Abstract:
A rear area monitoring device for a vehicle includes one or more distance sensors configured to determine the distance of the rear of the vehicle from an obstacle, and at least one electronic control device configured to evaluate the data collected by the distance sensor(s) and to determine a distance signal that indicates the current distance of the rear of the vehicle from the obstacle. The electronic control device includes at least one input connection for a position sensor configured to detect the position of at least one adjustable vehicle component that, in certain positions, projects beyond the rear of the vehicle. The electronic control device is configured to determine the distance signal depending upon the signal of the position sensor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to a rear area monitoring device for a vehicle and to an electronic control device thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Rear area monitoring devices are used in automobiles and trucks in order to signal to the driver when reversing, e.g., when parking in a parking space, the distance of the rear of the vehicle from an obstruction or when the distance to the obstruction falls below a minimum distance. In relation to commercial vehicles, i.e., trucks and their trailers, rear area monitoring devices are used, e.g., to assist the driver in approaching a loading ramp in reverse. A rear area monitoring device is described in Applicant&#39;s DE 198 31 262 C2. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, it is an object of the present invention to expand the range of use and application areas of a rear area monitoring device. 
     This object is achievable by a rear area monitoring device for a vehicle comprising one or more distance sensors, which are configured to determine the distance of the rear of the vehicle from an obstruction, and at least one electronic control device, which is configured to evaluate the data recorded by the distance sensors and to determine a distance signal indicating the current distance of the rear of the vehicle from an obstruction. The electronic control device comprises at least one input connector for a position sensor, which is configured to detect the position of at least one adjustable component of the vehicle that, in certain positions, protrudes beyond the rear of the vehicle. The position sensor can be connected via the input connector to the electronic control device and the electronic control device is configured to determine the distance signal depending on the signal of the position sensor. 
     It will be appreciated that the inventive rear area monitoring device can be used in many applications and can be better adapted to the respective operating conditions of the vehicle. Especially for trucks, a large variety of vehicle structures, movable doors and flaps, such as, e.g., built-in loading platforms, and lifting platforms are provided on the rear of the vehicle or tailgate. Such structures can cause a vehicle component to protrude beyond the rear of the vehicle such that a distance sensor disposed on the rear of the vehicle may not readily detect the risk of an impact of the component with an obstruction. For this purpose, a position sensor is provided that is constructed and arranged to detect the position of one or more adjustable components of the vehicle that protrude beyond the rear of the vehicle in certain positions, and the signal of the position sensor can be taken into account during the determination of the distance signal. This enables a realistic distance signal to be produced. 
     The rear area monitoring device can, e.g., be used for vehicles with a loading platform or a tailgate, e.g., for internal loaders for panes of glass with a large tailgate. 
     The position sensor can be implemented differently, e.g., in the form of an inexpensive switch contact, which is acted upon mechanically by the vehicle component in certain positions, as a proximity switch in the area near the adjustable component of the vehicle, as a displacement sensor, e.g., with a potentiometer, or as an ultrasonic sensor. Advantageously, the position sensor can also be a pressure sensor or pressure switch that senses the pressure of a hydraulic actuator of the adjustable component of the vehicle. In many cases, the adjustable vehicle component also already comprises a position sensor, which can be connected via the input connector to the electronic control device. The position sensor can also be provided as an additional component of the rear area monitoring device. In this case, the position sensor is connected via the input connector to the electronic control device. 
     The distance signal can be a signal that directly gives the distance of the rear of the vehicle from an obstruction in numerical form, e.g., the distance in meters or centimeters. The distance signal can also be a signal that is already pre-processed or suitably evaluated, which contains information about whether the distance of the rear of the vehicle from an obstruction is already less than a specified limit or not. 
     The rear of the vehicle means the rearmost part of the vehicle that is not adjustable, such as, e.g., a rear bumper or the rear loading edge of a load area. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic control device is configured to correct the data detected by the distance sensor(s) by a specified difference value if the signal of the position sensor is indicating a vehicle component protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle. This has the advantage that a more accurate determination of the distance of the rear of the vehicle from an obstruction depending on the adopted position of the adjustable component of the vehicle can be carried out mathematically by the electronic control device, so that taking the position signal into account can be carried out inexpensively, e.g., in the form of an expansion of the programming of the electronic control device. Thus, e.g., the distance signal can be determined according to the data provided by the distance sensor(s) if the signal of the position sensor is not indicating a vehicle component protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle. If, on the other hand, the signal of the position sensor is indicating a vehicle component protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle, the specified difference value is subtracted from the data detected by the distance sensor(s) in order to determine the distance signal. The specified difference value can, e.g., be determined from the maximum reach of the adjustable component of the vehicle beyond the rear of the vehicle, e.g., for vehicles with a loading platform it will have a value of 2 m. 
     According to another embodiment, the electronic control device is configured to compare the data detected by the distance sensor(s) with at least one specified first limit and to determine therefrom a distance signal that indicates that the distance of the rear of the vehicle from an obstruction has reached or fallen below a preselected distance. This has the advantage that the distance signal already contains an assessment of the distance of the rear of the vehicle from the obstruction, which can be helpful to the driver. Using the distance signal evaluated in this way, e.g., a warning can be generated, such as, e.g., an acoustic, haptic or visual warning signal. The driver is then on notice that the vehicle is already relatively close to the obstruction. The electronic control device can also be configured to compare the data detected by the distance sensors with various limits and to determine therefrom a suitably graduated distance signal that differently indicates reaching or falling below the individual limits. Achieving or falling below the individual limits can, e.g., be indicated by different warning signals. 
     According to a further embodiment, the electronic control device is configured to correct the data detected by the distance sensor(s), the specified first limit or the difference between the data detected by the distance sensor(s) and the specified first limit by a specified difference value or to use a specified second limit for the comparison if the signal of the position sensor is indicating a vehicle component protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle. The second limit can, e.g., be greater than the first limit by the specified difference value. This has the advantage that the distance signal obtained by comparison with the first or the second limit is more realistic than with conventional rear area monitoring devices. Thus, e.g., it is not required to ensure that the distance signal has basically already been corrected with the difference value in order to avoid any damage by a vehicle component protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle. Rather, the correction can be carried out depending on the signal of the position sensor. Another advantage is that accounting for the position signal can be carried out arithmetically by the electronic control device and can thus be implemented inexpensively, e.g., in the form of an extension of the programming of the electronic control device. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the electronic control device is arranged to visually, haptically and/or acoustically output the distance signal via an output of the rear area monitoring device or via an interface to other output devices of the vehicle. The output can, e.g., be a display panel of the rear area monitoring device or of the vehicle, e.g., in the instrument panel of the vehicle. The distance signal can, e.g., be displayed on the display panel in clear text in the form of a distance in meters or centimeters. The distance signal can also be output in already evaluated form via the output, e.g., following comparison with the first limit, by a warning signal being output on reaching or falling below a specified distance of the rear of the vehicle from the obstruction. The distance signal or the warning signal can be output visually, e.g., by a lamp or the display panel. The distance signal can also be output haptically, e.g., by actively operated control elements of the vehicle, e.g., a gas pedal with a force feedback function, or by controlling the vehicle seat adjustment, e.g., as in a vibration alarm. The warning signal can also be output acoustically, e.g., in the form of warning tones of identical or different frequency. 
     According to yet another embodiment, the electronic control device is configured to generate a brake actuation signal depending on the distance signal for automatically actuating at least one vehicle brake. This has the advantage that, as a result of the automatic braking, the vehicle can be safely stopped at a sufficient remaining distance from the obstruction, and, thus, damage to the vehicle and a loading ramp can be more reliably avoided. The electronic control device can send the brake actuation signal, e.g., via a data bus, to a brake controller, which then ensures the operation of the vehicle brake. The electronic control device can also be a part of an electronically controlled brake system, so that the brake actuation signal can be directly converted into the operation of the vehicle brake. This has the advantage that the vehicle can be automatically stopped at an advantageous distance from a loading ramp as a result of the more realistic determination of the distance signal. It must not be stopped, e.g., for safety reasons, at too great a distance from the loading ramp, although with no protruding vehicle component, a sufficient safety distance is still provided for maneuvering. This allows truck loading and unloading processes to be carried out more safely, faster and more efficiently, because the correct distance to the loading ramp that is necessary for loading or unloading can be produced automatically. 
     According to a further embodiment, the rear area monitoring device comprises at least two distance sensors. The electronic control device is configured to determine the distance signal depending on the data detected by a first subset of the distance sensors if the signal of the position sensor is not indicating a vehicle component protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle. The electronic control device is configured to determine the distance signal depending on the data detected by a second subset of the distance sensors if the signal of the position sensor is indicating a vehicle component protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle. This has the advantage that different distance sensors disposed on the vehicle for determining the distance signal can be automatically taken into account. 
     The vehicle component protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle can affect individual distance sensors with regards to their detection of obstructions if it is protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle. For example, a lowered loading platform can cover individual distance sensors in the form of ultrasonic sensors that are attached to the rear of the vehicle at the height of the load area, so that they cannot contribute to determining a meaningful distance signal. Such effects can be accommodated by taking into account the signal of the position sensor. 
     According to a still further embodiment, the first subset of the distance sensors is arranged for attachment to the rear of the vehicle and the second subset of the distance sensors is arranged for attachment to the adjustable vehicle component that, in certain positions, protrudes beyond the rear of the vehicle. This has the advantage that, in one position of the adjustable component of the vehicle in which it is not protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle, the first subset of the distance sensors can be used for distance signal determination. If the vehicle component is protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle, the second subset of the distance sensors can be used for determining the distance signal, wherein the distance sensors then indicate the correct distance to the obstruction quasi-automatically, because they protrude beyond the rear of the vehicle together with the adjustable vehicle component. Another advantage is that the entire detection range of the rear area monitoring device can be extended to greater distances. 
     The electronic control device can comprise one or a plurality of connectors for the connection of one or a plurality of distance sensor(s). 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the rear area monitoring device comprises at least two distance sensors. A first subset of the distance sensors is attached to the rear of the vehicle. A second subset of the distance sensors is attached to the adjustable vehicle component that, in certain positions, protrudes beyond the rear of the vehicle. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. 
     The present invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, all as exemplified in the constructions herein set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle combination approaching a loading ramp when reversing; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of an impact buffer with a distance sensor disposed therein in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the vehicle according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of a vehicle combination with an adjustable vehicle component; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram depicting a rear area monitoring device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     In the figures the same reference characters are used for corresponding elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  depicts an example of a vehicle combination with a tractor unit  1  and a trailer  2  coupled to the tractor unit  1 . The invention is, however, suitable for all types of vehicles, including automobiles and trucks with other types of trailers. 
     The tractor unit  1  comprises a drive engine whose drive force is output via a gearbox operated by the driver of the vehicle to the drive wheels  7  of the tractor unit  1  and, hence, to the roadway  8 . The drive engine and gearbox are of known construction and are therefore not shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Furthermore, both the tractor unit  1  and also the trailer  2  comprise a brake system, with which a brake force can be exerted on the wheels  7  of the tractor unit  1  and the wheels  9  of the trailer  2  depending on the operation of a brake pedal disposed in the tractor unit  1  when operated by the driver. 
     In one advantageous embodiment, both the drive engine and also the brake systems of the tractor unit and trailer can be controlled by electrical signals. Such brake systems are usually referred to as electrically controllable brake systems or “EBS” for short, such as is known, e.g., from Applicant&#39;s EP 0 602 353 A1. For controlling the brake system, at least one electronic controller is provided here, which receives braking demand signals from a brake signal transmitter that can be operated by the driver using the brake pedal and determines brake operating signals therefrom, which are output to brake devices disposed on the wheels  7 ,  9 . 
     Furthermore, a sensor  21  for determining a speed signal is provided, as schematically illustrated in  FIG. 5 . It is known to use the tachometer of the vehicle for this purpose. It is also advantageous to use, for this purpose, a sensor disposed in the area of the vehicle wheel for determining the rotational speed of the wheel, as is known from anti-lock braking systems. This has the advantage that the speed of the vehicle can be determined very reliably and with great accuracy. 
     The vehicle according to  FIG. 1  also comprises two impact buffers  4  disposed on the rear  23  of the trailer  2 , which corresponds here to the rear of the vehicle, respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the vehicle under the edges of the load area. The arrangement of the impact buffers  4  is additionally illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The impact buffers  4  are preferably made of an elastic material, e.g. rubber, and are used to protect the vehicle against damage resulting from impact on an obstruction  3 , e.g., a loading ramp. 
     In addition, for the vehicle combination according to  FIG. 1 , two more distance sensors are provided, each disposed in the impact buffers  4 , which do not protrude out of the impact buffers  4  to avoid damage. The arrangement of a distance sensor  6  in an impact buffer  4  is illustrated in more detail in  FIG. 2 . The impact buffer  4  has an opening  5 , which is in the form of a hopper that is oriented in the reversing direction of the vehicle. The distance sensor  6  is disposed within the opening  5  and is, e.g., in the form of an ultrasonic sensor. The distance sensor  6  transmits a sound signal, e.g., on request from an electronic controller, and outputs an acknowledgment signal to the controller on receiving reflections of the sound signal. From the time difference between the request for a sound output and the acknowledgment signal, a conclusion can be drawn in a known manner regarding the distance D between the distance sensor and the obstruction  3 . 
     The opening  5  has, e.g., a profile by means of which the emitted sound of the distance sensor  6  is focused, e.g., a parabolic or elliptical profile. 
     Instead of mounting the distance sensors  6  or other distance sensors in the described impact buffers, the distance sensors can also be disposed as separate components on the vehicle  1 ,  2 , e.g., adjacent to impact buffers or at other positions. The distance sensors can, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , be disposed on the rear of the vehicle at about the height of the loading area or even at other positions, e.g., on a rear bumper. 
     The vehicle combination described using  FIGS. 1 and 3  comprises two doors  19  that can swivel about respective vertical axes as adjustable vehicle components, which, in certain positions, protrude beyond the rear of the vehicle. If the doors  19  are opened, they protrude beyond the rear of the vehicle  23  to a certain extent. 
     The doors  19  are Fitted with position sensors, e.g., in the form of proximity switches, with which the position of the doors  19  is detected. 
       FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a vehicle combination in which the trailer  2  comprises a loading platform  10  as an adjustable vehicle component that can swivel about a horizontal axis.  FIG. 4  shows the loading platform  10  with solid lines in the non-extended position and with broken lines in an extended position  12 . In the extended position  12 , the loading platform  10  protrudes beyond the rear of the vehicle  23 . An arrow emanating from the impact buffers  4  towards the right shows the detection direction of the distance sensors  6 . As can be seen, the distance sensors  6  do not measure the loading platform  10  in the extended position  12  at the correct distance from the loading ramp  3 . There are therefore two further distance sensors  11  mounted on the loading platform  10  in the embodiment according to  FIG. 4 . The arrow pointing upwards from the other distance sensors  11  in the non-extended position of the loading platform  10  shows the detection direction of the distance sensors. In the extended position  12  of the loading platform  10  the detection direction of the other distance sensors  11  is shown by the dashed arrow. 
       FIG. 5  shows a rear area monitoring device, which can be disposed, e.g., on the vehicle according to  FIGS. 1 and 3  or on the vehicle according to  FIG. 4 , e.g., on the tractor unit  1  or on the trailer  2 . The rear area monitoring device comprises an electronic control device  20 ,  25 , which, e.g., comprises a microprocessor that executes a control program having different control and regulating functions. The electronic control device  20 ,  25  can be constructed in one piece or in a plurality of parts. A multi-part design is illustrated in  FIG. 5  by way of example, in which a brake controller  20  and a rear area monitoring control device  25  are provided as separate electronic modules. In one embodiment, the electronic modules can also be in the form of a common electronic control device. 
     The brake controller  20  receives input signals from a gearbox controller  16 , e.g., a reversing signal that indicates when reverse gear is engaged. Furthermore, from a brake signal transmitter  14  having a brake pedal  22 , the brake controller  20  receives a brake demand signal that indicates the driver&#39;s wish for brake operation. Furthermore, from one or a plurality of speed sensors  21 , which can, e.g., be in the form of wheel revolution rate sensors of an anti-lock brake system, the brake controller  20  receives a speed signal that indicates the speed of the vehicle. The brake controller  20  can output actuation signals as output signals to a brake actuator  13  and an engine controller  17 . By means of the actuation signals, the brake controller  20  can, e.g., adjust the engine revolution rate or engine power to a lower value than that specified by the driver. In addition, a vehicle brake connected to the vehicle wheels  7 ,  9  can be automatically operated by means of the brake actuator  13 . 
     The rear area monitoring control device  25  receives data from the distance sensors  6 ,  11  and determines therefrom a distance signal that indicates the distance of the rear of the vehicle  23  from an obstruction, e.g., the loading ramp  3 . The rear area monitoring control device  25  can output the distance signal, e.g., to an output  18 , e.g., a display panel, a warning lamp or an acoustic signal generator. 
     The rear area monitoring control device  25  also comprises an input connector  24  for connecting a position sensor  15 . A plurality of connectors  24  for a plurality of position sensors can also be provided. It is also possible to connect a plurality of position sensors to the one input connector  24 , e.g., by connecting the position sensors to each other. The position sensor  15  outputs a signal to the rear area monitoring control device  25  that indicates whether the vehicle component protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle, i.e., the doors  19  or the loading platform  10 , is in a position protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle  23  or not. 
     The distance sensors  6  thereby provide data D 1  and the distance sensors  13  provide data D 2 . If only the distance sensors  6  are provided, as with the vehicle, according to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , then the distance sensors provide the data D. 
     The rear area monitoring control device  25  determines the distance signal based on the data D 1  of the distance sensors  6  if the lifting platform  10  is not extended, i.e., it is in the vertical position. If the lifting platform  10  is extended and is in the horizontal position  12 , the rear area monitoring control device  25  determines the distance signal based on the data D 2  of the other distance sensors  11 . The distance sensors  6  thus form a first subset of the distance sensors and the distance sensors  13  form a second subset of the distance sensors. 
     With the embodiment of the vehicle according to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , in which no other distance sensors  11  are provided, the rear area monitoring control device  25  determines the distance signal with the doors  19  closed directly from the data D of the distance sensors  6 . With the doors  19  opened, the rear area monitoring control device  25  subtracts a specified difference value from the data of the distance sensors  6  that corresponds to the maximum extent to which the doors  19  can protrude beyond the rear of the vehicle  23 . 
     The distance signal A is, e.g., determined as:
 
A=D
 
     wherein it is assumed therefrom that the data D are already present in a processed form, i.e., are determined, e.g., in a metric unit. The rear area monitoring control device  25  can take account of the signal of the position sensor  15 , e.g., such that the data D detected by the distance sensors are corrected by a specified difference value DW:
 
 A=D−DW  
 
     The distance signal A can also already contain a comparison with a first limit G 1 . In this case, the distance signal A can, e.g., be a digital signal with the values 0 and 1:
 
A=0, if D&gt;G1
 
A=1, if D&lt;G1
 
     In order to take into account the signal of the position sensor  15 , e.g., one of the following corrections can be carried out, wherein G 2  is a second limit:
 
 A= 1, if  D−DW&lt;G 1 or
 
 D&lt;G 1 +DW  or
 
 D&lt;G 2, wherein  G 2= G 1 +DW  
 
     In other cases A=0. 
     If the data D 1  and D 2  of the first subset and the second subset of the distance sensors are available, the following applies:
 
D=D2
 
if the signal of the position sensor  15  is indicating a vehicle component  10 ,  19  protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle  23 ; and
 
D=D1
 
in other cases.
 
     The signal of the position sensor  15  can, as assumed previously, be a binary signal that only distinguishes between the states “vehicle component protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle” and “vehicle component not protruding beyond the rear of the vehicle”. In one embodiment of the present invention, the position sensor is in the form of a sensor with a known value range, so that intermediate values between the positions “open” and “closed” can also be signaled. Thus, e.g., a signal P of the position sensor can represent an extent of the protrusion of the adjustable component of the vehicle  10 ,  19  beyond the rear of the vehicle  23 . The signal P can represent the extent of the protrusion, e.g., directly in a metric unit. In this case, the rear area monitoring control device  25  can take into account the signal P of the position sensor  15  for determining the distance signal A, e.g., as follows:
 
 A=D−P  
 
     The rear area monitoring control device  25  can exchange data with the brake controller  20  via a data connection  26 , e.g., a bus system. The rear area monitoring control device  25  receives, e.g., information about an engaged reverse gear from the brake controller  20  via the data connection  26 . The rear area monitoring control device  25  can also output a brake demand signal via the data connection  26  to the brake controller  20 , which then implements the same in the form of a brake operation. 
     The input connector  24  for the position sensor  15  provided on the rear area monitoring control device  25  according to  FIG. 5  can also be provided on the brake controller  20 . In this case, the brake controller  20  transfers the signal of the position sensor  15  to the rear area monitoring control device  25  via the data connection  26 . It is also possible that the output  18  is connected to the brake controller  20 . In this case, the rear area monitoring control device  25  transfers the information to be output via the output  18  to the brake controller  20  via the data connection  26 , and the brake controller  20  then carries out the actual outputting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover ail of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.