DE102023200200A1 - Method for operating a rearview mirror system and rearview mirror system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a rearview mirror system (10) in a motor vehicle (100), comprising at least one outside mirror (12, 14) and/or one inside mirror (16) and a control unit (50) for controlling the outside mirror (12, 14) and/or the inside mirror (16), wherein the outside mirror (12, 14) and/or the inside mirror (16) is adjusted on the basis of vehicle data or route data transmitted to the motor vehicle (100) in order to adapt the field of view of the rearview mirror system (10) to the determined vehicle data or route data transmitted to the motor vehicle (100).The invention further relates to a rearview mirror system (10) and a motor vehicle (100) with such a rearview mirror system (10).

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a rear-view mirror system and to a rear-view mirror system for carrying out such a method according to the preamble of the independent patent claims.

Rearview mirror systems are used in motor vehicles which comprise at least one outside mirror, preferably two outside mirrors and one inside mirror. Such rearview mirror systems often comprise electric actuators with which the mirrors of the rearview mirror system, in particular the outside mirrors, can be adjusted electrically. Furthermore, rearview mirror systems are known in which the outside mirrors are replaced by reversing cameras. Furthermore, control systems are known which, for example, electrically adjust the field of view of an outside mirror when reverse gear is engaged in order to be able to see curbs or obstacles better.

Furthermore, it is known that in vehicles with a virtual exterior mirror, i.e. with a camera system that projects an image similar to an exterior mirror onto a monitor inside the vehicle, the displays can provide a significantly better image than conventional mirrors in some situations, such as in direct sunlight. Different driving modes can be applied to the camera system. For example, a camera system is known that automatically adapts to three driving situations: motorway, turning and parking. On the motorway, the field of view is reduced in order to be able to estimate speeds better when driving fast - vehicles appear correspondingly larger on the display. If the driver signals a turn or a lane change by flashing, the indicator view expands the image section to the corresponding side. This reduces the blind spot. When maneuvering and parking, the displayed field of view is expanded downwards. The display visualizes the flashing light as a green contour on its outer frame and also shows the instructions of a lane change assistant and an exit warning.

When driving in different and changing environments, the electrically adjustable rear-view mirrors or the cameras that generate an image similar to an exterior mirror remain in a fixed position. This means that when driving in hilly, winding terrain or on multi-lane roads, the driver sees irrelevant areas in the rear-view mirror, such as the valley floor, the sky or the nature next to the road.

From the EN 10 2007 015 400 A1 A rear-view mirror system for a motor vehicle is known, which comprises a control device for the automated adjustment of the motor vehicle's exterior mirrors. In this case, a lateral angle adjustment of the exterior mirror can take place depending on the operation of a turn signal lever and the adjustment of a steering wheel in order to reduce or avoid a blind spot of the exterior mirror.

The KR 2020 0115923 A describes a method for securing the field of view for a vehicle equipped with a camera. The method for securing the field of view for a vehicle equipped with a camera includes a camera operation step for controlling an operation of a camera; an image photography step for photographing an image by the camera; and an image output step. This can facilitate driving of the vehicle and improve the image quality of the camera system.

The invention is based on the object of improving the field of vision in a rear-view mirror system.

The object is achieved by a method for operating a rearview mirror system in a motor vehicle, comprising at least one outside mirror and a control unit for controlling the outside mirror. The outside mirror is adjusted on the basis of vehicle data or route data transmitted to the motor vehicle in order to adapt the field of view of the rearview mirror system to the determined vehicle data or route data transmitted to the motor vehicle. A rearview mirror system is understood to be a system that visualizes traffic to the side and behind the motor vehicle when driving forward. A rearview mirror system comprises at least one outside mirror or a virtual outside mirror with a camera and a monitor as well as a control unit for automatically adjusting the outside mirror. A rearview mirror system preferably comprises two outside mirrors, with an outside mirror arranged on each side of the motor vehicle. Vehicle data is understood to mean data from sensors and/or control devices in the motor vehicle, in particular data from acceleration sensors, inclination sensors, angle sensors, steering angle sensors, position sensors, in particular from a GPS receiver, and from one or more sensors for detecting a speed. Route data refers to data that is transmitted to the motor vehicle from a database inside or outside the vehicle. Such route data can include, in particular, the route, an elevation profile, roadway data and/or lane profiles. The route data can also include maps. data from digitized maps, such as those used for navigation in motor vehicles. In this context, an adjustment of the field of view of the rear-view mirror system means any adjustment that changes the image section shown in the mirrors or monitors, in particular an enlargement or reduction of the image section.

The method according to the invention makes it possible to adapt the field of view of a rear-view mirror system to the various driving situations and thus to be able to follow the following traffic much better than conventional rear-view mirror systems, particularly on winding roads and/or hilly roads.

The additional features listed in the dependent claims enable advantageous further developments and improvements of the method for operating a rear-view mirror system proposed in the independent claim.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rearview mirror system comprises a virtual exterior mirror with at least one camera, preferably with at least one camera on each side of the vehicle, wherein a section of an image from the camera shown on a screen is adapted based on vehicle data or route data transmitted to the motor vehicle. In this context, a virtual exterior mirror is understood to mean a system comprising at least one camera and at least one monitor, which reproduces the image from this camera and in this way simulates the function of a rearview mirror or interior mirror. In this context, a vehicle side is understood to mean two sides in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, in particular one side of the vehicle referred to as the driver's side and one side as the passenger side.

Compared to conventional exterior mirrors, virtual exterior mirrors enable a much slimmer design and can therefore reduce the air resistance of a motor vehicle. In addition, virtual exterior mirrors enable additional functions, as the camera can, for example, have a zoom function and can therefore show objects further away enlarged. Furthermore, the image section transmitted to the monitor can be edited accordingly so that the field of view can be changed. A virtual exterior mirror also enables other functions such as object recognition and/or object marking using Preception AI, for example with bounding boxes, or semantic segmentation. These additional functions can be implemented in particular in combination with evaluation software for the images recorded by the camera of the virtual exterior mirror. By adjusting the camera, these functions can be further improved and expanded, which makes it easier and further improves the observation of following traffic.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a virtual exterior mirror comprises at least two cameras, whereby switching is carried out from a first camera of the virtual exterior mirror to a second or further camera of the virtual exterior mirror depending on the determined vehicle data or route data transmitted to the motor vehicle. Additional functions can be implemented in the virtual exterior mirror using two or more separate cameras per exterior mirror. On the one hand, a second camera can reduce the blind spot of the exterior mirror, and on the other hand, the two cameras can observe different areas, so that the observation of following traffic can be made easier by specifically switching from the image of the first camera to the image of the second camera. In particular, in the case of commercial vehicles or vehicles with trailers, the first camera can cover an area immediately behind a towing vehicle and the second camera can cover an area behind the trailer.

Alternatively, it is advantageously provided that the images from the first camera of the virtual exterior mirror and the second camera of the virtual exterior mirror are at least partially superimposed, thus showing a larger image section than would be possible by capturing images from just one of the cameras. By superimposing the images, the image area shown on the monitor and captured by the two cameras can be enlarged in an alternative way. Superimposing the images also enables additional image areas to be captured, whereby the relevant image area can be selected in order to enable improved observation of the traffic behind through the rear-view mirror system.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that a position of a camera is adjusted depending on the determined vehicle data or the route data transmitted to the motor vehicle.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is provided that a size of the displayed section of the camera image depends speed is adjusted to the driving speed of the motor vehicle. In order to be able to observe the following traffic better at high driving speeds, especially at driving speeds of more than 100 km/h, especially at more than 130 km/h, it can be advantageous to enlarge a section of the image recorded by the camera and transmitted to the monitor at higher speeds in order to be able to better recognize vehicles in the following traffic even at a greater distance.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method, the vehicle data includes an inclination angle of the motor vehicle, a yaw angle of the motor vehicle, a steering angle of the steering of the motor vehicle and/or a signal from a position sensor of the motor vehicle. In order to detect a winding road or a hilly road, where an adjustment of the field of view of the rear-view mirror system is useful or necessary, sensors that detect a lateral acceleration and/or a longitudinal acceleration of the motor vehicle are particularly suitable. Data such as the inclination angle of a motor vehicle driving on an uphill or downhill stretch, a yaw angle about a vertical axis of the motor vehicle or similar can be determined from these sensors. Furthermore, the course of the steering angle can reflect information about the course of the road. Using a position sensor, particularly in conjunction with route data, a section of road ahead of the motor vehicle can be checked for changes in the elevation profile or curves and, if necessary, a method according to the invention for operating the rear-view mirror system can be initiated in order to facilitate the observation of following traffic and, in particular, to prevent following motor vehicles from disappearing from the field of view of the rear-view mirror system due to curves, crests or valleys.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a rearview mirror system for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one outside mirror, preferably two outside mirrors, particularly preferably two outside mirrors and one inside mirror, as well as a control unit which is set up to carry out a method described in the previous sections when a machine-readable computer program code is executed by the control unit. Such a rearview mirror system makes it easier to observe the traffic behind, particularly on winding and/or hilly roads, and thus actively increases the driving safety of the motor vehicle.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle with such a rear-view mirror system.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a computer program code, comprising instructions which, when the computer program code is executed by a computing unit of a control unit or a computer of this control unit or this computer, cause a method described in the previous sections. The computer program code is preferably stored in a memory unit of a control unit of the motor vehicle. Alternatively, the computer program code can also be stored in a cloud or a server and transmitted to the motor vehicle via a data stream or executed by the motor vehicle.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a computer-readable medium, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises a computer program code for carrying out a method for operating a rear-view mirror system described in the previous sections. The term computer-readable medium is understood to mean in particular hard disks and/or servers and/or memory sticks and/or flash memories and/or DVDs, Blu-rays or CDs. In addition, the term computer-readable medium is also understood to mean a data stream, such as that which arises when a computer program code is downloaded from the Internet.

The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another, unless stated otherwise in individual cases.

• 1 ein bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Rückspiegelsystem zur Durchführung eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens;
• 2 ein weiteres bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Kraftfahrzeugs mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Rückspiegelsystem zur Durchführung eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines Sichtfeldes eines aus dem Stand der Technik bekannten Rückspiegelsystems für ein Kraftfahrzeug;
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung verschiedener Sichtfelder eines erfindungsgemäßen Rückspiegelsystems für ein Kraftfahrzeug;
• 5 ein Ablaufdiagramm zur Durchführung eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Betreiben eines Rückspiegelsystems eines Kraftfahrzeugs.

The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

• 1 a preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle with a rear-view mirror system according to the invention for carrying out a method according to the invention;
• 2 a further preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle with a rear-view mirror system according to the invention for carrying out a method according to the invention;
• 3 a schematic representation of a field of view of a rear-view mirror system for a motor vehicle known from the prior art;
• 4 a schematic representation of different fields of view of a rear-view mirror system according to the invention for a motor vehicle;
• 5 a flow chart for carrying out a method according to the invention for operating a rear-view mirror system of a motor vehicle.

1 shows a preferred embodiment of a motor vehicle 100 with a rearview mirror system 10 according to the invention in a schematic representation. The rearview mirror system 10 comprises a first outside mirror 12, a second outside mirror 14, an inside mirror 16 and a control unit 50 for controlling the rearview mirror system 10. The first outside mirror 12 is adjustable by a first electric actuator 62. The second outside mirror 14 is adjustable by a second electric actuator 64. The rearview mirror system 10 can also comprise further actuators, for example in order to adjust an outside mirror 12, 14 or an inside mirror 16 independently of one another about two axes. The motor vehicle 100 comprises a plurality of sensors 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 for recording vehicle data. Furthermore, the motor vehicle 100 can comprise a receiving unit for receiving route data, which can be transmitted from an external database 58 to the motor vehicle 100 and processed by the control unit 50.

The sensors 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 can in particular comprise an inclination sensor 30, a steering angle sensor 32, a position sensor 36, in particular a GPS receiver and/or a speed sensor 38. Alternatively, the speed can also be calculated from a change in the signal of the position sensor 36.

The control unit 50 comprises a memory unit 52 and a computing unit 54. A computer program code 56 is stored in the memory unit 52, which, when executed by the computing unit 54, carries out a method according to the invention for operating a rearview mirror system 10.

In 2 an alternative embodiment of a motor vehicle 100 according to the invention with a rearview mirror system 10 according to the invention is shown. The rearview mirror system 10 comprises a first outside mirror 12, a second outside mirror 14, an inside mirror 16 and a control unit 50 for controlling the rearview mirror system 10. The first outside mirror 12 is designed as a first virtual outside mirror 44 and comprises a second camera 20 and a first screen 24 for displaying an image from the second camera 20. The first virtual outside mirror 44 can also comprise a further camera 40 which is aimed at a different area than the second camera 20. The virtual outside mirror 44, in particular the cameras 20, 40, can be adjusted in position by electric servomotors 62 so that the area recorded by the respective camera 20, 40 can be changed. The second outside mirror 14 is designed as a second virtual outside mirror 46 and comprises a third camera 22 and a second screen 26 for displaying an image from the third camera 22. The second virtual outside mirror 46 can also comprise another camera 42 which is aimed at a different area than the third camera 22. The second virtual outside mirror 46, in particular the cameras 22, 42, can be adjusted in position by electric servomotors 64 so that the area recorded by the respective camera 22, 42 can be changed. The inside mirror 16 can also be designed as a virtual mirror and have a first camera 18 and a third screen 28 for displaying the image from the first camera 18.

The motor vehicle 100 comprises a plurality of sensors 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 for recording vehicle data. Furthermore, the motor vehicle 100 can comprise a receiving unit for receiving route data, which can be transmitted from an external database 58 to the motor vehicle 100 and processed by the control unit 50.

The sensors 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 can in particular comprise an inclination sensor 30, a steering angle sensor 32, a position sensor 36, in particular a GPS receiver and/or a speed sensor 38. Alternatively, the speed can also be calculated from a change in the signal of the position sensor 36.

The control unit 50 comprises a memory unit 52 and a computing unit 54. A computer program code 56 is stored in the memory unit 52, which, when executed by the computing unit 54, carries out a method according to the invention for operating a rearview mirror system 10.

In 3 is a schematic representation of a field of view I of a rear-view mirror system 10 known from the prior art for a motor vehicle 100. Such a rear-view mirror system 10 provides a sufficiently good field of view I for many applications, in particular when driving on level terrain and on straight roads, in order to be able to observe the traffic behind. On winding roads or on hilly roads, however, it can happen that a following motor vehicle disappears from the field of view I of the rear-view mirror system 10.

In 4 is a schematic representation of fields of vision I, II, III in a rearview mirror system 10 according to the invention of a motor vehicle 100. The rearview mirror system 10 is adjustable in such a way that the area I of the field of vision is adapted to the course of the road when driving on a hilly or winding road in such a way that following vehicles do not disappear from the field of vision, but remain in the field of vision of the rearview mirror system 10 of the motor vehicle 100 through an adaptive adjustment of the field of vision II, III.

In 4 a flow chart of a method according to the invention for operating a rearview mirror system 10 in a motor vehicle 100 is shown. In a first method step <100>, vehicle data and/or route data for a route traveled by the motor vehicle 100 are determined. Such vehicle data can be in particular an inclination of the motor vehicle detected by an incline sensor 30 when driving up an incline or down a decline, a steering angle of the motor vehicle 100 detected by a steering angle sensor 32 or a yaw angle of the motor vehicle 100, a change in the position of the motor vehicle 100, a driving speed of the motor vehicle 100 and/or other vehicle data. Furthermore, the motor vehicle 100 can alternatively or additionally receive route data, in particular map data with a predetermined route for navigating the motor vehicle 100, from an internal vehicle memory of a navigation system 34 or an external vehicle database 58, which anticipate an expected driving course of the motor vehicle 100. In a method step <110>, the vehicle data and/or the route data transmitted to the motor vehicle 100 are each compared with reference values or threshold values in order to estimate whether an adaptive adjustment of the field of vision I, II, III of the rear-view mirror system 10 is necessary or useful. If the vehicle data and/or the route data signal that an adaptive adjustment of the field of vision I, II, III is necessary or useful, the outside mirrors 12, 14 and/or the inside mirror 16, preferably the outside mirrors 12, 14 or the cameras 20, 22, 40, 42 of the virtual outside mirrors 44, 46, are adjusted by the electric servomotors 62, 64 in order to adjust the field of vision I, II, III accordingly. In addition, the inside mirror 16 can also be adjusted in order to also adjust the field of vision of the inside mirror in order to make it easier to observe the traffic behind and in particular to avoid dazzling the driver. In a method step <130>, the vehicle data and/or the route data sent to the motor vehicle 100 are again compared with the reference values or the threshold values and the mirrors 12, 14, 16 of the rear-view mirror system 10 are, if necessary, adjusted again and adapted to the current situation.

List of reference symbols

10

Rearview mirror system

12

first exterior mirror

14

second exterior mirror

16

Interior mirror

18

first camera

20

second camera

22

third camera

24

first screen

26

second screen

28

third screen

30

Tilt sensor

32

Steering angle sensor

34

navigation system

36

Position sensor

38

Speed sensor

40

fourth camera

42

fifth camera

44

first virtual exterior mirror

46

second virtual exterior mirror

50

Control unit

52

Storage unit

54

Computing unit

56

Computer program code

58

Database

60

computer-readable medium

100

Motor vehicle

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102007015400 A1 [0005]
• KR 20200115923 A [0006]

Claims (10)

Method for operating a rearview mirror system (10) in a motor vehicle (100), comprising at least one exterior mirror (12, 14) and/or one interior mirror (16) and a control unit (50) for controlling the exterior mirror (12, 14) or the interior mirror (16), wherein the exterior mirror (12, 14) or the interior mirror (16) is adjusted on the basis of vehicle data or route data transmitted to the motor vehicle (100) in order to adapt the field of view of the rearview mirror system (10) to the determined vehicle data or route data transmitted to the motor vehicle (100). Method for operating a rearview mirror system (10) according to Claim 1 , wherein the rearview mirror system (10) comprises a virtual exterior mirror (44, 46) with at least one camera (20, 22, 40, 42) or a virtual interior mirror (16) with a camera (18), wherein a section of an image of the camera (20, 22, 40, 42) displayed on a screen (24, 26) is adapted on the basis of vehicle data or route data transmitted to the motor vehicle (100). Method for operating a rearview mirror system (10) according to Claim 2 , wherein a virtual exterior mirror (44, 46) comprises at least two cameras (20, 22, 40, 42), wherein depending on the determined vehicle data or route data transmitted to the motor vehicle (100), switching is carried out from a first camera (20, 40) of the virtual exterior mirror (44, 46) to a second camera (22, 42) of the virtual exterior mirror (44, 46). Procedure according to one of the Claims 2 or 3 , wherein a position of a camera (20, 22, 40, 42) is adjusted depending on the determined vehicle data or the route data transmitted to the motor vehicle (100). Procedure according to one of the Claims 2 until 4 , whereby the size of the displayed section of the camera image is adjusted depending on the driving speed of the motor vehicle. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the vehicle data comprise an inclination angle of the motor vehicle (100), a yaw angle of the motor vehicle (100), a steering angle of a steering system of the motor vehicle (100) and/or a signal of a position sensor (36) of the motor vehicle (100). Rearview mirror system (10) for a motor vehicle (100), comprising at least one exterior mirror (12, 14) and a control device (50), which are designed to carry out a method according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 when a machine-readable computer program code (56) is executed by the control device (50). Motor vehicle (100) with a rearview mirror system (100) according to Claim 7 . Computer program code (56) comprising instructions which, when the computer program code (56) is executed by a computing unit (54) of a control device (50) or a computer, cause said control device (50) or said computer to execute a method according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 to execute. Computer-readable medium, characterized in that the computer-readable medium contains a computer program code (56) for carrying out a method according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 includes.

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