FR3136579A1 - Method and device for controlling a system for indicating a speed limit of a vehicle based on air pollution information - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a speed limit indication system, called the SLI system, of a vehicle. For this purpose, a first speed limit (21) is determined based on first data representative of a road environment of the vehicle. Second data representative of a detection of pollution of the environment of the vehicle are received. A second speed limit (22), corresponding for example to a maximum speed recommendation for the driver, is determined based on the second data. This second speed limit is for example displayed on a display screen (20). Figure for abstract: Figure 2

Description

Method and device for controlling a system for indicating a speed limit of a vehicle based on air pollution information

The present invention relates to the methods and devices for controlling a speed limit indication system, called the SLI system, of a vehicle. The present invention also relates to a method and a device for adjusting a speed limit determined by an SLI system. The present invention also relates to a method and a device for controlling a vehicle, in particular an autonomous vehicle, according to the adjusted speed limit.

Technology background

Some of contemporary vehicles include at least one or more systems configured to determine the regulatory speed that applies to the portion of road taken. The regulatory speed corresponds, for example, to the maximum speed authorized on this section of road or to the recommended speed.

A system for determining the regulatory speed is in the form of an ISA system (from the English “Intelligent Speed Adaptation” or in French “adaptation Intelligente de laspeed”) or an SLI system (from the English “Speed Limitation Indication” or in French “Indication of the speed limit”) which each correspond to an ADAS system (from the English “Advanced Driver-Assistance System” or in French “Advanced Driving Assistance System”) comprising means for assisting the driver of the vehicle to avoid exceeding a limited speed.

ISA or SLI systems are thus configured to detect or warn the driver when the vehicle is subject to a speed limit or enters a limited speed zone, or when different speed limits may apply depending on the context (type of vehicle, time, night, rain, work, etc.).

To determine this regulatory speed and deduce a speed instruction, ISA or SLI systems conventionally use information concerning the road and/or the road environment. For this purpose, ISA systems most often include at least one front-facing camera on board the vehicle, said on-board camera having the road in front of the vehicle in its field of vision. The ISA or SLI systems also include image processing means configured to recognize road signs from the image data received from the camera, the regulatory speed applicable to the portion of road taken being determined from the one or more recognized signs.

However, the only information on the regulatory speed applicable on the portion of road taken by the vehicle is not always adapted to the traffic conditions or the environmental conditions 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 improve the operation of an SLI system of a vehicle.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a system for indicating a speed limit, called the SLI system, on board a vehicle traveling in a road environment, the method comprising the following steps:

- determination of a first speed limit based on first data representative of the road environment;

- reception of second data representative of a detection of air pollution in the road environment;

- determination of a second speed limit based on the second data, the second speed limit being lower than the first speed limit;

- rendering of the second speed limit.

Taking into consideration air pollution detection information in the area in which the vehicle is traveling makes it possible to adjust the speed limit indicated as applicable on the portion of the road taken by the vehicle as a function of this detection of air pollution. pollution. This makes it possible to reduce the speed limit that is proposed to the driver, helping to reduce the level of pollution.

This makes it possible to improve the operation of the SLI, to participate in the preservation of the environment and the health of people traveling or residing in the area.

According to a variant, the second data corresponds to:

- data representative of a level of air pollution measured by a sensor on board the vehicle; and or

- data representative of a level of air pollution received from a first remote device connected in communication to the vehicle via a wireless link; and or

- data representative of the second speed limit received from a second remote device connected in communication to the vehicle via a wireless link; and or

- data representative of the second speed limit received from a camera on board the vehicle, the second speed limit being displayed on a display device arranged in the road environment.

According to yet another variant, the second speed limit is further determined from the first speed limit when the second data corresponds to data representative of a level of air pollution.

According to another variant, the second speed limit is determined from a correspondence table stored in a memory of the vehicle, the correspondence table associating with each first speed limit of a plurality of first speed limits a set of second speed limits.

According to an additional variant, the set of second speed limits comprises a plurality of second speed limits, each second speed limit being associated with a different level of air pollution.

According to another variant, the second speed limit is a function of the pollution level, the value of the second speed limit decreasing when the pollution level increases.

According to an additional variant, the first data belong to a set of data comprising:

- data representative of a speed limit associated with a traffic sign obtained from an on-board camera of the vehicle;

- data representative of a speed limit associated with a portion of the road on which the vehicle is traveling obtained from road environment mapping data;

- data representative of meteorological conditions in the road environment.

According to yet another variant, the rendering of the second speed limit includes a display of the second speed limit on a display screen embedded in the vehicle.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling a system for indicating a speed limit, called SLI system, embedded in a vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing implementation of the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, 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, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

Such a computer program can use any programming language, and be in the form of a source code, an object code, or an intermediate code between a source code and an object code, such as in 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 executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

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

On the other hand, this recording medium can 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 terrestrial radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other ways. The computer program according to the present invention can in particular be downloaded onto an Internet type network.

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

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting examples of embodiment of the present invention below, with reference to the appended Figures 1 to 4, in which:

schematically illustrates an environment in which a vehicle circulates, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a display screen on board the vehicle of the , according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a device configured to control a speed limit indication system, called the SLI system, of the vehicle of the , according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a process for controlling a speed limit indication system, called the SLI system, of the vehicle of the , according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the implementation examples

A method and a device for controlling a speed limit indication system, called the SLI system, of a vehicle will now be described in what follows with reference jointly to Figures 1 to 4. 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 of controlling a speed limit indication system, called the SLI system, of a vehicle comprises the determination of a first speed limit based on first data representative of the road environment. These first data correspond for example to data received from a first on-board camera for the detection of traffic signs and/or to mapping data including information on the speed limits applicable to the different road portions of the road environment. . Second data representative of a detection of air pollution in the road environment of the vehicle are received, for example from a pollution sensor on board the vehicle, from a remote device via a wireless connection and/or an on-board camera in the vehicle. A second speed limit lower than the first speed limit and corresponding for example to a maximum speed recommendation for the driver, is determined based on the second data. This second speed limit is then made, for example displayed, to the driver.

There schematically illustrates a road environment in which a vehicle 10 operates, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

There illustrates a road environment 1 comprising a portion of road on which the vehicle 10 is traveling. The portion of road is for example located in an urban environment, on a departmental or national road, on a two-lane road or on a highway.

The vehicle 10 corresponds for example 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, for example an automobile, a truck, a coach, a motorcycle. Finally, the vehicle 10 corresponds to an autonomous vehicle or not, that is to say a vehicle circulating according to a determined level of autonomy or under the total supervision of the driver.

The vehicle 10 advantageously carries a speed limit indication system controlled by one or more computers of the on-board system of the vehicle 10. An example of such a computer is described below with regard to the .

The speed limit indication system corresponds for example to a system of the ISA type (from the English “Intelligent Speed Adaptation” or in French “adaptation intelligent de la vite”), SLI (from the English “Speed Limitation Indication”). " or in French "Indication of the speed limit") or any other system known to those skilled in the art and configured to obtain information on the speed limit applicable to the portion of road on which the vehicle 10 is traveling ( or on the road sections to come) to present it to the driver of the vehicle 10.

Such a system will be called SLI system in the remainder of the description, an SLI system within the meaning of the invention corresponding to any system configured to present to the driver the speed limit applicable on a portion of the road.

The SLI system obtains, for example, information relating to the authorized speed limit (hereinafter called first speed limit) from a sign recognition and detection system on board the vehicle 10, this sign recognition and detection system panels being for example coupled to the SLI system.

The sign recognition and detection system includes for example a camera, for example a CVM (multi-function video camera), arranged to have in its field of vision the environment located in front of the vehicle 10 when the latter is traveling. The CVM camera is for example arranged inside the vehicle 10, in the passenger compartment, behind the windshield, for example at the level of the interior central rearview mirror. The camera acquires a set of images of the environment passing in front of the vehicle 10, the image data being processed by a processor of the on-board system to detect and recognize road signs.

When a speed limit sign is detected and recognized, such as sign 121 for example, the speed limit written on this sign, for example 130 km/h according to the particular example of sign 121 of the , is recognized by image processing. Such information is transmitted, for example to another computer of the vehicle's on-board system (for example the IVI computer (from English "In-Vehicle Infotainment" or in French "Infodivertissement onboard")), to display an icon representative of the panel and the associated maximum authorized speed or to display the maximum authorized speed value detected on a display screen for example arranged in the dashboard of the vehicle 10, on the dashboard of the vehicle 10 or on a head-mounted display high (also called Head Up Display, known as VTH or HUD (from the English “Head Up Display” or in French “Affichage Tête Haute”)).

According to another example, the information relating to the first speed limit is obtained from mapping data of the road environment in which the vehicle 10 is traveling. These data are for example used by an on-board navigation system in the vehicle 10. Knowing the current position of the vehicle 10 (for example via a receiver of a GPS or Galileo type system), the first speed limit applicable to the portion of road taken by the vehicle 10 and/or to the portion of road that will borrow the vehicle 10 is deduced from the mapping data to be displayed on the display screen.

According to yet another example, the information relating to the first speed limit is obtained from a remote device 101, for example a server, from the “cloud” 100 (or “cloud” in French). According to this variant, the vehicle 10 transmits its current location (for example obtained from the on-board geolocation system or from a geolocation system installed on a mobile communication device (for example a smart phone (from the English “smartphone”)). embedded in the vehicle 10 and in communication with the vehicle 10 (for example via a wireless connection of the Bluetooth® or Wifi® type or via a wired connection) to the server which transmits in return the maximum speed information authorized on the portion of road on which the vehicle 10 is traveling.

According to this particular and non-limiting example, the vehicle 10 carries a communication system configured to communicate with one or more remote devices 101 via an infrastructure of a wireless communication network. The remote device 101 advantageously corresponds to a device configured to process data, for example data stored in memory of the remote device 101 and/or data received from the vehicle 10 and/or data received from another remote device.

The communication system of the vehicle 10 comprises for example one or more communication antennas connected to a telematic control unit, called TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit”), itself connected to one or more computers of the on-board system of the vehicle 10. The antenna(s), the TCU unit and the computer(s) form for example a multiplexed architecture for the production of different services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle and to assist the driver and/or passengers of the vehicle in controlling the vehicle 10, for example by displaying regulatory speed information on a display device embedded in the vehicle 10. The computer(s) and the TCU unit communicate and exchange data with each other via a or several computer buses, for example a CAN data bus type communication bus (from the English “Controller Area Network” or in French “Réseau de controlleres”), CAN FD (from the English “Controller Area Network Flexible Data”). -Rate” or in French “Flexible data rate controller network”), FlexRay (according to ISO 17458) or Ethernet (according to ISO/IEC 802-3).

The mobile communication infrastructure allowing wireless data communication between the vehicle 10 and the remote data processing device 101 comprises for example or several communication equipment 110 of the relay antenna type (cellular network) or roadside unit, called UBR. In a mode of communication using such a network architecture, the data is for example transmitted by the vehicle 10 to the remote device 101 of the "cloud" 100 via a relay antenna 110 (the antenna 110 being for example connected to the "cloud" 100 via a wired connection).

The wireless communication system allowing the exchange of data between the vehicle 10 and the remote device 101 corresponds for example to:

- a vehicle-to-infrastructure V2I communication system, for example based on the 3GPP LTE-V or IEEE 802.11p standards of ITS G5; Or

- a cellular network type communication system, for example an LTE type network (from the English “Long-Term Evolution” or in French “Evolution à long term”), LTE-Advanced (or in French LTE-advanced) LTE 4G or 5G; Or

- a WiFi type communication system according to IEEE 802.11, for example according to IEEE 802.11n or IEEE 802.11ac.

The first speed limit corresponds for example to a maximum authorized speed applicable on a portion of the road taken by the vehicle, obtained by recognition and detection of the traffic sign 121 and/or mapping data.

According to a variant, the first speed limit displayed under the control of the SLI system corresponds to the maximum speed obtained from the panel 121 and/or from the mapping data adjusted according to the traffic or environmental conditions of the vehicle 10.

For example, according to this variant, the first speed limit is obtained by taking into account the weather conditions, the moment (time) at which the vehicle is traveling, the traffic conditions (intensity of traffic for example). For this purpose, the maximum speed value obtained from the signs and/or mapping data is reduced by a value determined as a function of the environmental conditions (the determined value is for example obtained from a correspondence table, called LUT (from the English “Look-Up Table”) stored in a memory of the vehicle 10.

The environmental data are for example obtained from one or more servers such as the server 101 of the “cloud” 100 with which the vehicle 10 is connected by wireless communication. According to another example, the environmental data is obtained from one or more sensors on board the vehicle 10 such as one or more cameras, radars, LIDARs, a precipitation detection sensor, for example of the precipitation sensor type. of the automatic windshield wiping system, also called the CDPL sensor (Rain and Light Detection Sensor).

A process for controlling a system for indicating a speed limit, called the SLI system, of the vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more processors of a device on board the vehicle 10, such a device corresponding by example to a computer or a combination of computers of the vehicle 10.

Thus, the computer in charge of controlling the SLI system and any other computer of the vehicle 10 (for example the IVI computer, the computer in charge of controlling the panel recognition system) form the on-board system of the vehicle 10. The antenna(s) of the communication system, the TCU unit, the sensors, and the computers form for example a multiplexed architecture for the realization of different services useful for the proper functioning of the vehicle and to assist the driver and/or passengers of the vehicle in the control of the vehicle 10, for example by displaying authorized or recommended speed limit information on a display device embedded in the vehicle 10. The computers and the TCU unit communicate and exchange data with each other via a or several computer buses, for example a CAN data bus type communication bus (from the English “Controller Area Network” or in French “Réseau de controlleres”), CAN FD (from the English “Controller Area Network Flexible Data”). -Rate” or in French “Flexible data rate controller network”), FlexRay (according to ISO 17458) or Ethernet (according to ISO/IEC 802-3).

In a first operation, first information representative of a maximum authorized or applicable speed (called first speed limit) on a portion of the road on which the vehicle 10 is traveling is determined.

This first information is for example determined from a traffic sign recognition system associated with or integrated into the SLI system on board the vehicle 10. According to this example, this first information is obtained by processing the image data acquired by a CMV type camera having in its field of vision the space located in front of the vehicle 10 according to the direction of movement of the vehicle 10.

According to another example, this first information is determined from mapping data received from a navigation system or a remote device (for example a “cloud” server) depending on the location (for example GPS coordinates ) of vehicle 10.

According to a variant embodiment, the first speed limit corresponds to a reduced speed value of the maximum authorized speed thus obtained, the reduced value depending for example on the value of the maximum authorized speed and the conditions of the environment of the vehicle 10 (presence of precipitation with optionally taking into account the intensity of precipitation and/or vehicle circulation schedule 10 and/or traffic conditions).

In a second operation, second data representative of the detection of air pollution of the external environment 1 in which the vehicle 10 is traveling are received.

The second data are for example representative:

- detection of a concentration of one or more pollutants (for example O3, SO2, NOx) greater than a threshold, the air in the environment being detected as polluted when the concentration of one or more of the pollutants is greater than a determined threshold;

- a level of pollution in a set of levels comprising for example 3, 5 or 10 levels, level 1 corresponding to the lowest level of pollution and level 3, 5 or 10 to the highest level of pollution, the pollution level being for example determined according to the concentration levels of each of the pollutants taken into account; And

- a speed limit applicable when a pollution level greater than a threshold is detected, such speed limit being displayed on a display device or signaling screen 122 provided for this purpose and/or received from a remote device such as device 101 via wireless communication.

According to a first example, the second data are received from one or more sensors on board the vehicle 10 and each configured to detect and/or measure a level of air pollution outside the vehicle 10. Each sensor is by example configured to measure the concentration in the air of one or more determined pollutants.

The computer receiving the data from this or these sensors transmits them for example to the computer implementing the process.

The computer receiving the data or the computer implementing the process determines a current state of air pollution or a pollution level from a set of levels.

The current pollution state takes for example two values, for example a first value (for example '0') corresponding to a so-called normal or unpolluted state when the pollutant concentration is less than a threshold (or when the pollution level is less than a determined level) and a second value (for example '1') corresponding to a so-called polluted state when the concentration of pollutants is greater than a threshold (or when the pollution level is greater than the determined level).

According to a second example, the second data is received from a remote device such as the remote device 101 via a wireless connection. Such a remote device corresponds for example to a server collecting or receiving pollution indicators from a set of sensors measuring the concentration of pollutant(s) in the air and distributed over the territory, particularly in environment 1. The remote device 101 analyzes the data received and generates, for example, pollution alerts when alert thresholds are reached or exceeded.

The second data are according to this second example transmitted to the vehicle 10 when a pollution alert is generated, the second data indicating for example that the air is polluted (so-called polluted state) or indicating a pollution level reached on a scale of 1 at 3, 5 or 10 for example.

According to a third example, the second data is received from the remote device 101 and corresponds to or represents data indicating a second speed limit reduced compared to the first speed limit, this second speed limit corresponding to the maximum speed authorized when a determined level of pollution has been reached. The remote device 101 determines, for example, the value of the second speed limit based on the data collected or received from the sensors measuring the concentration of pollutant(s) in the air.

According to a fourth example, the second data are received from a camera on board the vehicle 10. This camera corresponds for example to a CMV type camera associated with the SLI system for the detection and recognition of traffic signs.

According to this fourth example, the second data corresponds to or represents data indicating a second speed limit displayed for example on a display panel 122 arranged in environment 1, such a panel being configured to display information or alerts to the destination of road users. The display panel is for example controlled by a remote device such as the device 101. Thus, when a level of pollution requiring a reduction in the maximum authorized speed is detected, the remote device 101 controls the panel 122 to display a message pollution alert accompanied by a maximum authorized speed lower than the first maximum authorized speed normally applicable on the portion of the road and indicated by sign 121.

This new speed limit is for example displayed in the form of a speed limit sign type icon and indicates the new speed limit (called second speed limit).

According to another example, this new speed limit is displayed in the form of text indicating to reduce the speed by a certain value, for example in the form of a message such as “Please reduce your speed by XX km/ h”, with XX corresponding to a specific value, for example 10, 20 or 30.

The information on the new applicable speed limit is determined by analysis of the data obtained from the camera, applying any image processing method known to those skilled in the art.

According to a fifth example, the second data received corresponds to data received from several sources according to any combination of the first, second, third and fourth examples above.

In a third operation, a second speed limit is determined based on the second data received in the second operation.

For example, when the second data is representative of a new applicable speed limit, for example obtained by detection and recognition of the display on the panel 122 and/or received from the remote device 101, the second applicable speed limit on the road on which the vehicle 10 is traveling is determined or obtained directly from the second data.

When the second data is received from pollution sensors on board the vehicle 10 and/or received from the remote device 101 and representative of a state or level of air pollution, the second speed limit applicable on the road on which the vehicle 10 is traveling is determined or obtained as a function of the second data and the first speed limit.

The second speed limit is for example obtained from a correspondence table, called LUT (from the English “Look-Up Table”), stored in a memory of the vehicle 10 accessible by the processor(s) implementing the process

The table below gives a first example of correspondence between each first speed limit (left column) of a plurality of first speed limits and a second speed limit (right column).

First speed limit (km/h) Second speed limit (km/h) 130 110 110 90 90 80 80 70 50 30

The table below gives a second example of correspondence between each first speed limit (left column) of a plurality of first speed limits and several second speed limits each associated with a different pollution level (right columns) .

Speed limit 1 Speed limit 2
Pollution level 1 Speed limit 2
Level 2 pollution Speed limit 2
Level 3 pollution 130 110 100 90 110 90 80 70 90 80 70 60 80 70 60 50 50 40 30 20

According to the example in table 2, the value of the second speed limit decreases when the pollution level increases.

In a fourth operation, the information relating to the second speed limit determined or calculated in the third operation is rendered.

The rendering of this information includes for example a display of this second speed limit, or of information representative of this second speed limit, on a display screen arranged in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10, for example an integrated screen in the dashboard or at dashboard level.

According to a variant, the rendering also includes the generation of an audio alert.

According to yet another variant, the rendering of the information relating to the second speed limit is triggered by the reception of the second data indicating that a determined level of air pollution has been reached.

The sound alert corresponds for example to a voice message recommending to the driver to slow down and/or to follow the speed recommendation corresponding to the second speed limit, the voice message being rendered by voice synthesis.

There illustrates an example of displaying information relating to the second speed limit, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

There illustrates a display screen 20, which corresponds for example to an LCD type screen (from the English "Liquid Crystal Display" or in French "Display to crystal liquids"), for example of the TFT type type (from the English “Thin-Film Transistor” or in French “Thin film transistor”), or OLED (from the English “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” or in French “Organic electroluminescent diode”).

Such a screen 20 corresponds for example to the dashboard screen or any other screen on board a vehicle, for example a screen arranged in the dashboard or on the central console.

According to the example of the , the information relating to the second speed limit 22 is displayed in addition to the information relating to the first speed limit 21 and other information useful for driving the vehicle 10 such as the instantaneous speed of the vehicle 10 for example .

The display of the information relating to the second speed limit 22 takes for example the same form, that is to say the same graphic charter, as that of the display of the information relating to the first speed limit. speed 21.

Such information takes for example the form of an icon representing the maximum recommended speed, for example in the form of a sign indicating a speed limit. According to another example, the icon 22 representing the second speed limit is associated with an icon representing a pollution alert.

Of course, the invention is not limited to such a representation but extends to any form of representation, for example to a numerical value, to highlighting the value of the second speed limit on the dial representing the vehicle speed 10, etc.

According to a variant embodiment, the display of the information relating to the second speed limit 22 replaces the display of the information relating to the first speed limit 21, only the display of the second speed limit 22 appearing on screen 20.

According to another alternative embodiment, the display of the information relating to the second speed limit 22 is put forward or highlighted in relation to the display of the information relating to the first speed limit 21.

For example, the dimensions of the information (for example the size of the icon 22) relating to the second speed limit 22 are greater than the dimensions of the information (for example the size of the icon 21) relating to the first speed limit 21.

According to another example, the colors used to display the second speed limit are different from the colors used to display the first speed limit.

According to yet another example, the display of the second speed limit is intermittent, that is to say that the display of the information relating to the second speed limit is flashing to attract the driver's attention ( according to a determined flashing frequency, which varies for example according to the driver's level of attention (for example the frequency increases when the level of attention decreases)).

There schematically illustrates a device 3 configured to control a speed limit indication system, called the SLI system, of a vehicle, for example the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The device 3 corresponds for example to a device on board the vehicle 10, for example a computer.

The device 3 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with regard to Figures 1 and 2 and/or the steps of the method described with regard to the . Examples of such a device 3 include, without being limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic computer such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a telephone smart phone, tablet, laptop. The elements of device 3, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and/or into discrete components. The device 3 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

The device 3 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 30 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 3. The processor 30 may include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 3 further comprises at least one memory 31 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 on memory 31.

According to different particular and non-limiting examples of embodiment, the device 3 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 communications bus or through dedicated input/output ports.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 3 comprises a block 32 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of block 32 include one or more of the following interfaces:

- RF radio frequency interface, for example of the Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or of the Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the band frequency at 2.4 GHz, or Sigfox type using UBN radio technology (from English Ultra Narrow Band, in French ultra narrow band), or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (from English “ Long-Term Evolution” or in French “Long-Term Evolution”), LTE-Advanced (or in French LTE-advanced);

- USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Bus Universel en Série” in French);

- HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface”, or “Interface Multimedia Haute Definition” in French);

- LIN interface (from English “Local Interconnect Network”, or in French “Réseau interconnecté local”).

According to another particular and non-limiting example of embodiment, the device 3 comprises a communication interface 33 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 330. The communication interface 33 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and/or data via the communication channel 330. The communication interface 33 corresponds for example to a CAN type wired network (from the English “Controller Area Network” or in French “Réseau de controlleres”), CAN FD (from the English “Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate” or in French “Réseau de controllers à flow flexible data”), FlexRay ( standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO/IEC 802-3 standard).

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 3 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 340, touch or not, one or more speakers 350 and/or other peripherals 360 (projection system) via output interfaces 34, 35 and 36 respectively. According to a variant, one or the other of the external devices is integrated into the device 3.

There illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a method of controlling a system for indicating a speed limit, called the SLI system, of a vehicle, for example the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the vehicle 10 or by the device 3 of the .

In a first step 41, a first speed limit is determined based on first data representative of the road environment in which the vehicle is traveling.

In a second step 42, second data representative of a detection of air pollution in the road environment of the vehicle are received.

In a third step 43, a second speed limit is determined based on the second data, the second speed limit being lower than the first speed limit.

In a fourth step 44, the second speed limit is rendered, for example displayed on a vehicle display screen.

According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to Figures 1 and 2 apply to the steps of the process of the .

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method for determining a recommended speed value based on a level of outdoor air pollution detected which would include secondary steps without departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured to implement such a process.

The present invention also relates to an SLI system comprising device 3 of the .

The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous vehicle with a land engine, comprising the device 3 of the or the SLI system above.

Claims (10)

Method for controlling a speed limit indication system, called the SLI system, on board a vehicle (10) traveling in a road environment (1), said method comprising the following steps:
- determination (41) of a first speed limit (21) based on first data representative of said road environment (1);
- reception (42) of second data representative of a detection of air pollution in said road environment (1);
- determination (43) of a second speed limit (22) as a function of said second data, said second speed limit being lower than said first speed limit;
- rendering (44) of said second speed limit (22). Method according to claim 1, for which said second data corresponds to:
- data representative of a level of air pollution measured by a sensor on board said vehicle (10); and or
- data representative of a level of air pollution received from a first remote device (101) connected in communication to said vehicle (10) via a wireless link; and or
- data representative of said second speed limit received from a second remote device (101) connected in communication to said vehicle (10) via a wireless link; and or
- data representative of said second speed limit received from a camera on board said vehicle (10), said second speed limit being displayed on a display device (122) arranged in said road environment (1). Method according to claim 2, for which said second speed limit is further determined from said first speed limit when said second data corresponds to said data representative of a level of air pollution. Method according to claim 3, for which said second speed limit is determined from a correspondence table stored in a memory of said vehicle (10), said correspondence table associating with each first speed limit of a plurality of first speed limits a set of second speed limits. A method according to claim 4, wherein said set of second speed limits comprises a plurality of second speed limits, each second speed limit being associated with a different air pollution level. Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, for which said second speed limit is a function of said pollution level, the value of the second speed limit decreasing when said pollution level increases. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, for which said first data belongs to a set of data comprising:
- data representative of a speed limit associated with a traffic sign (121) obtained from an on-board camera of said vehicle (10);
- data representative of a speed limit associated with a portion of road on which said vehicle (10) is traveling, obtained from mapping data of said road environment (1);
- data representative of meteorological conditions in said road environment (1). Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, for which said rendering of said second speed limit (22) comprises a display of said second speed limit on a display screen (20) on board said vehicle (10). Device (3) for controlling a speed limit indication system, called SLI system, embedded in a vehicle, said device (3) comprising a memory (31) associated with at least one processor (30) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 8. Vehicle (10) comprising the device (3) according to claim 9.