Assistance

The invention relates to a holding device for a portable communication device, comprising a basic body for holding the portable communication device and a fastener for fastening the basic body on a component of a vehicle. The invention moreover relates to a driver assistance system for a vehicle, wherein the driver assistance system comprises a portable communication device and such holding device. The invention also relates to a vehicle having such driver assistance system as well as to a method for providing driver assistance by means of a portable communication device.

Holding devices for holding portable communication devices within the interior space of a vehicle are known in a variety of designs from the prior art. For instance the document WO 2009/092660 A2 discloses a holding device for fastening a portable communication device within the interior space of a vehicle. The portable communication device is a navigation device. The navigation device has a loudspeaker; a portion of a housing of the navigation device is equipped with a plurality of through-holes, namely for the emission of generated sound. The holding device comprises an arm which can be fastened on the housing of the navigation device. This arm has an aperture, so that the portion of the housing of the navigation device that is equipped with the through-holes remains revealed. Thus the sound of the loudspeaker can emit from the housing of the navigation device, even if the navigation device is fastened on a windscreen by means of the holding device.

An object of the present invention is to enhance the functionality of a holding device of the initially-mentioned kind over the prior art. This task according to the invention is solved by a holding device having the features according to patent claim 1 , by a driver assistance system having the features according to patent claim 12, as well as by a vehicle having the features according to patent claim 13, as well as by a method having the features according to patent claim 14.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the independent patent claims and the description.

According to the invention a holding device for a portable communication device comprises a basic body for holding the portable communication device as well as a fastener for fastening the basic body on a component of a vehicle. The holding device according to the invention comprises an optical device.

Thus, the inventive effect is achieved through an optical device. An optical device in the present case relates in particular to a device that serves for the optical manipulation of images or image information about surroundings and/or for generating image data in dependency on captured image information. The optical device thus represents an optically effective device that optically affects image information in an active and/or passive way and/or generates image data from captured images. Advantageously, by way of employing the optical device the functionality of the holding device is raised in comparison with the prior art. Namely, through the optical device for instance images are modified that are captured by a camera of the portable communication device; in particular, these images can be enhanced for a subsequent image processing for providing driver assistance.

For instance, the employment of an optical device allows for performing driver assistance functions also by such portable communication device comprising a camera with a relatively low resolution. The optical device namely can zoom to a certain portion of the total capture range captured by the camera of the portable communication device, i.e. reduce an angle range captured by this camera such that a sufficient resolution can be achieved. On the other hand, the optical device can for instance enlarge the capture range of a camera of the portable communication device, in order to e.g. provide the driver with images of an overall enlarged portion of the surroundings. The image captured by the camera of the portable communication device thus can in principle be adapted by the optical device to the functions or applications for driver assistance. The optical device namely can affect the image in such a way that the portable communication device is in a position to provide a function for driver assistance in dependency on the captured image. In one embodiment, the optical device comprises an objective for modifying an image to be captured by an optical sensor of the portable communication device. By means of an objective it is achieved to modify the image to be captured in such a way that the portable communication device in dependency on the image can provide a function for driver assistance. The objective can be integrated within the basic body of the holding device. This may e.g. consist in a through-hole being formed in the basic body, and in that the objective is placed within the through-hole. If the portable communication device is fastened by means of the holding device to a windscreen, an optical sensor of the portable communication device - in particular a camera - can capture a portion in front of the vehicle via the objective in the holding device. It may also be envisaged that the objective is movably arranged on the basic body of the holding device; then the position of the objective can be adapted to the position of an optical sensor of the portable communication device. Thus, various portable communication devices can be used in each of which the optical sensor is attached at a different place.

In the present case a portable communication device is understood to refer to a mobile telephone or a personal digital assistant. Under the term ..portable communication device", however, also comes a portable navigation device. In principle, a portable communication device is understood to refer to such devices that contain a digital signal processor and thus are in a position to select and/or perform driver assistance functions. Preferably, also such devices are comprised that have an optical sensor - in particular a camera - and in dependency on the image data can select and/or perform a driver assistance function.

The fastener preferably is designed for fastening the basic body on a windscreen of the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, the fastener can be designed to fasten the basic body and thus the portable communication device to the inside roof lining of a vehicle and/or to a dashboard of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the fastener can be designed for connecting the basic body to a surface such as a windscreen or dashboard. In this embodiment the fastener can comprise an elastomeric element, in particular an elastomeric disk, and a cam mechanism which can be designed for drawing the center of the elastomeric element upwards to create a vacuum between the elastomeric element and the surface, it is a windscreen or dashboard, for instance.

The objective can comprise a lens designed for enlarging an angle range captured by the optical sensor of the portable communication device. In this way, it is achieved to capture a larger portion of the surroundings of the vehicle than the range captured by the optical sensor of the portable communication device. Thus, the optical sensor of the portable communication device can capture a relatively wide image, and the portable

communication device in dependency on the captured image can provide driver assistance functions. By enlarging the capture range of the optical sensor e.g. objects that are next to the road, such as pedestrians, can be detected by the portable communication device. Thus the driver can also be provided with images on a display of the portable communication device that show an overall enlarged portion of the surroundings of the vehicle than the portion of the surroundings captured by the camera of the portable communication device without said lens.

The objective additionally or alternatively can comprise a lens that is designed for reducing the angle range captured by the optical sensor of the portable communication device. This means that the optical sensor of the portable communication device captures a smaller total portion of the surroundings than without the named lens. In this way a certain portion of the surroundings can be resolved better by the optical sensor than without the lens. This embodiment thus proves to be particularly advantageous in such applications in which an exact recognition of the shape of an object or a pattern recognition is required. For instance this embodiment proves to be particularly

advantageous for the function of recognition of traffic signs. The lens namely can be designed in such a way that it enlarges the portion to the right in front of the vehicle or another predetermined portion. This portion is then captured at an increased resolution by the optical sensor of the portable communication device, and the portable communication device can process the image data obtained in this way and subject them to a pattern recognition. The employment of such lens for reducing the captured angle range thus facilitates the provision of applications with a pattern recognition - this means for instance the recognition of traffic signs - also by means of such portable communication device the optical sensor of which has a low resolution. Upon reduction of the captured angle range, now even a low resolution suffices to resolve a certain portion of the entire capture range.

In one embodiment, the objective comprises a lens or a lens system designed for enlarging at least two predetermined subportions of a total capture range captured by the optical sensor of the portable communication device. Thus at least two subportions of the surroundings can be represented in an enlarged form; in other words, a zooming to the at least two subportions of the capture range of the optical sensor is effected. Hereby the simultaneous provision of different applications or functions for driver assistance is facilitated, namely for instance the function of recognition of traffic signs and that of recognition of oncoming traffic. One of the subportions namely can be located within a right half and one of the subportions can be located within the left half of the total capture range.

Additionally or alternatively, the objective may contain an optical filter designed for filtering out a light of predetermined wavelength and/or for filtering out a light of predetermined polarization. This means that the objective can comprise such optical filter which selects the incident light radiation according to certain criteria, namely according to the wave length and/or the polarization state. By way of filtering out light of a predetermined polarization, undesired reflections can be subdued, such as e.g. reflections of shiny, non- metallic surfaces, i.e. for instance water or glass. Such polarization filter moreover subdues spurious light reflexes of the sky. By way of filtering out certain wavelengths a desired contrast can be achieved in the captured image. And this can simplify the subsequent image processing in the portable communication device; the processing time is reduced to a minimum and/or less calculation time is required for processing the image data. For instance, a yellow filter will enhance the contrast between clouds and sky by darkening the latter. On the other hand, a red filter will have a stronger effect; this can be stated for an orange filter, as well. For reducing the contrast, one would use a diffusion filter. Consequently, the employment of an optical filter, on the one hand, simplifies the processing of image data, on the other hand, such filter enhances the quality of the captured image.

The objective can also comprise at least two optically effective elements each for amending the image. An optically effective element or an optical element is understood to refer to a very lens or optical filter. But under this term come also other image-modifying optical elements. In this embodiment, the objective moreover has means designed for selecting at least one element from the at least two optically effective elements. This means that the objective can be redesigned as required, depending on the existing light conditions. This embodiment also has advantages in that for different applications or functions for providing driver assistance through the portable communication device different optically effective elements can be used. For instance an optical filter may be useful for driving towards the sun; on the other hand, for the function of recognition of traffic signs a lens for zooming to a certain portion of the surroundings can be selected, whereas a lens for enlarging the total capture range can be selected if e.g. a wider image is to be displayed on a display of the portable communication device. The means for selecting can be designed in such a way that at least the one optically effective element is manually selectable through an operating person. Additionally or alternatively these means - if the holding device comprises an electronic control unit - can include an actuator or an actor, by means of which the at least one optically effective element can be selected automatically.

In one embodiment, the optical device comprises an optical sensor for capturing image data, namely in particular a camera. In this embodiment consequently an optical sensor can be arranged on the basic body of the holding device, the sensor capturing image data relating to the surroundings of the vehicle. Such holding device namely is particularly advantageous for such portable communication devices that comprise no cameras. Also by such portable communication devices in this embodiment driver assistance functions can be provided that are based on captured image data, namely on the image data of the optical sensor of the holding device. The optical sensor can be arranged on the basic body on the side facing away from the portable communication device and/or facing the fastener. In this case the portable communication device can be fastened by means of the holding device e.g. on a windscreen and the optical sensor can capture images of the surroundings of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, the optical sensor is movably arranged on the basic body. For instance the sensor can be arranged on the basic body to be pivotable at least in one direction. It may also be envisaged that the sensor is movably arranged on the basic body by means of a ball joint. In this case the optical sensor can quasi be pivoted in any direction.

Preferably, the holding device comprises an electronic control unit which is designed for controlling the optical sensor and for processing the image data. The control unit for instance may comprise a microcontroller and/or a digital signal processor. If the captured image data are processed by an internal control unit of the holding device, this data processing needs not be performed by the portable communication device. The portable communication device then can serve only for displaying information or images on a display. The driver in this embodiment can use such portable communication device which has a relatively low processing power and thus is not in a position to provide certain driver assistance functions itself. Precisely in such portable communication devices the employment of the electronic control unit with the holding device proves to be particularly advantageous. Additionally or alternatively the holding device can comprise a communication device. The communication device can be designed to transmit the image data and/or data obtained therefrom to the portable communication device. Here the most varied embodiments are reasonably possible: The communication device can be designed for wireless data transmission, e.g. according to a communication standard of the IEEE-802.15 family (Bluetooth®) or according to a communication standard of the IEEE-802.11 family (Wireless Local Area Network). Additionally or alternatively the communication device can be designed for wired communication; then a corresponding contact device - namely for instance a plug-in facility - can be provided in the basic body of the holding device, via which the communication device can be electrically connected with the portable communication device. The communication device can be integrated within the control unit or can be a separate component that is electrically coupled with the control unit. If the holding device comprises the electronic control unit, the communication device in particular merely serves for transmitting already processed image data to the portable communication device. If there is no control unit provided, or if the captured raw data are not processed by the control unit, the communication device transmits the raw data to the portable communication device. In the latter case the captured image data can be processed by the portable communication device. By way of employing a communication device an interface is created in the holding device that facilitates a data exchange between the holding device and the portable communication device.

The communication device can also be designed for receiving control signals from the portable communication device for the electronic control unit. In this case the portable communication device can transmit control commands to the electronic control unit of the holding device and hereby e.g. control the optical sensor of the holding device.

In one embodiment, the optical device comprises an infrared light source for emitting of infrared light. This is particularly advantageous for such functions or applications for providing driver assistance that are provided at night time. Such applications are also referred to as night vision applications. This means that trough employment of the infrared light source the portable communication device can serve for providing driver assistance even at night time.

A driver assistance system for a vehicle according to the invention comprises a portable communication device as well as a holding device according to the invention. A vehicle according to the invention, in particular a motor vehicle, comprises a driver assistance system according to the invention.

The preferred embodiments and their advantages presented with reference to the holding device according to the invention correspondingly apply to the driver assistance system according to the invention as well as to the inventive vehicle.

In a method according to the invention a driver is assisted by means of a portable communication device in driving a vehicle. The portable communication device with the aid of a holding device is held to a component of the vehicle. A function by which the driver is assisted in driving the vehicle is selected and/or performed by the portable communication device. The selecting and/or performing of the function is effected in dependency on image data generated from information captured about a surroundings of the vehicle. The holding device is designed for including an optical device by which the information about the surroundings of the vehicle are optically manipulated and/or the image data are generated from the information about the surroundings of the vehicle.

The information about the surroundings of the vehicle is in particular the optical image of the surroundings of the vehicle that is manipulated by the optical device and/or for which the optical device generates image data.

The preferable embodiments and their advantages presented with reference to the holding device according to the invention correspondingly apply to the method according to the invention, and vice versa.

Further features of the invention derive from the claims, the figures, and the description of the figures. All features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned further along in the description of the figures and/or shown solely in the figures are not only usable in the combination indicated in each case, but also in different combinations or on their own.

The invention is now explained in more detail with reference to individual preferred embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings. These show in:

Fig. 1 a schematic and perspective view of a driver assistance system according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic and perspective view of a driver assistance system according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 a schematic and perspective view of a driver assistance system according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 a schematic and perspective view of a driver assistance system according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 5 a schematic and perspective view of the driver assistance system

according to the fourth embodiment of the invention.

In the figures same elements or elements of the same function are equipped with the same reference signs.

Fig. 1 shows a driver assistance system 1 which serves for assisting the driver in driving a vehicle. In the embodiment the driver assistance system 1 may be employed in a passenger vehicle. The driver assistance system 1 comprises a mobile phone 2 which is a portable communication device. The driver assistance system 1 moreover comprises a holding device 3 which serves for holding the mobile phone 2 on the component in the interior space of the vehicle. The holding device 3 namely comprises a basic body 4 for holding the mobile phone 2; the mobile phone 2 can be fastened on the basic body 4. Moreover the holding device 3 comprises a fastener 5 which serves for fastening the holding device 3 on the component within the interior space of the vehicle. In the embodiment the fastener 5 serves for fastening the driver assistance system 1 on a windscreen of the vehicle.

This means that the mobile phone 2 can be fastened on the basic body 4. In this connection the most varied embodiments are reasonably possible: The mobile phone 2 can be fastened on the basic body 4 for instance by means of a clip connection and/or a lock-in connection and/or by means of a slide guide. The mobile phone 2 is fastened on the basic body 4 on a side 6 facing away from the fastener 5. In this set-up a reverse side 7 of the mobile phone 2 faces the basic body 4, so that a display of the mobile phone 2, the display not being shown in Fig. 1 , is not concealed by the basic body 4 and thus remains visible to the driver. In the embodiment the fastener 5 comprises a suction cup or a sucking disk 8 by means of which the basic body 4 temporarily can be fastened on the windscreen of the vehicle.

The mobile phone 2 has a camera 9 which is an optical sensor. The camera 9 can capture images of a surrounding area in front of the vehicle. The mobile phone 2 further comprises a digital signal processor that is not shown in Fig. 1 , the signal processor processing the image data provided by the camera 9. In a memory of the mobile phone 2 moreover at least one program code is deposited upon the implementation of which through the signal processor a driver assistance function can be selected and/or performed. When implementing the at least one program code the image data of the camera 9 are processed by the digital signal processor. The selection of the function means that the digital signal processor in dependency on the image data selects merely one function to be performed, whilst same function is implemented by another component of the driver assistance system 1 , namely for instance a component internal to the vehicle. Additionally or alternatively the digital signal processor of the mobile phone 2 itself can perform this function. This can for instance be the function of displaying the images based on the image data on the display of the mobile phone 2.

As has already been set out, the reverse side 7 of the mobile phone 2 in the fastened state is adjacent to the basic body 4, or the reverse side 7 faces the basic body 4. If the basic body 4 was entirely impervious to light, the camera 9 would be concealed by the basic body 4 and could not capture any images. The holding device 3, however, comprises an optical device 10 by means of which the camera 9 can capture images. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 the optical device 10 comprises an objective 11 which can modify the image to be captured by the camera 9. The objective 11 comprises a lens 12 which is integrated within a through-hole formed in the basic body 4. The lens 12 is positioned at the level of the camera 9 and is arranged immediately in front of or ahead of the camera 9, so that the camera 9 captures images via the lens 12.

The lens 12 is an optically effective element or an optical element and accordingly affects the image to be captured. Instead of or in addition to the lens 12 the objective 11 can also comprise an optical filter which then serves for filtering out the light of predetermined wavelength and/or light of a predetermined polarization. It may be envisaged that the objective comprises the lens and in addition an optical filter which is arranged in the direction of the optical axis besides the lens 12. The lens 12 can be one that enlarges a total capture range of the camera 9. This means that the lens 12 enlarges an angle range captured by the camera 9. A larger portion of the surroundings in front of the vehicle can then be captured than without the lens 12, and wider images can be displayed to the driver on the display of the mobile phone 2.

Alternatively, the lens 12 in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 can be one that zooms to a certain subportion of the surroundings or reduces the angle range captured. Then this particular portion of the surroundings can be represented in enlargement on the display of the mobile phone 2 or this particular portion of the surroundings can be resolved better by the camera 9 than without the lens 12. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when using a camera 9 with a relatively low resolution (e.g. QVGA). With the aid of such camera 9 - namely - the function of recognition of traffic signs can also be provided, i.e. by the digital signal processor of the mobile phone 2. This requires namely a relatively higher resolution (i.e. VGA).

Fig. 2 shows a further example of the driver assistance system 1. In the following merely the differences between the driver assistance system 1 according to Fig. 2 and that according to Fig. 1 are explained in more detail; further features of the driver assistance system 1 according to Fig. 2 correspond to those of the driver assistance system 1 according to Fig. 1.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 2 the objective 11 comprises a plurality of optically effective elements 13, namely seven optically effective elements 13. These can both contain lenses as well as optical filters. For instance the optically effective elements 13 can comprise three different lenses and four different optical filters. Further, means 14 are provided by means of which an optically effective element 13 can be selected from a plurality of elements 13. And these means 14 in the embodiment include a rotary disk 15 which is mounted rotatably about a rotary axis 16 on the basic body 4; it can be rotated in both directions, as is shown by arrow 17. The optically effective elements 13 are integrated into the disk 15. The optically effective elements 13 are arranged on the disk 15 along its circumferential direction. As may be gathered from Fig. 2, at a certain point in time or in a certain position of disk 15 it may occur that merely a single element 13 is positioned in front of the camera 9. In a certain position of the disk 15 in other words merely a single element 13 can overlap with the camera 9. The driver thus - depending on the applications or functions for driver assistance - can select a desired element and rotate the disk 15 in such a way that the desired element 13 comes to be positioned in front of the camera 9. This can be recognized by the driver with the aid of a marking 18 that points to the element 13 which is in front of the camera 9. In one embodiment the holding device 3 can also comprise an electronic control unit with a microcontroller designed for automatical selection of one of the elements 13. Also, an electrical connection between the microcontroller and the mobile phone 2 can be provided, so that the mobile phone 2 controls the microcontroller and thus can select one of the elements 13.

Also a further disk 15 comprising a corresponding plurality of optically effective elements 13 can be provided which then is adjacent to the disk 15 shown in Fig. 2 and is equally mounted rotatably about a rotary axis 16 on the basic body 4, namely also relative to the disk 15 shown in Fig. 2. Then two optically effective elements 13 can be positioned in front of the camera 9 and affect the image to be captured.

Fig. 3 shows a further example of the driver assistance system 1. This now as before comprises the mobile phone 2 as well as the holding device 3. The basic body 4 now has a nose or a protrusion 19 with a plateau 20 which in the state in which the mobile is fastened on the windscreen essentially is in parallel to same windscreen. The fastener 5 in the present example comprises three sucking disks 8 that are arranged across the plateau 20. This means that in the fastened state the suction cups 8 are positioned between the windscreen and the plateau 20.

On the plateau 20 moreover are arranged various components of the optical device 10. The optical device 10 in the embodiment according to Fig. 3 comprises a camera 21 which is an optical sensor. The camera 21 is arranged about centrally on the plateau 20 and thus about centrally on the basic body 4, namely on a side of the basic body facing away from the mobile phone 2. Arranged around the camera 21 are four infrared light sources 22 that are designed for emitting infrared light. The optical device 10 further comprises an additional camera 23 that is arranged laterally on the basic body 4 in a marginal area, namely on the side facing away from the mobile phone 2. The camera 23 can be provided in addition to or as an alternative to the camera 21.

The holding device 3 in the embodiment according to Fig. 3 also comprises an electronic control unit that is not shown in Fig. 3 and that is integrated within the basic body 4. This control unit is electrically coupled to the cameras 21 , 23 as well as to the infrared light sources 22. This control unit can comprise a microcontroller and/or a digital signal processor. The control unit can control the cameras 21, 23 as well as the infrared light sources 22. It can moreover process image data obtained by the cameras 21 , 23. For instance the control unit can subject the image data to a pattern recognition in order to recognize traffic signs.

Within the holding device 3, namely within the basic body 4, further a communication device is integrated that is not shown in Fig. 3 and is designed for communicating with the mobile phone 2 and is electrically coupled with the control unit of the holding device 3. The communication device can be configured for transmitting data according to the Bluetooth® standard and/or the WLAN standard. Additionally or alternatively a plug-in facility may be provided on the basic body 4 via which the mobile phone 2 can exchange data with the control unit of the holding device 3.

This means that the control unit of the holding device 3 can transmit data to the mobile phone 2, namely with the aid of the communication device. This can for instance take place in such a way that the control unit of the holding device 3 processes the raw data captured by the cameras 21 , 23 and transmits the processed data to the mobile phone 2. In this case a data processing within the mobile phone 2 can be done without, and a mobile phone 2 of relatively low power can be employed. The processing of the image data can also take place within the holding device 3, and on the display of the mobile phone 2 merely images can be displayed that are based on these image data.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a further example of the driver assistance system. In essence the driver assistance system 1 according to Figs. 4 and 5 corresponds to that according to Fig. 3. The essential differences in the following are described in more detail: From the basic body 4 a pin 24 protrudes which extends perpendicularly to the reverse side 25 of the basic body 4. The reverse side 25 is the side facing away from the mobile phone 2. On the pin 24 is held the fastener 5 that equally comprises a sucking disk 8 in the present example.

On the pin 24 moreover is held a housing 26 for a camera 21. In the housing 26 is located the camera 21 , with a free end of the camera 21 protruding slightly from the housing 26. In the housing 26 the camera 21 is pivotably mounted, namely pivotable about a pivot axis that extends essentially horizontally in a state of the holding device 3 in which it is mounted on the windscreen. Thus the capture direction of the camera 21 can be set in the vertical direction, namely manually by the driver. For this purpose on both sides of the housing 26 a turning knob 27 is provided; by way of turning the turning knob 27, the camera 21 can be pivoted. Within the pin 24 electrical lines can be integrated via which the camera 21 is coupled to the control unit of the holding device 3 and/or is directly electrically coupled with the mobile phone 2.

In general the driver assistance system 1 has the advantage that the number of devices mounted on the windscreen of the vehicle in comparison with the prior art is reduced on the whole. Through such integration moreover the number of wirings as well as their length is reduced to a minimum. The driver assistance system 1 namely can do with merely one portable communication device 2 as well as a holding device 3. In particular no further components are required to provide certain driver assistance functions, namely for instance the functions of recognition of traffic signs or the function of displaying images.