Daimler Chrysler Ag

Daimler Ag

Siegfried Rothe

Markus Hess

Guenter Dobler

Markus Hartlieb

Florent Paviot

Günter Dobler

Wilhelm Kincses

Peter Betzitza

Holger Enigk

Walter Eberle

Stefan Hahn

Christian Michael Mayer

Manfred Griesinger

Walter Ziegler

Ulrich Kressel

Michael Schrauf

Hans-Georg Leis

Roland Stechow

Sven Willmann

Hartmut Marwitz

Roland Stiegler

Wilhelm Kinces

Manfred Spitzer

Christian Mayer

An illumination device has an illumination means formed by an arrangement of a plurality of semiconductor light sources () grouped together to form a field. Sensor elements () are arranged at individual positions of the field instead of the semiconductor sources (). A multifunctional headlight can thus be advantageously created. The headlight can be embodied as a robust, compact, low-space unit. By virtue of the fact that the light sources () and the sensor elements () do not necessarily use the same lens system () i.e. each individual element of the multifunctional headlight can be provided with an individually designed lens system (), the beam path of the illumination device can be separated from the field of vision of the sensor system and can thus be determined independently over large areas.

Multifunctional illumination device

A warning and information system for a motor vehicle which outputs information that is below a conscious threshold of perception of a use, and above his or her unconscious threshold. At least one signal source located in the peripheral field of vision of the user is provided, and its output signals are variable by adjusting their color, intensity, frequency, timber, and/or loudness.

Warning and information system for a vehicle

In order to make warning devices more efficient, it is known to design parameters to be variable and therewith to be adaptable depending upon the state or condition of a user of the warning information. Herein, for example, warning start points are changed or multi-stage warnings are engineered depending upon urgency. The disadvantage of such an adaptive system can however reside therein, that the mechanistic detection of the condition of the operator using various sensor systems and the subsequent output to the operator or the operator assistant system is not always acceptable, which can irritate the vehicle operator or occupants. In order to increase the acceptance by the user of the warning information it is proposed that in the lead-up to a planned change in the mode and manner of the output of the warning information, communication is initiated with at least one of the users. In the framework of this communication a user can indicate his acceptance or declining with respect to the planned change.

Dialog system for warning and information systems

A method for detecting of a viewing direction of a person includes sensing a speech signal originating from the person using at least one direction-selective microphone so as to produce a microphone signal, detecting the speaking direction of the person using the microphone signal, and deriving the viewing direction from the speaking direction. Also, a device that includes at least one direction-selective microphone configured to detect a speaking direction of the person using speech signals, and a processing unit configured to process the speech signals so as to determine the viewing direction of the person.

Detection of viewing direction by microphone

The invention relates to a system for preventing collisions of an automobile with obstacles. Sensors mounted in the automobile detect the area surrounding the vehicle. The signals of said sensors are evaluated by a data processing device in order to calculate the available obstacle-free driving space. Other sensors additionally detect the position of all movable vehicle parts (e.g. a trailer) and the dynamic parameters of the current driving situation (e.g. speed, steering angle, etc.). Based on said data, the driving speed required during the following time intervals in order to continue driving is calculated in advance by the data processing device and compared with the actually available obstacle-free driving space that has been detected. Said comparison provides early forecast regarding a possible collision. The driver is warned of a possible collision danger by corresponding warning devices and can consequently react in time. In critical situations (e.g. high driving speed), direct interventions in the control of the vehicle by the data processing device can take place to assist the driver.

Collision prevention system for vehicles

The invention relates to a hazard-prevention system for a vehicle. The vehicle has devices for sensing driving state variables, for sensing ambient data and for sensing the driver's activity, and a data processing device. The data processing device is provided for processing the sensed data and for actuating a safety device in accordance with a predefined control strategy. According to the invention, the vehicle has a device for identifying the driver, and the data processing device derives a driver load factor related specifically to the driver from the driving state variables, the ambient data and the data relating to the activity of the driver, and said driver load factor is used to adapt the control strategy.

Hazard-prevention system for a vehicle

A monitoring apparatus having an obstacle-detecting system comprises a plurality of detecting devices fastened on the object, an evaluation unit and an optical display device. For the purpose of displaying the surrounding situation more effectively, the fields of view of two neighbouring detecting devices intersect, the individual images of these detecting devices are combined to form an overall image, and the object can be projected on the display device into the overall image and can be displayed as part of the overall image.

Device and method for monitoring the surroundings of an object

The invention concerns a system for assisting an operator of a technical appliance, with a image display device (), of which the image is in the normal field of vision of the operator, for display of operationally relevant information in the form of images or symbols (). According to the invention, a respective image or symbol is displayed at least once for a brief period of time, of which the duration is below the threshold of conscious recognition and above the threshold of subconscious recognition of the operator.

System for assisting the operator of a technical appliance

In an information system for a vehicle having a plurality of information sources for outputting a respective associated information signals when an associated information-generation condition is met, two or more vehicle-control information sources of different types are coordinate with one another, without conflict, in terms of their information output in such a way that at any time at most one of these vehicle-control information items is output. As an alternative, or in addition vehicle-control information signals and non-vehicle control information signals can be prioritized according to a plurality of sequentially processed urgency levels. The vehicle-control information signals are assigned higher urgency and the non-vehicle-control information signals are assigned lower urgency.

Information system and process in a vehicle

An object detection device for detecting objects in a rear lateral area of a vehicle includes zero-contact radiation-based scanners for scanning such area, and an evaluation unit connected to the scanners. According to the invention, the evaluation unit evaluates the time sequence of the scanning information from two or more strip-shaped portions of the area under observation, with horizontal components that are differently inclined to the lengthwise direction of the vehicle or are offset from one another in the lengthwise direction of the vehicle. The evaluation unit distinguishes objects moving in the travel direction of the vehicle from standing and oncoming objects, based on the response sequence for the portion under observation.

Vehicle with object detection device

The invention provides a vehicle with a laterally mounted optical scanning device for zero-contact scanning of a lateral highway area and an evaluation unit connected thereto. The optical scanning device comprises a linear array of infrared transmitting devices located side by side and a corresponding CCD array, and the connected evaluation unit is programmed to perform time measurement, contrast measurement, and contour recognition. With this optical scanning system, a function to warn against falling asleep, an automatic lane maintenance function, a rear-area monitoring or environment monitoring function for the vehicle can be provided, with reaction to various types of lane boundaries being possible depending on the situation.

Vehicle with optical scanning device for a lateral road area

A vehicle having a scanning system for zero contact scanning of one or several mutually spaced road areas and having an analyzing system connected behind the scanning system. The analyzing unit is equipped for determining the roll-over angle, the roll-over moment, the vehicle load condition and/or the road condition via measured data detected and supplied by the scanning system. The resulting data is particularly suitable for the early determination of dangerous influences on the driving dynamics of a vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Denkendorf, Germany

Siegfried Rothe