FR3149578A1 - Method and device for indicating the presence of an object in the environment of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for indicating the presence of an object in an environment of a vehicle comprising a first step of receiving (31) first data representative of night driving conditions and a second step of receiving (32) second data representative of a position of an object in the environment of the vehicle from at least one sensor embedded in the vehicle. Following the activation (34) of a first projector by the driver of the vehicle, a visual of the object is then projected (35) onto the windshield of the vehicle by a first projector according to the first and second data received, the visual being a function of an identified type of object (33) in order to increase the visibility of this object for a driver of the vehicle. At least one light beam is then projected (36) towards the object by at least one second projector of the vehicle. Figure for abstract: Figure 3

Description

Method and device for indicating the presence of an object in the environment of a vehicle

The present invention relates to a method and a device for indicating the presence of an object in an environment of a vehicle, in particular of the automobile type. The present invention also relates to a method and a device for controlling one or more ADAS systems embedded in a vehicle based on the indication of the presence of an object.

Technological background

Many modern vehicles are equipped with so-called ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System). Such ADAS are passive and active safety systems designed to eliminate human error in the operation of vehicles of all types. ADAS use advanced technologies to assist the driver while driving and thus improve their performance. ADAS use a combination of sensor technologies to perceive the environment around a vehicle and then provide information to the driver or act on certain vehicle systems.

There are several levels of ADAS, such as rearview cameras and blind spot sensors, lane departure warning systems, adaptive cruise control and automatic parking systems.

ADAS embedded in a vehicle are powered by data obtained from one or more embedded sensors such as, for example, cameras. These cameras make it possible in particular to detect and locate other road users or possible obstacles present around a vehicle in order, for example:
- to indicate to a driver the presence and location of objects,
- to adapt the vehicle's lighting depending on the presence of other users;
- to automatically regulate the vehicle speed;
- to act on the braking system in the event of a risk of impact with an object.

The presence of an object is, for example, indicated by a graphic representation on a screen of the vehicle by highlighting the detection zone around the vehicle or by emitting an audible alert, a sound being emitted in the direction in which the object is located with respect to the driver of the vehicle. The presence of a detected obstacle is further materialized with an indication of the distance of the object with respect to the vehicle, this indication being represented, for example, graphically using a color code or audibly by an increase in the frequency of signals.

The quality of the information and indications sent by an ADAS system to a driver therefore depends on the driver's level of knowledge of the environment in which he is operating.

It is necessary to always improve this level of knowledge to increase the safety of the driver and passengers of the vehicle.

Summary of the present invention

An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

Another object of the present invention is to help a driver to better perceive his environment, particularly when driving at night.

Another object of the present invention is to improve road safety.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for indicating the presence of an object in an environment of a vehicle, the method comprising the following steps:
- receipt of first data representative of night driving conditions;
- receiving second data representative of a position of an object in the environment of the vehicle from at least one sensor on board the vehicle; and
- projection of a visual of the object by a first projector onto a windshield of the vehicle based on the first and second data received.

The method of indicating the presence of an object in the vehicle's environment thus allows a driver of the vehicle to have a driving assistance tool to accompany him during night-time driving phases and allow him to easily discern various objects present in the vehicle's environment.

By being able to more easily distinguish objects in the environment, the driver can react more quickly and avoid possible collisions with these objects, thus increasing road safety.

According to one variant, the method comprises a step of identifying a type of object based on the second data, the visual of the object being a function of the type of object.

The visual is thus a function of the type of object detected, thus providing information adapted to the driver of the vehicle which allows him to react quickly accordingly.

According to another variant, the method comprises a step of projecting at least one light beam by at least one second projector of the vehicle, the at least one second projector being oriented to project the at least one light beam towards the object.

In addition to having a visual of the object on the windshield, the driver can distinguish the object better because it is better lit. This other variant is advantageous because it allows for a visual of an object in the vehicle's environment even when the level of exterior light is low.

According to another variant, the method comprises a step of activating the projection by the first projector.

Activation allows the visual to be available only when the conditions of use are met, such as when driving at night.

According to an additional method variant, the first data belong to a first data set comprising:
- data representative of ambient brightness received from a twilight sensor,
- data representative of a current time, and
- data representative of the switching on of the vehicle's second headlights.

According to another method variant, an object type belongs to a set of object types comprising:
- a second vehicle,
- a second road user,
- a pedestrian,
- an animal, and
- a static object.

According to yet another method variant, the second data is obtained from a sensor using radio waves.

Such a sensor is particularly precise and suitable for locating an object in the vehicle's environment.

According to yet another method variant, the second data are obtained from a vision system comprising at least one camera.

One or more cameras provide a vision system capable of locating an object in the vehicle's environment.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for indicating the presence of an object in an environment of a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with at least one processor configured for implementing the steps of the method as described according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for the execution of the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, this in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

Such a computer program may use any programming language, and may be in the form of source code, object code, or code intermediate between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may include a storage medium, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording medium or a hard disk.

On the other hand, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from a network such as the Internet.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question.

Brief description of the figures

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the non-limiting embodiments of the invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 5, in which:

schematically illustrates a vehicle seen from above, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention, according to a particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a device for indicating the presence of an object in the environment of the vehicle of the , according to a particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

illustrates a flowchart of the different operations of a process for indicating the presence of an object in a vehicle environment. , according to a particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a passenger compartment of the vehicle of the , according to a particular embodiment of the present invention; and

illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for indicating the presence of an object in the environment of the vehicle of the , according to a particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A method and a device for indicating the presence of an object in the environment of a vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, a method for indicating the presence of an object in an environment of a vehicle comprises a first step of receiving first data representative of night driving conditions and a second step of receiving second data representative of a position of an object in the environment of the vehicle from at least one sensor embedded in the vehicle. A visual of the object is then projected onto the windshield of the vehicle by a first projector according to the first and second data received.

There schematically illustrates a vehicle 10 seen from above, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the vehicle 10 corresponds to a vehicle with a thermal engine, with an electric motor(s) or even a hybrid vehicle with a thermal engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle 10 thus corresponds, for example, to a land vehicle such as an automobile, a truck, a coach, a motorcycle.

In the environment of the vehicle 10 there is an object 100. This object 100 can also be a motor vehicle as described above, but also, for example, a pedestrian, a cyclist, any other type of user, an animal or an obstacle constituted by a static object.

According to this particular embodiment, the vehicle 10 carries one or more on-board systems, for example, an obstacle detection system, called an ODS system (from the English “Ostacle Detection System”), of a vehicle. An ODS system is advantageously configured to detect a set of obstacles in an area around the vehicle from a set of parking sensors of the vehicle, such as millimeter wave radars arranged at the front of the vehicle, at the rear of the vehicle and sometimes on the sides of the vehicle as well.

Such an ODS system is configured to indicate to the driver of the vehicle 10 the presence or absence of an obstacle or object around the vehicle as well as the position of the object 100 or its limits.

The ODS system thus relies, for example, on data received from one or more sensors of the vehicle 10 configured for object detection, such as, for example:
- one or more radio wave radars 12 arranged on the vehicle 10, for example at the front of the vehicle 10; each radar 12 is adapted to emit electromagnetic waves and to receive the echoes of these waves returned by one or more objects 100, for the purpose of detecting obstacles and their distances from the vehicle 10; and/or
- one or more LIDAR(s) (from the English “Light Detection And Ranging”, or “Light Detection and Ranging” in French), a LIDAR sensor corresponding to an optoelectronic system composed of a laser emitting device, a receiving device comprising a light collector (to collect the part of the light radiation emitted by the emitter and reflected by any object located on the path of the light rays emitted by the emitter) and a photodetector which transforms the collected light into an electrical signal; a LIDAR sensor thus makes it possible to detect the presence of objects 100 located in the emitted light beam and to measure the distance between the sensor and each detected object.

According to this example and as illustrated in , the vehicle 10 furthermore carries a camera 11 having in its field of vision a part of the external environment of the vehicle 10, for example the environment located in front of the vehicle 10 with reference to the direction of travel of the vehicle 10. The camera 11 corresponds for example to a windshield camera or to a camera mounted at the front of the vehicle 10, for example at the level of the front grille of the vehicle 10. A vision system comprising this camera 11 then forms a monoscopic vision system. According to a variant, the vehicle 10 is equipped with several cameras 11, for example, 2, 3 or 4 cameras 11 sharing the same part of their field of vision, then forming a stereoscopic vision system. Each camera is configured for the acquisition of data representative of the external environment of the vehicle 10 in its field of vision. These data correspond for example to the acquisition data of a grid of photosensitive sensors, for example gray level data for each RGB color channel for example (from the English "Red, Green, Blue" or in French "Rouge, vert, bleu"). These cameras 11, or some of them, correspond for example to cameras of one or more driver assistance systems of the vehicle 10, known as ADAS systems (from the English "Advanced Driver-Assistance System" or in French "Système d'aide à la conduite supérieur"). In order to improve the perception of the environment of the vehicle 10 at night, these cameras 11, or some of them, have an optical sensor sensitive to infrared light, that is to say whose wavelength is between 780 nm and 1 mm. These cameras 11 are commonly called thermal cameras. The wavelengths are not visible to the human eye but are associated with the heat emitted by a body, the sensor of a camera 11 is therefore able to "see" a living being, a source of heat and therefore of infrared radiation, in the dark.

The vehicle 10 also carries, for example, a computer 102 communicating with the camera 11 and the radar 12. According to a particular embodiment, the camera 11, the radar 12 and the computer 102 are advantageously connected via a wired network, for example a CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (according to the ISO/IEC 802.3 standard) type network. According to an alternative embodiment, the camera 11 and the radar 12 are connected via the wired network via the computer 102.

According to this example, the vehicle 10 comprises a lighting system consisting of a second right front headlight 13a and a second left front headlight 13b which respectively generate a right light beam 14a and a left light beam 14b. Each of these beams is controlled, that is to say it illuminates in a determined direction, for example by a computer integrated into the headlight, a computer of the vehicle 10 or the computer 102. This control of the direction of a light beam 14a, 14b emitted by a second headlight 13a, 13b is obtained by using a headlight comprising segments or a matrix formed of elements made with, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs in French or LEDs in English) or lasers. The lighting system controls for example only part of the elements generating a light beam 14a, 14b, these segments or matrix elements generating light in a determined direction.

According to this example, the light beams 14a, 14b are directed towards the object 100 detected by the ODS system in order to allow the driver of the vehicle 10 to distinguish the object 100 close to the vehicle 10 at night.

There illustrates a passenger compartment 4 of the vehicle of the , according to a particular exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

According to this example, the passenger compartment 4 of the vehicle 10 further comprises a dashboard incorporating a central display screen 45 and a first projector 43 placed under a windshield 41.

The display screen 45 is for example touch-sensitive. The display screen 45 corresponds for example to a screen of the LCD type (from the English “Liquid Crystal Display” or in French “Display à cristaux liquide”), for example of the TFT type (from the English “Thin-Film Transistor” or in French “Transistor en film mince”), or OLED type (from the English “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” or in French “Diode électroluminescente biologique”). The display screen 45 is for example arranged in the center of the dashboard, for example above a central facade. Of course, the position of the display screen 45 is not limited to this example, the display screen 45 being able to be arranged in any position, for example on the central facade.

The display screen 45 makes it possible to display content intended for the driver and passengers of the vehicle 10. The display screen 45 is also configured to allow the driver and/or passengers of the vehicle 10 to interact with one or more systems embedded in the vehicle via a human-machine interface (HMI) displayed on the screen. For example, the display screen 45 makes it possible to control the infotainment system, also called IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) system of the vehicle 10, as well as for example the system responsible for indicating the presence of an object when driving the vehicle 10 at night, as described in more detail with respect to the below.

According to another example, not illustrated here, the display screen 45 is not integrated into the vehicle 10 but corresponds to a screen of a mobile communication device, such as a smartphone or a tablet, connected in communication, for example wirelessly, with the on-board system of the vehicle 10.

According to this example and as illustrated in , the driver of the vehicle 10 is seated in a seat 42, called the driver's seat. The driving position is on the left or right of the vehicle 10, depending on the regulations applicable in the countries. According to the particular and non-limiting example of the , the driving position of the vehicle 10 corresponds to a position on the left corresponding to countries where vehicles drive on the right lane of the roads.

From his seat 42, the driver perceives the environment in which the vehicle 10 is moving, in particular by looking through the windshield 41. In this environment is the object 100, visible through the windshield 41. When driving at night, the brightness is low. The object 100, if it is poorly lit, is then barely visible to the driver of the vehicle 10. This object 100 therefore represents a danger for the vehicle 10, or conversely the vehicle 10 represents a danger for the object 100. Indeed, if the driver of the vehicle 10 does not perceive the object 100, the vehicle 10 risks colliding with the object 100.

In order to inform the driver of the vehicle 10 of the presence of the object 100, the first projector 43 placed under the windshield projects a visual 44 directly onto the windshield 41 in the area where the object 100 is located from the point of view of the driver seated in the seat 42. Thus, the visual 44 is located in the field of vision of the driver of the vehicle 10 in the direction of the object 100.

The windshield 41 thus corresponds to an element of a device or system called a head-up display. Such a display system comprises for example one or more first projectors 43 integrated for example in the dashboard or in the central rearview mirror 46. Such a system for projecting images or graphic content corresponds for example to a so-called augmented reality system, called AR (from the English "Augmented Reality"), for example a Head-Up Display system, called VTH or HUD (from the English "Head Up Display" or in French "Display Head High"), which allows the embedding of virtual objects in the driver's field of vision by projecting the images on the windshield 41, so as to superimpose the virtual objects of the projected images on the environment in which the vehicle 10 is moving. The projection of the images of the graphic object is for example controlled by one or more computers of the on-board system of the vehicle 10, for example by the computer of the infotainment system, called IVI computer (from the English "In-Vehicle Infotainment" or in French "Infodivertissement embargo"). of the vehicle 10 or the calculator 102 illustrated on the The connection between the computer and the head-up display device corresponds, for example, to an LVDS type connection (from the English “Low Voltage Differential Signaling” or in French “Low Voltage Differential Transmission”).

The visual 44 is for example a light field or the drawing of an outline of the object 100 much more visible than the object 100 itself. The driver of the vehicle 10 is then informed of the presence of the object 100 and its position, without taking his eyes off the road, the shape and exact position of the object 100 being indicated in his field of vision.

There schematically illustrates a device for indicating the presence of an object in the environment of the vehicle of the , according to a particular embodiment of the present invention. The device 2 corresponds for example to the computer 102 of the vehicle 10.

The device 2 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations of the process described with regard to the or steps of the method described with respect to the . Examples of such a device 2 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 2, individually or in combination, can be integrated in a single integrated circuit, in several integrated circuits, and/or in discrete components. The device 2 can be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

The device 2 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 20 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and/or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 2. The processor 20 may include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 2 further comprises at least one memory 21 corresponding for example to a volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and/or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the memory 21.

According to various particular embodiments, the device 2 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and/or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input/output ports.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 2 comprises a block 22 of interface elements for communicating with external devices, for example a remote server or the “cloud”, other nodes of the ad hoc network. The interface elements of the block 22 comprise one or more of the following interfaces:
- RF radio frequency interface, for example of the Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® type, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced;
- USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French);
- HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface”);
- LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

According to another particular embodiment, the device 2 comprises a communication interface 23 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and/or data via the communication channel 230. The communication interface 23 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO/IEC 802-3 standard).

According to an additional particular embodiment, the device 2 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 240, one or more speakers 250 and/or other peripherals 260 (projection system) via output interfaces 24, 25 and 26 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 2.

There illustrates a flowchart of the different operations of a process for indicating the presence of an object in an environment of the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is advantageously implemented in the vehicle 10, for example implemented by the device 2 of the .

In a first operation 31, first data representative of night driving conditions are received.

According to one variant, the first data belongs to a first data set comprising:
- data representative of ambient brightness received from a twilight sensor, such a sensor is very often present on a vehicle 10 in particular for automatic headlight ignition systems,
- data representative of a current time, a connected system can for example compare the current time to the sunset time, and
- data representative of the switching on of second headlights 13a, 13b of the vehicle 10.

In a second operation 32, second data representative of a position of an object 100 in the environment of the vehicle 10 are received from at least one sensor on board the vehicle 10.

The second data includes for example:
- the relative position of the limits of the object 100 in the reference frame of the vehicle 10
- the distance separating the object 100 from the vehicle 10,
- the direction and speed of relative movement of the object 100 in the frame of reference of the vehicle 10.

In a third operation 33, an object type 100 is identified based on the second data.

Alternatively, the object type is identified from characteristics listed below, themselves obtained from the second data:
- object size 100,
- the shape of the object 100,
- the speed of the object 100 and/or
- a temperature or a thermal signature of the object 100 in the case where second data are acquired by a thermal type camera 11.

According to one variant, the identification 33 of the type of object 100 is for example carried out via a neural network from images acquired by a vision system of the vehicle 10 composed of at least one camera 11.

In another example, the second data is obtained from a sensor 12 using radio waves.

It should be noted that these different sensors can be combined to, for example, obtain a precise position of the object 100 using a radar 12 and a clear outline of the object 100 using a camera 11.

Thus, from the second data, an object type 100 is determined and belongs, according to one variant, to a set of object types comprising:
- a second vehicle,
- a second road user such as a cyclist,
- a pedestrian,
- an animal, and
- a static object.

The objects listed above, such as cyclists, pedestrians or animals, are for example easily identifiable at night with thermal cameras. Indeed, their bodies emit radiation that is captured by these cameras.

In a fourth operation 34, the vehicle projector 10 is activated to project the visual 44 when a condition is met.

According to a variant, such a condition is verified when the vehicle 10 is traveling on a country road where animals may frequently cross the road, or in a built-up area where there are many pedestrians.

According to another variant, such a condition is verified when a user of the vehicle 10 requests the activation of the visual projection.

The user will, for example, press a button on the dashboard or on the display screen 45 of the HMI.

This activation request 34 for visual projection is in this example combined with the first data relating to night driving conditions. Before validating the activation request, the first data are compared with validation criteria defining the night driving mode.

For example, if the first data includes a current brightness index, then this current brightness index is compared to a determined threshold representative of a day/night limit. If the brightness is lower than this threshold, then the activation request 34 is validated.

According to another example, the first data indicates whether the headlights of the vehicle 10 are on or off. The headlights (apart from two daytime running lights) are generally on at night or in a tunnel for example. The activation request 34 is then validated only if the headlights of the vehicle 10 are on.

Such validation makes it possible to prevent any visual projection when the driving conditions do not require this assistance. Indeed, if visuals are projected onto the windshield 41 of the vehicle 10 during the day for example, the driver will not be able to perceive them, the ambient light being too high. He will therefore be disturbed by any visual that is not very visible.

A visual 44 is projected in a fifth operation 35 by a first projector 43 onto the windshield 41 of the vehicle 10.

According to one variant, this projection is conditioned by the prior validation of an activation request 34.

This projection 35 is a function of the first and second data received.

From the first data, the light intensity of the visual 44 is for example defined as a function of the exterior light intensity.

In this example, the visual 44 associated with the object 100 is a function of the type of the object 100 and the projection 35 is a function of the second data.

According to a first example, the visual 44 is an outline of the object 100 drawn around the object 100 by projection onto the windshield 41 from the point of view of the driver of the vehicle 10.

According to a second example, the visual 44 is an image of the object 100 projected onto the windshield 41 so as to be superimposed on the object 100 from the point of view of the driver of the vehicle 10.

According to a third example, the visual is a point, a geometric shape or an icon projected on the windshield 41 so as to be superimposed on the object 100 from the point of view of the driver of the vehicle 10.

In order to distinguish several types of object 100, a color code is for example associated with the visual 44, thus allowing the driver of the vehicle 10 to quickly interpret the information on the environment transmitted via the visual 44.

Similarly, depending on the potential danger that the object 100 would represent due to its speed, the direction and the direction of its movement, the visual may be different, thus highlighting the key objects in the environment of the vehicle 10.

Thus, an object that is not very visible because it is placed in a dark area or in a colour close to its surroundings is easily seen by the driver of the vehicle 10.

Furthermore, if another vehicle arrives in front of vehicle 10, in the opposite direction of travel to that of vehicle 10, and this second vehicle dazzles the driver of vehicle 10, the latter still distinguishes the objects in its environment thanks to the display 44 providing more contrast.

According to a variant, in a sixth operation 36, at least one light beam 14a, 14b is projected by at least one second projector 13a, 13b of the vehicle 10 towards the object 100.

This variant improves the perception of the environment of the vehicle 10 by its driver.

The second data is then used by the lighting system of the vehicle 10 in order to define the direction in which they must illuminate to reach the object 100.

For example, in the case of matrix lighting, a calculator associated with a headlight determines the matrix elements to be lit in order to illuminate the object 100.

The object 100 is then no longer in a shadow zone and the gaze of the driver of the vehicle 10 is drawn to this place in its illuminated environment, the object 100 is then clearly visible.

In addition to having a visual 44 projected onto the windshield 41 of the vehicle 10, the object 100 becomes more visible to the driver of the vehicle 10.

There illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for indicating the presence of an object in the environment of the vehicle of the , according to a particular embodiment of the present invention

In a first step 31, first data representative of night driving conditions are received.

In a second step 32, second data representative of a position of an object 100 in the environment of the vehicle 10 are received from at least one sensor on board the vehicle 10.

In a step 35, a visual 44 of the object 100 is projected onto the windshield of the vehicle 10 by a first projector 43 of the vehicle 10 based on the first and second data received.

The method for indicating the presence of an object in an environment of the vehicle 10 thus allows a driver of the vehicle 10 to have a driving assistance tool accompanying him during night-time driving phases and allowing him to easily discern various objects 100 present in the environment of the vehicle 10.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method for indicating the presence of an object in the environment of a vehicle, and to the device configured for the implementation of such a method.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle comprising the computer 102 or the device 2 of the .

Claims (10)

Method for indicating the presence of an object in an environment of a vehicle (10), said method comprising the following steps:
- reception (31) of first data representative of night driving conditions;
- reception (32) of second data representative of a position of an object (100) in the environment of the vehicle (10) from at least one sensor on board the vehicle (10); and
- projection (35) of a visual (44) of the object (100) by a first projector (43) on a windshield (41) of the vehicle (10) as a function of said first and second data received. Method according to claim 1, which comprises a step of identifying (33) a type of the object (100) as a function of said second data, the visual (44) of the object (100) being a function of the type of the object (100). Method according to one of claims 1 to 2, which comprises a step of projecting (36) at least one light beam (14a, 14b) by at least one second projector (13a, 13b) of the vehicle (10), said at least one second projector (13a, 13b) being oriented to project said at least one light beam (14a, 14b) in the direction of the object (100). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, which comprises a step of activating (34) said projection (35) by said first projector (43). Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, for which the first data belong to a first set of data comprising:
- data representative of ambient brightness received from a twilight sensor,
- data representative of a current time, and
- data representative of the switching on of second headlights (13a, 13b) of the vehicle (10). Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, for which an object type belongs to a set of object types comprising:
- a second vehicle,
- a second road user,
- a pedestrian,
- an animal, and
- a static object. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, for which the second data are obtained from a sensor (12) using radio waves. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, for which the second data are obtained from a vision system comprising at least one camera (11). Device (2) for indicating the presence of an object (100) in an environment of a vehicle (10), said device comprising a memory (21) associated with at least one processor (20) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8. Vehicle (10) comprising the device (2) according to claim 9.