <b>32</b> drawn on which the pivot points of the Vehicle 1 lie. For the turning of the wheels<b>30, 31</b> results a fulcrum <b>P1</b>, This means that the wheels of the rear axle 15 a swept path <b>S1</b> busy. is shown in FIG. 2 also a detection area <b>33</b> the sensors on the right Side of the vehicle 1 shown. That in the detection area 33 lying object <b>34</b> is outside the swept path S1. If only this object is detected, then no warning to the driver. The object<b>35</b> contrast is within the Tractrix curve S1, and it is, therefore, a warning signal to the Driver of the vehicle 1 is output. If the impact of the wheels 30, 31 less, so for example, results in the drag curve <b>S2,</b> wherein the associated fulcrum P2 not shown is situated to the right of point P1. The object 35 is within the swept path S2 so that when Gathered associated steering angle issued a warning to the driver becomes. At an even lower steering angle results the swept path <b>S3</b>, Both the object 34 and the object 35 are outside the swept path S3, so although the Objects 34 35 are, in the detection zone 33, no warning signal is issued to the driver.