FR2978094A1 - Device for checking traffic lights of e.g. terrestrial car, has acceleration unit for providing initial lighting power by receiving information indicating that average acceleration of vehicle achieves required level - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (D) has an acceleration unit (PA) for receiving average acceleration of a vehicle (V) e.g. terrestrial car, where the acceleration unit allows temporary reduction of light output from signal lights (FC, FD, FP, FT) during initial stop of the vehicle when speed of the vehicle is fallen below a selected threshold. The acceleration unit provides initial lighting power by receiving information indicating that average acceleration of the vehicle achieves a required level.

Description

The invention relates to vehicles with signaling lights, possibly of the automotive type, and more precisely the control of the operation of the vehicle. certain traffic lights of such vehicles during certain phases of life.

As their name indicates, the traffic lights of certain vehicles, particularly those of the automotive type, are intended to visually indicate the presence (or a change of direction) of these vehicles to third parties located in their vicinity, as well as than possibly to illuminate a larger or smaller area that is located in front of them. For example, the low beam and high beam are intended to signal the presence of their vehicle and to illuminate the area in front of their vehicle, and the position lights and daytime running lights (sometimes called DRL (for "Daytime running Light" or Lamp) "- illuminated warning light automatically when the vehicle is put into operation)) are designed to signal the presence of their vehicle. When a vehicle of the aforementioned type stops momentarily even though some of its traffic lights are in operation, they continue to normally perform their function (s). However, in certain phases of life of a vehicle, the usefulness of some of these traffic lights may be less than in other phases of life. This is for example the case of dipped headlights and daytime running lights whose lighting power during a temporary stop in built-up areas can be considered oversized. It will be understood that in certain phases of life some traffic lights consume unnecessary energy.

Moreover, when a vehicle of the aforementioned type is stopped momentarily, it may be difficult for a third party, who is located in its vicinity, to notice its restart. Indeed, its signaling remains unchanged before and during a momentary stopping phase, and during a restart phase following a momentary stopping phase. The invention therefore aims to remedy at least partially all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks. It proposes for this purpose a device, dedicated to the control of traffic lights of a vehicle, and arranged, when it knows that the speed of this vehicle has fallen below a chosen threshold and that traffic lights are in the process to provide an initial lighting power, to order a temporary reduction of this initial lighting power, then, when it receives information indicating that a means of acceleration of the vehicle has been requested (to restart (or restart)) ), to order that these traffic lights provide the initial lighting power again. It will be understood that this solution not only makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle when it is stationary (or about to be stopped) and therefore when its signal lights have, a priori, not need to provide the same lighting power as when it circulates, but also to visually alert pedestrians and drivers of vehicles, which are placed in its environment, the immediate restart of the vehicle.

The control device according to the invention may comprise other features that can be taken separately or in combination, and in particular: in a first embodiment, it can be arranged, when it knows that among the traffic lights one uses position and dipped-beam headlamps simultaneously, to order the temporary stop of the operation of these dipped-beam headlamps, so as to temporarily reduce the initial lighting power, and, when receiving information indicating that a means of acceleration of the vehicle has been requested for a restart, to order that the dipped beam be used again; - In a second embodiment, it can be arranged, when it knows that among the traffic lights are used dipped headlights or daytime running lights, variable lighting power, to provide a first lighting power, to order that the dipped beam or daytime running lights provide a second lighting power, which is strictly less than the first lighting power, so as to temporarily reduce the initial lighting power, and when it receives information indicating that a means of acceleration of the vehicle has been requested, to order that these low beam or daytime running lights provide again the first lighting power; it can be arranged, when it receives the information signaling that a means of acceleration of the vehicle has been requested, to order the setting in operation of all the change of direction lights of this vehicle during a chosen period of time which is between about one second and about three seconds; it can be arranged, when it knows that the speed of the vehicle has fallen below a chosen threshold (corresponding to a stopping of the vehicle), to wait for a chosen duration (intended to confirm the stop) before ordering a temporary reduction of the initial lighting power; the waiting time can be chosen in an interval which is between about one second and about five seconds; The threshold can be chosen in an interval which is between about 0 km / h and about 10 km / h. The invention also proposes a computer, intended to equip a vehicle comprising traffic lights, and comprising a control device of the type of that presented above. The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of automotive type, and comprising traffic lights and a computer of the type of that presented above. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, and the accompanying drawing, in which the single figure schematically and functionally illustrates, in a view from above, an example of a vehicle automobile comprising a computer equipped with a control device according to the invention.

The attached drawing may not only serve to complete the invention, but also contribute to its definition, if any. The invention particularly aims to provide a control device D for controlling the operation of certain traffic lights FC, FP, FD and FT of a vehicle V during certain phases of life. In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle V is automotive type. This is for example a car. But, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It concerns any type of land or sea (or fluvial) vehicle with traffic lights and can make movements and maneuvers on the ground or on the water. One schematically and functionally represented in the single figure a motor vehicle, car type V, including a front portion PV and a rear portion PR opposite the front portion PV, a communication network (or network) RC, possibly of the multiplexed type, first C1 and second C2 computers, connected to the communication network RC, and signaling lights FC, FP, FD and FT. In a V-car, the signal lights include, in particular, FP position lamps (or lanterns), situated in the front and rear portions PR, of the low beam headlights FC (or codes), located in the front part PV, of the lamps (not shown), located in the front part PV, change of direction (or flashing) lights FT, located in the front parts PV and rear PR, as well as possibly FD daytime running lights, located in the front parts PV and rear PR and sometimes called DRL (for "Daytime running Light (or Lamp)" - illuminated warning light automatically when the vehicle is put into operation)). This list of traffic lights includes only the lights that are potentially concerned by the invention. It should be noted that at least some of these traffic lights can be connected to the RC communication network (although this does not appear on the single figure so as not to overload it unnecessarily). The use of FP side marker lamps, low beam headlamps, high beams, FT turn signals, and possibly FD daytime running lights may be controlled by the driver by means of one or more control organs. Thus, in the nonlimiting example illustrated, all the aforesaid fires can be controlled by means of a commodo CE which is secured to the steering column of the vehicle V and coupled to the communication network RC, in order to communicate to it representative data. lights that are selected by the driver. Note that the vehicle V may optionally include a function of automatic control of the operation of certain traffic lights, including FP position lights and low beam FC. This function can then be selected by the driver if he wishes. For example, and not limitation, the first calculator C1 is an equipment that the person skilled in the art frequently calls a BSI ("Intelligent Servitude Enclosure"), which is responsible in particular for controlling the power relays for the phases of operation. standby / wake-up (or activity) of the other electrical equipment of the vehicle V, and perform diagnostics. Furthermore, the second computer C2 may be, for example and not limited to, what the skilled person frequently calls a BSM ("Motor Servitude Enclosure"), which is responsible in particular for controlling the operation of the engine and the engine. associated bodies and to control the power supply of at least some of the traffic lights FC, FP, FD and FT. The control device D, according to the invention, may, for example and as illustrated without limitation, be installed in the first computer C1.

But, it could also be installed in the second computer C2, or in a dedicated computer, or in an optical block (front or rear). The installation in a BSI C1 type computer is advantageous because the latter (Cl) is able to take from the RC communication network the data that are provided by the EC commodo or by the possible function of automatic control of traffic lights. , and which are representative of the lights that are selected, as well as data which are representative of values of operating parameters of the vehicle V, such as its current speed. It will be noted that the data representative of the speed can be transmitted in the RC communication network by an ESP type module or by an engine control unit (or ECU (Engine Control Unit)), or else directly calculated by the BSI himself. It should also be noted that the aforementioned function is generally installed in the BSI. Therefore, it is here the first computer Cl that decides whether to turn on the low beam FC and FP position lights according to a brightness information provided by a dedicated sensor via the RC communication network. Consequently, the control device D can be implemented in the form of software (or computer) modules, or a combination of electronic circuits and software modules (possibly of the programmable logic circuit type, such as for example an FPGA ( Field Programmable Gate Array ") or an ASIC (" Application-Specific Integrated Circuit "), or only electronic circuits.

A control device D according to the invention is responsible for intervening whenever two conditions are met. More specifically, the first condition relates to the current speed of the vehicle. It is considered to be fulfilled when the speed of the vehicle V has fallen below a chosen threshold, which corresponds to the stopping of the vehicle V. The aim here is to detect when the vehicle V is about to stop at least temporarily, the speed threshold is therefore preferably chosen small or very small. For example, the threshold can be chosen in an interval that is between about 0 km / h and about 10 km / h. By way of non-limiting example, the threshold may be equal to 3 km / h. The second condition is the use of certain traffic lights. It is considered filled when selected traffic lights are actually providing initial lighting power.

The control device D is firstly arranged, when the two aforementioned conditions are fulfilled (and therefore when it knows that the speed of the vehicle V has fallen below the chosen threshold and that traffic lights are providing a initial lighting power), to order a temporary reduction of this initial lighting power. "Initial lighting power" is here understood to mean the cumulative lighting power of all types of traffic lights which are taken into consideration under the second condition. The control device D may, for example, receive the value of the current speed of the vehicle V and compare it to the threshold. Furthermore, the control device D may, for example, be informed of the use of certain traffic lights by the first computer C1.

The control device D may, for example, generate a control representative of its reduction decision, and provide it to the first computer C1 which then takes care of transmitting it to the second computer C2 (possibly with a transposition) so that it executes (ie causes effective reduction of lighting power).

This control device D is also arranged to order that the signal lights, which it previously ordered the reduction of the lighting power, provide again the initial lighting power, when it receives information indicating that a means of acceleration (or (re) start) PA of the vehicle V has been requested for a restart. The control device D may, for example, be informed by the first computer C1 of the use of the accelerator pedal PA (or a joystick providing an equivalent function (or more generally any means intended to make (re) ) start vehicle V)).

It will be understood that the solicitation of the accelerator pedal PA is a sign that the driver has decided to restart his vehicle V which was temporarily stopped. It will be noted that this information on the use of the accelerator pedal PA may possibly be filtered in order to take it into account only if it corresponds to a solicitation exceeding a chosen threshold. For example, the threshold can be chosen in an interval which is between about 1 ° / o of stress and about 8 ° / o of stress. By way of non-limiting example, the threshold may be equal to 3 ° / o of solicitation.

The control device D can, for example, generate a control representative of its decision to restore the initial lighting power, and supply it to the first computer C1 which then takes care of transmitting it to the second computer C2 (possibly with a transposition ) so that it executes it (that is to say, restores the initial lighting power). The invention therefore makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle V each time it stops or when it is about to stop with certain traffic lights on, and therefore when these traffic lights have, a priori, no need to provide the same lighting power as when this vehicle V circulates. However, this sudden increase in the lighting power of the traffic lights during the restart also makes it possible, and very advantageously, to draw the attention of the pedestrians and the drivers of the vehicles, which are placed in the environment of the vehicle V, and thus to warn them of the immediate restart or the intention to restart this vehicle V. Several embodiments can be envisaged depending on the type of traffic lights that are affected by the reduction of lighting power.

For example, in a first embodiment it is possible to take into consideration only the use of the FP position lights and the low beam headlights FC. In this case, the control device D is arranged, when it knows that the first condition is fulfilled and that the FP position lamps and the dipped beam headlamps FC are used simultaneously, to order the temporary stoppage of the operation of the low beam, to temporarily reduce the initial lighting power. It will be understood that in this case, only the FP position lights will continue to operate normally (that is to say without power reduction).

Then, when the control device D receives an information signaling that an acceleration means PA of the vehicle V has been requested, it is arranged to order that the dipped beam headlamps FC be used again (that is to say with the lighting power they offered before their interruption of operation). In a second embodiment, it can be considered that the use of low beam CF or daytime running lights FD when their lighting power is variable. In this case, the control device D is arranged, when it knows that the first condition is fulfilled and that the low beam headlights FC or the daytime running lights FD are used to provide a first lighting power, to order that these low beam CF or FD daytime running lights provide a second lighting power, strictly lower than the first lighting power, to temporarily reduce the initial lighting power. It will be understood that in this case, either the FP position lights will continue to operate normally (that is to say without power reduction) and the low beam FC will provide the second lighting power (which can be optionally zero), or only the FD daytime running lights will provide the second lighting power. For example, the reduction of the illumination power of the low beam headlights FC can be obtained by decreasing their power supply, or by using a chopper, or by using only a part of the light sources that they include (especially when these sources are light-emitting diodes (or LEDs)). Moreover, the reduction of the lighting power of the FD daytime running lights can be obtained by reducing their power supply, or by using only a part of the light sources they include (especially when these sources are electroluminescent diodes).

Then, when the control device D receives an information signaling that an acceleration means PA of the vehicle V has been requested, it is arranged to order that the low beam FC or the daytime running lights FD are again used (that is, that is to say with the first power of lighting that they offered before their reduction of lighting power).

It will be noted that the control device D can also and advantageously be arranged to order the putting into operation of all the direction change lights FT of the vehicle V during a chosen period of time, when it receives the information indicating that a means of PA acceleration of the vehicle V was requested. This chosen duration may, for example, be between about one second and about three seconds. For example, it is equal to two seconds.

This option, which consists in using the "warning" function, makes it possible to draw visually and momentarily even more the attention of third parties, located in the vicinity of the vehicle V, when the latter (V) restarts. It will also be noted that the control device D can also and advantageously be arranged to wait for a chosen duration before ordering a temporary reduction of the initial lighting power, when it knows that the speed of the vehicle V has become less than threshold chosen. This chosen duration may, for example, be between about one second and about five seconds. For example, it is equal to three seconds. This option is intended to wait for confirmation that the vehicle V has actually stopped before deciding to temporarily reduce the initial lighting power. This avoids taking into consideration the cases where the driver suddenly brakes, then re-accelerates right after. In addition, this avoids a blinking effect in case of too short a stop. The invention is not limited to the embodiments of control device, computer, and vehicle described above, only by way of example, but it encompasses all variants that may be considered by those skilled in the art within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Device (D) for controlling traffic lights (FC, FP, FD, FT) of a vehicle (V), characterized in that it is arranged, when it knows that the speed of said vehicle (V) has become below a chosen threshold and that signal lights (FC, FP, FD) are providing initial lighting power, to order a temporary reduction of said initial lighting power, and then, when receiving a information indicating that a means of acceleration (PA) of said vehicle (V) has been requested, to order that said traffic lights (FC, FP, FD) again provide said initial lighting power. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged, when it knows that among said traffic lights (FC, FP, FD, FT) is simultaneously used position lights (FP) and lights of crossing (FC), to order the temporary stopping of the operation of the passing headlamps (FC), so as to temporarily reduce the initial lighting power, and, when it receives information indicating that an acceleration means ( PA) of said vehicle (V) was requested, to order that said dipped beam (FC) be used again. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged, when it knows that among said traffic lights (FC, FP, FD, FT) are used dipped beam (CF) or daytime running lights ( FD), with variable lighting power, to provide a first lighting power, to order that said low beam (FC) or daytime running light (FD) provide a second lighting power, strictly less than said first power of illumination, lighting, so as to temporarily reduce said initial lighting power, and, when it receives information indicating that a means of acceleration (PA) of said vehicle (V) has been requested, to order that said dipped beam headlamps (FC) or daytime running lights (FD) again provide said first lighting power. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is arranged, when it receives said information indicating that a moyend'accélération (PA) of said vehicle (V) has been requested, to order the operating all the direction change (FT) lights of said vehicle (V) for a selected period of time ranging from about one second to about three seconds. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is arranged, when it knows that the speed of said vehicle (V) has become less than a chosen threshold, to wait for a selected time before d order a temporary reduction of said initial lighting power. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said waiting time is chosen in a range of between about one second and about five seconds. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said threshold is chosen in an interval between about 0 km / h and about 10 km / h. 8. Computer (Cl) for a vehicle (V) comprising traffic lights (FC, FP, FD, FT), characterized in that it comprises a control device (D) according to one of the preceding claims. 9. Vehicle (V) comprising traffic lights (FC, FP, FD, FT), characterized in that it further comprises a computer (C1) according to claim 8. 10. Vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that it is automotive type.