DE19802594A1 - Automatic control of certain driving functions, e.g. maximum speed, when a vehicle is used in foreign country - Google Patents

Abstract

A radio signal received while the vehicle is temporarily stationary is decoded by the vehicle and country relevant parameters for the program or programs for the operating devices are initialized. Examples of data to be downloaded are which side of the road to drive on, maximum speed, minimum interval between vehicles, climatic conditions, etc. The radio signal is a GPS or a RDS signal.

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling devices for automated Driving functions of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

DE 41 11 147 A1 describes a method and an apparatus for the illustration known geographic data, digital from a local broadcaster site-specific geographic data, such as a local city map, broadcast and broadcast by receive, decode suitable receiving means of a motor vehicle, temporarily stored and displayed on a display means.

DE 30 05 602 A1 describes a device installed in a land vehicle Providing information about an itinerary. Here, geographical Peculiarities about a just passed or immediately following Route section conveyed to vehicle occupants, such as indications of Sights, rest areas or danger spots.

In a similar way, DE 44 37 360 A1 proposes a travel guide with location-controlled Information output, whereby GPS data is evaluated and corresponding on a CD ROM stored sound files depending on the current location of the vehicle be played. For example, a voice prompt is activated automatically as soon as the vehicle is approaching certain sights. Serve as a trigger from one GPS system obtained spatial coordinates.

From DE 195 06 890 A1 there is also a travel and guidance information system known, wherein acoustic and / or optical reproductions of information about Landscapes, buildings, cities or historical-artistic events and Descriptions for travelers or visitors depending on the particular Earth coordinates belonging to the location or distance are triggered.  

However, the aforementioned systems only serve as a navigation aid and / or travel guide in the form of route guidance for a driver. Country specific peculiarities of Road traffic, such as left-hand traffic, must be in driving style and control of the Motor vehicle are taken into account by the driver himself and find no entry in automated driving functions, such as automatic distance control (ADR function). In an extreme case, for example, a one designed for right-hand traffic Vehicle, can be automatic in a driving environment with left-hand traffic Distance control cannot be used. Also different legal ones Conditions in different countries, for example for a distance to be maintained, lead to the distance control for the respective country in which a motor vehicle to be operated, is to be adjusted. This means a large production effort.

DE 196 00 734 A1 describes a method for controlling aggregates Motor vehicle, GPS data for determining a vehicle environment with in Vehicle-driven statistical data linked and processed to a manipulated variable be what a circuit program of a tiered or continuously variable automatic Transmission of the motor vehicle varies.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved method of the above. Kind to propose and ease of use for a motor vehicle even in traffic areas with different specifics or country-specific peculiarities of road traffic to increase.

This object is achieved by a method of the above. Kind with the in claim 1 marked features solved. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are in the dependent claims specified.

For this purpose, it is provided according to the invention that data from a received radio signal decoded with respect to a current country of residence of the motor vehicle and according to country-specific parameters of the country determined in this way or Programs for the facilities for automated driving functions can be set.  

This has the advantage that a setting of country specifications of a motor vehicle takes place depending on the current location of the motor vehicle, so that a fixed predetermined and unchangeable setting of country-specific Motor vehicle parameters can be omitted. This simplifies a manufacturing process and a number of variants in the manufacture of motor vehicles for different countries is reduced. Furthermore, a quick and reliable detection of country-specific Peculiarities possible on the automated driving functions quickly, easily and are fully automatically adaptable.

The device for automated driving functions is expediently a control or Control unit or system.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the automated driving function is a Speed and / or distance control and / or a direction control.

Contains the received radio signal parameters, from which the probable Climate profile can be determined, can be provided according to further preferred embodiments be to control comfort devices and / or battery charging automatically.

After an advantageous further embodiment of the invention, there is still the possibility to automatically control a chassis tuning device, d. H. the chassis country-specific more comfortable or less comfortable to set.

A particularly easy to implement method can be achieved in that the received radio signal is a GPS signal or an RDS signal because such Sources of information either already exist in the motor vehicles or simply are to be retrofitted.

The country-specific programs or parameters are expediently those for Right-hand or left-hand traffic.

Further features, advantages and advantageous configurations of the invention result from the dependent claims, as well as from the following description of the invention.  

Automated driving functions of a motor vehicle are particularly dependent on their functionality depends on the country-specific characteristics of road traffic. So Left-hand traffic applies in some countries or there are different legal regulations with regard to distances to be observed or maximum speeds different types of roads, such as highways or country roads.

The invention now creates a possibility of such automated driving functions to be implemented in motor vehicles regardless of country. A radio signal is used for this, which contains data from which information about a country currently being traveled can be derived are. Depending on the determined or identified country, facilities or systems for such automated driving functions different specifications or parameters or Programs stored, which are set accordingly.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment. The single figure shows a block diagram of a device 1 using the method according to the invention.

In the exemplary embodiment, the device 1 has a receiving device 6 designed for receiving radio signals. Radio signals with the RDS functionality described below and signals from satellite navigation (GPS signals) are explained below as examples of such radio signals.

A signal from a radio data system (RDS), a so-called RDS signal, is used for Broadcast program broadcasts, for example of radio programs for travelers in a motor vehicle equipped with an appropriate RDS car radio, for the transmission of various important information with which the RDS car radio Variety of operations necessary for undisturbed reception automatically executes without, for example, a driver's attention from Avert traffic and make manual entries on the RDS car radio. This RDS signal also contains information that may be shown on a display of the RDS Car radios are communicated to the driver or a user. The RDS signal is in an EBU specification DIN EN 50 067 and contains to differentiate the various radio transmitters with correspondingly different transmitter chains in addition  a program identification code, the so-called PI code. According to the EBU Specification DIN EN 50 067 from 4 digits, which are also called 1st nibble to 4th nibble. The 1st nibble marks the country, e.g. B. "D" for Germany or "F" France. By evaluating this 1st nibble, a current country of residence is easy can be determined and are corresponding automated driving functions to country-specific Customizable conditions. Since this system is standardized accordingly, it can be used across borders. The particular advantage is that it is practical today each vehicle has an RDS receiver and decoder in the form of a car radio. From only the decoded country information can be accessed.

A satellite-based navigation system, called GPS for short, provides a radio signal Data from which a GPS receiver determines a current position. From this current position immediately results in a whereabouts to which a particular country is assignable. For example, a GPS navigation system or GPS emergency call system usable, which is already present in a motor vehicle, for example.

After receiving the radio signals by the receiving device 5 , these are forwarded to a processing device 2 , which decodes data relating to a current country of residence of the motor vehicle from the radio signals and, depending on the current country of residence, outputs control signals, for example, to a device 3 for distance control 3 , which in turn actuates the signals Drive machine and / or the braking device forms.

Furthermore, it is shown in the exemplary embodiment that the processing device 2 determines an expected climate profile from the data relating to the current country of residence and generates control signals for an air conditioning system 4 of the motor vehicle as a function of this climate profile. The control of other driving functions is conceivable.

Claims (8)

1. A method for controlling devices for automated driving functions of a motor vehicle, characterized in that data relating to a current country of residence of the motor vehicle is decoded from a received radio signal and predetermined country-specific parameters or programs for the devices for automated driving functions are set in accordance with the country determined in this way. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the facilities for automated driving functions control units or systems. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the automated driving function a speed and / or Distance control and / or a direction control. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the automatic driving function is a comfort control device. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the automatic driving function is a device for battery charging. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that  the automatic driving function is a device for automatic Suspension tuning is. 7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radio signal received is a GPS signal or an RDS signal. 8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the country-specific programs or parameters for legal or Are left-hand traffic.