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DE-102025114239-B3 - Method for displaying the area behind a vehicle and display device

DE102025114239B3DE 102025114239 B3DE102025114239 B3DE 102025114239B3DE-102025114239-B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for displaying the space behind a vehicle on demand, comprising the following method steps: A) Taking multiple rear-view images behind a vehicle, B) Analysis of rear-view images, identifying objects and/or situations relevant to driving safety, C) Capturing the eyes of the driver of the vehicle, D) Analysis of the eye-space images, whereby the driver's gaze direction and the gaze duration associated with the respective gaze direction are identified, E) Display of the area behind the vehicle on a display element, wherein the rear-view images are displayed on the display element when, in process step B), relevant objects and/or situations are detected for which a rated hazard potential exceeds a limit value, or when the viewing duration detected in process step D), with the driver's gaze directed towards the display element, is longer than a limit viewing duration. The invention also relates to a display device and a vehicle with a display device.

Inventors

  • Paul Böckenhoff
  • Hendrik Gronau

Assignees

  • AUDI AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250410

Claims (10)

  1. Method for displaying the area behind a vehicle on demand, comprising the following steps: A) Recording multiple rear-view images behind a vehicle using a rear-view camera, B) Analyzing the rear-view images using a control system unit, wherein objects and/or situations relevant to driving safety are detected and the objects and/or situations are assessed based on their hazard potential for driving safety; C) Capturing the eyes of the vehicle's driver by several interior cameras, wherein several eye images are recorded; D) Analyzing the eye images by a gaze detection unit, wherein the driver's gaze direction and the gaze duration associated with the respective gaze direction are detected; E) Displaying the area behind the vehicle on a display element, wherein the display element comprises at least one at least partially transparent display element arranged in front of a barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is transparent in a rest state and opaque in a blocked state and can be switched from the rest state to the blocked state by an activation signal, wherein the rear images are displayed on the display element and the barrier layer is switched to the blocked state when, in process step B), relevant objects and/or situations are detected for which the assessed hazard potential exceeds a limit value, or when the gaze duration detected in process step D) is directed towards the display element. Driver's, longer than a border glance duration.
  2. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the analysis in process step B) is carried out by a neural network which is implemented in the control unit, wherein the neural network is trained by data sets which include an assignment of objects and/or situations to a hazard potential for driving safety.
  3. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 or 2 , characterized in that in process step B) when assessing the hazard potential for driving safety caused by the detected objects and/or situations, at least one additional signal from at least one sensor located in or on the vehicle is used, and this signal is compared with the results of the analysis of the rear-view images.
  4. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that in process step E) in a case where relevant objects and/or situations are detected in process step B) for which the assessed hazard potential is below the limit value or if the viewing duration detected in process step D) is shorter than a limit viewing duration when the driver's gaze is directed towards the display element, the area behind the vehicle is not displayed on the display element.
  5. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the process steps A) to E) are carried out continuously and after process step E), if relevant objects and/or situations are detected in process step B) for which the assessed hazard potential is below the limit value or if the viewing duration detected in process step D), with the driver's gaze directed towards the display element, is shorter than the limit viewing duration, a process step F) is initiated in which the blocking layer is switched to the resting state.
  6. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that in process step E) the brightness and/or contrast of the display (the rear-view images) on the display element is adjusted by the control unit to the current lighting conditions, wherein the control unit reads data from at least one brightness sensor which is arranged on or in the vehicle.
  7. A display device for displaying the area behind a vehicle on demand, comprising: - at least one rear-view camera directed towards the area behind the vehicle, - several interior cameras directed towards the eyes of a driver of the vehicle, - at least one display element arranged in the field of vision of a driver of the vehicle, wherein the display element comprises at least one at least partially transparent display element arranged in front of a barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is transparent in a rest state and opaque in a blocked state and can be switched from the rest state to the blocked state by an activation signal, - at least one control unit connected via a data connection to the rear-view camera and the display element, - at least one eye-tracking unit connected via a data connection to the interior cameras and the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a method according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 to carry out.
  8. Display device according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the display element is designed as a display comprising a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes and/or the barrier layer is designed as a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer and the active The signal is generated by an electrical voltage and/or the indoor cameras are designed as infrared cameras.
  9. Display device according to Claim 7 or 8 , characterized in that the display device comprises at least one further sensor which is connected to the control unit via a data connection, wherein the sensor is formed by a sensor from the group of the following sensors: radar sensor, lidar sensor, vehicle speed sensor, direction indicator sensor, brightness sensor or steering angle sensor.
  10. Vehicle with a display device according to one of the Claims 7 until 9 .

Description

The invention relates to a device for the on-demand display of the area behind a vehicle. The method can be used, for example, to simulate a rearview mirror. The method automatically analyzes the area behind the vehicle for potential hazards that could affect driving safety. Furthermore, the method determines the direction in which the driver is looking. Depending on the detected hazards in the area behind the vehicle or the driver's direction of view, a display element showing the area behind the vehicle is activated as needed. The invention also relates to a display device configured to execute the method. Finally, the invention relates to a vehicle equipped with such a display device. Traditionally, rearview mirrors are used to display the area behind a vehicle. These mirrors reflect light and give the driver a direct view of the area behind the vehicle. As an alternative, electronic rearview mirror systems exist, which display an image captured by a camera on a screen positioned within the driver's field of vision. Thanks to high-resolution cameras and displays, electronic rearview mirror systems can already improve the quality of the view behind the vehicle compared to traditional mirrors. However, electronic rearview mirror systems, especially those with high resolution, consume a significant amount of power, which can reduce the range of electric vehicles. Furthermore, both traditional rearview mirrors and the displays of electronic rearview mirror systems are often positioned in the driver's field of vision in such a way that they obstruct the view forward when not in use. DE10 2015 202 846 A1 This describes a vehicle vision system with a display. The vehicle vision system functions as an electronic rearview mirror system, with a transparent display mounted on the windshield. The system continuously monitors the driver's line of sight and activates the windshield display when the driver looks at it for a certain period of time. In DE 10 2022 118 578 A1 This describes a method for a motor vehicle to adjust the visibility of an emergency vehicle. The method analyzes images of the area behind the vehicle captured by a camera to determine whether an emergency vehicle, such as an ambulance, is visible. If an emergency vehicle is detected, it is highlighted on a traditional rearview mirror using a color filter or displayed on a screen located inside the vehicle. CN 113978366 A This document describes an intelligent, electronic rearview mirror system and a method for its operation. The rearview mirror system detects the driver's line of sight and displays a camera image of the area behind the vehicle on different screens, depending on the direction of sight. Furthermore, the captured camera image is analyzed by an intelligent algorithm for potentially hazardous objects, and any detected potentially hazardous objects are displayed on a central screen in the vehicle. The DE 10 2023 135 814 A1 discloses a visualization system for a motor vehicle which, in particular, can control a basic illumination on the display surface with a basic brightness level by means of a control module. Furthermore, discloses the DE 10 2023 135 814 A1 an associated visualization method. The object of the invention is to provide advantageous solutions that make the space behind a vehicle more ergonomic for the driver and improve driving safety. Furthermore, the solutions should exhibit reduced electrical energy consumption. The problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1, by a representation device having the features of claim 7, and by a vehicle having the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. The method according to the invention serves to display the area behind a vehicle on demand and comprises the following method steps: A) Recording multiple rear-view images behind a vehicle using a rear-view camera, B) Analysis of the rear-view images by a control unit, whereby objects and/or situations relevant to driving safety are recognized and the objects and/or situations are assessed based on their hazard potential for driving safety, C) Capturing the eyes of the vehicle's driver using multiple interior cameras, taking multiple eye images, D) Analysis of the eye-space images by a gaze-tracking unit, whereby the driver's gaze direction and the gaze duration associated with the respective gaze direction are detected, E) Display of the area behind the vehicle on a display element, wherein the display element comprises at least one at least partially transparent display element arranged in front of a barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is transparent in a rest state and opaque in a blocked state and can be switched from the rest state to the blocked state by an activation signal, wherein the rear-view images are displayed on the display element and the blocking layer is switched to the blocking state if, in process ste