GB2632264A

GB2632264A - A method for warning a driver of a motor vehicle against a speed detection camera in surroundings of the motor vehicle by a navigation device, a computer prog

Info

Publication number: GB2632264A
Application number: GB2311647.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kim Minseok; Yu Sean
Original assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2023-07-28
Filing date: 2023-07-28
Publication date: 2025-02-05
Also published as: KR20250018362A; GB202311647D0

Abstract

Navigation device 12 onboard a motor vehicle 10 receives a map 20 (via receiving device 24) with a position P1 of a speed detection camera 16 in its surroundings 14. It determines a current vehicle position P2 using its position detection device 26 and generates and presents a warning signal for the driver via its electronic computing device 28 depending on the two positions P1 and P2. The warning signal (e.g. an icon on a display or an audio signal) is continuously generated after the vehicle passes the speed camera position P1 and its presentation is ended depending on a current speed limit. A degree of strength of the warning signal gradually decreases from the speed camera position P1 to a position (P3,Fig.4) where the warning ends according to the speed limit and the distance between the speed camera and the vehicle. If the speed limit is 30km/h or 100 km/h, the warning may end after 150 meters (42,Fig.4) or 500 meters (44,Fig.4) respectively.

Description

A METHOD FOR WANING A DRIVER OF A MOTOR VEHICE AGAINST A SPEED

DETECTION CAMERA IN SURROUNDINGS OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE BY A

NAVIGATION DEVICE, A COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, A NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM, AS WELL AS A NAVIGATION DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. Most specifically, the present invention relates to a method for warning a driver of a motor vehicle against a speed detection camera in surroundings of the motor vehicle by a navigation device of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding navigation device.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] From the state of the art a new type of a camera is known, which is increasingly recently, and drivers want a car infotainment system such as a head unit, to provide warning accordingly. The warning for traffic violation detection camera is one of the most important functions in a navigation device. A new type of traffic detection camera is recently introduced by police departments, which may detect traffic violation on the rear side of the motor vehicle. In order for a driver to drive a car more safely against rear side detection cameras of e.g. over speed and traffic signal violation, it is required for a navigation to provide warning with multimedia effects considering their attributes as well as distance from the car.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding navigation device, by which a driver of a motor vehicle can be warned against a speed detection camera in an improved manner.

[0004] This object is solved by a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding navigation device according to the independent claims. Advantageous and embodiments of presented and dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for warning a driver of a motor vehicle against a speed detection camera and surroundings of the motor vehicle by a navigation device of the motor vehicle. A map with at least one position of at least one speed detection camera is received by a receiving device of the navigation device. A current position of the motor vehicle is determined by a position detection device of the navigation device. A warning signal for the driver is generated and presented by an electronic computing device of the navigation device depending on the at least one position of the speed detection camera and the current position, wherein the warning signal is continuously generated after passing the at least one position of the speed detection camera by the motor vehicle. The presentation of the warning signal is ended after the motor vehicle depending on a current speed limit on a road the motor vehicle is travelling by the electronic computing device.

[0006] Therefore, in particular a warning of a rear side speed detection camera is provided. In particular, depending on the current speed limit the presentation of the warning signal is ended, and therefore the possibility, that the driver may violate the current speed limit is reduced. Therefore, an improved warning against a speed detection camera is provided.

[0007] According to an embodiment the warning signal is further determined by the distance between the speed detection camera and the motor vehicle.

[0008] In another embodiment a degree of the strength of the presenting of the warning signal gradually decreases from the position of the speed detection camera to a position where the warning ends according to the speed limit of the road and the distance between the speed detection camera and the motor vehicle.

[0009] In another embodiment the warning signal is presented on a display device of the navigation device by highlighting of an icon on the display device.

[0010] In another embodiment the warning signal is presented on an audio device of the navigation device, in particular as a sound.

[0011] In another embodiment a degree of the strength of the presenting of the warning signal is determined by a mathematical formula: distance btw. car and camera (m) multimedia effects(%) = 100 - x config_ value in system limitation speed (m/h) [0012] In particular, the presented method is a computer-implemented method. Therefore, another aspect of the invention relates t o a computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to the preceding aspect.

[0013] A further aspect of the invention relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least a computer program product according to the preceding aspect point.

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a navigation device for warning a driver of a motor vehicle against a speed detection camera in surroundings of the motor vehicle, comprising at least one receiving device, one position detection device, and one electronic computing device, wherein the navigation device is configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the navigation device.

[0015] A still further aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least a navigation device according to the proceeding aspect.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments of the method are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the computer program product, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the navigation device, as well as a the motor vehicle. Therefore, the navigation device as well, as the motor vehicle comprises means for performing the method.

[0017] A computing unit/electronic computing device may in particular be understood as a data processing device, which comprises processing circuitry. The computing unit can therefore in particular process data to perform computing operations. This may also include operations to perform indexed accesses to a data structure, for example a look-up table, LUT.

[0018] In particular, the computing unit may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and/or one or more integrated circuits, for example, one or more application-specific integrated circuits, ASIC, one or more field-programmable gate arrays, FPGA, and/or one or more systems on a chip, SoC. The computing unit may also include one or more processors, for example one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units, CPU, one or more graphics processing units, GPU, and/or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors, DSP. The computing unit may also include a physical or a virtual cluster of computers or other of said units.

[0019] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and/or software interfaces and/or one or more memory units.

[0020] A memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, for example a dynamic random access memory, DRAM, or a static random access memory, SRAM, or as a non-volatile data memory, for example a read-only memory, ROM, a programmable read-only memory, PROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory, EPROM, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, EEPROM, a flash memory or flash EEPROM, a ferroelectric random access memory, FRAM, a magnetoresistive random access memory, MRAM, or a phase-change random access memory, PCRAM. Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0022] The drawings show in: [0023] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view according to an embodiment of a motor vehicle comprising an embodiment of a navigation device; [0024] Fig. 2 a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of a method according to the invention; [0025] Fig. 3 a schematic block diagram according to the embodiment of a navigation device; [0026] Fig. 4 a schematic diagram according to embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0027] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0029] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0030] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by "comprises" or "comprise" does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0031] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view according to the embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 comprising an embodiment of a navigation device 12. Furthermore surroundings 14 as well as a speed detection camera 16 are shown.

[0033] According to the embodiment a method for warning a driver 18 of the motor vehicle 10 against the speed detection camera 16 in the surroundings 14 is provided. A map 20, e.g. from a back end server 22, is received with at least one position P1 of the at least one speed detection camera 16 by a receiving device 24 of the navigation device 12. A current position P2 of the motor vehicle 10 is determined by a position detection device 26 of the navigation device 12. A warning signal is generated and presented for the driver 18 by an electronic computer device 28 of the navigation device 12 depending on the at least one position P1 of the speed detection camera 16 and the current positon P2, wherein the warning signal is continuously generated after a passing at least one position P1 of the speed detection camera 16 by the motor vehicle 10. The presentation of the warning signal is ended depending on a current speed limit on a road 30 the motor vehicle 10 is traveling on by the electronic computing device 28.

[0034] In particular, the warning signal is further determined by the distance between the speed detection camera 16 and the motor vehicle 10. Furthermore a degree of strengths of the presenting of the warning signal gradually decreases from the position P1 of the speed detection camera 16 to a position P3, where the warning ends according to the speed limit of the road 30 and the distance between the speed detection camera 16 and the motor vehicle 10. Furthermore, the warning signal is presented on a display device 32 of the navigation device 12 by highlighting of an icon on the display device 32. Furthermore the warning signals presented on an audio device 34 of the navigation device 12, in particular a sound as the warning signal is presented.

[0035] Furthermore, a degree of the strengths of the presenting of the warning signal is determined by using a mathematical formular: distance btw. car and camera (m) multimedia effects(%) = 100 - x config. value in system limitation speed (m/h) [0036] Fig. 2 shows a schematic flow chart according to the embodiment of the method. In a first step S1 the method starts. In a second step S2 the navigation device 12 may calculate the distance between the position P1 of the speed detection camera 16 and the current position P2 of the motor vehicle 10. In a third step S3 it is checked, if the distance between the current position P2 and the speed detection camera 16 is zero. If not, the second step S2 is performed again. If yes, a fourth step S4 is performed, wherein the navigation device 12 may highlight a camera icon with maximum opacity and place warning sound with maximum volume level inside the motor vehicle 10. In a fifth step S5 the navigation device 12 paints the camera icon getting disappear and decreases a warning sound volume level by a distance between the current position P2 and the position P1. In a sixths step S6 it is checked, if the distance between the current position P2 and the position P1 is higher than an affected range. If not, fifth step S5 is performed. If yes, a seventh step S7 is performed, wherein the navigation device 12 deletes the camera icon on map and stops warning sound for the speed detection camera 16. After the sevenths step S7 and eighth step S8 is performed, wherein the method ends.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows a block diagram according to the embodiment of the navigation device 12. In particular, the navigation device 12 may comprise a processor 46 and a memory 48. The navigation device 12 receives the map 20 with the at least one position P1 of the speed detection camera 16. Furthermore, it is shown, that the navigation device 12 may comprise a network communication interface 38 for communicating with a further network communication interface 40 of the backend server 22.

[0038] Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram according a method. In particular two lines 42 and 44 are shown. The line 42 describes an example for a speed limit of 30km/h and the line 44 presents an example for a speed limit with 100km/h.

[0039] On the x-axes a distance in meters is provided and on the y-axes the degree of strengths of the presenting of the warning signal is presented.

[0040] At the position P1 of the camera detection device the degree of the strengths is 100%.

[0041] According to the shown embodiment and with a configurable value of a 20, the line 42 with a speed limit of 30km/h may end at the position P3 at 150 meters. Therefore, after 150 meters after the speed detection camera 16 the warning signal is hidden again. With the line 44, and the speed limit 100km/h, the position P3 is reached at 500 meters.

Reference signs motor vehicle 12 navigation device 14 surroundings 16 speed detection camera 18 driver map 22 backend server 24 receiving device 26 position detection device 28 electronic computing device road 32 display device 34 audio device 38 network communication interface further network communication interface 42, 44 line 46 processor 48 memory S1 -S8 steps of the method

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for warning a driver (18) of a motor vehicle (10) against a speed detection camera (16) in surroundings (14) of the motor vehicle (10) by a navigation device (12) of the motor vehicle (10), comprising the steps of: - receiving a map (20) with at least one position (P1) of at least one speed detection camera (16) by a receiving device (24) of the navigation device (12); - determining a current position (P2) of the motor vehicle (10) by a position detection device (26) of the navigation device (12); -generating and presenting a warning signal for the driver (18) by an electronic computing device (28) of the navigation device (12) depending on the at least one position (P1) of the speed detection camera (16) and the current position (P2), wherein the warning signal is continuously generated after passing the at least one position (P1) of the speed detection camera (16) by the motor vehicle (10); and -ending the presentation of the warning signal depending on a current speed limit on a road (30) the motor vehicle (10) is travelling by the electronic computing device (28).
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that continuously generating the warning signal is further determined by the distance between the speed detection camera (16) and the motor vehicle (10).
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a degree of the strength of the presenting of the warning signal gradually decreases from the position (P1) of the speed detection camera (16) to a position (P3) where the warning ends according to the speed limit of the road (30) and the distance between the speed detection camera (16) and the motor vehicle (10).
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the warning signal is presented on a display device (32) of the navigation device (12) by highlighting of an icon on the display device (32).
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the warning signal is presented on an audio device (34) f the navigation device 02).
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a degree of the strength of the presenting of the warning signal is determined by a mathematical formula: distance btw. car and camera (m) multimedia effects(%) = 100 - x config. value in system limitation speed (m/h) A computer program product comprising program code means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to claim 7.9. A navigation device 02) for warning a driver 08) of a motor vehicle 00) against a speed detection camera 06) in surroundings (14) of the motor vehicle (10), comprising at least one receiving device (24), one position detection device (26), and one electronic computing device (28), wherein the navigation device 02) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.