Control method and device for automatically switching off close-range radar

Technical field

p0001The invention relates to a control method for controlling an electronically controllable device, preferably in motor vehicles, in particular for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, preferably a short-range radar apparatus, and such a device.

State of the art

p0002There are known electronic devices that emit electromagnetic waves, such as radars. Such radars have become, among other things as a short-range radar devices in motor vehicles are known which are used to detect, for example obstacles, which are not visible to the driver, or to so early recognition with side radar approaching vehicles or obstacles, controlled for example, electronically, a belt tensioning or even a braking of the vehicle can be initiated before an action of the vehicle would be made by the driver, because he has not yet recognized the danger or the obstacle or can not detect. Such devices therefore serve to increase the security in order to identify potential conflicts at an early stage and to avoid possible - but in particular to keep the impact as low as possible. Even such short-range radar equipment can be used for example with to control partially or fully automated parking operations with.

p0003Such short-range radar devices that operate in pulsed operation at 24 GHz range (21.65 to 26.65 GHz) are allowed to work are called because of their large bandwidth as Ultra Wide Band Radar (UWB radar). For their operating restrictions are within the European Union has decided to operate, according to the 30.06.2013 only a maximum of 7% of all vehicles registered in each country with these so-called Ultra-Wide-Band radar equipment in the 24 GHz band (21,65 - 26.65 GHz) may be equipped. It has also been decided that in the frequency range of 22.21-24.00 GHz, such radars can not be operated in specified security zones for the protection of astronomical stations. From 30.07.2007 these devices themselves must deactivate automatically to protect these zones is automatically and without driver influence.

p0004Most countries of the European Union have already implemented the above provisions and have or will make to the coordinates and dimensions of the safety zones versions.

p0005For driver and vehicle so that there arises a problem of the knowledge of this safety zone and / or their reliable detection, so in the area of ​​each such security zone, the device can be disabled. In addition, in many cases, the zones not yet known or are not defined in the extension. It is also conceivable that more later today unknown zones could be nachdefiniert.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Object, Solution, Advantages

p0006It is the object of the present invention to provide a control method and an apparatus for controlling an electronically controllable device for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, by means of which, or which can be eliminated or reduced the above problems.

p0007According to the invention, the object is relative to the control method achieved by a control method for controlling an electronically controllable device for emitting electromagnetic radiation, wherein preferably the cartographic position of electronically controllable device, in particular continuously or in short time or Wegintervallen, is determined and in the event that the device is in such a predefined zone, the device automatically deactivated is or deactivated automatically.

p0008It is advantageous if the electronically controllable device with a device is connected to determine the position and the device for determining the position of the electronically controllable device passes the current position as a signal, and the electronically controllable device determines whether the current position is in a pre-defined zone.

p0009It is also expedient if the electronically controllable device with a device connected to the positioning and the device for determining position determines the current position and determines whether the current position is in a predefined zone and the electronically controllable device transmits a signal to disable.

p0010It is according to the invention advantageous if the device for positioning a mobile-based positioning comprises: Within a particular cellular mobile radio network such as GSM / GPRS and / or UMTS the location of each receiver with sufficient for the inventive purpose accuracy is determined and continues to pursue.

p0011Furthermore, it is expedient according to the invention, when such a device for determining the position of the electronically controllable device is connected by wire or wirelessly, or the device for determining position is even integrated into the electronically controllable device.

p0012It is also inventively expedient if an activation of electronically controllable device is only feasible or is automatic when the device for determining the position is ready, that is, in one in the case of tracking via mobile - preferably cellular - registered mobile network is ..

p0013It is useful when the device is additionally connected to the positioning includes having a regular, preferably Galileo or GPS-based navigation or -Ortungsvorrichtung or a mobile-based positioning and on an on-board electronic map the spaces electronically recorded read and evaluated, within which the electronically controllable device should be deactivated or must be deactivated. Which is then effected in that the navigation device within this blocking area emits an electronic control signal that deactivates the electronically controllable device.

p0014The definition of the stop band can advantageously either the direct distance to the equipment to be protected (also, a distance of eg x km) or the distance in km road (eg y km).

p0015It is also advantageous according to when in the case of mobile telephones, locating one or more mobile stations will transmit a signal by means of which produces the mobile phone on board the vehicle a signal is, with the controllable device is deactivated.

p0016It is also advantageous if the device for determining position, as well as mobile device is connected by wire or wirelessly with the electronically controllable device or the device for determining position - possibly including a mobile device - is integrated into the electronically controllable device.

p0017Furthermore, it is expedient if an activation of electronically controllable device is only feasible if the device for determining position is ready - is so in the case of locating the mobile network account in this and - if the information about the restricted area from the navigation device must come - this at the same time is in operation function - ie, "locked-" on the digital map has.

p0018Advantageous developments are described in the dependent claims.

Brief Description of Drawings

p0019The invention on the basis of an exemplary embodiment is explained with reference to the drawings. Shown in a purely schematic representation:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a buck circuit diagram illustrating the apparatus of the invention; and</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a buck circuit diagram to explain the method.</dd></dl>

Preferred embodiments of the invention

p0020The <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> shows a block diagram 1 of an electronically controllable device 2 to emit electromagnetic radiation. For this purpose, the device comprises a transmitting means 3 by means of which pulsed electromagnetic radiation, preferably radar beams are emitted according to the prior art at least and possibly after reflection on an object or obstacle again by means of an integrated - but optionally also a remote - sensor again can be received. From the travel time of the signal then distance data can be obtained, which are then, for example, used by the electronically controllable driver warning device or to control other devices in a vehicle, such as a device for belt tightening or a brake system for braking a vehicle. Also, for example a steering be controlled to allow an automated parking operation.

p0021The electromagnetic radar beams are preferably in the frequency range from 21.65 to 26.65 GHz, but other frequencies can also be used.

p0022The device 2 is further connected to a device for determining the position 4, by means of which the position of the electronically controllable device 2 is determined.

p0023According to the invention, a disconnection or deactivation of the electronically controllable device 2 and the emission of electromagnetic radiation is effected, if the device 2 is in a pre-defined zone. Outside this zone, the device is usually activated when it is not switched off deliberately by the driver or owner of the vehicle. Here below the activation or deactivation of the device preferably to be understood to enable or disable the transmission of electromagnetic radiation. Preferably an automatic deactivation is performed, wherein the device is deactivated automatically or stopped sending out electromagnetic radiation.

p0024The device connected to the electronically controllable device 2 for determining the position 4 determined automatically preferred the current position of the device for determining the position and / or electronically controllable device 2 and passes the electronically controllable device 2 is either a position signal, so that the electronically controllable device can determine, if the current position is in a predefined zone or the device for determining position 4 checked using the currently determined position if the current position is in a predefined zone and outputs a corresponding signal to the electronically controllable device 2 further so that the electronically controllable device can disable 2, or the emission of electromagnetic radiation. If the determined position is not in a predefined zone, the device 2 or the emission of electromagnetic radiation can either reauthorize (meaning "turn") or re-enable it if they had previously been deactivated.

p0025The device for determining position 4 preferably has means 5 of a satellite-based, such as preferably corresponding Galileo or GPS based, navigation or locating device or are connected to such a device. The device for determining position 4 preferably means 5 can have that - instead of or in addition to satellite tracking by preferably GPS and / or Galileo - allow or include a mobile-based location or associated with such a device. These means 5 may be formed as a unit can be connected with the device 2 or 4, but they can also be integrated into a device 2 or the fourth

p0026Advantageously, the digital map of the navigation device can contain information about, and the coordinates of the predefined zones. This information may also be stored in the electronically controllable device. 2

p0027Here, these agents can 5 in radio contact with each having a Mobilfunkserver- or mobile central plant, which sends position data, receiving the device 4 or the means 5 to perform a position determination. Thereby, the transmitted data included the position or the data is used to determine position. The transmitted data may include information about whether the device is in a predefined zone in which an operating example of a radar device is not permitted, so that this can be automated disabled.

p0028Overall, it is advantageous if the device for determining position 4, as well as mobile radio apparatus, with the electronically controllable device 2 is connected by wire or wirelessly, or the device for determining position 4, as well as mobile device, is integrated in the electronically controllable device 2nd

p0029According to an embodiment of the present invention activation of the electronically controllable device 2 advantageously only feasible if the device is ready for position determination, ie is currently logged on in the case of mobile positioning in a cellular network or in the case of satellite positioning, the positioning on the road network via satellite positioning and / or dead reckoning performs plus within and every few kilometers from the predefined zone at least occasionally a satellite positioning signal, such as preferably a Galileo or GPS signal,.

p0030The <figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> shows a block diagram 10 illustrating an embodiment of a method of the invention. In block 11 it is queried whether a connection to a positioning device 4 is present and it is ON. In block 12 it is determined whether a position is present, which lies in a pre-defined zone. If this is not the case, the device for emitting electromagnetic radiation is activated, see block 13. Otherwise, it is not activated.

p0031Even when used for locating opportunities via mobile, such as GSM or UMTS technology, several variants are possible.

p0032it when a device for emitting electromagnetic radiation, such as a radar device or short-range radar equipment only goes in function or can be activated when the device is connected to the wireless device, and if the mobile device in the mobile network currently logged ( "locked-") is particularly advantageous ,

p0033Locating a possibility of mobile phone belongs to the state of the art and is carried out automatically for each registered in a radio network GSM device. A call set-up is not necessary to.

p0034From the signal propagation time the distance of the mobile phone is determined to reach one or more mobile stations or the broadcast segments of the base stations of the radio network. This is a condition that the mobile phone can be found in a cell at all in a phone call that the transmission level of base station and mobile phone corresponding to the distance is adjusted to the transmitter and that the automatic exchange works in another radio cell, ie a so-called " hand-over "function can be realized.

p0035The location of a mobile phone is so - first at the headquarters of the mobile network - sufficiently accurately determined and defined. In order for a feedback of the location or position information to the respective individual terminal. The resolution of the position accuracy is usually sufficient in order a shutdown of short-range radar equipment in the vicinity of a predefined zone, to trigger such as a radio astronomy facility.

p0036In addition to the transmission of the position information, the base station may also send a deactivation information to the terminal so that a shutdown occurs. The safety relay can be used as additional service from a transmitter, such as a GSM transmitter, be with radiated or for example as a communication signal, such as SMS signal is sent.

p0037The location information can be sent to the mobile device as a supplementary service from the sender, such as GSM transmitter. In the vehicle can then the distance to the possibly stored for example in the device 2 or 4 in the vehicle locations, the relevant pre-defined areas, such as radio astronomy facilities, calculated, and a shutdown signal is generated if a predetermined minimum distance is undershot.

p0038The solution described above can be advantageous if a location information available as a regular service available available and can therefore be used to support navigation devices.

p0039Then either a navigation device or a positioning device can be upgraded by an addition, to generate a stop signal, with which the short-range radar device or the device 2 can be switched off for emitting electromagnetic radiation and / or as long as is present a stop signal, and the radar device remains switched off other waveforms such as repeated individual pulses can, etc. will be realized.

p0040Also, the short-range radar device, or the device 2 for emitting electromagnetic radiation may have a GSM receiver itself, which causes this shutdown function.

p0041Furthermore, a corresponding additional function can be installed with in a map-based toll device with a GSM device accessory.

p0042According to a further idea of ​​the invention can be achieved in the absence of position information - for example, in the switched-off mobile telephone - the device for emitting electromagnetic rays or the short-range radar is automatically switched off or remains off. An automated activation or activation by the presence of location information can be provided.

p0043a driver information in a status change of set is advantageous in any case to disabled or vice versa.